Discussion: The Tea Party

[chaseter]

Can you explain why Beck chose that day? He has nothing to do with Civil Rights. Restoring Honor in Government and looking to the principles of religion that founded this country, according to him being Christianity, have nothing to do with MLK. Just like Comedians have nothing to do with the anniversary of 9/11. Oh but I can throw in someone in the lineup who had a family member there to justify my comicapalooza. But I could certainly see how hundreds of thousands of white people lining up to listen to a white speaker on the anniversary of the day when millions of black men and women lined up to listen to a black speaker fight for their equality would have no ill effects. Either he is an absolute oblivious moron to historical events or he is a media troll. He can be both if you want.

What did Beck have to say about the Islamic Center near Ground Zero?

 

[StorminNorman]

Can you explain why Beck chose that day? He has nothing to do with Civil Rights. Restoring Honor in Government and looking to the principles of religion that founded this country, according to him being Christianity, have nothing to do with MLK. Just like Comedians have nothing to do with the anniversary of 9/11. Oh but I can throw in someone in the lineup who had a family member there to justify my comicapalooza. But I could certainly see how hundreds of thousands of white people lining up to listen to a white speaker on the anniversary of the day when millions of black men and women lined up to listen to a black speaker fight for their equality would have no ill effects. Either he is an absolute oblivious moron to historical events or he is a media troll. He can be both if you want.

Isn't civil rights effectively restoring honor in government? What MLK was searching for was equality for all, as was Beck. Both had to deal with fixing problems facing the country and both were based on a message of hope, of peace, of togetherness and unity.

People are too obsessed with race. Thou protests too much.

Also, relevance of the Islamic Center?

 

[chaseter]

No civil rights is not restoring honor in the government. Really?

Beck was of course against the Islamic Center even though it was partly funded by the same people that write his paycheck. Beck was against the mosque because he thought it was not the right thing to do. Sort of tacky. They had the right to do it but it wasn't the right thing to do in his own words which I of course paraphrased. Beck had the right to hold a massive rally to sell his brand on the same day and place MLK gave his historic speech but of course it wasn't the right thing to do. So once again, either he is an oblivious idiot to historic events or he is a media troll.

 

[StorminNorman]

If someone asked you yesterday randomly what day MLK gave his speech in Washington, you would have had no clue.

I know I certainly wouldn't have.

 

[DACrowe]

Isn't civil rights effectively restoring honor in government? What MLK was searching for was equality for all, as was Beck. Both had to deal with fixing problems facing the country and both were based on a message of hope, of peace, of togetherness and unity.

People are too obsessed with race. Thou protests too much.

Also, relevance of the Islamic Center?

Beck and MLK do not remotely share the same message. MLK espoused a message of unity, community, dignity and resilence. Beck espouses hate, division and labeling his political enemies.

And civil rights (equality for African-Americans) is not the same as "stoping the socialist-Maoist-Nazi in the WH" to paraphrase the message of Beck's show. Beck vilifies for attention, MLK inspires for a greater purpose.

MLK was a voice of peace, Beck a voice of hate and self-gratification. End of story.

 

[StorminNorman]

Beck's message is very much one of unity, community, dignity and resilience.

 

[Marx]

Beck's message is very much one of unity, community, dignity and resilience.

I'm honestly not sure how you can say that with a straight face. One minute you're condemning him as a partisan hack, the next minute you're defending him and his message. Which is it Norm? Is he a partisan hack? Or a great unifier spreading a message of peace and love? It's an honest question.

 

[BlackLantern]

Beck's message is very much one of unity, community, dignity and resilience.

yes a community that follows Becks ideas of unity, Becks ideas of community, Becks idea of dignity, so on and so on

his ideas, not the people he claims to represent

 

[StorminNorman]

I'm honestly not sure how you can say that with a straight face. One minute you're condemning him as a partisan hack, the next minute you're defending him and his message. Which is it Norm? Is he a partisan hack? Or a great unifier spreading a message of peace and love? It's an honest question.

When have I called him a partisan hack?

I think I have always remained pretty consistent that Beck is a misunderstood pacifist who has discovered Revolutionary America philosophy.

yes a community that follows Becks ideas of unity, Becks ideas of community, Becks idea of dignity, so on and so on

his ideas, not the people he claims to represent

I think Beck's ideas are essentially that of natural rights which would be the same moral foundation MLK's rested on.

Why did blacks deserve the same rights and privileges as whites? Because all men are created equal.

