Thursday, September 03, 2009

Glenn Beck: The Louse That Roared

It always saddens me to see a "Child Left Behind" - all grown up. Glenn Beck would be a text book case. Back in the spring on his unintentionally uproarious FOX Noise program, Beck told his television audience:

"First they came for the bankers, and I did not speak up because I was not a banker. Then they came for the A.I.G. executives, and I did not speak up because I was not an A.I.G executive."

He then looked the camera dead in the eye and ominously told his clueless viewers that eventually "they" (He never specified exactly who "they" were) would be coming for them. It was a gross perversion of the famous Martin Niemoller poem. It was a none-too-subtle effort to compare the Obama Justice Department's prosecution of corporate criminals to Hitler's persecution of the Jews seventy years ago. Nice.


Recently he has been trying to pump up his brain dead masses by flatly stating that Barack Obama is a racist who hates white people. The fact that our president's lineage is fifty percent European and that he was raised by his very white mother and grandparents apparently never occurred to this jackass. Fill the people's minds with hate and fear; that's all that matters. Incredibly, it's working. An alarming percentage of the American people actually believe that Obama's goal is to turn the United States into a Socialist police state.

MEMO TO THE REST OF THE PLANET EARTH:

Most of us here in the states have an I.Q. higher than that of your average half-eaten box of Milk Duds -
Really, I promise!

A few months ago I wrote on this site that, being a tad crazy myself (in a lovable and endearing way, I assure you) I have the ability to pick up on the crazy vibe of others. Some people have a subtle, barely perceptible form of craziness - others have crazy to spare. Our boy Glenn is in the latter category. He likes to describe himself as the modern day equivalent of Howard Beale, the character played by the late actor Peter Finch in the 1976 film "Network". It's an apt comparison when you think about it:

He's mad as hell.

The first fact that struck me when researching the Beck biography was the day of his birth - February 10, 1964 - the day before his ideological soul mate, Sarah Palin, was born. Isn't that interesting! Just what the hell were they feeding those kids in the maternity wards of American hospitals forty-five years ago? Later on that same year, the GOP would nominate Barry "In your guts you know he's nuts" Goldwater as their standard bearer. Coincidence? I wonder....

And now the Beckster is positioning himself to become the Martin Loony King of the modern-day, Right Wing movement. He is organizing his very own March on Washington on September 12 at the Lincoln Memorial - the 9/12 Movement, he's calling it. Just imagine Glenn Beck standing under the statue if the Great Emancipator, bloviating in front of a sea of his intellectually-challenged masses. I can see it now....

"I have a scheme that one day my children will be judged not by the color of their white collars but the content of their country club....That one day ALL of God's children - Christians and CEO's; Republicans and John Birchers; right-wingers and MasterCard holders - will join hands and sing in the words of the old Harry Barris spiritual:

"WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN AND THE TIDE GOES OUT
THE DARKIES GATHER 'ROUND AND THEY ALL BEGIN TO SHOUT
IT'S A TREAT TO BEAT YOUR FEET ON THE MISSISSIPPI MUD

I have a scheme today...."

I'm stating to think that I really have to attend this event. How much fun would that be? I wouldn't be there as a progressive provocateur. What earthly sense would that make? Let's face it: it has now been established beyond any doubt that a lot of these knuckleheads are armed and dangerous. Remember that jackass who showed up outside Obama's recent Town Hall event in New Hampshire with a fucking gun strapped to his leg??? No. Get home alive and in one piece. Just blend in with the crowd and take notes for the sake of posterity. Don't stand out. Does anyone have a baseball cap and a confederate flag I can borrow?

The Tea Party Movement earlier this year was a total failure - a complete fiasco. They tried to make it look like a "grass roots" effort but it soon became clear to everyone that the only "grass" on the agenda was AstroTurf. The entire affair was a cheap and pathetic publicity stunt cooked up (I believe) in the offices of the Republican National Committee. The 9/12 Movement is their last chance to be taken seriously as a force to be reckoned with. No doubt about it, now I have to attend! But it probably would not be a good idea for me to go alone, There is decided strength in numbers, you know what I mean?

MESSAGE TO MY OLD PALS JOHN HARRAGIN AND KEVIN SWANWICK:

What are you guys doing next weekend? Wanna go to Washington and hang out with Glenn Beck? It might be loads of fun! All sorts of possibilities for some serious mischief!

To date, Beck has lost a grand total of fifty-seven sponsors. His act has gotten too weird for even Corporate America. That takes a bit of doing. To be honest with you, I'll miss him when he's gone. In a way that I can't even articulate, people like Glenn Beck have made my life a total delight. If tomorrow people like him and Sarah Palin went away, look for me on the breadline. They have given new meaning to my life. Seriously, I can't thank them enough!

Not since Joe McCarthy shuffled off this mortal coil in 1957 has anyone made a career by accusing people of being communists. Glenn Beck has resurrected the practice. Not only has he found a cabal of secret communists, he has uncovered an entire communist corporation chock full of commies. The name of this company, you may ask?

THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY!

You heard me right, boys and girls. The network that gave us Uncle Miltie and Ma Perkins has apparently been secretly sending subliminal messages endorsing Marxist doctrine since it was formed in 1926. This would make perfect sense to me. Every time I watched the Rockford Files I had an unexplainable desire to read Das Kapital.

But seriously, folks. Twenty years after the fall of the Soviet Union, red baiting not only seems silly, it's also kind of nuts. It's not-at-all surprising that an organization would give this idiot a forum (after all, he's on FOX Noise). What's really stunning is the fact that his ratings are relatively high and that so many Americans take his word as gospel.

All kidding aside, half-witted ideologues are a dime a dozen. What separates Glenn Beck from his peers is the fact that he is doing some serious damage to the country he professes to love so much. For all of the comparisons to the Nazis he likes to make with regard to Liberals, Beck's program has much in common with Adolf Hitler's 1923 screed, Mein Kampf. Eighty-six years ago, Hitler attempted to arouse the anger of his fellow Germans by spouting half truths and utter nonsense - exactly what Glenn Beck is doing in 2009. So much of the insane dialogue that has been spewed forth at these Town Hall meetings across the country in recent weeks might have been lifted straight from a transcript of any of Beck's programs.

Beck and his twisted ilk have done the seemingly impossible. They have deflected the blame for America's current economic distress toward Barack Obama. An incredible feat when you take into consideration the fact that the President is one of the few people in government today whose guilt in the matter is almost nil. They have also let loose with a vengeance the very worst angels of the American nature. Opening this Pandora's box was relatively easy. Closing it might prove to be a bit of a problem.

Deep in their hearts
They do believe
That they shall undermine someday....

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
tomdegan@frontiernet.net

AFTERTHOUGHT:

To brother, Pete Degan, who turns fifty today.
Been there! Done that!

81 Comments:

At 5:21 PM, Blogger charles moore said...

Well, to date Beck has lost 57 sponsors at Fox, so what does that tell you?

