9 Principles, 12 Values, & Lots of Yummy Glenn Beck Tears

Fox News uber-host Glenn Beck tears up explaining his big 9/12 project.

FNC colleague Shep Smith is not impressed.

Reason's Michael Moynihan appeared on Glenn Beck's show several times, without tears.

Comments

That's Beck's schtick.I though he was trying to get the green jobs Czar commie fired

[24AheadDotCom]

It's too bad the far-lefties hate him and are working against him, otherwise I'd point out that he's just a clown and that he's just a simulacrum of true opposition to BHO and his goals. If that weren't the case, he wouldn't have had some loopy motivational speaker in wig encouraging people to send tea bags.

Real opposition would consist of - for just a couple small examples - encouraging his readers to do things like this. Instead, all Beck does is have a meltdown and encourage his followers to engage in worthless tantrums like these.

Reason should feel a commonality with him: they're both completely ineffectual.

[yngwie]

He is so fucking embarrassing. He whines about tyranny and at the same time was a submissive prison bitch to Bush. Unbelievable.

[John-David]

STFU Chris Kelly.

[John-David]

BTW, what could be a more worthless tantrum than asking a politician one of your MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS and then posting the answer on YouTube?

[PantsFan]

indeed, do shut the fuck up Chris Fucking Kelly.

[gmatts]

Now don't get me wrong, Beck's performance in that video was just fine. I just think that he did better work in "A Christmas Story".

[Shawn Beatty]

Clearly commentors here do not actually follow Beck in any way accept on drive-by.

Your dismisiveness of Glenn is dismissing those who took on his challenge of the 912 Project and made it their own along with all those who did the same with the Tea Parties.
We'll all check back in time to see who is the fool.

[TallDave]

Heh. This guy is something else.

He's like part Jerry Falwell, part Rush Limbaugh, part Discovery Channel, part crazy guy on the street corner.

I give him a wary thumbs up from a safe distance, avoiding eye contact at all costs.

[Greg V.]

I like it that this guy is on the right track on a lot of things and he brings up topics that mostly go unnoticed but sometimes he annoys me. The whole weepy thing is also a bit ridiculous. The governmnet has been overreaching it's bounds since before we were born. I'll admit I felt a bit like an ass when I learned that the Republican Party had no interested in small government or fiscal restraint. The two party system is as crooked as it comes and you needn't look any further than the stomach churning Ted Kennedy love fest we saw today in D.C.!

[24AheadDotCom]

Good to see that Reason's Lil' Totalitarians have showed up.

Meanwhile, if - besides the powdered wig - you need another example of how Beck is mostly just a Reason-style ineffectual tool, recall his "debunking" of FEMA camps.

[hmm]

The great thing is as fucked up as Beck is and as much shit as is thrown his way. The guy is racking it in hand over fist.

I can't watch too much of him, the goofy shit gets old for me, but I support his ability to market himself and his crap to people. He doesn't seem to lie or be malicious, definitely a lot of hyperbole, but heh he's an entertainer. No more hyperbole than what we get from the people that force us to pay them.

[iamse7en]

This stuff is really old.

Since when is it ridiculous to feel very passionate about one's country? We all express our emotions differently.

Beck likes to consider himself a libertarian, mind you. And he was no fan of Bush. I would think he would be presented in a more favorable light here at Reason.

Or would that not be reasonable?

[bobzmoose]

lulz @ 24AheadDotCom's shameless self-promotion. If Reason is so ineffectual, why do you bother coming to promote your site? Is it 'cause Reason has a much larger audience than yours? Or is it 'cause you just want to piss off some Reason readers?

I really don't see why my fellow libertarians rip on Beck. Did you guys get tired of rippin' the neo-Cons apart?

Why was this post necessary, Nick? Just rippin' on Glenn? Isn't he too easy of a target?

[hmm]

Say what you want. The goofy fucker is in the second slot out of all stations and second at Fox. He's at O'Reilly's door and he is 3 hours out of prime time. He also enjoys a larger lead over his competition than O'Reilly. The man is doing something right.

*It's important to note MSNBC's ratings or lack there of.

