Bill Bennett to Glenn Beck: There's a Difference Between Drunk & Sober And There's a Difference Between Dems & the GOP
Posted by Jim Hoft on Sunday, February 21, 2010, 10:21 PM
Not everyone was impressed with Glenn Beck’s CPAC speech last night.
Bill Bennett hammered Glenn Beck for not being factual or fair with his facts. Glenn Beck spent a considerable amount of time scolding the GOP during his talk last night.
The Corner: reported
For him to continue to say that he does not hear the Republican party admit its failings or problems is to ignore some of the loudest and brightest lights in the party. From Jim DeMint to Tom Coburn to Mike Pence to Paul Ryan, any number of Republicans have admitted the excesses of the party and done constructive and serious work to correct them and find and promote solutions. Even John McCain has said again and again that “the Republican party lost its way.” These leaders, and many others, have been offering real proposals, not ill-informed muttering diatribes that can’t distinguish between conservative and liberal, free enterprise and controlled markets, or night and day. Does Glenn truly believe there is no difference between a Tom Coburn, for example, and a Harry Reid or a Charles Schumer or a Barbara Boxer? Between a Paul Ryan or Michele Bachmann and a Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frank?
Third, to admit it is still “morning in America” but a “vomiting for four hours” kind of morning is to diminish, discourage, and disparage all the work of the conservative, Republican, and independent resistance of the past year. The Tea Partiers know better than this. I don’t think they would describe their rallies and resistance as a bilious purging but, rather, as a very positive democratic reaction aimed at correcting the wrongs of the current political leadership. The mainstream media may describe their reactions as an unhealthy expurgation. I do not.
A year ago, we were told the Republican party and the conservative movement were moribund. Today they are ascendant, and it is the left and the Democratic party that are on defense — even while they are in control. That’s quite an amazing achievement. But anyone who knows the history of this country and its political movements should not be surprised. America has a long tradition of antibodies that kick in. From Carter we got Reagan. And from Ted Kennedy and Barack Obama we took back a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, with midterm elections on the horizon that Republicans and conservatives are actually excited about, not afraid of.
To say the GOP and the Democrats are no different, to say the GOP needs to hit a recovery-program-type bottom and hang its head in remorse, is to delay our own country’s recovery from the problems the Democratic left is inflicting. The stakes are too important to go through that kind of exercise, which will ultimately go nowhere anyway — because it’s already happened.
The first task of a serious political analyst is to see things as they are. There is a difference between morning and night. There is a difference between drunk and sober. And there is a difference between the Republican and Democratic parties. To ignore these differences, or propagate the myth that they don’t exist, is not only discouraging, it is dangerous.
Reader Boy Moto added:
At least Mr. Bennett is willing to admit there is a problem. Some are not being fair or honest with the facts – which for conservatives is irresponsible. Either they simply don’t care, or they are not wise enough to grasp them. Regardless, the presented fantasy creates a baseless popular fashion, which will lead many astray, just as it has in the past and in the Democratic Partisan arena. Perhaps for myself, it is nice to know I am not alone, or should I say, not everyone is blowing with fashionable winds. My question remains, if the Parties were the same Mr. Beck, why are the Democrats upset with the election of Christie, Brown, McDonnell?
More… American Thinker has more on CPAC’s odd ending.
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Horrible… Obama Tells Foolish Supporters: I’m Not Over-Spending… “I’m Running to Pay Down Our Debt”
Published May 23, 2012 at 11:51 pm - 69 Comments
Dana White commented:
Beck has a point. How did we get where we are and have a crackpot like Obama as the President? It was 8 years of George Bush. During this time the Republicans were like pigs at the trough, busting the budget and sucking up all the pork they could get.
Ladue Pundit commented:
We got to “where we are” with an uninformed electorate. To make things worse, the Republicans ran an old moderate who agreed with Obama on closing Gitmo, pushing Cap & Trade, and pushing illegal alien amnesty. Heck, McCain told us himself that we had nothing to fear from an Obama presidency.
If the voters were really upset with Republicans’ spending, why would they elect someone who voted 94 times to raise taxes, promised to put coal companies out of business, and deliver on single payer health care?
Voters are finally realizing that we are broke, and the best chance of getting out of this mess is electing fiscal conservatives–which no Democrat ever is.
Ladue Pundit commented:
sorry about the double post…and why is Beck hitching his wagon to Bill O”Reilly?
Jim commented:
If there is no difference between the parties, why in the hell did the GOP get it’s butt royally kicked up and down the electoral map the past 2 election cycles?
The GOP has been consistently left of center on spending and government expansion since Teddy Rosevelt, with the exception of the Reagan years.
Did the role of the federal government in education expand or contract during the Bush years? It expanded.
Did the national debt expand or contract during the Bush years? It expanded.
Did Medicare expand or contract during the Bush years? It expanded with part D
Are the Republicans as bad as Democrats, HELL NO. Are they consistently left of center in a center right nation? YES!
These guys get into power and buy votes just like the Democrats. When the media bashes them they fold, they compromise, and become the very thing we threw out of office.
To a conservative, the war on terror was necessary to protect the civil society. To George Bush it was a great service provided by the Republican edition of Big Goverment.
