Saturday Night Beck (Bill Bennett)

National Review ^ | February 21, 2010 | Bill Bennett

[greyfoxx39]

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.

 

[Jane Long]

Mr. Bennett, first, Glenn Beck's analogies were spot on - we (Repubs, Dems and Americans) are addicted to spending. It's Glenn's prerogative to make his own deficiencies public. Who are you to say this is wrong, Bill? Second, Bill, Glenn DOES elevate the brightest ideas - regardless of party. He does this repeatedly on both his radio and Fox programs. Third, Bill, Glenn's analogy describing the sickness of our addiction does NOT diminish any great conservative work and strives made - it only brings our sickness (addiction to spending) to it's ugly, truthful light. Yes, a year ago the Pub Party was moribund - due to overspending. Today's ascendancy for Pubs is due to the Tea Party and conservative values - NOT because of anything Pubs have done. And truthfully, until Pubs in office get the spines to call progressives out - the two parties ARE the same. Bill is right about "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." Glenn explained these differences clearly - using himself as a great example. That's where Bill's being right ends - there is NO difference between the Republican and Democratic parties, when it comes to spending and NOT listening. To ignore these differences, or propagate the myth that they don’t exist, Bill, is not only discouraging, it is very dangerous.

[andy58-in-nh]

Bill Bennett is a very smart guy, but he is making an elementary mistake in his appraisal: he takes what Glenn Beck says literally rather than rhetorically. Bennett was a professor and he ought to know better. Glenn Beck is a performer, as well as a political commentator. What he has done is to throw down a gauntlet at the feet of the GOP. He is challenging them to be better than they have been, to adhere to their principles rather than continue to stray from them.

I have followed Glenn for a number of years now and I am more than convinced that he does not see the two major parties as equally bad or culpable, even if he sometimes sounds as though he has no use for either of them. He obviously favors the GOP, but desperately wants them to have a "come to Jesus" moment where they realize and take responsibility for what they have done: throw away their intellectual and moral advantages over the Democrats in pursuit of short-term gain. And what has it gotten them, and the nation? Pain. Debt. Obama. I really believe he's pushing the GOP to make a choice; as he said, directly, last night, we don't need a "big tent". What are we, a circus? Hopefully, the answer will be "no" and "we're sorry, America, we let you down. We won't do it again".

I also think Bennett is mistaken in objecting to Beck's syllogistic use of his own alcoholism to point out the GOP's failure to live up to its promises. Bennett may not wish to draw attention to his own similar personal issues, and that's understandable. But Beck is not using his own life experience to put the spotlight on himself, but on America and what we, the people have allowed to occur in pursuit of short-term pleasures at the expense of long-term health and happiness. Viewed in that light, I thought such usage was entirely appropriate.

[GoforBroke]

Glenn Beck is more correct than Mr Bennett. I like Mr. Bennett but the modus is too slow.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

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.

And how much of this has anything to do with the Republican Party? The Tea Party movement, gross over-reach by the Democrats, voters waking up to realize just what ObamaCare means and what it will cost, ClimateGate and the AGW lies exposed - what exactly did the Republican Party do to make this happen? There's a difference between an "amazing achievement" and passively watching while others do your job.

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 thing is, the GOP and the Democrats aren't different enough, and the GOP does need to hang its head in remorse over the way government continues to grow whether Republicans or Democrats are in charge. I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils - if the only difference is that the GOP spends like a drunken sailor while the Democrats spend like a drunken sailor on crack, I'd rather have neither. Bennett and the GOP need to wake up and realize that voters horrified by Democratic spending are not going to be any happier with Republican spending.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Mr. Bennett - may I call you Bill? Okay, Bill, it's been reported that Republicans are leading in the number of earmarks on new legislation. Does that sound like a political party has admitted its mistakes, promised reform and is coming through on it?

And Beck can tell the difference between sobriety and drunkeness. And Beck talks about how Jim DeMint is his favorite Senator. And because there are a copy of Republicans trying to whip the party into doing the right thing, doesn't mean the party has reformed itself.

Gee whiz, even John McCain is talking about the Republican party losing its way. Great.

[factmart]

That speech was the best speech ever for actually teaching people want the problem are and how to solve them.

NO speech shows us what happen in the past and happening now!

I mean Reagan, Palin, or anyone.

Bill Bennent is a elist, Beck was not talking about the about our best,

You show me one republican congressman or senator who has not voted to spend more money, ONE?

[libbylu]

Bennett made some good points.

[MizSterious]

I think the Constitution is important, even if you do not. If the “birthers” are correct, he is not eligible for the office he’s occupying. Heaven help us, with people like Beck, O’Reilly, and you who think the Constitution isn’t that important—or that only certain parts of it are.

[LibLieSlayer]

bill is a liberal... listen to his radio station long enough and you will see. He loves his big gubmint and intrusive powers.

LLS

[Reagan Man]

Bill Bennett makes some good points.

On Fox News, Glenn Beck proves on a daily basis he understands many of the problems facing traditional America and he has the entertainment skills and talents to express his opinions related to those problems. However, Beck's so-called speech at CPAC yesterday was just an extension of his cable tv show. Beck did do a good job, but as usual, he was way over the top with his antics.

More importantly, conservatives should be asking themselves, what did CPAC accomplish this year? Has this annual gathering lost its luster and its true meaning for most conservatives?

With the addition of GOProud and the John Birch Society, I don't think CPAC advanced conservatism this time around. Ron Paul winning the straw poll does not make him the definitive choice for 2012. CPAC 2010 was a hodgepodge of fractured rightwing political factions. A very strange convention this time around. The weirdest ever.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

bill is a liberal... listen to his radio station long enough and you will see. He loves his big gubmint and intrusive powers.

I listen from time to time. Of all the "conservative" radio talk shows his pretty much blows.

[Noumenon]

Beck’s right, and these country-club Vichy Republicans just don’t get it. Upper class twits, all of them. Time to walk the plank, me hearties!

[Noumenon]

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

They're clueless. Been sipping martinis in the country club for way too long. There's another date they need to think long and hard about: 1789. That's a party where they really, really do NOT want to be the guest of honor. But, piss people off long enough, and, well... that's where it's going to go.

[LibLieSlayer]

His show was where I learned how liberal michael steele was... and that was waaaaay before he was named rnc chair. I had some real flame burns from posting against him early on... but I have been vindicated.

LLS

[Pan_Yan]

Bill,

You are sounding more and more like your brother every day.

Pan_Yan

[Invincibly Ignorant]

The show is more tolerable if Rick Santorum is guest hosting.

[LibLieSlayer]

True... but he even parroted “the era of Reagan is dead” mantra during the ‘08 election. I like Rick though... sad he stood by arlen and lost support. I thought he made a very good Senator... most of the time. That is far more than most can claim.

LLS

[Three if by government]

Well said Bill!!!

[Invincibly Ignorant]

I’ll usually catch up on the world of sports during Bennett’s crap and then not be afraid to tune in to other political offerings the rest of the day. lol.