Beck the Halls
August 28, 2009 12:07 PM Subscribe
OLIGARH. Glenn Beck fills us in on the missing letter.
Under heavy scrutiny since decrying Obama as a racist, advertisers have been bolting from sponsorship of Beck's show on FOX News. In an attempt to save face, Beck has channeled a televangelist.
Other Beck highlights:
The Daily Show finds a gap in consistency
The View ladies vs. Beck (part 2)
Beck's pedantry hits a brick wall
Cash for Clunkers is a front for government to take over your computer
Glenn gets emotional
Under heavy scrutiny since decrying Obama as a racist, advertisers have been bolting from sponsorship of Beck's show on FOX News. In an attempt to save face, Beck has channeled a televangelist.
Other Beck highlights:
The Daily Show finds a gap in consistency
The View ladies vs. Beck (part 2)
Beck's pedantry hits a brick wall
Cash for Clunkers is a front for government to take over your computer
Glenn gets emotional
This post was deleted for the following reason: low hanging fruit, yeah. -- jessamyn
I dunno, I feel like glenn's an awfully low-hanging fruit for our crowd
posted by Think_Long at 12:12 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by Think_Long at 12:12 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
Wow, I had to watch that without sound and it looked like some crazy Beautiful Mind shit.
There's a pattern here dear audience, I can feel it!
posted by scrutiny at 12:12 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
There's a pattern here dear audience, I can feel it!
posted by scrutiny at 12:12 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
eponysterical.
posted by desjardins at 12:12 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 12:12 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
You know who I really feel sorry for in all this insanity? The American Communist Party. Yes, they're still around, still doing busi -- well, they're still around. And they've got their ideas and their platforms and their ideals, and they're kinda out there on the fringe and nobody much bothers them.
And then the Republicans flip out and call Obama a communist. How crushing must that be to real, actual communists? I mean, you've got this right-centrist dude on stage, and his ideas are alright but a little ehhhhh, and people thing that's socialism? People think that's communism? It probably makes one want to just lie down in a ditch and die.
posted by boo_radley at 12:13 PM on August 28, 2009 [34 favorites]
And then the Republicans flip out and call Obama a communist. How crushing must that be to real, actual communists? I mean, you've got this right-centrist dude on stage, and his ideas are alright but a little ehhhhh, and people thing that's socialism? People think that's communism? It probably makes one want to just lie down in a ditch and die.
posted by boo_radley at 12:13 PM on August 28, 2009 [34 favorites]
For the OLIGARH link, I thought he was actually going for something clever, like, "there's one letter missing: C! As in, can you C how full of shit I am?"
But it wouldn't have made as much sense, however satisfying.
posted by Christ, what an asshole at 12:13 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
But it wouldn't have made as much sense, however satisfying.
posted by Christ, what an asshole at 12:13 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I wonder if Glenn Beck has a compound of tents and sheds in his backyard too.
posted by GuyZero at 12:14 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by GuyZero at 12:14 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Christ, what an asshole: "Beck's pedantry hits a brick wall "
whaaaaat the fuuuuuuck
posted by boo_radley at 12:14 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
whaaaaat the fuuuuuuck
posted by boo_radley at 12:14 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Flagged as useless hate porn.
posted by dios at 12:16 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by dios at 12:16 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Oͫ͋̈͛̎̓ͩLI̮̻̺͎͔̩̮ͧ͐ͮ̈͋̚G͂̏ͣA̯̓ͪ̍̈́͐̋ͥR͉̺͙̪͙̦͋ͤH͕͙̠̓̒ͅ
HE COMES
posted by Dr-Baa at 12:16 PM on August 28, 2009 [7 favorites]
HE COMES
posted by Dr-Baa at 12:16 PM on August 28, 2009 [7 favorites]
And to think that Glenn Beck is probably smarter than most of his viewers.
posted by stavrogin at 12:16 PM on August 28, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by stavrogin at 12:16 PM on August 28, 2009 [6 favorites]
Flagged as useless hate porn.
True, but not in the way you think.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:17 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
True, but not in the way you think.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:17 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Why won't someone think of the rich white men? WHY?!
posted by DU at 12:17 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by DU at 12:17 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Percentage of Glenn Beck videos I have thus far been able to make it all the way through: 0%. I simply can't watch that fucking giant sack of awful.
posted by Skot at 12:18 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by Skot at 12:18 PM on August 28, 2009
I can think of nine: D-O-U-C-H-E-B-A-G
posted by kittens for breakfast at 12:18 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by kittens for breakfast at 12:18 PM on August 28, 2009
Flagged as useless hate porn.
Porn is never useless.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:19 PM on August 28, 2009 [5 favorites]
Porn is never useless.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:19 PM on August 28, 2009 [5 favorites]
man, I've been seeing clips of Glenn Beck lately and, well, he is completely insane. Check this out, where Beck rants about the "Marxists" who "surround" the president.
posted by delmoi at 12:19 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by delmoi at 12:19 PM on August 28, 2009
I saw this yesterday. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for him to catch the error, but he did not disappoint.
