CPAC's Odd Ending

American Thinker ^ | Feb 22 2010 | C. Edmund Wright

[Brugmansian]

Ron Paul out-polled Sarah Palin almost 5 to 1 and keynoter Glenn Beck got huge ovations as he disavowed any conservative ascendency within the Republican Party.

So someone please tell me - just what the heck happened to a convention that was off to such a wonderful conservative start? Where is the momentum from the Marco Rubio speech and the Dick Cheney "Obama is a one term President" moment?

Perhaps David Keene of the American Conservative Union will be a bit more careful when picking keynote speakers from now on. What happened was predictable, given that the man he picked uses a daily TV show to make it clear that he blames Republicans, Democrats, the left and the right and politics in general all equally for America's woes.

While he has a huge audience, some of these thoughts are not exactly the consensus among American conservatives. They are not consistent with reality either. Besides, CPAC stands for Conservative Political Action Committee.

Oh I realize that in a ballroom jammed with a disproportionate share of Paul supporters and Beck groupie Keene is likely not aware of how conservatives across the country viewed this soiree. Not yet . . .

I just have to ask: what Republican Party has Beck been watching the past year?

The following lines from his CPAC address -- which are the lines the media have been spreading as his theme -- are simply baffling:

I have not heard people in the Republican Party admit yet that they have a problem. I haven't seen the Come-To-Jesus moment from Republicans yet.

Huh? Is he serious?

Has he not heard about Marco Rubio? Rubio is now up 12 points on Charlie Crist among GOP voters. That sounds to me like a lot of Florida Republicans admit there's a problem.

What about Governor Chris Christie in New Jersey? The lesson he is teaching the New Jersey legislature this week about government spending could have come straight off of Beck's blackboard. He should be proud of this. Why is he ignoring it?

Has he not heard about J.D. Hayworth challenging John McCain in the Arizona primary? Say what you will about J.D, but the idea that a 30-year incumbent is facing a serious primary challenge indicates that some Republicans are admitting they have a problem.

Beck said in his speech that Rush Limbaugh is one of his heroes. Rush is a Republican by the way. He has been onto Republican problems longer than Beck has. Rush is . . .

[Newtoidaho]

Beck makes no secret that he is out to make as much money as possible. He talks about it all the time, how he can maximize his businesses with radio, books, TV, lectures on tour, etc.

Nothing wrong with that of course, but that is what drives him, not the battle for the future of the country.

[faucetman]

said: “It’s cracking me up the see the hard line (R)s on the forum attacking Beck for pointing out some of their obvious flaws. This is why the GOP is doomed to failure again. No desire to truly admit how they’ve completely strayed from the ideals of small government, and certainly no real desire to reform themselves. Just trying to fool the pissed off public enough to get back into power, then play nicey-nice with their pals the (D)s. They have a golden opportunity right now, and they are going to squander it big time.”

Exactly right. They THINK they see blood in the water and are piling on. Keep on doing what you're doing and you'll keep getting what you've been getting. The establishment Republicans had better wake up and get on board or THEY will become an irrelevant 3rd party. It's about POWER. They won't give it up easily.

[Cboldt]

-- The biggest objection I get is "there is no difference between the parties". I have heard that for two decades. --

Hahaha. I believe you, but that admission shows that MANY people (biggest objection you get) form their impression and conclusion regarding the two-party-kabuki-dance independently of Beck's rants.

From that view, Beck is basically one more person with the same (now at least two decades old) complaint. The GOP can say the complaint is false, or it can change. Which approach do you think will win converts to the GOP side?

[Matchett-PI]

“I’m thinking third or independent party!” ~ Bowtie52

Grow up: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2341581/posts?page=266#266

[listenhillary]

The biggest objection I get is "there is no difference between the parties". I have heard that for two decades.

I've seen it for 2 decades.
Senior drug plan
Earmarks
Baseline budgeting
Corporate Welfare

[browardchad]

Rush is just as much a part of get the RINO’s out as the rest of us and unlike your characterization that we change the whole process overnight, you are wrong on that as well. As an engineer, I understand the physics of mechanics and also of politics.

Nonsense.

[Redleg Duke]

I watched Beck's speech and I agree, he put the GOP Good Old Boys Network on notice.

This morning, listening to Bill Bennett's program, I finally realized that Bennett is one of the Good Old Boys of the GOP and he doesn't like to hear that the GOP has an ugly baby. Bennett's sanctimonious attitude and comments really put me off and I will not bother to listen to him anymore.

Beck told the GOP where the bear crapped in the buckwheat. I didn't hear Beck advocating a third party, just to bring the GOP out from within the beltway and back to America!

[writer33]

Beck is intelligent and instructive UNTIL he says there is NO difference between the 2 parties....one is a party of DEATH and the other of LIFE.....that’s a HUGE difference!

Agreed.

[Catsrus]

And how do you know he isn’t? What has he done or said to convince you that he isn’t?

[writer33]

Thanks for posting this. Good stuff, Brugmansian.

[McGavin999]

I think Glenn has jumped the shark. It's a shame because he was really good there for awhile. I think perhaps he's getting advice from O'Reilly (who doen't want Beck getting ahead of him).

Sad, the guy really stood a chance of long time success.

[listenhillary]

I wasn’t the one convicting him. Just asking for proof before sending for the hangman.

[Matchett-PI]

"I didn't hear Beck advocating a third party.."

You "hear" one thing, and others "hear" something else.

That means that Beck hasn't made himself crystal clear. He needs to tell people the truth - that a third party is an automatic loser, and in light of that fact, classic liberals (nka conservatives) must take the Republican party back from the Progressive liberals (Marxist-Socialists).

So far, he has used weasel words like, "unless", as a way to equivocate, ie: "A third party will win UNLESS the Republicans and the Democrats wake up.".

