Beck: Maybe both parties aren’t the same
posted at 8:48 am on February 11, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Relax, Beck fans — Glenn isn’t going soft on Republicans, whom he diagnoses as “Suck-o-Rama.” He’s not even really complaining about the Democrats being worse, but merely noting that Barack Obama is in a Rama all by himself. Beck uses his chalkboard to do a comparison between deficits as a percentage of GDP from actual budgets during the Bush and Clinton presidencies to the White House projections for future budget deficits under the Obama plan. In fact, Beck generously attributes 2009 to Bush, even though Bush never signed that budget, and offers to disregard this year’s deficit (projected at 10.6% of GDP). It doesn’t help.
With Obama promising to start getting tough on deficits, Beck wonders just how many terms of office Obama plans on winning to get around to it (via The Right Scoop):
I don’t know how many terms Obama plans on winning, but unless he gets spending and deficits down and employment up, he’ll have won his last term in 2008.
Blowback
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chalkboard charlie
blatantblue on February 11, 2010 at 8:50 AM
I sense a more-time-with-my-family moment here in the next few days/weeks/months.
Being to work at 0900 every day= Hard. Especially for statist candy asses.
ted c on February 11, 2010 at 8:52 AM
Beck’s lying! Olberskank said “federal budget debt” was a good thing.
Doughboy on February 11, 2010 at 8:52 AM
Lol. Gotta’ love GB’s flair for theatrics.
OmahaConservative on February 11, 2010 at 8:53 AM
This is all PR prep work for him to eventually drop this third party nonsense.
rollthedice on February 11, 2010 at 8:53 AM
What is this “fiscal responsibility” concept I hear spoken of? Sounds great.
kingsjester on February 11, 2010 at 8:55 AM
I found out yesterday that Obama’s policies have turned two of my hardest-leftys relatives into conservatives.
A year ago these two would have wanted to be buried in Obama t-shirts and now they contacted me about getting involved in Tea Parties.
cibolo on February 11, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Beck has a very real point, here. Does anyone else think the Liar-in-Chief will be satisfied with term limits? He’s from Chicago where actual vote counts don’t make any difference. He wants the title Emperor for Life. I weep for my country.
Crusader Rabbit on February 11, 2010 at 8:56 AM
Thank goodness he dropped that third party meme. It never works.
cubachi on February 11, 2010 at 8:58 AM
That’s my hunch too. The aim is to bring the GOP back to its conservative roots, not compete against it.
petefrt on February 11, 2010 at 8:58 AM
Sarah’s winning!
BetseyRoss on February 11, 2010 at 8:58 AM
WOW!
That is one expensive mop that Barack is cleaning up with.
elderberry on February 11, 2010 at 8:59 AM
Exactly. Also, by holding both parties feet to the fire he draws in the independents.
There is a method to Beck’s madness.
Disturb the Universe on February 11, 2010 at 9:01 AM
While Glen Beck wants to provide U.S. critical information in an educational format I suggest he at lease use a Whiteboard, because I have had one too many fingernail vs chalkboard thrills running down my spine lately.
MSGTAS on February 11, 2010 at 9:01 AM
Chalk one up for Beck…
right2bright on February 11, 2010 at 9:01 AM
I think Beck is allowing the third party threat subside because the GOP has suddenly seen the light. If the tea party hadn’t been so successful he most likely would have kept pushing it. Now you have the establishment GOP fighting for its survival (and losing in many cases) or fully adopting the tea party platform in some races.
txaggie on February 11, 2010 at 9:03 AM
I hope he’s scaring the sh!t out of the GOP but I still don’t think they’re getting the message fully.
Monica on February 11, 2010 at 9:03 AM
President for life!