Almost as good was the part of the same show where he implored viewers to not give the time of day to anyone who ranted about "shadow governments, conspiracy theories, violent revolution," etc., because they're too destructive. About two minutes later he went to commercial -- the very first of which was an ad for a new book called SHADOW GOVERNMENT: What Obama Doesn't Want You to Know About His Czars.
(Of course, Beck's own ranting about a shadow government is a more direct contradiction, but that's forgivable because it was in June and I don't think Beck's capacity to register cognitive dissonance extends much more beyond three minutes or so.)
posted by Rhaomi at 12:19 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Almost as good was the part of the same show where he implored viewers to not give the time of day to anyone who ranted about "shadow governments, conspiracy theories, violent revolution," etc., because they're too destructive. About two minutes later he went to commercial -- the very first of which was an ad for a new book called SHADOW GOVERNMENT: What Obama Doesn't Want You to Know About His Czars.
(Of course, Beck's own ranting about a shadow government is a more direct contradiction, but that's forgivable because it was in June and I don't think Beck's capacity to register cognitive dissonance extends much more beyond three minutes or so.)
posted by Rhaomi at 12:19 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Wow that was 10x dumber than I even expected and I had pretty low expectations. Seeing him up there on the futuristic set in a suit and tie and spouting, like, monkey sounds (only with less rational basis) was....crazy. Seriously makes me fear for the nation that this guy has a platform bigger than his cardboard box on the street.
posted by DU at 12:21 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by DU at 12:21 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I keep looking for the [more inside] but it all just seems to be the same anti-Beck rant. Not that Beck isn't a dirtbag, mind you, but it's just more of the same.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:22 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by Pollomacho at 12:22 PM on August 28, 2009
and dios, to be frank, has a point here. Consensus will probably be that Beck is a crank worthy of only derision. What now, that you've pointed and laughed?
posted by boo_radley at 12:23 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by boo_radley at 12:23 PM on August 28, 2009
I think of him as the right-wing Andy Kaufman. The brilliance of the performance is that you're never 100% sure it is one.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:23 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by Joe Beese at 12:23 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
boo_radley: "...and his ideas are alright but a little ehhhhh, and people thing that's socialism? People think that's communism? It probably makes one want to just lie down in a ditch and die."
You know what? You're right. As someone who wholeheartedly supports absolute and complete nationalization of the US health care system (gov't-owned hospitals staffed by gov't employees administering publically-funded drugs provided by gov't owned pharmaceutical organizations), it kills me to hear people decry a watered-down "public option" as socialism.
If only I were king for a day, I'd show them what socialism is.
...and they'd probably like it
posted by TheNewWazoo at 12:23 PM on August 28, 2009 [6 favorites]
You know what? You're right. As someone who wholeheartedly supports absolute and complete nationalization of the US health care system (gov't-owned hospitals staffed by gov't employees administering publically-funded drugs provided by gov't owned pharmaceutical organizations), it kills me to hear people decry a watered-down "public option" as socialism.
If only I were king for a day, I'd show them what socialism is.
...and they'd probably like it
posted by TheNewWazoo at 12:23 PM on August 28, 2009 [6 favorites]
What now, that you've pointed and laughed?
Is it Ghostbusters II?
posted by kittens for breakfast at 12:25 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Is it Ghostbusters II?
posted by kittens for breakfast at 12:25 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
By heavy scrutiny, do you mean everyone's watching him? Because they are.
No, by heavy scrutiny, he means heavy scrutiny, because all of his advertisers have left him, because he's a fucking apocalypse-starting nutcase who called the president a racist.
posted by Damn That Television at 12:25 PM on August 28, 2009
No, by heavy scrutiny, he means heavy scrutiny, because all of his advertisers have left him, because he's a fucking apocalypse-starting nutcase who called the president a racist.
posted by Damn That Television at 12:25 PM on August 28, 2009
Boy that Glenn Bek. What a card!
posted by salishsea at 12:26 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by salishsea at 12:26 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
yes, i was waiting for him to explain that "C" was for "CONTROL OF THE MEDIA"
Y?
whoah
posted by Hammond Rye at 12:26 PM on August 28, 2009
Y?
whoah
posted by Hammond Rye at 12:26 PM on August 28, 2009
Consensus will probably be that Beck is a crank worthy of only derision.
Beck is a highly rated "pundit" on a top-rated news channel who (and that) speaks for one of the major parties in the US, who have a hardcore base of somewhere around 25%.
This doesn't make him not a crank and it doesn't make him worthy of something other than derision. But it doesn't make him important to be discussed and/or dissected.
posted by DU at 12:27 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Beck is a highly rated "pundit" on a top-rated news channel who (and that) speaks for one of the major parties in the US, who have a hardcore base of somewhere around 25%.
This doesn't make him not a crank and it doesn't make him worthy of something other than derision. But it doesn't make him important to be discussed and/or dissected.
posted by DU at 12:27 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
After the break did he explain "Y" was for "YouTube comments?"
posted by Hammond Rye at 12:28 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Hammond Rye at 12:28 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
This is only offensive if you actually think that Beck somehow represents any sane member of the Republican party which I assume is Dios' implied point. Beck represents no one but the deranged voices in his own head, so why not point and laugh?
posted by GuyZero at 12:28 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by GuyZero at 12:28 PM on August 28, 2009
Does. DOES make him important to be dissected.
