I like Beck’s books, but I don’t know what his plans are. If he continues on as a commenter, I’m fine with his flamboyance and his willingness to exaggerate in order to make a point. If he does run for office or form a third party, I’m going to have a big freakin’ issue with it.
Until that happens, however, I just can’t dislike Beck. Just can’t. Even when it’s Mark Levin who’s criticizing him. Levin is an intellectual treasure on the right, but he always sounds angry on the radio—and his last book was, frankly, a lot less charming and fun to read than Beck’s most recent tome. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.
I agree with Jonah Goldberg here: the Beck speech at CPAC was meant, at least by the organizers of that event, as a final, rousing “go get ’em.” And that is how it functioned. Bill Bennett might want to consider taking a chill pill.
Beck provides entertainment and commentary; that’s all. If he goes into actual politics, it will be a whole different kettle of fish.
Here, Dan Riehl talks about what we need in the conservative movement, and expresses his puzzlement that some people still defend John McCain. (Though that last is not puzzling to me: it starts with a “Sarah,” and it ends with a “Palin.”)
I still believe quite firmly that the most vibrant part of “conservatism” today (whatever that means) is the Tea Party movement, which is not a partisan phenomenon, let’s remember. And the Tea Partiers have, at this point, no actual leaders. For the time being, that is exactly as it should be. Though at some point we are going to have to accept a few people to help lead us through the wilderness in 2012. And it ain’t gonna be Moses; it will very likely be someone much more flawed.
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h/t for the Jonah Goldberg link goes to Stacy McCain, who also has some thoughts on the Beck issue.
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Glenn wishes the tea parties to evolve into a revolution of understanding. Both our history, and the history of the world at large. If we don’t understand why our country has been founded as it has been and think it was either wrong or archaic, then off course we’ll choose Communism.
By my account, that’s what Glenn is planning this year. Keep in mind two things when it comes to Glenn Beck running for office: How many kids he has, and how ridiculously awful his past is. I mean, I speak as a fan, and he’s usually funnier when he’s being mean then when he start stage whispering about “Doing your Own Homework.”
Agree with you on Bennett. I don’t remember where I saw it today, but someone claimed Beck’s CPAC speech hinted at potentially endorsing a third party. I’ve rarely seen or heard Beck, so I watched his CPAC speech with interest (at cpac.org). I sure don’t remember any such hinting, and if it was at all present, it was so subtle that one must probably tease it out through the expedient of spin.
In public speaking, I don’t mind recovering addicts using their experiences, nor military vets using theirs, nor teachers using theirs, nor ex-staffers, etc. As long as it’s not a constant harangue.