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    Glenn Beck, Fresh from Israel, Proclaims Irene is 'Blessing'

    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    The Washington Post reports radio personality Glenn Beck has declared Hurricane Irene is a "blessing." He touts the strong storm lashing the East Coast of the United States as a harbinger to warn Americans to be prepared for anything and to stock up food.

    It doesn't matter that his "blessing" has killed at least 14 people. The families of the dead certainly don't see the loss of their loved ones that way.

    Yet somehow, people all over the world idolize the ultra-conservative radio personality. He made an appearance in Israel less than a week ago at a "Restoring Courage " rally that Business Insider reported was attended by a few thousand people. This was despite the fact that Beck has used Holocaust imagery and likened the American government to Adolf Hitler in his speeches to the American people.

    Thankfully, Beck's tirades were drowned out by Hurricane Irene's winds. He recently moved to Dallas which is in the middle of having over 60 100-degree days in the summer of 2011. It must be hot down there where Beck is living.

    When Americans are desperately trying to find someone who has a vision of the future they can relate to, sometimes loud media personalities are the way to go. There is plenty of suffering to go around in the United States from severe flooding, hurricanes, drought, wildfires and economic insecurity. Instead of shouting about things being a problem, Beck needs to remember his Christian background when Jesus said "do unto others."

    Americans will find out just how many fans Beck truly has when he starts his own television show and Internet network called GBTV . For just $4.95 per month, viewers can tune in to his website to get exclusive content. Will Beck's media empire stay afloat without Fox News?

    Probably not. Sarah Palin herself found out just how many people liked her when the documentary "The Undefeated" left movie theaters after just two weeks. Instead, it will go to video on demand services and a DVD release in September.

    Beck striking out on his own to create his own media empire will be hard. Touting a deadly hurricane as a blessing won't win any fans. His new career as a media mogul is off to a rocky start judging by his public appearance in Israel as opposed to the United States where Beck's most potent fan base is located.

    In order to stand out from the mainstream media in this country, you need to be controversial. Beck is certainly that, but can a few million fans keep his ambitions moving forward? Not nearly as much as huge and established media conglomerates. Very soon, Beck may realize he might have made more money staying at Fox News.

    William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics. Born in St. Louis, Browning is active in local politics and served as a campaign volunteer for President Barack Obama and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.

     

    4,339 comments

    • A Yahoo! User  •  8 mths ago
      What a useless, self-promoting POS! Please stop contributing to his New Canaan, CT, priviledged existence. Just like Ann Coulter (who grew up in New Canaan, CT) these are not political "pundits". They say whatever comes into their minds and Americans who feel disenfranchised by their circumstances lap it all up while these douchebags make a fortune.
    • williamp  •  8 mths ago
      @Sean

      Glenn Beck = USELESS IDIOT!

      Your attempts to equate Mr. Beck's statement with errors made by Pres. Obama, is desperate and entirely without merit.

      Mispronouncing a word and/or saying 57 when you mean 47... are mistakes. If you have some deep-seated need to mock the President for making these mistakes...that's fine.

      But, your need to mock doesn't change the fact that Mr. Beck's statement was not a mistake or an error. He meant what he said.

      Just ask his loyal minions here who have self-righteously proclaimed the efficacy of his statement and lauded him for his prescience....before running off (presumably) to order their Official G. Beck Bulk Food Rations and Food Storage Systems!

      "I.E. Obama during a speech refers to the Marine Corpsmen. That's pronounced "core"men not "corpse"men"

      LOL...until you master the usage of i.e. ("that is") vs. e.g. ('for example')...you should really consider refraining from such heavy-handed criticisms.

      "I always like to point out to people who are in despair over a socialist 'er I mean Democrat being in the oval office that the best way to get to point out to the independents who voted for the Dem that they screwed up is to have one in office for a couple of years."

      And I always like to point out the syntax-challenged, virtually incoherent ramblings of hyper-partisan idiots, who blur the line between irony and hypocrisy while demonstrating their ignorance about what constitutes socialism.