Laughing at televangelists back in the 80s (and earlier) didn't stop the religious takeover of the public square. Laughing at the racist and nutjobs now won't stop them from (further) takeover either.
posted by DU at 12:28 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Laughing at televangelists back in the 80s (and earlier) didn't stop the religious takeover of the public square. Laughing at the racist and nutjobs now won't stop them from (further) takeover either.
posted by DU at 12:28 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Glenn Beck vs. the View was enjoyable. I feel like my mom's a lot more likely to see the View than to sit and watch the Daily Show, and geez, Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters really seem to be giving him what for.
posted by redsparkler at 12:29 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by redsparkler at 12:29 PM on August 28, 2009
GuyZero: "This is only offensive if you actually think that Beck somehow represents any sane member of the Republican party which I assume is Dios' implied point. Beck represents no one but the deranged voices in his own head, so why not point and laugh?"
posted by Rhaomi at 12:32 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Big Beck: Goes over 3 million viewers, beats O’Reilly in demoThey can't all be pointing and laughing, can they?
Though a little scandal might alienate advertisers, it’s pure ratings gold. Last night Glenn Beck had over 3 million viewers at 5pm, second only to O’Reilly for the night. But, Beck had more 25-54 viewers than O’Reilly (888K to 876K). I don’t watch or really even care about the cable news wars, but still…wow. Even though Beck airs before primetime, when there are fewer people watching TV, he had the most 25-54 viewers in the cable news world for the night.
posted by Rhaomi at 12:32 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Every get that urge to tell someone to SHUT UP! at the top of your lungs? Lord this man must be trying to take the title of Biggest GOP douche bag award away from Rush.
posted by Mastercheddaar at 12:34 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by Mastercheddaar at 12:34 PM on August 28, 2009
Tangentially related: RNC Chairman Michael Steele completely doesn't understand the definition of the word "nuanced".
posted by kmz at 12:35 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by kmz at 12:35 PM on August 28, 2009
DU: yes, I agree with you. Now what? Do we rebut him (how would that work? Can you rebut the crazy?) Do you join in the boycott? Can you effectively boycott the message of a paranoiac with a large, loyal following? How can you reclaim the public square?
this is good discussion
posted by boo_radley at 12:37 PM on August 28, 2009
this is good discussion
posted by boo_radley at 12:37 PM on August 28, 2009
"'Even if the powers to be right now succeed in making me poor, drum me out ... I will only be stronger for it,' he said Wednesday on his show, Show Tracker notes in its story. 'I will use American ingenuity and my ingenuity to pull myself up, and I will find another way to get this message out, on a platform that will be a thousand times more powerful. Because of my faith, I know how this story ends. The truth will set you free.'"posted by ericb at 12:37 PM on August 28, 2009
-- Glenn Beck
You know who I really feel sorry for in all this insanity? The American Communist Party. Yes, they're still around, still doing busi -- well, they're still around. And they've got their ideas and their platforms and their ideals, and they're kinda out there on the fringe and nobody much bothers them.
The Communist Party USA is fairly old in its composition, and at this point honestly it is mostly supporting Obama. Not that Obama's radical by any means – the Communists have pretty much just settled down and become pretty much indistinguishable from social democrats except for liking Cuba and the old USSR. CPUSA chair Sam Webb was actually on Glenn Beck's show not too long ago, and got basically Hitler and Stalin baited the entire time. Not a great performance.
It does stick in my craw as a Marxist (not in/near the CPUSA) that this kind of crap gets labelled "socialism" and then that's the worst thing ever. It's surreal: Obama is playing a very controlled centrist political game, and the far-right is playing these bizarre theatrics that say, outright, that he's a radical leftist. When we didn't even get single payer healthcare in the discussion, how can you call that socialism? When nationalizing GM and running it as a public concern wasn't even part of the discussion, what does any of it have to do with socialism? This country could use some real socialism, but there's nothing even close in Obama's playbook.
posted by graymouser at 12:39 PM on August 28, 2009 [6 favorites]
The Communist Party USA is fairly old in its composition, and at this point honestly it is mostly supporting Obama. Not that Obama's radical by any means – the Communists have pretty much just settled down and become pretty much indistinguishable from social democrats except for liking Cuba and the old USSR. CPUSA chair Sam Webb was actually on Glenn Beck's show not too long ago, and got basically Hitler and Stalin baited the entire time. Not a great performance.
It does stick in my craw as a Marxist (not in/near the CPUSA) that this kind of crap gets labelled "socialism" and then that's the worst thing ever. It's surreal: Obama is playing a very controlled centrist political game, and the far-right is playing these bizarre theatrics that say, outright, that he's a radical leftist. When we didn't even get single payer healthcare in the discussion, how can you call that socialism? When nationalizing GM and running it as a public concern wasn't even part of the discussion, what does any of it have to do with socialism? This country could use some real socialism, but there's nothing even close in Obama's playbook.
posted by graymouser at 12:39 PM on August 28, 2009 [6 favorites]
:-| :-] :-) X-D
posted by anigbrowl at 12:40 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by anigbrowl at 12:40 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Beck: Jack-Ass, Sissyneck, Paper Tiger, Asshole, Loser, Mutherfucker Soul Suckin' Jerk... Fuckin' with My Head.