Who needs those pesky elections, especially when they are so ripe for fraud & campaign financing is a corrupt process. Not to mention that voters are racist, homophobic, sexist, ignorant rednecks. (Did I hit all the highlights, racist Keith Olbermann?)
rbj on February 11, 2010 at 9:03 AM
Beck is pretty consistent on this point. Bush was a Progressive and spent way to much. Obama is a commited progressive, and takes things to a whole new level.
hawksruleva on February 11, 2010 at 9:03 AM
What third party nonsense? If you’ve listened to him at all, you know that it isn’t about parties with him.
When has he ever advocated creating a third party?
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 9:03 AM
ACORN.
Bishop on February 11, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Nah- that sounds too old-school. He’ll just declare a state of emergency and suspend elections “until the crisis has passed”.
hawksruleva on February 11, 2010 at 9:07 AM
Well come on, Obowmao and the rest of the Far-left National Socialists are the people world has been waiting for. They are the Indispensables – they country cannot live without them.
Chip on February 11, 2010 at 9:08 AM
Well, if you take the GW advocates theories, then the deficit is a sign of a healthy economy vibrant economy.
The deficit is caused by too much prosperity, which has resulted in a temporary too much spending.
Just like the warming has caused the snow…it’s the same logic.
right2bright on February 11, 2010 at 9:10 AM
I don’t mind people talking third parties. It works to put fear into the party it would hurt the most and that would be the GOP. They need to sense fear in the water. It’s a good thing to throw around the third party talk, IMHO.
bridgetown on February 11, 2010 at 9:10 AM
Beck’s TV show just keeps getting better and better.
Or I’m getting accustomed to his presentation.
Skandia Recluse on February 11, 2010 at 9:10 AM
Glenn Beck is awesome. He explains things in a way that everyone can understand. At first I thought the chalkboard use was silly, now I look forward to the examples he provides.
OT: Snow in NW Florida tomorrow….damn global warming.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/snow-25689-florida-see.html
milwife88 on February 11, 2010 at 9:11 AM
More proof of Goebbels Wartening!
rbj on February 11, 2010 at 9:13 AM
It’s really annoying to see people pro or con global warming talk about it in terms of weather. The weather has nothing to do with global climate cycles.
bridgetown on February 11, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Right now he’s consulting with the mayor of King, North Carolina on the best way to do that.
Chip on February 11, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Mark Levin hates Glenn Beck.
And this will be another notch in Levin’s belt (Beck basically stealing another Levin theme/idea).
Abby Adams on February 11, 2010 at 9:14 AM
why is Levin soooooooooooooo intense with his disdain for Becky?
blatantblue on February 11, 2010 at 9:15 AM
Anyone see him making fun of joe klein the other day? He had the pipe and everything, talking like the hoi polloi, looking down their noses at the “little people”
I laughed my ass off!
rightside on February 11, 2010 at 9:15 AM
You must have missed a few episodes. But even without that evidence, when someone is claiming day after day that the Republicans are just as bad as the Democrats, what is one left to infer?
Buy Danish on February 11, 2010 at 9:16 AM
Tell that to Al Gore.
Chip on February 11, 2010 at 9:16 AM
There must be some reason Glenn Beck is THE most watched show on TV, across all time slots, BECK RULZ!!!
Blacksmith8 on February 11, 2010 at 9:16 AM
Well, da-gum and looky heeyah! I just finished a little ditty concerning this very thing!
Where are you? I’m here in Bangla-cola, where WeatherUnderground says “Snow – 80% chance of precipitation” for tomorrow! (Not to mention the frickin’ NWS alarm went off at MIDNIGHT last night for a “Winter Storm Watch”.) The Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade could be a bit brisk…
This whole ‘warming’ thing has me confused.
tree hugging sister on February 11, 2010 at 9:17 AM
What part of this theme/idea does Levin own? Can he prove he didn’t steal it from Rush
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Looky here, we are become the Borg. Soon, they will all be one of us, MUHAHAHAHAA
Blacksmith8 on February 11, 2010 at 9:18 AM
This segment was really good. Did you guys hear him say yesterday that he had the highest rated show at 5:00 in ALL of cable, not just cable news?
