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Did Glenn Beck ‘jump the shark’ with caliphate conspiracy theory? (Video)

Glenn Beck has always been known as someone to make some fairly bold and strange predictions, but the protests in Egypt may have given birth to a Beck prophecy on a whole other level.  Beck has said that the Egyptian uprising is not merely about an oppressed and impoverished people fighting for their rights, but instead, Beck sees the uprising as an effort by radical Muslims and socialists to establish a one world government called a caliphate.  Under Beck’s theory, the caliphate will eventually lead the “end of the Western world as we know it.”  Beck has warned his viewers that the revolution is not merely about Egypt, but about their own towns, homes, and way of life.  The left has always taken issue with Beck, the question now is whether Beck may have finally gone too far in his dire warnings even for his traditional audience.

As stated above, Beck predictions are nothing new.  Indeed for the past two years Beck has predicted a coming period of hyperinflation which still has yet to come.  Earlier this year Beck “doubled down” on that theory saying Americans will pay $11 for an ear of corn and $23 for a loaf of bread soon.  Beck fully subscribed to the “death panel” theory on health care reform, and thus far the only death panels in existence came from Republican Governor Jan Brewer in Arizona as opposed to the health care reform act.  Beck predicted that the Wall Street reform legislation would allow the Obama administration to take over Fox News and start monitoring the credit card activity of customers.  To date no evidence has emerged of those dire warnings coming true. 

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Of course, Beck is always able to convince his audience that he was right all along.  He consistently says that higher inflation rates are coming even though they have not come yet.  Beck is quick to point to rising prices for any product while ignoring stable prices overall.  Beck argues that death panels and takeover of Fox News will happen slowly through regulation, etc.  Beck is careful to never provide any timelines on his predictions that way he can say he meant months from now, or years from now, or decades from now if necessary.  Beck's ratings have gone down around 50% over the last year, suggesting his audience may be reaching a limit when it comes to his "crazy" predictions.

There are reasons to believe the “caliphate conspiracy theory” may be the "jump the shark" moment for Beck.  Beck has always been a bit crazy (a fact he actually seems to take some pride in), but his predictions at least have the sense of plausibility.  Few think that a loaf of bread will cost $23 in the next year, but most economists will say that food prices are due to rise in a more stable fashion in the future.   However, with this caliphate theory Beck makes a number of bold predictions which seem “out there” even for some of his conservative followers.  The idea that the populations of France, the United Kingdom, and India will consent to be ruled by a Muslim caliph seems like a remote possibility to many given the distinct minority populations of Muslims in each country.  At times Beck relies on his own interpretation of the Bible in his predictions, saying the “seat” of the caliphate will be in ancient Babylon in Iraq.  Beck has claimed that both of the Bush administratons avoided bombing this city in order to fulfill this prophecy.  Yesterday Beck responded forcefully to the allegations that he was “crazy” by saying, “I want the left to know, I plant my flag in this soil.  If I’m wrong, so be it.”

This time it should be easier to prove whether Beck is right or wrong fairly quickly.  President Mubarak’s time in Egypt seems certain to end one way or another over the next nine months.  In September Egypt will hold elections, and if anyone other than the Muslim Brotherhood is elected Beck’s theory falls apart.  In addition, under Beck’s theory much of the Middle East should soon start undergoing their own revolutions, including countries like Saudi Arabia that most analysts believe to be relatively stable.   Finally, under Beck’s caliphate theory India, France, and the United Kingdom should soon start being threatened by a Muslim takeover.  If months from now Egypt turns out to be ruled by someone other than the Muslim Brotherhood and Europe remains free from Muslim rule Beck will have some explaining to do.  He will likely still be able to convince some of his people that he was still right all along, but Beck's ratings may take another dive as the more reasonable population sees through him.

, Political Buzz Examiner

Ryan Witt is a graduate of Washington University Law School in St. Louis and has extensive experience teaching government and politics. His articles have been cited by The Washington Post, NPR, Politics Daily, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Media Matters, Daily Kos, and Think Progress among...

Comments

  • MickNY 1 year ago

    I have a prediction..through the mystic prism of space and time I see...I see.... many more pieces about Glenn Beck to come.

  • Dogie 1 year ago

    if you like Beck or if you don't why attack each other personally when the answers and evidence for both sides of any argument are so much more available then ever before? I find Beck to be thought provoking and certainly I take his ideas to task. I thank my father for forcing me to do my own research and formulate my own ideas. I give Beck the credit for being his own man and not a parrot for a well trampled dialogue with little original base. The definition of a blind narrative. All in all I think the answer is in the material used to support the position not the character of the messenger. Just my thoughts

  • anna satterfield 1 year ago

    I am sticking with Beck....he has done the homework, and i have to. the rest of ya better wake up

  • Bob 1 year ago

    Anna - If you think Beck "has done the homework" then you haven't done yours. Never forget that you are dealing with a man that barely graduated from high school and never attended college. Aside from his lack of education though, he clearly has no idea what he is talking about 75 % of the time and regularly displays significant deficits in his understanding of World and American history, politics and economics.

