Glenn Beck's idea of 'freedom': Letting corporations control what you read on the Internet
For the second day in a row (Monday's show being so chockful o'wingnuttery that we didn't have time to post on it) Glenn Beck devoted two whole segments to the subject of net neutrality.
And for the second night in a row, the discussion featured a guy named Phil Kerpen from Americans For Prosperity, which has a long history of shilling for whatever right-wing corporate agenda it can suck out money for: tobacco interests, health-insurance companies, corporate polluters have all pitched in money so that AFP can variously promote tobacco, lobby against health-care reform (it was one of the original promoters of the Tea Parties) and push the idea that global warming isn't really happening.
And now he's out pushing the notion that somehow, regulating Internet providers so that they cannot determine or limit public access is the same thing as communism. Or something like that. When you have Glenn Beck as your No. 1 cheerleader, logic doesn't actually have to enter into it.
Especially not facts. Because Beck appears to have no idea at all what Net Neutrality is actually all about.
As Timothy Karr explained on Democracy Now last month:
And net neutrality is really the fundamental openness principle of the internet. Whenever you connect to the internet, net neutrality makes sure that you can connect to everyone else who’s on the internet. And this has been a tremendous engine for free speech, for economic innovation, for equal opportunity. And we are now fighting with some very prominent internet service providers, very powerful companies, to try to preserve that fundamental openness, so that whenever we go online we can choose, as users, where we go and what we do via the internet.
Somehow, Beck is able to transform this into an attack on "freedom of speech" -- when it obviously is precisely the opposite.
To guys like Beck, you see, the only threat to our liberties is from the government. Giant corporations that control our means of information, not so much.
Indeed, his argument boils down to a simple proposition: "Freedom" means letting powerful business interests control the public's access to the internet.
Hm. That's some kinda freedom.
ThinkProgress has more:
Kerpen, from whom Beck apparently cribbed his understanding of the concept, claims that there is no reason to be concerned about internet service providers blocking access or charging customers differenty. “Proponents of net neutrality rely on the scare tactic that big bad cable and phone companies will block access to Web sites and cause other mischief unless the benevolent federal government rides to the rescue, and soon,” wrote Kerpen on FoxNews.com earlier this month. “But they’ve been ringing this alarm for the better part of a decade and none of the horrors they warn us about have happened.” In fact, in 2007 it was revealed that Comcast had disrupted peer-to-peer file-sharing traffic on its network, leading to an FCC investigation. There was also an incident where “Verizon Wireless denied Naral Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights group, access when the group asked to the carrier to allow Verizon customers to sign up for text-messaging alerts.”
Another one of those freedoms we're losing, according to beckyboy.
Remember what Ari Fleischer said the day after 9/11:
"You'd better watch what you do and watch what you say."
Here's the link:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/10/exclu...
I'd love to hear what John Amato, David, Susie, Nicole, bluegal and Co. have to say about THIS.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
I have always been sure that everything I write on line and look at on line and my phone conversations and almost everything I do is being looked at. If your not speaking out against all of the powers that be when you feel they are wrong, your not doing your duty as a United States citizen. I am proud to be on watch lists. I am proud to have a file. In the words of the worst president in the history of the United States: "bring it on".
They're going to find out how ROYALLY PISSED OFF we are at our Reps over the Non-Reform-Health-Care-Reform Shag they're pulling on us.
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Freedom is slavery!
Slavery is freedom!
Ignorance sets you free…
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
According to what is happening on Beck's show - this would be true!
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Yeah, you know what will happen don'tcha?
We'll be able to dowload vintage American Idle, and the small time liberal political sites will be pushed aside to slower sites.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
of Serbo-Croatian silent horror classics I will be forced to watch old Jamie Lee Curtis horror offereings from the days her bowels weren't properly functioning.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
No kidding! What a bunch of shit.
Rush Limbaugh is what a smart person thinks a stupid bigot sounds like.
What goes through my mind every time I listen to Beck.
No really....
Here's what goes through mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okOjJQ1xrAg
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
... needs some Tal Wilkenfeld
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIFFRHBCPzA
I'm Boycotting NewsCorp! Heres what not to buy: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
Been a fan of Tal since i first saw the Crossroads DVD. I thought Beck had his granddaughter with him first time i seen her..LOL She is a gifted musician and as cute as a bunnies ear too.