Weight of Glory on February 11, 2010 at 9:19 AM
As a concilatory gesture, the next GOP President can appoint Obama to the UN…and then promptly defund it.
WashJeff on February 11, 2010 at 9:19 AM
I’d tell it to the world if I could.
bridgetown on February 11, 2010 at 9:21 AM
Beck is great a discovering & disseminating Democrat dirt.
Analysis? He can be a buffoon.
Anyone with any objectivity & intelligence can discern the huge difference between the parties.
jgapinoy on February 11, 2010 at 9:21 AM
Beck is an ass. His constant attacks of the Republicans is going to assure that BO gets re-elected. Then again having BO in office has been highly profitable for Beck. He knows that also. He puts down the GOP, BO gets re-elected and he makes more money. It is always about the money.
Jdripper on February 11, 2010 at 9:21 AM
ted c on February 11, 2010 at 8:52 AM
Well, yeah.
Especially when Barry can now jet off and combine his three loves: 1) Making speeches 2) Badmouthing America 3) Living overseas.
Why make $400K a year working seven days a week, when you can make $200K in an evening, giving your usual boring speech?
I’m surprised he’s lasted this long.
Next, we’ll be treated to the wacky comedy follies of President Joe Biden . . .
NoDonkey on February 11, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Crestview area..we got the warning last night too. Should be fun to watch people freak out. I’m an Iowa girl so I’m used to it. I expect WalMart to be packed!
milwife88 on February 11, 2010 at 9:23 AM
He’s a petty little man.
thomasaur on February 11, 2010 at 9:23 AM
No, I didn’t miss this:
The meaningless part is the word technically. Beck actively eschews endorsing anyone or announcing how anyone should vote. He’s making an observation, not endorsing a plan of action.
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 9:24 AM
Obama is the guy who marries your grandma, spends all her money and maxxes out all her credit cards. He’ll be gone in four years and all Grandma keeps is the debt.
Mojave Mark on February 11, 2010 at 9:25 AM
North Jersey myself, then a refresher course in N.C. after 12 years in SoCA. WalMart will be as dangerous as the weather, I’m thinking…{8^P
tree hugging sister on February 11, 2010 at 9:25 AM
I’m glad you are one of a few that think that. There are Millions of people who watch and listen to Beck who love him.
If anything he hurts Obama. See Van Jones for One example.
bridgetown on February 11, 2010 at 9:25 AM
I wish my hard lefty relatives would see the light. They are still voting in polls “Strongly Approve.” Ewwwww.
mwdiver on February 11, 2010 at 9:26 AM
I give you, Joe Biden:
“I am very optimistic about — about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration.”
Bishop on February 11, 2010 at 9:27 AM
From your lips right up Obama’s arse, Ed. (Sorry for that image.) Let this skinny dipshit project his $2 trillion annual deficits from now until 2050 if he wants — he’s out in 2012.
Jaibones on February 11, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Chuckle.
Love Glenn. Modern day Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry. (That’s why he’s a bit pudgy.)
publiuspen on February 11, 2010 at 9:28 AM
We can discern the difference between the platform of the individual parties, it’s the politicians that inhabit the two that are barely distinguishable at times.
thomasaur on February 11, 2010 at 9:28 AM
More on Beck and Third Party concept. Interview with O’Reilly:
Beck: Smart move. And I think she’s also positioning herself for a third party. By the time this election runs around for the president, I’m sorry, but unless the Republicans and the Democrats wake up, a third party will win.
Luckily Palin has pretty much dismissed the idea that she would do this.
Buy Danish on February 11, 2010 at 9:30 AM
Well, that must also explain why Michelle Malkin so easily and frequently thrashes Republicans too. It’s all about the Obama money!
*rolls eyes*
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 9:31 AM
maybe he could get an endorsement deal from UPS out of it
jp on February 11, 2010 at 9:31 AM
This won’t affect the GOP one bit. They are morons who can’t win a fight against my 97 year old Grand mother on a walker.
