Torn Up Lungs and Motorcycle Mauraders!

Marijuana Policy Project executive director and Friend of Reason (FoR) Rob Kampia submits to a grilling from Fox News host Glenn Beck, who manages a handful of eye rolls, a dozen stupid munchies jokes, and informs his viewers that smoking pot will rip your lungs apart. Memo to Beck: If you are going to be obnoxious to—and dismissive of—a guest, make sure you know what the hell you are talking about. Game, set, match to Kampia:

Also, the atheist-conservative blogger Allahpundit notes that Beck is the Naomi Wolf of the right, recently hosting a show that "war games" the destruction of American democracy. Be sure to watch for the hysterical Gerald Celente, who argues that by 2014 the streets of America will be controlled by "motorcycle marauders." So Beck scoffs at Kampia and his suggestion that the war on drugs has been a colossal failure, but doesn't challenge Celente's insane rant that America will soon look like a Bo Gritz remake of Quadrophenia?

Comments

[Matthew]

Motorcycle Marauders?

Sweet. Definitely keeping the Suzuki.

[MNG]

Hmm, I seem to remember a few Reasonoids defending this human slug a while back when I claimed he was imo very possibly the dumbest man to have a political show on television...

[JW]

Not to take anything away from Kampia, but, c'mon, a 4 year old with Downs could pwn Beck.

[JW]

a Bo Gritz remake of Quadrophenia

Ya know, that doesn't sound half bad.

[Michael Moynihan]

Second video fixed, by the way.

[horsewithnonick]

War Room was worth it just to watch Beck come unglued when his two ex-military guests threw in with the 'Bubbas', and all but advocated armed insurrection in the face of his hypothetical government tyranny...

[Kolohe]

I have the (mis?)fortune of watching Beck nearly every day; fox news or cnn is always on in the background at work, and with the time zone his show is on smack dab in the middle of the day.

His 'war game' shows last week were hillarious. And entertaining, but I find stuff like George Noory/Art Bell entertaining as well.

[Voros McCracken]

"Be sure to watch for the hysterical Gerald Celente, who argues that by 2014 the streets of America will be controlled by 'motorcycle marauders.'"

Oh, hells yes. That would be sweet.

[Seer]

Isn't Scheuer the guy that Ron Paul cited to back up his points about UBL and 9/11?

[ed]

I watched it last night, and wept.
Actually, I laughed. How stupid is FOX to hire this hack?*

*Rhetorical question. Move along now.

[Cabeza De Vaca]

"Isn't Scheuer the guy that Ron Paul cited to back up his points about UBL and 9/11?"

I think you're thinking of Chalmers Johnson.

[Pro Libertate]

What was the deal with Beck and CNN? I was under the impression that his ratings were decent, though I didn't pay enough attention to know for sure. I follow his career a bit because he was a local radio guy in Tampa before he became a national figure. He's pretty much a loon, of course.

[fish]

Say what you want about Beck but one thing is certain.....He's no Michael Weiner!

[Francisco Torres]

Marijuana Policy Project executive director and Friend of Reason (FoR) Rob Kampia submits to a grilling from Fox News host Glenn Beck[...]

Just to be fair, Beck did not call Kampia a "libertine", unlike his colleague O'Reilly who did call Sullum "a libertine" a while back when discussing a similar issue. At least, Beck acknowledged the fact that the war on drugs is failing, his holier-than-thou stance on Marijuana use notwithstanding.

[Cabeza De Vaca]

Former addicts like Beck are almost always in favor of prohibition. They need the government to protect them from themselves.

[P Brooks]

Is that yammering imbecile Beck on Fox, now?

*Tries to imagine a bidding war for Beck's services*

*outright, prolonged laughter*

Whee, that was fun!

[hmm]

the Sergeant Major is full of bs...the tanks or M88s from Ft Hood broke down the walls in Waco.

[Francisco Torres]

What was the deal with Beck and CNN? I was under the impression that his ratings were decent, though I didn't pay enough attention to know for sure.

His ratings were actually very good. His was the only HNN show I watched. He must have gotten a sweet deal from Fox to move there, plus the time slot he got is very good.

[ed]

What was the deal with Beck and CNN?

CNN realized he was a genu-wine retard?
Glenn Beck eats M&Ms on-air. That's right: he eats while interviewing his unfortunate guests. Somebody at FOX thinks this is edgy. Host eats chocolate, asks followups with brown teeth. The mind reels. What the--?
Never mind.

