Glenn Beck: The gold standard of megalomania
Some folks on an earlier thread started talking about Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally on Saturday at the Lincoln Memorial, the site of Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The date, Aug. 28, also happens to be the anniversary of that event. Commenters were debating the question of whether the scheduling was just a coincidence, or whether Beck was enough of an egomaniac to consciously try to draw a parallel between himself and King.
I think the video below answers that question definitively if not directly:
After viewing the video, Steve Benen at The Washington Monthly offered an interesting observation:
“I’m trying to imagine what the response would be among conservatives if, say, Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008 had tried to do something similar. Imagine if the campaign had organized an event at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the “I Have A Dream” speech, and then released a video comparing the Obama-led effort to the Founding Fathers, the Moon landing, the civil rights movement, and the invention of airplanes.
Imagine if that same Obama campaign video told viewers, “It’s time to restore America. Restore the world. It’s time to believe again.”
The right would consider this egomania on an unhealthy level, and they’d be right.”
Glenn Beck: The gold standard of megalomania. We sure do live in interesting times.
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605 comments Add your comment
landry
August 26th, 2010
4:12 pm
Beck has a deep-seated hatred for black people.
tim
August 26th, 2010
4:17 pm
I tried to understand what you were talking about but all I got was you don’t like Beck. All the mud slinging is getting dull. I am ready for facts and sound debates to return to the political process.
Bosch
August 26th, 2010
4:18 pm
““I’m trying to imagine what the response would be among conservatives if, say, Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008 had tried to do something similar. Imagine if the campaign had organized an event at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the “I Have A Dream” speech, and then released a video comparing the Obama-led effort to the Founding Fathers, the Moon landing, the civil rights movement, and the invention of airplanes.”
Oh lord, four words
Go bat shyt crazy. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.
tim
August 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
He might be and I am not trying to get into a debate but if your going to say something like this about anyone at least back it up with a link or some examples. All the mud slinging makes me feel like I am back in grade school.
Dan H
August 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
It is laughable that Glenn Beck is taken seriously. Worse, that he is even mentioned in the same breath as MLK. If you compare their accomplishments, it’s a joke (see what I mean here http://bit.ly/bs5DPm). In truth all Beck is doing is promoting his celebrity and his books, thus building his wealth. And the Tea Partiers? They are willing dupes to help him, and they get nothing but the deserved ridicule and derision from having a frat boy and morning zoo DJ their intellectual and spiritual leader. here
landry
August 26th, 2010
4:22 pm
He’s trying to start a race-war and no one is taking the bait.
Palin fan
August 26th, 2010
4:23 pm
Glenn Beck’s brilliant mind and charismatic leadership are leading this country back to greatness and God and away from Obama’s socialism. He is an inspiration!
Granny Godzilla
August 26th, 2010
4:24 pm
Jon Stewart does a better Glenn Beck than Glenn Beck does
eddy
August 26th, 2010
4:24 pm
Boy, you and Cynthia are really tough sitting behind your computers. Why don’t both of you go debate Glenn Beck on any topic, any topic. PS—you can pick the topic. Now that would be fun to see. Live TV.
Scout
August 26th, 2010
4:25 pm
Are we showing a little jealousy here? Whistling in the dark?
Beck ain’t perfect but you’re correct in that he is gold compared to Obama’s fool’s gold.
Scout
August 26th, 2010
4:26 pm
eddy:
Just like “Che” Obama give so few press conferences. He don’t like to answer tough questions.
Rupert
August 26th, 2010
4:26 pm
Glenn Beck is my shoeshine boy.
Scout
August 26th, 2010
4:30 pm
The megalomaniac vs. the narcissist. Let the games begin !
By the way Jay, I could be wrong but I don’t remember you doing a thread on “Che” the narcissist.
Koch Brothers
August 26th, 2010
4:30 pm
We’ve done got all the tax cuts and de-regulation help that we can hope to get out of Newt. Perhaps we should buy that Beck fellow from dear Rupert and cut Newt loose.
landry
August 26th, 2010
4:30 pm
Beck is Satan’s mentally challenged younger brother….
joe matarotz
August 26th, 2010
4:30 pm
Jay Bookman: The gold standard of cut and paste.
getalife
August 26th, 2010
4:31 pm
He is American and has the right to hold a white power rally.
Should we force him to move his rally?
landry
August 26th, 2010
4:32 pm
Finally, a guy who says what people who aren’t thinking are thinking.
Scout
August 26th, 2010
4:35 pm
How come you libs. aren’t holding a rally ?
Granny Godzilla
August 26th, 2010
4:35 pm
landry
very well put
Jonathan
August 26th, 2010
4:35 pm
Bosch- would not have cared in the least bit. Obama and Beck have figured out how to make money and gain popularity way above their capabilites- folks should fade both of them. See Tim @ 4:17.
