Last month, author Andrew Klavan wrote that the new Batman film is a “paean of praise to the fortitude and moral courage that has been shown by George W. Bush in this time of terror and war.” CNN’s Glenn Beck agreed today, listing off controversial Bush policies he claims were vindicated by the film’s showcase of “conservative values on the war on terror”:
But Batman goes into another country and with a C-130 snatches a guy out, and then throws him back here into Gotham. So there’s rendition. At one point the Morgan Freeman character says to Batman, wait a minute, hang on, you’re eavesdropping on everyone in Gotham? And Batman says, yes, to stop this terrorist. Morgan Freeman says, I can’t be a part of it. And yet Morgan Freeman does become a part of it, and they find the Joker. One of the ways they find the Joker is through eavesdropping. I mean the parallels here of what’s going on is to me stunning.
Watch it:
Beck also said that Bush’s willingness to “die as the worst president ever because of the war on terror” is “exactly the message that Batman carries.”
I think Cheney would look at the movie and say "see -- this is what we're doing." I look at the movie and say "see -- if you were fighting a comic book bad guy and you were a comic book hero then your policies would make sense."

Beck also said that Bush’s willingness to “die as the worst president ever because of the war on terror” is “exactly the message that Batman carries.”
Batman’s message is to be an unintelligible , stupid stubborn fool and life-long failure ?
I don’t recall that in any of the comics I read……..
August 6th, 2008 at 6:31 pmI think Beck went to see “Batman” but he wandered into a theater that was showing “Debbie Does Dallas” by mistake.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:32 pmREALLY? BUSH IS WILLING TO BE MARTYRED?
COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL.
LET’S GET STARTED
August 6th, 2008 at 6:32 pmI thought Beck was against foreign policy being dictated by Hollywood leftists…
August 6th, 2008 at 6:32 pmAll I can say is, thank god we’ve captured the Joker!
That totally vindicates all those who said we need ‘enhanced intterrogation’ and ‘illegal wire-tapping’ to protect us in a post 9/11 world.
I look forward to Superman successfully scoping out bin Laden with his x-ray vision!
And if we lived in Gotham City, we’d be fine with imaginary characters eavesdropping on us all.
But we don’t, and we arent’.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:34 pmI had a really bad case of Glenn Beck while on vacation.
Seriously couldn’t stop shit-spraying for days…
August 6th, 2008 at 6:35 pmUm, that’s a movie. No pesky Constitutional rights needed.
We live in the real world.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:35 pmIn the Corporate State, corporate media–including film–are State Media. Of course, it’s propaganda. It’s ALLLLLLL propaganda.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:36 pmWith the Joker successfully taken care of thanks to Bush and Batman I’m forced to wonder…
August 6th, 2008 at 6:38 pmWhy won’t Iran admit to enriching Kryptonite?
We can’t afford to live in a world where the Mullahs are allied with Lex Luthor!
I love it when tighty-righties use fictional characters as arguments justifying their positions.
Jack Bauer on torture, anyone?
August 6th, 2008 at 6:40 pmGlenn Beck’s batty viewpoints prove conclusively that he has bats in his belfry and quite frankly that he’s batsh*t crazy.
Just saying . . .
August 6th, 2008 at 6:42 pmBeck: Bush’s willingness to “die as the worst president ever because of the war on terror” is “exactly the message that Batman carries.”
It must have been the bottle and blow for Beck to make that retarded statement.
This is much of Blowhard Beck’s fantasy version of the DC comics. Memo to Beck: Batman didn’t lie and invade a country on false pretenses and send the U.S. troops in harms way on trumped up lies. And Batman certainly didn’t carry that idiotic message.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:43 pm“Bush’s willingness to ‘die as the worst president ever…’”
Just what the hell is the hold up. Let’s get this show on the road.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:44 pmThank you, Beck.
You’re such a dumbass — you just tacitly approved of this administration violating our Constitutional rights by eavesdropping and renditioning.
Gotcha on tape, hun.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:45 pmEverything would be fine, if a) the spying apparatus was left in the hands of people you could trust with your life, and b) if they blew it up right after nabbing OBL.
But since a) it’s not, and b) they wont, then no, it’s not the same thing at all.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:46 pmbush’s methods have been flawed of course, however. He has in fact stopped al queda cold, not that tp will give credit. Batman aside, bush does know how to kill the bad guys. I’ve not met one person victimized by the patriot act, although I do hope it goes away at some point. Jeze, its not like bush nuked the enemy like the democrats did. Our military fights with their hands tied and still gets cruz from progressives (who btw still don’t have their own plan to effectively kill terrorists..)I hope history will be more fair than tp. Btw, that movie was tons of fun.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:46 pmBeck:
August 6th, 2008 at 6:48 pm“And then there was Lassie. Timmy was tied up by bad guys and left behind the barn. Lassie, having acute hearing, heard the bad guys talking on the other side of the chicken coop….uh, what was my point? Oh, anyway, I love Bush and…”
DieNowForPeace, it looks like TK9 vacationed in the same place as you did. He’s still sh*t-spraying.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:49 pmTK, you poor dear, you shouldn’t try so hard. The strain shows and your face gets purple. Not attractive.
