Apparently Glenn Beck is transitioning from his Fox show

[Selene]

Glenn Beck To 'Transition Off' Fox News Program

The Huffington Post is reporting that Glenn Beck will be transitioning off of his daily program on Fox News.

Jack Mirkinson of HuffingtonPost.com says, "Beck's production company, Mercury Radio Arts, will instead work with Fox News to produce programs for the channel.

In a joint news release, Fox News and Mercury Radio Arts, Beck's production company, said that they will 'work together to develop and produce a variety of television projects for air on the Fox News Channel as well as content for other platforms including Fox News’ digital properties.'

Beck, the statement said, would 'transition off of his daily program, the third highest rated in all of cable news, later this year.'"

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Adam.

I just saw that.

The Left and Beck-haters are going to spin this as some kind of defeat based on lack of sponsors, but from what Ailes said about looking forward to continuing working with him, I gather this was Beck's idea, not Fox's. Also, a Fox honcho (Joel Cheatwood) is leaving Fox to join Beck's company, Mercury Radio Arts.

I suspect the opposite of the spin is happening and something even bigger is in the works for Beck's partnership with Fox. Apparently, he is also going to have an important role in Fox's online stuff, but the NYT report is too vague to say right now.

One thing is for sure: Glenn Beck is not leaving center stage in the media and he has not lost a supporter and fan in me.

(That's actually 2 things, but you know what I mean. )

Michael

EDIT: This just popped up on The Blaze (by Scott Baker):

Fox News and Mercury Radio Arts Announce New Agreement; Beck to ‘Transition Off’ Daily TV Program

From the article:

Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO of Fox News said, “Glenn Beck is a powerful communicator, a creative entrepreneur and a true success by anybody’s standards. I look forward to continuing to work with him.”

Glenn Beck said: “I truly believe that America owes a lot to Roger Ailes and Fox News. I cannot repay Roger for the lessons I’ve learned and will continue to learn from him and I look forward to starting this new phase of our partnership.”

Joel Cheatwood, SVP/Development at Fox News, will be joining Mercury Radio Arts effective April 24, 2011. Part of his role as EVP will be to manage the partnership and serve as a liaison with the Fox News Channel.

Roger Ailes said: “Joel is a good friend and one of the most talented and creative executives in the business. Over the past four years I have consistently valued his input and advice and that will not stop as we work with him in his new role.”

“Glenn Beck” is consistently the third highest rated program on cable news. For the 27 months that “Glenn Beck” has aired on Fox News, the program has averaged more than 2.2 million total viewers and 563,000 viewers 25-54 years old, numbers normally associated with shows airing in primetime, not at 5pm. “Glenn Beck” has dominated all of its cable news competitors since launch.

[Selene]

Michael:

Agreed.

He is, as you note about others, a producer.

Ever since I ran into his show when I was in Virginia some five (5) or six (6) years ago, I recognized and respected his dedication, discipline and drive to be a productive influence in the real world.

His directness and honesty about where he had risen from, with addiction, depression and suicide, only increased my admiration for what he was accomplishing.

As some here may remember from my past posts, I would rave about the quality of his research staff. That expectation of excellence was a direct result of Beck's dedication to excellence.

Additionally, his and his staff's brilliant sense of humor, both planned, and spontaneous, was just another proof of his insight and intelligence.

Realizing full well, that many, here, and in the public broadcasting world, would attempt to diminish his value because of his deep religious conversion and path, only increased my respect for his accomplishments.

As you have astutely observed, he does not preach, or demand that anyone believe his interpretation. Rather, he demands and desires that each and every one of us independently verify and research for ourselves and come to our own independent conclusions about all issues.

That is mark of a person who deserves respect and who should be admired.

I know that you, as I do, respect and admire the man.

He has earned it.

Adam

[merjet]

Fox News Channel dropping Glenn Beck's daily show later this year

[Philip Coates]

> many, here, and in the public broadcasting world, would attempt to diminish his value because of his deep religious conversion and path [Adam]

While I view religion as invalid, there are many deeply religious people of good character and worthy of respect. Start with most of the Founding Fathers.

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Merlin,

You will see lots of stories like that one by David Bauder. They're constantly going on.

This is typical of the Soros-funded press that constantly dishes out spin, innuendo, propaganda and yellow journalism. You ought to see what they write about Ayn Rand.

