Like my fellow right-of-center bloggers, Dan Riehl and Betsy Newmark, I’m not much of a fan of Glenn Beck’s program. (His style is a little too “breathless” for me.)
I do, however, share the radio and TV talk show host’s libertarian leanings and am impressed by how quickly the audience for his show on FoxNews has grown. Having moved to the network the day before Obama was sworn in, Beck is now the third largest draw in cable news, behind only Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity. More people watch his program than watch Keith Olbermann’s and Rachel Maddow’s combined.
But, you needn’t look at the latest cable ratings to see how well the guy is doing; you could probably guess it just by noticing the increasingly hysterical media coverage of the man. For the picture of Beck to accompany its cover story, Time magazine tapped a photographer who last year had bragged about distorting pictures of John McCain for an Atlantic cover last year.
And they’re not alone. Everyone on the left seems out to get Glenn Beck these days, as if he is the defining voice of the Republican opposition. And heck, the guy isn’t even a Republican, having repeatedly attack George W. Bush that Republican was in office.
Whatever Glenn Beck’s faults, he has tapped into something in America. And yet, as, with their coverage of the Tea Parties, the media seek to denigrate and attempt to discredit the man rather than understand the phenomenon he (along with many others) has come to represent.
I say let the Left attack Glenn Beck all they want. It will only make him stronger. They shot their wad at Sarah Palin and with one little blip on Facebook she was able to almost sink ObamaCare. So let the Left do its worse….their days are marked.
I love Glenn Beck!!! I find him very insightful and funny. He’s got sort of an off-center way of presenting things. And he’s usually right. If Van Jones had a show attacking President Bush, everyone would love it–but to have someone attacking Obama, well, they can’t stand that.
It’s kind of nice for Sarah Palin that the left has a whole new set of dartboards, though.
I’m a big fan of Glenn Beck. While he’s a bit melodramatic, his show is entertaining and he certainly has a knack for understanding the frustrations that we on the right have with the current administration. As Glenn always says, he’s just asking reasonable questions and hopes that someone will show an iota of respect for the citizens of this country and provide answers, but the far left, the MSM, and the White House continue to ignore/denigrate him. Keep up the great work, Glenn!
The Leftists who attack him are right that he has been one of the most powerful political forces these past few months. That’s a fine reason to attack him–though it should be said that people shouldn’t attack commentators for free speech. But attacking him for free speech was something the libs did to incredibly enhance his power. If they hadn’t been so viciously attacking him, bragging about how they got 1 or 2 advertisers to leave him, Van Jones would still probably be employed.
I nominate that for understatement of the year.
Personally, I find him to be a reeeeealy creepy quasi-psycho. I can only imagine people like him in the same manner that they like to go to freak shows, but what do I know about the conservative mind?
I say lets see more and more of him. He’s yours and I can’t help but think that his prominence, although it rallies some of the deepest recesses of your base, hurts y’all big time with those in the middle who swing elections and national moods.
His audience is what – 3 million? The GOP, in its full crisis mode, winning the alliegance of only 20% of the voters – that equals what – 50 million core Republicans? Lets keep things in perspective.
1) glen beck is a nutjob who likely doesn’t even believe himself the utter nonsense coming out of his mouth.
2) the fact that he has so many viewers on the right is pretty telling.
3) seriously…if there is anyone reading this blog with an IQ over 75, please explain to me how you can watch this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0OUXkZO8vE
and not shake your head at this guy.
4)GPW, proofread much? jesus.
Tano goes for your more gifted orators… your Olbermanns, Matthews, Randi Rhodes what with their reasoned rhetoric and stick-to-the-issues style of debate. Tano probably wishes he could have sat in the pews to listen to the dulcet tones of Jeremiah Wright.
Of course, Tano could be fooling us all – never missing an episode of Jerry Springer.
Myself, I find Beck and O’Reilly too breathless for me. I’m more of the Special Report with Bret Baier type (and I miss Brit Hume).
Translation: He’s right and hits the nail on the head.
Translation: Don’t ask questions. You’ll be better off.
Translation: I’m an arrogant douche who doesn’t know how to capitalize.
[Citation Needed]
Yeah they’re flocking to the liberals, ain’t they?