I do have to give you credit for a single reasoned opinion expressed in this piece, though:
“Btw, that movie was tons of fun.”
This is the only thing that makes sense in the whole piece.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:51 pmsomeone ought to point out to that retard beck a)batman is a fictional cartoon character and b)his comparison would be more accurate is he compared dumbya to one of the “looney tunes” characters.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pmSomething just occured to me… can Superman really be called an ‘American’ hero?
August 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pmIsn’t he an illegal alien?
It’s not that I don’t think that he has contributed enormously to our country, I just think that his sneaking in here on that asteroid spaceship is hardly fair to all the refugees from other exploded planets that are trying to get into the US the right way…
I’m all conflicted.
TripleKick 9 Says:
I’ve not met one person victimized by the patriot act, although I do hope it goes away at some point.
You know, even if you do know these persons, they would be unable to tell you they have been victimized. Because a) they don’t know, or b) they can’t tell you without being send to jail for disobeying a gag order.
(who btw still don’t have their own plan to effectively kill terrorists..)
Killing terrorists is very, very simple.
1- Apply gun to head of terrorist.
2- Pull trigger.
3- Clean up resulting mess.
CATCHING terrorists, however… is something completely different. And that’s where Bush is lacking. A lot.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pmWhy do people point cameras at this punk?
August 6th, 2008 at 6:56 pmluis, 3/4 of al queda top leadership is dead or captured. Inform yourself, please.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:57 pmLet me see if I get this right:
Beck and his covey of crazies are using a fictional movie with imaginary characters based on a 1930’s comic book to somehow validate and “prove right” all the crap and lies this administration has foisted on us and the world for the past seven years? And claim Bush to be a hero?
These guys are really so delusional and this proves just how out of touch they are. I just can’t believe how anyone takes these wingnuts with a straight face anymore.
(But I will admit that the part about Bush being willing to die for the cause has some appeal to me…)
August 6th, 2008 at 6:57 pmTripleKick 9 Says:
luis, 3/4 of al qaeda top leadership is dead or captured. Inform yourself, please.
Funny, there must be a lot of Joker followers that keep blowing people up in Afghanistan and Iraq, then.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:58 pmralph, u called me dear. Thanks for your civility. Truly a rarity at tp. But, as I’ve said before, I’m not into men so don’t get too excited in your pants ok? Let’s keep it professional. Thanks.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:00 pmTripleKick 9 Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 7:01 pm“luis, 3/4 of al queda top leadership is dead or captured. Inform yourself, please.”
:::::shrugging shoulders”
M’eh
Ever heard of upward mobility in an organization, dribblydick? one gets killed, another one gets promoted
luis, 3/4 of al queda top leadership is dead or captured. Inform yourself, please.
Like that crafty chaufer we convicted today!
Plus the Joker’s gang is in shambles… why won’t the Press report on any of the progress that is being made in Gotham City? The Pizza Hut co-branding has been extremely lucrative and the studio promises to hold elections any day now!
August 6th, 2008 at 7:02 pmchaufer = chauffeur (or driver for the comic book set on the right)
August 6th, 2008 at 7:03 pmwhat’s next? beck going to make a comparison between condi and eartha kitt for their fun fashion sense in shoes?
August 6th, 2008 at 7:04 pmBeck also said that Bush’s willingness to “die as the worst president ever…
We are agreed on his being the worst; but, what about when he will die if he is so willing. I need a time horizon.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:05 pmAnd we’ve still got that terrist the Penguin waddling around underneath Gotham to worry about, gee golly willikers!
August 6th, 2008 at 7:05 pmTripleKick 9 Says: “I’ve not met one person victimized by the patriot act…”
Damn! Talk about a rectal/cranial insertion!
I never met Adolf Hitler, Ivan the Terrible, Jack The Ripper, Charlie Manson, Ted Bundy so, Dick (not because his front name is Richard) Cheney, therefore, according to your logic, they have just applied for Sainthood along with George WTF.
Who the hell types that crap for you? Maybe it is that you wear a contact lens in your navel so you can see the keyboard.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:06 pmConservatives think we should get foreign policy ideas from comic books? - no wonder they suck at governance.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:06 pmAh, I see TK lacks the sarcasm detection gene as well as the rational thought gene, and so his ind immediately went to the area of homosexual relations.
