Posted on 10/27/2009 7:07:38 AM PDT by Kaslin
I record Special Report on Fox News every day. One day I noticed that there was a change in the preceding show. Neil Cavuto had been transferred to the new Fox News Business channel and some guy named Glenn Beck had taken over the slot. Nothing resonated with me so I didn’t bother to watch his show.
I soon heard that Beck had broken the story of Van Jones, a guy who should not have been in any administration, let alone a presidential one. Then Beck got credit for showing the Acorn videos that began the cascade of charges and loss of support for that organization. The Obama Administration responded to this by making Beck Public Enemy #1, along with the rest of Fox News.
All of a sudden everyone was talking about Glenn Beck. More importantly, the White House decided that they could not take it anymore, and started vilifying Fox as a “center of opinionating” (rather than a news network) from whom facts could not be trusted. It was not good enough to bar any access to the administration; they sent out their top guns to establish a quarantine of Fox. Despite every attempt to bury stories contrary to the interests of the Obama Administration, some networks had actually gone over to the dark side and allowed snippets of recognition. This could not be tolerated.
Surprisingly, the Administration’s plan to ostracize Fox has faltered because the mainstream media picked up the story. As much as Fox’s competitors harbor innate contempt for Fox (and maybe a little jealousy), some actually recognize that it is nonetheless some form of a news organization. Jake Tapper of ABC News recently had the temerity to confront Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary. Tapper suggested that there might be a hint of legitimacy among the 1,000+ employees working at Fox News. Gibbs stayed on message – Fox was not to be trusted.
I want to thank the Obama Administration for bringing back my youth. When I was 20, the age that my son is today, we had an administration that was in trouble. That administration was found to have an enemies list. It sent out the Vice-President to strafe anyone who would dare criticize its policies. In fact, the entire administration displayed a paranoia that manifested itself in a crime that ultimately brought down the President.
Long before Watergate, I had a Nixon countdown calendar on my wall. Each day I used my red magic marker to bring us a day closer to a new President. I had voted for Nixon in my first election; that had been an easy choice over the hapless George McGovern. However soon after the election, it became clear that Nixon and his people had acted beyond the pale. It did not matter whether I had voted for him; he had gone too far.
Ignoring the adage that history tends to repeat itself, many of us who lived through those days thought they would never return. The convulsive effect of the downfall of the Nixon Administration was at the time so significant that a recurrence during our lifetime was unimaginable. Another White House enemies list? Unthinkable!
Yet it appears to be. Maybe they have not written down the names, but all other elements are there. Obama goes after a news organization just like Nixon went after the press, and had on his enemies’ list Daniel Schorr. Shutting down the opinions of a private company, as Obama did to Humana, is thuggishly reminiscent of the dirty-tricks crowd. Attacking the U.S. Chamber of Commerce seems like something distasteful that we have seen before.
When your arguments cannot be sustained, the easy thing to do is vilify your opponents. Nixon did it out of paranoia and Obama appears to be doing it because he is losing. The astonishing thing is that people like Henry Waxman, who rode into office on the back of Watergate, cannot pick up the phone and tell his colleagues to stop. It’s always sad when ideologues sacrifice the most cherished principles of this country for some minor – and temporary – political gain.
Like many other Americans, I watched Glenn Beck the other night just to see what all the fuss was about. Beck has his schtick. He is much too cutesy for me and not nearly erudite enough for my taste. He was making fun of Anita Dunn and her comments endorsing the political philosophy of the mass murderer Mao. Beck was straightforward and truthful, but to be honest, he gave me little reason to watch him again. Obama, Rahm Emanuel and Dunn have done this guy a favor by giving him the recognition he would likely never have otherwise received.
It reminds me of how no one thought the Democrats had a chance in the 1972 election, yet Nixon gave them too much attention. That brought disaster to Nixon and the Republicans. Obama risks suffering the same fate unless he calls the attack dogs off and starts acting presidential.
I have listened to Glenn Beck on the radio for years before he was on CNN. He says he isn’t a journalist but nowhere do I get breaking stories that are sourced as carefully as his.
The “Freedom of the Press” was put there to out corruption in the government. There are very few doing that now.
I continue to listen to Beck AND watch his shows. FOR THE NEWS I GET ........and entertainment too.
Seems like what we see form this “journalist” is jealousy.
Me thinks the same .
Yes, but she was in the same time slot as Gibson....between Cavuto and Hume.
GLEN BECK is 0bama’s TRANSPARENCY CZAR .
You don't have to attend journalism school to understand the concept of citing multiple sources to confirm the accuracy of a story.
You only need journalism school if you want to learn how to rationalize your use of opinion and personal political agenda as "objective journalism."
beck is still that cluck I listened to for a while several years ago on radio making ignorant comments on issues most interested patriots had much better knowledge of than he
did.
Only difference now...more self-confidence, if possibel; better informed due to a profession staff of researchers rehearsing him, etc.
I never have trvsted him, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend...
If only he would refrain from attacking the conspiracy theories fauxnoose sics him on!
I’ve listened to Beck since around 2000 (he was our local afternoon guy.) Back in those days he used to say, give me two weeks, and then decide if you want to keep listening.