[Pro Libertate]

I did see a Beck-Babar interview. I can't remember for sure, but he didn't sound totally nuts on the drug war (nuts being the status quo, of course). I seem to recall hearing that Beck is a recovering drug user or alcoholic, so it maybe the Puritanism of the former user was at work, too.

I remember Penn Jillette saying that he liked Glenn Beck, which is a little odd, because Beck ain't a libertarian or an atheist. I listened to him a little back when he was purely a local radio guy, but he really put me off with the Schiavo drum-beating. Among other things.

[Francisco Torres]

How stupid is FOX to hire this hack?

Have you watched O'Reilly? Hannity? Beck's is miles away from those clowns. At least, Beck DID bring better economists to his show. One of the things that I dislike about him is that he "interviews" his guests as if HE'S the one being interviewed.

[MNG]

"His was the only HNN show I watched."

The Francisco Torres (aka TAO) is stupid meter just went from pretty sure to 100% sure.

[MNG]

For the record, before watching any show on Fox or CNN I would poke my eyes out with a hot hair curler and then immediately plung my head into a vat of rubbing alcohol while blinking profusely.

[ed]

Have you watched O'Reilly? Hannity?

Oh yes.

Beck's [sic] is miles away from those clowns.

He certainly is. Miles and miles and miles away.

[Francisco Torres]

I remember Penn Jillette saying that he liked Glenn Beck, which is a little odd, because Beck ain't a libertarian or an atheist.

He at least brings the point of view of libertarians to the forefront, unlike goose-stepping O'Reilly or smiley-face Fascist Chris Matthews. But he's indeed not a true libertarian - he's too much into interventionism on foreign affairs and treading a bit too much on puritanism.

[Jeff P]

He is also an early-access basic cable political pundit who routinely gets C-list guests yet actually thinks his opinion matters.

He's the anti-Craig Ferguson.

[MNG]

Beck was good for one thing: to remind you that Nancy Grace did indeed have a terminal degree from an ABA accredited institution...

Seriously, the scale of evolution scale tells us that these people are in the following order of the stage of evolutionary progress which they represent (read from high to lowest):

Homo habilis
Rush Limbaugh
Sean Hannity
once cell algae
Glen Beck

[Francisco Torres]

Ed,
Beck's [sic][sic] is miles away from those clowns.

He certainly is. Miles and miles and miles away.

Ok. By the way, the apostrophe is correct, Ed, since it is implicit the discussion is around Glen Beck's show.

[MNG]

Have some fun with this tome from the mildly retarded Beck:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/141659485X/reasonmagazinea-20/

[JB]

I don't think Beck was that off-base with the overall premise of America in the crapper. Although with one or two jolts it will happen far faster and far nastier than he predicted.

Many people are irrational when it comes to drugs (whether that drug is cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, etc.).

[ed]

I seem to recall hearing that Beck is a recovering drug user or alcoholic

That's because he never fails to remind his viewers of this fact. He's the typical 12-stepper: "Hey man, let me tell you about my drugs." Please. The only thing worse than a recovering alcoholic is a recovering whore. And speaking of Nancy Grace...

[MNG]

I cannot imagine the mindset of a supposedly human being who watches Nancy Grace. I shudder to even try...
You know what gets me? She's been on so long there must be literally millions watching her...Or else she had nude pictures of Ted Turner in a compromising position...

[wayne]

Beck is an idiot, and boring besides.

[Francisco Torres]

MNG,
The Francisco Torres (aka TAO) is [sic] stupid meter just went from pretty sure to 100% sure.

Are you talking about the meter that measures your ability to write correctly?

[MNG]

For the record I listened to Beck every now and then on his radio show which was close to my favorite alt rock station on the dial for a three year period. I'd mess with knob and get the retard every now and then. My thought back then was: who in the world gave this man a radio show, and who in the world would isten to this without being tied up?

Then he appeared on television...

[wayne]

Seriously, the scale of evolution scale tells us that these people are in the following order of the stage of evolutionary progress which they represent (read from high to lowest):

Homo habilis
Rush Limbaugh
Sean Hannity
once cell algae
Glen Beck

At least Limbaugh is entertaining.

[MNG]

Since I posit that you=TAO (that's what aka means) I think is is correct dude.

[MNG]

Dude, get out more.

P.J. O'Rourke, entertaining.

Rush Limbaugh, boring buffoon.

[ed]

Francisco Torres | February 26, 2009, 6:38pm | #

Ed,
Beck's [sic][sic] is miles away from those clowns.
the apostrophe is correct, Ed,

OK, I get it, Francisco. Beck's [show]. Possessive. So sorry.

He's still a retard.

[ed]

And Nancy Grace is still a helmet-haired slut.

