Liberty MavenFox News going libertarian with Stossel, Napolitano, and Beck?
January 18th, 2010 5:52 pm | by Marc Gallagher | Published in Andrew Napolitano, Commentary, FOX news, John Stossel, Libertarianism, Liberty, Media, Politics | 18 Responses
Glenn Beck moved from CNN to Fox early in 2009. He now proclaims without hesitation that he considers himself a libertarian. Many long-time, more purist libertarians scoff at that self-characterization. Also last year a new web-only show began airing on Fox’s online video site called “Freedom Watch”. This is where many of the purist libertarians hang out. Judge Andrew Napolitano is the host and he has regular guests that include Ron Paul, Lew Rockwell, Jacob Hornberger, Robert Higgs, Tom Woods, and many more.
Back in December 2009 ABC’s John Stossel switched to Fox and began his own hour long show on the Fox Business Channel. His show is probably somewhere in between Beck’s moderate form of libertarianism and Judge Napolitano’s purist libertarianism on Freedom Watch. Does this mean libertarianism is no longer a dirty word among establishment politicos? Not quite yet, I’m afraid.
The Judge’s show is still only available online and replays are aired on Fox Radio on the weekends. Beck’s claims of libertarianism are difficult to reconcile with his stance on torture and foreign intervention; although, to his credit he has softened his position on foreign wars in the last year. Stossel’s show is on the Fox Business Channel which isn’t the juggernaut in ratings the Fox News Channel has become. Still these three shows could signal a slow evolution toward making libertarianism more mainstream in America.
If you’ve never seen Freedom Watch you can check out all the past shows at FreedomWatchonFox.com. As for Stossel you can watch each of the four shows he’s had so far at the bottom of this article. His show is must-see TV for free marketers and libertarian-minded people every where.
1: Stossel on Global Warming
httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2A99D3B5EFFFA72C
2: Stossel on Health Care
httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=9B5EFB14B5B71F60
3: Stossel on Atlas Shrugged / Ayn Rand
httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=12C77F036DA0A7F8
4: Stossel on Crony Capitalism (Corporatism)
httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B6B57159EDEADD68
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January 19th, 2010 at 2:13 am (#)
I'm happy to see a libertarian trend getting a bit more air time.
Whether Stossel or Beck are "as libertarian" as others makes for interesting discussion, but I hope that discussion doesn't stop libertarians from enjoying the slightly bigger tent. I certainly appreciate it.
January 19th, 2010 at 2:13 am (#)
I'm happy to see a libertarian trend getting a bit more air time.
Whether Stossel or Beck are "as libertarian" as others makes for interesting discussion, but I hope that discussion doesn't stop libertarians from enjoying the slightly bigger tent. I certainly appreciate it.
January 19th, 2010 at 2:00 pm (#)
Beck is no libertarian, he is a conservative through and through.
The Judge and esp Stossel – they know the idea well.
January 19th, 2010 at 4:03 pm (#)
I agree with John Shaw, Beck is no Libertarian, his support for the Neocon foreign policy is very apparent.
January 19th, 2010 at 4:08 pm (#)
Ayn Rand's ideals were a rejection of her experience in a "prison," and her reaction would be the same as anyone else escaping it, except she put an ideology to it and described its opposite, individual freedom. This is what Americans today are rejecting because they have never experienced what it is like living in a "prison," although Obama is building the cage now under the guise of community interests being more important than self-interest. Looks to me like FOX, Beck and Stossell are trying to explain how the "prison" works so we won't have to experiment with one. See Save Pebble Droppers & Prosperity on claysamerica.com.
January 19th, 2010 at 4:08 pm (#)
Ayn Rand's ideals were a rejection of her experience in a "prison," and her reaction would be the same as anyone else escaping it, except she put an ideology to it and described its opposite, individual freedom. This is what Americans today are rejecting because they have never experienced what it is like living in a "prison," although Obama is building the cage now under the guise of community interests being more important than self-interest. Looks to me like FOX, Beck and Stossell are trying to explain how the "prison" works so we won't have to experiment with one. See Save Pebble Droppers & Prosperity on claysamerica.com.
January 19th, 2010 at 4:38 pm (#)
Every step toward Lib. helps. We must keep pushing and explaining. It's all on my web site. Get my books. Thanks
Then there is flaky Sarah P. She has refered to Cato Inst. in speeches. What next?
Regards, Dave
January 19th, 2010 at 4:38 pm (#)
Every step toward Lib. helps. We must keep pushing and explaining. It's all on my web site. Get my books. Thanks
Then there is flaky Sarah P. She has refered to Cato Inst. in speeches. What next?
Regards, Dave
January 19th, 2010 at 4:57 pm (#)
I'd say Beck was more like Palin than libertarian. Stossel and the Judge, however, are good additions. Not that Beck is bad on all things, but I believe he is an interventionist on foreign policy, and seems more dependent on 'slogan's', than intellectual challenge. This is just my opinion, of course.
As for whether they are 'going' libertarian? I don't think so. Wanting to co-opt libertarians, and wanting their market share, sure.
But I bet they still like Giuliani and Hannity best.
