I Hate Glenn Beck

[Darth Wong]

It's funny, but just this very day my eyes were assaulted by a book at Barnes & Noble with the title Glenn Beck's Common Sense and I think I suffered a moment or two of brain-lock from the matter/antimatter-like mutual incompatibility of the phrases "Glenn Beck" and "Common Sense".

I've just finished reading that book, and it's actually pretty odd reading. It starts as a fairly standard "banks are ripping us off" screed and then slowly starts reading like a strange anti-progressive manifesto. Progressives are apparently the new commies/hippies/liberals, and they're going to eat away at America, so it's time for a revolution.

Yes! Revolution against the people who have no power! Rise up, rich white men! Fight back against your oppressed!

[Aaron]

What is it with Yanks and these guys? I'm sure we have opinion shows here (though I can't name one other then Randal Moore's 30 second radio commentary) but I've never actually heard anyone put any stock in them. I mean, I can get the same shit by listening to my father in law for an hour, are Americans so insecure that they must surround themselves with their own opinions 24/7?

[Knife]

What is it with Yanks and these guys? I'm sure we have opinion shows here (though I can't name one other then Randal Moore's 30 second radio commentary) but I've never actually heard anyone put any stock in them. I mean, I can get the same shit by listening to my father in law for an hour, are Americans so insecure that they must surround themselves with their own opinions 24/7?

In a word? Yes.

In more words, American Exceptionalism leads to this. If you are special just by being American, then just by the fact of being born you have better insight and opinions then other poor bastards who had the misfortune of not being Americans. By default, your opinions, as an American, are already highly refined and better; why not listen to other enlightened souls like other Americans?

Or so goes my theory which the dude on Mike's blog pretty much is a breathing example of.

[tim31]

This was, like so many other aspects of Americana, lampooned hilariously in all and any of the Grand Theft Auto games.

[Darth Wong]

What is it with Yanks and these guys? I'm sure we have opinion shows here (though I can't name one other then Randal Moore's 30 second radio commentary) but I've never actually heard anyone put any stock in them. I mean, I can get the same shit by listening to my father in law for an hour, are Americans so insecure that they must surround themselves with their own opinions 24/7?

To be honest and perfectly serious? I think a lot of Americans are addicted to nationalist pride. It gives them a buoying, intoxicating sense of their own greatness, and when something disrupts that feeling, they get upset. They get defensive. They get angry. And of course, when they say "America", they are using the term the same way Sarah Palin did: an America which is not pluralistic, and does not include a long list of undesirables.

That's one of the reasons people like Glenn Beck are popular; their appeal is based on constant ego-stroking of their particular demographic. It's actually a lot like the self-esteem movement for school kids. After a while, it becomes more important to tell the child how great he is than it is to actually guide him to greatness.

[Eframepilot]

Yes! Revolution against the people who have no power! Rise up, rich white men! Fight back against your oppressed!

Heh. Rich white men and their duped Southern white underclass peons rising up against the rest of the country? How absurd. It could never happen in America... a second time.

[Gandalf]

That's one of the reasons people like Glenn Beck are popular; their appeal is based on constant ego-stroking of their particular demographic. It's actually a lot like the self-esteem movement for school kids. After a while, it becomes more important to tell the child how great he is than it is to actually guide him to greatness.

That's almost the entirety of the opening chapter of his Common Sense.

It's an endless repetition of "You're Mr Average, you're a good hearted individual who works hard, does the right thing and loves His Country, etc. You don't have a fancy degree, but you're no moron. You also know in your gut that SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT WITH AMERICA."

[Aaron]

To be honest and perfectly serious? I think a lot of Americans are addicted to nationalist pride. It gives them a buoying, intoxicating sense of their own greatness, and when something disrupts that feeling, they get upset. They get defensive. They get angry. And of course, when they say "America", they are using the term the same way Sarah Palin did: an America which is not pluralistic, and does not include a long list of undesirables.

That's one of the reasons people like Glenn Beck are popular; their appeal is based on constant ego-stroking of their particular demographic. It's actually a lot like the self-esteem movement for school kids. After a while, it becomes more important to tell the child how great he is than it is to actually guide him to greatness.

You know, I love my country as much as the next man but even I realize that you have to work to keep it that way. You don't reach some sort of "perpetual greatness" and stay that way, it takes work and effort to maintain things. Which ties into what your saying, at some point America decided "we're awesome forever" and have just turned things into a circle jerk. Probably why everything is starting to fall down around their ears.

[Darth Wong]

Agreed 100%.

I love my sons, but I don't hesitate to tell them when they've screwed up. I make a point of praising them when they do something good, not as a matter of mindless habit. The idea that loving your country means overlooking its faults or singing its praises every day is sheer idiocy.

[Alyrium Denryle]

To be honest and perfectly serious? I think a lot of Americans are addicted to nationalist pride. It gives them a buoying, intoxicating sense of their own greatness, and when something disrupts that feeling, they get upset. They get defensive. They get angry. And of course, when they say "America", they are using the term the same way Sarah Palin did: an America which is not pluralistic, and does not include a long list of undesirables.