I just watched the movie “Network” again. Glenn Beck is the present day Howard Beale. “I’m mad as hell! And I’m not going to take it anymore!”
He’s yours and I can’t help but think that his prominence, although it rallies some of the deepest recesses of your base, hurts y’all big time with those in the middle who swing elections and national moods.
Versus Obama, Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid screaming that anyone who disagrees with them is a swastika-carrying and evil-mongering racist Nazi.
Or Barack Obama babbling today that he had no idea ACORN received Federal money and that imposing hundreds of dollars in new insurance mandates does not constitute a tax increase.
The deep-rooted issues of liberals are becoming almost hilarious to watch. Incapable of self-examination or acknowledgment of bad behavior on their side, they lash out at others, projecting onto those the idiocies that they themselves are spewing.
I think Glenn Beck is so popular because so many people feel powerless and angry at a government has not listened to the people for many years. Beck acts as the living embodiment of that feeling and it resonates with people. He gets angry, he shouts and he openly mocks those in power who can’t seem to comprehend basic, common sense. He gives a voice to the people who feel that all they can do is scream at the television screen when they watch the news. Yes, he can be a little over-the-top, but that’s how he catches peoples’ attention. I think that he is exactly what this country needs right now.
“The Leftists who attack him”
You folks should check out what Charles Johnson is saying about Beck. (I know you guys are trying to excommunicate him these days but “the left” isn’t ready to claim him)
Here LGF discuses Beck’s zany, and factually incorrect World View
Here LGF looks at the relationship to Beck (and the tea parties) to the truthers s truthers
Here LGF calls Beck a “raving freakazoid nut sandwich” while critiquing his fear mongering
That’s Great!
SoCalRobert,
Yo, what the hell was that comment all about? I don’t give you enough material for you to insult me about, you have to just make stuff up? Why do you bother?
Did Obamateleprompter really say he had no idea what money or how much govt money his buds at ACORN were getting? Is he dumb or playing dumb?
I appreciate that Glenn Beck doesn’t mince his words. As for his style, it’s an acquired taste. After all, he calls himself a “rodeo clown.” At least he’s not pompous!
Howard Beale! Exactly! Except one that lives, I hope.
Actually, Tano, I think my insult count is pretty low (and mild at that).
There are commentators on both sides that fall somewhere between deep ‘n’ deliberate and wild-eyed maniac. I’ve never watched Beck for more than a few minutes (at work when he’s on) but when you say he’s creepy or psycho I have to wonder who you’re comparing him to.
It torques me when libs latch on to every right-wing commentator that’s more energetic than David Brooks or George Will and claim “racist” or “freak show”. Did the last eight years of ranting and raving about Bushitler and Trig Palin’s mommy go completely down the memory hole? During the 2008 campaign, I heard crap from the left that made the Michael Savage show seem like the News Hour with Jim Lehrer.
Having a room-temperature IQ and all (boob said so), the left/right argument seems simple to me: Are we freeborn citizens at liberty to make our own destinies (for better or worse) or are we to be a nation of subjects beholden to a nanny-state government?
gillie – does it really matter what the guy at LGF thinks one way or the other? The bottom line is that Beck (or Hannity or Olbermann or Matthews) are people on TV and radio. They can’t throw you in jail, raise your taxes, order bombs dropped, or (in the future) decide that you’re too old or fat to get that angioplasty you need to survive.
I didn’t watch the Obamathon on the Sunday shows today but I gather (from Fox News!) that he’s not happy with the media’s obsession with Joe Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and the racism claims. If that’s what Obama really said then I am in complete agreement with him – it is a distraction.
“gillie – does it really matter what the guy at LGF thinks one way or the other?”
No.
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/34433_Video-_Glenn_Beck_Hitlerfest_Extended_Version
But if more cons were like him I just might be one.
“I heard crap from the left that made the Michael Savage show seem like the News Hour with Jim Lehrer.”
That sir, is an exaggeration.
Not really.
Among other examples.
But of course, Tano and Barack Obama supported all of those, because assassinating Bush would have been a great thing in the moral relativism views of the left, just like they endorse and support Hamas because it also hates and wants to murder Jews, just like the Obama Party base.
But if more cons were like him I just might be one.