[wayne]

MNG,

Limbaugh did not get the largest radio audience in existence by being boring. Buffoon, maybe, but not boring.

[MNG]

wayne
Given the large amount of boring people in the world, the mere fact that someone has a large audience is no proof that they are not boring. Perhaps their audience is mostly boring farts or silly teen girls.

[Brandybuck]

I would be Limbaugh above Homo Habilis and just below Homo Neanderthalis. He is entertaining and has a few great guest hosts. The Bush years were bad though, as I think his contract only let him criticize a Republican administration only once a quarter. I expect his show to greatly improve now that he doesn't have to shill for a living.

[Warty]

Glenn Beck is an obnoxious shitweasel. Fuck him.

[MNG]

"I expect his show to greatly improve now that he doesn't have to shill for a living."

That's what he does for a living. It's one thing for a guy to be a conservative, it's another for him to be a Republican. Limbaugh's philosophy is simply the latter. He would never make an argument that would be called on by conservative principles but would anger large number of conservative Republicans. Never. His job is to tell the faithful what they already "know."

Think of Russell Kirk having a radio show. "Conservatives" would be roasting that dude on a spit in about a week, because he had some integrity and intellectual honesty about him, looney as he was. Limbaugh's popularity is like the pretty cheerleader's in high school...

[MNG]

Limbaugh and his ilk fairly obviously take party talking points and do their job of helping build whatever meme is being built by their side. There's not even the smallest hint of non-shilling on his part. People act like the fact that he criticized Bush on immigration is some example of integrity: but Limbaugh's job is not to be a tool of Bush per se but of movement conservatism in general. Most conservative Republican officials stood against Bush on that and so Limbaugh did his usual job of selling the party line.

Al Franken used to have this great bit called "follow the memo" in which he would play a clip from about a dozen of these conservative hacks on any given day and not only would they be going on and on about the same topic and taking the same position, they also tended to use the exact same phrases! Those dudes are the worst hacks....

[shecky]

I remember Penn Jillette saying that he liked Glenn Beck, which is a little odd, because Beck ain't a libertarian or an atheist.

Yes he is. He said so twice on the first clip! How can you argue with that?

[libertymike]

Brandybuck and MNG-

I think Brandybuck is right in that his show was better during the Clinton years. MNG, he has ripped republicans who, in his estimation, have wavered from conservative principles. However, on the whole, like so many others, he just does not want to accept that the GOP and conservative principles are not one and the same.

[wayne]

Al Franken used to have this great bit called ...

Ah, yes, Al Franken. Now there is a boring dude. He used to have a radio show, didn't he? He was actually pretty funny when he played an imbecile on SNL.

[libertymike]

MNG-

And Al Franken is not a no talent hack? The single worst SNL player, ever.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

I read a transcript of this segment while researching another subject. I was terribly dissapointed that Onkar Ghates allowed himself to be included in this fucktard fest, even if his contribution was limited to about three sentences inre freedom of speech.

[Taktix?]

No more, MNG!

[MNG]

Not a good SNL player but the dude was a writer for a while, a Harvard Graduate. He's a sharp cookie with a pretty high level of comedy actually. But of course the higher one's level of comedy the less popular it's going to be, most people being fools (see the popularity of Paul Bart Mall Cop).

"MNG, he has ripped republicans who, in his estimation, have wavered from conservative principles."

He only does that when the GOP does something very unpopular with their base. It's that base that he toadies to, he would NEVER anger it. Never. And of course he goes after any Republican who is for something that a majority of Republicans are against.

[MNG]

Taktix
I would have preferred
No, more MNG!

Or even
No more MNG!

Commas are powerful things, eh?

[EJM]

What was the deal with Beck and CNN? I was under the impression that his ratings were decent, though I didn't pay enough attention to know for sure. I follow his career a bit because he was a local radio guy in Tampa before he became a national figure. He's pretty much a loon, of course.

Fox News offered him a significantly larger amount of money. And, for what it's worth, his ratings are apparently much higher than what Fox News had before in the time slot (which featured, until fairly recently, John Gibson).

[ed]

the dude [Franken] was a writer for a while, a Harvard Graduate

Oh my.

[Jerry]

Is Dennis Miller still at Fox?

[ed]

Yes. Somewhat. He tolerates O'Reilly. Poor chap.

[EJM]

Oh my.

ed, are you a Dick Enberg fan? I noticed that you also said that in the "Joe Biden, Real Man of Genius" thread. (Not that I'm disagreeing with you or anything...)

[Balloon Maker]

The phrase "I'm a Libertarian.." gives beck credibility with whom?