If the GOP retakes congress and the WH by 2012 and governs the way it did under Bush there will be a third party and the GOP will become a small minority in electoral politics.
Jim commented:
The GOP probably has one more opportunity to get it right, they screw it up this time they are toast. I won’t bother voting for them again.
Give me the party of Reagan or I’ll take third party.
And these GOP cry babies throwing a fit about tea partiers is annoying. Move right you idiots and the problem will go away!
Peter Warner commented:
Glenn Beck’s speech at the CPAC was riveting and instructive. If you haven’t watched the full hour of it, please take the time to do so. The videos online that I’ve seen have him actually beginning at the six minute mark.
I believe his point stands- a man can’t solve his problems until he admits that he HAS a problem. Further, he has no credibility until he does that. Of course there are worthy Republicans, that’s not an issue. The problem is that the party as a whole is awash in fiscal spendaholics, and their irresponsible conduct of either promoting or colluding with nanny state spending has destroyed the brand.
‘Hello. I’m Joe Republican, and I’ve got a spending problem.’ That’s (part of) what we need to hear from Washington.
Republicans should stand for responsibility, and that includes fiscal and personal responsibility. Freedom includes freedom to fail, and we need to value that as part of the path to competitive success.
Finally, when faced with a valid and important point, a virtuous and honest response is to recognize the truth expressed. I’m suspicious of those who’s first response is to attempt to deny it.
Best regards, Peter Warner.
Craig Bardo commented:
Beck is a little full of himself. Bennett is right, except for his allusion to McCain, who has been a huge part of the problem. Santorum was forthright in his apology for supporting Specter over Toomey.
Republicans have been wrong to support Too Big To Fail, TARP, Part D, etc., but they stood when they had to in an extreme minority regarding the “stimulus,” auto bailouts, budgets & healthcare.
What end does his Perot-like criticism serve? He is dangerously close to appearing self-serving.
Koblog commented:
One month before the Republicans lost Congress (October 7, 2006) Daily Pundit published a list why the Republicans would lose big.
I believe Glenn Beck is referencing this list when he points out how compromised the Republicans had become and wonders with good reason if they will actually hold to limited government principles if they are re-elected:
http://dailypundit.com/?p=10131
It’s become more and more obvious that Republican apologists are going to be able to get away with blaming the upcoming “stunning” defeat on the Foley “scandal,” rather than the fact that large chunks of its base and other normally dependable voters are going to stay home in disgust over the several years of:
Wild-eyed pork, earmarks, and increasing government size and power.
intentions to put Gonzales and Miers on the Supreme Court.
Failure to engage the strongest enemies of the US, in particular Iran.
Horrible mismanagement of the Iraq occupation.
Passing and signing the Campaign Finance Reform act.
The new trillion dollar entitlement program for Prescription Drugs.
The gigantic Katrina rathole.
The education bill.
Reneging on structural party promises about smaller, less intrusive government.
Accomodation of Kofi Annan and the biggest financial scandal in history.
An absolute failure to grapple with illegal immigration and open borders, with only the policy of amnesty and and increase of tens of millions of “legal” immigrants over the next two decades offered as a “solution.”
Unarmed airline pilots.
Agreeing to sign the Assault Weapons Bill.
Needlessly intrusive “security” at airports.
A refusal to sensibly profile for terrorists.
The Ports Dubai fiasco in which critical parts of American ports are still owned by a foreign Islamic nation.
Making a general botch of our and Israel’s efforts in the middle east.
A policy that will permit the world’s most dangerous nations to threaten us with the world’s most dangerous weapons.
Far too close and suspicious relationship between the families of our President and the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, which has led to dangerous security breaches like permitting the huge Saudi private “charity’ network to continue to function in the US and fund Wahabbi mosques and schools where hatred of America forms the heart of the curriculum, and allowed free passage of 15,000 Saudi “students” into our colleges and universities.
A general and comprehensive betrayal of just about every fundamental precept espoused by the Republican Party over the past fifty years.
Islam, the Religion of Peace ™.
No, of course, none of that has anything with my decision to refuse to vote for any Republicans this fall. It must that terrible Foley scandal.
Sure. And for that, if nothing else, I despise this Democrat organized and planned “October Surprise.” Because it will give the Republicans yet another excuse to avoid blaming their own egregious failures (among which I most emphatically do not include Congressman Foley) for their upcoming loss of both the House and the Senate.
I bookmarked the “List” because I somehow knew there would come a time when I would have to remember.
It seems Bill Bennett is very forgetful. Yes, Bill, there is supposed to be a difference between the parties, but with John McCain — our friggin’ future Presidential candidate for Pete’s sake! — actually authoring a law that limits political speech, and Republican President George W. Bush actually signing this travesty, plus massive government programs ballooning the deficit and no vetoes at all, tell me exactly how that Republican party of just four years ago was different from the current Democrat party.
More importantly, will the new Republican party of 2010 be a party of Bill Bennett insiders sipping martinis at fashionable Georgetown parties or will they be a party our Founders would be proud of?
Floyd Looney commented:
Peter, the video I saw started with his introduction. It came from UStream and its all one file.
Beck is right on the money.
