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.
Somehow, I doubt it.
I was driving with a friend with the Levin radio show playing in my truck. After a while, my apolitical friend asked who this guy was ranting on Beck. I replied that it was one conservative radio host venting his spleen about his disagreements with another conservative radio host. My friend offered this perspective: "He sounds like a high school dweeb talking sh*t about the guy who took his ex-girlfriend to the prom."
To even a casual listener, who knows no history of Levin's grievances, it comes across as bile filled envy.
Didnt know that - you mean in that religion, some are considered better than others? What is that based on - who’s gets an exalted status?
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Your ‘status’ has to do with how ‘valiant’ you were in their ‘pre-existance’.
Those born to faithful temple married Mormon families here in the US were the most faithful. If you were born to a prestigious LDS family than you were more faithful than most and destined for greatness.
Then comes those who were not born LDS but who converted. The earlier the conversion the more valiant you had obviously been (I converted as a teenager - so I was pretty good). But converts are almost always looked upon by those who were born/raised in a big name LDS family (like Romney).
Then come those born outside the US.
Then American Indians, then Blacks (who they used to teach had the mark of Cain because they were ‘fence sitters’ in the ‘war in heaven’ between God and Satan (God’s second oldest spirit child).
No, I am not kidding.
That’s a fair analysis. Are they so in love that they would seek out a 3rd party? BTW, ‘51’ is young, 85 is old - so enjoy your youth and be home by 10. ;)
Few know just how exhausting three hours of radio can be,even fewer do an additional hour of tv. Sean and Beck have huge responsibilities and work many hours week after week.
Once you have been in the media long enough to see what these guys go through it creates an entirely different world in your mind.AT least it does for me.
And you know this personally? How do you know Beck isnt in it for himself? Because you have faith that he’s real?
Definitely! - My ex's family was one of the founding Mormon families, and her Father was treated like royalty everywhere. He gave me a temple admit, and I wasn't even Mormon.
I am 100% in agreement with you re: the Constitution as our guiding document and source of our foundational principles, as well as the Declaration of Independence and the writings of the Founding Fathers such as the Federalist Papers. No argument from me whatsoever.
As far as "needing" a new philosophy I don't view philosophies as something "cooked up" as much as something that is revealed through a search for the truth. Searching for the truth involves asking new questions as well as old questions that have not recently been asked.
Beck may or may not develop a new philosophy and either way is fine with me. But I, personally, enjoy watching him go through a process of search that *could* end up in a new way of understanding just what makes human beings tick. That is one of the important reasons that I support and defend Glenn Beck.
Too few people in the public square are asking important questions these days. Beck is brave to do so in today's political climate.
I don’t see it that way, we will just disagree.
You are welcome Pharmboy.
Looking today they bash Cheney, and same views as the Left on GITMO
But a renewed, revived, refocused Republican party is the answer (as Reagan said 35 years ago).
Third parties ALWAYS end up with Dems staying in power, or regaining it.
The third party kick Glenn's on, if enough people follow him, will be a DISASTER for America. He's got to stop it.
It really is interesting to watch people listening to others instead of doing their own homework.
Every story has two sides!
I look for the day that these two fine men Bennett and Levin stop this kind of behavior!
Beck is not a Bircher, I feel he is pressing hard on the parties to clean up their act and get with the constitution.
(But I'm still praying for him, because his behavior is worrying me).
Nonsense! - - Ailes tried to get Levin to do a program on Fox, and he refused. Beck is third or fourth choice there.
Ailes talked to several thousand people before Levin about hosting a show on Fox. Your point is?
What it comes down to, Levin is not and will never be a national media figure in that a average man/woman on the street will have a clue that he exists. Glenn Beck has carved a prime time sized audience in a time slot where these numbers have never existed before. His radio audience ranks among the highest as well.
For media recognition, Beck will always outshine Levin. He simply is more skilled and equipped to do so. This bugs Levin. His carping makes it obvious.
I far prefer hearing the classy Rush take a call from a lib
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That is it. Why I love Rush and can’t stand Beck. Rush has class, Beck doesn’t
No, Levin is his #1, but he doesn’t feel comfortable on camera, so all he’ll do is short spots.
Theatrics works - it’s TV - people want to be entertained and sometimes they think they learned something.
I agree with that statement. I love people. I was making sure the guy I responded to wasn’t going to start gay bashing.
Having worked in media (radio - TV) - I do know what it’s like.
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