Most Soros-funded journalists are hacks without a shred of integrity who often just make up things. When proven wrong, they never retract their statements.

I can't say whether David Bauder personally is employed by an organization that receives Soros funds.

(There. I just did to him what he does.)

Look up David Bauder and you will see his style of reporting and some complaints about this kind of spinning.

Michael

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Beck just told Judge Napolitano that people (implying his critics) are going to crave the day when he was only on a 5:00 pm show. He repeated (grinning) that they are going to crave the day. And Judge Napolitano laughed like an insider.

I smell something big happening with him.

Michael

[Jerry Biggers]

The MSM Beck-haters were out in force yesterday (and apparently, today) shouting in glee that Beck has been "forced" off of Fox and that any statement from Beck or Fox to the contrary "proves" that he is out. AOL (now the mouthpiece of The Huffington Post), Yahoo News (using AP stories), and of course, MSNBC, were acting jubilant.

Chris Matthews, after showing clips of Beck discussing radical Islamist plans for creating a new "Caliphate" and exclaiming about how "crazy" Beck was, then congratulated former-conservative-turned-liberal-hack David Brock of the Soros-funded "Media Matters," for a successful campaign in bringing Beck down (with Matthews quickly adding that he and MSNBC also deserve some of the credit). The jubilance of the MSM may be premature and their continual trumpeting of Beck's demise sounds more like they're nervously trying to convince themselves that this is so.

While I have strong reservations about some of Glenn Beck's message (e.g., his repeated resorting to a curious and inherently unstable amalgam of apocalyptic teachings from Pat Robertson-types with W. Cleon Skousen's blend of Mormonism and conspiracy theory), his programs about the historical relationship between liberal so-called "progresivism" and other collectivist ideologies (e.g., the fascist corporate state) have been quite good. And I think that this is what the MSM campaign against Beck is really about. His audience is much too large for their comfort, so they have to resort to tactics of name-calling, "strawman" misrepresentations, ridicule, accusations of outright stupidity or insanity, or allusions that all opponents of Obama's agenda are racist and potentially violent.

What is rarely seen, in the Left's campaign against anyone that they consider as "rightist," is a point-for-point analysis and refutation of the arguments from Beck, Limbaugh, Palin, Rand, and other conservative/libertarian du jour. It doesn't even matter to the Left that these people often disagree with each other on key points. What they are really trying to avoid is any serious discussion of their arguments.

Of course, all of these tactics were discussed by Rand in her essays from the 1960s, "The Argument From Intimidation" (in VOS) and "Extremism, Or the Art of Smearing" (in CUI). Her analysis was correct. The difference is that now the Left is even more vocal and more strident.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Jerry Biggers

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Jerry,

In one of Beck's recent shows, he said as an aside, as if talking to Sarah Palin, "Once you are in... oops... (with irony) did I say that?..."

I have a feeling he is going to be a major force in the upcoming Presidential election. He has to get out of regular TV now if he is going to do that without legal challenge later. (I'm not saying he will do that, but I have a feeling...)

Well, I think I can finally finish my report on the Restoring Honor rally. Here's why. It's the final theme that I've always been troubled with.

One of the most under-reported parts of that event was Beck's presentation of the Black Robe Brigade. His premise is that the clergy laid the groundwork for the American Revolution by preaching week after week the revolutionary messages of the times. So he wanted to form his own effort in that sense for today's troubles, especially to counter the assault from the Left..

What has happened since the rally is that all those pastors, ministers, priests, rabbis, imams and other holy people (who number in the thousands all together) have been preaching week after week after week without getting any air time for it. And they have been preaching values very much in line with what Beck has been presenting on his show.

Beck was extremely clever in discussing the difference between collective salvation and individual salvation, thus opening the door to his message in churches. Like he said in a far different context, we don't have to believe in those things. The important part is to recognize that they do.

I already see some major impacts on our culture (which are also partly due the sleazy manner in which Obama has governed so far). On a recent poll I saw on TV somewhere, the vast majority of the country is now polling as conservative. It's not like it was before. The USA has always been largely a center-right country. But what is coming through now goes way beyond that.