January 19th, 2010 at 4:57 pm (#)
I'd say Beck was more like Palin than libertarian. Stossel and the Judge, however, are good additions. Not that Beck is bad on all things, but I believe he is an interventionist on foreign policy, and seems more dependent on 'slogan's', than intellectual challenge. This is just my opinion, of course.
As for whether they are 'going' libertarian? I don't think so. Wanting to co-opt libertarians, and wanting their market share, sure.
But I bet they still like Giuliani and Hannity best.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:38 pm (#)
I totally agree. I do like Glenn Beck and find him entertaining. I appreciate that he is a self made guy and works very hard speaking to principles. But, he is absolutely wrong on foreign policy while tone has changed recently. Still he repeatedly beats the war drum. I wish he would understand the harms of the welfare-warfare state. Stossel and the Judge are both great and i hope they get more and more play on the main stream shows. Probably someone I dislike the most on the network is Hannity. Can someone from the liberty movement make it on his "great american panel" and just destroy him for once? I'd pay to see that.
http://andykatherman.blogspot.com
January 19th, 2010 at 11:38 pm (#)
I totally agree. I do like Glenn Beck and find him entertaining. I appreciate that he is a self made guy and works very hard speaking to principles. But, he is absolutely wrong on foreign policy while tone has changed recently. Still he repeatedly beats the war drum. I wish he would understand the harms of the welfare-warfare state. Stossel and the Judge are both great and i hope they get more and more play on the main stream shows. Probably someone I dislike the most on the network is Hannity. Can someone from the liberty movement make it on his "great american panel" and just destroy him for once? I'd pay to see that.
http://andykatherman.blogspot.com
January 19th, 2010 at 11:38 pm (#)
I totally agree. I do like Glenn Beck and find him entertaining. I appreciate that he is a self made guy and works very hard speaking to principles. But, he is absolutely wrong on foreign policy while tone has changed recently. Still he repeatedly beats the war drum. I wish he would understand the harms of the welfare-warfare state. Stossel and the Judge are both great and i hope they get more and more play on the main stream shows. Probably someone I dislike the most on the network is Hannity. Can someone from the liberty movement make it on his "great american panel" and just destroy him for once? I'd pay to see that.
http://andykatherman.blogspot.com
January 19th, 2010 at 11:38 pm (#)
I totally agree. I do like Glenn Beck and find him entertaining. I appreciate that he is a self made guy and works very hard speaking to principles. But, he is absolutely wrong on foreign policy while tone has changed recently. Still he repeatedly beats the war drum. I wish he would understand the harms of the welfare-warfare state. Stossel and the Judge are both great and i hope they get more and more play on the main stream shows. Probably someone I dislike the most on the network is Hannity. Can someone from the liberty movement make it on his "great american panel" and just destroy him for once? I'd pay to see that.
http://andykatherman.blogspot.com
January 19th, 2010 at 11:42 pm (#)
Yes, I think they are trying to quietly ride the "libertarian populism" as I'd call it. This is more the beck brand of libertarianism that still has the neo-con fingerprints. Everytime Beck is off, the Judge usually subs so that is awesome. Probably the best outlet to spread liberty ideas since Beck usually draws about 2.8m per night.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:42 pm (#)
Yes, I think they are trying to quietly ride the "libertarian populism" as I'd call it. This is more the beck brand of libertarianism that still has the neo-con fingerprints. Everytime Beck is off, the Judge usually subs so that is awesome. Probably the best outlet to spread liberty ideas since Beck usually draws about 2.8m per night.
January 20th, 2010 at 5:20 am (#)
"(T)he foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; …the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained…" George Washington, First Inaugural, April 30 1789
Napolitano agrees, but BECK, and to a lesser extent, Stossel, still are mired in 'democracy', which has been force-fed through the public school system.
Stossel played the part of the 'NEO-LIB' throughout the 1980'sd and 1990's, and is still not totally swayed.
Beck, as predicted, is still an 'INFOTAINER' for Rupert Murdoch. The famous 'onion' video shows how he cries CROCIDILE TEARS'…
NOT gonna give you the satisfaction of the links, ANDY.,,look up 'SHUT UP', ..or 'JUST SHUT UP', on gookletube, Mr. Griffith, regarding 'hannity' (and colmes).
Who woulda thunk it? JOHN STOSSEL?
January 20th, 2010 at 5:20 am (#)
"(T)he foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; …the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained…" George Washington, First Inaugural, April 30 1789
Napolitano agrees, but BECK, and to a lesser extent, Stossel, still are mired in 'democracy', which has been force-fed through the public school system.
Stossel played the part of the 'NEO-LIB' throughout the 1980'sd and 1990's, and is still not totally swayed.
Beck, as predicted, is still an 'INFOTAINER' for Rupert Murdoch. The famous 'onion' video shows how he cries CROCIDILE TEARS'…
NOT gonna give you the satisfaction of the links, ANDY.,,look up 'SHUT UP', ..or 'JUST SHUT UP', on gookletube, Mr. Griffith, regarding 'hannity' (and colmes).
Who woulda thunk it? JOHN STOSSEL?