I decided to do my review on Glenn Beck tonight, which I have been planning since the phenomenon’s dramatic appearance on Fox News to become one of the most popular media voices in recent times, because he demonstrated his flexibility to adapt, revise and make a segue from a show on Fascism to a tragic event that occurred today — the massacre of some 14 people in a NY civic center, and he did so with compassion, understanding and caring.

This adaptability was impressive because it demonstrated his ability to roll with the events as he has done with his own life while trying to transfer this ‘don’t give up’ attitude to his viewers and events in their lives.  He delivers his messages with credibility, props that aid in visually conveying the message, and does so with the exuberant style of Elmer Gantry.

He often tells of his own personal tragedies, his mother was an alcoholic, addicted to prescription drugs and committed suicide when Beck was 13.  He himself is a recovering alcoholic and appears to be one that is born again and has found God.

He resonates with his audience so much so that within a few short months he draws about 2.3 million viewers in a 5 PM time slot and is only second to Fox’s Bill O’Reilly.

Beck doesn’t pretend to be a journalist;  in fact has long been a performer.  His roots are in comedy, he has spent years as a radio disc jockey and continues to perform comedy.

Nevertheless he delivers salient news with a theatrical philosophical style that delivers his message effectively.  An hour of Glenn Beck seems like 15 minutes.  And unlike Obama, there is no evidence he uses a teleprompter.

Beck has come on the media scene with the flamboyance that even the New York Times cannot ignore.

The Times says, “With a mix of moral lessons, outrage and an apocalyptic view of the future, Mr. Beck, a longtime radio host who jumped to Fox from CNN’s Headline News channel this year, is capturing the feelings of an alienated class of Americans.”

As usual the Times got this wrong, because more than alienated Americans are watching and although Beck may bring comedy to his message he makes his point with credibility, something you will not find on the pages of ‘The Gray Lady.’

Beck believes that America is “on the road to socialism,” but in recent days has modified this belief and thinks we are on the road to ‘Fascism’.  This was the subject of the program he planned for this evening, but adapted to the news of the day.  The Fascism program is now planned for a week from this evening.

Beck is a preacher.  Talks about our Constitution under attack and an economic apocalypse.  He easily breaks into tears, which some might perceive as theatrical, but others perceive as genuine.

He can be a difficult interviewer with guests.  He does his homework and will attack his guests on points he believes to be wrong.

Beck also responds to his critics as he did with a comment from Bill Maher who said that he was producing “the same kind of talking” that led Timothy McVeigh to blow up the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995.

“Let me be clear,” Beck said.  “If someone tries to harm another person in the name of the Constitution or the ‘truth’ behind 9/11 or anything else, they are just as dangerous and crazy as those we don’t seem to recognize anymore, who kill in the name of Allah.”

Glenn Beck is a refreshing voice and character into what has been a dull and stagnant media tied into the traditional delivery of the news.  Fox and Beck has parted from these ways and their ratings indicate that the audience likes what it is hearing and seeing, and it’s not as the Times would like to believe, “for the disaffected and aggrieved Americans of the Obama era.”