The media thinks it is the only former of public opinion. Out here in O-Land, we think it's philosophy. I hold that it's a serious mistake to ignore the very place most people go to get their moral tune-up for the week.

I believe Beck's Black Robe Brigade effort is going to be far more important than his TV show ever was in forming a public voice for individualism and Founding Father-like values in what Nixon used to call "the silent majority."

That majority exists and it is now being prompted from within its own moral culture. And Beck's narrative couldn't be better for motivating those folks, i.e., their church is under attack from within by the collectivists. Satan, the great deceiver, anyone? That's exactly what they are now thinking.

What do you think they will do about it? I know I have an inkling...

Michael

[Jerry Biggers]

Michael,

"Major force in the election?" As in, himself running? Or, as in helping to organize (say, through a PAC) for someone else(e.g., Palin, Huckabee, Romney [a Mormon], Trump [for whom Limbaugh currently seems to be drooling over])?

As for organizing the religious (fundamentalist, evangelical, etc.) conservatives, that's been tried before. Falwell's "Moral Majority," Pat Robertson's campaign for the GOP nomination, etc. I don't think the "Black Robe Brigade" will be any more successful. But, in any event, many non-religious conservatives, libertarians, and of course, Objectivists, will stridently oppose such a move. One of their main criticisms was that Robertson, et al, were mainly interested in advancing traditional(ist) values and not so much economic freedom.

I agree with a point that you have previously made that America is a predominantly Christian nation (or at least the majority pays "lip service" to christian values). And of course, theology. The chances for any politician rising to prominance on a fully Objectivist platform is...zero. He/she admits to agreement with Rand's view of religion, and their political career will be stillborn. He/she would have a much better chance admitting that they were gay, than admitting to atheism. I think Objectivism provides a more solid foundation for political/economic/individual freedom than a religious-based conservatism, but it's not going to sell well to the great majority of the population. At least not for the forseeable future.

And that means that any real chance of successfully opposing the left will require a great deal of cooperation between various elements on the right who only agree with each other over certain issues.

As for what Beck has up his sleeve, I have no clue.

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Jerry,

Beck's Black Robe Brigade is not a formal organization. It's more of a metaphor or vision of an ideal (somewhat like Galt's Gulch, but with religious folks). At the rally, he could only fit 250 clergy on the stage, but there were thousands more in the public.

This number has grown since then. But there is no organization that I know of, there are no dues or even formal literature. I think it's more on a mouth-to-mouth basis between clergy people. (If you want to change a culture, forget about the masses and change the leaders. This is a classic Bernays strategy.)

Traditionally on his TV show, he regularly has rabbis, pastors and people from other denominations when he wants to discuss religion and politics. He even had Falwell on once. Some of these people have a very low view of Mormons, but they had no problem sitting with him. Not even Al Sharpton (who, btw, thinks Beck is misguided, but a good person--at least he's said that on the air). Beck's even had atheists on--without attacking them.

I think his genius lies in not defining the religion, but defining the intent of people towards each other in terms of freedom and individual responsibility towards themselves. Even when he talks about charity, he makes a strong distinction between charity you choose to do, which he strongly supports, and government-enforced charity, which he calls theft.

As to politics, I don't think he will ever occupy political office himself. Not from what he has expressed so far. He's quite happy as a showman and radio is his passion in life. H's also turning out to be quite an entrepreneur.

Speaking of this last, I know he has plans to educate and foster entrepreneurship in America among that majority I spoke about--to get back to America's financial roots so to speak.

Michael

[jriggenbach]

The human ability to see what it wants to see is truly amazing.

I look forward to the day when the next presidential election has come and gone and at least a few of those now going mad all around me return to their senses and realize that nothing has changed. As Emma Goldman put it, "if voting could change anything, it'd be illegal."

JR

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Here's a video of Beck from his radio show making a prediction:

<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="390" height="320" id="Redlasso"><param name="movie" value="http://player.redlasso.com/redlasso_player_b1b_deploy.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="embedId=78f2f429-5046-43aa-9395-f19d1e539fef&pid=" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://player.redlasso.com/redlasso_player_b1b_deploy.swf" flashvars="embedId=78f2f429-5046-43aa-9395-f19d1e539fef&pid=" width="390" height="320" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" name="Redlasso"></embed></object>

btw - He is involved in a project right now called E4. But I believe this is a plan he made for himself a while back and later gave it to the public.

