Glen Beck's dark past

Stumbled on this, dont know much of its credibility but interesting nonetheless:

Before CPAC tapped him for its keynote address, the Fox host's history was riddled with drugs and mental illness. John Avlon—author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America, available now from Beast Books—on how Beck became the Pied Piper of the right for the angry and disenfranchised.

The most anticipated speech at CPAC this year isn’t from a presidential candidate courting the support of the far right—it’s from an ideological entertainer whose emergence from obscurity and subsequent impact on politics rivaled the Tea Parties in 2009: Glenn Beck.

Last year, the Saturday night CPAC keynote speech slot was held by Rush Limbaugh—Beck’s Fox show was only one month old. El Rushbo pronounced the speech his first televised address to the nation, and the Obama resistance caught fire as the Tea Party protests began.

Now the torch has been passed to Beck, a man who a decade ago was just starting his post top-40 DJ career with a talk show broadcast on a single station in Tampa. Today, he is the king of all conservative media, with a hit television show, a nationally syndicated radio program, and five books on the best-seller lists. Now the consummate showman is already promoting a new book, The Plan, which he will debut in August with an open-air rally of followers on the Washington Mall. Will his speech offer a glimpse into his “plan” to take America back from President Obama and what Beck has repeatedly called “the cancer of progressivism”?

One thing is certain: The man is crazy like a fox. The best way to get a sense of where Beck might steer the conservative debate in 2010 is to study his past—it’s a story of ambition and addiction, mixing politics and religion. He recycles old fears with apocalyptic urgency, polarizing for profit, making himself the Pied Piper for a new generation of angry, anxiety-ridden, and alienated Americans.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-a...a:mostpopular1

smh you know if it walks like a duck ha, I said to someone the other day, he's quite crack-ish (not calling you a crackhead, just cracksih ) does anyone take him seriously? I find out that indeed they do. Indeed there are people that spend time trying to overrun the president and assume that anarchy (that would no doubt follow) would be a much better world to live in. Ahhhh, now, off to finish the IQ slash by watching a Palin Clip. See ya!

Beck talks quite openly about his past. You can watch the keynote online. It was a wonderful speech during which he denounced both parties.

He's a little religious for my taste, but since I'm not looking to get saved anyway, it's all good.

Sorry but I like Glenn. I listened to him ages ago when he just started a talk radio program and liked him because he could stay on the topic of politics (although the whole show was not political) and remain sarcastic and funny. He has been very upfront about his past and he is a rabid Mormon (not there's anything wrong with it) but the interesting thing I see is that no one can dispute factually what he's saying, they just attack him as being looney!!!! Tactic when you have no substance? I think so.

I got tickets to his live show in SF and it was hilarious watching people get up and walk out. This was years ago, prior to his TV debut and when some of the die hard libs got a taste of his right leanings, they just got up and left...oh yyyeahhh;;; Mr. and Mrs. Marin County types, faces filled with disgust arose with their sour faces and marched right out to their Priuses and left, gosh darn it. I thought that was as entertaining as anything he did on stage.

He is a nut job, but hey I like those eccenetric crazy types - and apparently I'm not alone as he's risen to popularity because he's entertaining.

ziggy wrote:Sorry but I like Glenn. I listened to him ages ago when he just started a talk radio program and liked him because he could stay on the topic of politics (although the whole show was not political) and remain sarcastic and funny. He has been very upfront about his past and he is a rabid Mormon (not there's anything wrong with it) but the interesting thing I see is that no one can dispute factually what he's saying, they just attack him as being looney!!!! Tactic when you have no substance? I think so.

I got tickets to his live show in SF and it was hilarious watching people get up and walk out. This was years ago, prior to his TV debut and when some of the die hard libs got a taste of his right leanings, they just got up and left...oh yyyeahhh;;; Mr. and Mrs. Marin County types, faces filled with disgust arose with their sour faces and marched right out to their Priuses and left, gosh darn it. I thought that was as entertaining as anything he did on stage.

He is a nut job, but hey I like those eccenetric crazy types - and apparently I'm not alone as he's risen to popularity because he's entertaining.

Great post ziggy ... love the statement about the inability to refute the facts and resorting to personal attacks ...

I am not a Beck fan but I didnt post this to slam him, like I said at the top of my post I have no idea how credible it is, it is making the rounds on many forums and I just wanted to share.

Beck is not my kind of guy he was a bit of a sycophant when the Bush adminstration was running amok and doing away with our civil liberties, torturing war prisoners and tapping American's phones, now that Bush is out of office suddenly Beck is a patrioit who loves America and wants to save it from the commie Obama.


He is an opportunist like Ann Coulter and I have little respect for them but I certainly have no less respect for anyone who enjoys his show, I watch it also, he is good at what he does for sure and I dont care much what he did in the past.

