# Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally will not be political (& other Tea Party nonsense) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2010, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517 "2010-08-26T11:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/241 "2010-08-30T02:20:48Z")
> [@Rafe\_Hollister](#): > > > [@SteveG1](#): > > > > I wanna know … > > > > Why is Beck so important, what has he ever said that was right or mattered? What has he ever said, that he had enough conviction and balls to say “Yeah I said it”, when called on it, instead of waffling, equivocating, and “regretting”? > > > > Why does that stupid useless spineless shitforbrains matter to anyone? > > Apparently he matters enough that you fuckers who think he doesn’t matter will have a circle jerk in an internet forum for 2 days and 5 pages about what an idiot he is. Gee. Who peed in your Cheerios today? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/242 "2010-08-30T02:22:14Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > …regretted, but not retracted. :smack: I both regret and retract my effort to give Beck that measure of credit. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/243 "2010-08-30T02:26:55Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > > [@Rafe\_Hollister](#): > > > > Apparently he matters enough that you fuckers who think he doesn’t matter will have a circle jerk in an internet forum for 2 days and 5 pages about what an idiot he is. > > Gee. Who peed in your Cheerios today? Also, who the fuck are you? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/244 "2010-08-30T02:32:16Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > > [@Rafe\_Hollister](#): > > > > Apparently he matters enough that you fuckers who think he doesn’t matter will have a circle jerk in an internet forum for 2 days and 5 pages about what an idiot he is. > > Gee. Who peed in your Cheerios today? Obama ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/245 "2010-08-30T03:28:00Z")
Did he get it on video? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/246 "2010-08-30T05:30:57Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > > [@Clothahump](#): > > > > Did Beck make an issue of skin color in that statement? No. He did, however, point out that Obama’s actions indicate that he has an issue with skin color. Such as when Obama heard that a white police officer arrested a black professor and immediately said that the police acted stupidly without knowing one other frickin’ fact about what happened. Which is what prompted Beck’s statement in the first place. > > FWIW, Beck recanted that statement today, as part of the “liberation theology” remarks. Yes. He did clarify it, and I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/247 "2010-08-30T05:32:12Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@elucidator](#): > > > > [http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/29/wallace-beck-credibility/](http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/29/wallace-beck-credibility/) > > > > ThinkProgress. The usual prophylactic procedures apply for such persons as might fear contamination from reason. > > He actually called Obama “demonic?” **Mace** buried the lead. > > I’m kind of surprised to see he only drew 87,000 people for his Million Moron March yesterday. Sounds like it was kind of a flop. Minimum estimate is 300,000 from the Park Service. And they are not morons. They are pissed-off voters. I hope the politicians were listening. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/248 "2010-08-30T05:36:18Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > and, oddly enough , after reading through a couple of articles about it again as a refresher, it seems that what Glenn is headed for in his “Restore Honor” by going back to church thing is very in line with Black Liberation Theology in it’s efforts to reform society through the principles of the gospel. BLT focused on the issues of it’s day among the black community. Racism and equality. Uh…no. Liberation theology is Marxism disguised as religion. Black Liberation Theology took that and threw a healthy dose of victimhood into the stew. Here’s a reasonably good explanation: [The Marxist roots of black liberation theology | Acton Institute](http://www.acton.org/pub/commentary/2008/04/02/marxist-roots-black-liberation-theology) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/249 "2010-08-30T05:37:59Z")
What are they pissed off about? That they lost a fair election? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/250 "2010-08-30T05:40:00Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > And they are not morons. They are pissed-off voters. These are not mutually-exclusive traits. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/251 "2010-08-30T05:50:02Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Minimum estimate is 300,000 from the Park Service. And they are not morons. They are pissed-off voters. I hope the politicians were listening. Yes, they are morons. And so are you. You are a fucking clueless idiot masquerading as a moronic buffoon. Your statement above is either wrong or a lie. And no, I won’t give you time to retract it and tell us which one. The National Park Service never gave that estimate of crowd size for this event. NEVER. I can state unequivocally that they gave NO ESTIMATE of crowd size at any time. You wanna know how I know that? Because the National Park Service hasn’t given out estimates of crowd size since 1997. Asshole. Idiot. Ignorant twat. STFU already and let knowledgable adults have a discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/252 "2010-08-30T06:12:01Z")
[The Park Service _permit_](http://www.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/08/beck-dc-rally/1) [was for 300,000.](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/08/29/2010-08-29_crowd_estimates_at_glenn_becks_restore_america_rally_depend_dramatically_on_who_.html) > [@](#): > > It’s likely to be a big crowd – but how big, no one knows. Beck’s National Park Service permit was for 300,000. There’s no telling now whether he’ll meet or exceed that goal. The Associated Press reports this morning that about 100,000 are likely to attend. **Clothahump** , you need to find a better blog to follow. ---