      It would work like a charm...but they're typically pretty clueless.
    • unforgiven  •  8 mths ago
      Using Beck logic and many of the comments here, we can deduce that Beck is being mocked, threatened and persecuted. How could he possibly get so much money from a mindless useless bunch unless God wants Beck to be rich. Since God wants Beck to be rich, you should also want Beck to be rich. If you haven't done so please send your check to GBT in support of brother Beck. Do it for Beck, God doesn't need the money.
    • Sean  •  8 mths ago
      OBAMA= USEFUL IDIOT. How come when a conservative makes an error during a speech or statement their an idiot but, when a liberal progressive socialist does it's just a mistake? I.E. Obama during a speech refers to the Marine Corpsmen. That's pronounced "core"men not "corpse"men not a gaffe because he said it 3 times in a row. Obviously he's never encountered that word before which you would think after his "Ivy" league education (that no one in the press will even try to see what grades he made, must have not been very good or they would be posted on a monument somewhere.) he would have at least run across that word somewhere. He also stated there were 57 states. I don't care who you are everyone knows there are 50 states. Jeeeez... some people's kids. I've got an idea let's act like you are Obama's re-election campaign manager and you have to make the case for his re-election going off his record vs. any of the GOP candidates. Let's start with the most important issue. The economy and job creation. Good F'in Luck. I always like to point out to people who are in despair over a socialist 'er I mean Democrat being in the oval office that the best way to get to point out to the independents who voted for the Dem that they screwed up is to have one in office for a couple of years. Works like a charm. Thanks for playing.
    • Clara  •  8 mths ago
      Many people were horrified to learn about the racist democrat brown nazi Aztlan movement that the democrat controlled media and democrats have been hiding since the 90's when this treasonous movement was spawned, that Glenn Beck exposed. Thanks to Glenn Beck many of us know the truth about the communist racist democrats
    • cdatzker  •  8 mths ago
      Glen Beck is so full of himself that if Jews support his vision of the world we need all to see both Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz and take a course on anger management.
    • Patrick  •  8 mths ago
      I wish Mr. Beck would have sent that "Blessing" out here to West Texas. Otherwise I think the guy means well he's just aflicked with the ol' Hoof n Mouth disease...some may call it just plain Dumb*^*
    • mamas4pups  •  8 mths ago
      This guy needs to get whacked!!!!!!!!!
      • walter777777 8 mths ago
        Nonsense! We don't killl people in USA because we don't like what they say.

        W.
      • Aluisious 8 mths ago
        Why? He's a harmless idiot. The people who listen to him are likewise too dumb to do anything effective. The dangerous people know to keep their names out of the news.
      • LibertyGuy 8 mths ago
        You are whacked...whacked out.
    • Veliecar  •  8 mths ago
      Glen Beck is a great American. If you watch Glen Beck the one thing you realize is that he backs up what ever he says with facts. Unfortuntely, we have the progressive liberal who chooses to be ignorant. The progressive liberal is like the Christian who tells a Mormon what they believe without ever reading the Book of Mormon or tells the Mormon they are not Christian or has study groups to encourage hatred for Mormons just because it makes them feel superior. The progressive always positions themselves as an expert but never does the hardwork of gathering facts to support a point. Everything said by a progressive has an agenda and their tools are community organizing, rhetoric, propaganda, divisiveness and anger. A perfect example is how the progressive have reacted to the Tea Party, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin and anyone else who loves God, Country and Freedom.
      • THX-1138 8 mths ago
        In psychology, we call your statement, Projecting. When you project your own faults onto others in an attempt to disown your own issues.
      • Sean 8 mths ago
        That's funny because I read all the time where Beck's "facts" are in fact half-truths or bald face lies. Darn those fact checking progressive liberals. And to call any of this a blessing is really sick. I am not sure what to call you for defending him. Surely not a man of God or America. Over 40 people have dies so far, and you defend this man for saying it's a blessing? Wow....
      • williamp 8 mths ago
        "If you watch Glen Beck the one thing you realize is that he backs up what ever he says with facts."

        LOFL...oh bullsh_t!!

        First...it's Glenn Beck, not Glen....but you're a HUGE fan, right?

        Second, "watching" Mr. Beck is difficult these days ...what with radio being an audio only medium. (And NO "watching" his radio show being simulcast on the internet does not count).

        Lastly...and most importantly...your assertion regarding his "facts" is blatantly inaccurate. Whether it's simple ignorance or a calculated lie, IDK...but it's most assuredly inaccurate.

