Why Glenn Beck’s Producer Is So Freaked Out By The Weekly Standard Cover Story

by Glynnis MacNicol | 3:29 pm, June 23rd, 2010

» 31 comments

We know Glenn Beck can sell books, but can he kill magazines? The Weekly Standard may be about to find out. Beck’s radio show producer Stu Burguiere called for a boycott (he later retracted…sort of) of the magazine on his blog today after reading this week’s cover story on Glenn Beck (specifically ‘Rick Santelli, Glenn Beck, and the future of the populist insurgency’). Says Burguiere:

Look, we usually love The Weekly Standard. They are typically an extremely useful and important source of analysis (I think?). But, this is horrible. It’s a hit piece barely worthy of Media Matters, and I’d rate it as impossible that the author doesn’t know it.

The author of the piece happens to be Matthew Continetti, a fairly well-known and respected conservative writer. Here are the three lines from the five page article Stu takes particular issue with:

Beck’s book Arguing with Idiots contains a list of the “Top Ten Bastards of All Time,” on which Pol Pot (No. 10), Adolf Hitler (No. 6), and Pontius Pilate (No. 4) all rank lower than FDR (No. 3) and Woodrow Wilson (No. 1). In Glenn Beck’s Common Sense Beck writes, “With a few notable exceptions, our political leaders have become nothing more than parasites who feed off our sweat and blood.”

This is nonsense. Whatever you think of Theodore Roosevelt, he was not Lenin. Woodrow Wilson was not Stalin.

So what’s the big deal exactly? Stu is up in arms that Continetti did not make it clear “this segment from the book is a joke.” And he’s right, Continetti didn’t (though honestly, a regular watcher of Beck’s chalkboard would be forgiven for drawing a broadly similar conclusion). That said, me thinks Stu doth protest way too much. What I find fascinating about Stu (and by obvious extension, Glenn Beck’s) overzealous response to the story is that it is actually a good article. It’s one of the few times to my knowledge that a serious publication has treated Beck seriously, without resorting to all the usual hoo-ha over his chalkboard antics and tears. Being treated seriously is something Beck clearly craves — alas, perhaps the reality of stepping out of the vacuum is less pleasant in reality than in theory. Here’s what directly follows the portion Stu reacted to:

The philosophical foundations of progressivism may be wrong. The policies that progressivism generates may be counterproductive. Its view of the Constitution may betray the Founders’. Nevertheless, progressivism is a distinctly American tradition that partly came into being as a way to prevent ideologies like communism and fascism from taking root in the United States. And not even the stupidest American liberal shares the morality of the totalitarian monsters whom Beck analogizes to American politics so flippantly.

And there in a nutshell is much of what is missing from Glenn Beck’s version of American history. Reasonable context. In fact much of the article hits Beck’s weak points right on the head. Not to mention it’s all articulated calmly, which is maybe what sent the Beck people over the edge…outrage and hyperbole are so much simpler and easier to dismiss.

[Pic via]

Glenn Beck, Weekly Standard

paulmdoro

Cue “Matthew Continetti is a RINO” claims.
Iris

Looks like the Republicans are getting ready to take Glennie down. But I’m sure there will be those here who will blame it on the “libs”. Maybe its because they can’t stand the thought that obviously just about everyone considers Glennie, shall we say, sooo not intelligent witha large dash of crazy.
kenm

“The policies that progressivism generates may be counterproductive.”

Progressivism is the kernel of the forms of democratic totalitarianism that dominated the 20th century. The policies that progressivism can lead to – and has led to – are not just “counterproductive”; they are evil and murderous.
Thomas G Williams

There is nothing wrong with BECKs brain, it is in a jar in the custodians closet and that door is kept locked just to make sure no one messes with it, they even feed it there is a small salt shaker filled with Coke and Meth right next to the jar.

Or did you think he was the way he is NATURALLY? It takes hours of prep for him to get so irrational and delusional, and as researchers in Atlantis recently discovered when he grabs his face it is not to wipe away tears it is so he can UP his SHOW level with suppli-mental… uhhh… errr….somethings we should talk about later when BECK-A-TOADs aren’t watching this board, so the explanation will have to wait till his show is on.
paulmdoro

If a man you didn’t know came up to and said he had done drugs every day for 15 years straight and had schizophrenic tendencies, would you take his advice on, well, anything?

kenm, are you a history major?
Rogue-Comic

Good lawd, that Weekly Standard cover is absolutely amazing.

