Understanding the irrationality of Glenn Beck

by smkovalinsky | September 16, 2009 at 08:18 am

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As one who has long been perplexed, annoyed, infuriated by Glenn Beck, I was fortunate enough to happen upon a description of his irrationality which voices what I myself have always sensed about him, and to a lesser degree, about Rush Limbaugh as well. The Dark Knight was a profound film, and Heath Ledger played the Joker in an iconoclastic and prophetic manner. Picture courtesy of rottenart:

An attempt to understand and explain Glenn Beck in particular is a dead end. To explain his actions would mean he has a motive. He does not. Beck's not a racist. He's an anarchist. He's that boyfriend you had and hated because he exists only to criticize and play devil's advocate. The image of Obama as the Joker fromThe Dark Knight has been taken up as a badge of the Beckian right's battle against what it perceives as seeping socialism. But the irony is that nobody could be more like that Joker character than Beck himself. In the film, the Joker says, "Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it. You know, I just… do things." And of him, Alfred says, "Because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn." Now, is there anyone on the national platform that that describes moret han Glenn Beck, a man who bills himself as a comedian?

Source: theawl.com

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albertacowpoke

at 08:23 on September 16th, 2009

An interesting analysis. Can you take the one quotation mark out of your highlighted portion so it will show.

The_Cynic

at 10:33 on September 16th, 2009

Yep - he's a comedian all right, one that is going to get somebody killed.

Rodge

at 11:21 on September 16th, 2009

This shows the typical complete misunderstanding of Glenn and what he is all about. You can't take sound bites here and there or listen to him for 5 minutes and pretend to understand him. It just doesn't work. To say that he is not a man with a plan is proof of that.

dunkelberg

at 11:53 on September 16th, 2009

To attack Glenn Beck with his own sound bites seems only fair. Although, I would like to see the hysteria on all sides dialed down quite a bit.

It is interesting that some proponents of Beck expect others to play by a different set of rules than Beck, if, in fact, he has any rules.

Perhaps that is because they are used to others using fairness, reason and truth in their arguments.

Chevalier de Pas

at 13:16 on September 16th, 2009

The Republicans now believe in horoscope, numerology, voodoo, oracle, and maybe Santa Claus. Glenn Beck is in desperation as well as the entire Republican leadership.

Rodge

at 14:39 on September 16th, 2009

I know just as many Republicans that hate Beck as I do Democrats. You're generalization is inaccurate and proves my point. I do, however, agree with you that the Republican leadership is desperate. They are joined by the Democratic leadership and both parties should be. They are very close to being rendered irrelevant.

lounsbury

at 14:26 on September 16th, 2009

In which I respond with...

Why liberals can't understand Glenn Beck, and why it matters

rng

at 14:34 on September 16th, 2009

Why liberals can't understand Glenn Beck, and why it matters

I read the article but I think the premise is false. I do understand him, but I don't think he matters. He is an entertainer. I don't find him compelling viewing, others do.

If he throws his hat in the ring for an elected role then he matters, otherwise he has his fans and he can amuse/incite them.

lounsbury

at 14:38 on September 16th, 2009

You didn't get it, but that was the point I made throughout the entire article. The premise was a factual telling of the chain of events that led to Beck in the American spotlight during the health care debate.

Chevalier de Pas

at 17:45 on September 16th, 2009

Nobody ever get anything in your opinion, you are always right, actually Republicans are always right.

rng

at 15:09 on September 16th, 2009

You didn't get it,

Oh, but I did, but draw a different conclusion . He has no role in my analysis of the political landscape in exactly the same way as Wolf Blitzer doesn't either. I read analysts and academics. I don't value the rantings of the popular pundits

He apparently fulfills a function for you as he echoes your view. It is like looking in a mirror, I guess. However, to me like Maddow, Olbermann, Malkin, Beck et al are noise and distraction is all. I find no wisdom in that medium, and with a few exceptions, like Fareed Zakaria or Michael Ware as examples, the TV pundits are just flashing lights and superficial

lounsbury

at 17:02 on September 16th, 2009

Whenever I see liberals comment in an article about Glenn Beck I notice something...

Look at how many people recommend liberals comments. The numbers of how America is divided politically does not equal the support that liberals give one another when they opine against folks like Beck. That to me is an indication that you do indeed (not you personally, I mean liberals in general) look for what Beck offers... affirmation of what you already believe.

Glenn Beck isn't causing anything to happen. If that was your point, I agree with you. He is indeed saying things that people already believe to be true. The difference with Beck the last couple of weeks is that he took down a member of the Obama Administration. Let's be honest about that. He did in that particular case cause a stir by what he did, and liberals reacted. But to say that he is somehow responsible for the movement sweeping this nation, is false IMPO.

rng

at 17:25 on September 16th, 2009

But to say that he is somehow responsible for the movement sweeping this nation, is false

I agree. He reflects the opinions of a segment of the US population (his audience). He doesn't create it

pat1029 (not verified)

at 16:28 on September 17th, 2009

Sounds like a pretty good description of Obama to me, only he's not interested in seeing the world burn, just our country and in particular, our constitution. The fact that you see Beck as irrational is proof that you just don't get it and is a horrifically sad state of affairs for the future of our country. Beck is trying to preserve our republic, Obama is trying (and succeeding) to destroy it. Many of the younger generation have been brought up to vilify everything that made (and so far) still makes America great. If this administration can't be stopped, it will be gone and that same generation will be forced to live in the mess they have created.... Sad, so very sad indeed. Thank God for Glenn Beck and we should all pray that he and all who are capable of recognizing what this administration is doing succeed in restoring our republic before it is too late.

Rethaf (not verified)

at 20:38 on September 30th, 2009

LOL! Everyone know Canadian cities are all the same! I'm only familiar with Montreal, Quebec - 1976 --- "The Olympics were a financial disaster for Montreal, as the city faced debts for 30 years after the Games had finished. The Quebec provincial government took over construction when it became evident in 1975 that work had fallen far behind schedule; work was still under way just weeks before the opening date, and the tower was not built. Mayor Jean Drapeau had confidently predicted in 1970 that "the Olympics can no more have a deficit than a man can have a baby", but the debt racked up to a billion dollars that the Quebec government mandated the city pay in full."en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Summer_OlympicsBeck may have messed up the exact city name, but I think we get the gist that the context is accurate