Note to self: don’t use sarcasm on TK. He’s not equipped to process it.
Sorry to have disturbed you, TK. No sexual intent involved. Not that there’s anything wrong with it.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:08 pmAnd we’ve still got that terrist the Penguin waddling around underneath Gotham to worry about, gee golly willikers!
August 6th, 2008 at 7:09 pmI hear there is increasing chatter that the Penguin may be planning an attack!
The squack is he’s gonna get Bush to attack Iran… muah, muah, muah.
TripleKick 9 Says:
——————————————————————————–
bush’s methods have been flawed of course, however. He has in fact stopped al queda cold, not that tp will give credit. Batman aside, bush does know how to kill the bad guys. I’ve not met one person victimized by the patriot act, although I do hope it goes away at some point. Jeze, its not like bush nuked the enemy like the democrats did. Our military fights with their hands tied and still gets cruz from progressives (who btw still don’t have their own plan to effectively kill terrorists..)I hope history will be more fair than tp. Btw, that movie was tons of fun.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
US concern at al-Qaeda strength
Al-Qaeda has regained its strength despite prolonged military action
Al-Qaeda’s operating capabilities are at their strongest level since the 11 September 2001 attacks, according to leaks of a US intelligence report.
It suggests the network has rebuilt itself despite a six-year campaign to dismantle it.
The classified report identifies Pakistan’s western tribal areas as the group’s safe haven, and examines threats posed to the US and its allies.
It was compiled by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6294526.stm
Does the above seem like al Qaeda has been “stopped cold” by your retarded simian deity you lying sack of Chimpy leg humping shit ?
You are truly pathetic and stupid ………………
August 6th, 2008 at 7:09 pmOf course, the difference is that Batman actually caught the Joker….
August 6th, 2008 at 7:10 pmTripleKick 9 Says:
luis, 3/4 of al queda top leadership is dead or captured. Inform yourself, please.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Flat out lie! Practically everybody they capture is supposedly one of al Qaida’s “top leadership”. They always say that. But has it ever occurred to these morons that the ones getting captured are most likely replaced?
And how do you know the correct fraction is “3/4″ (besides that’s what Bush says it is)? Do you have a list of the names of everyone in al Qaida, so you can count how many have been caught and how many of those were in the “top leadership”? No, you don’t, and neither does Bush. So, logically, the figure is a totally-fabricated one.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:11 pmTripleKick 9 Says:
“3/4 of al qaeda top leadership is dead or captured. Inform yourself, please.”
That damn Librul Media must have kept this wonderful news off the front page again.
btw/Al qaeda is larger and more widespread than ever.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:12 pmYeah, and they look to Jack Bauer on 24 and say hey, this works! It is fantasy. That said the movie is more a condemnation SPOILERS: 1) Batman had separation of powers, he couldn’t eavesdrop on his own, similar to the idea of going through the FISA court, 2) Batman rendered a criminal for trial, not torture as the US has done, 3) torture throughout the movie does not work, it in fact ends up giving bad intelligence and it is Batman’s belief that the torture worked that causes the most chaos, 4) the citizens of Gotham voted to kill the inmates, but didn’t go through with it because it, in the end, is just wrong to try people without a jury, and that was with a REAL threat of death against them. The movie is about standing up to terrorism but never losing your humanity, because if you do, you lose who you are. And in essence, the bad guys win.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:14 pmWhy do conservatives rant against the immorality of Hollywood one minute and then use its fictional creations to justify their views the next?
Once more, one sign that you are dealing with an authoritarian mindset is its ability to hold and believe two diametrically opposing views at once: Hollywood spreads immorality, except when its characters do things we think should be done. Then it’s a shining example of how to do it right.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:15 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
“Why do conservatives rant against the immorality of Hollywood one minute and then use its fictional creations to justify their views the next?”
Because it takes the focus off the mens public restrooms in midweast airports where the majority republicans conduct their immorality?
August 6th, 2008 at 7:18 pmchimpy is Batman?
Well chimpy did wear a flight suit and Batman wears a batsuit…one works the other is a batshit costume.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:23 pmoh yeah, the joker is Ivins.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:25 pmRedneck dumba$$ special guest appearance: “Damn straight, and John Wayne would have done the same thing I tell ya.” (spits, adjusts crotch, and nods)
August 6th, 2008 at 7:29 pmOh my. Where to start.
Batman is fictional.
He’s a fictional vigilante!
His methods worked because it would have been a pretty weak film if they didn’t.
It really helps crime-fighting when the screenwriter of your fictional tale is on your side.
Quite simply, Beck did not understand a damn thing about that film. At the end, Batman offered himself up as a scapegoat in the hopes of maintaining the rule of law.
Would any of his Bush Administration superheroes do such a thing?