His schtick, as this guy calls it, is pretty much the same. Beck hasn’t changed. You either like his brand or humor and sarcasm, self-deprecation, etc. or you don’t. IMO, enough people do to soar his ratings, and I think he’d be the first to say that no problem if you don’t.
But Beck is no lightweight...he never has been when it comes to seeing the “whole” picture and sniffing out the truth. He does his homework, he reads, he studies, and he does have the ability to communicate on an “everyman” level. He’s also not afraid to speak the truth, he’s always said things you thought you’d never hear on the radio, and now TV. IMO, that’s what’s resonated with his viewing audience and that’s why his numbers are growing (of course it doesn’t hurt that Obama (Gibbs) singled him out, that’s icing on the ratings cake.)
My opinion is that Glen is unpredictable. That is one of the reasons why his show is so refreshing. He is very creative. Some days he may include too much of his comedic type routine as part of his presentation, but other days very straight forward with his always serious topic. He is quite brilliant and is capturing his audience. I don’t know how he can keep it up as it must require a lot of preparation. One needs to watch him regularly to be able to understand and appreciate his style. Kind of like being extremely critical of Rush after only one hearing.
Don’t writers (or editors) fact check themselves before they publish anything anymore? Geesh.
I’d rather have facts than “erudite”. Obama fancies himself as “erudite” and we see where that has gotten us...
So the truth makes you uncomfortable, too?
In all honesty, I’ve never listened to his radio show. I don’t listen to talk radio. And I never used to turn on Fox News during the hour Beck currently occupies. I watched the first few shows out of curiosity, and after that, I watch them all. If I’m not home, I record them.
Do his antics seem odd? Perhaps. But what he says is backed up by facts, usually videos of the fools saying what he claimed they said. He does far more research than any of the other so-called news shows, on Fox or elsewhere. It’s solid. If it turns out he erred on one fact or another, he’s quick to admit it on the air.
I like the fact that he’s not as slick as some pundits. I like the fact that he cares about his country, about God, about his family.
But especially, I like his honesty. It’s a rare quality. So rare, in fact, that I could care less about any antics that might make other people squirm with what they view as the socially incorrectness of his delivery. I guess those folks—and you—can continue to watch O’Reilly dance around the truth (while hardly ever admitting it), and talking heads on the other networks stomping all over it—all very slick, smooth, and without any voices cracking or errant tears. Some would trade truth for that, I suppose. Not me.
But especially, I like his honesty. It’s a rare quality. So rare, in fact, that I could care less about any antics that might make other people squirm with what they view as the socially incorrectness of his delivery. I guess those folks—and you—can continue to watch O’Reilly dance around the truth (while hardly ever admitting it), and talking heads on the other networks stomping all over it—all very slick, smooth, and without any voices cracking or errant tears. Some would trade truth for that, I suppose. Not me.
I think you must have meant this post for someone else. In no way does it reference anything I posted. However, I did enjoy reading about how special you are.
Yep—I cannot quibble w/anything you said!
Best
Dick Gaines
**********
"...and have usually found him a tad too immature to listen to him regularly."
And, since I was talking about Beck, nothing in my post discussed anything about me, but thanks for your kind thoughts.
Damn We FREEPERS are great. Lionheart Pauly etc make the point so clearly
and this, “but I like how he walks people through things to make it clear to just about anybody.”
is exactly right
So Beck checks and doublechecks his info before he reports it.
Has any obamite EVER found an inaccurate? Nope
and they won’t
Correct me if I am wrong, but is not ‘Pat’ the same Pat Gray that was on Houstons 950 KPRC. I used to love that station until they trashed it a couple of years ago.
Love ya Pat..... you to Glenn
This little tin god not only writes down to his readers from his lofty perch, but he's totally out of touch with us oafish mortals out here among the lumpen masses.
"Beck", he intones, "has his schtick, but he's much too cutesy for me. He's not nearly erudite (smart, for those of you in Rio Linda) enough for my taste."
Well, pardon Glenn (and us) all to hell for not living up to your lofty intellect which passeth all understanding and which we out here in the hustings can never hope to enjoy.
This effete snob continues, "Beck gives me little reason to watch him again. Rahm Emanuel and Anita Dunn have given him the recognition he likely would have never received."
Oh, really? Does Glenn owe Emanuel and Dunn some thank-you notes for his success?
Or could have it been innate intelligence, creativity and decades of sheer hard work that has enabled Mr. Beck to be heard by more people and earn more income than you and your Mensa intellect could only lust for as you sit sniping resentfully at your computer hoping to someday hit the big time yourself?
What an envious, over-educated putz you are. The usually very-professional Townhall blog should be embarrassed to allow juvenile offal like this to hit the ether under its imprimatur.
Leni
I can’t even express how beautiful that was... Very hard to type this through these tears though... Thanks for sharing that, ExTex...
Funny stuff! They just don’t get it.
If you are receiving flak, you are over the target.
Still waiting for the REST of the Acorn videos. I suspect the final one is Chicago and it is being held until just before the 2012 election. Andrew Breitbart has confirmed there are more coming. I wait in EAGER anticipation!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.