Glenn Beck Reborn?
For a reactionary, often ranting, talk-radio personality, Glenn Beck is unusually genial. I’m not talking about his off-air personality–even the vicious Michael Savage can come off as avuncular away from the microphone.
But whereas Rush Limbaugh’s or Bill O’Reilly’s on-air delivery is bombastic, or Sean Hannity affects a tone of haughty righteousness, Beck is strangely affable–even when he’s saying vile things about immigrants or Hillary Clinton.
I think it has to do with the extent to which he tends to air his own faults–his prior substance abuse, his divorce. Shtick is shtick, but his self-deprecation has a whiff of authenticity.
Now, here he is in a new YouTube video, really letting it all hang out as he recovers from an apparently botched operation that, apparently, nearly killed him. Unshaven and lying down with the camera tight on his face, he talks vaguely about his eye-opening run-in with American health care. He talks about the learning the meaning of compassion (though he doesn’t say what it is) and appears close to tears as he recounts how his wife’s love "saved his soul" when he was "full-fledged suicidal" from pain medication.
So can we expect a new Glenn Beck when he returns to radio and his Headline News show on Monday? When I profiled Beck last year, his boss at Premiere Radio Networks, Kraig Kitchin, noted that Beck–who’s been sober since 1995 and converted to Mormonism–"very openly talks about how this is his second try in life." Is he about to begin a third?
Don Riley commented:
US ENERGY
There are rising US Energy costs. Why?
a. No new oil refineries built in 30 years?
b. Tax supported renewables (solar, wind, ethanol, etc.), in 30 years of support produce a small percentage of US total energy needs and real future prospects are low?
c. No new oil drilling has been allowed in the US or offshore?
d. No new nuclear plants have been built in the last 30 years? No use has been made of our 700 years of total US energy needs fuel (depleted Uranium Hexafloride, DUF6, the relatively non-radioactive waste from our WW-II
enrichment process). The US is the only country in the world with this amount of available and processed energy producing fuel. US developed technology for this fuel use has been shown to be safe, proliferation resistant and economical. The US appears to be trying to dispose of this 700 year total US future energy fuel supply.
Yes action in most of these areas will not immediately impact the supply and costs of energy, but in another 30 years, if we don't start thinking ahead and consider our real energy needs and implementing known real energy solutions, the US will become a weak third world country.
So let's start thinking ahead America! Washington?
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chuck commented:
lol beck goes in for a roid and ends up crying like a little bitch.
Karma at work here
Peggy commented:
God bless you, Glenn! I have walked in your shoes - had a horrible reaction to medication after surgery when I was 5 years sober - I am 30 years sober now. Thank God and the fellowship that supported me then and now. One day at a time .......
greg commented:
He says vile things about criminal illegal aliens, true vile things. They are not guest workers, political trespassers, or displaced persons from wars or natural disasters. They are criminal trespassers!!!
BCastaneda commented:
What surgery exactly did he have done?
Scott commented:
Vile Michael Savage? You are the vile little mind, Joel. Both Savage and Beck have very clear and reasoned logic on illegal interlopers: WE DON'T WANT ANYONE HERE ILLEGALLY stealing our tax dollar paid citizenship rights. They are not immigrants because they have not immigrated; they are trespassing thieves. If they want to work here, apply for citizenship and start paying taxes.
WJ commented:
Thank you Stewart!!!!
Recovered Onetime Liberal commented:
"....even when he's saying vile things about immigrants..." Vile, so you think telling the truth about criminals is vile? You would have better luck at finding vile in your bathroom mirror.
Moron commented:
Glenn Beck has NEVER said vile things about immigrants. You, sir, are a moron and you are part of the problem in America.
craig commented:
Hillary is vile
questioning? commented:
My guess is he is planning a malpractice suit. Republicans have been disparaging of lawsuits as evil nuisances. So Glenn must explain how much he suffered from this "botched" surgery. I hope he had the surgery in Texas, where pain and suffering awards are limited, thanks to Glenn's hero George Bush.
b trog commented:
ratings ploy.
Mudhen Chris commented:
Not to be offensive but your piece clarifies nothing and adds nothing to what is obvious on Mr. Beck's own widely circulated clip. I’m guessing you were paid for your effort although it is hard to imagine why.
This especially tiresome (effort?) gives you away at the outset. You can always count on people with limited insight to inflate the intellectual value of their piece with a thesaurus.
You are like a girl stuffing Kleenex into her brazier: Over your head and bound to disappoint.
Billy commented:
Yeah like californians? The dude hates Californians.. maybe after his run in with the American Healthcare system, he will change his views on the subject.
??? commented:
. . . yes, the vile crime of trying to have a better life.
Fleming commented:
So Glenn is going the Britney route. This self-indulgent display is just like Brit's head shaving or attacking a car.
Terry commented:
When did the truth become vile?
John Smythe commented:
Joel, Joel, Joel,
I think they may have cut your hair a little too short, and nicked your brain.
I don't watch Glenn Beck that often, but I have seen what he says about ILLEGAL ALIENS, i.e. criminal non-residents of this country, not immigrants. There is a difference.
Hugh Jardohn commented:
Exactly Stewart, the author here gratuitously throws in the descriptor "vile" but provides no examples. I've never heard Beck speak in anything other than reverence for immigrants. I suspect as you do that the author is somehow trying to say that Beck says "vile" things about illegal aliens. Even though he does speak to this problem, it's never been "vile".
jenny commented:
That video was really vague. What did he have done that almost killed him?
Chris commented:
vile things about immigrants.
Get a grip on yourself, Joel.
harkin commented:
The 'vile things about immigrants' line shows that Topcik has either never listened to GB or that he's being disingenuous. Either way, he has no business posting such amateurish BS.
Shame!
glc commented:
Hey, Glenn Beck's a GREAT guy! I watched this YouTube video and Glenn comes off very real and genuine. He's authentic. And what I love about him, is that he tells the truth. Even though pain, he tells the truth. God bless Glenn Beck. I'm rooting for you big guy!
glc
American commented:
May God Bless Glenn Beck and his family through this clearly difficult ordeal.
Bob commented:
The article says far more about Joel Topcik than it does about Glenn Beck. "Reactionary" is not Glenn's style, but Joel's when it comes to anyone to the right of Michael Moore...
Stewart commented:
"....even when he's saying vile things about immigrants..." ???? First of all, Glenn loves immigrants. Did you mean to type, 'illegal aliens'? If you were referring to his stance on persons who are here illegally, like most Americans, he IS against it. However, Glenn only says "vile" things about the one committing vile crimes.