...must have a lot of fans.
Shes a great player.
Love how she laughs out loud at the start of the clip...
BOYCOTT NEWSCORP c'mon do it!
http://www.cjr.org/resources/?c=newscorp
I'm Boycotting NewsCorp! Heres what not to buy: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
...communism. Damn socialist Internets!
Beck is the freakin' King of taking something that virtually every sentient person agrees on (e.g., net neutrality is good) and flips it completely on its head so that his viewers are invited to believe the opposite. If you follow his tortured logic in this video clip, you end up at a place where net neutrality equals dictatorship. Again, in case you miss it: NET NEUTRALITY = DICTATORSHIP. Beck admits that the idea of net neutrality is good, but then he argues that passing a law to ensure net neutrality is bad. Does that make any damn sense???
Bottom line, the real threat to net neutrality is corporate interest, not a government program to ensure that broadband is affordable, widely available, and free from corporate censorship.
To Beck's logic-challenged listeners - every word that comes out of his mouth makes sense.
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What's up with that creepy television set? He places himself up on a raised stage with a chalkboard, ala Pink Floyd's teacher, while his fishbelly white, hermaphroditic gimp gazes up at him as if genuflecting before the Lord. WTF??? Is there no one at FOX that can tell him that this sh*t is awkward?
He positions himself as a "teacher" so that he appears to have some knowledge to share. He uses the chalkboard so that he doesn't appear elite with a computer screen. His audience doesn't care for intelligent elitist sorts, don't cha know.
There is a method behind every bit of his madness. Just like the red phone sitting on the stage that is supposed to be there for the white house to call him to correct any errors he makes. Yesterday he even said since the white house hadn't called him, everything he has said must be true. Oh yeah, and there is a reason that phone is red and a suggestion it makes too.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Wow.
So I guess everything I say is true too, so long as I don't get a call from the White House. The proof of my truth is that the fact checkers seem aloof? Nice. I hope Stephen Colbert can use that somehow.
I know the President has a secret crush on me and since he hasn't called me to deny it, I know it's true.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Ha ha!
and Barack hasn't called to say she doesn't so I know she really does.
Beck has no idea what anything is about. Murdock will put anybody behind a microphone as ling as it is making him money. Slime.
And if Obama ends up in the gun sights of one of their reich-wing nuts - we can blame Murdoch.
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someone needs to flash-respond to this video, because people could easily get the wrong idea of what NN is from this crap.
And when will Beck respond to the charges about his alleged activities in 1990?
Why would anyone be against neutrality?
Before enlightenment - chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment - chop wood, carry water.
1. Glenn is paid to be against it
2. Glenn stands to benefit by having his corporate sponsors control how available information is on the internet.
Because their employer is Rupert Murdoch.
http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
I'm Boycotting NewsCorp! Heres what not to buy: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
Ever notice how the American mood (focus) changes every 15 minutes?
Not good.
Yes -- now Fox News is all upset that the H1N1 vaccine isn't being produced quickly enough. Yesterday it was a rushed vaccine that was dangerous and would turn your child into a marxist-lesbianist.
and my child will only turn into a Misogynist-Lennon sister.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/10/exclu...
That last paragraph is very strange. He is backward and upside down all at once. Am I the only one who thinks this guy made the point for net neutrality and the concern about it?
... he wants to be neutered on the net.
If you need funds to pay for essentials, you have a revenue problem
If you need funds to pay for frivolity, you have a spending problem
before he's neutered also.
Netaholics Neuteronomous?
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
and Red State repeat Drudge a little more slowly.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
I have always understood why the giant corporations act in ways to increase their power and limit the power of the government and the people. I have never understood how the people somehow twist logic to believe that giving more power to corporations is good for the people that listen to ________ fill in the blank and vote for Republicans. Every time I have tried to argue with them their specific belief system on a specific issue is always based on an untruth. Sometimes I can successfully convince them of the original lie but they will claim that somehow overall they are still correct. I have been trying to understand for about 45 years and is still have no clue.
Republicanism is a mental disorder. That's all you need to know.
People want to feel like they are in control of something. Claiming your right even though your wrong is a typical survival strategy of the human Psyche.
And the main cause of all our problems, heartbreaks, and conflicts.