Just_Saying commented:
I thought Glenn Beck’s speech at CPAC was terrific…
.
Jo commented:
I’m very pleased with most republicans in the House and Congress. They have debated and held ground against these hardline socialists.
Term paper commented:
Many institutions limit access to their online information. Making this information available will be an asset to all.
Aine commented:
If the Republican Party weren’t spending like drunken sailors, right along with the Democrats, Beck would have no material with which to work.
He was right when he pointed out that one party likes to tax and spend; the other likes to cut taxes and spend.
Many of us here in the taxpayer hinterlands found Beck’s video instructive and inspiring. Adults know we cannot correct a problem so long as we continue to defend it rather than admit it.
retire05 commented:
GP is my favorite blog. My morning routine, turn on computer, get coffee, log on to GP, read, log on to Drudge.
But what is with all this basing of Glen Beck, Jim? Have you forgotten that the Democrats kicked our butts in 2006 and 2008 BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS BECAME DEMOCRAT LITE?
Yeah, last year there was talk the GOP was a dead party, by the left. But most of us who know the truth, knew it was not. But it seems Mr. Bennett want to mention only those Republicans that have come into their own in the last year. Has he forgotten the Shamesty Bill, TARP and every other damn spendaholic plan the GOP signed on to? Has he forgotten who was the face of the GOP in 2008, John McCain, a progressive Republican in the mold of Teddy Roosevelt?
And have you forgotten who Beck was speaking to? Conservatives. Not the GOP. And if anyone should know they are not always one and the same, Jim, you should know it.
Sometimes you have to spur a horse on to get it to move. If Glen Beck can force the GOP to go back to its conservative roots, good for him. And shame on you for seemingly resenting how he does it. Are you a conservative or a GOP party hack?
And BoyMoto, how is the Republican party any different when they were in power when it comes to spending taxpayer money than the Democrats are now? Or have you forgotten that part?
bg commented:
++
OT..
What’s scarier than terrorists? Lawyers
[The problem is the increasing threat that metastasizing political correctness presents to air-passengers. A possible answer involves
the only group more widely dreaded than terrorists: lawyers.
[..]
Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, former editor of the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, famously said “not all Muslims are terrorists but, regrettably, the majority of the terrorists in the world are Muslims.” The British Home Office reveals 91 per cent of those jailed or remanded on terror offences, are Muslim.
[..]
“Our greatest liability is … the politically correct climate in America
today which is negligently blind to the threat of political Islam,”]
i know why Obama’s not talking, but why aren’t
any of them talking about the threat we face??
==
Jim commented:
Retire05, you misinterpreted my remarks. I thought Beck was right on the money.
I am advocating that the GOP lost big in 2006 and 2008 because they had started acting like Democrats.
Conservative Girl commented:
I was at the speech; that comment basically was directed at McCain. Bennett is leaving out what came before and after that comment.
It was an amazing speech, and mostly true. Party doesn’t matter, but principle does. The republicans in many respects lost their way and became a BIG part of the problem. We need to be fiscally responsible in our private lives and it is not too much to ask that the government do the same.
I did my write up on the speech
http://912member.blogspot.com
J. F. Wind commented:
Beck like all Gret libertarians is a fool and a coward. Libertarians’ belief in inherent individual inteligent choices of all people means no need for collective government of any sort ( hence a fool). American Libertarians are particularly odious because they love to stand around and complain aboout the U.S., but yet they dare not go to the places on the planet where Libertarian rules are practiced (they would not live 30 days). He can see no difference between the 2 parties because any government that does not personally ask his permission to pave the street in front of city hall is automatically corrupt.
Insufficiently Sensitive commented:
“From Jim DeMint to Tom Coburn to Mike Pence to Paul Ryan, any number of Republicans have admitted the excesses of the party and done constructive and serious work to correct them and find and promote solutions.”
I can appreciate that these blokes made the admissions and suggested the solutions. But they never reached me. Now, I must assume that the MSM is devoted to omitting such proposals from its political theater for the American public, so where else would I learn of them?
My connection with the Republican Party is mostly through Michael Steele’s blog, and through their fund-raising missives. And those channels have unanimously pissed away a whole year, sniveling that ‘we’re not the horrible Democrats imposing Obama-socialism, SEND MONEY!’ No concrete goals, no concrete principles for governing if they (we?) get lucky. Why should I believe that they wouldn’t just resume their ‘rightful’ position at the trough, shoveling earmarks back to the homies and acting as bad as they did in 2006? They’re certainly not, in their literature, proposing or promising anything different.
I’ve written them a series of letters on this subject. They go into a void – the Party is stuck on ‘transmit’, and the receiver is broken.
j commented:
I don’t understand what any conservatives stand for, the gop, or beck. Can someone please explain this to me (not sarcasm, I seriously want to know).
If the conservatives are for cutting spending drastically, where are they willing to cut? They won’t touch the military as far as I can tell, the commenters at this site went crazy when the democrats wanted to cut medicare by hundreds of billions, social security privatization hasn’t worked anywhere else (point me please to an example if I’m wrong), and pork spending is just a drop in the bucket of the budget.
Where is the spending going to be cut? Thank you.
