Posted on 02/21/2010 1:14:06 PM PST by Sergeant Tim
I was invited to be the opening speaker at Saturday's CPAC session. I had accepted but then, to my amazement, I learned that the John Birch Society would be one of many co-sponsors. This takes the big-tent idea many steps too far for me. So, I withdrew. Apparently, others were not so moved. That's fine. But it wasn't for me. Bill Buckley and Barry Goldwater, among others, chased the Birchers from the movement decades ago. And they're not a part of the movement. So, to give them a booth at CPAC was boneheaded.
I want to commend Bill Bennett for his wise piece this morning on the Corner. I agree with him.
I have no idea what philosophy Glenn Beck is promoting. And neither does he. It's incoherent. One day it's populist, the next it's libertarian bordering on anarchy, next it's conservative but not really, etc. And to what end? I believe he has announced that he is no longer going to endorse candidates because our problems are bigger than politics. Well, of course, our problems are not easily dissected into categories, but to reject politics is to reject the manner in which we try to organize ourselves. This is as old as Plato and Aristotle. Why would conservatives choose to surrender the political battlefield to our adversaries -- who are trashing this society -- when we must retake it in order to preserve our society? Philosophy, politics, culture, family, etc., are all of one. Edmund Burke, among others, wrote about it extensively, and far better that I possibly can. But all elements of the civil society require our defense. Besides, why preach such a strategy when conservatism is on the rise and the GOP is acting more responsibly?
Moreover, when he does discuss politics, which, ironically, is often, how can he claim today that there is no difference between the two parties when, but for the Republicans in Congress, government-run health care, cap-and-trade, card check, and a long list of other disastrous policies would already be law? The GOP is becoming more conservative thanks to the grass-roots movement and a political uprising across the country, which has even reached into New Jersey and Massachusetts. Why keep pretending otherwise? My only conclusion is that he is promoting a third party or some third way, which is counter-productive to defeating Obama and the Democrat Congress. These are perilous times and this kind of an approach will keep the statists in power for decades.
And what of his flirtations with Ron Paul's lunacy respecting America's supposed provocations with her enemies, including al-Qaeda? Why should such a fatal defect in thinking be ignored? Do we conservatives agree with this?
Finally, Beck is fond of congratulating himself for being the only or the first host to criticize George Bush's spending. This is demonstrably false. I not only attacked his spending, but the creation of the Homeland Security Department, the prescription drug add-on for Medicare, his "moderate" tax cuts, as well as his nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, "comprehensive immigration reform," and so forth. And I was not alone -- Rush and Sean did the same, for example. And as someone who fought liberal Republicans in the trenches when campaigning for Reagan in 1976 and 1980, I don't need lectures from Beck, who was nowhere to be found, about big-spending Republicans. But this is not about me, or Beck, or Beck's past drunkenness (which he endlessly wears as some kind of badge of honor). It is about preserving our society for our children and grandchildren. Beck spent precious little time aiming fire at Obama-Pelosi-Reid in his speech, and it is they who are destroying our country.
On as a positive note, I am personally happy to see that Beck has cleaned up his public act -- as best I can tell, no more boiling fake frogs on TV or pretending to pour gasoline on someone -- and the rest of it. But I do think his speech, which contained nuggets of truth heard before and read elsewhere, including on Rush's show and in my book and many other books, may have distracted from some of the more compelling and coherent speeches at the event, including Marco Rubio's superb speech. I fear the media will see to this. I hope not.
(other than throwing spitballs at the other caucuses)
You are absolutely right. We need to help these guys and have their back all the time not just when they run.
He’s still considered a “new believer” .. even if he’s a Mormon.
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I’m assuming you mean ‘new believer’ in the political conservative sense not religious.
but he has Ron on his show
“We don’t need “theater & drama” in the Republican party”
We need whatever will rally people to the Constitution, so long as it is not dishonest or deceptive.
Glad to oblige.
LOL
I like Beck, but he is a damn plaguerist.
“Now, lately they’ve been doing a good job of NOT playing ball, esp on MengeleCare, but do you really trust them? Do you really think that we can now say, “the Republicans are cured and won’t be abysmally stupid anymore”? No, we can’t say that. Even about the “good” ones.”
I would say not to completely trust them until they prove you otherwise. Sticking to promises, adhering to the conservative planks, etc... would make me tend to trust them moreso, but let’s all agree - they are human. Mistakes and mis-judgements will be made, but were they made deceitfully or to harm? Republicans will always be politicians, so groupthink could tend to steer them wrong as well as political expediency. Look at what is wearing an (R) right now. Deal with them and again separate as much wheat from the chaff as possible. 2010 should be about getting new Republicans in that steer with a conservative wheel (getting rid of McCain would be huge and a shot across the bow). But a third party will always be disaster for our fine Republic, and usher in another foothold for progressive socialism.
When we get lazy, so do they. They are opportunistic animals. When left alone too long they start to soil the cage and chew on the furniture. We have to smack them across the nose once in a while to let them know who is boss.
The Democrats simply believe it to be the other way around. There is a huge difference between them and Republicans and when Glenn goes off in public, the media can and will use it to their advantage. The mainstream media that brought you Obama will use Glenn’s speech to show the unwashed masses that it isn’t a problem with the Democrats, it’s a problem with everyone and the blame is equal. It’s not, and I believe that is what Levine was saying. Then you get a third party spoiler in there and “poof” it’s all over for us for another 4 years.
You guys keep expecting 100% from broadcast people and it ain't gonna happen.
None of us are 100%,we all have egos and all the top guys do a different show from the others,that' one of the reasons they are at the top.
Demonstrably so.
Perfectly said!
If you were well read, you would know that the founding of the Hong Kong colony was to be a base for the Windsor family's opium and heroin distribution business. There is no reason to believe that the zebra has changed their stripes. The war in Kosovo was largely to keep the drug shipment routes open. There was no legitimate reason for Clark to invade Kosovo.
I'll take a vodka soda with a lime! Good going!
That was 50-odd years ago. Talk about holding a grudge.
Do you still hate the British for their taxation-without-representation bit when we were the Colonies?
Jenk
You are correct, it was his money and if he wanted to piss it away, it was his business. Only liberals want to control other people's money.
And I also saw him nearly badger her into saying she would go third party.
It's not just 'ego' when what one is pushing will guarantee the Dem control of this nation for the rest of our lifetimes.
Beck isn't even close to being in the same league as Rush or Levin. Hannity, maybe, but not the others.
He's got to get off this kick or he's going to do some serious damgage to conservatism.
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