Notes from the fear chamber
I don’t know how Steve Benen has the stomach to watch this stuff, but I’m grateful for the summaries:
Yesterday was especially astounding. He argued on the air, for example, that President Obama intends to create a “civilian national security force,” which will be similar to Hitler’s SS and Saddam Hussein. Apparently, this has something to do with AmeriCorps, which Beck initially said has a $500 billion budget. (He corrected himself later in the show, though his guest didn’t blink when he originally made the claim.)
Towards the end of the show, after scrawling on a variety of boards and pieces of paper, Beck summarized his key observation. On a chalkboard, Beck had written the words, “Obama,” “Left Internationalist,” “Graft,” “ACORN Style Organizations,” “Revolution,” and “Hidden Agenda.” If you circle some of the first letters of these important words, Beck says, it spells “OLIGARH.” Beck told his viewers there’s only one letter missing. If you’re thinking that letter is “c,” you’re not medicated enough to understand Beck’s show.
The missing letter is “y,” because the word he hoped to spell is “OLIGARHY.”
I thought it might amuse you to read some of this transcript from Mark Halperin’s appearance on Beck’s old HLN show in 2006:
MARK HALPERIN, AUTHOR, “WAY TO WIN”: Glenn, first of all, mega dittos. Just need you to know, I`m not doing this segment on my meds, so watch out.
[....]
HALPERIN: No. Glenn, you and I are in what we call rare agreement. And I think the important thing, when somebody like Michael J. Fox offers to make an ad or asks to make an ad, or Cindy Sheehan says I want to go down to Crawford, Texas, they better have somebody in there like telling them, “You`re entering the arena. Strap on the armor.” Because our politics is tougher today than it`s ever been. And people have to be challenged on their ideas.
People have to be challenged on their ideas.
Bring on the apocalypse.
August 28, 2009 3:54 pm
Posted in: Assholes, Hoot-Smalley
72 Comments
72 Responses
catclub - August 28, 2009 | 3:59 pm · Link
oligarh also spells “hog liar”.
I think Beck fears Limbaugh.
OT: Instead of renaming the health reform bill after Ted Kennedy,
rename it after Ronald Reagan and include carving his face into
Mt Rushmore. Then dare the Repubs to vote against it.
SGEW - August 28, 2009 | 4:00 pm · Link
Where is the shark, and when can we just jump that motherfucker already?!
Maybe the Mayans were on to something. 2012 really does look, well, eschatological.
YellowJournalism - August 28, 2009 | 4:01 pm · Link
I don’t think what Glenn Beck has are ideas, necessarily. Crazy, insane ramblings masquerading as journalism and political commentary? Unfortunately, yes.
R-Jud - August 28, 2009 | 4:01 pm · Link
@SGEW: And Beck is scatological.
YellowJournalism - August 28, 2009 | 4:02 pm · Link
@catclub: They would. Only because Reagan needs his own mountain!
freelancer - August 28, 2009 | 4:02 pm · Link
Hooray for local journalism:
http://www.omahacityweekly.com.....-town-hall
Facepalm for fellow constituents in my district.
geg6 - August 28, 2009 | 4:03 pm · Link
If it wasn’t for Benen, I wouldn’t know about what is said on shit like Beck’s show. No fucking way would I watch that, unless I was on thorazine or something.
As for Halperin, the only difference between him and Beck is that Mark hides his mental illness better than Beck. If Beck isn’t suffering from bi-polar disorder, then my brother isn’t either. For which, by the way, he is being treated quite nicely by that commie health program, the VA. Too bad Beck never served because if I ever saw a soul in need of lithium and the intensive therapy in which the VA seems to excel based on my brother, it’s him.
dmsilev - August 28, 2009 | 4:03 pm · Link
Can we take up a collection and buy Glen Beck a tinfoil hat? Seems that he really really needs one.
-dms
The Grand Panjandrum - August 28, 2009 | 4:04 pm · Link
Kos, Dave Waldman (Kagro X) and few others were lighting up Twitter yesterday using #secretarmy and some of it was golden. Poor Glenn was whining like a little boy who had his lunch money stolen by the class bully.
Markos haz a funnie:
Between Stewart, Colbert and following a few people on Twitter I get hours of entertainment.
ThatLeftTurnInABQ - August 28, 2009 | 4:05 pm · Link
People have to be hallenged on their ideas.
Bring on the apoalypse.
Fixt, for Glenn Bek viewers. Ontinue with the razy. If you don’t stand up for the onstitution, nobody will.
Sentient Puddle - August 28, 2009 | 4:05 pm · Link
Based on that “OLIGARHY” story, I’m actually tempted to start watching Beck for the unintentional humor.