Old One commented:
This fifth generation Republican voter will vote for the GOP as the only hope to counter the obumunists. After Obozo is gone I am going to a third party. The Republicans have spoiled their brand and are firmly in denial . Denial ain’t a riverand I can & will vote against them as I am sure million of others will do as well. The RINOS have doomed the party to death in the near future and since I know the GOP will screw the pooch again its to___ with them.
Jim commented:
Roll the federal budget back to pre-pelosi levels, make necessary adjustments to balance………and then grow the damn economy so there is a surplus and pay down the debt.
And get rid of every damn rule forcing businesses to go overseas to make widgets.
Old One commented:
J
Social security privatization has worked marvelously well in Chile and those Chileans who chose to remain in the government system are very much regretting it!.
Opus #6 commented:
We need to vote for the most conservative, Constitutional Republican candidates we can find.
Get involved in your local primaries. Don’t leave this up to chance. All politics are local.
Hammatype commented:
I’m full on board with Glenn. The Republicans can go to hell along with the Democrats. Look what happened in NY 23. That no good SOB Newt and the old Republicans tried to put in Scuzzyfatso just because she was Republican. Conservativism is the future and Republicans just want the power back. If you’re not conservative then get the hell out of the way. Beck has energized conservatism-Republicans have not.
j commented:
“Roll the federal budget back to pre-pelosi levels, make necessary adjustments to balance………and then grow the damn economy so there is a surplus and pay down the debt.”
Weren’t we still on a spending crash course pre-pelosi levels (I’m assuming you mean when she became speaker)? Also, I thought everybody agreed we can’t just grow ourselves out of this. Do you disagree?
“And get rid of every damn rule forcing businesses to go overseas to make widgets.”
Which rules? Please link me to a list that need to be cut (I will read it).
“Social security privatization has worked marvelously well in Chile and those Chileans who chose to remain in the government system are very much regretting it!.”
I was reading a little about Chile the other day and I read that they were done with that because the financial maintenance fees were eating into everyone’s savings. I read even the fiercest proponents admitted they were better off without it.
Ozark Lee commented:
[quote]We need to vote for the most conservative, Constitutional Republican candidates we can find.
Get involved in your local primaries. Don’t leave this up to chance. All politics are local. /[quote]
So what do we do about Blunt?
He is better than Carnahan but not by much.
While I own property (and a lot of it) in Missouri I cannot vote there. He seems the least evil of two lessors but I can’t get excited about him and he will be receiving no money from me – Scott Brown did receive money from me and other true conservatives, nationwide, will receive contributions from me as well. Scott Brown may disappoint us at the end of the day but he was the 41st vote – or at least he told us so.
My biggest problem will be holding my nose and walking into the voting booth and voting for Sam Brownback as governor.
…Lee
jim commented:
Be careful about complimenting Tom Coburn. You might make Ohio RINO George Voinovich weep copious tears like he did over John Bolton.
FU*K OBAMA commented:
After reading the GP trashing of Beck, I went and watched his speach at CPAC. Beck is spot on right.
Jim I am disapointed in your position here at GP. I think you should look into the real problems that Bennett, Sr. and Jr. Bush, Mc Cain, Graham, Snowe, Collins, Emerson and other RINO’s have caused. Vote them out, all of them.
KOBLOG you make a very valid point, but critism without action is just complaining. I urge you to support those CONSERVATIVES where ever they are with a donation, any donation. Barry got elected because of small donations, (although the majority of his small donations were from mid east muslims, but that is another story) small donations make the political partys quake as they are now doing with the rise of conservatism.
As Beck, Rush, Ingraham, Regan and others say, look at the actions not the words because words are cheap and actions will tell you where the heart is. Socialist light is not what I want as a government, I will do everything I can to defeat the RINO’s and commies in the democrap party and that includes the Bill Bennett’s of the GOP.
RINO’s have brought us to this place by their willingness to walk across the isle to slow down the socialism if America, not stop it.
Beck is right, the republican party needs to rehabilitate itself and admit it’s problems and clarify their soul. I for one, will never give another red cent to the GOP. I will only support conservative candidates and will support them directly as I have with Hoffman, Hayworth, Rubio and DeMint, yes they are republicans, but republicans with a spine.
Beck was right about the cancer being progressives. They care less about the constitution and will bring about a police state just to hold onto power, just watch Barry as his agenda is being derailed and who he blames for the train wreck.
The only thing about Beck is his unwillingness to explore the birth certificate issue. Barry was born in Kenya and Beck should stop with the accusations and begin anew with questions to find the truth to this issue.
Ed Wallis commented:
The is an author today over at American Thinker who echoes Bennett’s case.
I disagree with both.
UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT the “alternative, loud voices”
(Bachmann, DeMint, Coburn, Pence, Ryan, etc.)
ARE >>>THE VOICE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY<<< -
and NOT those of Steele, McCain, Gingrich -
there is PLENTY of which to criticize the GOP.
Larry Sheldon commented:
If the Republicans have admitted tht we have a problem, why do we have Michael Steele?
Why did we have John McCain?
Why is (was) Sarah Palin treated so badly?
How did we get Scuzzafavaand the others like her?
Flavia commented:
That speech was fantastic, and if the republicans don’t want to listen, then they deserve what they get.