 
At 6:04 PM, Blogger Sue said...

YEA! 57 sponsors, well I guess my trolls emails to the sponsors didn't help the poor sap one bit!! Bunch of friggin idiots marching on Washington, can't wait to see those handmade posters! lol

 
At 6:16 PM, Blogger One Ronin said...

I like to point out that Glen Beck is the greatest proof that the media isn't liberal... CNN was the station on which he rose to "stardom".

 
At 6:26 PM, Blogger Darlene said...

What a hoot! You certainly cut him down to size. The man will say anything to create controversy. Martin Loony King indeed! I love it!

I will be watching to see what his defenders have to say; that is, if he has any left.

 
At 6:46 PM, Blogger One Ronin said...

BTW, Charles, thanks for the reminder -- need to start work on that myself.

 
At 8:34 PM, Anonymous Tim (Random Observations) said...

I don't get it: If it's immoral to "fill people's minds with hate and fear", then how is it acceptable for you to be doing that?

 
At 9:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just some simple facts to you liberal communist freaks!!!!

FOXNEWS O'REILLY 3,440,000
FOXNEWS HANNITY 2,937,000
FOXNEWS BECK 2,810,000
FOXNEWS GRETA 2,450,000
FOXNEWS BAIER 2,066,000
FOXNEWS SHEP 1,860,000
PMSNBC OLBERMANN 1,114,000
CNN KING 1,063,000
PMSNBC MADDOW 885,000
CNN COOPER 827,000
PMSNBC HARDBALL 640,000

Oreilly's repeats at 11 PM have a higher rating than Olby and that -unt Maddow. Listen I'm being harsh here for a minute but what is the point of your article Tom? Beck has historic ratings for a 5 pm slot.

You think FOX cares about the sponsors dropping out from 5-6 et? Sponsor #58 is lined up to jump right in and the rest go to separate time slots. Nice try Charlie Moore you HOOT!!!!

By the way I have an amazing picture of "W" kissing Vicky at the funeral with O-Shits wife looking on. Let me know if you want to take peak Tom!!!

Enjoy your holiday Tom.

Harry from Mass

 
At 10:13 PM, Anonymous sharon said...

Do any of his listeners really think about what he's saying?

"First they came for the bankers, and I did not speak up because I was not a banker. Then they came for the A.I.G. executives, and I did not speak up because I was not an A.I.G executive."

What on earth can he mean by trying to draw this parallel? Bankers and AIG execs have been handed the US Treasury on a silver, gold, and platinum platter. Please, treat me the same way. Please!

 
At 10:20 PM, Blogger Leslie Parsley said...

Tom, I love that imagination of yours. A really good piece. I can't help but think that were I a TV personality and my advertisers started dropping away, I'd have the brains to examine the whys and wherefores and maybe tone down the rhetoric. "Brains" must be the key operative here.

According to the dictionary "Anonymous" means "lacking individuality, unique character, or distinction." I'd probably add balls, Harry.

 
At 10:52 PM, Anonymous Tim (Random Observations) said...

Harry from Mass: Congratulations. You're again the most obscene person on this comment thread, seemingly proving to anyone looking that the "right wing" must be rude, insensitive jerks.

Do you get PAID to help out the "progressive" cause, or are just helping them out for free? Cause you certainly *are* being of great assistance.

A guy acting bad on "my side" bothers me far more than one on other side.

 
At 12:11 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Tim,

You really hit a good point on Harry.

I don't really think Beck or Limbaugh care one whit about conservative values -- other than MONEY! I think they'd do the same kinds of character assasinations for liberals, if there was more money in it -- but of course, there isn't! (I wonder if Harry can figure out why?)

 
At 2:46 AM, Anonymous Tim (Random Observations) said...

One Ronin (like your avatar, BTW):

I don't particularly care for Rush, but he seems to come up with some fairly persuasive arguments. (Agree or not, why do you think he's so popular?) I don't see how you could do that, day in and day out, on the same topic, if you don't believe a word of it. I'd say the same for Jon Stewart, BTW, it's not a partisan thing.

So why would this only be true of, say, Rush or Beck? Why not, say, Al Gore? Or Bill Maher or James Carville? If there are a bunch of people who would attack either side for money, then shouldn't about half of them be pretending, equally falsely, to be on the left?

I can only think of two famous commentators who might match your description, and I'll give concrete evidence:

First is Ed Schultz, who started out doing the "right wing" thing, and then suddenly flipped when he realized there was a market. I'm not kidding, go look it up.

The second is "Michael Savage", who spent the last 8 years saying how stupid Bush, Rice, etc were, and was discovered to be funding some fairly far left candidates (Jerry Brown, for example). He (Weiner) has been through several reinventions and I think he just scored better with that than as an herbal / New Age practitioner.

Not that you'd particularly want to claim him either, I understand. ;-)

 
At 11:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tom,

My husband and I have tried watching Olberman and Maddow; we read the paper daily; we check in with Alternet and HuffPo weekly - here is the question we keep coming back to: Why do the progressives in this country constantly focus on what the Republican mouth pieces say daily? The progressive media has become an echo chamber for the right - Rush, Beck, Hannity, etc bloviate and aggitate to their audience - fine and well. But when Olberman and Maddow spend 75% of their show REPEATING their crap, it reenforces the message. The idiots have become the news and completely control the message.

Why is the media focused on the 10 anti-Obama health care reform protesters at the town hall meetings instead of the 200 pro-reform protesters?

Who in the media speaks for me? Who has done a thoughtful analysis of the health care bill and presented it to their readers/viewers in an intelligent manner? Who focuses on the progressive agenda and the change we want to see in the world? No one.

I think the progressive media got stuck in the anti-Bush dogma, and now I read more about Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh in the paper/ internet than I do President Obama. And when I do see an article about Obama and the Dems, it is about how they have let us down. Come on! What the hell happened here?

Tom - you seem eager to attend Beck's rally and increase the number of participants that the media will surely focus on. Please promise to do the same for the progressive movement and their speakers.

Any answers or alternate new source suggestions would be most helpful. I am ready to turn it all off and live blissfully in ignorance, like most Americans.

Peace to you!

Jo in Arizona

 
At 1:37 PM, Anonymous Tim (Random Observations) said...

Jo: excellent point.

Normally, when one group or person initiates something, another reacts and focuses on the first. E.g. if a school principal decided to send the third grade class skydiving, the parents would be expected to focus on the plans and explanations by the principal.

In return, you'd expect the principal to explain and defend his idea (or concede). It would be odd (and perhaps telling) if he spent most of his time attacking or focusing on individual parents instead, no?

What's odd here is that Democrats are initiating some very serious legislative changes. So when someone raises an issue, the ISSUE itself should be addressed, right? Isn't that what we all want?

Instead, what we're seeing is the "personalization" of the issue: focus on specific people raising the question (or their real or imagined motives or personal defects), rather than trying to address the concern. If the one speaking is stupid or morally reprehensible -- or if we can find someone like that to glue the question to -- then we can ignore the question itself.