ThatLeftTurnInABQ - August 28, 2009 | 4:07 pm · Link
Hmm, why didn’t my blokquote tags work?
freelancer - August 28, 2009 | 4:08 pm · Link
@ThatLeftTurnInABQ:
As if WordPress ould explain that to you, ‘mon!
Napoleon - August 28, 2009 | 4:08 pm · Link
@geg6:
I think I read several years ago that he is a recovering alcoholic also.
Montysano (All Hail Marx & Lennon) - August 28, 2009 | 4:10 pm · Link
Oligarhy? Isn’t that what Fatty Arbuckle died of?
El Cid - August 28, 2009 | 4:10 pm · Link
I think it’s time for another visit of the Shepard Smith we love.
4tehlulz - August 28, 2009 | 4:11 pm · Link
@Napoleon: Oh, like George W. Bush?
Citizen_X - August 28, 2009 | 4:13 pm · Link
It has to be watched to be believed. He really, truly does say, “There’s one letter missing,” and then spells out “OLIGARHY” on the board. (And pronounces it “oligarchy.”) And then they go back and focus on the word at the end!
R-Jud - August 28, 2009 | 4:14 pm · Link
@ThatLeftTurnInABQ:
Ah, but they could always spell it with a K.
Napoleon - August 28, 2009 | 4:15 pm · Link
@4tehlulz:
Exactly
vacuumslayer - August 28, 2009 | 4:18 pm · Link
OLIGAAAAAAAAAAR! It’s going to be a pirate revolution!
JGabriel - August 28, 2009 | 4:19 pm · Link
Well, of course there’s no “C”. If you could “C” it, then the agenda wouldn’t be “H”idden anymore, silly.
.
vacuumslayer - August 28, 2009 | 4:20 pm · Link
@R-Jud: Three of ‘em!
SpotWeld - August 28, 2009 | 4:20 pm · Link
Glenn Beck is starting to make the over-the-top and insanely-contrived super villians that Marvel has been spewing out look sane in comparison…
Keith - August 28, 2009 | 4:21 pm · Link
Is this the broadcast that led to Palin imploring her Facebook friends to watch the show?
Xel - August 28, 2009 | 4:22 pm · Link
Naturally, the right cuddles up to Beck because people dared to challenge him with a boycott for his insanity. The minute he is attacked by the left, he is one of them and gets instant approval and defense despite his being so incredibly right-wing. Dog pack mentality.
MikeJ - August 28, 2009 | 4:23 pm · Link
@vacuumslayer: How’d they do in the Swedish MEP elections?
Max - August 28, 2009 | 4:24 pm · Link
Doesn’t Glenn Beck do stand up comedy also? I seem to recall a promo before a film at the movie theatre (I’m an early arriver).
Has anyone seen it? How different is his act from his show?
Comrade Jake - August 28, 2009 | 4:24 pm · Link
Is it possible that ratings are up because people have gotten the channel confused with Comedy Central?
“I caught that Glenn Beck the other day. He’s a lot better than Colbert!”
David Hunt - August 28, 2009 | 4:25 pm · Link
@Citizen_X:
Ahh, we can forgive him this. It’s so obvious that Obama is a Communist that he simply forgot to put it up there. Communism and its “C” are assumed.
/Beck
Tzal - August 28, 2009 | 4:27 pm · Link
DougJ: It’s spelled “apocolhpse.”
Xenos - August 28, 2009 | 4:28 pm · Link
I just checked the Beck twitter thing—his top post:
“Oh, by the way: OLIGARH? Really? You are so predictable… don’t miss the open.”
What the heck does that mean? What is an ‘open’?
Heck, we might as well admit it, whatever it means, he got us libs!
David Hunt - August 28, 2009 | 4:28 pm · Link
@SpotWeld:
That makes sense. Comic book supervillians have to have discernible goals that make sense to people with a third grade reading level.
parksideq - August 28, 2009 | 4:30 pm · Link
@Citizen_X: Looks like Beck won’t be invited to play the celebrity edition of Wheel of Fortune anytime soon.
In other news, Glenn Beck was caught hurling a racial slur at the president, calling him an “uppity nagger“.
lawnorder - August 28, 2009 | 4:30 pm · Link
@10: You are missing a C on your keyboard
@6
the Viet Nam vet who spat, “Why the hell should I care where Iraq is?”
THIS is pretty much who they are: “Fuck you, I got mine”
The Grand Panjandrum - August 28, 2009 | 4:31 pm · Link
I can’t wait to see video of “the Plan” and how Glenn will break the shackles of his servitude! The man can’t keep him down! He’s gonna save us all from the jack booted thugs of ACORN!
