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 husband says he’s attracting young people to conservatism. Beck isn’t for me, either is Hannity. But, I believe, their purpose is to attract people to conservatism, so, in that respect, go for it. But, us true blue conservatives must help our kids along this path and guide them to our founding. IMO, there are too many who have jumped on this bandwagon. We just need to bring them up to speed once they’ve been introduced to the ‘generic’ message.
Although I continue to call Mark Levin “The Great One” I disagree with him here. I think there is a place for Glenn Beck’s particular style and message and no, I do not think he’s pushing a third party.
Beck is calling out liberal Republicans and he’s right to do so. The fact that Levin has done so for years is beside the point. The fact is, Beck is reaching more people that Levin and whether or not I think that’s a good thing is irrelevant. It is what it is. Beck is a big booming voice right now and on balance our nation is better off with that voice than without it.
Would Levin feel better if Beck were somehow silenced? Does he think that would be a net plus for our country?
Can’t listen to Glenn. I only listen to Mark L and King Dude.
Beck is stealing Mark’s work as his own, without credit.
Okay, libertarian one day, conservative another, and anarchic another day. Can we at least credit Beck for not being liberal, not even a RINO? I think the big tent concept is foolish when it comes to including liberals posing as conservatives, but, that said, there is certainly room both in the philosophy and under the tent for someone like Glenn Beck.
I would want to be a lot more circumspect about who we choose to fight, and much prefer to expend the energy fighting liberals and their drivel.
I agree with Levin that Beck doesn’t know what philosophy he is spouting. This is a positive for Beck in my book because he is simply asking pertinent questions and seeing where they lead. From this a new philosophy may spring. This is an interesting process.
CPAC, the fruits and nuts PAC.
Mark went on to say just that; this is not about him or Beck.
The problem is not that Beck claims to have been the lone voice out crying in the wilderness but that if you follow him, watch out for the cliff he’ll lead you off.
Beck is in this for one reason: Beck.
The heart of the issue.
>>Well, Mitt Romney won it three times, and how did that turn out?<<
I guess we have the working definition of “Dumb” (Romney) vs. “Insane” (ru paul).
Well yeah. Of course. The people, Republican voters, who supported the Republicans representatives who threw up the roadblocks. Not the Republicans who whined and cried and said there was (is) no difference between the parties. Not the Republicans who ape the "everybody does it" liberal talking point. Not the Republicans who, whenever liberals do anything, cry: "and the spineless Republicans will do nothing".
I agree. What’s wrong with the John Birch Society?
I have to agree with you.
Also, Mark says “the GOP is becoming more conservative...” but I haven’t seen any signs of that.
Beck doesn’t make the allowance for Conservatives fighting within the Republican Party. Sure there is Progressivism in both parties, but the ideology between the Republican and Democrat Parties are opposites. Yet, Beck lumps the two together. His thinking is so murky.
"I gots mine!"
Great attitude.
Mark is correct....but then again Levin endorsed Romney during the primaries...so I’m not sure what he’s smoking sometimes either.
Just my $.02, ymmv
lol
But the good news is that neither of them ended up being the presidential candidate. That was my point.
Beware of Romney, he’s fooled a lot of people. Pawlenty is in that same camp.
Beck is insulting to the conservative movement.
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