In logic, that's called the "ad hominem fallacy": you attack the person rather than the point. It's an irrational practice, but that doesn't mean it's isn't both popular and effective.

I'd love to hear more debate too, so I don't think that's constructive at all.


I think the progressive media got stuck in the anti-Bush dogma, and now I read more about Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh in the paper/ internet than I do President Obama...

Indeed! He serves today as an Emmanuel Goldstein -- a character in Orwell's novel whose purpose was to be universally reviled, and thus unite those watching the TV, and distract them from current issues.

If you want to read something with a bit more serious content, with more analysis but which still stick to conclusions you'd prefer, you could read The New Republic (tnr.org) or The American Prospect (prospect.org). Much of what they say still seems, to me, to skip over rather serious objections, but it's the best I can think of for you.

If you want to keep an open mind, you could read City Journal (highly recommended), and throw in National Review or the Weekly Standard.

Best to you, seriously.

 
At 6:49 PM, Blogger Reno's Blog said...

Tom, thank you for not only commenting on my blog but allowing me to find and read yours. :)

Glenn is, as you said, a child left behind who is all growed up... :)

 
At 8:18 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

I just read a comment that someone left on AlterNet that was very good:

"In 1976 when I saw the film "Network", I walked away from the theater appalled. Glenn Beck walked away inspired."

Well put.

Cheers!

Tom Degan

 
At 8:30 PM, Anonymous Ray Boden said...

Good job Tom, Glen clearly just enjoys provoking the simple minded, I believe it feeds his narcissism and legitimizes his otherwise pathetic life. He clearly isn't a man of reason but of emotion. Like Rush L. he doesn't care about the facts, he has a lot of emotions, and he will just say whatever pops into his little head to get people to feel like he does. Like others with personality disorders, he takes no responsibility for his own emotion because it's easier to blame others for his misery than accept his views as seriously erroneous.

 
At 9:55 PM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Tom:

I've been checking out some of your recommended blogs, and came across this quote from one of them:

"Obama represents global elites who shoot people from helicopters – from South America to Africa to the Middle East. That’s how a radical populist sees it or experiences it. That’s not how mainstream media frames it."

(This is from Rady Anadana's Blog "Practical Populism" -- a post from Sept 4.)

If radical populists believe Obama is just as evil as the radical right, what chance does Obama really have?

 
At 10:02 PM, Blogger Leslie Parsley said...

Anon asks, "Why do the progressives in this country constantly focus on what the Republican mouth pieces say daily?"

Maybe because so-called responsible Republicans don't have the backbone to stand up and cry "Foul?"

Almost thought you were the Anon Harry - a very foul sounding person. This is the problem with being Anon. You can be mistaken for someone you're not.

 
At 10:11 PM, Anonymous Laura Orsini said...

Thanks so much for this common-sense commentary. Would that the masses who still have a shard of intellect would open their mids an iota to let truth dispell Beck et al's inanity.

From Sue: "Can't wait to see those handmade posters! lol"

Agreed. As Randi Rhodes said during the campaign, "They have to use USA on all their signs because they can't spell 'America.'"

The KreeAyTuv spelling alone on the signs should be side-splitting.

 
At 11:04 PM, Blogger Liza said...

Thank you for the comment on my blog and for your posts...

He is a prime example of nature vs. nurture...

 
At 11:57 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Thank you so much for the kind words, Laura and Elizabeth. Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of "The Rant"!

All the best,

Tom Degan

PS - Keep those cards and letters coming in!

 
At 1:29 AM, Blogger Dearest Friend said...

Hmmm, September 12th..I have plans to go to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair - you remember that period of world history, right? When the rulers of the great European countries were either beheading people who didn't agree with them or being beheaded by their people because they didn't agree with the ruler. Your life was also at risk if you worshipped the wrong way at the wrong church.

You never knew when the king or queen's soldiers might "after you" - it all depended who the king or queen was really...

Oh yes, and religious leaders tortured or killed free-thinking men who had new and well researched ideas about the way the planet and our solar system worked! My - how times have changed! Or have they?

Thinking? New ideas? You mean Earth is not the center of the universe? Adam and Eve are not the beginning of the amazing story of the human race? Could there really be something on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean? Maybe it's just India...let's go have a look see...Well - I am shocked...

Remind me to speak up for the witches, heretics and black cats at the fair...

Mary
(The not "Bloody" at all even if she was raised Catholic)

 
At 8:25 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tom Dear!...Im going to have to agree with Harry From Mass on this one!..Tom...do you have anything to do in your free time???? Well...besides the Comfort Inn??? Have you given any thought to Volunteer work? I am wishing you a wonderful Holiday weekend!...Enjoy!

 
At 9:34 AM, Blogger Rady Ananda said...

@ One Ronin

I guess this comes down to whether you believe Obama represents the people who elected him or corporate interests.

Glenn Beck is an entertainer. Period. His market is the partisan right -- whereas Rachel Maddow, for instance, markets to the partisan left.


But, to respond directly to a rather harsh comment I made, that you quoted:

We've got pictures of corpo-gov, in helicopters, shooting dissident people in Peru, Honduras, and Nigeria (there are others - but this is off the top of my head).

We've got mainstream media reports that Obama is using drones to shoot up "villages" in Pakistan. These are unmanned weapons that do not discriminate between a nursing mother and Taliban.

I do believe that Obama represents corporate interests - mining, oil and gas, and timber (and Wall Street, but that's a different topic).

He is particularly culpable for Honduras - it would take a simple word from Obama and the democratically-elected president would be restored.

Instead, a US military base was used during Prez Zelaya's kidnapping, to refuel the jet.

In power is the man who lost 35-65% in the last election (2005). By Obama's actions and inactions, Micheletti and corporate elites have seized control of a nation. Six of the military personnel (including two generals) were trained at the US School of the Americas (nka WHISEC). They are killing dissidents and have arrested thousands.

Now, Dole, Chiquita and the textile industry (which sells mostly to the US) don't have to pay Hondurans a minimum wage increase.

Instead of supporting democracy, the US (and thus, its representative, Obama) is supporting a return in Latin America to bloody military coups instead of democratically elected government.

Now, to be fair, some analysts suggest that Obama is not in control and didn't know what US and Honduran elites were planning.

I can't comment on that idea. I don't have info either way.

But, like I also said in that piece you quoted, One Ronin,

"Without a radical Left populist response to the radical Right militarism of the past nine years, the “Center” moves further toward military coup and dictatorship."

I think it's a good and noble act to publicly condemn these things. And I applaud Tom for pushing the edge for his readers by linking to radical populists.

In peace,

~ Rady

 
At 11:06 AM, Anonymous smallbutstrong said...

