Glenn Beck pours fuel on the raging culture war with his blog The Blaze.
Glenn Beck’s new blog The Blaze launched today. Why? Because, according to Beck, “Too many important stories are overlooked. And too many times we see mainstream media outlets distorting facts to fit rigid agendas.”
With that, let’s take at these “important stories” and “facts” populating the front page of The Blaze.
The top story is called “Explicit Poetry GPS Phones Help Illegals.” As far as I can ascertain, this is a video story about two professors at the University of San Diego who don’t like the United States, and who also have plans to give GPS smartphones to Mexicans to help them cross the border illegally. Reportedly, the phones also have “explicit poetry.” Not quite sure how this is helping the Mexicans. Is there an explicit poetry shortage in Mexico?
Not only does this not seem to qualify as an “important story,” there seems to be nary a “fact” of any import to the broader world contained in the entire piece. In fact, it seems downright bizarre. Explicit poetry? This is what the right wing has been all up in a huff about?
Other stories include another video segment pitting Al Sharpton against Glenn Beck, and insinuating that Sharpton and the members of the Million Man March are racists and that Beck is a beacon of tolerance. This is not the first time Beck has called a black man a racist. Beck recently admitted that he regretted calling Barack Obama a racist, so maybe this distasteful video piece (again, bereft of any actual “facts”) will be retracted shortly.
One piece that did seem to cite an actual fact linked a “NY Post” story about a new Quinnipiac University poll showing that 7 in 10 New Yorkers believe the proposed “Ground Zero Mosque” should be relocated by developers.
This story upholds Beck’s commitment to including some facts, but I’m not sure it fits the “no rigid agenda” criterion. With Beck’s increasingly religious invocations and references to religiously-motivated armed militias like The Black Robe Regiment, opposing the Cordoba house and fostering Islamophobia certainly seems part of Beck’s agenda. I’m guessing that agenda airs more on the side of the rigid than the loosey-goosey.
What’s really scary about The Blaze is that it purports to be actual news, rather than opinion. “We decided to hire some actual journalists,” Beck says. And his followers are likely to believe it.
Beck constantly complains about the shortcomings of “mainstream media” in reporting the news. The “Washington Post,” “New York Times,” and “Wall Street Journal” are news. The Blaze is not news any more than The Rachel Maddow Show, Keith Olberman, or the Huffington Post are news.
In the 24 hour news cycle, there is a demand for “newsy” entertainment. But whereas people on the left usually recognize people like Olberman, Maddow, Chris Matthews and Jon Stewart as smart, informed entertainers, the right tends to view people like Glenn Beck—and even scarier, her fellow TV personality Sarah Palin—as real political operatives.
In a time when cultural tensions are pushing extremists on the left and the right toward pyromaniacal tendencies (the right is burning Quaran, the left burning the Confederate flag) Beck’s choice in naming his site does seem apt. The question is what, exactly, will remain standing after the fire.
August 31, 2010 at 9:08 pm, Kathyndan3 said:
Whoever this 'reporter' is, it is quite clear that he doesn't even spin in the usual twisted way the left usually does. Out right lies seems to be what they are driven to. Are we scared yet?
September 08, 2010 at 6:41 pm, David greenlaw said:
The Silver Bullet
People keep saying there is no silver bullet to fix the economy,
or where is the silver bullet? I think I have the answer to that.
I have been a self-employed contractor for over 20 years licensed in both CA and FL.
I have personally been hit hard by the down turn in the economy and so have most of my friends. I have let all of my employees go and I am on the verge of loosing every thing myself. I have worked my way through many recessions, but this time things are very different. Because things have gotten so bad I don’t think the usual solutions are going to work now. It’s going to take drastic action to turn things around and as I see it we have two choices.
Choice #1
1. Quit spending money we don’t have, cut the spending in congress by 80%, eliminate all of the programs that do not fall under the federals jurisdiction and give the power back to the states with out a court battle about everything.
2. This allows the public to vote with there feet.
3. Actually find and prosecute (no deals) fraud in all forms of government.
4. Cut taxes on all Americans and revise tax law so they are friendly to job creators and investors. This will bring in investors from around the world.
As for choice #1 we all know it is not going to happen so on to choice #2
Choice #2 The Silver Bullet
How do you stop a liberal (leftist) from spending money? Answer: make them spend it where they do not want to spend it, such as the private sector. If you do the people will be able to get a job and be self reliant, then they will not need nor want the government in their lives. That is what the left is afraid of the most. Example: unemployment benefits, acorn, welfare, subsidies, etc. (Gov Dependence = Democrat votes most of the time)
1. Take what is left of the tarp funds and apply it to the deficit where it was suppose to go with interest.
2. Take what is left of the stimulus (about 300 Billion) and give it directly to the business people (non-union and non-government) so they can really create jobs! These jobs will be around longer and these jobs will pay back to the federal, state and local coffers through tax revenue many times over and for years to come. This is investing in American businesses and encouraging growth.
