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The Mad Genius of Glenn Beck
He rants, he raves, and he can cry hysterically on cue. But what actually makes Fox News star Glenn Beck a phenomenon? Watch the nine principles behind his meteoric rise—complete with goofy noises
PLUS: The Daily Beast's Interview—Glenn Beck on why he's no Rush Limbaugh.
Principle #1: I Will Constantly Reaffirm My Ineptitude
Beck is quick to point out all the reasons why he’s underqualified to host a talk show. Sometimes it’s hard to disagree.
Principle #2: My Point Is Best Expressed Through Incomprehensible Noises…
We can only assume all those years of hard partying fried the better part of Glenn Beck’s brain. What other explanation could there be for, well, this:
Principle #3: …or Talking Like a Muppet
On Planet Beck, everyone who isn’t Glenn Beck talks like a hybrid of Kermit the Frog and Yoda. Watch, you must.
Principle #4: I Will Keep the Spirit of Joe McCarthy Alive
Are you now or have you ever been so completely detached from reality that you saw the creeping specter of Karl Marx everywhere? Once you get past the wacky shenanigans on Beck’s program, you start to realize he has a tendency to espouse fairly radical ideas, like his firm belief that we’re on the road to socialism and/or communism.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
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DevilsLawyer
The rise of Glenn Beck: American anti-intellectualism at its finest.
BlakewilliamsNYC
Well put.
fk4711
Beck is the mini version of Rush, just even dumber and incoherent.I cannot believe I can find someone dumber and more incoherent than Rush. But hey folks, this is America and sooner or later someone will show up to out dumb the other. But seriously, this is the synergy of new/informercia/entertainment gone amock. Untalented, ex-alcoholic, radio DJ is put into to prime time as long as he rants non-stop about liberal and denigrates human decency and the President. This is the golden standard for Fox News. I tried to watch Glenn Beck, several time, but he does not make any sense. He is incapable of articulate one single thought in a logical and coherent way. He is all over the place on issues and none of them make sense. Imaging in this day and age, fear mongers like him and Rush make tons of money by spewing nonsense while decent workers suffer. This truly can only happen in the good old USA.
UnitedPride
Beck and Rush make ton's of money??? AT least they speak the truth. What do you think our government is doing to us? They line their own pockets and those of their cohorts. Feels like the Chicago Mafia is running the country. God help us as he is the only one that can with people that think like you.Good thing you were not around during the Revolution or we would still belong to Great Britian. Wake up.
Bamos99
"At least they speak the truth." It is difficult for most people to respond to this as they do not see them as telling ther truth but as proferring a set of untrue principles in order to make huge amounts of monies without regard to the consequences. Your call to arms to wake up is ironic and frightening as you as part of a growing movement that cannot be reasoned with with facts.
jcs333
You used the word dumb (or a variation) in the first three sentences of your "look how DUMB everyone else is" speech then in your fourth sentence you misspelled AMUCK. LOL!
It's a darn shame you won't see this. I mean you left those brilliant words in March so I doubt you'll be back to check on your post. But what the hell, this is fun. Oh yeah, your line about him not being able to form a logical coherent thought is both illogical and incoherent itself. LMAO! I can only assume that imaging is supposed to be imagine...? I only registered on this little site so that I could comment on the brilliance that is you. I love that it is people lke you that speak for the masses. Anyway, thanks for the chuckle retard. If you don't like the "good old USA"...then please feel free to exit at your nearest border. Oh, and by the way, I find it really peculiar that you misspell so many words and you dislike Glenn Beck so much yet you spell his name correctly...curious.
jcs333
Just as I suspected...my reply hasn't been posted because it is an intelligent opposing viewpoint
Dorothea
He fits right in with the other fear mongers - Olbermann and Maddow. But: Beck is already toast. He can't survive long in this PC climate.
JimTreacher
#10: He can mock himself much more incisively and humorously than his detractors can. For a case in point, scroll up.
We're definitely not on the road to socialism. What a radical idea! By the way, the President of the United States just fired the CEO of General Motors.