Tom:

I don't know how you found my little blog but I am so excited that you did. I've just started reading yours and I think I've found a wonderful inspiration. Your wit is quick and points outstanding. Just LOOK at all these comments! Anyhow, thanks for finding me-- I will be dropping in frequently.

Cheers,
Smallbutstrong

 
At 11:40 AM, Blogger John Barry said...

Obama has moved the Democratic party too far left. The result will be a defeat in the 2012 election. People like the communist Van Jones are increasingly the face of the Democratic Party. Sad to see how a once great party has drifted away from the mainstream.

 
At 11:45 AM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

smallbutstrong....

You've made my day! Thank you so much for the kind words. I found your site quite by accident but it was a happy accident, you can be sure!

All the best,

Tom Degan

 
At 12:13 PM, Blogger Leslie Parsley said...

J Barry: I know I'm probably talking to the wall here, but if you'll remember, President Obama was elected by a majority. Over 200,000 people in PA switched from the GOP to the Democratic party. Because of all the obstructionists, I don't think he has moved "us" to the left at all.

"Sad to see how a once great party has drifted away from the mainstream."

Whoa there. How do you describe what the far right has done to the Republican Party? There is none.

 
At 6:09 PM, Anonymous John said...

I've been watching Glenn Beck and it sounds to me like he's doing a good job of exposing the special advisors in the White House.

For example he's exposed the self-avowed communist, who is also a 9/11 "truther" that has spent time in prison - Van Jones. Beck has also exposed others like John Holdren, who wrote a book advocating forced abortions and sterilants put into the drinking water.

I don't know about you, but I think it's vital that the public know about these wackjobs and it appears Fox News is leading the way in exposing these people.

The media is meant to be the watchdog of the government. During the last presidential election, and to this day, that appears not to be the case with many of the news organizations. No wonder Fox News owns the cable ratings.

 
At 12:13 AM, Blogger JamaGenie said...

Much as he believes otherwise, Rush can't live forever. A replacement will have to be found. I believe Glenn Beck is being groomed for that slot. Heaven help us all. Just shows how lazy Americans have become. With access to every possible viewpoint on an issue available on the internet via computers and cell phones, too many *choose* to get their "information" from the likes of Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity. And just as back in the day, before the internet, they *choose* to be told what to think by the aforementioned entertainers rather than use the brain they were born with and make an informed decision on their own.

Now the Right is calling efforts to get kids to stay in school "socialist propaganda". Well, that's no surprise. Can't have Right Wingers kids getting an ejucashun...they might figure out how stupid their parents *really* are. Or worse, thinking for themselves and *not* following blindly alog like good little lemmings.

 
At 2:20 AM, Blogger Jefferson's Guardian said...

"...it's vital that the public know about these wackjobs and it appears Fox News is leading the way in exposing these people."

Hey John, I guess they were on a coffee break from January 20, 2001 to January 20th of this year?

 
At 2:40 AM, Blogger Jefferson's Guardian said...

"Obama has moved the Democratic party too far left."

John Barry, I'm sorry, I must have missed that one. I guess I've been focused on his Afghanistan military build-up, his resumption of Bush's bailout of the investment bankers, and his succumbing to Big Insurance's and Big Pharm's demands.

 
At 9:53 AM, Blogger jasondylan said...

Great job Tom! Love your word play and tone.

To the people who want Tom to volunteer, Tom's writings are very important. He is an old man of much wisdom but I don't think he can handle much more stress as it is.

Seriously, the reason that the left addresses the "right-wing" so much is that the media is so far right.

Although I agree that more focus should be put content,the right wing is a real danger to our country.



To someone on her commenting about Beck being Limbaughs replacement, spot on.

To the right wingers who try and distort things. Please. If you don't realize by now that unrestricted corporate power is to blame for this mess we are in and want to blame communists or "welfare moms" or whoever else you can think of, then you are just sad.

Yes, your fear may be just. But to keep scapegoating people, whether it be blacks or women or immigrants for all or most of our problems is cowardly and shameful.

Just my two scents. Stinky and smelly.

 
At 10:53 AM, Anonymous Andrea said...

Did you know Glenn Beck has been promting his "Common Sense Comedy Tour?"

I watched a 5 minute clip of him in action and it was a freakin hoot.

Somebody needs to let him know he sucks. Really, he does.

Andrea

 
At 11:32 AM, Anonymous Skepticat said...

Absolutely my favorite headline for a long time.

That said, I would love to see Beck, Palin, both Cheneys, and all McCains (and their screeds, which vary from vicious to moronic) simply fade from the public consciousness.

 
At 12:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Damn, facts got in the way of a looney Czar. Well, here's another in a long list of those that OBUMMER will be throwing under the bus. It just gets worse from here, as the facts come out, and OBUMMERs approval ratings hit the floor.

Thanks Glenn, continue the good work. The leftards will never get it unless they keep getting hammered with facts

 
At 1:01 PM, Blogger db said...

best rant on the louse so far. beck has an easy job. he doesn't need to check for facts before he speaks because facts are irrelevant to his audience. the mob just wants to pick up more names to write on their new 'hand made posters'. thanks, sue! he will be rich and popular for the same reasons as the jerry springer show. for the sensible minds here, no worries! the mob mentality is still a minority. otherwise sarah palin would be vice president!

 
At 2:43 PM, Blogger Erick Brockway said...

Tom, you must think highly of your "rant", since you've spammed it everywhere; http://tinyurl.com/no97rd
Since I don't feel like chasing you around;
“Communist under every rock”? Well sir in this case it’s looking more and more like it’s true, doesn’t it? Self-avowed Communists I might add.
Your Alinsky rules are known now, you only marginalize yourself.
We won’t stop until you leftists and Communists are back UNDER your rocks.
And since you won't read this person either;

"Nice try Tom.

Why are you attacking Glenn Beck for reciting Van Jones statements? Glenn Beck didn’t make them up. They are up there for everyone to view, in fully glory, FULL CONTEXT.

No one is going to believe your spin.

Game over. Try again."

And lastly in the response roundup;

"Hollywood outcries charging McCarthyism would probably carry a helluva lot more weight with thinking Americans had McCarthy actually been wrong about all of the communists in Hollywood, but when a Presidential APPOINTEE literally claims to be one, that’s, uh… Well, that’s just plain disturbing.

Don’t get me wrong, Tom, as I perfectly understand why you’d want to kill the messenger. I mean, having the first face card yanked from your lower case messiah’s ever more fragile house thereof — and by an alcoholic rodeo clown, no less — has got to be terribly embarrassing.

Of course, the fact an alcoholic rodeo clown was the only one with a press forum asking embarrassing questions in the first place must inspire terrifying thoughts of “Oops, what have we done?” amongst the thoughtful few (8… 9?) in the lower case messiah’s legions of devoted minions.

But, be of good cheer, Tom. I stand with you on the whole “communist” thing, as there seems to be only one (now tossed beneath the bus) who admitted to being such. I am now completely confident that there are no more communists in any position of power in this administration…

…just the dedicated fascists."