DINORight commented:
Glen Beck’s point was that too many Republicans don’t agree with conservatives – think of the Maine ladies, Lindsey Graham, just to name a few.
The American people have lost trust in the Republican Party. Beck tells them how to get it back.
Yes, the party seems to roaring back to life, but will the Republicans embrace Conservatives and the message of the Tea Partiers? So far, they are doing a great job of holding their ears and saying, “La la la la!! I can’t hear you!” instead of taking the message and embracing it.
This week’s “summit” with The One will tell whether the Republicans are getting a clue.
ar05075 commented:
Well, I guess sometimes the TRUTH is just too big a pill to swallow. It seems obvious the GOP is’nt ready to admit they have a problem. That’s a shame’
God Bless you Glenn Beck.
Andreas K. commented:
When I, as a non-American, look into Congress and the Senate, I see Reps who’re… well… Let me be honest. I think too many Republican leaders have gone away from the party’s ideals and also from the party’s basis. They don’t think of the people anymore, only about themselves.
Which is a trend you can observe in pretty much every parliament (especially in Germany, where the CDU/CSU, the Christian-Democratic party, is turning more and more left wing.)
shrek commented:
What put obama in the office in the first place?
All of the above.
I’m with Bill Bennet.
squeaky commented:
alinsky believed in the infiltration of everything – including politics.
http://www.catholiccitizens.org/platform/platformview.asp?c=45262
Michael commented:
I didn’t see Beck’s speech but I have to think Bennett is being overly sensitive here. If the establishment political types want to remain in denial that there is something more important than the GOP and the Dems, than they really are proving themselves to be diseased. It’s about placing the country and the constitution above arguments of left & right, GOP vs. Dem, Tea Party vs. Progressivism, etc. There are indeed conservative Republicans in government, but Bennett has to know that party leadership and McCain are accomplices to what Obama and the Dems have done over the past three years. Spend yourself silly, impose TARP, bail out failed CEOs, propose amnesty for illegal aliens, and the list goes on. THAT is why Beck says there is no difference in the parties.
shrek commented:
Michael
February 22nd, 2010 | 6:57 am | #39
“I didn’t see Beck’s speech but I have to think Bennett is being overly sensitive here……………
THAT is why Beck says there is no difference in the parties. ”
I rest my case.
Kitty commented:
Beck is right; it’s not about Dems and Repubs, it’s about PROGRESSIVES. And both parties are infected with ‘em.
…
shrek commented:
As true today as the day he said it:
Ronald Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”
avery commented:
Who pushing cap and trade “Lindsey Graham” our oil supplies are about to be cut back.Because of Iran.We need to increase our drilling,build Refinery our coal resever is massive nature Gas are also.Qpen up all of these where ever they are.Omaba got ever thing off limet so the energy price will go sky high so he can sell his electri car.Govement should never got in the car business,sell it .Quite pushing Green jobs ,it killing jobs ,Jeff Immelt is behind this at G.E.Need to break up the S.E.I.U. that the taxs payer have to support.
Auntie Em commented:
Don’t be so GOP-loyal that you are not American-good. As a registered Republican, I can honestly say we’ve been usurped by the agnostic progressives.
We know who these people are, and they are fired. No second chances. We need a new crop, that is focused on the well-being of America and its citizens and not their own back pockets.
Michael commented:
Shrek, yes, please rest your case. Your blind allegiance to a political party shows why the power brokers have been able to usurpt free speech and restrict our liberty. As long as the wall street fat cats and the ACORN groups of the country can find politicians of both parties to slime their agendas through, then you’ll just find yourself moving further and further to the far left of the political spectrum. Beck was speaking to a crowd of conservatives. It’s okay to speak honestly and openly to “family” and name names to hold the black sheep accountable.
noislamocommie commented:
Nobody’s saying a word on immigration….language, culture,borders. I’m afraid even Sara’s going to speak about the “path”. This is the big one as it also entails very important issues on Islamic infiltration.McCain does fine on spending…he just gets all mixed up on immigration and free speech issues. Bush was a leftist patrician.
Peter Warner commented:
About one week ago, Glenn Beck had two of the candidates for California senator as separate guests on his show. They both had impressive testimonies of how they would bring American government back to a fiscally responsible track.
Among the questions he asked them, one of them was the same: How will you keep your (presently avowed) principles if you get elected to Washington? The answers were revealing.
The first said she would keep touch with the people who helped her establish her values and vision, to avoid losing perspective. That sounded nice, until I watched the second guest.
He pulled out a small bound copy of the Constitution he carried in his breastpocket and simply said ‘keep reading this’. I was won over in that instant.
Let us find revival, and look for direction, from the past. The Founding Fathers knew what was needed, and what was to be avoided. Our American principles are all contained and explained in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. If we put our principles first, and hold them with faith and steadfastness, America can be returned to greatness.
May G-d guide and bless America.
Best regards, Peter Warner.
PS:; Floyd, thank you for that. The video I watched was on HotAir.
shrek commented:
Michael
How is my “blind allegiance” any different than yours?
You defend Beck, I defend conservative Republicans.
Had enough people done so, McCain would have never been the candidate and we just possibly wouldn’t have obama residing at 1800 Pennsylvania.
