Thursday, April 07, 2011

Why did Fox News fire Glenn Beck?


Because, let's face it, a firing it was, despite the happy-talk press release announcing that Fox News and Mercury Radio Arts, Beck's production company, will continue to "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."

So why was he fired? Declining ratings? Concern that Beck would make Republicans look really bad heading into 2012? Recognition that he's a loose cannon and not exactly a team player? Embarrassment among the rank and file, if not throughout the entire organization?

Does it matter? Do we care?

Normally, I'd turn this over to R.K. Barry, our resident Beckologist, but from what I understand he seriously injured himself yesterday doing a series of backflips upon hearing the news. Initial reports that it was his groin seem to have been overblown. I suspect it's his back and that he's now on some serious meds.

Can you blame him? We won't have Glenn Beck to kick around anymore. Well, not really. He'll be around, but his days as an unavoidable right-wing media personality are probably over.

Then again, it's fun to kick Glenn Beck around, and, yes, he did make Fox News and everything else on the right look bad. And he's been great for business, the business of those of us who oppose him and everything he stands for.

And we won't have Jon Stewart doing Glenn Beck, which he's doing right now, as I type. Hilarious stuff. (Ah, Jon just said he's been good for business, too! I suppose a lot of us are saying that.)

I'm tempted to say that his firing/departure will be good for America, and for American political and cultural discourse, but of course he's only departing his daily show at Fox News. He'll still be on the radio, and he'll still have his legions of followers (even if most of them are old).

But I do think we ought to celebrate his firing. As Alexander Zaitchik, author of Common Nonsense, puts it (quoted by Weigel):

Moving forward, I see him turning into a sort of hybrid-figure, part Limbaugh, part Breitbart, part Pat Robertson, maybe a little Ben Stein on the documentaries front. But it's hard to avoid the conclusion that his days as a heavy, constant presence in the mainstream conversation are over. Whatever media shape-shift he's about to perform post-Fox, he's a greatly diminished national presence for those who aren't "Insider Extreme" members at glennbeck.com. Which is a blessed, blessed thing.

Indeed it is.

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11 Comments:

  • The polygamist branch of Mormonism is awful in my opinion. Because they don’t take on women who are adult and have choices, they prey on children who then grow up knowing no other way. It’s child abuse, plain and simple to me.

    I agree with your comments regarding Beck.

    By Anonymous Sherrymiller@yahoo.com, at 1:46 PM  

  • The polygamist branch of Mormonism is awful in my opinion. Because they don’t take on women who are adult and have choices, they prey on children who then grow up knowing no other way. It’s child abuse, plain and simple to me.

    I agree with your comments regarding Beck.

    By Anonymous SherryMiller, at 1:47 PM  

  • This comment has been removed by the author.

    By Blogger SJerZGirl, at 12:00 AM  

  • Wow, Montana. I lived in Utah for 17 years and left the church because of what I saw out there and even I can't figure out how to connect the FLDS to this story. And, yes, I did see the multi-home walled compounds that were even in SLC while the state did nothing because, deny as they do, they DO believe in polygamy and won't even get rid of the commandment from their scriptures. Regardless, that has nothing to do with Fox firing Beck. Beck's a Mormon, but he's not a polygamist and his firing has nothing to do with polygamy.

    By Blogger SJerZGirl, at 4:26 AM  

  • Glenn Back was like the "Chicken Littles” always saying that the “Sky is Falling”, like the same ones that were the “Chicken Hawks”, big talk no courage. The United States, favors creativity wherever it can be found. We're apostles of prosperity and defenders of the free exchange of ideas and when more people in more countries are free to rise, to invent, to communicate, to dissent, it's not the doom of United States leadership, its the triumph of the American way. Generations have worked hard and sacrificed much for the country to reach this point (individuals and our unions!), and with further hard work and sacrifice (along with our relentless self-doubt) the United States will rise again, we do not tire and we are coming back, no matter what the “Chicken Littles” keep saying about our nation. Never Bet Against the United States!

    By Anonymous Montana, at 11:22 PM  

  • ALL of the purveyors of neocon punditry today are "Chicken Littles" cashing in on the fears of those who want to believe they'll never be led astray, who look to be led by leaders who have answers to their fears. Cults are full and overflowing with such people.

    By Blogger SJerZGirl, at 1:56 AM  

  • He'll still be on the radio, and he'll still have his legions of followers (even if most of them are old). Old does this mean our Elder's opinion does not matter?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:36 AM  

  • Glenn Beck is absolutely toxic
    to America. He has nothing good
    to say about anything or anyone.
    The negativity reeks !!!
    Get him off the air along with
    HANNITY... Please

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:25 PM  

  • This is sad that you are happy about glenn leaving fox. Our country is going to hell fast and all you are complaining about is some one trying to foreworn you. I wonder if you. All communist or just ignorant

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:23 AM  

  • I don't expect you to print or publish my comments, but the Glen Beck show on Fox was the most watched show Fox had. Why would you take away your viewing crowd? I find more and more reasons not to watch Fox news anymore. Fox alone got Idiot child, Obama elected, and now seems to be repeating their performance. Hussein Obama gets hours of coverage daily. When he comes on, I know if his lips are moving, he is lying (his best action). I miss the truth Glen Beck brought to Fox--truth is seldom there anymore. I pray GB will prosper in his ability to tell the truth wherever he goes. I also pray that Obama will go home soon and stay there with his overweight wife.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:19 PM  

  • Glen Beck was the most likable person I know and he spoke the truth. My friends and I were very sad to see him go and Fox news is something I don't watch anymore. He made you enlinghten to what was going on in this world and he was right every time. Wake up people, he's not your enemy, look to the goverenment for that. Never missed the Glen Beck show and I wish he was back, but no one has the backbone or the courage to bring him back. Good luck Glen in whatever you do and God Bless you and your family. We miss you!!

    By Anonymous Susie, at 2:28 PM  

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