Mine was the first, see you back under your rock soon.

 
At 4:20 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Cameltoad.....

Don't be silly, luv!

Cheerio!

Tom Degan

PS - Yes, I do think highly of "my rant". Don't you?

 
At 6:25 PM, Blogger rossabh said...

I answered your comment on my blog at length. http://factsforreality.blogspot.com/2009/09/too-length-response-to-my-glenn-beck.html
Thank you for the comment on my writing. It is important and a pleasure to meet someone who thinks differently and test our ability to rationally discuss what is real. I need to make it very clear that my definitions offered on my website factsforreality.net can apply either way. Unlike some people with whom I discuss politics I am not absolutely sure of my position, but knowledgeable enough to explore what I believe and look for what is real. I also, in my rough drafts of my letters to my grandchildren asking them, How do you like the country which we left you?” suggest that I hope that you find that the other side was right and that I was just a paranoid old fool.

 
At 8:30 PM, Blogger Danielle Nelson said...

"Twisted Ilk" here... Hi!!!

I see you found some sanity over on the New Zeal!! Welcome!!!!!

 
At 12:07 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

To Rady and Tom:

"I can't comment on that idea. I don't have info either way."

As I suspected -- and yet without that knowledge you devote well over 1000 words of condemnation against Obama.

I think that sums it up pretty well.

Personally, I wish Obama did not have to represent corporate interests. Unfortunately, that is not the case, thanks to the dealings of his predecessors. If he really believes what he said before being elected, he has the toughest job that any president of the US has ever had to do.

So, frankly, even though I'm not particularly happy with his progress so far, I'm inclined to cut him some slack.

You're no better than Beck -- you choose your beliefs and mold your limited knowledge to support your agenda. You think all that you know is all that you NEED to know to pass judgment. In fact, as I've looked further, I'm amazed at how many socialists hate Obama as much as Beck does!

You and Tom have both shown yourselves to be the mirror images of what you condemn. Opposite sides of the same coin. Humankind doesn't need that.

And in any case, neither you nor Tom answered my question: "If radical populists believe Obama is just as evil as the radical right, what chance does Obama really have?"

And just to clarify, because I could not determine from your other blogs --- Do you even live in the U.S.? It appears that you don't....

Tom: COTO is not the only entity that "takes no prisoners"!

 
At 12:15 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Rady:

"Without a radical Left populist response to the radical Right militarism of the past nine years, the “Center” moves further toward military coup and dictatorship."

Translation:

"Shoot first, ask questions later."

 
At 12:31 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Tim Random:

I can't say as I've heard of either of the two examples you cited, but don't deny your claim. I'd only like to point out that since I haven't heard of them, maybe they weren't so effective as they (or you) thought.

I never said that I don't believe anything Beck or Rush say, nor denied that they have a seductive message. But their huge popularity isn't created by their intellect. It's created by their consistent spewing of hatred that their listeners feel socially incapable of expressing on their own.

I am not generally a judgmental person -- but if I could push a "magic button" that would wink both Beck and Rush out of existence, I would-- without a second's hesitation --- even if they were Democrats.

 
At 12:41 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Tom, BTW:

The question was directed at you. I already posted a similar question on Rady's blog, which she didn't respond to.

Would appreciate in the future if YOU responded to my questions to you, rather than passing them off to the bloggers you endorse....

 
At 12:56 AM, Blogger ralphlake said...

Thanks for leaving your calling card, Tom. I see from your readers that in some quarters at least hate has taken root. The right is not entirely stupid (otherwise it be easy to dismiss). Most of Beck's followers are more intelligent than he is (not difficult to believe) which is part of his appeal to them. They like his simplification of difficult problems, because despite their own native smarts they are deeply suspicious of intelligence. But mostly they like Beck because they can feel his rage which is their rage, a dangerous emotional cesspool of impotence and fear. It's ultimately about hate versus love. Love is always the weaker suit.

 
At 1:15 AM, Blogger rossabh said...

Glenn Beck cautions his listeners to question boldly and remain peaceful because the liberals want to create problems to take advantage of in justifying their mission to implement their post Orwellian freedom program. Holder dismusses black panthers at the polls, the SEIU attacks a black vendor. Just like the Minute Man problems were the liberal trouble makers there to monitor, not the Minute Men. A close friend of mine with an opposite point of view brought up the opposition is racist and he was not trying to give me a hard time. He was serious. I am baffled at conservatives who believe like Walter E Williams and Thomas Sowell who know more than most people including the legislators. Are they racist?

 
At 1:23 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

ralphlake: "because despite their own native smarts they are deeply suspicious of intelligence. "

Well, that sums it up, doesn't it?

"Don't be intelligent -- ignorance is smarter?"

 
At 1:31 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

rossabh said:

"Glenn Beck cautions his listeners to question boldly and remain peaceful because the liberals want to create problems to take advantage of in justifying their mission to implement their post Orwellian freedom program."

OH GAD! I can go to bed chuckling (sadly) now! Beck "cautions" his listeners against the "liberals... mission to implement their post Orwellian freedom program."

Of COURSE! This CAUTION makes him objective! And did you notice how SWEETLY this sucker swallowed that line??!!!

Hear that, Rady? Do you even BEGIN to understand what we're up against here, and what it will take to change it?

No, I guess not.

 
At 1:42 AM, Blogger rossabh said...

I agree with some here that we need to go to the issues and not the Alinsky style attacks on the people. Mackey's suggestion using Whole Foods health plans for his people got him crucified. I have heard that might be the union wanting to unionize Whole Foods more than the healthcare isssue. If we want to do good, I agree that it would be good to have more rational discussions of the alternatives. The beyond belief thing to me is that the public listens to a government that has a terrible track record of managing programs (not new to this administration - it has been this way by the nature of government run programs)wants to do something of such monumental size that it could ruin the country which is losing its position in the world economy rather than take Massachusetts or Tennessee who tried and now have problems with government run healthcare and fix them. After they show that they could reasonably manage one of them they could scale up. They have the option of allowing interstate competition rather than giving monopolies to insurance companies within states or doing tort reform. There are a lot of less dangerous fixes. Learn about the ratio of public spending (overhead for a country) to GDP and check what ours is doing.
I have blogged that I am glad that Obama was elected because it gives us a chance to test progressive programs, but I do not think that we can risk the extent that he has gone to with 10% of the Stimulus put out and some of that going to a Soros PR plan in NYC. I am curious if that is where our loan to Petrobas for Soros' oil exploration in Brazil will be coming from while the 8/08 suggestion of Sarah Palin to stimulate the economy and give the US a lot more energy independence is ignored. Beck shows facts and actually suggests that we question boldly and reiterates be peaceful.
I have a list of the questions at http://factsforreality.blogspot.com/2009/09/glenn-becks-week-of-showing-quotes.html
If the truth were on the other side, it would be good to rationally and logically respond.