(What do you mean, wrong Beck? Seems to fit well enough.)
posted by rokusan at 12:43 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
(What do you mean, wrong Beck? Seems to fit well enough.)
posted by rokusan at 12:43 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Maybe Beck can have J-Smooth hook him up with a hard hitting cut like O'Reilly and we can have NeoCon Rap Beef.
Because I would tune in for that.
posted by yeloson at 12:43 PM on August 28, 2009
Because I would tune in for that.
posted by yeloson at 12:43 PM on August 28, 2009
TheNewWazoo: "
If only I were king for a day, I'd show them what socialism is.
...and they'd probably like it"
Heh. I have a joke bid for 2012... One of my slogans is "You want socialism? I'll give *you* socialism!" (or something of that nature)... I'd offer you vice-presidency status, but... that's already taken. What cabinet position would you want?
posted by symbioid at 12:44 PM on August 28, 2009
If only I were king for a day, I'd show them what socialism is.
...and they'd probably like it"
Heh. I have a joke bid for 2012... One of my slogans is "You want socialism? I'll give *you* socialism!" (or something of that nature)... I'd offer you vice-presidency status, but... that's already taken. What cabinet position would you want?
posted by symbioid at 12:44 PM on August 28, 2009
DU: yes, I agree with you. Now what? Do we rebut him (how would that work? Can you rebut the crazy?) Do you join in the boycott? Can you effectively boycott the message of a paranoiac with a large, loyal following? How can you reclaim the public square?
just publicize the fact that Beck is a mormon.
posted by geos at 12:45 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
just publicize the fact that Beck is a mormon.
posted by geos at 12:45 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
This is only offensive if you actually think that Beck somehow represents any sane member of the Republican party which I assume is Dios' implied point. Beck represents no one but the deranged voices in his own head, so why not point and laugh?
They crazy ones vote too. If you make the assumption that the majority of republicans would seem sane to you, then obviously Glenn Beck's ranting isn't really a problem. But why would you make that assumption?
There was a video a while ago of a republican congressman at a Town Hall, where the his constituents told him to watch Glenn Beck, and when he said you should turn off the TV when he comes on, he got booed.
Beck's ratings are pretty good, a lot of people watch this stuff, and putting him on Fox "news" legitimizes him to a certain extent, in so far as fox is considered a "legitimate" news organization for whatever reason.
posted by delmoi at 12:47 PM on August 28, 2009
They crazy ones vote too. If you make the assumption that the majority of republicans would seem sane to you, then obviously Glenn Beck's ranting isn't really a problem. But why would you make that assumption?
There was a video a while ago of a republican congressman at a Town Hall, where the his constituents told him to watch Glenn Beck, and when he said you should turn off the TV when he comes on, he got booed.
Beck's ratings are pretty good, a lot of people watch this stuff, and putting him on Fox "news" legitimizes him to a certain extent, in so far as fox is considered a "legitimate" news organization for whatever reason.
posted by delmoi at 12:47 PM on August 28, 2009
Damn That Television -
1st off: eponysterical.
Now that that's out of the way, the dude is a ratings powerhouse in a medium that's seeing its worst summer ever in key advertising demographics. The more responsible advertisers may have left, but there's no shortage of people who value money over ethics who will happily continue to advertise with him, and so long as that continues, there's not a snowball's chance in hell he's going anywhere.
posted by orville sash at 12:49 PM on August 28, 2009
1st off: eponysterical.
Now that that's out of the way, the dude is a ratings powerhouse in a medium that's seeing its worst summer ever in key advertising demographics. The more responsible advertisers may have left, but there's no shortage of people who value money over ethics who will happily continue to advertise with him, and so long as that continues, there's not a snowball's chance in hell he's going anywhere.
posted by orville sash at 12:49 PM on August 28, 2009
symbioid: "What cabinet position would you want?"
Equality Czar.
I slay me.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 12:50 PM on August 28, 2009
Equality Czar.
I slay me.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 12:50 PM on August 28, 2009
Meh.
This whole blackboard presentation has been done before, and better.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:51 PM on August 28, 2009
This whole blackboard presentation has been done before, and better.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:51 PM on August 28, 2009
True, but not in the way you think.
No. It's exactly what I think. Glenn Beck's show appears to be nothing but hate porn for those who are like-minded to Glenn Beck and hate Obama and liberals. This post is nothing but hate porn for those who are opposite-minded to Glenn Beck and hate conservatives and those who oppose Obama.
So it's double hate porn.
And it's all garbage. It's pigs rooting around in filth in search of pigs rooting around in filth.