They will fold like the Lion’s defense and roll over and do what ever THE ONE tells them to do. Throw them all out and start all over again. The earthquake in the Chicago area yesterday was Lincoln turning over in his grave!
flytier on February 11, 2010 at 9:32 AM
No, no, no. Chalk board is middle America. White board is elite professor.
publiuspen on February 11, 2010 at 9:33 AM
Then I suppose we can throw Allah and Ace in the pro-third party camp, as they’ve been seen mentioning the possibility too. Hey, weren’t they both for Doug Hoffman too?
It’s all about the money, I’m guessing.
/
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 9:35 AM
Yup – There really is no direct correlation, but if the world is supposed to be getting warmer, all those blizzards should be rain events.
OTOH, it’s February and it’s really hot down in the Southern hemisphere – I’m waiting for one of the brain-dead Eco-statists to blame THAT on AGW.
Chip on February 11, 2010 at 9:38 AM
I disagree. Yes, part of it is putting the Republican’s feet to the fire, but his standards are almost impossible to meet. Here’s a radio exchange with Beck. He says there is “nobody” out there who meets his standards. “If you want to vote for a Democrat vote for a Republican. If you want to vote for a Marxist vote for a Democrat.” Nobody? This is where Beck totally loses me.
Buy Danish on February 11, 2010 at 9:39 AM
That has to change or there’s no hope for the country.
Chip on February 11, 2010 at 9:39 AM
I thought the environmentalists outlawed chalk.
unclesmrgol on February 11, 2010 at 9:39 AM
biggest problem for the GOP, which Beck and other cowards hiding behind the “libertarian” or “moderate” whatever labels is that the Culture at large turned being a “Republican” into the new “Whipping Boy” along side “Big Oil” and the like.
Which is why “libertarianism” is popular among young college kids, who aren’t Dems or come from Dem backgrounds. That and the hedonism within much of the ‘movement’ is of course attractive to them.
An obvious problem is the lack of a general Political IQ and tone deafness to how politics plays out and works. Here is a hint Beck, Bush didn’t necessarily agree with everything he signed off on. The Executive Branch has been stripped of its power thanks to the Left, his biggest fear after the Left started politicizing the war and national security was getting defunded and an abosulute disaster of epic proportions to follow in Iraq.
Also, when Clinton said “The era of Big Government is over” he didn’t really want that of course(and what spending he cut, had disasterous effects, see Military cuts)….
jp on February 11, 2010 at 9:39 AM
Beck is trying to target and educate a generation or two who have grown up having everything in their news-education-entertainment bubble delivered to them with theatrics.
I think he is getting their attention.
He now has to figure out a delivery that encapsulates his message into video games.
Yoop on February 11, 2010 at 9:43 AM
put another way, unless you want to bring back Kings and Absoute Power(but only with a Free Market minded King of course ;), then shut your pie hole. Quit bashing Bush, Republicans and figure out a way to change the Cultural assumptions, and make it possible for a solid Conservative to Govern as a Solid Conservative.
jp on February 11, 2010 at 9:43 AM
problem is that on some things he’s teaching his own lies whether he knows it or not. Claiming the US is suppose to be like Switzerland for example is a gross disservace to the Founding Fathers and their ideals for the nation. It is history revisionism at its worst and most dangerous given present day challenges.
jp on February 11, 2010 at 9:45 AM
I’m not going to repeat your silly “money” comment since I didn’t make that idiotic comment in the first place and don’t appreciate your attempt to tie it to me.
Hoffman was an unusual situation – a special election where the “Republican” was waay to the Left with her union/ACORN/Working Families Party ties. It was also a local election, not a national Presidential election.
However, according to Beck’s standards, even Scott Brown would not measure up. Indeed, as he said in the radio interview, “nobody” in the G.O.P. measures up.