1. Enlightenment

2, Education

3, Empowerment

4. Entrepreneurship

I think he is going into the Empowerment phase.

This situation reminds me of when Sarah Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska. Everybody wrote her off, said her career was over, yadda yadda yadda. She then went around quietly backing a new kind of candidate all over the country and royally kicked Obama's ass in the midterms--and the ass of the Republican's old boy network while she was at it..

Michael

[Selene]

US ambassador to China quits post amid presidential speculation

This man has been publicly and actively criticising the harsh repression of the Red Chinese dictatorship.

He has personally appeared in street demonstrations in his bomber jacket within the last month. Yesterday, he blasted the Chinese dictatorship for

disappearing the courageous poet who they almost killed the last time they had him.

He is the son of a very, very wealthy Mormon who Beck is very tight with and who Beck calls one of his spiritual mentors.

So, while everyone is looking at the forest of candidates, they are missing this grand oak right in front of their eyes.

Unfortunately JR, I agree with Emma Goldman, but I still want to thing we can change things locally through the electoral process. Nationally, I have my doubts.

P.J. O'Rouke says don't vote, it only encourages the bastards, the title of his recent book.

I also worked really hard on the None of the Above movement. Still have my Pine Tree poster somewhere.

Adam

Post Script: Michael, I have been wondering about when that Black Robe Brigade was going to emerge.

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Jeff,

It's a matter of perspective.

I don't think anyone is expecting the Messiah to come with a Presidential election.

I personally never expect the field of politics to be better than it can be. But I do understand that it can get a whole lot worse than it is.

Is there collective progress in human nature from the bad to the good? One that would allow for better politics?

Well, we have eliminated slavery from the realm of respectability in our institutions and human sacrifice has been taken out of the high priest's hand and restricted to execution chambers and war. And we have found a way to allow the little guy to create prosperity and become a big guy without taking it by force from anyone. We've put power under the yoke of being sliced and diced and played off against itself--and that never existed before. So yeah, we've made some collective moral progress as a species even though specific individuals may not be up to snuff.

But that progress is really slow and not what you could call a straight line.

I expect human politics to reflect the state of the humans within the respective society where it operates and the character of the respective politicians.

So I don't believe Godot will ever come. At least not in my lifetime. Got tired of waiting, I guess...

Taking the lesser of two evils is not much, I know, but in the lack of any other viable alternative, I'll take what I can get. I've got kids and I don't want them to get to my age (and beyond) living under anything worse than the Presidents and administrations we've had up to now. I do want them to enjoy the measure of freedom I've had, or even more if possible.

Maybe that sounds corny, but I'm a hillbilly from birth.

Michael

[caroljane]

Michael,

Do you think Beck might be wanting to raise a few echoes with the Catholics too?

The Black Robes were the Jesuit missionaries who evangelized the Canadian Indians, principally the Hurons, - their most famous members, Brebeuf and Lalement, were tortured to death in the 17th century.

There is an excellent novel, Black Robe by Brian Moore, and a good movie was made from it.

[caroljane]

Also Michael, I remember you were going to hear Beck speak a while ago. Looking back, do you think he gave any intimation to his audience about future plans?

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Carol,

Here is the transcript of first time (or the first main time) Beck spoke about this:

'Glenn Beck': The Black Robe Brigade

This was about a year ago. When that happened, and even later after the rally, you could hardly find anything on the Internet about it. Now when you Google it, lots of links are cropping up.

Apparently someone is trying to organize this:

The Black Robe Regiment

That looks like a well executed website, but it's not the only thing out there.

On another note, Beck has been promoting an effort by Freedomworks called FreedomConnector:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ezW_SxmvpVY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here's a discussion he did about it:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UinP85eZzLo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And here is the link if anyone wants to join.

Join FreedomConnector

I'll probably end up joining this thing, but I'm not much of a joiner of these things.

When I do some freedom-related products I have in mind, it's probably a good thing to do to get in front of a target market fast.

Oops...

And there's the freedom discourse, too...

Michael

[Brant Gaede]

The human ability to see what it wants to see is truly amazing.

I look forward to the day when the next presidential election has come and gone and at least a few of those now going mad all around me return to their senses and realize that nothing has changed. As Emma Goldman put it, "if voting could change anything, it'd be illegal."

