The American conservative movement has devolved into an all fear movement, hopping from one hot-button "fear this" specter to another with a propaganda machine that would make many a fear-monger of the past blush. Fear "death panels." Fear the Marxist in the closet. Fear "government." Fear the imagined civilian "security force" being built. Fear ACORN and SEIU, Nancy Pelosi and Bernie Sanders. He sees ACORNs everywhere, and imagines Marxists in every closet. His favorite term for government advisers and department heads is "CZAR." and it's not an accident. He uses it to further fears that somehow, once again, the Commies are coming!
At the spear head of the right wing fear machine are the talk radio crowd. Too easily dismissed in the past, the real power of right wing radio is becoming more obvious. Literally tens of millions of "ditto heads" and the like tune in each and every day, sometimes for hours a day, to hear different versions of the latest talking points.
Sure, there are differences. Limbaugh is mostly a blowhard, Hannity mostly a bully-coward. And Glenn Beck is a quasi-messianic cuckoo. Still, if that was all, Beck could be dismissed and ignored, blowing in the wind to those who will listen. But there's more to it. He's pushing the envelope of sanity on those who might be dancing on a knife edge already.
What does it take for a person to move from disgruntled, angry, or disenchanted to a potential terrorist? They must feel victimized. Right wing radio has spent decades telling conservatives everything from the "liberal media" to Hollywood to the United Nations is out to get them. To take their guns, to make their kids get abortions, and yes, to give them health care.
A person must also be certain that as bad as they perceive things to be, it's getting worse, and soon. The world is closing in on them, and it's a world bent on destroying the very fiber of their lives. The person feels everything dear to them is under imminent threat. And a strict line in the sand must be drawn, separating those who would not fall in line with those who are "in the know."
At the spear head of the right wing fear machine are the talk radio crowd. Too easily dismissed in the past, the real power of right wing radio is becoming more obvious. Literally tens of millions of "ditto heads" and the like tune in each and every day, sometimes for hours a day, to hear different versions of the latest talking points.
Sure, there are differences. Limbaugh is mostly a blowhard, Hannity mostly a bully-coward. And Glenn Beck is a quasi-messianic cuckoo. Still, if that was all, Beck could be dismissed and ignored, blowing in the wind to those who will listen. But there's more to it. He's pushing the envelope of sanity on those who might be dancing on a knife edge already.
What does it take for a person to move from disgruntled, angry, or disenchanted to a potential terrorist? They must feel victimized. Right wing radio has spent decades telling conservatives everything from the "liberal media" to Hollywood to the United Nations is out to get them. To take their guns, to make their kids get abortions, and yes, to give them health care.
A person must also be certain that as bad as they perceive things to be, it's getting worse, and soon. The world is closing in on them, and it's a world bent on destroying the very fiber of their lives. The person feels everything dear to them is under imminent threat. And a strict line in the sand must be drawn, separating those who would not fall in line with those who are "in the know."
Comments
Even more unnerving than what Glen Beck says is that most people recognize the truth after an election.
News Flash: Founding Fathers approve freedom of speech, but Supreme Court 2009 Rules it doesn't apply to conservative talk radio.
SW, I think Beck is saying "don't do anything" as a way to make political hay out of anything that does happen. Where he is dangerous is by so pushing the God is on our side delusion...and I don't join Pete in thinking he should be jailed - just called out for the p.o.s. he is...
"He, like Hannity and others, want something "bad" to happen." BULLSHIT Jeff! Beck BEGS his listeners and watchers to do NOTHING ILLEGAL. He does it over and over. You are either supremely mistaken, spreading BS and do not know what you are talking about or you are lying Jeff. I HATE to think my friend is lying, so I guess you're just way wrong and trying to incite your pals. You're are right about the line in the sand. When your pals feel like they must, I say you cats leap. And ya better come hard or stay under the porch, Sir. And I agree with the previous commentator - Pete, you're a moron. Terrorist? Belongs in jail? For what? Exercising his right to the 1st Amendment? I am every bit as over-the-top as Beck. Why don't ya try and jail me? Need my address? You ain't got the balls to try boy. See ya when ya grow a pair.
InfiniteEMF
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/01/2009
...are open to instruction. In the other, you are actively bent on a course of action destructive of this Republic, in which case you should not be at all surprised when you find that yow meet with vigorous opposition.
"Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice."
Beck's exercise of Free Speech is the least extent of that extremism. You'd do well to listen while it's all still just talk.
InfiniteEMF
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/01/2009
Pete,
You're just a moron. That's all. You wouldn't know a real terrorist if one showed up in a suicide vest with a 10-inch knife and began ululating and sawing your infidel head off.
Jeff,
You hold deeply flawed beliefs regarding the appropriate roles of government that put you at odds with The Constitution itself. If you insist on having things your way, the result will be deleterious to the Republic. Beck's not perfect, but he's right to obstruct Obama's Administration to defend the integrity of underlying Constitutional Principle.
Either you don't see that it is The Constitution that is being defended, or you do, but actually desire that those principles be subsumed.
In the first case, you could be open to educating yourself further.
In the second case, you could be the bearer of the "terrorist" label you so readily plaster on your Conservative opponents in debate.
In the one case, you are merely ignorant, for which there is a simple remedy, provided you
Andrew, if that happened, I missed it - perhaps some of the more rabid Beck fans commenting can tell us...
Andrew Vinstra
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/31/2009
I'm pretty sure I heard Glenn Beck say the people who follow him are idiots, that he would never listen to himself, and that the whole thing is really for show. I saw this on MSNBC like 6 months ago. I realize this doesn't make much of a difference in some ways but I'm also pretty sure I saw this. It would make a difference if anyone were listening or paying attention but I do think that's the real problem in this country. Nobody ever listens or pays attention to anything they see and nobody really reads anymore or does much research or try to stay informed. I could be wrong about the Glenn Beck thing though and welcome correction. I'm almost positive I heard him say it though.
Glenn Beck is a terrorist, he belongs in jail
Gail
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/30/2009
Glenn Beck is doing the job the Obamabot media refuses to do. I haven't heard the White House refute anything he has said.
Is Van Jones not an avowed Communist? Libs can watch the video of him admitting it and still deny that it's true. Talk about brainwashed! You are really losing this argument. Beck has millions of fans - more every day. Zero is dropping like a rock.
Comments 1 - 10 (of 36)
Next >>
|
|