Buy Danish on February 11, 2010 at 9:46 AM
Well if the global climate cycles and weather aren’t actually related, then explain why I should give a rat’s ass about whether “fossil” fuels and their chemical reaction to produce energy, motive forces, and heat for personal and business productivity should be regulated to affect some unproven and imaginary changes in “Global Climate Cycles” for the better, and therefore limit the amount I can legally use for my own purposes, especially when I pay for it?
Don’t know (and don’t care) whether you think human activity has a major effect on the Earth’s temperatures, but if global climate cycles don’t affect the weather, then I don’t give a tinker’s damn about trying to change them. The weather will always be based on whatever balance the Sun and atmospheric convection and Earth’s black body radiation make of the Earth’s temperature. And the weather patterns sure as Hell are related to the Earth’s orbit, the Earth’s rotation, the Sun’s output, and the oceans effect on our shores.
Short of changing the Sun in one way or another, tell the AGW fanatics to just shutup about taxing and trading on “carbon credits” (just to make more money for themselves at our expense….typical liberal behavior), and leave me, my utility, my refineries, my cars, my homes, and my family the Hell alone.
Subsunk
Subsunk on February 11, 2010 at 9:49 AM
I take it you heard the part of that exchange beginning at about 1:25 of that video? Where the caller says he sees an advocacy for a third party? And Beck’s response was…?
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 9:50 AM
You aren’t going to get an argument from me.
thomasaur on February 11, 2010 at 9:50 AM
Ogabe probably only wants six or seven terms. You people should be grateful he is willing to serve you for that long.
SirGawain on February 11, 2010 at 9:51 AM
It’s just snark, BD, and given that you didn’t say it, I don’t see how you find that an attempt to tie it to you. But then, you seems to have an issue with reading things that weren’t said into things that were.
You aren’t seriously suggesting that Scott Brown is presidential material, are you? He’s a decent guy and all, but this is a Massachusetts Republican. I wouldn’t say that nobody measures up, but I can think of very few that do, and SB ain’t one of them. He’s a great Senator for MA, and a great monkey wrench in the Obama machine, but he’s not what I’m looking for in a President. But as Beck says ad nauseum, it isn’t about parties it’s about candidates.
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 9:58 AM
Yes I heard that. But then he goes on to contradict himself when he says nobody measures up. Although in his tête-à-tête with Sarah Palin he did ask something to the effect of “could she save us?”.
Look, I watch Beck every day (or DVR it). I really like him. But his constant refrain about Republicans being just as bad as Dems (and lumping the GOP into the “Progressive” category) irritates the hell out of me. And as I said earlier, if the GOP sucks that badly, what is one to infer other than “go 3rd Party”?
Buy Danish on February 11, 2010 at 9:58 AM
For a moment there I thought he was going to throw out the 3rd party thing.
JellyToast on February 11, 2010 at 10:01 AM
Maybe Beck realized that the parade he thought he was jumping in front of actually took a turn off of Third Party Avenue while he was promising “The Plan” sometime in the future. Don’t worry, he’ll jump back in front again when he figures out where it’s going.
BTW, I loved his riff on Joe Kline at the start of that show. That’s where Beck is at his best. He had me chuckling.
jnelchef on February 11, 2010 at 10:03 AM
Maybe it has to do with the fact that sometimes, whether people like to hear this or not, Glen Beck tends to come on just a tad bit too strong, and he actually ends up turning people off rather than turning them on to the issues.
But make no mistake about it, as extreme the guy is, Beck is still leaps and bounds ahead in the Reason and Sensibility Department, which is more than can be said for the foaming-at-the-mouth insane asylum inmates running around MS-NBC.
pilamaye on February 11, 2010 at 10:04 AM
have you ever tuned in to Levin?
thomasaur on February 11, 2010 at 10:07 AM
And you just lectured me about having a problem reading things? I never said or implied that. Right now the biggest Tea Party event is on Election Day November 2010 when we vote for Senators and House members. But since “nobody” measures up, if we were to follow Beck’s reasoning then we should throw out all the GOP incumbents who are up for re-election.