(Has he ever seen any of the ACORN people? Not exactly the scariest people I’ve ever seen, but hey what do I know. I ain’t skeered of Obama. So there!)
jibeaux - August 28, 2009 | 4:31 pm · Link
You know, I don’t know what the context of that 2006 interview was but if the idea is that a well-liked actor and victim of Parkinson’s needs to be prepared to feel the full wrath of the “arena” for advocating more effective scientific research that could help in the fight against Parkinson’s, well God help your hollow, bitter soul.
Is it wrong that I like to picture a purgatory for people like Beck in which they are subjected to years in some sort of direct instruction-style remedial elementary spelling classes? And they have to raise their hand to go to the bathroom and they’re not allowed to call each other names and they don’t get to move on from purgatory until they resemble in some way a human being?
lawnorder - August 28, 2009 | 4:34 pm · Link
Heh, to me their punishment would be to have to listen to their own shows for eternity
R-Jud - August 28, 2009 | 4:35 pm · Link
@Xenos: I believe he means the open of today’s show.
geg6 - August 28, 2009 | 4:35 pm · Link
@Napoleon:
Actually, most people with bi-polar disorder also have major substance abuse issues. My brother doesn’t but it is a common side issue due to poor impulse control, especially during periods of mania. My brother didn’t abuse drugs or alcohol during manic spells, but he did have a shopaholic issue for which my parents had to bail him out to the tune of several tens of thousands of dollars. So Beck being a recovering (and I honestly question that since the guy is so unhinged) alcoholic would only make me more sure that the guy needs lithium in a big way.
A Ghost To Most - August 28, 2009 | 4:35 pm · Link
@R-Jud:
Ah, but they could always spell it with a KKK.
FTFY
A Ghost To Most - August 28, 2009 | 4:37 pm · Link
And Glen BeKKK is a non-recovering assholeholic.
JGabriel - August 28, 2009 | 4:38 pm · Link
David Hunt:
Whereas Beck only needs to make sense to Republicans.
.
freelancer - August 28, 2009 | 4:41 pm · Link
@JGabriel:
Flag on the play!
You used the words “making”, “sense”, and “republican” all in the same sentence.
The penalties offset, repeat 2nd down.
Comrade Jake - August 28, 2009 | 4:43 pm · Link
Beck’s twitter page really is full of wingnut win. I mean, take a look and see if you can keep from falling out of your chair laughing.
Morbo - August 28, 2009 | 4:43 pm · Link
@freelancer:
ba-ZING!
FormerSwingVoter - August 28, 2009 | 4:47 pm · Link
@Max:
I was curious about his comedy act and found this:
http://www.cracked.com/blog/i-.....regret-it/
Oy Vey - August 28, 2009 | 4:49 pm · Link
At this point, I would only be mildly surprised if Beck turned out to be a mole for the Democratic party to discredit conservatives, working under deep cover. Like, really, really, really, all-the-way-to-China, really deep.
jibeaux - August 28, 2009 | 4:49 pm · Link
@lawnorder:
Well, that would be torture to any normal person. But somehow I get the feeling these guys might actually enjoy it. At least nod along in agreement and at most, well, let’s not talk about.
b-psycho - August 28, 2009 | 4:53 pm · Link
@Comrade Jake: I’m starting to suspect that Glenn Beck is the reason Colbert is taking such a long break. Parody of right-wing talk gets rather difficult when the real thing becomes so funny, Steve’s gotta retool his approach.
jibeaux - August 28, 2009 | 4:53 pm · Link
@Comrade Jake:
“Keep being a watch dog. FIND OLD SOUND OR VIDEO on the czars before it is all deleted. Copy it and send links please. Look 4 radicals quick
I am sure that if BUSH wanted control of the INTERNET in ‘an emergency’ the left would have left all the yelling ’ over my dead body’ to me.”
That is some commercial grade paranoia right there.
ellaesther - August 28, 2009 | 4:54 pm · Link
@The Grand Panjandrum: (Way, way OT, but I so love the Brad Paisley at your place that I posted it over on mine, too).
MikeJ - August 28, 2009 | 4:57 pm · Link
Installing HD equipment in TDS, so I assume they’re doing his studio too.
Demo Woman - August 28, 2009 | 5:00 pm · Link
@Oy Vey: One would have to assume that most conservatives are smart enough to figure out that he’s unbalanced. His viewership has grown since he called President Obama a racist.
GambitRF - August 28, 2009 | 5:00 pm · Link
Some of this is starting to remind me of A Beautiful Mind when John Nash starts just posting random papers full of nonsense on his walls and starts circling them, sticking pushpins in them, etc. because he’s seeing patterns that aren’t actually there.
freelancer - August 28, 2009 | 5:02 pm · Link
@MikeJ:
Full Circle:
Didn’t the wingnuts claim gov’t takeover and blame Obama because of the HD broadcast digital switch? I mean if he can control the internet emergencies, why can’t he be overlord of the Daily Show?