JR

This must be a reference for positive change, for there is change--for the worse. I knew the last Bush was going to be a disaster before he was President and before 9/11. And Ronald Reagen and his horrible "Just say no" wife--he's the guy who gave us the first Bush instead of Jack Kemp, a much better man. If someone had only made a picture in the early 1960s starring RR as an heroic President, he might not have had the impulse to reprise his role for real: been there, done that.

--Brant

at least GTW* has been averted so far

*general or global thermonuclear war

Edited April 7, 2011 by Brant Gaede

[Selene]

Glenn Beck launches new venture which could be a game changer here.

Apparently, it is a new live HD Video Network!

Just got this e-mail...

GBTV. The Truth Lives Here

<img align="right" border="0" height="346" hspace="20" vspace="3" width="290">Today the questions about Glenn's future end -- and the future itself begins.

Glenn Beck and Mercury Radio Arts are proud to announce a new network built from the ground-up. It's called GBTV, and it is the network of tomorrow, a day early.

Will Glenn's show be on GBTV?

Yes! Glenn's show will expand to two hours a night, five nights a week and be streamed live in HD exclusively on GBTV. For more details on Glenn's show, click HERE.

What is GBTV?

Simple: it's a live, streaming video network that, in addition to being the home of Glenn's new show, will also feature a wide variety of other programming. But the real secret to GBTV is what it doesn't have: an agenda. Glenn has financed the development of GBTV himself to ensure that he is only accountable to you.

How do I get GBTV?

The best thing about GBTV is that it goes wherever you do. From your laptop to your desktop to your iPad, iPhone or television (via a Roku device), GBTV is always available. No more faking illnesses to ensure you're home to watch Glenn -- if you've got Internet access, you've got GBTV.

How much does it cost?

Let's put it this way, a month of GBTV access is almost 40% cheaper than THIS. For full pricing details, including how to get a month free, click HERE.

OK, I'm sold. Now what?

Join us! It's time to roll up our sleeves and make a real difference. That's why GBTV is not just a place to view shows you love; it's a way to get involved and to turn ideas into action. We're going to leave the sensational scandals and partisan bickering to others and instead move forward and find real solutions. We hope you'll join us on this journey toward building a better tomorrow -- we promise, it'll be one heck of a ride.

Welcome to GBTV: The Truth Lives Here.

Still have questions? Join Glenn tomorrow night for the FREE GBTV Launch Event -- Wednesday, June 8th at 7 pm ET. Get all the details HERE.

Edited June 7, 2011 by Selene

[Selene]

Here is the press release and video from the Blaze here.

"In a story first reported tonight by The New York Times, Glenn Beck, and his company Mercury Radio Arts, are proud to announce the creation of GBTV - a live streaming video network featuring Glenn’s new daily two-hour show and a wide range of original and licensed information and entertainment programming."

[Brant Gaede]

I'm sorry. I don't care how much G.B. mentions or praises Ayn Rand. I don't give a shit about Glenn Beck. Take him out with a stick.

--Brant

[Selene]

Glenn in the elevator with Jeffrey Immelt of GE - crony capitalist extraordinaire!

Glenn hopped in the elevator this morning, and on his way down GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt got in the elevator. That’s right, Glenn lives above the GE boss! But what’s more important was the distinct lack of courage Glenn showed when Immelt struck up a conversation and asked Glenn what he thought of the world. “Mr. Big shot tough guy didn’t say anything when actually confronted,” Stu joked. “Stand! Unless you just want to get to work. Stand for courage unless it’s inconvenient.”

His staff roasted him here.

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Kat got me a premium subscription to Glenn Beck's new TV Network for my birthday.

I love it.

Glenn is a freedom lover who is making a difference for real out there. It is an honor to support him and what he stands for.

Michael

[Selene]

Penn Jillette on Glenn Beck: He’s a nut. I mean, he’s a deep, deep nut. On a one-on-one level I like him. My tolerance for crazy people is I think high a tolerance as you’re ever going to find. I love being around David Allen Coe. I would have loved to hang out with Tiny Tim. I can listen to Sun Ra on a tape-recording rant. I have… it’s not patience, it’s love for people who are… live outside the law. And Glenn Beck is that.

Article and video's here