I’m just saying that seven months before midterm elections that might unseat some of the very people we all want out of office is no time to air dirty laundry.
If you think Glen Beck is for anyone but Glen Beck and can lead us back into control of the Congress and Senate by all means hang on to his every word. But don’t expect everyone else to.
USMC commented:
Who was the last time the GOP ran a truly conservative candidate? Anybody?
It’s a man many of you GOPers beat your chest about. Reagan.
Why is that? By the way Micth McConnell who runs the NSRCC is pushing Charlie Crist and ignoring Rubio. So should we back Crist? I mean the GOP is ignoring Rubio right?
In ’08 the GOP ignored Allen West and now they’re giving him some attention but not enough. Why?
Beck, who some of you don’t understand for some ungodly reason had Chuck DeVore and praised him. The same show he had Carly Fiorina and he wasn’t impressed. Guess who the GOP is backing? Fiorina!!! Yay!! (sarcasm).
Didn’t Beck expose Medina from Texas for her truther crap?
Beck adores Bachmann. He talks highly of DeMint. Beck like Rush don’t endorse candidates yet they do drop some heavy hints.
I’ll bet some of you GOPers backed Romney! Yet you same folks hate ObamaCare, as you should, but you back Romney who to this day is proud of his government plan mandating health care.
This country is on the verge of catastrophe and some of you just don’t freakin’ get it.
Unbelievable.
rider commented:
Bennet is an ENTRENCHED R
and Beck has hitched his star to O’Reilly–whom can we trust!!!???!!!
Warren Bonesteel commented:
So…conservatives are no longer mad at their party over 2994 and 2006?
Illegal immigration, border protection? Smaller government and reduced spending?
I see that the RNC is now running a PR campaign, making promises ala an alcoholic spouse, “I really, really love you! Trust me, it’ll never happen again! …and you know that you’re nothing without me.”
Hatch, Rubio, Palin, Gingrich and more, all claiming that if TEA Partiers don’t join the RNC that we’re all doomed! Doomed, I tell you!
Michael commented:
Shrek, your concession that there is dirty laundry is common ground for us. When you have no end to campaigning in these times, when is there ever a good time to air it? If we sit back and remain silent, we become part of the problem, don’t we? The mood of the country is to sweep out everyone and start with fresh faces. A few decently conservative folks might get swept out in the process, but it is up to us voters to educate ourselves and support our favorite from the lowest level of government and in every campaign.
The zeitgeist now is to put power back in the hands of the citizens. A voter revolt is taking place and it’s no time to embrace any so-called leader or any entrenched political party.
ar05075 commented:
I have tried several times without success to find the word Republican in C-P-A-C. I have however found many instances of ‘progressivism’ in the RNC. Hmmmm.
LilMissSunshine commented:
Bennett and American Thinker blog are both totally out of touch with the thinking of the American People. Right now America has two choices – Radical Left and Marginal Left. Conservatives really have no place to go – that’s my opinion anyway.
McCain and Bennett are two peas in the same pod, both corrupted by their own perceived importance. I think both would make great moderate Democrats, and both make horrible Republicans. As for Ron Paul… In my opinion he’s mentally ill, needing intervention and medication – totally out of touch with reality.
nofreelunch commented:
Kitty #41
Beck is right; it’s not about Dems and Repubs, it’s about PROGRESSIVES. And both parties are infected with ‘em.
Substitute “Power Seekers” for the word Progressives and you’re spot on.
Self-serving power seekers permeate both parties, and will sell out their country for short term gains of personal power.
Paul A\'Barge commented:
Mr Moto: if the Parties were the same Mr. Beck, why are the Democrats upset with the election of Christie, Brown, McDonnell?
Apparently Mr Moto is an idiot.
Sit, the Dems are upset because their club lost and will lose elections. Not because their club is substantially different from our club.
Even fans of football teams are upset when their team loses. And that upset has nothing to do with principles or real substantial differences.
Ask Oren Hatch what he thinks of Libertarian Conservatives and see what you get.
retire05 commented:
j (post #21) do you want to know where private retirement, in leiu of Social Security, has worked? Easy, check out the retirement system of the City of Galveston, Texas. Years ago, before Congress made it illegal to opt out of SS, the employees of the City of Galveston opted out. Instead, they had a retirement plan developed for them that would work like SS. with some major differences.
The plan took less of their money. The retirement age has never been bumped up like it has with SS. When they die, their heirs get the money (be it son, daughter, cousin) because it does not revert back to the fund. AND, they are averaging almost twice what they would have gotten from Social Security.
What spending is mandated by our Constitution? The military and roads. No public housing, no food stamps, no SCHIP, no bridges to nowhere. The redistribution of our wealth was never intended to be part of our governement process.
But what we have now is a system of forced charity. For 100 years, the progressives have told us that we must take care of the least of us. So they take our money, and decided who should have it. That is not charity, it is theft by legal fiat. And we still have poor among us.
Take the Department of Education. Where in the Constitution does it say that the federal government has any business in how we educate our kids? Or does that fall under the purview of the states? Want to save federal dollars? Get rid of the DoE.