It seems to me that some supporters of progressive programs are proof that there is an exception to the fittest survive and the species improves rule of nature because they support a statement made about the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787. Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government."
"A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury."
"From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."
"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years."
"During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage"

 
At 1:43 AM, Blogger kay~ms said...

Tom, you posted on our blog concerning Glenn Beck

http://tothewire.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/glenn-becks-revelations/#comment-10234

I thought I would post part of my response here...

I have to say that although I strongly disagree with Glenn Beck’s religious views, I strongly agree with many of his political views and commentary. He is kicking butt right now!! Obama is a gift that has fallen right into his lap! I’m mean, VAN JONES!! Come on… Obama’s Czars!! Come on!! You go Glenn… take full advantage…and enjoy those great ratings. People are watching because they like learning FACTS that are not being told by any of the other “unbiased” cable news networks.

What I particularly find interesting is that Glenn has mentioned how his political opponents and critics have thrown all kinds of insults and accusations at him, called him all kinds of names but they don’t seem to want to argue the actual points or FACTS that he has presented. And I have to say that I have found that to be true, on my blog and now yours also.

Some examples...

"the louse that roared"

"a "Child Left Behind" - all grown up. "

"others have crazy to spare. Our boy Glenn is in the latter category. "

“It’s not-at-all surprising that an organization would give this idiot a forum ”

“All kidding aside, half-witted ideologues are a dime a dozen.”

“Eighty-six years ago, Hitler attempted to arouse the anger of his fellow Germans by spouting half truths and utter nonsense – exactly what Glenn Beck is doing in 2009.”

“half truths and utter nonsense”? And your arguments to support these accusations are? Oh we don’t know, you convieniently didn’t present any.


While I appreciate witty writing and sarcastic jabs here and there (the name calling just shows desparation) ... when that is ALL that is presented, it's pretty sad.

This is CLEARLY a common liberal practice… I’m convinced it’s written in some liberal handbook somewhere… “And when you have no argument… name calling and unsubstantiated accusations are the next best thing.. just be persistant and unified… it’s a very powerful technique.. the conservatives will never notice what you’re doing… they’re not that smart”. Another liberal “truth” that they ignorantly like to believe… uh, sorry to break it to you but we DO know what you’re doing. And it’s sad but also laughable at times I have to admit.

Where are the arguments to the FACTS that Glenn has presented night after night:

Obama’s Czars

Van Jones… an admitted communist!

Patrick Courrielche's recording of the conference between the White House and the art community
"pursuading" them to help push Obama's agendas. A blatant misuse of power and taxpayer money!


WHERE are the arguments?

Name calling is not the same as arguing… you guys need to rewrite your handbook.

What a joke…

 
At 2:06 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

rossabh: "Beck shows facts and actually suggests that we question boldly and reiterates be peaceful."

Beck does not want you to be peaceful. If he did, he would not use the violent language he uses.

I very much respect you for hearing his words of "peace". But I ask that you listen equally for the words of violence that he uses, and consider how they affect
violent people who are not like you. ...Be "the devil's advocate" and hear them the way that people who are not like you will hear them.

And if you agree with me, write to Glen Beck and ask him to stop -- and see how he responds.

 
At 2:11 AM, Blogger rossabh said...

Sunday, September 6, 2009
RESPONSE TO AN ANONYMOUS RESPONDER FROM "THE RANT"
The following is a response to a response which follows from anonymous and my reference to liberal thinking is keyed to that type of person rather than several liberals in my life who I respectfully disagree.

http://tomdegan.blogspot.com/2009/09/glenn-beck-louse-that-roared.html

If we truly wanted to improve the country, we would prioritize what we want to see such as 1. National defense - without a country, not much else matters
2, Economy - without a good economy we can't afford to do anything - California is proving that to be true - Paradise which would be the 8th, I think, largest economy in the world if it were a separate country and it has had a government which has it in horrible fiscal condition
3. Education - an uneducated voter is a danger to the country - need to be educated in how the economy works and have a background in analytical thinking so that thought, not emotion governs voting decisions
4. Up for grabs because we would then be up the Maslow's heirarchy of needs to start doing good things. We cannot take care of anything as a nation if we do not first take care of ourselves.

I have a rough start to a bi-partisan solution which I believe would fix one of our nation's major defects. Our politicians are the only employees I know of who can totally anialate what they manage and still receive full salary and benefits. I have made my proposal on a separate blog at http://peopleeatingthescraps.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-do-we-choose-to-be-pets-of.html


I posted this on my blog as well as the source of the person to whom I am responding. I will even put intelligent responses on my entries. This is an emotional without facts type of response and it shows what I think too much of the discourse between a lot of liberal and conservative thinking tends toward. I have a very close relationship with several liberal people who are intelligent, but who have very different views of the same situation and solutions to our country's problems. That is why I have the definitions mooreon and WIIer which I challenge people to tell me why I fit one of these definitions rather than the challenger.

The letters on my website are rough drafts with notes on facts and fears of what Obama would do to America. I underestimated his ability to appeal to the whining wooses who don't want to take care of themselves. I acknowledge that that is totally emotional and not necessarily based on an exact percentage of supporters.

>
"A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money." "A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." George Bernard Shaw (1944)



Not a new problem with an inferior class of humans (nothing to do with race or religion - mentality). This has gone on for a long time. Nature has a rule that the fittest survive and it improves the species. Some liberal supporters are the exception to the rule as evidenced by the quality of your anonymous response which follows.


No suprise that your letters to your children and grandchildren have> received no repsonse. Or (more likley) that their response didn't fit with> your "agenda", so you censored them.

My questions are, "Is this therapeutic or productive in some way?" Does this person actually care about the country improving? What value is this person's thinking?

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of (their) folly is to fill the world with fools." -- Herbert Spencer....... What have we here?

 
At 2:17 AM, Blogger rossabh said...

One Ronin - A pleasure interacting with you on this. They who are not willing to question are insecure in their beliefs. I reserve the right to react humanly and then become rational. Absolutely not the case in your comment which is the kind of interaction that would get us going in a much better direction than being off on sidetrack skirmishes with eachother. I will take your direction and review the Beck week because I am well aware that “What we see depends mainly upon what we look for.” -- John Lubbock and "Our vision is more obstructed by what we think we know than by our lack of knowledge." -- Kristen Stendahl

I am working tomorrow and needing to get to bed now, but I will rewatch some of the programs and I do give my input to Beck. I have no idea whether it is heard or not and I am too dumb to know that it won't be heard. Thank you once more for the interaction.

 
At 2:19 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Final to Rady:

"In peace,

~ Rady"

Your beliefs and practices are an insult to everything peace stands for. You are every gram as bad as those you condemn!

 
At 2:30 AM, Blogger One Ronin said...

To rossabh :

So glad I haven't turned in yet... Thank you! You understood! That's all I could hope for!


...That, and that you tell me what you see after some re-evaluation, and why. We ALL must communicate what we see, and discuss it with the *desire* of mutual understanding -- if we are ever to reach a common vision.