Morning programs (6:00AM-9:00AM) P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
FOX & Friends- 941,000 viewers (393,000) (593,000)
American Morning- 332,000 viewers (140,000) (211,000)
Morning Joe-329,000 viewers (93,000) (152,000)
Squawk Box- 151,000 viewers (47,000) (71,000)
Morning Express w/ Meade- 195,000 viewers (101,000) (135,000)

5PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Glenn Beck- 2,679,000 viewers (731,000) (1,320,000)
Situation Room-527,000 viewers (105,000) (177,000)
Hardball w/ Chris Matthews-598,000 viewers (195,000) (261,000)
Fast Money-278,000 viewers (a scratch w/41,000) (92,000)
Prime News-259,000 viewers (125,000) (135,000)

6PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Special Report with Bret Baier- 2,179,000 viewers (453,000) (1,023,000)
Situation Room-552,000 viewers (159,000) (190,000)
Ed Show-571,000 viewers (182,000) (237,000)
Mad Money-186,000 viewers (76,000) (91,000)
Prime News - 212,000 viewers (101,000) (126,000)

7PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Fox Report w/Shep Smith-1,992,000 viewers (476,000) (895,000)
Lou Dobbs Tonight-643,000 viewers (177,000) (265,000)
Hardball w Chris Matthews-645,000 viewers (216,000) (310,000)
Kudlow Report -163,000 viewers (61,000) (84,000)
Issues- 394,000 viewers (123,000) (198,000)

8PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O'Reilly Factor- 3,893,000 viewers (1,001,000) (1,848,000)
Campbell Brown- 857,000 viewers (268,000) (347,000)
Countdown w/ K. Olbermann- 1,091,000 viewers (384,000) (591,000)
India Rising: New Empire - 151,000 viewers (65,000) (105,000)
Nancy Grace - 823,000 viewers (279,000) (403,000)

9 PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity -2,878,000 viewers (812,000) (1,420,000)
Larry King Live-1,279,000 viewers (351,000) (541,000)
Rachel Maddow Show-788,000 viewers (226,000) (349,000)
Ultimate Fighting: Fistful - 181,000 viewers (101,000) (95,000)
Issues- 542,000 viewers (177,000) (278,000)

10 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
On The Record w/ Greta Van Susteren-2,231,000 viewers (618,000) (1,090,000)
Anderson Cooper 360-699,000 viewers (218,000) (341,000)
Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann- 629,000 viewers (206,000) (252,000)
Marijuana Inc. - 408,000 viewers (274,000) (190,000)
Nancy Grace -557,000 viewers (246,000) (314,000)

11 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O'Reilly Factor -1,684,000 viewers (625,000) (870,000)
Anderson Cooper 360 -641,000 viewers (241,000) (290,000)
Rachel Maddow Show-329,000 viewers (135,000) (175,000)
Mad Money - 148,000 viewers (96,000) (92,000)
Showbiz Tonight- 432,000 viewers (209,000) (220,000)

[Joe M]

Crocodile tears.

[hammeredHead]

As I recall Beck was against the Bush Bailout and every program that Obama supports. He does seem to be against drug legalization. It does seem that many Reasonites hate the people that are almost like them. There were numerous attacks on Paul and Barr, while much love for the Obama prior to the election. Sometimes I just don't get it.

[hmm]

It does seem that many Reasonites hate the people that are almost like them.

It's the same problem the left has and the right to a lesser degree. Being more or hyper critical of those closest to you.

[Hacha Cha]

I don't know why reason or libertarians want anything to do with that nutjob. he sounds more like a paranoid neocon. the bastard lovechild from when Rush Limbaugh impregnated Alex Jones. there are so many people who you could be talking about like Judge Napolitano or John Stossel. hell Art Bell is more sane and more libertarian than Beck, any of the diarrhea thats come out of Glenn's mouth hole barely resembles anything remotely libertarian.

[hammeredHead]

It's the same problem the left has and the right to a lesser degree. Being more or hyper critical of those closest to you.

It would be nice to rise above it all. Besides, if we must make fun of someone on Fox news, I nominate O'Rielly. That guy seems to think that the feds need to solve every problem that he can find: Gas prices, kidnapped children, people who don't like him, ect.

[hmm]

I prefer to make fun of the bimbo squad. I think there is a swimsuit audition to get on fox for all female on air talent. Some of them are whip smart, a few or rock dumb.

[bobzmoose]

I believe he's for drug legalization (I believe, he mentioned it on his radio show; can't remember the exact date...)

It's really interesting that Reasonites (or Reasoniods?) seem to dislike ppl that they are basically their ideological mirror. Paul was always "the wrong messenger" with "the right message". It would be kind of interesting to see if Nick Gillespie ran for prez. Would Reason rip him apart and his former fans leave comments that would make a Ron Paul newsletter seem civil... The world may never know.

