In the Arena

How Long, Glenn Beck, How Long?

  • Share
  • Read Later
The most interesting sideshow during Egypt’s convulsion has been among American conservatives, who are slicing themselves into interesting subgroups over whether to support the demonstrators. As I’ve written here previously, a great many neoconservatives are sticking to their intellectual guns, supporting democracy in Egypt even at the possible expense of Israel’s security. Others, like John Bolton, are locked into old-fashioned power politics: you support your allies. Others, like Charles Krauthammer, take a more–dare I say it–realistic path, realizing that the change, if it comes, needs to be carefully calibrated, with the Egyptian Army having a major say.
Today, (hat tip/Ben Smith), we have Bill Kristol sticking with the demonstrators and calling out free-range lunatic Glenn Beck, for his hilarious commie-muslim caliphate delusions. This is not unimportant. Kristol lies very close to the throbbing heart of the Fox News sensibility. And I’ve heard, from more than a couple of conservative sources, that prominent Republicans have approached Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes about the potential embarrassment that the paranoid-messianic rodeo clown may bring upon their brand. The speculation is that Beck is on thin ice. His ratings are dropping, too–which, in the end, is a good part of what this is all about. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a mirror-Olbermann situation soon.