**Author:** ![tonysidaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@tonysidaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonysidaway)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/253 "2010-08-30T06:38:40Z")
Not morons? Okay. Fox News “I didn’t know what ignoramus meant so I googled it and it means ‘ignorant lawyer’” Channel viewers. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/254 "2010-08-30T06:41:14Z")
Actually, we know quite a bit about them. I have been advised by experts that they, after long years of study and analysis, are firmly in favor of the Austrian School of Economics. They also nearly unanimously favor Comcast, Verizon and so forth in the recent struggle over “net neutrality”. Of course, this hardly surprising given how wildly popular and beloved are America’s cable and mobile phone companies. ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/255 "2010-08-30T07:13:30Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Minimum estimate is 300,000 from the Park Service. And they are not morons. They are pissed-off voters. I hope the politicians were listening. I thought it wasn’t political? ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/256 "2010-08-30T07:44:18Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The National Park Service never gave that estimate of crowd size for this event. NEVER. I can state unequivocally that they gave NO ESTIMATE of crowd size at any time. You wanna know how I know that? > > Because the National Park Service hasn’t given out estimates of crowd size since 1997. And that is for a reason given in [the second link Bosstone posted in the post just below:](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/08/29/2010-08-29_crowd_estimates_at_glenn_becks_restore_america_rally_depend_dramatically_on_who_.html) > [@](#): > > The National Park Service used to provide official estimates of crowd figures, but stopped in 1997 after being accused of underestimating the attendees at the 1995 Million Man March. They’d had trouble with releasing official estimates before, that was just the last straw. They had been repeatedly accused of undercounting by one side of an issue and overcounting by another, because people seem to confuse attendance at a rally with proof of the inherent rightness or wrongness of a cause. So come 1997, they said, fuck it, work out your own estimates. And that, boys and girls, is how we come up with estimates of “probably less than 100,000” from one source and “certainly over 500,000” from another for the same damn gathering. Thank you, politically motivated crybabies. Thank you _so_ much. It might be worth noting that CBS used much the same method the Park Service used to use, and came up with their own estimate of [between 79,000 and 96,000 attendees](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20014993-503544.html) when the photos were taken at noon. That isn’t exactly shabby, but I guess it doesn’t have the fund-raising potential of half a million, does it. Therefore, it must be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/257 "2010-08-30T08:15:32Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > One wonders what it means to “regret” something without “retracting” it. > > Or at least I do. Well, I once told my sister she was a spoiled, over-reacting cunt and she socked me right in the mouth. So I regretted saying it - but like Hell I’m retracting it 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/258 "2010-08-30T08:31:08Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > I dare not say it, but the idea of Hitler comes to mind. > [@Polycarp](#): > > Holy Godwin’s Mother of Mercia, give me strength to resist the temptation to draw the obvious parallel!!! Why hold back? Despots throughout history, Hitler being a classic example, have used similar techniques. Harking back to a fictional glorious past, scapegoating a minority and glorification of the military are textbook fascist moves. > [@El\_Kabong](#): > > OK, I will say that for someone who so often invokes echoes of the Third Reich in organizations he disagrees with, Beck seems awfully fond of huge rallies and snappy nationalistic imagery. This is his clear pre-emptive strike technique. He scapegoats others using race so he claims to be holding a civil rights rally, boldly “standing up for” poor downtrodden whites. He uses fascist techniques so is outspoken against the third reich. He uses his media clout to support Palin’s political ambitions so he makes sure he describes the rally as non-political. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/259 "2010-08-30T11:23:34Z")
I’m sure if the event participants realized they had created 6 pages of consternation and finger pointing from the usual crowd on this board, they would be reassured in feeling they are on the right track. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/260 "2010-08-30T13:26:08Z")
I don’t think we should rely on the scientific methods of taking actual pictures of the actual crowds and extrapolating attendence numbers, as has been done to reasonable accuracy in the past. Otherwise you may be assailed with something as far-fetched as: “[T]hey noted that with a margin of error of 9,000, ‘between 78,000 and 96,000 attended the rally.’” What we should do is take the word of completely apolitical attendants such as Michele Bachman, who said: “We’re not going to let anyone get away with saying there were less than a million here today – because we were witnesses.” And perhaps we can hammer the point home with eminent wordologist, Sarah Palin, who tweeted: “Silly media reports ‘maybe thousands’@Beck’s ‘irrelevant’ event;insinuating MSM sheeple mustn’t believe their own eyes&ears…” I mean, what terms do you want to run across when figuring out estimates on pretty much anything? “Margin of error” or “sheeple?” Wake up … um … people who resemble sheep! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517.md?page=14)