[Der_Hirnfänger]

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.

Look at how they dropped the ball with Dede Scozzafava! And how many really crappy incumbents have they supported over talented upcoming primary challengers? The GOP Old Guard has failed. They shot themselves in the foot over and over and over again, and honestly, how much better do you think McCain would’ve been? He might’ve vetoed some of the loony stuff that would’ve surely come his way, but he was for immigration “reform” , pro-environmentalism, pro-bailouts and TARP...

The GOP old-boys’ network needs a kick in the groin. They are failures. Their efforts to be liked and respected by the national media have led to their (and our) doom. There’s a reason that McCain was on Meet The Press all the time, and boy did they sure turn on him fast! That’s the lesson the GOP insiders have never learned: prostituting yourself to get favorable coverage from the MSM *never* works. It might work for a day, but they’re looking for the next chance to brand you a fool 5 seconds after they end the segment.

The Ron Paul thing? Meh. Whatever. Meaningless straw poll. Glenn Beck, however, gave an excellent and necessary speech.

[Brugmansian]

The GOP old-boys’ network needs a kick in the groin

He kicked Dick Cheney specifically as the OP relates. He kicked everyone who is a Republican.

[Irenic]

That was a good opinion piece.

[wewereright]

You are exactly right. Republicans are being a bit defensive because they are guilty of being squishy conservatives.

[David Isaac]

Your views are in line with my own. While Glenn Beck has done and said some things that I could not wholly endorse, he is, by far, more correct than incorrect. It has been his voice, along with other radio personalities (including a personal favorite of mine, Jim Quinn) that has given rise and fuel to the tea-party movement. It has been that movement, not the GOP, that has given us victories in New Jersey, Virginia, and Massachusettes. While the GOP snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in New York.

The presidency of Barack Obama has been the spark to light the fires, something that would have not happened if McCain had won. The fact that a few Republicans are now making “conservative” noises, should not be surprising. Politicians (with the exception of those on the extreme left) have been adept at sticking a wet finger in the air to check the direction of the wind (and too often for other reasons as well). Where were they when the GOP was paving the way for the Democrat takeover, which they most certainly did?

[jazzlite]

...”The GOP Old Guard has failed. They shot themselves in the foot over and over and over again, and honestly, how much better do you think McCain would’ve been? He might’ve vetoed some of the loony stuff that would’ve surely come his way, but he was for immigration “reform” , pro-environmentalism, pro-bailouts and TARP”...

YES! And, this is what Beck refers to when he criticizes Republicans along with Democrats..(The rest of my reply is addressed to other Freepers posting here:) When Republicans had the majority what did they do? They spent, spent, spent and played politics. Republicans did protect us from terrorists which is huge. Glen Beck is educating America about how we got to the sad place we find ourselves in currently. Hopefully, if we remember the past, we can go back to our principles so that we do not repeat those mistakes. Beck may make some mistakes but he is taking on the huge task of educating Americans, many of whom know little about the difference in political systems and many of us feel just as he does that blind devotion to any party if it leaves it’s principles behind is not a good thing. The other thing is that a lot of the reaction against the leftist government we now have in Washington D.C. is not coming from old line Republicans but from Independents, like myself. We just need to not go along with the trashing of our Consitution, regardless of who is doing it. We need to recognize our problems, repent, and go out there to do something about righting what is wrong. And, that is happening, thanks to the Tea Parties and to the attractive young, fresh candidates who are coming along. Morning in America is coming but do not turn on one of the best resources conservatives have..His name is Glen Beck.

[gusopol3]

I think his sharp words for the GOP were necessarily hard

Maybe a Sister Souljah?

[Dem Guard]

Glenn Beck, however, gave an excellent and necessary speech.

It takes a lot of voices to shift a party's momentum. While Beck is dramatic, he really has helped to make both parties feel uncomfortable.

[jenk]

The GOP old-boys’ network needs a kick in the groin. They are failures Delivered by that mondo-conservative, ultra-badass, Knows-what-he's-talking-about, mr. movement Beck right?

He is hurting the GOP's chances at victory because he is a lunkhead hell-bent on making sure everyone knows his name.

He keeps saying he is not a leader, but at the same time he leads people to the likes of Ron Paul. The Paulies have a major number of people vying for congress, and Beck's rhetoric is going to confuse a lot of people to vote those morons in.

[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!

[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.