Obviously this planet is not Utopia
I suggest you buy a copy of Thom Harmann's excellent "Unequal Protection", and memorize a handful of quotes from Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and others.
See; the drones on the right have accepted the idea that the 'founders' were infallible like the Pope. When you let them hear the doubts of the 'founders' about the interaction of capitalism/democracy, they will whither.
It's the most effective way I've found to make wingnuts question their ideas.
Fox is the TV equivalent of tabloid journalism filled with innuendo, rumor, deceit, and slander. Media in its worst form.
This is not my father's America
other then that what does it take for these guys to get fired?
Imagine if any other average person acted like these guys do at work. How long would they last before they were shown the door?
These guys are doing a very, very good job. Just look at their ratings - that's how their performance is measured.
And that's the frightening part. He has to get more and more bizarre to keep his brain dead fans interested. He has to find shinier and shinier things to get their attention. What will his limit be?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Sounds like a "plutonetocracy!"
Glenn Beck = Corporate whore
What's bad for the CEO is bad for the country. Whatever threatens profits and stops corporations from screwing us royally must be bad for everyone. Obama represents the PEOPLE, therefore in Beck's (read: corporate) mind, he MUST be stopped!
Sick and twisted that Beck.
They're committed to trying to reduce all ways of communicating dissent in large numbers to a bare minimum in the name of "improving" the system.
The ayatollahs could take lessons from them.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
on beck doing something on tape that will live in the annals of broadcasting history? He squirts jelly and has a stroke, he commits suicide on TV for "Amerka", you know, something that would put him up there with the journalistic greats? I'd pay to see the home movies of what really happens on his set. I hope someone at fox is recording it for posteriorority.
I know the analogy has been nearly beaten to death, but I've hoped for a secretly taped segment where Beck unknowingly fesses to being in on his schtick and that his viewers are idiots, exposing himself as a fraud, a la "A Face in the Crowd." I would have thought the video of his applying Vick's to bring about his tears would have done the trick, but apparently not.
it isn't communicated in burps, farts and grunts to his audience like he does it
for Americans for Prosperity's foray into this arena.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
someone neuter this man before he spawns any offspring.
. .
plus wingnuts and crazies typically out breed everyone anyway.
If someone in the Obama administration said rain was good during a drought, Beck would say they were wanting people to drown.
He seems to be void of any real knowledge regarding net neutrality. Mostly he just wants to pick at anything and everything about this administration.
When he was holding that little chihuahua yesterday, I became fearful that he might do something bizarre to the little dog. I have never felt that way about anyone else I have seen on tv holding a dog. I would put nothing past this mentally disturbed fool.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
... at least, nothing witty or tongue-in-cheek. Now he's going after net neutrality as a Marxist plot? Seriously? Are you that fu*king insane? I'm just angry at the lack of anything resembling an intelligence within the meat sack commonly referred to as Glenn Beck.
Glenn is just a little confused. He simply needs to have Ted Stevens explain all the tubes and such that make the internets what they are.
I can see his point though, if the net were neutral it would be like Sweden, and if it were like Sweden it would be socialist, so being for net neutrality is like being for socialism.
It all becomes clear. Mein fuhrer, I can walk!
Can glen get his tubes tied?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
You understand Beck. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing for you, but you got it. :)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I think what Glenda has become is a sort of free market anarchist. He seems to despise ANY form of government, and the only economic principle he endorses is the one that make him rich.
The people of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage." J.K. Galbraith
need further proof that becky is a corporate tool.
Wait, beck said that man is from Americans For Prosperity... does he mean THIS Americans For Prosperity? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifpnK6Uwyqw
real "neutral", beck
Is this "Marxist?" So, what ethnicity/minority is involved with it? My Glenn Beck Racist Slur Decoder Ring is broken, so I can't determine what "Marxist" translates to in Beckspeak.
Call 'em and ask them if they want to keep their access to 24/7 p*rn.
But there might be a modest viewing fee. And a couple interstate fees, surcharges, taxes, etc.
could be used as an organizing tool to direct public discontent, the CorpoRats have been sniffing around for ways to control discourse. The CorpoRats have already spent billions of dollars and thousands of hours to find a discreet way to muzzle the Web. Killing net neutrality is apparently the instrument of choice.