The feature article in question over there is very well written too.

And now this:
____________________________
Thomas G Williams says:
June 23, 2010 at 4:12 pm
“… uhhh… errr….somethings we should talk about later when BECK-A-TOADs aren’t watching this board”
_______________________________

Yes, that sounds like a good strategy . . . I’ll bring the jar the Planters, but someone else needs to make a run to Hooters for the buffalo wings.
ConcernedCitizen3

I read the whole article. It’s actually really good. There’s alot of it that I don’t agree with but nonetheless the author is pretty spot on in his assessment of the tea party/what the tea party needs to do to be legitimate.

“The philosophical foundations of progressivism may be wrong. The policies that progressivism generates may be counterproductive. Its view of the Constitution may betray the Founders’. Nevertheless, progressivism is a distinctly American tradition that partly came into being as a way to prevent ideologies like communism and fascism from taking root in the United States. And not even the stupidest American liberal shares the morality of the totalitarian monsters whom Beck analogizes to American politics so flippantly.”

The author may obviously not agree with progressivism, but understands that the way people like Beck vilify progressivism and “progressives” is slightly ridiculous. Like trying to tell someone that FDR was worse than Hilter… come on buddy. I think the idea that obviously we may disagree on issues but that doesn’t make us horrible people has been slightly lost among people that believe much of the right-wing conspiracy theory rhetoric.
MichelleF

Dream on Iris. It’s nothing new for Republican’s to bash Beck. As much as you libs wish he would, he ain’t going anywhere, so refill those anti-depressents and accept it.
Rogue-Comic

Surely a future moment of Glenn here:

Imus to Beck: “You bastard!”

http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/imus/index.html#/v/4249110/glenn-beck-on-new-book/?playlist_id=87057
Iris

Jeez, Michelle, commenting 5:24PM , the sacred hour and you’re not in your Beckerhead shrine. Yikes, don’t tell me you’re throwing him overboard too.
Ted

MichelleF – you blithering idiot. Your hero, your God, Glenn Beck is on anti-depressants. You might be able to read but comprehension needs some work.

At any rate, Stu is a Glenn Beck parasite, who has made a bundle being a GB toady. You can’t blame him for bitching and moaning.
BruceGoose

kenm says:
June 23, 2010 at 4:11 pm

“Progressivism is the kernel of the forms of democratic totalitarianism that dominated the 20th century. The policies that progressivism can lead to – and has led to – are not just “counterproductive”; they are evil and murderous.”

What about civil rights or anti-racism movements, labor rights, child labor laws, environmental conservation, and women’s rights just to name a few? All products of progressivism, which is not socialism/anarchy/various other things that started 100 years ago.
Glen_G

You should get your headlines straight. I listened to the show this morning and Stu never even came close to calling for a boycott, he just said it was an article that media matters might write. Why the misleading headline?
Iris

Dear Glen G adorer of Glenn B you are going to be so excited because there is another Beckerhead place to go when you just can’t get enough of your Glenn, Stu has a blog, so hurry now and take a look and you will see the headline here is not misleading.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ruth-Gretzinger/596613915 Ruth Gretzinger

“not even the stupidest American liberal shares the morality of the totalitarian monsters whom Beck analogizes to American politics…”

really? so it doesn’t count when Thomas Friedman whines about how we’d be so much better off if we were like China? or when Woody Allen (or whoever it was) complained that he’d like to see Obama be “dictator for a day” and just do what needs to be done? or when Bill Maher says we’re too stupid to see what’s good for us and so it needs to be done by fiat without our agreement?

in addition to all those things, I’d say that there are quite a few stupid liberals who”share the morality” of Islamic “totalitarian monsters,” since the liberal position is to demonize democratic Israel and support homophobic, misogynistic Muslims.

that being said, I don’t see why Beck’s so upset. but whatever. I like him, and there are plenty of haters on this board who will provide the nasty comments.
Ted

Ruthie – I will say this; you really have quite the imagination and I’m betting a very rich fantasy life.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ruth-Gretzinger/596613915 Ruth Gretzinger

it’s true, Ted, I have a rich fantasy life: sometimes I think you make good points.

then I wake up and remind myself it was all a dream.

could you enlighten us as to what I’ve said that is incorrect? I’m sure we’d all like to know.
Ted

Ruthie – third paragraph is pure bs, ie, your fantasy. Second paragraph is full of mumbo–jumbo. Let me know what other crap of yours you’d like me to point out..