  • Raptoraddict 1 year ago

    Right there with you MickNY

  • Kathlleen 1 year ago

    Ryan Witt's Twitter stream is filled with Anti-Fox/ Anti-Limbaugh content almost exclusively. Don't pretend to be a journalist. You're not.

  • theaton 1 year ago

    What the heck does education have to do with anything? Look at all the Ivy League graduates that we have in power. Have they solved or caused our problems? I have a bachelors degree from a decent school and while it helped me get a job, It didn't help so much with doing my job. I work with several Ph.D's. For the most part they have no common sense about real world situations. Yes, they may be pretty sharp in their field but their worthless outside that field. Booker T. Washington is one of the smartest men I've learned about yet he doesn't have a college education. He pretty much educated himself.

  • Jihad Watch 1 year ago

    Karl Vick Jan 14, 2006 Washington Post

    Did the Washingtom Post ‘jump the shark’ with caliphate conspiracy theory?

    "Reunified Islam: Unlikely but Not Entirely Radical; Restoration of Caliphate, Attacked by Bush, Resonates With Mainstream Muslims

    This is what inspired the group most directly focused on the push for a new caliphate, Hizb ut-Tahrir, or Party of Liberation. The group, which claims to be active in 40 countries, began in 1953 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. But while the Brotherhood, which also favors a caliphate, embraced realpolitik, growing into a potent opposition force in Syria and Egypt, Hizb ut-Tahrir charted a more subversive path.

    The system includes a caliphate, revived after national governments are subverted by Hizb ut-Tahrir members working in their highest levels, according to the plan. Hizb ut-Tahrir members have been charged with planning such coups in Jordan and Egypt. Zeyno Baran, an analyst at the Washington-based Nixon Center who has written extensively on the group, said it could "usefully be thought of as a conveyor belt for terrorists."

    "[Bush] is saying they would establish a caliphate from Spain to Indonesia," said [Fadi Abdullatif], the group's spokesman in Copenhagen. "The establishment of the caliphate will come by those who work hard." He said Hizb ut-Tahrir members in Iraq were working to coax a united front with insurgent groups."

  • Jihad Watch 1 year ago

    You dhimmis better wake up or you may find your heads being held up by the hair dripping blood from your severed neck held by the ones you seem to support.

  • Tim 1 year ago

    The Post and Fox News are owned by the people.

  • A.C.L.U. 1 year ago

    Your name says it ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Raptoraddict 1 year ago

    Yo Jihad. Stop it, you are scaring my three year old daughter. What a lunatic.

  • Jowe 1 year ago

    The idea of the caliphate is one of remarkable political accountability. Most of us will agree that "nature abhors a vacuum." The Caliphate is the device that will avoid the vacuum that exists in the aftermath of the revolution. A government vacated by revolution automatically (under Muslim intent) escheats to the Caliphate. A brilliant concept if ever there was one.

  • Jamal 1 year ago

    Yo raptoraddict, your three year old can't read and probably never will unless you home school or pay for private school.

  • riceroni 1 year ago

    The most dangerous thing is that there are people who really listen to and believe this retard. Never mind the fact that there has already been some lunatic who tried to kill people because Glenn Beck fear-mongering drove him to it. Right wingers are simply a bunch of frightened controllable sheep.

  • Jihad Watch 1 year ago

    Dhimmi! Is the Washington Post "fear-mongering"?

  • rickeroni 1 year ago

    Your accusations are unfounded and ignorant, be careful of your dimness. It may get you into more touble, then you know.

  • j 1 year ago

    rickeroni is unfounded and ignorant, be careful of your dhimminess. It may get you into more trouble, then you know.

  • commonsense 1 year ago

    The shooter did not listen to Beck or anyone else for that matter. This has been documented by those who knew him. You are the frightened controlled sheep because you fall for those lies. Glenn is not perfect nor infallible, but he has done his research, unlike you and others, and he is a lot closer to the truth than you realize. Time will tell.

  • commonsense 1 year ago

    The shooter did not listen to Beck or anyone else for that matter. This has been documented by those who knew him. You are the frightened controlled sheep because you fall for those lies. Glenn is not perfect nor infallible, but he has done his research, unlike you and others, and he is a lot closer to the truth than you realize. Time will tell.