All I know is that Reason ran an article about the "Libertarian Case for Obama". How is that workin' out for ya?

[bobzmoose]

Sorry for the double post, but...

@hmm

You say that like it's a bad thing... Wait, "or rock dumb". 😀

[hmm]

oops or = are

Oh ya I'm the dumb one.

[hammeredHead]

I prefer to make fun of the bimbo squad

It is amazing how far they will go with it. On Red Eye, Gutfeld does a segment where the background video is Courtney Friel working out.

[bobzmoose]

@ hmm

Just kiddin'! 😀

[bobzmoose]

Damn it! Another dp!

@hammerhead

True, but Red Eye is still a great show, if for no other reason than Andy Levy at the half way mark...

[nj]

Last time I checked Beck supported the Iraq war, the patriot act, and torture.

Yeah, not that libertarian

Oh and the last thing I want this country to have is a 9/12 mentality.

[hammeredHead]

bobzmoose,

I wasn't degrading it. I enjoy Red Eye. And yes, Levy is the best part of the show.

[hammeredHead]

It would be kind of interesting to see if Nick Gillespie ran for prez. Would Reason rip him apart and his former fans leave comments that would make a Ron Paul newsletter seem civil... The world may never know.

Threadwinner.....

It's really interesting that Reasonites (or Reasoniods?) seem to dislike ppl that they are basically their ideological mirror.

Because those people really aren't Reason's ideological mirror. The only things that interest Reason are a.) open borders, b.) gay marriage, and c.) legalized drugs.

Libertarianism is just a convenient vehicle for toting that baggage. Anything that doesn't include them just ain't on their radar. As long as you do have them, I suspect you'd get their support even if you marched into town with a copy of Das Kapital in one hand and Mein Kampf in the other. If you're looking for actual libertarianism, look elsewhere.

[Art-P.O.G.]

#:

Charming. Woefully inaccurate, but charming.

[James Anderson Merritt]

I was waiting for him to command us to our windows, there to stick our heads out and yell as loudly as we can, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"

Really, the resonances between this clip and the corresponding scene in "Network" are striking. Being honest, I was moved by both sequences. Another movie that "Network" fans should watch for insights on the Beck clip is "A Face In The Crowd."

I don't have a problem with Beck. He's been nice enough to many real libertarians, giving them airtime on his show, and he certainly knows how to talk the talk.

[Franco]

Sadly, Beck is the least worst cable news anchor. He seems like a legit fiscal conservative who isn't a party hack. That's nice compared to the rest of FoxNews. He's surprisingly pretty neutral on gays and drugs, but still hates Mexicans and Arabs.

All in all, there are better targets for Reason.

[REAL LIBERTARIAN]

If you're looking for actual libertarianism, look elsewhere.

HEY FUCKFACE, THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE HERE WHO BELIEVE IN BAZOOKA RIGHTS, DESTROYING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, RESTORING A PLATINUM BACKED CURRENCY, NOT ONLY GAY MARRIAGE BUT GAY *PREGNANCY*, AND A FREE MARKET IN HUMAN ORGANS AND EASTERN EUROPEAN WOMEN. WE'RE SO HARDCORE LIBERTARIAN WE HUNT BALD EAGLES WITH HOME-MADE SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES BITCH.

[REAL LIBERTARIAN]

ALMOST FORGOT

EVERYONE DRINK

[David]

He does seem to be against drug legalization.

His position is much more nuanced than that. Beck want drug legalization IF the government will not have to pays the treatment drug addict.

BTW, Beck is doing an incredible job this week by exposing the radicals in Obama administration.

[Art-P.O.G.]

lol@REAL LIBERTARIAN

[Franco]

I thought Beck's views on gays and drugs was to leave it up to the states instead of the federal gov't?

(Legit lol at the hunting bald eagles line.)

[Art-P.O.G.]

@ "#":

A REAL libertarian, like a True Scotsman, is incredibly principled.

[joshua corning]

His position is much more nuanced than that. Beck want drug legalization IF the government will not have to pays the treatment drug addict.

That does not seem that nuanced....how many libertarians want government to pay for treating drug addicts?

[David]

@ joshua corning

Very few I guess.

I used the term "nuanced" because Beck is not saying "let's legalize". He is saying "let's legalize IF..."

The "if" is not mention very often when peoples debate about drug legalization.