I suppose if you like GB as a rodeo clown that is one thing, as someone to take seriously, well, not so much.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ruth-Gretzinger/596613915 Ruth Gretzinger

oh Ted…Ted…see, I did it again. I asked you a question expecting you’d answer it. how exactly is what I wrote crap? did Friedman not say that about China? did Woody Allen (or whoever) not say that about Obama being dictator for a day? did Maher not say we were too stupid and Obama should just pass healthcare regardless of what we wanted?

answer: not crap at all. each of these things happened. I’d provide you with links but I have a feeling you wouldn’t read them, since the facts wouldn’t fit in with your warped worldview.

as far as the liberals supporting the Israel haters, uh, if you can’t see THAT, then I really have no hope for you. come to think of it, I don’t have much hope for you anyway.
ConcernedCitizen3

Well Ruth I don’t think that actual leaders on the left share all of the same ideals of totalitarian leaders. Nor do I believe that Woody Allen is a viable source of thought and information. Yes there are many stupid people in the United States, no matter what your political affiliation. If your are a fan of Glenn Beck then by proxy your most likely a fan of the Founders. They believed that too, which is why we have an electoral college system. People are misinformed and stubborn, and if we had real freedom, like you could say people in an anarchical system would have, we would most likely implode as a society.

Democracy is not a synonym for freedom, and just because a country is democratic doesn’t mean that it is automatically a beckon of good and civility. The same point can be made about religion. Just because people believe in a different god doesn’t make them horrible. There are bad people in all walks of life. Those that are radical should never be hidden from justice, but those that are good should be hailed for it. People “demonize” Israel for many different reasons. Most of what I hear are conservatives bashing liberals for “letting” our government support Israel while they have social injustice built into the fabric of their culture. Nonetheless, with all that being said, trying to say that leaders of what is supposed to be shining light of civilization, leaders that by most would be considered some of the greatest of our time, are in some way on equal terms with a totalitarian dictator that would kill people based on their religion and promote a master race is… I don’t really have a word to describe how ridiculous it is. Although you can say it and think it all you want. Feel free to express your ideas of how someone like FDR was in any way worse than Hitler. But remember that just because you can say it, doesn’t make it right
Ted

Oh ruthie – Crap, pure crap. You, like you hero GB, just makes shit up as you go, Warped world view?! For Christ sake, your hero is Glenn Beck and you say that I have a warped word view?! Just amazing. Listen, you are a pathetic unhinged whack job and really nothing more. Try this. Read. Good Luck.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ruth-Gretzinger/596613915 Ruth Gretzinger

CC3 and Ted: you two really have to get together. you have so much in common! including apparently that neither =of you seems to have actually READ my comments. I don’t believe I mentioned FDR at all, nor did I ever say Beck was my “hero.” Ted, you’re listening to the voices in your head again and mistaking them for real people.

and CC3: if you’ve been hearing “conservatives bash liberals” because liberals are too good to Israel, well, then, you’re just not living in the same world the rest of us are.

as for Teddy, calling me a “pathetic unhinged whack job” on the basis of some fairly innocuous comments is kind of funny, and kind of scary. I think maybe you’re not a very happy person.

anyway, you two can chat together about how stupid and moronic I am. I’m going to go do some stuff in real life. Ted, you oughta try it some time–you know…if your mom says it’s ok.
Ted

Oh ruthie – you like Glenn Beck, a con artist, what more does anyone really need to know? And no, I’m not very happy, but so what. Furthermore, my mom says no. Sorry.
ConcernedCitizen3

I mean I don’t think the liberals were too good to Somoza, Suarez, or Pinochet. All I’m saying is that example, as ridiculous as it may be or as you may see it, can be countered by many other arguments of the US having less than admirable relationships with so-called leaders or governments. I may not have all the facts, or your view on it but please feel free to enlighten me.
http://trickletown.vox.com/ Trickletown

More proof that Conservatives with above room temperature intellects see Beck for the clown he is. On his weekly visits to The O’Reilly Factor, Dennis Miller refuses to make any comments about Beck .” I don’t wan’t to end up on his chalkboard with him doing the Kermit voice!” Clearly, Miller holds Beck in low regard.
jrcmi

“It’s a hit piece barely worthy of Media Matters”

Translation: the story contains actual facts. I don’t know if they are documented as thoroughly as those in MM articles.