        Back when he was still on Fox "News"...I would watch his show with some regularity. Not because I'm a fan...but because it was on at the gym...and his outrageous claims, weepy histrionics and wild gesticulations were far more entertaining than Oprah or w/e else was being shown.

        Consequently...I took him up on his challenge to "go to his website" where he REPEATEDLY CLAIMED..."it's all there, all the facts are there, don't take my word for it...do the research yourself". And, it was a flat out fu(king lie.

        Sure, he'd provide a few links...but many, if not MOST of his assertions were never addressed. Between his radio and his TV show he was putting out HOURS worth of info daily...while putting up 2 or 3 links. As if those links could provide factual documentation for HOURS worth of claims, assertions and erroneous conclusions.

        And, many of the links he provided simply linked back to his own previous bald assertions!! Others went to blogs or extremist websites where no documentation for the claims they were making was provided.

        Mr. Beck can be very entertaining...but claiming his shtick is factual is just plain delusional.
    • Zap  •  8 mths ago
      "... useful in preventing the liberal/progressives from destroying America?" ... HUH??? ... Glenn Beck is doing a BANG-UP JOB of his own version of destroying America, of sowing fear and darkness as an ULTRA CONSERVATIVE!!! ... you don't HAVE to be an #$%$ to be a Republican Teabagger, but it helps!
      • Joe 8 mths ago
        Only the right wing could see forty innocent people dying as a "blessing."

        Beck's definition of "blessing" is, "anything that advances my political agenda, regardless of who gets hurt.
      • Justin 8 mths ago
        "Republican Teabagger"? it is both sides destroying this country right now and people like you who pick sides and fight each other instead of fixing any issues.
        that is what is destroying this country, along with the lack of commonsense.
    • Mac  •  8 mths ago
      Imagine the next Republican administration:Perry (crazy #$%$ - PresidentPalin (sucks) - Vice PresidentBachmann (failed history test) - Secretary of EducationBeck (God will save you) - Secretary of DefenseGingrich (remember me?) - Secretary of StateHannity (hatred with a smile) - Secretary of Homeland Pat Robertson (humble Christian?) - Spiritual Leader MullahRush Limbauch (plain fat racist) - Surgeon General
    • Imma  •  8 mths ago
      A generation that does not believe in God cannot believe in divine judgment.
      • OpinionatedOne 8 mths ago
        And just like in the days of Noah, they will be "eating and drinking and giving in marriage"...going about their daily lives...oblivious to the destruction and judgment that they will face.
      • Kathleen 8 mths ago
        Totally!
      • groblix 8 mths ago
        So I don't!
    • Joseph C  •  8 mths ago
      Glenn Beck is a stupid idiot, It's a shame some one didn't take him out while he was in israel
      • Antagonist 8 mths ago
        So you don't agree with him he should be killed? I don't agree with your statement, I believe in your right to live your life. Where in the Constitution does it say when one disagrees they will be executed?
      • joe 8 mths ago
        and you are what is known as a useful idiot,look it up if you don't know what that means.
      • T M 8 mths ago
        For a stupid idiot, he seems to be doing quite well. I'd venture a guess his income is significantly more than yours and I don't see him posting comments about wishing you had been shot.
    • frankmargel.com  •  8 mths ago
      Talk radio superstars are saving us all! LMFAO! Where's the gold and beef in grandstanding? Just ask Glenn! NEXT!
    • joe_thousandaire  •  8 mths ago
      I don't think Beck leaving Fox News was his choice, the guy is a walking liability.
    • dang  •  8 mths ago
      Why does the news give this clown a headline.. ?
    • fil  •  8 mths ago
      Glenn Beck is a Muslim. If you rearrange the letters in his name it spells Bill O'Reilly. And if you rearrange the letters in his name it spells "Abdul Abduls Ladengaffi." Think about that. Huh Huh Huh, does it make too much sense? Yes! And an other Thing....Raiders all day baby!!!
    • Alfinisti  •  8 mths ago
      Good god what a vile loudmouth moron that appeals to even more intellectually challenged imbeciles. Aren;t his 15 minutes up yet? Though you have to admire his ability to fleece his herd of dolts.
    • Red State of Mind  •  8 mths ago
      listen to what he really said people!!!!!!
    • Red State of Mind  •  8 mths ago
      GOD BLESS GLENN BECK!!!
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