[TheSporadical]

Often when looking soul food videos on YouTube, the likes of Ron Paul, Nick Gillespie, Penn Jillette, Peter Schiff and the like...a great many of the videos are from Glenn Beck's show. While I want to hear whatever clever thing the guest is going to say, I can't bring myself to click the play button...

It's like dressing my political philosophies in a pig suit and tutu and strapping my eyes open to make me watch the logic die in a pool of emotional goop...

An assclown without the fun of Jillette.

Another random observation...I've been watching a lot of Star Trek: TNG this week and now he reminds me of Q...which means nothing...

Meh...maybe he's not so crazy...at least all the time...still feels dirty...

[This Dave]

Tell me one person in the major media who has done a better job spreading libertarian (please no ideological purity tests, he is one) ideas or had a bigger real world impact. Virtually everything said against the man boils down to mocking his mannerisms, but he is doing an absolutely incredible job of uncovering the true histories and motivations of people in the Obama administration who have been handed massive power over our lives, but whose names you'd never have heard once in the media were it not for him.
Imagine if Bush had Czars who were self-identified Nazis. Yet Obama has admitted Communists deciding your future and NOT ONE WORD from MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS,NBC, the NY Times, etc.
There is such a bigger picture going on here than even Reason has really explored. Beck has been so far out ahead of everyone else on where our country is headed. I'm not going to say every prediction he's ever made is gold, but you can put money on the things he's talking about today being what everyone else will start picking up on 8 mo the from now. But he gets choked up sometimes, so nevermind.

Remember when Beck and Sarah Palin were stupid idiot fear mongers for calling Obama a Socialist? Haha what fools. Except not.

[This Dave]

That was supposed to say 8 months

[mike farmer]

I haven't heard of anyone refusing to be on his show. I sometimes wonder if all the critics of Limbaugh and Beck really dislike them, or whether it's just cool to keep your distance from them.

[Xeones]

It's the same problem the left has and the right to a lesser degree. Being more or hyper critical of those closest to you.

True believers hate heretics most of all; then, in descending order, apostates, infidels, and heathens.

[DWCarkuff]

I don't know what the hell Glen is besides out of his gourd. All I know is libertarians have a special gift for eating their own. For libertarians, failure is the new success. And, yeah, didn't Reason run articles on all the candidates other than Ron Paul entitled "The libertarian case for..." Didn't they do Ghouliani and Mr. Plastic Head - that Mormom retard? I'm waiting for "The libertarian case for Stalin." or maybe "The libertarian case for fascism."

[Art-P.O.G.]

Yeah, we libertards do eat our own a lot, but I don't think it's anything "special" that other political parties and their affiliates don't do. I think the idea is that because libertarian ideas are so marginalized, we can't afford to.

Also, Guiliani gets "special hate" on this site, so I think if they did a "libertarian case for..." him, it was probably done merely for the sake of trying to be evenhanded.

[Joe M]

What about reprobates, skeptics, and profaners?

[nj]

To Beck's fanbase

Once again how in the world does someone like Glenn Beck qualify as libertarian when he supports the Iraq war, torture, and the patriot act ( never mind opposing things like the free movement of labor)?

He is just another conservative on a conservative network.

[Maxis]

Ha! Reading his 9 principals I am already disgusted by the second one:

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life. (that smells like republican bullshit)

[Maxis]

Uhh, or what about this:

"4. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it."

Isn't that kind of the problem, because who makes these laws? For example, it would counteract this:

"It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion."

or this:

"I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable."

So long as those are embedded into a rule or a law...

This is just plain stupid and even worse so on a first glance..

[LeeJoe Cruz]

A simple man to gather simple people.

[Art-P.O.G.]

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life. (that smells like republican bullshit)

Um, some people are religious. I have no problem with this*. Being an Atheist is definitely not necessary to be libertarian.

*although I don't always express this well.

[Xeones]

What about reprobates, skeptics, and profaners?

A reprobate can be a subclass of any category. Skeptics and profaners are varying degrees of infidel, having knowledge of the True Faith but not embracing it.

[troy]

Here's is a video of GB talking about legalizing marijuana.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFmtirw5io8&feature=related

[James Ard]

Regardless of how you feel about Beck, please, for the love of freedom, listen to what he's saying this week and spread the word. The America we know is being stolen by marxist radicals that are trying to destroy capitalism. Hyperboly? Not a bit.

[LeeJoe Cruz]

Which marxist radicals.. the Democrats or the Republicans?