In the unlikely event that it DOESN'T work--wait til they start talking about "saving the children" from pron--and that the Web somehow resists this threat, the next one will come in the form of requiring bloggers (e.g.) to post "libel bonds."
Or something else...But they are determined to silence the diversity of voices and interrupt the democratization of communications.
http://glennbeckrapedandmurderedayounggirlin1... taken down. His attorneys KNEW 1st amendment restrictions would get them laughed out of court in the states, so they went to the world body governing domain names (WIPO) and is getting nowhere fast with them, apparently.
He's an evil evil fascist POS.
me-oww!
Randazza Strikes Again: Glenn Beck is "the Butt"
me-oww!
And the amazing thing is that he still hasn't given a clear answer on the question posed!
Did Glenn Beck rape and murder a young girl in 1990?
;)
I don't think even a moron in a hurry would make that mistake. The entire response at the link, is very good. I laughed, I cried; it became a part of me.
I'll bet Mr Randazza is having the time of his life.
And I am quite sure this is what is driving Herr Beck-HIS inability to get this one use of his name squelched. If FOX controlled the internets, he could have this site taken down too. And Media Matters.
But as it stands, he's going to remain the Viral Butt...
me-oww!
Something he said yesterday was rather telling regarding his lack of knowledge regarding his subject. He said when radios came out the government didn't give everyone a radio, then when TVs came out the government didn't give everyone a TV, so why should the government want to give everyone internet service.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
government didn't give every woman an orgasm, but you can get telephones today with internet access and they vibrate!
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
government didn't give
everyANY woman an orgasm..."FIFY
me-oww!
men are often too quick or take a hands on approach.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
But when sex came out did the government give men hands? I think not.
and the palms to grow hair on if they misused them.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
But when sex came out the woman ran off with the smooth talking snake.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
an anaconda?
me-oww!
Get me my smelling salts! This is some hefty newspeak Mr. Beck is espousing, net neutrality equals Marxism (as if Marxism is some evil plot to destroy humankind!). If anything, net neutrality equals the revival of democracy. Any person with a functioning brain stem would see this.
I'm all for the free access to the internet. I think that having a nationwide broadband (and hopefully wireless) system is a major part to updating our national infrastructure. I can understand paying someone money to make me some fancy website or whatever, but just general access, no.
The internet has the potential to revive democracy in America, and I think this is the point that scares the corporatocracy. The revival of democracy is bad for the corporatocracy.
Sorry for the double post. The internet wasn't working properly :(
if they did, everything would be perfect.
me-oww!
How could I be so blind? Corporations do everything perfectly. Just don't pay attention to the facts that state otherwise.
Edit: thanks for the laugh!
Maybe they've promised to advertise on his show if he shills for them.
Beck is lucky his followers have no critical thinking ability and that each and every one of them has a ring through their nose - if they could think for themselves he could never get up there and lie like that.
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these people like beck are not conservatives, they are capitalist tools.
Conservatives are conservatives, until they get caught red handed. In which case, they are something else.
Rinse, repeat...
look close at the psychic of glen beck.
he is a white male living in fear of white males losing control and he has a deep seated fear of losing his wealth.
as a white male I know that control thing up front and personal and even the losing the wealth.
he is a have more that will do and say anything to protect his place in the world.
until americans realize this is a class war nothing much will change
really capitalism is just doing its thing the very best that it can do
create a society of have mores and have nots
99% have nots and 1% have mores
without our massive borrowing we would see in great detail this have more and have not playing out in our economy
few in american understand the underlying reality of capitalism
and it is not christianity
more darwinism than christianity as jesus taught
glen beck is a darwinist and does not have a clue he is
Ever watch wrassling?
Some people say Beck raped and murdered a girl in 1990, I for one don't believe it, so why hasn't Beck offered proof he didn't? Come on Glenn just come on out with the evidence you didn't do it and put this horrible vicious rumor you raped and murdered a young girl in 1990 to rest once and for all.
I don't believe he raped and murdered a girl in 1990 either.
