Saturday Night Beck (Bill Bennett)

National Review ^ | February 21, 2010 | Bill Bennett

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Saturday Night Beck    [Bill Bennett]

There’s a lot to say about CPAC. This morning the major papers are highlighting Glenn Beck’s speech. I like Glenn a lot and I think he has something to teach us. But not what he offered last night.

Analogizing his own struggles with alcohol to the problems of our polity and in our politics, he said, “Hello, my name is the Republican party, and I have a problem!” “I’m addicted to spending and big government.” ”It is still morning in America.” ”It just happens to be kind of a head-pounding, hung-over, vomiting-for-four-hours kind of morning in America. And it’s shaping up to be kind of a nasty day. But it is still morning in America.” And, again, “I believe in redemption, but the first step to getting redemption is you’ve got to admit that you’ve got a problem. I have not heard people in the Republican party yet admit that they have a problem.”

Glenn is among the best talkers in the business of broadcast. I am not sure he’s a very good listener.

First, there is a good and strong tradition in alcohol and drug treatment that personal failings should not be extrapolated into the public sphere; that too often when this is done, conclusions are reached based on the wrong motives and, often, the wrong analysis. Glenn has made that mistake here and taken to our politics a cosmologizing of his own deficiencies. This is not a baseless criticism; they are his own deficiencies that he keeps publicly redounding to and analogizing to. It is wrong and he is wrong.

Second, for him to continue to say that he does not hear the Republican party admit its failings or problems is to ignore some of the loudest and brightest lights in the party. From Jim DeMint to Tom Coburn to Mike Pence to Paul Ryan, any number of Republicans have admitted the excesses of the party and done constructive and serious work to correct them and find and promote solutions. Even John McCain has said again and again that “the Republican party lost its way.” These leaders, and many others, have been offering real proposals, not ill-informed muttering diatribes that can’t distinguish between conservative and liberal, free enterprise and controlled markets, or night and day. Does Glenn truly believe there is no difference between a Tom Coburn, for example, and a Harry Reid or a Charles Schumer or a Barbara Boxer? Between a Paul Ryan or Michele Bachmann and a Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frank?

Third, to admit it is still “morning in America” but a “vomiting for four hours” kind of morning is to diminish, discourage, and disparage all the work of the conservative, Republican, and independent resistance of the past year. The Tea Partiers know better than this. I don’t think they would describe their rallies and resistance as a bilious purging but, rather, as a very positive democratic reaction aimed at correcting the wrongs of the current political leadership. The mainstream media may describe their reactions as an unhealthy expurgation. I do not.

A year ago, we were told the Republican party and the conservative movement were moribund. Today they are ascendant, and it is the left and the Democratic party that are on defense — even while they are in control. That’s quite an amazing achievement. But anyone who knows the history of this country and its political movements should not be surprised. America has a long tradition of antibodies that kick in. From Carter we got Reagan. And from Ted Kennedy and Barack Obama we took back a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, with midterm elections on the horizon that Republicans and conservatives are actually excited about, not afraid of.

To say the GOP and the Democrats are no different, to say the GOP needs to hit a recovery-program-type bottom and hang its head in remorse, is to delay our own country’s recovery from the problems the Democratic left is inflicting. The stakes are too important to go through that kind of exercise, which will ultimately go nowhere anyway — because it’s already happened.

The first task of a serious political analyst is to see things as they are. There is a difference between morning and night. There is a difference between drunk and sober. And there is a difference between the Republican and Democratic parties. To ignore these differences, or propagate the myth that they don’t exist, is not only discouraging, it is dangerous.

 

[MizSterious]

Yes, that bothers me too. Some are the same. Some are not. Coburn and Inhofe are not at all like Reid and Pelosi—just for instance. No, Beck is losing his way. And I’m not longer that much of a fan.

[mommyq]

I have yet to figure out what accomplishments Bill Bennett has made in his life. Under Reagan, he was Secretary of Education. Unions got stronger, school choice went nowhere, and education continued its descent. Maybe Bill was gambling instead of doing anything.

But I even wondered at the time what his accomplishments were as that Secretary. At the time my daughters were in catholic schools. I was paying tuition and enormous property taxes, with no help—not even a lousy tax deduction.

Now that his gambling problem came to light, I have no reason to put any stock whatsoever into anything he says.

[Gaffer]

Boy, ain’t that the truth....you know, I heard him one time just profligating on how he was mistreated at the hospital for something and how what a ‘terrible’ experience he had and how it had shaken him to the very core of his being about the treatment. I finally concluded that he’d been there for his ‘roids’ and I guess he didnt’ like the treatment of his delicate condition......yes, a pussy....still, I like other things he has to say.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

There will be dozens upon dozens of RINO's coming out in the next few days blasting Glenn! The truth really hurts!

My bet is that Rush comes out Monday backing what Glenn said 100%....

[vicar7]

There is no difference between those you mentioned they are all true believers in their respective causes. Would that we had more true believers in conservative principles.