Beck's ratings are booming? It's probably because there are so many dipshit hate porn fans watching it. The few times I've had the displeasure of looking at Daily Kos, half the damn threads are about what happened on Fox News the previous night which leads me to believe that all these people are the ones who are driving the ratings as they search for hate porn. Similarly, the even fewer times I've had the greater displeasure of seeing Red State, those dolts are driving MSNBC's ratings by watching Olbermann every night to get their hate on. It's not enough for such idiots to state their case; they have to build the case that the other is evil, ill-intentioned, or insane. This shit is ruining our country as people are becoming more and more partisan.
And that's why this is flagged as useless hate porn.
posted by dios at 12:53 PM on August 28, 2009 [12 favorites]
No. It's exactly what I think. Glenn Beck's show appears to be nothing but hate porn for those who are like-minded to Glenn Beck and hate Obama and liberals. This post is nothing but hate porn for those who are opposite-minded to Glenn Beck and hate conservatives and those who oppose Obama.
So it's double hate porn.
And it's all garbage. It's pigs rooting around in filth in search of pigs rooting around in filth.
Beck's ratings are booming? It's probably because there are so many dipshit hate porn fans watching it. The few times I've had the displeasure of looking at Daily Kos, half the damn threads are about what happened on Fox News the previous night which leads me to believe that all these people are the ones who are driving the ratings as they search for hate porn. Similarly, the even fewer times I've had the greater displeasure of seeing Red State, those dolts are driving MSNBC's ratings by watching Olbermann every night to get their hate on. It's not enough for such idiots to state their case; they have to build the case that the other is evil, ill-intentioned, or insane. This shit is ruining our country as people are becoming more and more partisan.
And that's why this is flagged as useless hate porn.
posted by dios at 12:53 PM on August 28, 2009 [12 favorites]
For a guy I honestly consider quite bright, dios, your false equivalency is really glaring here.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:54 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by joe lisboa at 12:54 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Ack. If Trent Reznor's vision of Year Zero ever actually comes to pass (Xianist fascist regime in the US bent on conversion or destruction of everyone), it will be because of men like this. That was more Glenn Beck than I've ever watched without it being part of The Daily Show and it just makes my skin crawl.
posted by hippybear at 12:54 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 12:54 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
What now, that you've pointed and laughed?
Well, ideally, wedgies would follow.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:58 PM on August 28, 2009
Well, ideally, wedgies would follow.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:58 PM on August 28, 2009
Could "CRUSH THE OLIGARHY" be the new "GET A BRAIN, MORAN"?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:00 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:00 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
I wonder how he spells "potato"?
I can kind of see dios' point, and we've stopped posting Ann Coulter to the front, I think it is, for this reason.
However, Glenn Beck is still popular among large numbers of people, has a larger audience than Coulter actually since he has his own show, so I think it's still relevant to the national stage, and so it's still fair game for the front.
posted by JHarris at 1:00 PM on August 28, 2009
I can kind of see dios' point, and we've stopped posting Ann Coulter to the front, I think it is, for this reason.
However, Glenn Beck is still popular among large numbers of people, has a larger audience than Coulter actually since he has his own show, so I think it's still relevant to the national stage, and so it's still fair game for the front.
posted by JHarris at 1:00 PM on August 28, 2009
Beck's "Obama is racist" bit is obviously just a rehash of his classic "Jews opposed to Israel are Nazis."
It's funny that whenever he rails against the "Liberal Media," he includes CNN, to whom he owes his entire television career. Because Headline News won't pay what Fox offers, they must be Liberal Hitlers!
posted by Sys Rq at 1:02 PM on August 28, 2009
It's funny that whenever he rails against the "Liberal Media," he includes CNN, to whom he owes his entire television career. Because Headline News won't pay what Fox offers, they must be Liberal Hitlers!
posted by Sys Rq at 1:02 PM on August 28, 2009
"'Even if the powers to be right now succeed in making me poor, drum me out ... I will only be stronger for it,' he said Wednesday on his show, Show Tracker notes in its story. 'I will use American ingenuity and my ingenuity to pull myself up, and I will find another way to get this message out, on a platform that will be a thousand times more powerful. Because of my faith, I know how this story ends. The truth will set you free.'"
-- Glenn Beck
posted by ericb at 3:37 PM on August 28 [+] [!]
TROUBLES SHARED. One of the agitator's favorite themes is his economic troubles, about which he speaks to complete strangers with perfect ease: I must confide to you without reservation . . . I have spent everything I have; I have surrendered every possession I bad in this world in order to carry on this fight. I will not be able to borrow any more money; I have nothing left to sell.'
...
But these religious associations are only decorations for ordeals that are strictly secular; the agitator's sufferings are of this world. Here he runs into a difficulty. In actual fact, he has met with little interference from the public authorities. Yet he realizes that as a man with a mission, he must be persecuted. If the past will yield no evidence, perhaps the future will, for who is to deny him the right to premonitions: I don't know what is going to happen to me. All I ask you to do is, don't be surprised at anything. If I am thrown in jail, if I am indicted, if I am smeared, if I am hurt physically, no matter what it might be, don't be surprised at anything, because everything in the calendar is now being attempted. . . . I am glad to make that sacrifice.