Why shouldn't we allow government to decide what rights we enjoy as Americans? Because all men are created equal and those in Washington are just as flawed as everyone else.

 

[Youk]

It's the other way around.

The Private Sector is the voluntary sector - we choose who we do business with.

The Public Sector is the coercion sector - we have no choice but to deal with them. The "accountable to the public" bit is obviously a crock - in today's world larger states like California hold significantly more power than a state like Utah.

we do choose who we do business with, but it's usually based on cost and convenience. if a corporation is successful in hiding or minimizing the fallout from a scandal then the public won't hear much about it. look at BP, for instance. sure, the spill hurt them for a while, but people have a short memory about this type of stuff. also, it's not uncommon for disgraced companies to change their names, much like Blackwater did, to protect their value.

regardless of how you see it, politicians are accountable to the voters. sure, some states have more pull than others, but they still get voted out of office if they fail the voters.

I can't say that I find Beck's religious motivation all that interesting - but I think it's genuine.

nothing about that guy is genuine.

Beck's message is very much one of unity, community, dignity and resilience.

When have I called him a partisan hack?

I think I have always remained pretty consistent that Beck is a misunderstood pacifist who has discovered Revolutionary America philosophy.



I think Beck's ideas are essentially that of natural rights which would be the same moral foundation MLK's rested on.

Why did blacks deserve the same rights and privileges as whites? Because all men are created equal.

Why shouldn't we allow government to decide what rights we enjoy as Americans? Because all men are created equal and those in Washington are just as flawed as everyone else.

man, you probably will make a good politician. you've mastered the art of spinning mind-numbing amounts of ********.

 

[BlackLantern]

Becks "beliefs" revolve around surrounding himself with people who complete subscribe to said beliefs, without any dissension or discussion

 

[StorminNorman]

we do choose who we do business with, but it's usually based on cost and convenience. if a corporation is successful in hiding or minimizing the fallout from a scandal then the public won't hear much about it. look at BP, for instance. sure, the spill hurt them for a while, but people have a short memory about this type of stuff. also, it's not uncommon for disgraced companies to change their names, much like Blackwater did, to protect their value.

If you only care about cost and convenience, then that's how you should decide who to do business with.

I do concede that corporations have the ability to run away from their past by changing names or whatever - but that is easily solved by the internet and ease of information. I support the Federal Government turning in it's regulation badge in favor of creating a Consumer Advocacy position in order to make it easier - but even that I would prefer to be abolished once a private alternative is put in place.

Again, the fact you would rather trust government than yourself makes you an ideal Progressive

nothing about that guy is genuine.

I understand why you think that. You're wrong, but I understand why you think that.

man, you probably will make a good politician. you've mastered the art of spinning mind-numbing amounts of ********.

It is rarely wise to so easily dismiss the knowledge of someone so better informed than you are.

Becks "beliefs" revolve around surrounding himself with people who complete subscribe to said beliefs, without any dissension or discussion

Defend this statement. Beck regularly interacts with Libertarians who Beck disagrees with on social issues. Beck allows Judge Andrew Napolitano guest host his show even though they disagree on several issues. Beck goes on tour with O'Reilly, even though they disagree on several issues.

 

[Matt]

Norm, you're better than defending Glenn Beck.

 

[StorminNorman]

I'm not defending Beck, I am simply speaking the truth.

I don't think Beck's amazing or anything (I worry about his basing his politics on religion rather than philosophical foundations) but the fact is that the majority of the people here talking about Beck don't watch Beck, don't listen to Beck and are talking out of their ass. They are so convinced that Beck is this cartoon character due to how he is presented by his ideological opponents like the Daily Show crowd.

It's obviously a very reasonable mistake - I made the same one last year. And then I caught a few episodes and realized he was the only one on cable talking about the right things.

 

[Doomed_hero]

yes cause a man who says the president hates white people, insults the Presidents family, says that(place whoever he doen't like this week) is part of a conspiracy to destory the country, ad taking a book by a founding father(Common sense) an twisting its meaning to meet your own basis view ison par with the message of peacful protest for the righs of the poor and forgotten.

 

[StorminNorman]

Lets put it this way, why in the world should I trust the opinion of anyone here over that of my own?

I have known about Beck than just about anyone here. I have listened to more Beck than anyone here. I was converted into an anti-Beck guy for a while (demonstrating a constantly evolving position instead of one pre-manufactured by Stephen Colbert).