But to my knowledge, he hasn't proven it one way or another, which concerns me.
why doesnt everyone just stop reporting on this guy?
he's such a joke with his 21st century "red scare" tactics.
maybe the ppl who believe this guy should just be left alone.
lets face it - u cant be too educated/informed to follow and believe
what this nut says. its just show business.... and yes i realize that
he is successful in having progressives fired and tea parties juiced up,
but i say just let murdoch & co. have their TV version of the National Enquirer n/t
2 to 3 million viewers is what beck gets at his best, less than 1% of the whole population! With all the "concern" from chickenshit liberals and tv(msmnc mostly) you would think he gets 30 million or 130 million viewers as Canadians or UK people would think since they see all of us as morons glued to the tv set. 1%, that's the facts and not enough for any real concern. Sorry to the chicken littles who are addicted to anger and fear.
Uh, except that 1% represents millions of people, and a large percentage of the GOP in the U.S.
Sorry to "go there"; but the people who eventually evolved into Hilter's followers were a tiny minority in election after election, until they started killing their opposition.
Nutbags are always to be feared.
Why is Pee Wee Herman against Net Neutrality again? I'm confused.
Okay - but let's not forget what this represents -- they're coming after Net Neutrality again - and not just Beck.
We'd better be on our toes.
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Given all of the Evidence stacked up against him - it would be wrong not to question whether Glenn Beck raped a woman 1990.
Little Glennie Poo KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
See, if Glenn Beck LOSES his audience of DROOLING, MOUTH-BREATHING IDIOTS, THEN HE'S OUT OF A JOB AT FuckNews.
Sounds like what Glennie Poo is suggesting is that PEOPLE LIKE HIM control WHAT PEOPLE LIKE US can do with the Internet.
Keeping the Internet OPEN is what GLENNIE-POO, LIMPBALLS, AND ALL THE REST OF THE RIGHT-WING MEDIA GASBAGS ARE SCARED TO DEATH OF.
You see, society progresses....BUT THEY DON'T WANT IT TO.
Um...that's because they don't believe in "society".
Seriously; they do not believe in the idea of society, other than shared military taxes.
As long as they can rig the system to guarantee their unearned income, they have no problem with a "let them eat cake" dictum for everyone else.
I don't quite get the reason why we are devoting so much time to showing videos from Glenn Beck on this site and other sites. Why don't we just ignore him?
We really need to know our enemy.
It's just as important as knowing what the 'truthers' and Holocaust-deniers are saying.
You cant ignore a fire in your basement just because it's "small".
He has no clue of the real world. Net Neutrality is needed and broadband access to all is needed in this country. What is the problem with free access in populated areas? It only hurts the greedy corporate capiltalist. What is up with the free radio, telephone and tv examples? Why didn't he complain about the access for everybody to roads, power, phone lines. The guy is a paranoid nut case. Stop talking Glenn and use your mouth to supply oxygen to your brain, You really need it.
This from a an imbecile that equates volunteerism with Mao's China.!!! Usually I can follow the line of argument to see where they get there from here, but I must admit Glennbeck's alarm that volunteerism is changing the USA into a Maoist-type Chinese society is way out there.
Glennbeck is good only for a study in TV-exhibited insanity.
As much as it says about Glennbeck, it also says a ton about his listeners and also FOX NEWS.
ALEJCARO
I often wonder what people 25 years from now will say about Fucks and their rightwing propaganda outfit?
Will they watch clips of Beck, O'Rally and Insannity the same way we watched "Reefer Madness" back in the 70's? Laughing at their obvious stupidity, and wondering WTF was wrong with American's back in 2009 that they listened to shit like this?
Rush Limbaugh is what a smart person thinks a stupid bigot sounds like.
I just can't do this right now. I can't stand that pompous &!@#^&%!!. Heard he's using armed body guards now. Wonder why?
These stupid nutjobs are against government, which is really the people. But they love corporate fascism, which is the exact opposite of the people's interest.
Trying to follow Beck is making me dizzy.
Rush Limbaugh is what a smart person thinks a stupid bigot sounds like.
This guy is absolutely nuts , seen the books he has out ? They are all over the place ! Amazing ! Other than being a complete idiot I don't even know how to brand this guy ! Stable he is not . odoisneau , I agree , why can't we just put him and Fox on the ignore list , they are an irritant but in the big picture they are irrelevant and just a ( bad ) joke , by continually talking about them ( and it's always the same old shit ) we're giving them publicity and promoting them .
Relateively insignificant but... Watch at 4:37, what is that timer in the background?
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