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.
Ain't that the truth!
Well please tell him to just stay out of McCain and Palin’s way. Thanks!
While no big fan of Mr. Beck, his political tastes are all over the “right” side of the map. I get the impression that Beck is a mirror of millions of awakening Americans who haven’t been politically aware in their lifetimes. Like them, Beck is still “feeling his way” about the landscape. He’s on the proper highway, he just hasn’t managed to stay off the shoulders and berms, yet.
Sorry I don't buy into your brand of Upper West Side elitism, which is what half the posts on this thread are starting to sound like now. Just like some snotty ivy league princess calling Palin a hick because of her no name college, so many on this thread want to equate Beck and his education with not being worthy of "The Great One".
I happen to value Levin, Bennett, and Beck, for different reasons. I don't believe Beck said or did anything that should have Levin and Bennett acting out the way they are, nor justifying the snooty, looking down your nose superiority as is being shown on this thread.
He has stolen written thoughts from Levin and claimed them as his own. Levin has been in the conservative movement since he was maybe 14 years old. He has spent his life learning and thinking about these major philosophical and practical ideas in the conservative movement. I wrote about this too, not that I'm just a great big Levin fan, (I am) but I believe it does not take much to see the breadth of understanding of the constitution and the founding that Levin has. Beck cheapens all of this by stealing and acting as though he's the professor with the chalkboard and has so many original thoughts that he can churn out books hand over fist. I really believe that Beck is in a bad situation right now with his mental health. Not that he's crazy, just that he seems very vulnerable and sensitive. If he has ADD and is an admitted past coke user and alcoholic, perhaps now catching flak is his new high. But that is dangerous to anyone's mental state.
Further, I attend my local Republican Party meetings and the new people coming in watch Beck (good right?) except that they all say the same things like robots, always repeating progressive, RINO, and so on. They are going to get pissed the first time any Republican gets a nomination not to their liking and they will jump ship, IMHO. This battle is going to last for a very long time and I'm afraid Beck is not giving them the best advice. He is irresponsible in his leadership.
So gambling addiction is ok in your book!” [Resty]
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Oh get off your high horse, resty. You support Romney and he has supported a lot worse than gambling (gay marriage, socialist healthcare, and abortion).
There are many of us on here who have a very good idea why you support Mitt and Beck.
Such as?
The irony never ceases to amaze me. :)
Perhaps time to leave? This has been a pretty productive, civil discussion so far.
If you were well read, you would know that the founding of the Hong Kong colony was to be a base for the Windsor family’s opium and heroin distribution business
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Excuse but I am aware of that it just it was the LaRussies who printed it.
Also there has been many documentaries done on that topic as well!
The Birchers I am not aware of all that they wrote.
Hannity clearly feels very threatened by Beck
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I can’t imagine why, Beck is nowhere near Hannity’s league. Beck is a flash in the pan.
Especially since Levin's been such an outspoken supporter of the birthers...
< /sarc>
I notice you said Levin can’t keep an audience. Evidence? He’s far bigger than Beck in NY, LA, Chicago, SF, Dallas, and on and on. Scarborough, a brick if there ever was one, says even he beats Beck in NY. Beck never discusses his radio ratings because they must suck. What are they? By the way, I hear he’s coming out with a novel and 3 more books this year, plus more stage shows, a couple if $120 seminars, and maybe a few mugs. Suckers!
BFD!
I’ve watched Beck enough to know he doesn’t fully represent me.
If he does you, your problem hon, not mine.
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AMEN!
Upper West side elitism? I’m a seamstress from the frozen north! LOL
Are you just one of those folks who just want one voice all the rest shut up and set down!
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Pot calling the kettle black, Resty?
Well, he is getting all of you trolls in a tizzy, that’s for sure.
All of you idiots keep repeating that, but not a single one of you can come up with an example. Enough already. Either produce examples of this 'theft' or STFU already.
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