Glen Beck was a clown before he had a scheme

Charting Glenn Beck, Tea Party Influences on U.S. Electorate

DAVID VON DREHLE, TIME Magazine: Well, Glenn Beck comes from top 40 morning zoo radio. That’s where he started out his career, as a goofy guy doing radio stunts. He — he did that through the ’80s and the ’90s. He has talked about his battles with alcoholism. He conquered that in part by joining the Mormon Church, straightened out his life, and, since then, has been moving in the direction of becoming more of a conservative talk radio host.

But his politics are very gradually evolving. And there’s still a big part of that — of that morning zoo, entertainment-oriented, event-organizing, entrepreneurial spirit to the kind of work that Beck does.”

My friend said: “So how come this has become influential in the national political discussion? Or have Americans always had a penchant for following clowns?“

Have you ever talked to someone in the Tea Party? They’re angry and motivated but they can’t really articulate what about. It’s all very vague with words like honor, freedom, capitalism and socialism cropping up frequently.

I only mention it because these angry, motivated people who are unable to articulate what is making them angry and driving their motivation is very bad news for those of us who are collateral damage in the gas-patch. They aren’t going to vote for anyone who might want to regulate anything.

Close your eyes, Dear Readers, and imagine what it might be like without this EPA. Imagine what it might be like with the other EPA, the one we had before Obama was elected, the one that looked just like the TCEQ. Are you motivated yet?