Really? I thought he was very critical of Bush as were many of us so-called conservatives. We have been let down on both sides by politicians and this idiotic illusion of a two party system where our elected officials have our best interests in mind.

Beck wasn't a huge fan of Bush and many of his policies - although he did support the war to a point - to a point mind you.

I like guys who walk that line - trying to expose the corruption on both sides instead of walking in step with a "side" aka Hannity ick!!!

Ann Coulter is a riot - she's so like sandpaper but I like her testicular fortitude.

ziggy wrote:Really? I thought he was very critical of Bush as were many of us so-called conservatives. We have been let down on both sides by politicians and this idiotic illusion of a two party system where our elected officials have our best interests in mind.

Beck wasn't a huge fan of Bush and many of his policies - although he did support the war to a point - to a point mind you.

I like guys who walk that line - trying to expose the corruption on both sides instead of walking in step with a "side" aka Hannity ick!!!

Ann Coulter is a riot - she's so like sandpaper but I like her testicular fortitude.

Well I am very unhappy with both parties, Ziggy and I am sure we have our differences of opinion when it comes to politics and that is totally cool, it would suck if we agreed on everything. That said, as disappointed as I am with democrats and republicans I am even more disappointed with the press, I think they have largely turned a blind eye to the very obvious corruption of both parties only feeding us enough bread crumbs here and there to keep us happy but the press has really let me down the last decade, I dont know what has become of it but it is not the watchdog it once was and they can all kiss my ass as far as I am concerned.

Paximus wrote:

ziggy wrote:Really? I thought he was very critical of Bush as were many of us so-called conservatives. We have been let down on both sides by politicians and this idiotic illusion of a two party system where our elected officials have our best interests in mind.

Beck wasn't a huge fan of Bush and many of his policies - although he did support the war to a point - to a point mind you.

I like guys who walk that line - trying to expose the corruption on both sides instead of walking in step with a "side" aka Hannity ick!!!

Ann Coulter is a riot - she's so like sandpaper but I like her testicular fortitude.

Well I am very unhappy with both parties, Ziggy and I am sure we have our differences of opinion when it comes to politics and that is totally cool, it would suck if we agreed on everything. That said, as disappointed as I am with democrats and republicans I am even more disappointed with the press, I think they have largely turned a blind eye to the very obvious corruption of both parties only feeding us enough bread crumbs here and there to keep us happy but the press has really let me down the last decade, I dont know what has become of it but it is not the watchdog it once was and they can all kiss my ass as far as I am concerned.

And on that we completely agree!

Do people consider Beck part of the press? I wouldn't have.

TandT wrote:

ziggy wrote:Sorry but I like Glenn. I listened to him ages ago when he just started a talk radio program and liked him because he could stay on the topic of politics (although the whole show was not political) and remain sarcastic and funny. He has been very upfront about his past and he is a rabid Mormon (not there's anything wrong with it) but the interesting thing I see is that no one can dispute factually what he's saying, they just attack him as being looney!!!! Tactic when you have no substance? I think so.

I got tickets to his live show in SF and it was hilarious watching people get up and walk out. This was years ago, prior to his TV debut and when some of the die hard libs got a taste of his right leanings, they just got up and left...oh yyyeahhh;;; Mr. and Mrs. Marin County types, faces filled with disgust arose with their sour faces and marched right out to their Priuses and left, gosh darn it. I thought that was as entertaining as anything he did on stage.

He is a nut job, but hey I like those eccenetric crazy types - and apparently I'm not alone as he's risen to popularity because he's entertaining.

Great post ziggy ... love the statement about the inability to refute the facts and resorting to personal attacks ...

Actually, if you look around a bit, you can find lots of statements from Beck that have been proven to be incorrect or downright lies. Whether he purposely misleads or just doesn't know what he's talking about, I don't know. I do know that his "interpretation" of the constitution is so bad that it makes me wonder whether he's actually read it, much less understands or knows anything about it. Which in my opinion is irresponsible for a broadcast journalist. Though, he's not a journalist. He's simply an entertainer and his show is meant to be just that: entertainment for conservative Americans. I wouldn't call any of his vitriol, race-baiting, screaming, crying, conspiracy theories, and leaps in logic, "facts" though.

But, generally, you only see what you want to see when it comes to partisan politics.

AndresEscobar wrote:

TandT wrote:

ziggy wrote:Sorry but I like Glenn. I listened to him ages ago when he just started a talk radio program and liked him because he could stay on the topic of politics (although the whole show was not political) and remain sarcastic and funny. He has been very upfront about his past and he is a rabid Mormon (not there's anything wrong with it) but the interesting thing I see is that no one can dispute factually what he's saying, they just attack him as being looney!!!! Tactic when you have no substance? I think so.