For some reason, that surprises no one.
Only if you suffer from rectal-cranial inversion.
The left his picked up on Glenn Beck as the heir-apparent to Rush Limbaugh. Sean Hannity is a nice guy, but he spends half his show promoting himself and can’t argue beyond a few talking points. That leaves GB as the next in line. He’s funny, decent, and passionately patriotic. (None of which is true of Keith Olbermann or Rachel Madcow.) More threatening to the left, however, is he is effective. He brought down Van Jones. He brought down ACORN. This makes him a threat to the radical Marxist agenda.
They can’t defeat GB on facts or ideas, so, they are going all out to destroy him personally … even to the point of promulgating a phony rumor that he raped and killed a girl in 1990.
“I heard crap from the left that made the Michael Savage show seem like the News Hour with Jim Lehrer.”
The aforementioned rumor that Glenn Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990, for example.
I would also put Keith Olbermann’s ‘Worst Person in the World’ rants in that category. Each one is an exercise in left-wing obnoxiousness.
Olbermann’s unprofessional jihad against Bill O’Reilly would fall into the same category. A professional journalist — as Olbermann claims to be — does not devote vast amounts of time to attacking a fellow journalist.
Also, Randi Rhodes interposing shotgun blasts over Bush speeches on Air America. Michael Savage has never sunk that low.
Not to mention Anderson Cooper’s, Rachel Maddow’s, and other left-wing journalist’s giggling use of a middle-school locker room sexual term to describe patriots opposed to Obama’s policy; just plain childish.
I’d add that VDH has a nice list
but since our resident leftists, of which Tano is a great example, continue to try to spread the meme that Glen Beck beleived in the FEMA camps rather than debunk them, we shouldn’t be surprised that they can’t make rational arguements.
Just another example of a lack of intellectual engagement.
WOW!!! Tano, gillie and the ghost of Ian don’t like Glenn Beck. Who would have thunk it? I especially love having LGF as the go to source. Let me guess, Glenn Beck is a closet creationist. Right? Well, that seals it. There had to be a reason LGF has his long knives out for him.
With all that you great intellectuals disdain about Glenn Beck, I am certain you can narrow your logical reasoning down to just three precise and well researched examples. But, wait, let’s not do a burdensome three! Let’s just go for one. ONE.
Get together, guys, the floor is yours…………..
“I am certain you can narrow your logical reasoning down to just three precise and well researched examples”
I have provided 4 examples of why Beck is crazy. at least 2 of why he is a fear mongeror (and perhaps a truther) and 1 that shows he is a “raving freakazoid nut sandwich”
gillie,
I can’t access LGF right now, but considering how far he’s gone off the deepend of late, I question anything Charles posts. I’ll shred them in detail when I get home.
gillie,
Try using logic. Linking to LGF is not even Wikipedia-Lite. It’s OK, I can wait. Frisk poor Glenn Beck into oblivion. Or, just demonstrate how any one of his claims is Truther level bizarre. I suspect that if I connected to someone who says Al Gore is a “raving freakazoid nut sandwich” you would not accept it as conclusive proof. However, I am personally confident that Al Gore is a “raving freakazoid nut sandwich.” The fact is, I can only show that his “facts” are cherry picked, based on selective theory by ideologue scientists, largely distorted and totally stacked. However, that may not qualify for “raving freakazoid nut sandwich” in your neighborhood.
Now have at Glenn Beck.
#14 *yawn*
Ok, so there were truthers there. Congratulations, you’re continiuing the big lie you’ve started by trying to claim the woman Bawney shouted down was a republican. Though if you believe that link I guess you accept that President Obama is a truther and a communist since his hand picked man (note, despite CJ’s claim, you don’t get much more ‘associated’ with the wackjobs than signing the petion and organizing truther rallies) is a truther and communist.
Link 3, very good, except a) that is what the site says and b) if it was just the ravings of one man, why did the state change the policy?
As to the first link… gods, I can give commentary on an Obama speech, so you’re going to take me at face value?
Thank you for reminding me again why I don’t read LGF.
I cleaned out some dust bunnies hiding under the sofa. Do you suppose one of them was gillie?
No, the average dust bunny has a much higher IQ than the gillster.