You see, the Constitution is clear in the 9th and 10th Amendment allows the states, not the federal government, to take care of all things not specifically given to the federal government.
The Constitution is clear. The government is to treat everyone equally. How is giving a tax break to someone for buying a home treating everyone equally? How is a progressive tax system treating everyone equally.
We have become a nation where we punish the industrious and reward the slackers.
The big problem is that we have become a nation of lazy slackers that are willing to give up personal freedom so that the government will take care of us. Personal responsibility is not rewarded.
Johncake commented:
It is pretty clear that the problem is governmental, directly related to Democrats AND Republicans. Democrats are following their own plan, step by step changing the country into a socialist collective state. The Republicans are only arguing about their position in the same process. That is why we need to get rid of the progresives and identify the true conservatives. I mjust hope the govt doesn’t bring down the country before we can restore it with the principles in the Constitution. Someone further up the page was snidely asking where to cut first. The answer is easy – everywhere. Everyone receivng a govt check or funding gets a 5% cut every year for 5 years or until the budget shows sufficient cash flow to collect the debt and pay it off on a timely basis.
Gary commented:
Uhhhmmmm…..
This was CPAC, not RNCPAC. This was not the Republican convention before a Presidential election.
Glenn has longed criticized both parties, and everybody knows that. What did you want him to do, turn into Michael Steele for a night? Then what would you have thought about him as far as consistency and generousness?
Glenn is of course perfectly on target with his criticisms of the GOP, but having watched the speech it’s clear that the other side took a far, far worse beating. THEY are the true party of progressivism, the true believers. Most on our side have no idea what they’re dabbling in. Glenn is making them keenly aware of what that is, and that can ONLY be a good thing.
Thank you, Glenn. Best political speech in a long, long time. You made Barack Obama look like a phony, insincere snake oil salesman.
Patriot Lady commented:
Bill Bennet is nothing but a leftist under the guise of a conservative. He knows nothing of what America wants.
SallyW commented:
The saddest part of all this is that some still don’t get the point. I watched Beck’s speech, I applaud the whole smack upside the head that the Republicans need. Their endorsements of progressive republicans (McCain, Scozzafava, etc) should have been their wake up call, but nooooo. Gingrich and Steele got the clue, but what’s not sinking in is that We The People have found our leaders in the Founding Fathers and our guide is our Constitution. There are no fine lines. America is an idea, a dream that sets us apart from all the world – progressivism is trying to conform us to other forms of government.
Bring us back to a Constitution Republic, those are who will get our votes.
And to those of you who are swallowing the BS the democrats and liberals are planting to stir confusion and descent, that Beck & the Tea Parties are pushing for a 3rd party – flat out B.S. Beck has acknowledged we are a 2 party system. He, along with the Tea Party/Patriot movement, is trying to wake up the Republican party to grow a spine and defend our Constitution.
I believe, and encourage, the bold grass root movement in America is going to stay focused and continue to plow it’s way forward and will win this Revolution.
“will the new Republican party of 2010 be a party of Bill Bennett insiders sipping martinis at fashionable Georgetown parties or will they be a party our Founders would be proud of?”
I’m sick of the martini sippers, I’m fighting for my party to be a party our Founders would be proud of.
We all have to chose what we are willing to fight for, leave the blinders in place and ride it out or keep our heads in the sand.
As for me and my house, we’re fighting for our Constitution Republic.
Craig Bardo commented:
Most of you supporting Beck view yourselves as constitutionalists. You, like me, are frustrated with “moderates” and those infected with the progressive disease in the GOP. The question becomes what is your objective and how do you fight the battle?
You remind me of financial planner Dave Ramsey adherents. Debt elimination sounds great and for those with no discipline or plan, it’s the only way but far greater outcomes are achievable by using mortgage debt as your tool and leverage to your advantage that Ramsey adherents eschew. That’s ok, to each his own, it’s an individual decision. Beck supporters are right about the Constitution and progressivism but an insistence on a third way will only secure victory for progressives or that which you hope to turn back.
The thing to do is to focus on advocating a return of the GOP to the Constitution’s classical liberal, natural rights roots, not to fall on our swords and accept a fatal wound by the establishment of a new effort.
edward cropper commented:
No one takes Bill Bennett seriously since he was exposed as a gambling addict. He is a Republican and can’t understand why free thinking conservatives are not obligated to these self-serving political hacks.
Not that Glenn Beck has all the right answers by any stretch.
Finncrisp commented:
The progressive movment is the root of what is going on here. Both Republicans and Democrats have signed on to much of that agenda. Think of it this way – No one seems to mind if banks take risks, lose and then get taxpayer money to get whole again. There is a ruling elite that gets to play with our money every day of the week. And both parties play this game.
“We the people” are marginalized in the process. I get that, and I believe that until more do, the game can’t be changed. Voting Republican this cycle is the only way to hit the reset button, slow things down. We must push beyond the politics as usual or we are doomed.
Doug Edelman commented:
While, to their credit, the GOP has united and stood against passage of some of the more radical elements of the President’s agenda… and yes, there IS a difference between the GOP and the Democrats, in many ways that difference is like that between a local and an express train running on the same track! Both get to the same destination, but one takes a little longer!