From: Chapter 09: Self-Portrait of the Agitator. Prophets of Deceit, Studies in Prejudice Series, Volume 5.
posted by Comrade_robot at 1:02 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
-- Glenn Beck
posted by ericb at 3:37 PM on August 28 [+] [!]
TROUBLES SHARED. One of the agitator's favorite themes is his economic troubles, about which he speaks to complete strangers with perfect ease: I must confide to you without reservation . . . I have spent everything I have; I have surrendered every possession I bad in this world in order to carry on this fight. I will not be able to borrow any more money; I have nothing left to sell.'
...
But these religious associations are only decorations for ordeals that are strictly secular; the agitator's sufferings are of this world. Here he runs into a difficulty. In actual fact, he has met with little interference from the public authorities. Yet he realizes that as a man with a mission, he must be persecuted. If the past will yield no evidence, perhaps the future will, for who is to deny him the right to premonitions: I don't know what is going to happen to me. All I ask you to do is, don't be surprised at anything. If I am thrown in jail, if I am indicted, if I am smeared, if I am hurt physically, no matter what it might be, don't be surprised at anything, because everything in the calendar is now being attempted. . . . I am glad to make that sacrifice.
From: Chapter 09: Self-Portrait of the Agitator. Prophets of Deceit, Studies in Prejudice Series, Volume 5.
posted by Comrade_robot at 1:02 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Beck: Jack-Ass, Sissyneck, Paper Tiger, Asshole, Loser, Mutherfucker Soul Suckin' Jerk... Fuckin' with My Head.
Jasptalmssjfmh? What does that spell?
posted by interrobang at 1:05 PM on August 28, 2009
Jasptalmssjfmh? What does that spell?
posted by interrobang at 1:05 PM on August 28, 2009
FOR THE 9 MILLIONTH TIME:
(repeat after me if it helps)
IGNORING THEM DOES NOT, HAS NOT, AND WILL NOT EVER 'MAKE THEM GO AWAY'
Not once, not ever.
This isnt kindergarten and we arent all a bunch of children sitting on mats in the same fucking room.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 1:06 PM on August 28, 2009 [5 favorites]
Wow, Glenn Beck is a Mormon? What a great millstone to tie around that bastard's neck. Let's get him and Mitt Romney together onscreen to discuss Mormon theology.
(Not that I have anything against Mormons, but many of the evangelicals who watch Beck's show evidently do based on their opposition to Romney during the primaries.)
posted by benzenedream at 1:07 PM on August 28, 2009
(Not that I have anything against Mormons, but many of the evangelicals who watch Beck's show evidently do based on their opposition to Romney during the primaries.)
posted by benzenedream at 1:07 PM on August 28, 2009
This "hate porn" now represents the mainstream Republican party. Grassley's euthanasia, Palin's death panels and Bachmann's re-education camps are not significantly distinct from Glenn Beck's daily output. When the mainstream of the two parties descends to this level of insanity, we shouldn't be trying to ignore it. This stuff matters.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:07 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:07 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
dios is making an awful lot of sense here. This is exactly the kind of low-brow shit flinging that's derailing earnest debate in this country. Best of the Web Worst of America.
posted by JeffK at 1:07 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by JeffK at 1:07 PM on August 28, 2009
dios: "The few times I've had the displeasure of looking at Daily Kos, half the damn threads are about what happened on Fox News the previous night which leads me to believe that all these people are the ones who are driving the ratings as they search for hate porn."
If I, who have 7K+ posts over there (I know... you're shocked), am representative of the place: You're wrong on that one. The liberal blogs reliably bring us clips of the outrage du jour. We don't need to watch FOX ourselves.
posted by Joe Beese at 1:08 PM on August 28, 2009
If I, who have 7K+ posts over there (I know... you're shocked), am representative of the place: You're wrong on that one. The liberal blogs reliably bring us clips of the outrage du jour. We don't need to watch FOX ourselves.
posted by Joe Beese at 1:08 PM on August 28, 2009
And that's why this is flagged as useless hate porn.
Yeah, but at least it's novel and it's not dog-whistles and it's not the same old, same old... well, OK, even bothering to rehash the name "ACORN" again is actually a textbook example of "same old same old" but Beck makes it fresh.
Absolutely Beck is killing America. But I think ignoring him is even more dangerous than pointing and laughing because then it's even more likely that uninformed people watching will take him seriously.
posted by GuyZero at 1:08 PM on August 28, 2009
Yeah, but at least it's novel and it's not dog-whistles and it's not the same old, same old... well, OK, even bothering to rehash the name "ACORN" again is actually a textbook example of "same old same old" but Beck makes it fresh.
Absolutely Beck is killing America. But I think ignoring him is even more dangerous than pointing and laughing because then it's even more likely that uninformed people watching will take him seriously.
posted by GuyZero at 1:08 PM on August 28, 2009
He can't be all four five.