That's one of the reasons people like Glenn Beck are popular; their appeal is based on constant ego-stroking of their particular demographic. It's actually a lot like the self-esteem movement for school kids. After a while, it becomes more important to tell the child how great he is than it is to actually guide him to greatness.

You know, I love my country as much as the next man but even I realize that you have to work to keep it that way. You don't reach some sort of "perpetual greatness" and stay that way, it takes work and effort to maintain things. Which ties into what your saying, at some point America decided "we're awesome forever" and have just turned things into a circle jerk. Probably why everything is starting to fall down around their ears.

In other words, we are like the Centauri.

I love my sons, but I don't hesitate to tell them when they've screwed up. I make a point of praising them when they do something good, not as a matter of mindless habit. The idea that loving your country means overlooking its faults or singing its praises every day is sheer idiocy.

If anything, to love one's country require that you criticize it, and fight tooth and nail to make it better. Otherwise you are doing it a disservice.

[Darth Wong]

That's one of the reasons people like Glenn Beck are popular; their appeal is based on constant ego-stroking of their particular demographic. It's actually a lot like the self-esteem movement for school kids. After a while, it becomes more important to tell the child how great he is than it is to actually guide him to greatness.

That's almost the entirety of the opening chapter of his Common Sense.

It's an endless repetition of "You're Mr Average, you're a good hearted individual who works hard, does the right thing and loves His Country, etc. You don't have a fancy degree, but you're no moron. You also know in your gut that SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT WITH AMERICA."

I don't suppose you could provide some passages from that chapter, could you? That sounds hilarious.

[Gandalf]

I think that short of transcribing the whole introduction and first chapter, these are the best bits:

I think I know who you are.
After September 11, 2001, you thought our country had changed for the better. But the months that followed otherwise. We began to divide ourselves and the partisan bickering that had been absent from blood donor lines and church services started all over again.
You sometimes argue with friends about politics, not because you're a political activist, but because you believe the issues are actually important. You have strong beliefs, but you also have an open mind and a warm heart.

You've taught your children the difference between right and wrong, yet they come home with language and habits that they didn't learn from you. You're shocked to hear what they're learning in school - but you don't make a fuss because they're the "professionals" and you don't want to be one of "those people" anyway.

You don't hate people who are different than you, but stopped expressing opinions on sensitive issues a long time ago because you didn't want to be called a racist, bigot or homophobe if you stand by your values and principles.

America has let thieves into her home and that nagging in your gut is a final warning that our country is about to be stolen. Our Founding Fathers understood that our rights and liberties are gifts from God. They also understood that WE are an intuitive people. If all of that is true, then it only makes sense that he would alert us to our impending loss.
And now he is - shame on us for ignoring Him for so long.

[Covenant]

I very much liked, after just finding now, and posted today, a blogger's opinion to Beck's book. Taking on Thomas Paine's name to make his point is an ill-fitting jacket for the man, given Paine's views:

Take progressive taxation, for instance. Beck is against it. He wants a flat tax, because a flat tax works in Russia. What Beck probably doesn’t realize is that Paine was in favor of progressive taxation. Paine devotes an entire chapter of Rights of Man to the need for progressive taxation in England.

Not a bad post. Though not written with the kind of finely ground axe the rest of us would have at our sides, it does suffice to hit several of the same kinds of points. Beck has a lot of supporters while being very clearly delusional about just about everything.

[Vympel]

Wow. Beck actually used that "you know it in your gut" crap. Was he watching Stephen Colbert rant about "truthiness" and "you know it in your gut" and, like many conservatards, not realise its satire?

[spaceviking]

America has let thieves into her home and that nagging in your gut is a final warning that our country is about to be stolen. Our Founding Fathers understood that our rights and liberties are gifts from God. They also understood that WE are an intuitive people. If all of that is true, then it only makes sense that he would alert us to our impending loss.
And now he is - shame on us for ignoring Him for so long.

Can someone explain what the fuck he is talking about in this quote?

[Alyrium Denryle]

America has let thieves into her home and that nagging in your gut is a final warning that our country is about to be stolen. Our Founding Fathers understood that our rights and liberties are gifts from God. They also understood that WE are an intuitive people. If all of that is true, then it only makes sense that he would alert us to our impending loss.
And now he is - shame on us for ignoring Him for so long.

Can someone explain what the fuck he is talking about in this quote?

It looks like he is ranting about how the black man is going to steal whitey's stuff.

[Gandalf]

America has let thieves into her home and that nagging in your gut is a final warning that our country is about to be stolen. Our Founding Fathers understood that our rights and liberties are gifts from God. They also understood that WE are an intuitive people. If all of that is true, then it only makes sense that he would alert us to our impending loss.
And now he is - shame on us for ignoring Him for so long.

Can someone explain what the fuck he is talking about in this quote?

He's talking about "progressives" who will patiently, slowly de-construct America unless the Joe Sixpacks rise up as one. They'll indoctrinate your children, tax you into oblivion and just plain kill you to death.

