Some interesting commentary from Bill Bennett on Glenn Beck's CPAC speech:
Does Glenn truly believe there is no difference between a Tom Coburn, for example, and a Harry Reid or a Charles Schumer or a Barbara Boxer? Between a Paul Ryan or Michele Bachmann and a Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frank? . . .I'm with Bennett here. Glenn Beck is an exceptional guy with exceptional talents. And most of the time I find it easy to believe he's sincere. But his theme that the two parties are equally bad has always struck me as adolescently cynical.
I don’t think they would describe their [tea party] rallies and resistance as a bilious purging but, rather, as a very positive democratic reaction aimed at correcting the wrongs of the current political leadership. The mainstream media may describe their reactions as an unhealthy expurgation. I do not.
Most recent posts here.
I don't think that Beck would say that there is no difference between Bachmann and Pelosi. At the same time, there are some republicans who, based on voting records and public statements that do believe in bigger government. Lindsey Graham comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're right. But I've heard him equate Democrats and Republicans so many times and though we all know there's some truth to the "all politicians are alike" that's only part of the story.
ReplyDeleteJill,
ReplyDeleteYour right. Beck does very often equate both the Republicans and Democrats as being the same. I do think when he does that he goes a little off course from reality. But, he also talks about progressives within both parties also. But, this year the GOP has made it clear that they are different than the Democrats, and that they are actually listening to the American people. So, it would be nice to hear him give the GOP some credit for voting against health care "reform" and cap & trade.
Over the last ten years you may find some individual exceptions, but generally speaking both parties have been on a course to destroy America with their big spending and lack of desire to answer to the people, so in that case they are the same.
ReplyDeleteI can't name more than maybe twenty people in Congress for whom I have respect based on their actions in office.
To listen to Beck consistently is to know that he almost always offers the precursor of "There are some good individuals in both parties," because there certainly are. Not so many on the left, because by nature their desire is big government, but even someone like Dennis Kucinich is at least consistent in his big government views and doesn't hide who he is.
It the Lindsay Graham, John "Teddy Roosevelt" McCain types who claim to be Conservatives when they're really moderates at best that need to be called out, and kudos to Beck for doing so.
I can't say I agree with Beck's speech, I've only heard bits of it. But I can say I disagree with Bennett. I'm not convinced the GOP has learned the lessons of 2008. It's a troubling sign that Bennett holds up John McCain as an example of genuine and meaningful Republican contrition. And it's a troubling sign that the Republican establishment still ignores candidates like Marco Rubio while pullling out all the stops for candidates like Crist and Mark Kirk.
ReplyDeleteThe GOP still faces a long road to recovery. Yes, there have been some encouraging developments over the past year, but these have been the accomplisments of grassroots conservatives, not of the Republican Party.
Since Graham is continuing to play with them on cap and trade and Graham and McCain are a lot closer to "leadership" than say a Coburn... I think Beck is correct. We haven't heard true contrition yet. We need to see some shakeups in the GOP leadership to let us know they are serious about this, not just pretending until they get back in charge and do exactly what they did before.
ReplyDeleteBecause if they blow it again, they'll never get us back.
In fairness Glenn Beck DID say he votes almost exclusively Republican which I believe, was his attempt at a caveat before continuing with the broad generalization. In the entire Congress we can only point to a small number of Republicans that follow the mantra of a true conservative. The rest of them have a hard time saying NO and recognizing that government is the problem and almost never the solution.
ReplyDeleteYesterday (2/21/10) I sent Beck and his writer the following via e-mail:
ReplyDeleteGlenn,
Contrary to your frequent assertions, there is -- with respect to fiscal discipline -- a quantifiable difference between Republicans and Democrats:
http://sbvor.blogspot.com/2008/09/big-spending-dems.html
That said, I agree that neither party demonstrates an acceptable level of fiscal discipline. And, Bush 43 REALLY screwed the pooch!
But, until the voters demand substantial CUTS in Medicare (and other) entitlements, we will NEVER AGAIN balance the Federal budget:
http://sbvor.blogspot.com/2010/02/deficit-spending-cause-cure-v20.html
Bennett, Beck, McCain & Michelle:
ReplyDeletehttp://michellemalkin.com/2010/02/22/attention-gop-john-mccain-is-the-problem/