Seriously, oligarchy? The Democrats are the fucking oligarchs? I feel like jamming a pencil in my eye.
posted by HumuloneRanger at 1:11 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
Seriously, oligarchy? The Democrats are the fucking oligarchs? I feel like jamming a pencil in my eye.
posted by HumuloneRanger at 1:11 PM on August 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
Beck represents a whole lot of people. The engineers around me are mostly conservative, as is pretty typical with engineers. I keep hearing things from them that were emitted by Beck's most disgusting orifice. I still hear more of O'Reilly's dishonesty but Beck's probably more quoted than Limbaugh right now, at least here.
posted by substrate at 1:11 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by substrate at 1:11 PM on August 28, 2009
This isnt kindergarten and we arent all a bunch of children sitting on mats in the same fucking room.
Try telling that to Glenn "I know you are but what am I" Beck.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:14 PM on August 28, 2009
Try telling that to Glenn "I know you are but what am I" Beck.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:14 PM on August 28, 2009
Father O'Ligarhy was probably one of the nicest priests at the seminary; not sure why they have it in for him.
posted by Abiezer at 1:16 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 1:16 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Agreed that we should call Beck out on his bullshit, but is this an effective forum for that purpose? You all know that this thread is destined to become a pile-on of MeFites trying to out "LOLDumbass" each other (Nod to spilon). I think we all agree Beck is a douchebag, so what's the point?
posted by JeffK at 1:16 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by JeffK at 1:16 PM on August 28, 2009
Jasptalmssjfmh? What does that spell?
Everybody's gotta learn sometime.
posted by rokusan at 1:17 PM on August 28, 2009
Everybody's gotta learn sometime.
posted by rokusan at 1:17 PM on August 28, 2009
Fuk that gu.
posted by naju at 1:18 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by naju at 1:18 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
You know... I generally find myself disagreeing with dios, despite welcoming an opposing viewpoint, and typically finding him to at least be articulate and educated (if totally wrong!). It is, in fact, a rare thing that I 100% agree with dios, but this is one of those times.
Pointless hate porn. And I can't stomach Beck.
posted by kaseijin at 1:19 PM on August 28, 2009
Pointless hate porn. And I can't stomach Beck.
posted by kaseijin at 1:19 PM on August 28, 2009
. . .if you actually think that Beck think that Beck somehow represents any sane member of the Republican party. . .
snork. The last sane republicans are apparently holed up in Maine at the moment. It's like a fucking brain-goo virus has taken over the party, turning it into a party of clowns.
posted by @troy at 1:20 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
snork. The last sane republicans are apparently holed up in Maine at the moment. It's like a fucking brain-goo virus has taken over the party, turning it into a party of clowns.
posted by @troy at 1:20 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Every day we could post about the latest from LGF, Redstate, Coulter, Limbaugh, or countless other places and all gather around and gasp and shake our heads and maybe even get a little apoplectic about it all, but thankfully we (mostly) don't. Because ultimately it's useless. dios is 100% correct.
posted by rocket88 at 1:20 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by rocket88 at 1:20 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
This is only offensive if you actually think that Beck somehow represents any sane member of the Republican party which I assume is Dios' implied point. Beck represents no one but the deranged voices in his own head, so why not point and laugh?
58% of Republicans don't think Obama was born in the US.
76% of Republicans don't believe in Pangaea.
62% of Republicans want the government to stay out of Medicare.
Beck may not represent any sane member of the Republican Party, but it's not clear how many of those there are anymore.
posted by EarBucket at 1:21 PM on August 28, 2009
58% of Republicans don't think Obama was born in the US.
76% of Republicans don't believe in Pangaea.
62% of Republicans want the government to stay out of Medicare.
Beck may not represent any sane member of the Republican Party, but it's not clear how many of those there are anymore.
posted by EarBucket at 1:21 PM on August 28, 2009
Oh, i agree it's pointless porn but I disagree about the hate dimension.
posted by @troy at 1:21 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by @troy at 1:21 PM on August 28, 2009
Even if ignoring them doesn't make them go away, I agree with dios and JeffK that Metafilter isn't the right place for this discussion. This isn't a place where the chances of constructive engagement with the more moderate of Mr. Beck's viewership are high.
It is deeply unfortunate that political discourse in the USA has become as polarized as it has, and Mr. Beck certainly isn't helping that, but jeering at him doesn't help either.
posted by Fraxas at 1:23 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
It is deeply unfortunate that political discourse in the USA has become as polarized as it has, and Mr. Beck certainly isn't helping that, but jeering at him doesn't help either.
posted by Fraxas at 1:23 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I think of him as the right-wing Andy Kaufman. The brilliance of the performance is that you're never 100% sure it is one.
This is exactly what I was think when he spelled out OLIGARH, said there's a letter missing, sputtered incoherently for a few seconds about ACORN, and then said, "The letter missing ... is Y."
I seriously doubled-over laughing. When I recovered, it occured to me that if Glen Beck were a comedian who makes fun of right-wingers, then he'd be very clever and quite funny. Am I willing to put in the effort to convince myself this is the case?
Eh, sure, why not? It's like I watch FOX or anything.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:24 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
This is exactly what I was think when he spelled out OLIGARH, said there's a letter missing, sputtered incoherently for a few seconds about ACORN, and then said, "The letter missing ... is Y."
