[Newsbot]

Filibuster Cartoons
Title: Glenn Beck the Great (click to view)
Date: August 31, 2010
So Glenn Beck, beloved FOX news pundit guy, gave his big speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial this weekend. It was a speech that he himself had previously characterized as being near-divine in motivation; a prophetical call for America to absolve herself of the sins of liberalism and big government, and repent herself into the Christo-republic of Glenn's dreams.

After months and months of such up-selling, it's perhaps unsurprising that the actual speech ended up falling a little flat. In response to critics, who objected to the timing and locale of his big event (which matched that of Dr. Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream" speech, 47 years ago), Beck ended up removing most of the political content from his address, and forbid his audience from being overtly partisan signs to the gathering. The speech that eventually was heard was largely about morality and spirituality in the abstract, with a heavy focus on the military, but bereft of any particularly interesting right-wing sound bytes.

In any case, I think the whole show was typical Beck. I don't regard the man as one with anything of much use to say, or any legitimate movement to lead. I think he has the sort of self-righteous, busy-body energy that accurately reflects what he is: a latecomer to politics with a desperate desire for relevance.

Beck reminds me a lot of the sort of people I would meet in my first-year political science classes. He's read a few books about ideas that he never previously bothered to think about, and suddenly becomes convinced that he possesses a blazing insight that makes him one of the great intellectuals of our time. I remember, for instance, once watching him march around on his show waving a copy of Friedrich von Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom;" an incredibly well-known book within any sort of self-respecting conservative circle. But Beck was so supremely proud of himself for discovering von Hayek's work, and could not wait to implore his audience to read this awesome book, too, so they too could be as smart as he.

It's the patronizing attitude and ignorant pomposity that are Beck's worst qualities, and ones he doesn't face nearly enough flack for, from either right or left. He can be as far-right and religious he wants, for all I care, but at least drop the pretense that you're doing anything new. There have been a lot of much wiser Glenn Becks before him, and I don't doubt there will be many to follow.

[raydan]

I think some people make a lot of noise to cover up the fact that they don't have much to say... and Beck makes a LOT of noise.

[CommanderSock]

The difference between crazy and eccentric is money.

[Kwyjor]

Newsbot wrote:

Beck reminds me a lot of the sort of people I would meet in my first-year political science classes. He's read a few books about ideas that he never previously bothered to think about, and suddenly becomes convinced that he possesses a blazing insight that makes him one of the great intellectuals of our time.

It seems the same can be said for a lot of these pundits, or wannabe pundits, anyway.

So what happens to the other people that show up in the first year of political science that makes them so much less obnoxious? Do they just realize the enormity of what's been done before they came around?

[xerxes]

The man's a charlatan and a demogogue, no more, no less.

[CanadianJeff]

I'm glad to see some sense when it comes to Beck. The man gets about 300% more attention then he deserves.

[PostFactum]

If there are people who are listening him.....so maybe he's obviously interesting for someone)))

[CanadianJeff]

Ad populum does not make one right or correct in any fashion.

[PostFactum]

That's his problem and problem of his listeners.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

There's a thin line between enthusiasm and idiotic obnoxiousness. Glen Beck is on the wrong side of that line.

[angler57]

raydan wrote:

I think some people make a lot of noise to cover up the fact that they don't have much to say... and Beck makes a LOT of noise.

How true. A read of many of this forums posters proves your
point.

[PostFactum]

angler57 wrote:

raydan wrote:

I think some people make a lot of noise to cover up the fact that they don't have much to say... and Beck makes a LOT of noise.

How true. A read of many of this forums posters proves your
point.

Blah-blah-blah looks like you always have "serious speech" with facts only^)))

[JJ]

Kwyjor wrote:

Newsbot wrote:

Beck reminds me a lot of the sort of people I would meet in my first-year political science classes. He's read a few books about ideas that he never previously bothered to think about, and suddenly becomes convinced that he possesses a blazing insight that makes him one of the great intellectuals of our time.

It seems the same can be said for a lot of these pundits, or wannabe pundits, anyway.

So what happens to the other people that show up in the first year of political science that makes them so much less obnoxious? Do they just realize the enormity of what's been done before they came around?

I think that's what they call "modesty."

[Murray_Smith]

JJ wrote:

Kwyjor wrote:

Newsbot wrote:

Beck reminds me a lot of the sort of people I would meet in my first-year political science classes. He's read a few books about ideas that he never previously bothered to think about, and suddenly becomes convinced that he possesses a blazing insight that makes him one of the great intellectuals of our time.

It seems the same can be said for a lot of these pundits, or wannabe pundits, anyway.

So what happens to the other people that show up in the first year of political science that makes them so much less obnoxious? Do they just realize the enormity of what's been done before they came around?

I think that's what they call "modesty."

Exactly. See, I may possess one of the greatest intellects of my generation, but I am very modest about my superiority to you puny humans.

[Lemmy]

angler57 wrote:

raydan wrote:

I think some people make a lot of noise to cover up the fact that they don't have much to say... and Beck makes a LOT of noise.

How true. A read of many of this forums posters proves your
point.

Why do you keep making these vague, generalized insults at the forum contributors? Is that a violation of the user policy? If it isn't, it should be.