The phrase, "wake up", has as many definitions as there are people with opinions. Of course, by using a phrase like that, he is setting himself up to be in the position to say that "they haven't woke up enough", and therefore we need a third party.

Unless Beck makes it crystal clear that he is distancing himself from the idea of a third party, you can be absolutely SURE that you will never hear him say: "they have woke up enough now...". He will say just the opposite.

[onyx]

C. Edmund Wright’s essay is right on and I hope Glenn “calls him” or responds. It’s all about questioning with boldness, you know?

FWIW, I want Glenn to put the democrat’s and the Republican’s platforms on his chalk board side by side so we can see that they’re “both the same” or “NOT.”

I enjoyed Glenn’s speech at CPAC, and took it for what it was: a Glenn Beck masterpiece. He’s not a Republican. He’s a Libertarian, although he likes to vote Republican.

C. Edmund Wright hits a grand slam when he points out:

“” Beck said in his speech that Rush Limbaugh is one of his heroes. Rush is a Republican by the way. He has been onto Republican problems longer than Beck has. Rush is a master of succinct brilliance — his latest being “the era of McCain is over!”

Ann Coulter is a Republican and she has said several times lately that “while there are plenty of bad Republicans, there are no good Democrats.” I think she gets it. Mark Levin is also a Republican, and for years he has used the term “Re-Pube-icks” to describe the very Republicans Beck dislikes. Levin knows history pretty well too.

Then of course there is Sarah Palin. For months, including in her endorsement of Doug Hoffman, she has talked the need for the party to return to the principles of Beck’s other hero, Ronald Reagan. Palin, you might remember, is a Republican.

And it seems to me that ZERO Republicans in the Senate and only one Republican in the House voted for Obama care. That’s hardly equally guilty in my opinion.

And let’s not forge the tea parties. There’s a lot of anger there at Republicans, but much of it is from Republicans who have had their “come to Jesus” moment apparently. “”

[Nextrush]

Socialism is in both parties and Ayn Rand brought out that arrogant progessivism in her writings which no doubt influence Beck’s thinking.

The Paul Movement concerns me and I will not vote for their people.

Sarah Palin did endorse Rand Paul in Kentucky and I am with her on that because he is not a nut like his father’s followers.

The leftists have infiltrated the Libertarian ranks but the GOP is not right because it is not authentically committed to less spending and smaller government.

[Matchett-PI]

"C. Edmund Wright hits a grand slam.."

bttt

[PhiKapMom]

Thank you again! You have nailed Beck and why his speech was so disgusting.

Beck always ignores Libertarians but to equate Democrats and Republicans was beyond comprehension. The Republicans have done an excellent job this time of sticking together to give the Democrats a hard time in passing these bills, People on here like to attack McConnell but he helped orchestrate delay tactics in the Senate when they had 60 votes against them to pass anything and in the House it should have been clear sailing. Republicans have taken to the airwaves, the House Conference has their own You Tube channel, they put out some of the best policy papers I have seen but yet Beck went after them like Democrats.

Makes me understand where the constant attack on Republicans on here is coming from as well. The comments throw out all incumbents comes right out of the Beck/Libertarian mantra as we have some excellent Republicans in Congress including my two Senators Inhofe and Coburn who are no shrinking violets by any imagination.

[rob777]

"I think people are completely overreacting to Beck’s speech. I think his sharp words for the GOP were necessarily hard, but he was by no means over the top. Those that claim that Beck was advocating conservatives abandon the GOP completely in favor of a third party a really off the mark IMO."


I thought that his speech was excellent and presented a big picture look at the Progressive movement that few conservatives ever touch on. You are correct that he is not promoting a third party, as I have heard him address this issue when a caller brought this up on his radio show. While I think that he takes the "both parties are the problem" a little too far, I think that he is doing so in hopes that the GOP does not get complacent and take conservative support for granted. Let's face it, NO ONE of either party has actually cut federal spending since Calvin Coolidge. There have been cuts in the rate of growth in spending, but not it the absolute amount. If we are serious about supporting a constitutionally limited government, then the GOP has a LONG way to go to become that political vehicle. It is not enough merely to oppose new proposals to expand the reach of government, we need to roll back about a century of government expansion. Before we can expect a political party to take this cause seriously, the conservative movement itself needs to take it seriously. For all his warts and imperfections, Glenn Beck is one of the few conservatives who does. For that I appreciate him.

[C. Edmund Wright]

gogogodzilla sez:
It seems that the author cannot distinguish between Republicans and the Republican Party. Rubio has the support of the Republican base, while Crist has (maybe nowadays, had?) the support of the Republican Party.

So when Beck says that the Republican party hasn’t had their wake-up call, he’s right. But the Republican base, ie: Conservative, had their wake-up call in 2006. How much longer until the Republican party actually listens and says, “Mea Culpa”?

C. Edmund Wright responds:
Thanks for your comment. I refuse to accept your premise that the party leadership IS the party. The party is a collection of the party voters as well as the current temporary leadership. Beck said that he has not seen any sign that any Republicans get it. I say Marco Rubio and his voters ARE REPUBLICANS and THEY GET IT. Same with Governor Christie, etc, as I stated in the article.

There is no “they” there. You are they. I am they. And we get it. THATS my only point to Beck.....

[GBA]

"...he blames Republicans, Democrats, the left and the right and politics in general all equally for America's woes."

Edmund, you paint your generalities with too wide of a brush. Specifically, Beck blames Progressives within the demonrat and republican parties for America's woes. And, if you're honest and you don't want history to repeat itself, you have to agree with him.

Republicans may be giddy now by the implosion the demonrats are going through, but it should look very, very familiar to them since they lost their majority for much the same reason the liberals are now losing theirs: Progressivism!