Chad N Freude - August 28, 2009 | 5:04 pm · Link
@dmsilev:
There’s no point in putting a tin roof on an empty barn.
I’m surprised that Beck knows the word “oligarchy” (no matter how he misspells it). Do you suppose his audience does?
Dr. Squid - August 28, 2009 | 5:13 pm · Link
I get the feeling Beckums going to put for Y, “Y? Because we like you.”
georgia pig - August 28, 2009 | 5:16 pm · Link
This nutjob is my brother-in-law’s hero. I’ve always suspected my brother-in-law was crazy, but now I’m not letting my kids anywhere near him. BTW, bipolar disorder runs in the family, and he has had substance abuse problems that he self-treats. Not good.
lumpenprole - August 28, 2009 | 5:23 pm · Link
“Fear mongering” is too elevated a phrase for this stuff. It’s more like “dunce herding.”
BFR - August 28, 2009 | 5:24 pm · Link
Love this comment on the Spectator:
“I bet the Y is going to be Yeti.”
Anne Laurie - August 28, 2009 | 5:32 pm · Link
See also “self-medicating”. And Beck would not be the first untreated bi-polar alcoholic to use the dual excuse that (a) he isn’t ‘mentally ill’, he’s just a drunk; and (b) those mean doctors who want him to take lithium don’t understand that a recovering addict must NEVER take ‘mind-altering’ medication on a regular basis, because, shut up that’s why. (It’s a real issue but it’s also an escape clause.)
The real problem, though, is that Beck is being rewarded, quite literally, for spiralling out of control, live and on camera. Why, in the pure economics sense, should he pay some medical professional to make him less capable of drawing a large viewing audience and therefore a bigger paycheck?
freelancer - August 28, 2009 | 5:32 pm · Link
@BFR:
@lumpenprole:
Lawls.
SGEW - August 28, 2009 | 5:37 pm · Link
All I know is that whoever plays the character “Glenn Beck” in the blockbuster Hollywood movie, twenty years from now, is gonna win themselves an Oscar all right.
What a role!
gocart mozart - August 28, 2009 | 5:39 pm · Link
On a related note, McMegan can go fuck herself. Fuck herself with a hardbound edition of “The Fountainhead”.
“Megan McCardle August 27, 2009 6:24 PM
Reagan was shot by a certified lunatic, as was Garfield. Kennedy and McKinley were shot by left wing loners. I give you John Wilkes Booth as right wing in his own social context, but that was a while back, and I think we can forgive the Democrats by now.”
An excerpt in comments, but read her whole post for an example of clueless asshatery
p.s. I wanted an excuse to use that Fountainhead line.
gocart mozart - August 28, 2009 | 5:42 pm · Link
Sorry, link.
http://meganmcardle.theatlanti.....s_that.php
gocart mozart - August 28, 2009 | 5:44 pm · Link
SGEW, yes it would be like “Network” except the lead character would be really crazy.
El Cid - August 28, 2009 | 5:53 pm · Link
This is important because of all the left wingers bringing guns to Obama events.
tripletee - August 28, 2009 | 5:54 pm · Link
@Xenos:
The beginning of his show – the opening segment. He seems to be building up to something big – I’m guessing he’s going to reveal the location of the Obamarmy’s training camps (probably somewhere near the FEMA death camps). Then he’ll bite the head off of a live bat or cut off one of his own ears with a utility knife or something before lapsing into his own private, made-up language (like Jodie Foster in “Nell”, only whinier) for the remainder of the show.
Seriously, though – Hannity is a pig-ignorant blowhard and Rush is a cynical assclown, but Beck is on another level entirely. I honestly think he’s on the verge of some kind of mental health crisis.
calipygian - August 28, 2009 | 5:56 pm · Link
Barack Obama, half-black/half-white son of a Kenyan and a teenage mom is the harbringer of oligarchy.
George W Bush, Son of a President, grandson of a Senator/Industrialist/convicted Nazi collaborator, great-grandson of the man who earned the most from the arms trade during WWI, inlaw to the Koch family of billionaires – guy Glenn Beck used to get fucked up with everynight on Jack and beers everyman.
I am baffled. It’s beyond parody.
BDeevDad - August 28, 2009 | 7:50 pm · Link
When will Glenn Beck go after Michelle Bachmann since she is allowing her son to join Americorps.
O L I G A R H Y : Galt Gone Wild - August 28, 2009 | 8:33 pm · Link
[...] Notes from the fear chamber He argued on the air, for example, that President Obama intends to create a “civilian national [...]