Glenn Beck's The Blaze Relaunched as a Libertarian News Network

And let's extend a warm welcome!

Glenn Beck announced plans Tuesday during his online television program to expand the news operation in his media company, The Blaze, and refocus it as a libertarian network, opening three foreign bureaus, debuting a nightly newsmagazine show, and relocating his New York staff to showy new offices.

Beck introduced his ambitious plans by standing in front of a split screen with MSNBC's Chris Matthews on one side and Fox News's Sean Hannity on the other, and bemoaning the fact that cable news has devolved into the "far left [and] far right… yelling at each other."

"We're not gonna play in that crazy space as a network," he said, adding, "I consider myself a libertarian… I'm a lot closer to Penn Jillette than I am to Chuck Hagel."

Comments

[hamilton]

Well that's just splendid. This'll really help me convince my friends libertarians aren't nut jobs. Fuck me.

[echowhiskey]

I'm glad that you've convinced millions to adopt libertarian philosophy and policy goals and that GB is horning his way in on your territory.

[Sevo]

"I consider myself a libertarian."

Well, yeah, but you're an idiot.

[echowhiskey]

I'd rather be an idiot than a dick.

[Suthenboy]

Uh....I am gonna hold my breath and see what happens in spite of my extreme skepticism.

[echowhiskey]

What's this? Reason? At Reason? I'm flabbergasted.

[Shmurphy]

God dammit. God fucking dammit.

[echowhiskey]

Yes. Dammit that libertarian philosophy might get heard outside of the telephone booth where they currently have their conventions. Dammit.

[Free Society]

Glenn Beck is a libertarian like Ole Frothy Santorum is a libertarian.

[BlogimiDei]

"I'm a lot closer to Penn Jillette"

In my best "Dr. Evil" voice:

"Right..."

[Free Society]

Of all the inspirational libertarian philosophers, authors and thinkers in the world, the point of reference for Beck is Penn Jillette? I mean love Penn Jillette but if someone asks you what kind of libertarian you are, if you have actually read about libertarianism your answer would be "Hayek" or "von Mises", "Rand" or "Rothbard". Beck has no experience with libertarian thought beyond what his intelligent friend has told him.

[An0nB0t]

Re: intellectualism in the realm of popular politics, what percentage of Obama/Clinton voters would you say have heard of Keynes or Engels? Even Krugman? Do you think any of the talking heads in popular media or government have anything approaching a Reasonoid's understanding of political philosophy or economics? Gary Johnson hadn't even read any of the big three before running for president (and as far as I know, still hasn't).

The message, even a watered-down, Beck-ized message based on Jilette's understanding of minarchism, is what is important, and if we can get even a teeny little Friedman-sized foot in the door, we'll have the opportunity to provide greater exposure to the principles of freedom and beat the progressive beast back into its hole. If that means having the choice of listening to Glenn Beck trade ideas with Rand Paul on Fox News rather than being stuck with a 30-year-old Youtube video in which Rothbard beats up on Rand and Ronald Reagan, I'm good with that.

There's always more to learn about any topic. Let's just sow the libertarian seed as far we can while we can, because we're not going to have a monstrous, irresponsible Obama administration to pick on once the collapse arrives.