 
At 6:38 AM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

"If radical populists believe Obama is just as evil as the radical right, what chance does Obama really have?"

One Ronin....

We (and I think I can speak for Rady in this instance) don't believe that Obama is anywhere near as bad as George W. Bush. But the times demand bold action; the twenty-first century's answer to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. You have to admit that President Obama has fallen short - thus far.

As I have said before, it is still early in his administration. Let's see what two years brings.

Tom Degan

 
At 9:55 AM, Blogger Rady Ananda said...

Ronin exemplifies why it is impossible to have intelligent debate with partisans: he doesn’t use logic.

He engages in ad hominem attacks, quotes out of context, and uses straw man devices. All three are logical fallacies.

We can’t build bridges with those mired in emotion and stupefied by fear. It’s tragic to see that the Bush Administration was so effective in terrorizing so many.

Best to ignore anyone who responds to “peace” with hatemongering.

 
At 6:37 PM, Blogger ChillaKilla said...

Un-frigging-believable! While the left-wingnuts congregated on this RANT blather incessantly on their self-adjudicated ownership of all possible virtues and qualities, including "reason, logic, moral and intellectual superiority," etc. over those of us on the RIGHT, you glibly ignore your failure to address the obvious:

a) Your own viciousness in characterizing and/or attacking whoever or whatever opposes your political aims. To wit the following, to name a minimum few:
-"The Louse that Roared" Tom D
- The "bunch of friggin idiots" referred to by Sue (who can't wait to see those handmade posters - she obviously prefers to the professionally printed ones supplied by MoveOn, the SEIU, ACORN et al. These prove to her the hired troops who signed up through Craig's Lists to be bused to Town Halls are REAL PROTESTORS, not Astroturf indeed!)

AND
b)Your utter failure in addressing the EVIDENCE offered -not by the RIGHT, but by the accused themselves in their own words, actions, history and writings!

All Beck did was point to the videos of conferences where they were the keynote speakers, and to interviews and manifestos that exist anywhere one wishes to search for them. Those of us who care to do so, can see for ourselves the vermin obama has insidiously imbedded in his administration to subvert the system.

In fact, if Jones were to show up at his own trial in a court of law, he'd be summarily convicted by the most lame-brained jury from the plentiful rhetoric he has so willingly submitted in his shameless gloatings and preachings. Which in fact says plenty about the powers of comprehension of the left.

Continues...

 
At 6:38 PM, Blogger ChillaKilla said...

So, rather than worshipping at the altar of the narcissist in chief, you would do well to gauge the intelligence (or lack thereof) and arrogance of the 'dear leader' who apparently thought his charm offensive, aimed at a deluded, vainly hopeful public, to a conniving media, to a cadre of well monied supporters (including, Soros, Buffet and Gates), and to a radical, professional agitator-indoctrinated youth would carry him through 4, and possibly 8 years of failure and deceit, despite the incontrovertible truth hiding in plain sight.

To your messiah's chagrin, people awakened just in time by Beck in fact decided to pay attention, and the results are visible.

Independents and even democrats have shaken off the scales and have began to question, and then turn away. Check out the polls closely.

From now on your Manchurian candidate will be scrutinized, and his unaccountable appointees will be taken to task and then discarded for their own stupidity. The demise of that race-baiting hater Van Jones is only the tip of the iceberg, check on the fate of that rabid communist Mark Lloyd next.

So, Mr RANT, I see a lot of the ‘reason, love, and intellectual prowess' the left anoints itself with and proclaims to own in the following excerpt:

"""Those are the depths to which political dialogue in this country has sunk in the last twenty-eight years, six months, two weeks and two days (Do the math). Long gone are days of reasoned discourse for most of these assholes. They are past the point where they could debate the issues on the basis of their ideas - because their ideas are reprehensible. To paraphrase FDR, the only thing they have to offer is fear itself. Pump the people up with hate. That is their final and only strategy.

Forgive me for pointing out this nasty little tidbit of historical fact, but this is the very same kind of inflammatory rhetoric that was polluting the American political landscape on the eves of April 14, 1865 and November 22, 1963. Need I go into detail? I didn't think so. Hardly a day goes by where I don't pray out loud, "Dear Lord, keep him safe."

That being said, here's a friendly little reminder for Glenn Beck and the hate mongers on the Far Right who are doing so much damage to the body politic: if our president is ever harmed in any serious way, you jackasses will have blood dripping from your idiotic hands. Were something that horrible ever to happen, there would be hell to pay. If I were you folks, I'd start working overtime to ensure that it does not happen. Just a thought."""

Lawrdy… I for one am ready to see the light!

 
At 7:21 PM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Rady --

Anyone can accuse anyone else of any "illogic" they wish -- all it takes is hitting keys on your keyboard. That doesn't make them true.

You are exactly what you say I am, Rady. Truth comes from answering the questions that are posed to you rather than dodging them with your own lame, "ad hominen" attacks that I'm "hatemongering" and "mired in emotion and stupefied by fear."

I'm perfectly content letting others make their own judgments about which of us is "irrational" -- not to mention "stupefied by fear" -- especially if they visit your blog -- which I *strongly* encourage them to do!

Check it out!....
http://radyananda.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/the-graphic-cost-of-gagging-dissent/

I never said anything about you in the first place... I posed a question to Tom about what you had said on your blog. I never made any statement about the validity of ANY your beliefs.

YOU'RE the one who came in with guns blazing to defend yourself -- in spite of the fact that I never even attacked you! Like I said, you "shoot first and ask questions later."

No! Wait! Come to think of it, you never asked any questions AT ALL! -- just came in blasting everyone with your "manifesto".

 
At 7:46 PM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Tom --

Ok, let's move back to the question, then. Instead of Rady, I'll quote from John Pilger of International Socialist Review, Socialist Worker
“Building a New Left for a New Era”...

"And I suppose I’d like to talk today about this invisible government’s most recent achievement: the rise of Barack Obama and the silencing of much of the Left."

"And yet here is the 45th president of the United States, having stacked his government with warmongers and corporate fraudsters and polluters from the Bush and Clinton eras, promising not only more of the same, but a whole new war in Pakistan, justified by the clichés of Hillary Clinton – clichés like, “high value targets.”

You can find plenty more at:

http://radyananda.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/john-pilger-empire-obama-and-america%E2%80%99s-last-taboo/

So again, Tom, if the right-wing believes Obama is a socialist, and the socialists believe Obama is the crowning achievement of the right-wing "Secret Government", who DOES he work for? And how is he going to get anything accomplished?

 
At 7:49 PM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Rady:

I offer an apology for a mistake just discovered. While getting the link above, I saw a posting that I thought was yours -- and see now that it wasn't. It made reference to "..my country, Chile..." which is what made me question your nationality.

 
At 8:42 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

One Ronin....

He has more support on the Left and from moderates than you may imagine. It's too early in his administration to judge.

