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.
The ones that scream about the Birch Society are mostly the ones who's apple cart would be upset if the Birchers got much traction.
They are way more than anti-communist. They oppose anything that would undermine our constitution, and presently, that is almost everything that either party stands for.
Not a perfect fit for Beck by any means [I still have a soft spot for the guy] but here is food for thought:
Discources:
CHAPTER XLI.: it is imprudent and unprofitable suddenly to change from humility to pride, and from gentleness to cruelty.
Besides the other errors committed by Appius in attempting to maintain his tyranny, that of changing too suddenly from one quality to the extreme opposite was of no little moment. Although his astuteness in deceiving the people by simulating to be of their party was well employed, and equally so the means he used to bring about the reappointment of the Ten, as well as his audacity in nominating himself, contrary to the expectations of the nobles, and in naming colleagues to suit his own purposes; yet it was very ill-judged in him suddenly to change his character, and from having been a friend of the people, all at once to show himself their enemy, — from being humane to become haughty, and from being easy of access to become difficult, — and to do this so suddenly and without excuse that everybody could see the falseness of his soul. For he who for a time has seemed good, and for purposes of his own wants to become bad, should do it gradually, and should seem to be brought to it by the force of circumstances; so that, before his changed nature deprives him of his former friends, he may have gained new ones, and that his authority may not be diminished by the change. Otherwise his deception will be discovered, and he will lose his friends and be ruined.
>> To you he’s “colorful” but to me he’s unhinged.
Because theatrics and emotion have no place in radio and TV land.
You noticed that too?
Sorry, I don’t agree with you that Beck is in this for himself.
BTTT
Levin has here expressed concern that this potential self-ordained "leader" may not have a cohesive political/philosophical policy with which to lead the Tea Party. And that is a valid concern.
Bears repeating.
He dissects zeros every move and tells the logic behind it all from Saul Alinksy/soros to every left wing a-hole that the Joker is aligned with.
Few give as good a take on what is happening to the country financially, socially, morally or any which way as Glen Beck.
It's hard for me to imagine anyone who is a frequent listener or viewer of his shows to come away with such a negative attitude about the man.
I just don't get it. Maybe you should try getting behind a mike some time.
Thank you for pointing that out so early, Tim-I’m late to the party and haven’t the time to read through 356+ comments, but that is absolutely correct; Fred was Mark’s clear favorite.
Another home-run by Mark Levin! Some of these comments (just among the first 50) have been somewhat annoying...is it so difficult to understand that it’s WRONG to use the intellectual product of another person and not properly attribute it? It’s not plagiarism in the legal sense, but does anyone here believe that it’s ethical? Does anyone believe that if Mark wasn’t absolutely certain that Glenn Beck is cribbing his material he’d be in a twist about it? That it’s merely a rivalry? Mark’s place is secure regardless of what happens to Beck. I admit that I wouldn’t mind seeing some definitive examples of such cribbing on Beck’s part, but I have no doubt that Mark has good reason to believe it’s happened/is happening. He is often passionate, but never irrational.
I have zero interest in Beck, especially since that video of the Time cover shoot. From what I’ve observed, he’s not unlike a RINO...goes with the wind, jumps on whatever popular bandwagon that’s rolling and claims he bought the wheels. I don’t trust him-period.
And screw the Birchers.
And Levin isnt? Try listening to one show without him talking about himself, how smart he is, how much work he’s done, what he did in the past, or about how he is better than the backbenchers.
Hey, buddy. I remember swapping some posts with you: “Drill here! Drill now!”
Started something today you might consider a peek at:
Hayworth vs. McCain — Primary Headline Roundup http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2456305/posts?page=8
It will be ongoing until McCain is out to pasture in a cactus patch.
!
Outstanding post,great stuff.
Who is King Dude?
So Ike was a commie?
The Straw Poll at CPAC was a prefect example of what happens when a bunch of youngin’s decide to stack the poll for their favorite.
I find Mark’s “anger” funny.
What to do with Beck? He’s been picking a fight with a huge percentage of Republicans — certifigate hawks, known as “birthers”. Not wise to cut into your support base. I hope he starts making peace more and squabbling with his allies less.
Yes, that is the heart of the issue. But .. even though the GOP seems to be getting the message - slowly - they are not there yet!
I think that’s what Beck was really saying .. though the GOP appears to be heading in the right direction, we still have a long way to go before we get back to what the founders believed was the right direction - and gave us The Constitution to show us the way.
Me too. Of course the truly awesome don’t run for President—Reagan excepted.
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