  • Sensiblelady 1 year ago

    Glenn Beck does not care. He states things and hope that idiots will believe him and keep him on the air longer. Beck along with Palin and other Fox News are making millions and laughing all the way to the bank along with Limbaugh, Bonner and other very manipulalting (and soon to be weathly), republicans that claim to be christians. I wonder what Jesus would say??

  • Whoru 1 year ago

    Beck drove a liberal pot smoking lunatic to shoot Gabrielle Gibbons? Really?

  • Whoru 1 year ago

    You are comical. Sad. But comical.

  • Jim 1 year ago

    Wow, your arrogance is surpassed only by your ignorance.

  • MissDebbie 1 year ago

    Riceroni, and where do you do your research???Have you done any research??? Have you researched the material Glen talks about??? If so, then show us proof where he is wrong or has lied or made anything up!! Come on, just one piece of this , just one!!!Just because some of what he has stated WILL happen has not happened yet, does not mean it is not going to happen...History has been proven to repeat itself many times...And ,when you have a group , well actually more than a 'group' , a VAST POPULATION in over a third of the countries in this world chanting on a daily basis KILL THE INFIDELS, ISLAM WILL RULE, WE KILL YOU, JEWS MUST DIE, etc. etc....then you damn well better start taking notice and paying attention and prepare!!!!

  • Raptoraddict 1 year ago

    ON NO riceroni, you used the RETARD word to describe an absolute RETARD! Congratulations for using it correctly.

  • Patty 1 year ago

    riceroni, get your facts right. The shooting was done by a liberal lefty, as usual. Glenn promotes civility and peace. It is the left that is calling for revolution and violence.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago

    glenn's absolutely right wiht his judgement. read about the koranic law and the caliphate. this is happening now, thanks to the youth bulge.

    what started in berlin will end in teheran.

  • MissDebbie 1 year ago

    AMEN ...again, history repeats itself...only with moreforce everytime because they 'see they did not use enough' last time....and it is happening again....hitler did not take counsel from muslims for nothing, and those like Saddam did not hold Hitler up as a twisted saint to them for nothing either....So, PEOPLE!! WAKE UP!!!

  • Raptoraddict 1 year ago

    Seriously, you honestly think that Glenn is correct? Seriously? Please run for ANY GOP opening in 2012.

  • Kat 1 year ago

    @Patty, yeah, because liberals read Ayn Rand? Because liberals are all pro-gun? Because liberals believe in killing to get their point across? Martin Luther King would be surprised. The Kennedy's would be surprised. Really, most liberals would be surprised at how you describe them, as it's not true for the vast vast majority. It's the fringes of any political movement that are truly dangerous - and Beck is, apparently, trying to incite violence against liberals and progressives by convincing his viewers that his view on liberals is the reality. Do your own research, please. Actually talk to some liberals, research liberals and progressives throughout history independently without seeing it filtered through Beck's opinion, first. If you're a woman who votes, you can thank a progressive, a liberal for that right. It wasn't in the constitution, which, contrary to Beck's belief, was not created perfectly through some massive utopian shared vision of the founding fathers.

    Really, you're believing a whole lot of what Beck says is liberal, without actually knowing what a liberal is. Glen's decided to create a war on liberals that portrays them hilariously as the opposite of what they are.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago

    "Ryan Witt is a law school graduate who has extensive experience teaching [scocialist] government and [progressive] politics. Ryan provides keen insight into the most recent political news of the day" from the progressive point of view that he learned in collage from the idiot professors trying to spread the scocialist movement. There's a saying that saying that goes something like if you can make it, you work, and if you can't, you teach. That's probably where your moron professors came from, they couldn't make it working in politics, so they teach people like you to be morons like you are now.

  • Profile picture of joe4more
    joe4more 1 year ago

    How come I have a feeling you never attended school beyond the high school level? Maybe a G.E.D.?

  • Whoru 1 year ago

    Giffords. Stupid spell check. Lol

  • Luis Nasser 1 year ago

    It's funny how many right wing nuts lack the grapes to post under their real name, and do so anonymously. Funnier still how they attempt to buttress their obvious ignorance by being loud and obnoxious, and idolizing a completely psychotic, megalomaniac retard like Glenn Beck. Speaks volumes about your own mental deficiencies when guys like Beck are who you turn to for opinions.

  • NadePaulKuciGravMcKi 1 year ago

    glenn beck
    aipac neocon
    all israel all the time
    sell & protect 9/11 scam

  • Anonymous 1 year ago

    NOTHING Beck has ever said is as crazy and insane as anything you have said. I heard there were still people like Kaufman out there but it is like a theory, you think they exist but only know for sure when one crawls out fro under their rock.