[Famous Mortimer]

"Hmm, I seem to remember a few Reasonoids defending this human slug a while back when I claimed he was imo very possibly the dumbest man to have a political show on television..."

Anyone who speaks out against any form of taxation tends to become a Libertarian hero. They'll often rationalize any other inconsistencies.

Beck is yet another example of how often people who feel the need to label themselves "Libertarian" tend to possess a host of other strange inconsistencies. It's more than likely due to the Conservative branch from which they were derived, and an inherent puritanism that is difficult to deprogram.

Beware of the self-described Libertarian. Political labels are silly, and so are the people who perpetrate them.

[G4m3th30ry]

Political labels are not silly at all.

It's true that anyone describing themselves as part of any larger group is unlikely to hold every view the group may hold doesn't mean categorizing people based on beliefs is stupid or that labels are meaningless.

[libertymike]

MNG-

I hope you are not impressed by ivyness. Of course, Joe accused me of being jealous not knowing that I once dated a Kenedy School gal who I first met in Red Square. She, and the sex, were much better in the USSR.

[libertymike]

EJM-

Dick Enberg or Dick Stockton?

[EJM]

Dick Enberg or Dick Stockton?

Enberg. He even used it for the title of his autobiography.

[libertymike]

EJM-

My question was just a combination free association/who do you prefer as a play-by-play guy. Sorry, it was just kind of lame. You may not be old enough to remeber, but Enberg hosted a show entitled Sports Challenge back in the early-mid seventies. I really liked it. Back then, it was kind of cool-at least for a voracious sports loving kid like me.

BTW, I do prefer Enberg over Stockton. Obviously, he has broadcast more of the primo events than Stockton. But, Stockton got to call one of the most dramatic plays in sports history..if it stays fair....

[ed]

ed, are you a Dick Enberg fan?

Nope, sorry. Is he the racing guy? Or the football guy?

[ed]

Oh, now I comprehend your potato. Yes!
Dick Enberg, the Oh, My! guy.
Yes, not a fan. Just a stealer of his trademark...which makes me...a fan!

[ed]

Oh my!

[EJM]

LM, I did have a hunch that that's what you meant, but wasn't certain.

In terms of sports play-by-play, either one of them is very good. However, Enberg gets the overall nod from me--because, in addition, to "Sports Challenge", he hosted a few other (non-sports related) game shows.

Sit back and enjoy two of the only known surviving episodes of the very short-lived (two months in late 1975), cult-classic quiz "Three for the Money"...

Premiere episode (with celebrities Linda Kaye Henning and Dick Gautier) -- Part 1 | Part 2

Week-ending episode from later in the run (with celebrities Barbara Feldon and Jim McKrell) -- Part 1 | Part 2

I do like how Dick does approach his hosting here as if it were a sporting event (especially in the two-minute "Catch-Up Round", which appears in Part 2).

(Before anyone asks, I can't find any YouTube videos of either of Dick's other game shows: "[All-Star] Baffle" [the 1973-74 revival of "PDQ"] and "The Perfect Match" [a 1960s game unrelated to later, similarly named shows].)

[libertymike]

EJM-

Wow! I will have to check those out-gotta get home, already late. Right now, I don't recall Enberg's game show hosting. Maybe it will come back after viewing the links, thanks.

[jester]

Glen Beck proves his unlibertarianness in the first clip.

In the second he tries to paint libertarians as yearning for the day they get to get in their bunkers and finally shoot at people with their unused cache of arms.

If anything it will further caricaturize libertarians and advocates of the second amendment. What a worthless show.

I think it's fair to say most second amendment advocates feel that widespread gun ownership is important so that the government doesn't even consider such scenarios an option.

Fuck Glen Beck.

[sage]

Wow, that guy's a good speaker. Beck got his ass handed to him. And he still has the perfect face for radio.

[L. Ron Hoover]

To Fox's credit, it's the only station that gives the libertarian viewpoint any substantial air time and features sort-of libertarians like Beck and Andy Levy. Btw, last night on "Red Eye" Gutfeld had Dr. Drew agreeing that drugs should be legalized.

[jk]

Beck's mouth moves faster than his mind, that is annoying. But I didn't get annoyed by this interview.

WRT his point about smoking pot making your lungs explode:

I was a bad boy and got DUI about 6 years ago. One of the penalties was to go to group counseling. Generally, the patients just went along with the program. But at one session the counselor made the argument that a joint actually does more damaging to your health than a cigarette. Several of the patients broke into laughter. The patients had to point out to the counselor (a cigarette smoker) that though it's easy to smoke a pack (20) cigarettes a day, it's impossible to smoke 20 or even two joints of the high potency weed available these days.