[Haruko]

America has let thieves into her home and that nagging in your gut is a final warning that our country is about to be stolen. Our Founding Fathers understood that our rights and liberties are gifts from God. They also understood that WE are an intuitive people. If all of that is true, then it only makes sense that he would alert us to our impending loss.
And now he is - shame on us for ignoring Him for so long.

Can someone explain what the fuck he is talking about in this quote?

A social liberal League of Shadows, related to those who Bill O'Reilly warns us "want to change the white, Christian male power structure." Whoever THEY are, THEY are a powerful cabal that is rotting this country from within; as one woman at a recent town hall already knew, THEY have already taken over OUR America.

[Fire Fly]

America has let thieves into her home and that nagging in your gut is a final warning that our country is about to be stolen. Our Founding Fathers understood that our rights and liberties are gifts from God. They also understood that WE are an intuitive people. If all of that is true, then it only makes sense that he would alert us to our impending loss.
And now he is - shame on us for ignoring Him for so long.

Can someone explain what the fuck he is talking about in this quote?

Thieves=everything that conservatives dislike about the country right now. That means gays, immigrants, big government, taxation, secularists, environmentalists, etc. Gays keep demanding for "rights" and can't keep their homosexuality quiet (plus are trying to steal marriage from straight people), immigrants keep flooding the country and keep taking jobs away from average Americans and are draining resources away, the government keeps trying to steal people's guns, their money keeps getting stolen through taxes, secularists are trying to steal God and the Bible from people, environmentalists are trying to destroy jobs for animals and tress. The thieves are anyone who are trying to change America.

[Haruko]

Oh, yeah, the intricate and sinister Gay Agenda is also connected to this super-secretive international organization united against freedom and traditional values. I didn't realize it until a Christian fundamentalist at my forum enlightened me.

[Duckie]

I wonder why conservatives are so obsessed with NAMBLA in particular. We know why they're obsessed with gays, but why are they obsessed with NAMBLA too? You can hardly go a week without hearing some conservative mention it. Do they even exist anymore? Has anyone met a member of NAMBLA? How powerful are they politically?

No, no, not at all.

Yet conservatives seem to think that NAMBLA is next to the ACLU and Al Gore in the trinity of liberal gods. Why? I don't want to immediately accuse them of being closeted paedophiles, so I'd like an alternate interpretation of this.

[PhilosopherOfSorts]

"You're Mr Average, you're a good hearted individual who works hard, does the right thing and loves His Country, etc. You don't have a fancy degree, but you're no moron. You also know in your gut that SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT WITH AMERICA."

This actually sounds like me, I just think different things are wrong than the right-wingers do. I love my country, but I also know we've got our share of problems. I also think, and I could be wrong on this but I'm pretty confidend I'm not, that the general trend for the U.S. throughout its history has been one of slow but steady improvement. The U.S. could be truly great someday, but we're not there yet. Still too many prominant idiots like Glen Beck.

[Rye]

Jesus Christ. While Orwell references are a bit cliché, I'm certain that one day that Fox and its assorted "party members" will just break down and just have a "Hate Week".

FAIR AND BALANCED
9/11 IS PEACE
LIBERALISM IS SLAVERY
THINKING WITH YOUR GUT IS STRENGTH

Yet conservatives seem to think that NAMBLA is next to the ACLU and Al Gore in the trinity of liberal gods. Why? I don't want to immediately accuse them of being closeted paedophiles, so I'd like an alternate interpretation of this.

Assuming that's not a rhetorical question; they're extremely easy for just about everyone to give up their frontal lobes and revert to hate, fear and disgust. They're mentioned in proximity to the ACLU for the same reason Iraq and Saddam were mentioned with 9/11. You build up an association through repetition. You can do it with smells, colours, emotions, everything. In this case, they're trying to conflate blind hatred and contempt for the paedophile advocacy groups with the "liberal gods" as you say. That sort of juxtaposition is well known and many people use it to some extent, especially people who enjoy a bit of polemic. I would frankly be surprised if Fox didn't have some "trigger word testing area" where they watch audience members and see what gets them most riled up so they can capitalise on shit-stirring, and the Republicans no doubt share in this information through various shared contacts (speech writers, friends, maybe even just copying straight from the TV and radio). The speedy response to public healthcare, I think, shows how slick the process has become.

[Mayabird]

Having actually read Thomas Paine's works, if he was alive today Beck would be denouncing him as an evil atheist liberal, as he's still liberal compared to the chuckehead right despite having written his stuff centuries ago and vocally anti-Christian to the point he wrote an entire book ripping the Bible a new one. Sounds like Beck only knows the high school version of Paine, a couple paragraph excerpts of vague revolutionary talk that left out all the controversial details that might confuse the kids; you know, like everything else he wrote.

[Count Chocula]

And Beck apparently doesn't realize that Paine was a French Revolution off-with-their-heads type of guy (a revolution he helped foment), with more in common with men like John Brown, of Harper's Ferry "fame." And who was later ostracized for "The Age of Reason," a pamphlet that reveals Paine's attitude toward religion to be completely opposite to Beck's. Oops.