  • Jenindigo 1 year ago

    Unfortunately, what Beck says is true and only crazy in the sense that it is well-researched depiction of today's crazy, upside down world. It is unfortunate because it's unfortunately true.
    Beck has NEVER called for violence, in fact he cautions against it almost daily. He knows and states that chaos is not the answer to anything.
    Can you find it within your sense of curiosity and to not just take someone else's view of Beck, put aside preconceived notions long enough to listen to more than a soundbite and tune into his radio and/or tv show for say 3-5 days, take some notes and do some factchecking and then see what you come away with? It could be startlingly eye-opening.
    Are you up to the challenge? Oh, and don't be afraid to catch him crying, it's only happened maybe 3 times in the past 5 yrs (he's passionate) He's not due for crying just yet.

  • theaton 1 year ago

    Mr. Kaugman,

    Please provide a single example where Mr. Beck has been outraged because Americans were not rioting in the streets. He is totally opposite, he does not advocate violence. It's clear you never listen to him but only regurgitate the words of the left.

    You also obviously have a prejudice of the mentally ill in this country. The people that have mental disorders did choose to be the way they are. The certainly don't need people of your ilk belittling them. You are not in anyway superior to anyone.

  • theaton 1 year ago

    Mr. Kaufman,

    Please provide a single example where Mr. Beck has been outraged because Americans were not rioting in the streets. He is totally opposite, he does not advocate violence. It's clear you never listen to him but only regurgitate the words of the left.

    You also obviously have a prejudice of the mentally ill in this country. The people that have mental disorders did choose to be the way they are. The certainly don't need people of your ilk belittling them. You are not in anyway superior to anyone.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago

    I think a fund should be created by Rush, Glen, Sarah and Sean to purchase rogue nuclear bombs from former Russian provinces and use Top Gun pilots (of course they should be hired for a fee to make it all plausible) and drop it on all the f:::::ing Moslem countries. I mean it should not cost that much to get those old bombie stuff. Wait! Then there will not be any Moslems left to hate and use to scare Christians. What will they do next? How will they spread their message of love and peace ? who is going to scare us shitless? Hmmmmm

  • fountainite 1 year ago

    I would keep my comments anonymous too if they were like yours. Why are you scared? Wise people obtain as much information on their concerns and make decisions about getting prepared for them. Everything Glenn says you can hear and see from the people themselves. Open your eyes and stop being scared to face the truth.

  • Everybodydisagreestoagree 1 year ago

    I guess if you don't have a college degree that means you can't read and learn in other ways. Common sense also goes a long way to. Like one said history does proove itself. I also think we are all radical in someway or another. It can be good or very dangerous. What is right can't be wrong!

  • Shakespeare 1 year ago

    Why is the radical left so fearful of Beck> Methinks they doth protest too much.

  • Muslim Chick 1 year ago

    No we are not. I am Muslim and personally adore Glen Beck.He is fantastic. I enjoy watching his antics. I mean to see how idiotic christian fundamentalist are is a rare pleasure for this Muslim chick. Keep up the Nut job. I think Beck might be Messiah himself. And oh do buy Gold from the business that he promotes on Fox. Keep sending money to him. I love Beck. He is better than Donald Duck.

  • MissDebbie 1 year ago

    To Muslim Chick, I love Beck too but for more sound reason..He tells it like it is and this DOES Scare the shit out of your people. And, I'd take him being more like Donald Duck than your sick, twisted, perverted Mohammed who should have had his privates cut off long b/4 the age of 12

  • Raptoraddict 1 year ago

    Yo Shakespeare, being dead for 100 years has taken its toll on your ability to think straight. Better close the coffin for another 100 years or so.

  • WakeUP 1 year ago

    Why does everyone on the left insist on focusing on Glenn Beck as being crazy? DO YOUR RESEARCH, there are groups out there with very real agendas, and they are very serious. If you don't realize that, you are living in some type of la la land. WAKE UP!

  • WakeUP 1 year ago

    No Sanders, true Americans do not focus on Beck, just the Socialist left wing idiots because they are intimidated by people like Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, etc. These people have values that this country was founded on. And can not be bought into the corrupted left agenda. And to the dismay of the Socialist Left Idiots, the majority of Americans don't want there socialist liberal agenda pushed down there throats. So they get defensive and make jokes about people that really aren't very funny. It just shows that the left wing liberals are weak. Why don't you get your facts straight and then try and comment intelligently.

  • Mazrianne Dagher 1 year ago

    Yes, Wake up. These folks call Beck crazy and Republicans looney. Have they done their homework, discovered what the Muslim Brotherhood is all about, their goals? Before you call someone looney here folks check it out for yourself. You are extremely uninformed and I fear for my country. Half of us call the other half looney, how can we survive as a nation. Some are more willing to accept the nonsense the media spews out than checking the facts. Its easier to disparage others than to face the truth.

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