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.
My thoughts as well.
Remember what happened when Ross Perot threw his hat in the ring? 8 long years of Clinton.
say what?
“Meant to say that I’m not surprised Beck likes Bill “drug warrior” Bennett.”
Another pot smoking Paulist.
Look I love Mark..but you are wrong. His statement was not so much that Romney was the best of the two left standing (and by the way there is no way Romney was a better choice than McCain). Read that statement again. Mark says Romney “shares MOST of our conservative principles”. As the AFLAC duck says....HUH? The guy was pro-gay, pro-gun control, pro-big government health care; pro-choice; pro-clamp down on freedom of religious conscientious objection. Other than him being pro-business there is nothing in Romney’s record that is conservative. At least McCain had a decent pro-life and limited government voting record.
We don't need "theater & drama" in the Republican party, or the conservative movement, we need serious people, with serious solutions to serious problems. Beck - with his chalkboard, crocodile tears and unending recitation of his chemical dependency issues - is ridiculous.
Now that is funny, given I cannot abide Ron Paul... and clearly you don’t watch Beck’s show.
I'm pretty much in the same boat but I also have 4 children, 12 grand children and 4 great grands that I'm concerned about.
Sorry. That is what Beck is trying to be, a maker, with him as King Glenn I — Beck is in it for Beck.
It is a fair criticism and it’s hilarious:)
The Bircher’s propaganda materials are anti war.
some are Truthers.
I have talked to many and they push for third parties,
and all the PaulBot and worse drivel
Perhaps Beck is not promoting a philosophy. Basing one’s politics on a philosophy is called ideology, and the whole point of the classical conservatism of Burke and Kirk was to oppose ideology in defense of the natural life of civil societies.
Beck has gone over the top and is sliding down the other side of the hill.
If he'd stick with exposing Obama's Maoists and perverts, he'd be fine.
He's no longer fine.
If you listened he says “P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E Republicans are no better... what in that belief is incorrect? Too many of our “top” Republicans ARE Progressives, starting with John McCain.
Economic...social...national security?"
Bingo. The minute we start to embrace the homosexuals, the abortionists and stop paying attention to threats abroad, is the moment we've completely lost our way.
Of the main possible candidates for 12, Mark speaks up for and well for Sarah Palin
I agree with your comments about him cleaning up his public act.
The fact of the matter is that Beck, specifically as a cultural and political critic of the left, is not required to put forth a positive philosophy on politics, economics, ethics, or anything else. If and when Beck ever writes a "Conservative Manifesto" -- and they all seem to be doing so lately -- then he can define his philosophy more precisely. Until then, his function within the broad conservative movement is to assist in tearing down the left (a perfectly worthy cause), and not in building up a coherent, consistent right.
Beck is upset with JD because he thinks JD is a Birther... JMHO.. but there is a big difference between the two men and the turn out here for JD last night was huge...
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