NYT - Glen Beck - An Almost Warm Profile of A Very Angry Man

[Median Democrat]

I wonder why the NYT saw fit to write this almost warm profile of Glen Beck, who is pushing the limits of encouraging an armed uprising against the current democratic administration. Remember how Bush attacked the NYT? Can you imaging if a liberal version of Glen Beck was threatening the Bush administration saying that "we have you surrounded"?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/business/media/30beck.html?ref=us

/snip

In an interview, Mr. Beck, who recently rewatched the 1976 film “Network,” said he identified with the character of Howard Beale, the unhinged TV news anchorman who declares on the air that he is “mad as hell.”

“I think that’s the way people feel,” Mr. Beck said. “That’s the way I feel.” In part because of Mr. Beck, Fox News — long identified as the favored channel for conservatives and Republican leaders — is enjoying a resurgence just two months into Mr. Obama’s term. While always top-rated among cable news channels, Fox’s ratings slipped during the long Democratic primary season last year. Now it is back on firm footing as the presumptive network of the opposition, with more than 1.2 million viewers watching at any given time, about twice as many as CNN or MSNBC.

While Mr. O’Reilly, the 8 p.m. host, paints himself as the outsider and Mr. Hannity, at 9, is more consistently ideological, Mr. Beck presents himself as a revivalist in a troubled land.

He preaches against politicians, hosts regular segments titled “Constitution Under Attack” and “Economic Apocalypse,” and occasionally breaks into tears.

Michael Smerconish, a fellow syndicated talk show host, said that Mr. Beck “has a gift for touching the passion nerve.”

Tapping into fear about the future, Mr. Beck also lingers over doomsday situations; in a series called “The War Room” last month he talked to experts about the possibility of global financial panic and widespread outbreaks of violence. He challenged viewers to “think the unthinkable” so that they would be prepared in case of emergency.

/snip

[virgogal]

1. I think GB is slightly mad.

[Skittles]

2. slightly?

he's fucking unhinged, a clear mental case in dire need of a psychiatric evaluation

[paulsby]

3. he screams to me

that he is a guy who was picked on as a kid and had no friends.

that's just the impression i get. i admit it's perception, not evidence based. but i've seen this type before and he just screams "i was a nerd. i was nobody. and now i'm getting my revenge"