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.
I get it: a PADDED 2*4!
If you’ve not read Levin’s book then you’ll never see Beck’s plagarism. ‘Arguing with Idiots’ was a Beck autobiography.
***
oh Please I have bought serveral copies each of Mark’s books and given them to people to be informed
I just don’t understand why there is not room for all voices!
This knowledge was around in the 1980’s way before Levin’s book.
There were courses in the 80’s on About “Making of America” Seminar”
Over the years, we have held seminars in many different places: schools, libraries, business meeting rooms, churches, homes, college campuses, city convention centers, etc. No matter the setting, when good people come together in the spirit of learning—people who sense that something is terribly amiss in America and they are seeking to know if there are better answers—a sense of peace and hope pervades the room as the story of the Founders’ message is unfolded to them.
We invite you to come join us as we discover the Founders’ original success formula for freedom.
http://www.nccs.net/seminars/index.html
This is not the only site I also apppreciate
Wallbuilders
http://shop.wallbuilders.com/
Years ago I got a video from them on George Washtington love it very much!
Good post.
tttt
Eisenhower was what the Soviets called a “useful idiot.”
We’ve had thousands of them.
You appear to be trying to become a post-soviet useful idiot.
do you agree that everyone sucks equally?
Levin is another pseudo-conservative
***
That is not true do not mistake Mark discipline as being
Pseudo in matters of importance he wants to make sure folks get the correct information.
They each have different styles...
One who has learn to conform well while getting a higher education.
The other who is unrefined but still has the information.
I know it can drive the learned crazy
There is no reason the unlearned cannot be humble to receive council from those who are discipline for fine tuning!
Instead of this contention fine a way to resolve the differences!
i mean better as between BECK and LEVIN, since i see the various partisans for both going round and round, aimlessly spinning their wheels about who is right about this. i like them both, they serve different constituencies and both are doing yeoman’s jobs of it. it is wasting time to quibble, lets get rid of the dang socialists, TOGETHER.
Well, no. Supporting or refuting the John Birch Society is not an issue that interests me much.
What?
I sincerely doubt Ike was a useful idiot. Are you a Bircher?
Same warning for gold tablets.
i don't see beck as having any part of that
LOL.
I can understand why you'd think this way...
It appears that the UNlearned can be quite, shall we say, loony as well.
Speaking of LEARN...
Beck has done some work that is admirable, however one must not overlook the forces driving him and wonder what is his eventual personal goal. One must also look into those for whom he has expressed great admiration, such as Cleon Skousen.
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Agreed.
Elsie, DO NOT go there...
:)
Would that be the same for Mitt?
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