We shall see....

Wow! Sixty-five comments on one RANT posting. That's a record, folks!

Cheers!

Tom Degan

 
At 9:24 PM, Blogger One Ronin said...

Tom:

I agree it's too early to judge Obama's administration, but that isn't the question. What you and I believe has nothing to do with the political dynamics at play. The fact is that Socialists hate Obama, just like right-wingers do.

I would think you'd be among the front-liners to use this fact to expose that rightist's claims that Obama is a socialist are ridiculous.

And yet you don't...?

 
At 9:38 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

One Ronin,

But I have. Repeatedly. I would direct you to my latest piece which I wrote only this morning. It's called, "HE'S COMING" AFTER OUR CHILDREN" from which I'll quote here:

"Could the basis for their paranoia be that Obama really is the hard core lefty that people like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh are portraying him to be? To quote Joan Rivers, "Can we talk?" Here's the dirty little secret: He ain't. He isn't even close to being one. If he were, people who lean left-of-center (like yours truly does) wouldn't be as disappointed in his performance thus far as we obviously are."

Back on February 4, after he had been in office only two weeks and one day, I wrote a piece called, "Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes?" Which bought up the same points. Here is a link to that piece:


Link: http://tomdegan.blogspot.com/2009/02/dear-president-obama-first-of-all-thank.html

All the best,

Tom Degan

 
At 9:49 PM, Blogger One Ronin said...

You casually state your own left-of-center dissatisfaction but that doesn't mean much. You don't quote the hard-core disdain shown by hard-core Socialists and Populists -- as I've quoted.

Why are you treading so lightly with these people? You wouldn't be so hesitant to quote Rush Limbaugh on something so equally outlandish? Why the discrimination?

 
At 10:18 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

One Ronin....

I believe you're nit picking here. Just remember that you and Rady and I are on the same side. Focus on our common denominators instead of our disagreemnets.

Sincerely,

Tom Degan

 
At 1:23 AM, Blogger penel said...

Fox news and Glenn Beck are biased, hateful, and just want to make money. I find that their smear campaign against my President is reprehensible. It is very sad when the population is swayed by people with few ethics...i.e. Newt, Sarah, etc. My President is brilliant. My President is a great father. My President is not a drunk, nor have his kids been arrested. We need to get tougher. Dems need to come out fighting. I am over being civil. The best thing that happened to our country is the removal of G.Bush and his kind.
Unfortunately, there are ignorant and impressionable people who think that we are to blame for our countries problems. 8 months compared to 8 years? I am saddened by the stupidity!
penelopee, Denver, Colorado

 
At 1:15 AM, Anonymous Jeff Blanks said...

I wish someone would show Glenn Beck Martin Niemoeller's original text. "First they came for the Communists..."

 
At 4:00 AM, Anonymous Steve Nice Guy Northland said...

Poor Glennis Beckis.....she is wickedly effete.....have you heard her screeching her tits off ???.....it's not pretty.....clearly thinks wickedly ill of herself on that score.....and bugger me takes her sadness out on that handsome man Obama.....

 
At 12:54 AM, Anonymous Mark Polege said...

I hate to have to declare the obvious but you really have missed the point on Beck. Like when Limbaugh showed up on TV back in the late 1980's, he gives references so you don't have to take his word for ANYTHING and can look it up for yourself. Those of us that still believe in having journalistic integrity still do that. Document & confirm.

He is a nut job for siting sources anywhere from the Heritage Society to the tilted New York Times? Not to mention Van Jones and the other Czars in their OWN WORDS on video. Heaven forbid a news show actually site references and ask questions. Something the other networks refuse to do, from Obama to ACORN and on and on. There was a time when the BIG 3 and newspapers had journalistic integrity, unfortunately many have forgotten the meaning of the words.

 
At 1:32 AM, Blogger jasondylan said...

Yeah, nice try Polege.

Beck and Limbaugh never "frame" anything or add vitriol or hyperbole to their "facts".

All the right wingers can pout all they want but it is our turn now, the "treasonous" lefties who actually want to restore the Constitution.

Where were all yous guys when Bush was pushing the Patriot Act, the most vile piece of garbage since Japanese internments.

You were at some bar somewhere toasting to the fact that one of the good old boys was in the White House.

People are eventually going to see through the propaganda that you so willingly recite.

America has always been a melting pot and has fought for it's better self against people like you it's entire existence and you will just be remembered as one of the last remnants of a dying culture and philosophy of imperialism and racism.

Good luck with that.

 
At 2:07 PM, Blogger gordon coombes said...

Your post on Glenn Beck was entertaining its difficult to take him seriously yet the danger is that a few million do. & you made good point about the fact that most Americans are not as bat shit crazy as Glenn Beck- I've said on several of my post on Beck & his fellow media nutters is that unfortunately those outside of America at times all they see are the crazies since they get the media attention & popular on Youtube for entertainment value
-GORD. at http://gordspoetryfactory.blogspot.com/ & adding you to my list of blog followers-good day eh!

 
At 6:21 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Regarding BECK: If he has lost 57 sponsors...which is absurd because a one hour show/daily does not have that many...how many has he gained? Note he is still on the air and some nights his households ratings are in 5% of Katie Couric's on CBS.

It's fine to pass along info about people we don't like...but let's not be stupid...Beck is on because plenty of advertisers support him.

 
At 8:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glenn: No offense, and I know Germans. I like Germans. I've been to Germany. I really don't believe that Germany is a nation of evil.

With that being said, you, Michelle Bachmann and Rush Limbaugh all have Germanic surnames. You are saying, "Let's deny health care to the poor." And I have to tell you, I am nervous about this, because what I feel like saying is, "Sir, prove to me that you have not inherited the ideology of the Nazis from your German ancestors."

And I know you haven't. I'm not accusing you of being an Nazi, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way.

 
At 6:04 PM, Blogger Speak Jeremiah said...

Darlene: A blogger has cut down a man with over 2 million viewers per day. I don't think so. And it's funny how quick you liberals will turn on your own countrymen and women just because they don't support our idiot 'organizer in chief'.

 
At 11:25 AM, Blogger Darlene said...

Bobb, don't you see the irony in your statement about "turning on our own countrymen and women" when we criticize Glenn Beck? He has made a reputation destroying good men like Van Jones. Jones was too good in his job so Beck decided he had to go. Dig deep enough and you can find something in almost anyone's past that will embarrass him or her.

We cut down each other. That's politics. It's a shame that we can't have nice civil debates, but the radicals have made that impossible.

 
At 11:30 AM, Blogger Amolibri said...

"Beck is on because plenty of advertisers support him."
Uh huh. They'd support Ghengis Khan if he had the best numbers. How naive can we be!@???

 
At 4:57 PM, Blogger david_dvdson said...

here i thought this was about
head lice lol, anyway.. i totally agree with glenn beck on this. even if i disagree on him in a lot of topics, but i think this isnt one of them.

 

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