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.
Unfortunately, no one -- from Beck to Levin and everyone in between -- is willing to touch this. Only Ryan Sorba had the guts to stand up to them and I haven't seen anyone who stood up for what he said. Horowitz's site had a columnist attacking Sorba instead.
Apparently, the militant gay agenda has become the new third rail of American politics.
No, what have I said that would make you think that. I said that Beck has never claimed to be part of the conservative movement, and does not owe anyone to explain his philosophy or where he want the conservative movement to go.
In his shows, he talks about wanting to reduce spending in Federal and State governments. Because the conservative movement wants these things too, we assume he is part of our movement. You made him a conservative, and are now tearing him down for being not conservative enough.
I also have wondered why some posters here will say that Beck is for himself, but the others are for the greater cause. Unless you know them personally, you probably could not comment on their motives. Since you like Sean, Rush, and Mark, you assume they are not in it for just themselves. But because you dislike Beck, he is doing everything for just himself. Couldn’t someone who doesnt like Levin say the same thing?
Levin had his chance to speak at CPAC and he turned it down, Beck had a chance to speak at CPAC and he turned it on. So now Levin attacks him for it when he had every opportunity to make this very case at CPAC in person. Sounds now like sour grapes to me.
Neither one of us know it. I have a good idea based on his past and his speeches, and I dont like his proposals, but I dont have intimate knowledge of his intentions.
Pinging the COMRADES
My American History professor. Mike Church is absolutely brilliant.
Thank you, rodguy.
I used to love his radio show, the TV to begin with, honestly I think he drinking. I can’t stand listening to him any longer.
God is at work in this nation and he is using secular voices. Mark is Jewish, focus on law. Sean is Catholic,focus on politics. Rush is Protestant, focus on culture. Glenn is Mormon, focus on economics. I don’t think that’s coincidence. I think it’s important.
***
Wow
I did not think of it like that!
Thank you
little green monster rears it’s ugly head!
Whatever. I like Mark and Glenn for different reasons.
Levin did not go to CPAC mainly due to the John Birch sponsorship.
It also didn’t help that David Keene head of CPAC is a Palin basher and a MittBot
So you have never listened to Limbaugh, who incase you didn’t know has been on the radio for more than 20 years.
Im not twisting anything. And you can be a dumbass if you want. But you dont know why Glenn Beck does what he does. You never will. If it helps you sleep at night to assign motive to someone you dont know who has no effect on you because your hero Levin doesnt like him, have at it.
I see the Michael Savage anti Mark Levin bunch just got a ping.
levin does what his health allows -
Gee we are still in that frame of mind if you like him than you don’t have enough love to like me!
That is silly thinking good people appreciate all those that doing what they can do!
There is enough for every one stop looking at the glass half empty!
I watch him about once a week on average, but I listen to Levin religiously.
I hope Beck shelves the “I am an alcoholic” spiel, it’s starting to remind me of Kerry constantly reminding us that he went to Viet Nam. He went there, right?
;-)
LOL! Hear, Hear!
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