Hootinanny Yum Yum
August 26th, 2010
4:36 pm
Why I appreciate the current administration and Democratic leadership:
1. I have learned to appreciate store and generic brand grocery items.
2. You cannot believe the bargains you can find at Goodwill and local thrift stores.
3. I no longer have to fight Atlanta traffic (with unemployment at 10% traffic should be down anyhow).
4. For the first time in my life, I have tasted the sweet nectar of unemployment compensation.
5. I see how people can become addicted to government handouts.
6. I get to spend so much more time with my dogs.
7. I have time to work on sorely needed home improvement projects.
8. I’m ridding myself of clutter as I sell my “excess”s on Ebay, Craigslist and GunBroker.
9. I’ve discovered I like “housework” (this is just plain wrong).
10. I have far more time to waste on mindless blogging.
This is change I can believe in. This is true diversity.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 26th, 2010
4:36 pm
The gold standard of megalomania
Most any national politician or TV talking head would fit that description.
RAMBLE ON!!!
August 26th, 2010
4:36 pm
Aww, poor Jay’s jealously sure is showing today. Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck.
Don’t hate (I know it’s hard for a liberal) just because they sell a gizzilion more books than you?
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:39 pm
LOL…like Bill Clinton isn’t the gold standard of megalomania…
Alex
August 26th, 2010
4:39 pm
Yeah, just imagine IF Obama did something like that.
“This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.”
Also, Beck is, at best, an entertainer. Obama is President. I expect different standards.
I'm Here From The Government And I'm Here To Help
August 26th, 2010
4:40 pm
Jay is a Jealous man!
Beck would eat you up and spit you out 24/7/365!
Why don’t you invite yourself on his show? Scared?
Granny Godzilla
August 26th, 2010
4:40 pm
From Politico
Influential conservative blogger Erick Erickson said Beck won’t be able to answer what Erickson has called lingering questions about “whether he’s doing it for himself or doing it for the movement,” even with a successful event this weekend.
“People are going to want to see what comes out of this weekend long term — is it a flash in the pan or is it something longer term?” said Erickson. “Part of the problem is that he didn’t hold onto the 9.12 stuff and it’s kind of descended into competing factions and chaos. He is going to have to be careful, I think, to make sure that he perpetuates this in some way or it’s going to start becoming a punch line.”
Meanwhile, at least one tea party group rejected Beck’s entreaties to assist with the march, concluding he was offering little in return for its organizational know-how and credibility, while giving preferential treatment to FreedomWorks, which is paying to sponsor Beck’s radio show. The group’s leader, who requested anonymity to avoid antagonizing Beck, said, “All he’s doing is trying to use us to promote himself.”
Still other tea partiers have grumbled that Beck’s rally is a spotlight-grabbing provocation that’s detracting from a previously planned tea party rally on Sept. 12 and threatening to set back a movement that has struggled to maintain a leaderless structure and a fiscal focus, while fending off liberal charges of racism.
Don’t freak, they’re TPINO’s, right?
Scout
August 26th, 2010
4:41 pm
Glenn Beck is the Paul Revere of modern America !
I'm Here From The Government And I'm Here To Help
August 26th, 2010
4:41 pm
Granny Godzilla aka ctucker,
The BEACH,. the BEACH! You’re hubby must be one boring SOB!
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:43 pm
SAT QUESTION
Glen Beck is to Jay Bookman as:
A) Harry Callahan is to Barney Fife
B) Peyton Manning is to Michael Vick
C) George Will is to Cynthia Tucker
D) All of the above
Scout
August 26th, 2010
4:43 pm
…………. and you know who that makes Obama. I’ll give you a hint. B.A.
larry
August 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
Glenn Beck is the Paul Revere of modern America
RLMAO !!!!!!!
landry
August 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
”I want a chastity belt on this man. I want his every move watched in Washington. I don’t trust this guy…This one could end with a dead intern. I’m just saying, it could end with a dead intern!”
—Glenn Beck, on Sen. Scott Brown saying his daughters are ”available” during his election victory speech
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
Bookman, do you ever get tired of me owning you on your blog?
I'm Here From The Government And I'm Here To Help
August 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:43 pm
“D” Did I pass, did I pass?
The American People
August 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
Down with Dems in 2K10
Granny Godzilla
August 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
landry
Scott Brown is a TPINO too.
Add John McCain to that list as well.
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
“I’m Here…”…your SAT scores are no doubt 500 points or more higher than tha govermnment dependants on this blog, AKA Bosch, Granny Godzilla, landry. etc…
I'm Here From The Government And I'm Here To Help
August 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
Jay Jay, do you ever have a blog worth a shyt? Or is your kook-aid full of it?
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Anybody seen Kamchak? Hope my two little questions didn’t scare him off the blog forever…
Scout
August 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
larry:
Where’s Curly and Moe ?
Jonathan
August 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Harry- like the Barney Fife selection- Thelma Lou was a cutie in the day- she would have a Maxim cover girl I suppose.
G.W. Bush
August 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Obama got away with a bow. Darn it. That Saudi Prince insisted on more, so much more, from me.
I'm Here From The Government And I'm Here To Help
August 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Granny Godzilla aka ctucker,
Your hubby is drunk at the bar. Please come pick him up!
Jonathan
August 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
Granny- should I cut and paste 8 paragrahs from the Economists? Why does a cut and paste blog need more cut and paste?
Scout
August 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
Harry Callahan :
He said on the previous thread that “he/she” had been grocery shopping.
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
Grocery shopping? Wonder if he was the guy in line ahead of me paying with food stamps…
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:51 pm
Seems like I did here him call the clerk “sport”…
Harry Callahan
August 26th, 2010
4:51 pm
“Hear him”, my bad…