I seriously doubled-over laughing. When I recovered, it occured to me that if Glen Beck were a comedian who makes fun of right-wingers, then he'd be very clever and quite funny. Am I willing to put in the effort to convince myself this is the case?
Eh, sure, why not? It's like I watch FOX or anything.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:24 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
This shit is ruining our country as people are becoming more and more partisan.
Fundamentally, I don't disagree much with the point I think you're making, i.e., angry people often seek out things to make them angrier, there's money in catering to them, we should try to avoid this, etc.; but your own history here demonstrates that you aren't so keen on non-partisanship when people you agree with are calling all the shots. That's fine; that's life. Just know that your credibility on this topic is nil.
Myself, I think you need to be more zen. Maybe you should flee this human filth for a shack in the woods or something.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:24 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Fundamentally, I don't disagree much with the point I think you're making, i.e., angry people often seek out things to make them angrier, there's money in catering to them, we should try to avoid this, etc.; but your own history here demonstrates that you aren't so keen on non-partisanship when people you agree with are calling all the shots. That's fine; that's life. Just know that your credibility on this topic is nil.
Myself, I think you need to be more zen. Maybe you should flee this human filth for a shack in the woods or something.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:24 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
The other day I learned that the nice little locally-owned pet store that I love going to was advertising on Glenn Beck and Michael Savage's radio shows. So I wrote them a letter and told them that even though I enjoy shopping at their store, I didn't want to in any way contribute or support those two men, and that I would no longer be shopping there. A couple of days later I received a letter from the owner of the store telling me they had stopped advertising on that station and that they would pass their concerns along to their ad rep. And I thought, well, that was easy.
posted by billysumday at 1:25 PM on August 28, 2009 [9 favorites]
posted by billysumday at 1:25 PM on August 28, 2009 [9 favorites]
I think we all agree Beck is a douchebag, so what's the point?
The kidnapping/rape/tents-in-the-backyard story was harrowing and I need to laugh, god dammit.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:25 PM on August 28, 2009
The kidnapping/rape/tents-in-the-backyard story was harrowing and I need to laugh, god dammit.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:25 PM on August 28, 2009
dios: You're wrong about daily kos (it's not my favorite site to read, but that's largely because there's way too much in-jokey community stuff and not enough long-form analysis for my tastes). The bloggers you're looking for, if you're looking for insightful political commentary, are (among others) digby from digbysblog.blogspot.com and Glenn Greenwald, currently posting on Salon. But, good job being dismissive and wrong.
As for the rest of your point, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and the rest of that ridiculous crew are all angling to be the early 21st c. version of Father Coughlin. Beck, Limbaugh, Coulter, O'Reilly, Coughlin, and the other demagogues that have struck the American right's fancy are each and every one of them utterly ridiculous people. But, unfortunately, we don't live in a universe where being ridiculous means not holding power. They've got power up to here, they're using it to influence some remarkably unstable people, and your "oh this is just hateporn against hateporn" schtick is not only tiresome, it's actively helping them. If Beck were a marginal figure, what you're saying would be true. Unfortunately, he's a nationally broadcast television personality. If people keep attacking him after he's been kicked off television and off radio and can't get people walking past him on the street to listen to his ravings, then maybe it'd make sense for you to moan about people being hateful towards him. Until then, though...
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:26 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
As for the rest of your point, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and the rest of that ridiculous crew are all angling to be the early 21st c. version of Father Coughlin. Beck, Limbaugh, Coulter, O'Reilly, Coughlin, and the other demagogues that have struck the American right's fancy are each and every one of them utterly ridiculous people. But, unfortunately, we don't live in a universe where being ridiculous means not holding power. They've got power up to here, they're using it to influence some remarkably unstable people, and your "oh this is just hateporn against hateporn" schtick is not only tiresome, it's actively helping them. If Beck were a marginal figure, what you're saying would be true. Unfortunately, he's a nationally broadcast television personality. If people keep attacking him after he's been kicked off television and off radio and can't get people walking past him on the street to listen to his ravings, then maybe it'd make sense for you to moan about people being hateful towards him. Until then, though...
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:26 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
37% of people can identify what the Public Option is from a selection of three definitions, a result not very different to random guessing.
Do you want to hazard a guess as to how many people can identify what "The President wants to kill your grandmother" means? More than 37% I expect.
Hate porn is going to define the next election, and the next. Without the concrete failures of George W. Bush to depend on, how can the Democrats hope to defeat it? Dramatic changes in messaging are going to be required.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:29 PM on August 28, 2009
Do you want to hazard a guess as to how many people can identify what "The President wants to kill your grandmother" means? More than 37% I expect.
Hate porn is going to define the next election, and the next. Without the concrete failures of George W. Bush to depend on, how can the Democrats hope to defeat it? Dramatic changes in messaging are going to be required.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:29 PM on August 28, 2009
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This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
By heavy scrutiny, do you mean everyone's watching him? Because they are.
posted by orville sash at 12:10 PM on August 28, 2009