“Progressivism is the kernel of the forms of democratic totalitarianism that dominated the 20th century. ”

Has it occurred to you that “democratic totalitarianism” is an oxymoron? Has it occurred to you that Beck is a moron-moron?

Actually, he’s a calculating liar.

“the idea that obviously we may disagree on issues but that doesn’t make us horrible people has been slightly lost among people that believe much of the right-wing conspiracy theory rhetoric.”

The self-delusional right-wing extremists, who are pathologically unable to entertain facts, actually deserve pity. (There are some folks at the ooposite end of the spectrum, but they don’t seem as prevalent.)

Then there are the “convenient righties” – wealthy individuals, families and corporations who incite and finance extreme-right groups like the Tea Partiers to further their own interests – not necessarily out of philosophical kinship.

By contrast, what does a George Soros stand to gain by supporting liberal/progressive causes? We are “warned” of some vaguely evil motive, but nothing concrete.

Al Gore’s sincerity is questioned and mocked. He is excoriated by the right for making us aware of global climate change. Gore has risked his own $$$ on green tech without being at all certain we will embrace it. He may be wrong, though this is unlikely, but he must be sincere.

The wealthy who finance the Tea Partiers and compliant Congressional Republicants benefit directly when they succeed. They managed to change our perception of the “estate tax” into a “death tax.” If current legislation is allowed to expire, the very wealthy will dodge many billions in taxes – taxes that you and I will have to pay, instead.

“It’s nothing new for Republican’s to bash Beck.”

Citations?

Beck isn’t “going anywhere” because he panders to those who are self-delusional or poorly-informed-by-choice and desperately need confirmation of their pre-conceived notions. There’s plenty of them, sadly.

“it doesn’t count when Thomas Friedman whines about how we’d be so much better off if we were like China?”

Friedman isn’t a lib. Sorry to disappoint.

You refer to Woody Allen – “or whoever it was” – and Maher without context. Both are humorists and may not have been speaking literally.

Obama “hates” Israel so much he requested billions in aid for them. Do you have a non-Beck source for your “Israel-hating libs” assertion?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Brian-Rogiers/1426705964 Brian Rogiers

^^^^^
Mmmm, thats good delusion!

“I don’t know if they are documented as thoroughly as those in MM articles.”

Yes, Media Matters, journalistic intergrity at its finest……..BWAHAHHAHA

“Has it occurred to you that “democratic totalitarianism” is an oxymoron?”

Uhhh, does “German Democratic Republic” ring any bells? No? Nevermind then…….

“The self-delusional right-wing extremists, who are pathologically unable to entertain facts, actually deserve pity. (There are some folks at the ooposite end of the spectrum, but they don’t seem as prevalent.)

Then there are the “convenient righties” – wealthy individuals, families and corporations who incite and finance extreme-right groups like the Tea Partiers to further their own interests – not necessarily out of philosophical kinship.”

How long did it take you to come up with this? It’s all boilerplate lefty BS, but you forgot to use the phrases “Tea Bagger”, “Racist Homophobe”, and “Chimpy McBusHitler” please refresh your talking points and resubmit….k,thx~

“By contrast, what does a George Soros stand to gain by supporting liberal/progressive causes? We are “warned” of some vaguely evil motive, but nothing concrete.”

http://powip.com/2010/06/big-oil-maneuvering-and-vestiture/

Read it, learn it, love it…….

As for the rest of it, I’m sure that Mediaite appreciates your input, and agrees 100% with all of your opinions.

Great job! Fight the Power! Damn the Man!, and so on and so forth…..
jrcmi

“Media Matters, journalistic intergrity at its finest……..BWAHAHHAHA”

I’m STILL waiting for proof of an MM factual error. This is request No.15.

Childish righties resort to insulting MM because they can’t disprove their facts.

““Has it occurred to you that “democratic totalitarianism” is an oxymoron?”

Uhhh, does “German Democratic Republic” ring any bells?”

You sure went the lon-n-n-n-ng way around the block to find THAT one!

“They could CALL themselves anything they wanted. They certainly weren’t “democratic,” but you figured that out for yourself . . . eventually . . . I hope. . . .

YOU could call yourself “Lady Gaga.” What would it prove? Other than your mental instability, I mean.

Turner Classic Movies just ran “One-Two-Three” – the funniest “cold war comedy” ever! – which took place, in part, in that former country.