[DTogo]

Glenn's analogies were spot on! Here are a few more for you Bill:

- The Federal Government's current disdain and treatment of We The People is starting to echo Parliament's disdain and treatment of the Colonists in the 1760s and 1770's

- The Federal Government's current tin ear to States Rights issues are starting to echo the tin ear to States in the 1850s

- The Federal Government's heavy-handed fiscal and social policies are starting to echo failed policies of the 1930s

1775, 1861, 1938... ring any bells Bill??

[sodpoodle]

I interpreted his remarks as claiming the *results* are the same.

IIRC he did not identify or malign any conservative GOP politicians.

We are in this crisis because the Democrats caused it and the GOP did not prevent it. Same result.

[MozarkDawg]

So either we're too stupid for the intellectual class or we're too intelligent for the regular folks-class. I for one am tired of all these pundits opining, worse CRITICIZING when they offer nothing more than the same ol' we've been getting for decades.

Last night, Glenn demonstrated what another FReeper and I thought of him, posted to each other several months ago: Glenn is like your favorite teacher from high school, a bit goofy on the entertaining side, but able to make the lesson fun and interesting enough that you actually learn it, remember it years later.

He has told those of us radio/TV listeners the story of how the Statue of Liberty was intended as a mock to the Colossus of Rhodes and a symbol of how America succeeds, that Europe should turn to her, emulate her instead of the other way around. His repeating it last night for the bigger audience, those who may not have heard it earlier was a prime reason for my disagreeing with yet another FReeper on a thread the other day who claims his "fifteen minutes may be up." Not by a long shot.

[FreeReign]

Second, for him to continue to say that he does not hear the Republican party admit its failings or problems is to ignore some of the loudest and brightest lights in the party. From Jim DeMint to Tom Coburn to Mike Pence to Paul Ryan, any number of Republicans have admitted the excesses of the party and done constructive and serious work to correct them and find and promote solutions. Even John McCain has said again and again that “the Republican party lost its way.” These leaders, and many others, have been offering real proposals, not ill-informed muttering diatribes that can’t distinguish between conservative and liberal, free enterprise and controlled markets, or night and day. Does Glenn truly believe there is no difference between a Tom Coburn, for example, and a Harry Reid or a Charles Schumer or a Barbara Boxer? Between a Paul Ryan or Michele Bachmann and a Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frank?

Bennett is correct when says the above.

[pepsionice]

I believe both parties have failure and neither are grasping the negativity growing over Washington.

[MozarkDawg]

Does Glenn truly believe there is no difference between a Tom Coburn, for example, and a Harry Reid or a Charles Schumer or a Barbara Boxer? Between a Paul Ryan or Michele Bachmann and a Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frank?

No Bill, and maybe if you took yourself out of your own elitist tower and tried to LISTEN to him once in while, you might know this your own self.

[Da Coyote]

Interesting that two top conservative talk show types could completely obliterate the Obamaloon in any debate where the loon couldn’t stand behind his electronic speech machine.

[Jeff Chandler]

John McCain has said again and again that “the Republican party lost its way.”

Maybe some compassionate activists will place caches of water along the trail so that the Republican Party won't die of thirst in the desert.

Those maps provided by the Mexican government should help, too.

[A. Morgan]

John McCain is part of the problem.

[MozarkDawg]

Yes, that bothers me too. Some are the same. Some are not. Coburn and Inhofe are not at all like Reid and Pelosi—just for instance. No, Beck is losing his way. And I’m not longer that much of a fan.

Apparently you weren't listening all that carefully when you were one -- he has some Republicans as his re-founders, WE don't get to know who they are, the condition he promised them. It is more than obvious who some of them are, if you really think Glenn paints every single politician with the same brush, you haven't been paying attention at all.

[lewislynn]

It’s not the drama queen part that bothers me about Beck. It’s how quick he is to dismiss the birth certificate issue,

birth certificate-birth certificate-birth certificate-birth certificate-birth certificate-birth certificate-

The country's falling apart, being taken over by radicals and you're worried about a frigg'n birth certificate? I hope you don't think anyone would actually remove him from office as a result....

[karenfromny]

I agree with Beck. Republican party has not reached rock bottom.

Bennett talks about Beck not listening. Hey Bill, have you listened to Orrin Hatch or Lindsey Graham lately.

Beck is right sometimes you can’t tell the difference between the Rs and the Ds...

[FreeReign]

I believe both parties have failure and neither are grasping the negativity growing over Washington.

Dare I say, The Democrats are all failure while the Republicans have some successes, some failures, some good politicians and a few bad politicians.

I know, God forbid I should be so specific.

[woofie]

If I didnt support Obama or vote for him why should I be hung over? The folks who bought hope and change, sure they are sick as dogs, but not me

[Hawthorn]

>> There will be dozens upon dozens of RINO’s coming out in the next few days blasting Glenn!<<

Yep, it’s very predictable what that undercover RINO operative, Mark Levin, will say on Monday nite’s show.