I get the impression Von Drehle sat in front of the Glenn Beck show for a week and tried to patch together an essay out of the experience. The result was a failure, journalistically and intellectually. I can't really tell where Von Drehle stands, but he seems to take Beck's factless claims about Obama, the Democrats, etc., as matters for debate, not verification, making no attempt to tell us about the reality behind them. There's not a insightful word in here about Beck's brand of ... More »

Fascinating report about libertarian talk show host Glenn Beck and why his angry rants appeal to so many people on the right. This story provides well-sourced factual evidence and context on the man and his followers, as well as their collective impact on American society.

What is good here is that Time magazine is taking note of Glenn Beck and the extent to which he has his finger on America's conservative pulse. The left accuses Beck of "red-baiting," yet it is only he who consistently asks hard questions about the far-left political credentials held by many of those whom Obama has appointed or who actively participate in defining his administration's policy and legislative objectives. What this article makes clear is that Beck's numbers belie ... More »

a fascinating look at our country in these times as the writer pulls together logical motivations for glenn beck's rants and popularity--both those from inside him --paranoid fears, and from outside--a lot of money. both fans and critics, along with the increasing influence of media and the many problematic conditions of our country, can escalate havoc. the media here, perhaps unfairly, is divided into either liberal or conservative