It's patently obvious why Democrats and people on the left don't like Glenn Beck. But I know plenty of people on the right who don't like him either. Usually they point out that he's a crybaby.

I'd like to point out why I do like Glenn Beck, and why his show, along with the Special Report All-Star Panel, is the only political/news programming I watch on TV.  And why I watch it every day.

Because Glenn Beck comes at us Ross Perot style, with charts and graphs and numbers. He lays out theories about what he thinks the future of our country will look like, and he always says they're just theories and he hopes he's wrong.  He doesn't just do opinion schtick, though there's plenty of that. He doesn't just interview guests and argue about the day's news, which is what every other news/opinion program on TV does. And he doesn't just cry, though there are times when his love for his country and his anguish over what it's becoming do overwhelm him.

He also takes complicated economic problems and explains them to average Americans.  (This clip is crucial to watch if you want to see the difference between The Glenn Beck Program and every other news show out there.)



The Glenn Beck model includes a chalkboard, for heaven's sake.  He spent twenty-one minutes lecturing on inflation.  And gets mega-ratings for it.  I think Americans are starving for this kind of programming.

Beck is the only TV personality I know of who consistently examines the long-term problems the US faces and points out that the "fixes" we're implementing now might end up doing us more harm than good.  Sadly, he also has a pretty good track record of being right.

Is anyone else pointing out long-term problems to average Americans?  Or are they too busy talking about balloon boy and hyping swine flu...

Posted by: Sarah at 12:22 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Thank you for the explanation.

I have only seen clips of his show on YouTube via your links. I think I've only actually seen him on TV once or twice being interviewed during another show. So I never understood his appeal until now.

I don't watch political TV shows, so I didn't realize how unique his use of a chalkboard is. His ability to use one tells me that he isn't just reading off a teleprompter or mouthing off opinions. What he writes on a chalkboard has to be somewhat coherent, because the audience can literally see errors, and he'd look like a fool if he constantly erased to cover them up.

Posted by: Amritas at October 29, 2009 01:13 PM (+nV09)

2 Yeah, you're right, Sarah. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on him for being so melodramatic. It's true that he breaks it down nicely.

Posted by: CaliValleyGirl at October 29, 2009 01:33 PM (irIko)

3 I don't understand all of the Glenn Beck hatred. He was on Headline News for years and his radio show, yet nobody thought to complain or slander him then. Now that he's on Fox (aka liberal's own Big Satan) people are up in arms and too quick to label him crazy (which he is the furthest thing from). I'm just waiting for the same treatment of fellow libertarian John Stossel who is going to Fox.  Good journalists and columnists like Beck and Stossel are degraded for no reason except jealousy because they do their jobs; while village idiots of the media like Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric (shudders) are given awards. Shameful. 

Posted by: BigD78 at October 29, 2009 03:11 PM (W3XUk)

4 I love Fox's all star panel. I actually time my trips to the gym to be on the treadclimber during that segment. It is riveting TV. There is NO ONE like Krauthammer. I have a secret crush on him. I actually thought about sending him a fan/thank-you letter but couldn't figure out a way to do so that wouldn't be totally weird and creepy. But he is so amazing.
I used to listen to Glenn Beck in the car but I work from home now so he lost me when I stopped commuting.

Posted by: Amy at October 29, 2009 03:54 PM (9fDOS)

5 Amy -- I am right there with you.  I always say to Guard Wife, "Are there any better words on the planet than 'Let's bring in our panel: Who Cares #1, Who Cares #2, and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer.'"

Posted by: Sarah at October 29, 2009 04:39 PM (gWUle)

6 That last comment made me burst out laughing. (And my Philadelphia Phillies just lost, so that is saying something.)
I will probably remember that next time and start laughing on the treadmill! Thanks.

ps. I am thrilled to watch you progress so beautifully through your pregnancy one step at a time.

Posted by: Amy at October 29, 2009 10:46 PM (9fDOS)

7 It's not like the 70's where the Fed printed money to finance government spending. The Fed increased the money supply to keep the banks from failing, by loaning them money. It can dry up the money supply by recalling the loans, and that's what it's going to do.  

Posted by: David Boxenhorn at October 30, 2009 01:43 AM (uYknG)

8 My kids like him for the same reason. We watched him one day when he was talking about oil being traded in other currency besides the US dollar and why it was important. He had set up a demonstration with flags and baskets and dollar bills. He made sense to them. They understood why it was important. So, it is one news program they like. Well, that and Dr. Rosenthal.

Posted by: Tressa at November 01, 2009 05:01 PM (yY6P+)

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