3. Tax breaks for small business are good but right now we have to many businesses that are at bare bones, lost their employees already, lost their credit so they can’t qualify for new loans, they have sunk to many good long standing businesses like mine to the point that with out a direct Gov investment we can not come back from the edge to stimulate the economy on our own.
4. This is why I am proposing that instead of using the remaining money on more government, or union jobs we go directly to the small businesses. Ask them to submit plans for job creation projects, prove how they would spend the money to create New Jobs, show how their plan would pay back the investment through the increase in tax revenue. Require that they have been in business at least five years if you want so we know these are qualified business people, or simply make sure their plan is solid and will actually create long-term permanent jobs. Then have people verify that these business are spending the money like they said they would but don’t get in their way with a ton of paper work or new regulations.
This is how we create a true economic stimulus package.
The affect this will have on congress will be that the left will want to stop spending money because it is not advancing there agenda and that is something that the GOP will be able to get on board with, it becomes a win-win for the people of the United States of America
What I see happening
If our government continues down the path it is on we will add spending of 2.5 trillion dollars or more over our budget and we will have to borrow that money over the next two years. This goes against everything I believe in.
When I say that we need to give money to the business people of America that does not sit well with me either but giving the money to the banks to loan to business people this will not work this time.
I know I am one of them, most of the small business men/woman of this country have hit very hard times and our credit rating is not what was just two years ago. So most of the working capitol we used to have is not available to us now, and giving us a tax credit if we give someone a job will not work. You have to have the money to give someone a job and a tax credit is not going to do it. It will help but not in the short run.(next 3 years or so)
So far the federal government has given money to the banks only to have these banks use the money to buy smaller banks what happened to too big to fail? They have given money to the car companies to make cars we do not want and to shore up the unions.
They have given money to “shovel ready jobs” but they can only be awarded to a union company (8% of the work force ) How does that create any long lasting jobs? most of the “shovel ready jobs” will only last three years at most.
They have given money to the teachers, police and firemen/woman not that we do not need these people and we should support them but why the federal government isn’t that a state issue lets let the state governments balance there own budgets.
So as I see it we can spend 4-5 hundred billion where it is needed (the private sector) and get them to stop spending (as stated above) or spend another 2.5 trillion or more of borrowed money and achieve nothing but more wasteful spending and debit for the Americans people and generations to come.
Thank you for your time
David G
I would like to see a poll done on this issue if possible. Thank you.
Question:
How do you think the remaining unspent (300 Billion +/-) stimulus money should be spent?
1. Give directly to small businesses with proposals to create New (non- union/non-government) jobs.
2. Give to banks/SBA to give loans to businesses to create jobs.
3. Use for unemployment benefits, or supporting of unions or government jobs.
Notice I didn’t add the option of putting it back on the deficient, I believe most people would actually choose that options but since this congress is determined to spend it what we need is for them to see how Americans would rather have it spent.
What do you do with a Broken Car?
1. When your engine is blown do you call an experienced mechanic to fix it?
2. Do you put in a new stereo or add fancy wheels?
3. Do you pay some one to buy it from you?
4. Do you pay some one to talk about what is wrong with it?
5. Do you ignore it and hope it will start again on it’s own?
We all know the answer to this is hiring some one with the experience to fix it!! So that is exactly what we need to do with the economy, put the money in the hands of the people who know how to fix things and we will do the work it takes to make it run. It may not be as pretty with out the new wheels, but at least it will run again… Then later you can add all the extra stuff you want.
Of course if you over load a car it will eventually break down again, but that is another story.
September 08, 2010 at 6:41 pm, David greenlaw said:
The Silver Bullet
People keep saying there is no silver bullet to fix the economy,
or where is the silver bullet? I think I have the answer to that.
I have been a self-employed contractor for over 20 years licensed in both CA and FL.
I have personally been hit hard by the down turn in the economy and so have most of my friends. I have let all of my employees go and I am on the verge of loosing every thing myself. I have worked my way through many recessions, but this time things are very different. Because things have gotten so bad I don’t think the usual solutions are going to work now. It’s going to take drastic action to turn things around and as I see it we have two choices.
Choice #1
1. Quit spending money we don’t have, cut the spending in congress by 80%, eliminate all of the programs that do not fall under the federals jurisdiction and give the power back to the states with out a court battle about everything.
2. This allows the public to vote with there feet.
3. Actually find and prosecute (no deals) fraud in all forms of government.
4. Cut taxes on all Americans and revise tax law so they are friendly to job creators and investors. This will bring in investors from around the world.
As for choice #1 we all know it is not going to happen so on to choice #2
Choice #2 The Silver Bullet
How do you stop a liberal (leftist) from spending money? Answer: make them spend it where they do not want to spend it, such as the private sector. If you do the people will be able to get a job and be self reliant, then they will not need nor want the government in their lives. That is what the left is afraid of the most. Example: unemployment benefits, acorn, welfare, subsidies, etc. (Gov Dependence = Democrat votes most of the time)
1. Take what is left of the tarp funds and apply it to the deficit where it was suppose to go with interest.
2. Take what is left of the stimulus (about 300 Billion) and give it directly to the business people (non-union and non-government) so they can really create jobs! These jobs will be around longer and these jobs will pay back to the federal, state and local coffers through tax revenue many times over and for years to come. This is investing in American businesses and encouraging growth.