The GOP has a lot to atone for in the years preceding 2009. They did a lot of “go along to get along” and were just as guilty of reckless spending as the Dems. Earmarks were plentiful. RINO policies were accepted as part of a “big tent” mentality.
If the Republicans want to recapture the hearts, minds and loyalties of the reawakened patriot spirit… they are going to have to embrace true Reagan Conservatism unabashedly and exclusively as the party standard. The era of McCain, Snow, Collins, Specter etc IS OVER.
Once all vestiges of “progressivism” are purged from the GOP, the party can then lay claim to representing the majority of Americans!
Michael commented:
You scold your children to help them learn, not to throw them out and replace them. Beck is criticizing the brain dead within the GOP because he WANTS it to be a successful counter party to the Dems. He is the first to recognize and give credit to conservative Repubs that stand against the rinos.
shrek commented:
OK. Now I get it.
Beck’s telling us how he felt the “morning after” he appeared voluntarily (brain dead if you ask me) on The View and let those harpies eviscerate any manhood he may have pocessed before, and to let them have their way with him all through the debate, (with a smile on his face the whole time.)
shrek commented:
Just in case you would like to see a “man” thoroughly put through the wringer.
YouTube – On The View, Goldberg calls Beck “lying sack of dog mess”
part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2FK2vchoEo
part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Le1CESaPU&feature=related
j commented:
Thanks Retire05, I’ll read into Galveston.
So if I understand you correctly, we need to eliminate and/or let the states take care of public housing, food stamps, medicare, medicaid, social security, and the dept of education. I do not deride this, at least it makes fiscal sense to me.
My problem is this. Which politicians are proposing this? Even people on this site went ape over Medicare cuts. Look at this post from the beginning of December 2009
http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/12/democrats-vote-to-cut-half-a-trillion-dollars-from-medicare/
Jim writes “Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, When I’m Sixty-Four?
…No!” Now read the comment section. Do those sound like people who want to phase out Medicare? Why should I vote with conservatives when even conservatives don’t want to actually take the cuts they say they need?
bg commented:
++
imo, the best CPAC speech evah!!
==
daryl commented:
Dittos, bg.
You got that 100% right.
Gary commented:
shrek,
It’s a credit to Glenn Beck’s restraint that he didn’t return fire on is own (TV) show against “The View”. (he did address it on radio) Because the ladies totally lied (or were totally confused) about everything.
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=352443
You’re right — Glenn was probably stupid for going on that show, and it’s too bad he was off his game that day. He hurt his brand. But anyone interested in truth, media bias, the smearing of conservatives by the liberal media, etc. …… Please save the above link and post it whenever someone tries to put forth “The View” as having somehow “bested”, or “busted”, Glenn.
In their own minds, surely, but not in reality.
Ladue Pundit commented:
Going on The View is a predictable waste of time. For anyone.
Matt ) commented:
Bill Bennent complains that conservatives wish to maintain their freedom and liberty. Shut up, he says, or the GOP will lose.
Sorry Bill, but _this_ frog knows that the heat has been turned up and that you need to do the country a favor by joining the Democratic Party.
In this way, you can hopefully moderate the excesses of that party while maintaining your political influence.
How about it, Bill? Will you do the decent thing?
daryl commented:
Lots of excuses being made for Beck but Beck ain’t running for anything. Is he??
And by the way, did anyone hear Mr. Brown voted with the dims today? Along with Snowe and a couple of those other nor’eastern “Republicans”??
bg commented:
++
daryl @ 6:51 pm #76
sadly not surprised.. *sigh*
==
Em commented:
Quote: “Even John McCain has said again and again that “the Republican party lost its way.” ”
Looks like McCain is still lost. “Senator John McCain has introduced a bill that if passed, will drive up the cost of dietary supplements and restrict your access to them.”
“McCain’s bill would give the FDA authority to draw up a list of allowed and disallowed supplements (and supplement potencies). This bill would cause any dietary supplement to be classified as “adulterated” if it is “manufactured, packaged, held, distributed, labeled or licensed by a dietary supplement company not registered with the Secretary.” The “Secretary” in this case is the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the department of the federal government that oversees the FDA.”
more here:http://capwiz.com/lef/issues/alert/?alertid=14665781
Patty commented:
Bennett is full of himself — I quit listening to him a long time ago when he pushed McCain as the best possible GOP presidential candidate after McCain had already demonstrated what a RINO he was with his support of amnesty for illegals alliens, his failure to support freedom of speech (can you say McCain/Feingold?), and the list goes on. Had McCain not chosen Gov Palin as his running mate, I would have sat out the 2008 election.
Beck is right when he says there is little difference btw the parties. JFK was more conservative than many so called Republicans are today! While Republicans rightly fought Clinton when he wanted a Medicare prescription drug plan, when Bush proposed his; boy, oh boy didn’t they turn in their values for limited government and jump on that band wagon. Hey Bill, explain that switch-a-roo for the Grand Old Party.
I am a conservative and I don’t see that the GOP leaders, including the likes of Bennett, have gotten it — that folks are tired of “reaching across the aisle,” to go along to get along, to play nice — for once, I’d like to see Republicans stand for principles including liberty and freedom. Bennett, like Newt, is not the smartest man in the room.