"One should doubtless keep an open mind...though open at both ends, like the food pipe, and have a capacity for excretion as well as intake." -- Northrop Frye, 'The Great Code'
I am really interested in trying to understand the attraction of Glenn Beck and why anyone would trust his opinion. (I wonder the same thing about Oprah.) He is a show business personality, basically what he always was, a DJ, but without music now. I watched him years ago when he was on CNN and did enjoy his rants. On one show he had Danny Bonuduce on and they were comparing how bad they were as coke addicts. I remember this because I was working with substance abusers and thought neither one of those guys was doing recovery very well. Now, in his interviews, he apparently is a recovering alcoholic, no mention of coke. I have no problem with people dealing with their addictions and moving on with their lives, in fact I have a lot of respect for them. I am just wondering why Mr. Beck can't keep his addictions straight especially since he was very public about them. But perhaps the Fox viewers are less forgiving of drug addictions and more accepting of alcoholism than CNN viewers.
From the few times I have recently seen him I thought that he pandered to the ignorance and fears of a lot of people, made up information (much like Bill O'Rielly), as well as promoting his viewers to buy gold (don't know if it was paper or real) from a specific gold dealer. I am not into a lot of American news anymore as I have chosen not to have cable tv (much of it is not useful and not even good entertainment). Just wondering if you have read Chris Hedges' "Empire of Illusion, The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle" because I would be interested in the opinion of someone who considers CNN to be a reputable new source on the view that Hedges puts forward. I have Hayek's Road to Serfdom (in the top 200 books of the 20th Century) on my reading list right after I finish Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals.
AG46, I like, and I suppose “trust”, Beck’s (and O’Reilly’s and Hannity’s) opinions because I find that more often than not they correspond with the facts as I see and understand them. All three are very well informed and often humorous. Fox News is the only mainstream outlet in North America where one can get a reliably right-wing perspective on things. All of the TV networks (excepting Fox) and the vast majority of print media are hopelessly biased to the left.
Re Beck’s addictions - he talks about his former abuse of alcohol and drugs, the fact that he’s turned himself around and credits his religion with helping him. I suppose he is in some ways defined by having struggled with and overcome his problems. Good for him. Beyond that who cares?
I’m no expert on Alinsky but from what little I do know he comes across as a ruthless, amoral Chicago radical who appears to subscribe to Antonio Gramsci’s neo-Marxist subversive approach to gaining power. It seems he's a darling of the radical American left (including Obama).
Don’t know Hedges. But do read Hayek, he’ll be a great antidote to all the socialists you’ve been exposed to.
Well i never believe that i could find a post about this... not because I'm fan or something is because i can't believe that someone cares about this...
I am really interested in trying to understand the attraction of Glenn Beck and why anyone would trust his opinion. (I wonder the same thing about Oprah.) He is a show business personality, basically what he always was, a DJ, but without music now. I watched him years ago when he was on CNN and did enjoy his rants. On one show he had Danny Bonuduce on and they were comparing how bad they were as coke addicts. I remember this because I was working with substance abusers and thought neither one of those guys was doing recovery very well. Now, in his interviews, he apparently is a recovering alcoholic, no mention of coke. I have no problem with people dealing with their addictions and moving on with their lives, in fact I have a lot of respect for them. I am just wondering why Mr. Beck can't keep his addictions straight especially since he was very public about them. But perhaps the Fox viewers are less forgiving of drug addictions and more accepting of alcoholism than CNN viewers.
ReplyDeleteFrom the few times I have recently seen him I thought that he pandered to the ignorance and fears of a lot of people, made up information (much like Bill O'Rielly), as well as promoting his viewers to buy gold (don't know if it was paper or real) from a specific gold dealer. I am not into a lot of American news anymore as I have chosen not to have cable tv (much of it is not useful and not even good entertainment). Just wondering if you have read Chris Hedges' "Empire of Illusion, The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle" because I would be interested in the opinion of someone who considers CNN to be a reputable new source on the view that Hedges puts forward. I have Hayek's Road to Serfdom (in the top 200 books of the 20th Century) on my reading list right after I finish Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals.
I watch very little television, but I do enjoy Glenn Beck’s program.
ReplyDeleteI watch it commercial free at http://usaguns.net/patriot/
If you look around this site, you’ll find links too many of the older programs as well. Even some about Saul Alinsky!
I'd be a lot happier if Fox came north and bought some of the Global empire. (real conservative)
ReplyDeleteAG46, I like, and I suppose “trust”, Beck’s (and O’Reilly’s and Hannity’s) opinions because I find that more often than not they correspond with the facts as I see and understand them. All three are very well informed and often humorous. Fox News is the only mainstream outlet in North America where one can get a reliably right-wing perspective on things. All of the TV networks (excepting Fox) and the vast majority of print media are hopelessly biased to the left.
ReplyDeleteRe Beck’s addictions - he talks about his former abuse of alcohol and drugs, the fact that he’s turned himself around and credits his religion with helping him. I suppose he is in some ways defined by having struggled with and overcome his problems. Good for him. Beyond that who cares?
I’m no expert on Alinsky but from what little I do know he comes across as a ruthless, amoral Chicago radical who appears to subscribe to Antonio Gramsci’s neo-Marxist subversive approach to gaining power. It seems he's a darling of the radical American left (including Obama).
Don’t know Hedges. But do read Hayek, he’ll be a great antidote to all the socialists you’ve been exposed to.
Blame Crash, thanks for the link.
Anon, I agree. It would be a breath of fresh air.
Well i never believe that i could find a post about this... not because I'm fan or something is because i can't believe that someone cares about this...
ReplyDelete