3. Tax breaks for small business are good but right now we have to many businesses that are at bare bones, lost their employees already, lost their credit so they can’t qualify for new loans, they have sunk to many good long standing businesses like mine to the point that with out a direct Gov investment we can not come back from the edge to stimulate the economy on our own.
4. This is why I am proposing that instead of using the remaining money on more government, or union jobs we go directly to the small businesses. Ask them to submit plans for job creation projects, prove how they would spend the money to create New Jobs, show how their plan would pay back the investment through the increase in tax revenue. Require that they have been in business at least five years if you want so we know these are qualified business people, or simply make sure their plan is solid and will actually create long-term permanent jobs. Then have people verify that these business are spending the money like they said they would but don’t get in their way with a ton of paper work or new regulations.
This is how we create a true economic stimulus package.
The affect this will have on congress will be that the left will want to stop spending money because it is not advancing there agenda and that is something that the GOP will be able to get on board with, it becomes a win-win for the people of the United States of America
What I see happening
If our government continues down the path it is on we will add spending of 2.5 trillion dollars or more over our budget and we will have to borrow that money over the next two years. This goes against everything I believe in.
When I say that we need to give money to the business people of America that does not sit well with me either but giving the money to the banks to loan to business people this will not work this time.
I know I am one of them, most of the small business men/woman of this country have hit very hard times and our credit rating is not what was just two years ago. So most of the working capitol we used to have is not available to us now, and giving us a tax credit if we give someone a job will not work. You have to have the money to give someone a job and a tax credit is not going to do it. It will help but not in the short run.(next 3 years or so)
So far the federal government has given money to the banks only to have these banks use the money to buy smaller banks what happened to too big to fail? They have given money to the car companies to make cars we do not want and to shore up the unions.
They have given money to “shovel ready jobs” but they can only be awarded to a union company (8% of the work force ) How does that create any long lasting jobs? most of the “shovel ready jobs” will only last three years at most.
They have given money to the teachers, police and firemen/woman not that we do not need these people and we should support them but why the federal government isn’t that a state issue lets let the state governments balance there own budgets.
So as I see it we can spend 4-5 hundred billion where it is needed (the private sector) and get them to stop spending (as stated above) or spend another 2.5 trillion or more of borrowed money and achieve nothing but more wasteful spending and debit for the Americans people and generations to come.
Thank you for your time
David G
I would like to see a poll done on this issue if possible. Thank you.
Question:
How do you think the remaining unspent (300 Billion +/-) stimulus money should be spent?
1. Give directly to small businesses with proposals to create New (non- union/non-government) jobs.
2. Give to banks/SBA to give loans to businesses to create jobs.
3. Use for unemployment benefits, or supporting of unions or government jobs.
Notice I didn’t add the option of putting it back on the deficient, I believe most people would actually choose that options but since this congress is determined to spend it what we need is for them to see how Americans would rather have it spent.
What do you do with a Broken Car?
1. When your engine is blown do you call an experienced mechanic to fix it?
2. Do you put in a new stereo or add fancy wheels?
3. Do you pay some one to buy it from you?
4. Do you pay some one to talk about what is wrong with it?
5. Do you ignore it and hope it will start again on it’s own?
We all know the answer to this is hiring some one with the experience to fix it!! So that is exactly what we need to do with the economy, put the money in the hands of the people who know how to fix things and we will do the work it takes to make it run. It may not be as pretty with out the new wheels, but at least it will run again… Then later you can add all the extra stuff you want.
Of course if you over load a car it will eventually break down again, but that is another story.
September 08, 2010 at 7:56 pm, Loiskline said:
That McCain Valley Girl – whatever her name is – “Dirty, Sexy Politics.” Indeed!! She's as trashy as that Jersey Shore gang that I've never seen or heard – just heard ABOUT. As Carl Hiaasen wrote in Smithsonian,we're slipping backward. Lois
September 09, 2010 at 6:33 pm, Quran Burning in Florida: Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and President Obama Agree on Something | Death and Taxes said:
[...] joined her in sentiment on his website, TheBlaze. “What is wrong with us? Burning the Koran is like burning the flag or the Bible. You can do [...]
September 12, 2010 at 6:27 am, 661murray said:
All you have to do to fix the economy is repeal all laws that had more than 20 pages in their bill passage form . (for historical reference see Jefferson's letter to Washington on making gold the currency of law). As for the pagen memorial in new york; build it. Islam owes america 3000 dead. about the 10th time it gets blown up they may ask for help in determining what went wrong with their memorial. Will they dance in the street at it repeated demolition.