Posted on 02/21/2010 1:14:06 PM PST by Sergeant Tim
I was invited to be the opening speaker at Saturday's CPAC session. I had accepted but then, to my amazement, I learned that the John Birch Society would be one of many co-sponsors. This takes the big-tent idea many steps too far for me. So, I withdrew. Apparently, others were not so moved. That's fine. But it wasn't for me. Bill Buckley and Barry Goldwater, among others, chased the Birchers from the movement decades ago. And they're not a part of the movement. So, to give them a booth at CPAC was boneheaded.
I want to commend Bill Bennett for his wise piece this morning on the Corner. I agree with him.
I have no idea what philosophy Glenn Beck is promoting. And neither does he. It's incoherent. One day it's populist, the next it's libertarian bordering on anarchy, next it's conservative but not really, etc. And to what end? I believe he has announced that he is no longer going to endorse candidates because our problems are bigger than politics. Well, of course, our problems are not easily dissected into categories, but to reject politics is to reject the manner in which we try to organize ourselves. This is as old as Plato and Aristotle. Why would conservatives choose to surrender the political battlefield to our adversaries -- who are trashing this society -- when we must retake it in order to preserve our society? Philosophy, politics, culture, family, etc., are all of one. Edmund Burke, among others, wrote about it extensively, and far better that I possibly can. But all elements of the civil society require our defense. Besides, why preach such a strategy when conservatism is on the rise and the GOP is acting more responsibly?
Moreover, when he does discuss politics, which, ironically, is often, how can he claim today that there is no difference between the two parties when, but for the Republicans in Congress, government-run health care, cap-and-trade, card check, and a long list of other disastrous policies would already be law? The GOP is becoming more conservative thanks to the grass-roots movement and a political uprising across the country, which has even reached into New Jersey and Massachusetts. Why keep pretending otherwise? My only conclusion is that he is promoting a third party or some third way, which is counter-productive to defeating Obama and the Democrat Congress. These are perilous times and this kind of an approach will keep the statists in power for decades.
And what of his flirtations with Ron Paul's lunacy respecting America's supposed provocations with her enemies, including al-Qaeda? Why should such a fatal defect in thinking be ignored? Do we conservatives agree with this?
Finally, Beck is fond of congratulating himself for being the only or the first host to criticize George Bush's spending. This is demonstrably false. I not only attacked his spending, but the creation of the Homeland Security Department, the prescription drug add-on for Medicare, his "moderate" tax cuts, as well as his nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, "comprehensive immigration reform," and so forth. And I was not alone -- Rush and Sean did the same, for example. And as someone who fought liberal Republicans in the trenches when campaigning for Reagan in 1976 and 1980, I don't need lectures from Beck, who was nowhere to be found, about big-spending Republicans. But this is not about me, or Beck, or Beck's past drunkenness (which he endlessly wears as some kind of badge of honor). It is about preserving our society for our children and grandchildren. Beck spent precious little time aiming fire at Obama-Pelosi-Reid in his speech, and it is they who are destroying our country.
On as a positive note, I am personally happy to see that Beck has cleaned up his public act -- as best I can tell, no more boiling fake frogs on TV or pretending to pour gasoline on someone -- and the rest of it. But I do think his speech, which contained nuggets of truth heard before and read elsewhere, including on Rush's show and in my book and many other books, may have distracted from some of the more compelling and coherent speeches at the event, including Marco Rubio's superb speech. I fear the media will see to this. I hope not.
The vote was 92% for Mitt.
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exactly.
I was trying to be polite.
Today on his show FRed Thompson mentioned Beck had said that there is no difference between the parties...
FRed said “Think judges, Glenn. Think judges.”
well said.
Romney - Romney,
He’s our man!
If he can’t save the Constitution that’s hanging as by a slender thread,
No one can!
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ROFL.
Doubts creeping in?...
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That is my prayer.
as i see it, beck is not infighting because he is outside throwing spitballs - outside both the democrat and republican parties - 'they are both the same'
I guess it can be scary out there without God...
Uncertainity, paranonia, windmill monsters...
windmill monsters...
== = = = = = ==
Windmill monsters exist. I used to work for one of the big wind farms in CA, talk about SCARY! ;)
LOL
Thanks Binger.
Uncertainity, paranonia,
Like Barry without his teleprompter...
Like Beck without his Ross Perot charts...
SCARY.....
When a recovering alcoholic forgets the “anonymous” in Alcoholics Anonymous- trouble is sure to follow.
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Very true. I was talking to someone about this the other day. I really think Beck believes he is entirely immune to a relapse.
Someone needs to inform Mr. Levin that the Birchers have been proven right on so many things. Their presentation may suck, but they’ve generally been ahead of the curve.
as i see it, he is educating about principles and historical trends and cautioning that politicians from both parties are violating our principles. he’s not telling us what our principles should be, he’s asking everyone to decide for themselves. The bottom line is : ragging on Beck when we are facing what we are currently facing is NOT the best use of our time. Stop being petty about who is better and reclaim America.
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Thank you, SZ. I prophesy crickets, however.
Resty-
If you are going to trash talk me in the future - pls ping me to the party. I usually ignore you because you cannot put a coherent reply together.
Is this the forked tongued commenary you accuse Chrisians of?
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