4.10.2009

Beck's bad boy


There are a number of definitions of the word “dick,” and for the purposes of this post, here’s one:

dick n. 3. A person, especially a man, regarded as mean or contemptible.

I googled Fox News’ new populist superstar to get an idea of the coverage he’s receiving, and, amid reports from The New York Times, Salon.com, The Huffington Post and Time magazine, I ran across the following reference:

“Glenn Beck (born February 10, 1964) is a right-wing American talk show host and a dick.”

And, there it was: http://www.dickipedia.org/ I once gave a gift membership to an editor named Dick to "Dicks of America," an organization aimed at allowing Richards of the U.S. to commiserate with each other.

The “dickipedia” site, which might give a whole new meaning to “.org,” has an altogether different aim and takes no prisoners, as evidenced by its right-up-front listing of “political dicks” and “media dicks.” Democrats or Republicans, left- or right-wing, man or women – no one is spared.

So, why is Glenn Beck getting all this attention?

Since leaving CNN for Fox News, Beck has skyrocketed to the top of the cable news ratings charts. He has become the new archetype of right-wing fear-mongering and histrionics. He and his ilk have tapped the one-quarter of Americans who are disaffected, angry and scared as hell of liberals and President Obama.

According to The New York Times, “Mr. Beck … is suddenly one of the most powerful media voices for the nation’s conservative populist anger. Barely two months into his job at Fox, his program is a phenomenon: it typically draws about 2.3 million viewers, more than any other cable news host except Bill O’Reilly or Sean Hannity, despite being on at 5 p.m., a slow shift for cable news.”

I’m not given to “name-calling,” but “dick” – in the sense above – fits. Is there anything more contemptible than making big bucks off unsuspecting ignorance?

But, let’s get serious. Glenn Beck’s newfound popularity is no laughing matter. Here are two essential articles which will introduce you, dear reader, to the new champion of conservatism:

“Fox News’s Mad, Apocalyptic, Tearful Rising Star,” Brian Stelter and Bill Carter, New York Times, 29 March 2009

“Glenn Beck and the rise of Fox News’ militia media,” Eric Boehlert, Media Matters for America, 7 April 2009

11 comments:

airth10 said...

I worry about the fate of America when I hear people like him.

Infidel753 said...

I'm not able to root around for the link right now, but there was recently a shooting at a Unitarian church by a man whose suicide note said he wanted to "kill liberals" -- and encouraged others to do the same.

There are potentially-dangerous people out there. If Beck is helping to whip them up, it's reprehensible.

B.J. said...

I-753: That’s what the Media Matters article linked in my post is all about. It mentions the church shooting and suicide note in detail. The MM article is SO important I emailed it to all on my mailing list. Worth reading! BJ

Infidel753 said...

You're right, that's the incident I read about (Adkisson). I must have missed the date -- didn't realize it happened last year.

Lately it has been getting difficult to keep track of exactly who shot whom and where.

Frodo, Faux News Voyeur said...

Frodo would like to, briefly, repeat himself. The Second Amendment is susceptible to the influence of technology. When penned, every single firearm on the Planet Earth propelled a single shot from a single barrel, then required a reload. Today, hundreds of rounds can be fired in a matter of seconds from a single barrel. There is no defense against an assault from such a weapon. Does it not seem quixotic that the Founding Fathers would have guaranteed a right to life, and liberty, and at the same time have authorized the use of a weapon against which one cannot defend himself? Glenn Beck would have a mental hernia dealing with the complexity of the conundrum. The best way to deal with a flaming retard like Beck is to continue to ask him serious questions until his head swells and explodes.

B.J. said...

“Hundreds of rounds in a matter of seconds from a single barrel.” May I make an analogy? Glenn Beck can fire off a single idea reaching 2.3 million people in a matter of seconds. I’m not sure which is more dangerous. BJ

B.J. said...

I read the article on Glenn Beck. I find him disturbing. Even more disturbing is Bill O'Reilly. That is just sheer anger coming through the tube. I can't watch him. The other one who drives me up the wall is Hannity on Fox. There is real ego going on at that network.

One of the editors at the local paper is in my parish and he was talking to me after Mass recently. I told him I noticed that O'Reilly was a possible new column for the paper. I pleaded with him not to add O'Reilly. He said he would take that into consideration. I may not agree with Obama on some of the "life" issues, but he is my president, and he is due a wait-and-see attitude from all of us. Most of all, he needs our prayers, not our constant harping and complaining.

Actually I find Obama a breath of fresh air. His kindness and openness to the world is refreshing. He doesn't operate in fear as I have sensed Bush did the last eight years. He operates with a respect of others and there is real strength in that.

When I was in Egypt and Jordan, I had a lot of conversations with the Arabs I met. Young and old told me they hoped the U.S. would just acknowledge they are there and they have their right to their opinions. They were very hopeful with Obama. So am I.
So, thanks for the stories and notes the last few weeks. I have enjoyed them immensely.

Happy Easter!

B.J. said...

OOPS. The previous comment was emailed to me by Father Tim Farrell with permission to publish. I was talking with Chris and failed to put the comment in Father Tim's name. Great comment, Tim. Thanks, BJ

Infidel753 said...

Speaking of Bill O'Reilly's anger, these are kind of fun.

B.J. said...

Thanks for the “meltdown” link. I’m on dial-up connection and unable to play videos, but readers should see this if they have not yet experienced O’Reilly trip off the deep end. I got to see it on assorted MSNBC shows, and it really revealed his true character. He had another meltdown once in an exchange with Al Franken at a book fair. Which reminds me was Franken’s senate race ever settled? I have no idea. BJ

tiny said...

The last Tiny heard Al Franken had 312 more votes than Norm Coleman. But Coleman has threatened to take the suit all the way to the Supreme Court.

We don't need a replay of Florida 2000 votes. Gives you an idea of how important power rather than the people's voices are to the neo-cons.It appears people in Minn. are fed up to the gills with Norm.

Since they have nothing to offer the people of the USA or the world their infantile antics are wearing raw the nerves of the people doing all they can to make the world a better place, as well as working in all areas to bring peace to the world.

Down with the fearmongers and false prophets of doom and up with the peacemakers of the world.