[Pro Libertate]

Both, silly. Only this year it's more Democrats than Republicans, but it'll likely be both after 2010. After 2012, it may be more the Marxist GOP.

[settlesdown]

He has been doing a great job of bringing these "Czars" to public light. IMHO these people are the most dangerous aspect to BHO. They answer to no one but him.(unless they break the law. And we all know that Holder is just waiting to bring them to justice. Right?)

[Fluffy]

Tell me one person in the major media who has done a better job spreading libertarian (please no ideological purity tests, he is one) ideas or had a bigger real world impact. Virtually everything said against the man boils down to mocking his mannerisms, but he is doing an absolutely incredible job of uncovering the true histories and motivations of people in the Obama administration who have been handed massive power over our lives, but whose names you'd never have heard once in the media were it not for him.

OK, so - wait. The Glenn Beck show debuted on the day Obama was inaugurated? He never broadcast a single show in any medium before Obama was President?

Is that what you're trying to tell me?

That's funny, I seem to remember him having a show before Obama was President. And being a War on Terror cheerleader. And telling his audience Ron Paul was dangerous and crazy and unAmerican. And carrying water for the Bush administration. Just like Rush.

When Obama was elected, I knew that all these Hannity type a-holes would think that they could just wave a magic wand and have everyone forget about how they spent their time during the Bush administration. "Hey, look at me, I'm Glenn Beck, watch me bravely oppose the big government socialist Obama administration!"

The problem is that this time around I know it's all a lie. Beck, Rush, and Hannity are all just lying again. They'll keep up this same song and dance until the GOP is in power again, and then they'll fucking forget it ALL, and all that will matter is whatever the GOP wants. And I refuse to be the fucking patsy for their giant campaign of lies again. Sorry.

[MlR]

That's funny, I seem to remember him having a show before Obama was President. And being a War on Terror cheerleader. And telling his audience Ron Paul was dangerous and crazy and unAmerican. And carrying water for the Bush administration. Just like Rush."

This is bullshit. Regarding both Beck and Rush.

They tend to give Republicans the benefit over the doubt versus Democrats, and are sometimes slow to come around when the former are clearly in the wrong, but they are not principle-less cheerleaders. Beck, in particular, spent a good deal of energy bashing Bush for being a small-government sellout well before he left office.

But, of course, I'd bet you probably never watched him other than in small doses, at best. And those probably on topics where you were predetermined to hate him.

"True believers hate heretics most of all; then, in descending order, apostates, infidels, and heathens."

This is an excellent observation. There's also some truth to #'s hyperbole in the sense that many people here are highly committed to one or two policy planks at the expense of most of the rest. But that's not all that rare, anyway.

[MlR]

Oh yeah, and Libertarians, though to a lesser extent than other political animals, feel the same social and political pressures to hate certain individuals as anybody else. And Beck's been on the target list big-time lately.

[Pastafarian Cosmotarian]

"I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life. (that smells like republican bullshit)"

What was it that Glenn Beck said about atheists? Let's go to the videos:

Atheist "Broom Worshippers" Removing Prayer From Schools
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67bigK7u0Jg&fmt=18

Atheists on the Fringe, Why Respect Their Rights?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y3x_cJyRqI&fmt=18

Glenn Beck and Ben Stein Denying Evolution & Brainwashing Stupid Children
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=518_1209483052

Beck is a Mormon moron, period. He claims to be a "conservative" and a "libertarian" as if they're synonymous, but could care less about the Constitution when it applies to Godless heathens, a "fringe" that makes up around 20% of the country. When you belong to a formerly racist cult that believes in magic underwear and an American Jesus, you shouldn't be taken seriously. How does Penn Jillette tolerate him?

I understand what some libertarians see in him. He has broken some great stories that the rest of the mainstream media has ignored, and he's been cool to libertarians on his new show, even claiming to be one. His rhetoric has changed a little, but let's get real. He's still the same religious nut that adores Palin, condones torture, and flip-flopped on the Patriot Act.

[jtuf]

I've got no problem with Mormons. They are as good as any other religious group.

[jtuf]

Sunday, I'm going into the city to petition for H.R. 1207 with the 912 project meetup there. I'm just learning about the movement, but I like what I've seen so far.

[Pastafarian Cosmotarian]

"I've got no problem with Mormons. They are as good as any other religious group."

Well, it is true that only Mormons go to heaven. South Park never lies.