Buy Danish on February 11, 2010 at 10:07 AM
Republicans on their worst days are nothing like the left of the Democrat party. For Glen to continue the mantra that both parties are identical is ridiculous, although his opinion and he definitely has a right to it. There are absolutely issues with the GOP, including their lack of backbone in some matters. To paint both parties the same is over the top.
shar61 on February 11, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Excellent!
mwdiver on February 11, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Don’t think the Founders ever worried about “coming on too strong” — though they feared for their lives. I’d rather listen to Glenn. Mark is a bit screechy.
publiuspen on February 11, 2010 at 10:12 AM
You are not really making this statement in comparison to Levin, are you? And for the record, I like both Levin and Beck. “Now, get off the phone, you big dope!”
mwdiver on February 11, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Really? Let’s see, Hoffman doesn’t count because he was in a local special election that wasn’t national, precisely the same situation as Brown. And then you said:
What did you mean by measure up?
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Replace them with candidates that don’t suck. The Dems should do the same.
Pablo on February 11, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Hayworth replacing McCain would be a good start. I do believe it is possible to work for change from within. According to the NYT, McCain is already moving more conservative, to save his a$$.
mwdiver on February 11, 2010 at 10:20 AM
The NYT loves McCain as long as he is running against a conservative but when he is up against a leftist he’s the spawn of Satan.
thomasaur on February 11, 2010 at 10:25 AM
+100
nyx on February 11, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Agreed, and he can’t do it soon enough imho. The last thing we need is a bunch of failed third party bids putting Dems in seats in November.
Missy on February 11, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Sorry, but Beck is correct on this issue, too. I have been reading the words of the founding fathers on this very subject and they absolutely believed that the United States should keep their affairs separate from the rest of the world so that no country could make claims on the U.S. No trade treaties, no declared alliances. The U.S. managed it pretty well for about 125 years until the U.S. decided that they needed to be involved in international trade. I would say that our current situation with China would emphasize the point of not being beholden to other countries. China can pretty much tell us what to do now.
desertliving on February 11, 2010 at 10:40 AM
probably a few reasons:
1) 3rd parties are idiotic and will only aide the true Statist.
2) He’s teaching a bunch of lies on some issues, re Founders. See Levin’s Book
3) Beck is kinda like the Jon Stewart of the Right, many won’t take him serious and makes those he’s associated with seem un-serious.
he’s not a good ‘face’ of the movement, the enemy can do alot more with him to make us look bad than they ever could with Rush.
jp on February 11, 2010 at 10:40 AM
You need 65 Million or more votes to win the POTUS.
Who thinks Beck is capable of creating a perfectly pure candidate in his image, that isn’t “progressive” in some rhetoric, issues, etc….and actually get elected over the Dems?
not me
jp on February 11, 2010 at 10:44 AM
I think Beck’s role is that of provoking thought and controversy–it keeps everyone on their toes…and constantly talking…
lovingmyUSA on February 11, 2010 at 10:44 AM
+100
Johan Klaus on February 11, 2010 at 10:47 AM
I can’t tell from the clip whether Glenn Beck credited Keith Hennessey for this chart and this analysis, but it’s plan as day where it came from. Right on down to the small lines on the chart.
Read Hennessey’s original here: http://keithhennessey.com/2010/02/02/decade-of-profligacy/
I’ll give Beck the benefit of the doubt and assume that the credit was issued before the clip begins, because the analysis is clearly taken whole cloth.
Chuckles3 on February 11, 2010 at 10:47 AM
I constantly heard that Reagan was too conservative, and then he won.
Johan Klaus on February 11, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Surely you’re not referring to the last 13 months.
Yes, under Bush they were big spenders. That was largely Bush’s fault.
But regarding right-to-life, foreign policy, tax policy, health care reform, & many other issues, the differences are like day & night(mare).
jgapinoy on February 11, 2010 at 10:54 AM
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