by John Galt
July 10, 2012 19:30 ET
Trust me, this is not an attack on Alex Jones, but more of a compliment to his style in the current news environment. While many might view this article as something out of left field, the question is legitimate now but not as Media Matters used the Washington Post to infer the question over a year ago in this highly biased article on July 1, 2011 by Erik Wemple:
Media Matters: Is Glenn Beck the next Alex Jones?
At the time this article was posted, I dismissed it as the usual George Soros fluffernuttery inspired to fire up the masses and laughed as Glenn had found his stride as a religious patriot seeking to re-balance the scales of the American system focused on a Constitutional founding based on the ideals of the Founding Fathers. The problem with that is that at some point, principle loses money and the risks that Mr. Beck face (again) at another “Restore” event have been outlined by his concerns of being over $1 million in the hole for the upcoming Dallas event. I wish him the best of luck in breaking even though, as these gatherings do bring a degree of camaraderie and fellowship; things our nation is sorely missing.
Unfortunately, the article from the WaPo stated the following via Media Matters:
“His influence will be less and we’ll gauge what we will be doing based on that,” says Ari Rabin-Havt, executive vice president of Media Matters for America. The monitoring, though, will proceed. Someone at the 90-strong organization will be watching and clipping Beck’s pronouncements, both on GBTV and on his radio show.
Yet Beck will no longer be Beck for Media Matters. “The truth is there are a million cranks on the Internet, and he probably will fall into a category like Alex Jones, who has an audience but no influence,”says Rabin-Havt.
As a fellow crank who for whatever reason can’t crack the top 100 in the SPLC hate list, that quote does bear some review. If his influence is fading, it would show up in the ratings, right? Sometimes. However, Talkers Magazine, the industry bible does tend to lead more credence. In 2011, the Heavy Hundred had Mr. Beck at #3:
This year, he has dropped to #9:
What does this mean? To the liberal elites, everything, to the average person, nothing. Mr. Beck has clearly stated that he is putting his entire personal future, fortune, and reputation on the GBTV/Blaze gambit. While the original “The Blaze” website has an excellent record of news aggregation, it is quite weak in the conspiratorial realm, economy, and overnight/international coverage, a bruise which an “alternative media” news site can not cover with bluster or make up. Thus the question becomes, at what point does the Beck empire emulate the programs of the ‘other’ media like Alex Jones, Steve Quayle, or hell, myself for that matter?
Perhaps it was this afternoon:
Hmmmm…Should I refer to Alex Jones, or even my parent network at Just Measures Radio from the same week (June 24, 2012) that Alex Jones debuted this story:
Coincidence? I think not. While the Beck staff has launched several attacks on Alex in the past for various antics and statements, the fact that he is following instead of leading in the arena of conspiracy-becoming-fact news analysis appears to demonstrate a desperation to impose the empire upon the proverbial fringe he has criticized in the past.
If Mr. Beck’s empire is indeed steering towards the ship many of us boarded years ago, watch for an announcement of a future shortwave radio contact overseas to continue broadcasting after the imposition of emergency actions by the current President or the next monarch in waiting. Based on this experienced observer of talk show media and the evolution of the alternative media since the days of “For the People” in the early 1990′s, it would appear that Glenn & Co. are beginning a shift to prepare for the inevitable end and censorship realm our nations is about to enter. Alex Jones should be flattered by the emulation and hopefully expand his ideals so others can copy his model for broadcasting long after the bitter end of the United States Constitution.
If Glenn wishes to finish the job, he should reach out to Alex to work with him and other alternative media sources or just announce that the ‘other’ media has been correct on numerous issues over the years where in the past we were called “nut jobs” or the lunatic fringe.
Has Glenn apologized to Debra Medina and the people of Texas? Until he does, I hold him in contempt.
If you don’t know the story, look into it. His scornful and dishonest treatment of her gubernatorial campaign helped ensure 4 more years of Texas’ curse with Rick Perry. Texas needs someone to stand up to the feds. Instead, we have someone firmly attached to her swiney teat.
I do know the story and it was a classic case of acting as an “independent” then doing the dirty work for the RNC. Not to mention he engaged in the very yellow journalism he decries when it happens to him.
This article is very misleading. If you go to Talkers website, it clearly states that Glenn Beck is tied for 4th place as far as listeners goes. He is NOT 9th!!
http://www.talkers.com/top-talk-radio-audiences/
I did not say number of listeners; the Heavy Hundred outlines “influence” not ratings.
Since “influence” cannot be measured with any accuracy, the rating is purely subjective based on someone’s opinion – and you know what they say about opinions.