We have such brilliant observes like chase who would compare the Restoring Honor Ceremony to "comedians holding a show at 9/11 with muslims" even though he didn't watch any of it. You have BL who has remarked that he has never been able to take Beck seriously due to his having heard him in his radio-clown days decades ago. You have Youk bringing his tired schtick.

Why in the world should I not place the greatest stock in my own opinion here?

 

[Matt]

I'm not defending Beck, I am simply speaking the truth.

I don't think Beck's amazing or anything (I worry about his basing his politics on religion rather than philosophical foundations) but the fact is that the majority of the people here talking about Beck don't watch Beck, don't listen to Beck and are talking out of their ass. They are so convinced that Beck is this cartoon character due to how he is presented by his ideological opponents like the Daily Show crowd.

It's obviously a very reasonable mistake - I made the same one last year. And then I caught a few episodes and realized he was the only one on cable talking about the right things.

I've watched Beck and listened to Beck. He is presented as a "cartoon character," as you put it, not due to the Daily Show (and trust me, I'm the first to call Stewart on his ****), but because he acts like a cartoon character. He acts like a caricature of a far right winger from a cartoon in the NYT, rather than a real pundit with anything of value to say.

 

[StorminNorman]

yes cause a man who says the president hates white people, insults the Presidents family, says that(place whoever he doen't like this week) is part of a conspiracy to destory the country, ad taking a book by a founding father(Common sense) an twisting its meaning to meet your own basis view ison par with the message of peacful protest for the righs of the poor and forgotten.

He didn't say the President hates white people.

The jokes about family were tacky.

He did nothing to twist the theme and purpose of Common Sense. He was pretty spot on with that one.

 

[Doomed_hero]

It is true, I first watch Beck's clips on DS andcould not belive the craziness of the man so I watched it for myself just to seeif it was that bad. After watching it fornearly 2 weeks I could not belive that it was almost worse then the DS swing. I ill still turn in from time to time and recheck episodes that I see clips that may be out on context, and he is still a idiot.

 

[Doomed_hero]

It is true, I first watch Beck's clips on DS andcould not belive the craziness of the man so I watched it for myself just to seeif it was that bad. After watching it fornearly 2 weeks I could not belive that it was almost worse then the DS swing. I ill still turn in from time to time and recheck episodes that I see clips that may be out on context, and he is still a idiot.

 

[Matt]

Lets put it this way, why in the world should I trust the opinion of anyone here over that of my own?

I have known about Beck than just about anyone here. I have listened to more Beck than anyone here. I was converted into an anti-Beck guy for a while (demonstrating a constantly evolving position instead of one pre-manufactured by Stephen Colbert).

We have such brilliant observes like chase who would compare the Restoring Honor Ceremony to "comedians holding a show at 9/11 with muslims" even though he didn't watch any of it. You have BL who has remarked that he has never been able to take Beck seriously due to his having heard him in his radio-clown days decades ago. You have Youk bringing his tired schtick.

Why in the world should I not place the greatest stock in my own opinion here?

By the same merit, why should any of us put greater stock in your opinion than our own?

 

[StorminNorman]

I've watched Beck and listened to Beck. He is presented as a "cartoon character," as you put it, not due to the Daily Show (and trust me, I'm the first to call Stewart on his ****), but because he acts like a cartoon character. He acts like a caricature of a far right winger from a cartoon in the NYT, rather than a real pundit with anything of value to say.

You're not listening then. He has more to say than anyone else on TV.

Beck brings more substance to his show than anyone else in the industry. On television at least.

 

[StorminNorman]

By the same merit, why should any of us put greater stock in your opinion than our own?

Quite frankly, my content speaks for itself.

 

[Matt]

And just for the record, I think you're all off on Beck. Not even Beck takes Beck seriously. Beck started his career as a COMEDY based radio DJ. I believe his whole uber far right persona, comes off as a caricature because that's what it is. I think it was originally a caricature aimed to make fun of far right wingers. Much like Larry the Cable Guy was originally intended to make fun of rednecks. However, like Larry the Cable Guy, the group he was spoofing did not get that they were being made fun of, embraced him, so he pretty much just adopted the persona and sold out to those people that he was initially poking fun at. At least that's my Beck theory.

 

[Matt]

You're not listening then. He has more to say than anyone else on TV.

Beck brings more substance to his show than anyone else in the industry. On television at least.

In your opinion.

Quite frankly, my content speaks for itself.

Oy, I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. Get over yourself.