I got tickets to his live show in SF and it was hilarious watching people get up and walk out. This was years ago, prior to his TV debut and when some of the die hard libs got a taste of his right leanings, they just got up and left...oh yyyeahhh;;; Mr. and Mrs. Marin County types, faces filled with disgust arose with their sour faces and marched right out to their Priuses and left, gosh darn it. I thought that was as entertaining as anything he did on stage.

He is a nut job, but hey I like those eccenetric crazy types - and apparently I'm not alone as he's risen to popularity because he's entertaining.

Great post ziggy ... love the statement about the inability to refute the facts and resorting to personal attacks ...

Actually, if you look around a bit, you can find lots of statements from Beck that have been proven to be incorrect or downright lies. Whether he purposely misleads or just doesn't know what he's talking about, I don't know. I do know that his "interpretation" of the constitution is so bad that it makes me wonder whether he's actually read it, much less understands or knows anything about it. Which in my opinion is irresponsible for a broadcast journalist. Though, he's not a journalist. He's simply an entertainer and his show is meant to be just that: entertainment for conservative Americans. I wouldn't call any of his vitriol, race-baiting, screaming, crying, conspiracy theories, and leaps in logic, "facts" though.

But, generally, you only see what you want to see when it comes to partisan politics.

I would say this sums up where I stand also. Well said.

AndresEscobar wrote:

TandT wrote:

ziggy wrote:Sorry but I like Glenn. I listened to him ages ago when he just started a talk radio program and liked him because he could stay on the topic of politics (although the whole show was not political) and remain sarcastic and funny. He has been very upfront about his past and he is a rabid Mormon (not there's anything wrong with it) but the interesting thing I see is that no one can dispute factually what he's saying, they just attack him as being looney!!!! Tactic when you have no substance? I think so.

I got tickets to his live show in SF and it was hilarious watching people get up and walk out. This was years ago, prior to his TV debut and when some of the die hard libs got a taste of his right leanings, they just got up and left...oh yyyeahhh;;; Mr. and Mrs. Marin County types, faces filled with disgust arose with their sour faces and marched right out to their Priuses and left, gosh darn it. I thought that was as entertaining as anything he did on stage.

He is a nut job, but hey I like those eccenetric crazy types - and apparently I'm not alone as he's risen to popularity because he's entertaining.

Great post ziggy ... love the statement about the inability to refute the facts and resorting to personal attacks ...

Actually, if you look around a bit, you can find lots of statements from Beck that have been proven to be incorrect or downright lies. Whether he purposely misleads or just doesn't know what he's talking about, I don't know. I do know that his "interpretation" of the constitution is so bad that it makes me wonder whether he's actually read it, much less understands or knows anything about it. Which in my opinion is irresponsible for a broadcast journalist. Though, he's not a journalist. He's simply an entertainer and his show is meant to be just that: entertainment for conservative Americans. I wouldn't call any of his vitriol, race-baiting, screaming, crying, conspiracy theories, and leaps in logic, "facts" though.

But, generally, you only see what you want to see when it comes to partisan politics.

Examples Please ... (and from a respected source) ....

Ahhh my friend T and T is back. I was going to ask the same thing, but it's useless because no one will even try to find some because it's easier to just point the finger at someone and call them a nut because you don't like their ideology.

I'm going to subscribe to the newsletter and see if I can glean some very good facts on the socialist and financial control agenda that both parties have in mind to quash our freedoms and by the way - I think Glenn knows the Constitution in the same way many Americans do which is contrary to the Libs who think it's a living document to be changed on their whims because they know best. That angers me. Nancy Pelosi DOESN"T have a clue about our Constitution. Now she' a complete whack job imo.

This was the original "dance partner out and other guy in" crop job, but I thought I'd spare you from having to look at it over and over

Hugh and I make a better couple for sure.

"it's useless because no one will even try to find some because it's easier to just point the finger at someone and call them a nut because you don't like their ideology."
Nice photoshop work Ziggy.

I looked for mistakes and found a few but they were in my opinion all pretty minor like spelling errors and minor misquotes. I did not post links to any because I did not think they were worth posting. Really who cares? I make errors all the time. Feel free to check the spelling on my posts to verify I did not find any that really affected the substance of what he was saying or appeared to me to be intentionally misleading.
What I did post is a link to Glenn Beck's Jay Leno interview. I disagree with the article commentary that precedes it but draw your own conclusions.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/glenn-beck-on-the-jay-leno-show-both-parties-betrayed-the-country/
Much like most people, I don't 100% agree or disagree with everything that Beck says. I thought the best part of the interview was when Beck addressed the issue of bailing out big business at the expense of the little guy. He has a very valid point there.
Beck had another valid point about energy independence and oil.
On the other hand I thought that some of his arguments were an oversimplification. Leno addressed this. We live in a complex world. It is very easy to take a piece of any problem and say hey if we just did this differently all would be fixed. The reality is a lot more difficult.
My assessment of Beck.. he is not my favorite but I don't hate the guy.