Glenn Beck's Folly

Anyone familiar with Fox News should know who Glenn Beck is. He used to be on CNN, but fits in much better in his current environment. He's started this thing called The 912 Project. His goal is to return us to the America we became on 9/12, the day after the terrorist attacks. I'd prefer to go to 9/10, but regardless. If you want to know what it's all about, go to www.the912project.com.

As part of their "mission statement," they outline certain principles and values that they hold dear. The values are meaningless happy-words that no one could really argue with. "Honesty." Yeah, ok, I can get behind that, but what does if really mean? Nothing. So let's look at the 9 Principles and see if they have any merit.

1. America Is Good.

Well, maybe. I don't really think a country can be inherently good or bad. The people running it certainly can. I think for the last 8 years we were certainly not "good." We've been taken over by corporate interests that infect every aspect of government. I do, however, think that we can be good again!


2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.

I don't. If you have to go with all nine, I guess this would be the deal-breaker for me. I know that the last President did, and used that faith to make major decisions in lieu of, say, research. This is VERY dangerous.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.

Can't argue with that. Then again, if you're completely honest on Monday, there's not much room for improvement. Also, coming from someone on Fox News, this is hilarious.

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.

Well, it depends. If you and your spouse are Christian Scientists who deny insulin to their daughter so that she dies? Yeah, the State should step in at that point.

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

I agree.

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

No guarantee of equal results, but there should certainly be equal opportunity. My ability to pursue happiness should not be hampered by others deciding I don't deserve to be happy by reason of my race, sexual preference, or economic standing. My ability to make a living shouldn't be hampered by some executive deciding he needs to lay some workers off so his wife can continue getting weekly spa treatments.

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

Slippery slope, this. This is the kind of Libertarian attitude that leads to CEO's getting huge bonuses while kids starve in this country. This is what leads to poverty. Sure, people should work for what they get. But some can't. Let's not leave them to die.

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

I agree. Too bad the Bush administration didn't see it this way. Oh, and the talking heads on TV that accused the people questioning Bush's policies of being unpatriotic? Evil. One of the people that did this kind of thing? Glenn Beck.

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

Well, that would be true in a Democracy. But we live in a Republic. We elect officials to make decisions for us. Then, if we don't like how they do, we vote them out. Like in November.

So, no, I can't support your project, Glenn. No matter how much you cry about it on your show.

A parable from our mystery guest blogger...

In America, they first invaded Iraq, and I didn’t speak up because I believed Iraq had WMD’s;

And then they tortured Iraqi prisoners, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t an Iraqi prisoner, plus it was kind of funny and they deserved it;

And then they suspended habeas corpus and started wiretapping Americans, and I didn’t speak up because I have nothing to hide and prefer security over liberty;

And then . . . they proposed a 4% tax hike only for the rich . . . And that so pissed me off that I took to the streets in protest.

God, I’m stupid.

They want their tea, but keep the change

Caution: some profanity. Deal with it.

As I was driving to rehearsal last night, I noticed a large group of placard-bearing people gathered outside the post office. When I reached the corner, I saw that we were having our very own tea party. One of the signs said "Impeach Obama." I figured that it was finally time to weigh in on this subject. I shall use as much tact and respect as my fellow citizens deserve.

These people are morons. They, and the fine folks at Fox News (where they likely get all of their "information"), would have us believe that this is a grass roots movement to fight the spectre of higher taxes and out-of control spending. Where were these people during the last 8 years? During the creation of a huge deficit? When we were spending all that money on the war? Oh, it involved guns? I guess that's ok, then.

This is not a grass roots movement. It's being funded and promoted by corporations that wish for everything to remain just as it is. God forbid the poor shouldn't stay poor, and corporate overlords shouldn't continue raping the country for their own selfish gain. They resist change, because change would take some of their golf club dues money away.

What these teabaggers have been fooled into thinking is that Obama wants to raise all our taxes. Even though only the most affluent will see any increase in taxes. Even though there has been NO indication that their taxes will go up, these mouth-breathers believe anything Limbaugh and Hannity tell them. They are protesting against something that DOESN'T EXIST!

Not only that, but they are, effectively, still campaigning. The election was won by those who desire change way back in November, but they're still campaigning, creating tea parties, producing commercials about "clean coal" and whatnot, continuing to -- and this is the scariest part -- perpetuate the divisiveness created by the previous administration! Instead of going with change and not being assholes, they are still fighting the fight, trying to undermine anything good that might happen in this country.

Just when we thought we could heal, the teabaggers are still picking the scab. Things will NEVER improve in this country unless there are some radical changes in how things are run. This can't happen if these idiots convince enough other idiots to stand in the way. These are not patriots. These are liars and thieves and the deluded Ditto-heads that listen to them. We voted the Republicans out in November. They should shut the fuck up.

And I don't really think they know what "teabagging" means.