Ritarita
I think
This guy
Was predicted
By Nostradamus.
UnitedPride
Who? Obama?
EdinNJ
Dorothea- If you think that Olbermann and Maddow, who admittedly aren't everyone's cup of tea, in any way compare to the lunatics on the right, you are pretty stupid.
There is a big difference between calling out politician's lies, and pushing an insurgency against our president. Beck should be tried for treason.
But it won't matter. I figure he'll either have a nervous breakdown or be back on the bottle within 6 months.
UnitedPride
Beck tried for treason because the bases his talk on the Constitution? Try Obama. He has been in office for over six months and has done NOTHING to help this country. Unemployment is at an all time high, our deficit is out of sight and growing, government has it's nose stuck in business (which should be free enterprise) and now he want to control our health. Is there nothing he will try? I think he (Obama) under estimates the American people.
TheRealFerrari
Did you really expect for Obama to get anything done when everyone on the right side of the isle is constantly second guessing him everytime he presents an idea to help fix the country.. And yes Beck should be tried in a court but not for treason, but for being a complete pain.. Yes he may very well be stating the truth about where the country is heading but to constantly state information that is proven wrong time after time shows a lack of personal responsabilty and flat out disrespect for the office of the president..
Bamos99
You are oblivious. My condolences.
philca
Another right wing loony who is only looking for the President to fail... Even to the point of calling the President a Manchurian Candidate... Gee if anyone were to do that to that proven failure of a President Bush - Becky boy would call them a traitor... The hypocrisy is mind boggling..
UnitedPride
Beck has been just as critical of Bush as he has of Obama and if you listened to his program you would realize that. Talk about narrow minded.
Bamos99
He is critical of everyone. He has not only no answers but none of the questions. Don't you know entertainment when you see it? This man has nothing to say.
FredHerring
"The hypocrisy is mind boggling.."
That's what blows my mind to- what little recollection they, the far right and it's looney faction, have of recent history i.e. the Bush administration, yet they can quote Payne, Franklin and Jefferson... Ponderous.
rannan3
EdinNJ
you seem to find it easy to call someone stupid, for expressing their opinion.
Says a lot about you.
Glenn Beck is not advocating anything that remotely borders on treasonous.
He's asking people to live their principles and values. Do you find that treasonous ?
If you don't like him, don't watch. Plenty of citizens like his show -- are we all traitors too ?
Jen821
He is asking people to live their values?
I thought he was asking people to live his 9 values.
UnitedPride
He is onlly asking people to READ the Constitution, the document this country was founded on. Open you eyes America before it's too late.
UnitedPride
Good for you, I totally agree. If they can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. But then, there are many that don't want the truth.
Bamos99
You are correct about the trteason but let me add, he is simply advocating what he thinks will stir people up and get them to watch. He is a car wreck. This is theatre, nothing more.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
VenusMuse
Glenn Beck is terrific - his show is refreshing, candidate and provocative!
UnitedPride
I agree. He makes you think. Something Americans have not done for a long time.
Bamos99
If you really want to think, get a book and learn something real.
purpleme
Glen Beck had the courgage most of us only wish we had..and way more common sense.
VenusMuse
Glenn Beck is terrific - his show is refreshing, candidate and provocative!
Olberman and Maddow - there's just something of substance missing from their shows. YAWN.
crownie
yeah... he show is totally candidate. and his viewers are so smart.
xbainx
Glenn Beck calls his show "a fusion of entertainment and enlightenment" but it achieves neither. He is simultaneously telling the audience to pay attention to hi every word and disregard everything he says. So yes losers, only Glenn Beck detractors can post here. Go post on MediaMatters.
Ritarita
@EdinNJ
Just a simple
Mix up
You're thinking of
Congresswoman
Michelle
Bachmann.
She's the one
Calling for
Armed insurrection
And overthrow
Of the U.S. Government.
Probably
Was a
Glenn Beck
guest.
Hence the confusion.
debbieqd
I'm sorry he was allowed to breed.The far right really appears to enjoy those with addictive personalities. If we sent the entire party to Al-Anon, maybe they'd learn something.
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