“How long did it take you to come up with this? It’s all boilerplate lefty BS, but you forgot to use the phrases “Tea Bagger”, “Racist Homophobe”, and “Chimpy McBusHitler” please refresh your talking points and resubmit….”

Why would it take me ANY time to come up with “boilerplate”? Please decide which classless, pointless allegation you wish to make . . . fold it several times . . . and place it in your appropriate orifice.

All of the slurs you mention are YOUR OWN. I don’t subscribe to the name-calling and thoughtless finger-pointing typical of you nutjob right-wing pederasts.

Your link proved my point about Soros. Despite all the right-wing pants-wetting and insinuations, Soros was merely one of many contributors to Obama’s inauguration. Limits on campaign contributions kept him from giving much directly to Obama.

The recent “Extreme Court” ruling that shot down those limits will give Soros free rein. You can thank John Roberts and the other four Right Wing Stooges.

Soros is a major contributor to liberal organizations. No secret there. He owns stock in a foreign oil company that will allegedly benefit from a Gulf drilling moratorium. This is pure speculation on the part of those who seek to portray him in the worst possible terms.

I read it, I “learned” it. It’s tripe.

“As for the rest of it, I’m sure that Mediaite appreciates your input, and agrees 100% with all of your opinions. ”

I don’t give a gooddamn whether they agree or not. My opinion is my own. Unlike yours, it’s INFORMED.

“Fight the Power! Damn the Man!, and so on and so forth…..”

Project much?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Brian-Rogiers/1426705964 Brian Rogiers

“I don’t subscribe to the name-calling and thoughtless finger-pointing typical of you

nutjob right-wing pederasts”

He shoots, he scoooorreess!!!!!!!

Look, I get it. Beck is an idiot. Anyone who listens, watches, agrees, or even looks at Beck is an even bigger idiot. Everything you say is right, and anyone who disagrees with you is wrong. Any attempt to point out that the emporer has no clothes is blasphemy, and anyone who thinks so should be ridiculed as an ill informed nutjob right wing pederast. It’s all been said before, enjoy your hate, and bask in the knowledge that you are so much smarter than everyone else.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alan-Leventhal/100000981104348 Alan Leventhal

So much heat on such a hot day! It’s a shame that any attention is paid to Glenn B. There’s a good chance that like a lot of right-wing loonies, Beck will implode sometime soon. Even with the strange politics that we’re now experiencing, the few decent (and there aren’t many) Republican/Conservatives are beginning to realize that this nutty Palin/Limbaugh/Beck/ syndrome can’t go on much longer. If unchecked it spells doom for their party. Whether cowboy America realizes it or not we can’t go any further rightward. The wars, the waste of money, resources and lives is too much for us to bear.
jrcmi

“I don’t subscribe to the name-calling and thoughtless finger-pointing typical of you nutjob right-wing pederasts.”

That was a JOKE! Why would I condemn such conduct, then engage in it? What am I, a Tea Partier?

I was curious as to who would “get it,” and who would take immediate umbrage. C’mon now . . . how many of you voted thumbs-down – or commented – without knowing what a “pederast” is? Be honest!

Alan Leventhal said:
Even with the strange politics that we’re now experiencing, the few decent (and there aren’t many) Republican/Conservatives are beginning to realize that this nutty Palin/Limbaugh/Beck/ syndrome can’t go on much longer. If unchecked it spells doom for their party.

Salient points, Alan. Beck, et al, seem to care only about self-aggrandizement and enrichment. It’s possible Michelle Bachmann is truly bonkers, but, more likely, just opportunistic, shallow and impulsive.

The few thoughtful cons I’ve encountered have been a pleasant revelation. We could “disagree agreeably.” Their numbers appear to be shrinking as the extremists boot them out of the party. George Will was a Repub. “main man” – UNTIL he committed the unpardonable sin of supporting Obama in the Sestak matter. Heaven forfend he should speak his mind. Will became an instant pariah – a “RINO” – his decades of right-wing cheerleading counting for naught.

The right’s own ideological extremism will be what ultimately breaks them.

I don’t “hate” Glenn Blech-h-h. I hate his pandering and deceitfulness. I hate that he misleads people who might otherwise find enlightenment elsewhere. Same goes for Limbaugh and most other right-wing shills.

I don’t think I’m so smart – and I’m sure many will concur. I just try to put things together in a way that makes sense and that works. Ideologies, however disparate, must bear some relationship to reality and known facts in order to fulfill those requirements.

PS – That “Tea Partier” crack was another joke – honest!