[SIV]

The patients had to point out to the counselor (a cigarette smoker) that though it's easy to smoke a pack (20) cigarettes a day, it's impossible to smoke 20 or even two joints of the high potency weed available these days.

Hahaha!Wanna bet?

[ed]

Heh heh. Where I live, a whole building is reserved for a "recovery" program. I see these people at the pool. To a man (and woman) they're tatooed and smoking (cigarettes) like there's no tomorrow. I asked a friend, who used to be a "counsellor", why they allow cigarette smoking. It seemed to me to be, you know, inconsistent. He said: "They have enough to worry about without having to give up cigarettes as well." I laughed. Evidently there's a hierarchy in addiction. Smokes are ok. Weed? No no...the path to ruin.

[kwais]

Meh, Glen Beck is not smart, and his show is kind of boring. But he is a little more open minded than anyone else on tv.
He lets people speak that other shows doen't
And he lets the people that speak say things that the other shows don't.
He can be kind of retarded though.

I think a better pro drug speaker could have done better on his show..

MNG, as for Rush, he is a great entertainer. But I can't stomach him when he talks about the things I strongly disagree with him on.
So, I guess that is why you can't stomach any of his show.

[jester]

Glen is a mongoloid.

[jtuf]

According to a US Department of Justice report:
In another survey of 3,018 law enforcement agencies conducted in 2000, 95% of the 2,542 respondents "identified activity within one or more high schools in their jurisdictions. Ninety-one percent reported gang activity within one or more intermediate schools in their of jurisdictions".

With all those gangs, society hasn't callapsed. I don't think a few millitia are going to tip the balance either way. Rural millitia's just scare people, because they are outside the typical social categories.

[Dylan Skriloff]

Whenever I find a blog that dismisses Celente...I have to check...did you call the Panic of '08 and Economic 9/11 a year before it happened???????

Okay, if you did, then go ahead and dismiss, if you didn't maybe see if there is any REASON he is saying that will happen.

[Doug]

Way to rip on one of your own! I think it is great to have any common sense libertarians on TV.

[Nooge]

Hmm, I seem to remember a few Reasonoids defending this human slug a while back when I claimed he was imo very possibly the dumbest man to have a political show on television...

It's not just that Beck is dumb, although he probably is, if you want to measure erudition by the sophistication of one's thinking. No, the worst thing about Beck is how cynically and how deftly and consistently he appeals to his audience. He plays them like a musician with perfect pitch plays a violin, and he's as sincere as a carnival barker.

His awful radio show is three hours of Chicken Little and appeals to emotion that shouldn't convince any third grader, yet it seems that vast numbers of people not only listen to him, but find him informative and entertaining.

Along with Limbaugh and Hannity, he's one of the prime evils responsible for defining conservatism as a philosophy that tells people what substances they can't put into their bodies, and what is permissible to stick in what bodily orifices, and how gay people getting married heralds the Apocalypse.

[Chuck]

jtuf--

The survey question probably went like this:

Is there gang activity at the local high school? (choose one)

___ Yes

___ If I ever get that far, I'll ask.

[Isaac Bartram]

Evidently there's a hierarchy in addiction. Smokes are ok. Weed? No no...the path to ruin.

And then there's always coffee at an AA meeting, ed.

[Drew Tatusko]

Beck says he is libertarian twice in that clip. yet then goes on a sarcastic rant that has to do nothing with libertarianism. He ignores evidence to focus only on his experience in NYC?

I think when he moved to Fox he got dumber and he's not even funny anymore. He used to take things a bit lighter than others and laugh at absurdities. Now he is part of the absurdities he used to laugh at.

[Pro Libertate]

ed,

I'd say the "Oh, my" baton has been passed to George Takei.

[Hastur77]

Thursday night Glenn Beck was on Red Eye.
Hilarity ensued.

[TrickyVic]

A couple of years ago Beck was doing a special on the the terrorists that were bring a nuke to NYC. He said he had credible evidence and sourced it on his web site. Since I live in NYC, my mom called me and was freaking out about it. So I check his sources from his web site and he misrepresented them big time. There was nothing in his sources that stated a bomb was on the way to NYC at all. That was the first I heard about Beck, I've pretty much thought he's a moron ever since.

[endpoint]

Hysterical Celente? I have to agree with Dylan's view. Celente has been correct in his descriptions of the collapse and I can't imagine why you'd take a swipe at him. Listen to him and explain to me what I missed and where to disagree. GeraldChannel.