August 6th, 2008 at 7:29 pmYou know… now that I think about it… given their hero-worship of Batman and Jack Bauer, and their demonization of Wall-E and Happy Feet as “leftist propaganda”, maybe they really do believe that what they see on the screen is real.
Maybe they have been disdaining objective reality for so long, they’ve actually lost the ability to tell the difference.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:37 pmLet’s make sure we get this right now:
Obama has a messianic complex or something, because he is very popular. He’s like Moses. Or something. “Haha,” say conservatives. “How ridiculous.”
But George Bush is a frickin Superhero.
It never ceases to amaze me.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:38 pmAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
It’s true, the mentally ill are funny.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:39 pmJust when you think you’ve heard the stupidest thing ever, Becky graces us with his philosophizing. Again.
But, what’s even better is our pet trolls trying to defend the wisdom of his insights. “Dumb and dumber” is overused but, I can’t think of anything more appropriate.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:40 pmWell, ralph, reality is such a disappointment… it often fails to live up to expectations.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:42 pmWho needs science and research when ‘common sense’ already confirms that you are correct?
Who needs to actually effectively combat terrorism when movie after movie shows that ‘taking the gloves off’ and ‘kickin’ *ss’ puts them terrorists in their place, every time.
Doesn’t Beck realise that Batman is a movie and fiction? And the TV show 24 is fiction too?
Oh, yeah, he’s a Republican, their whole world is fiction.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:43 pmThe same movie where Batman beats information out of the Joker and it turned out to be completely inaccurate, and got someone killed?
August 6th, 2008 at 7:44 pmAlso, you’d think Beckerwood would be on the Joker’s side, since he and Bush treat attorneys who oppose them in similar ways.
They can’t tell the difference between reality and fantasy (or hallucinations). How would you expect them to realise that Batman was “… only a movie”? Just give them a glass of warm milk before sending ‘em to sleep; they’re less likely to have nightmares and jump in your bed that way.
Cheers,
August 6th, 2008 at 7:52 pmLeave it to Beck to use FICTION to make a political point. Most conservative talking point are fiction anyway so why not. They live in their own made up world.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:55 pm#47 j swift:
Redneck dumba$$ special guest appearance: “Damn straight, and John Wayne would have done the same thing I tell ya.” (spits, adjusts crotch, and nods)
… which is as good an introduction as any for Greenwald’s Great American Hypocrites, which covers Marion Morrison (a/k/a “John Wayne”) as well as other icons of the Rethuglicans. Read it if you haven’t already.
Cheers,
August 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pmYou know what’s truly “stunning” Beck you feckless c*nt?
Had Shrub given one shit about an impending attack, he could have followed the rule of law, and using the FISA courts, LEGALLY eavesdropped on ANYONE, as long as within 72 hours the idiot-boy-der-chimperor had obtained a warrant.
Fcuking idiotic lawless Repukes, you don’t deserve to even live in this great country.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:00 pmAs clear a case of arrested developments as I’ve ever seen. I’d say Beck’s stuck in eighth grade–that would explain all his boners.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:05 pm#16 TripleKick 9:
I’ve not met one person victimized by the patriot act….
Meet Khaled el-Masri. And Maher Arar. Just for starters. Here’s another one.
Maybe not specifically victimised by the (oxymoronic) “USA PATRIOT” Act, but certainly by the gummint disregard for anyone’s civil liberties….
Cheers,
August 6th, 2008 at 8:07 pmThis is what CNN has been reduced to:
“… and Green Lantern could beat Doctor Strange - EASY!”
August 6th, 2008 at 8:20 pmI’ve not met one person victimized by the patriot act….
I’m guessing you’ve never met Jesus either, but that doesn’t stop you from believing his story.
Geez, stupid is your strong suit.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:21 pmHey, Beck — where’s CHUCK NORRIS? CHUCK NORRIS’d kick Batman’s dress-up candy-ass. Plus, he’s WAY hairier, which you oughta like.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:37 pmNow they’re seeking refuge in comic book fiction? What marroons!
August 6th, 2008 at 8:41 pmSo, Beck, does life imitate art or does art imitate life? Don’t hurt yourself thinking about that one.
Please tell me he didn’t actually claim that Bush’s policies were vindicated by the movie. I truly hope that is TP’s interpretation. I would watch it to find out myself, but I’m still cramping from laughing at the mere premise of this thread. I don’t think I’ll survive if I watch the clip.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:42 pmGlenn Beck is stunned when he sees the sun come up every morning. It’s some kind of magic or a guy in a horse-drawn chariot flying through the sky.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:44 pmWho is the real Batman, Beck or the other guy?
August 6th, 2008 at 9:16 pmI think I got it. Movie fiction based on a cartoon character is a vindication for war, unimaginable human tragedy, death, destruction and squandered treasure in the real world?
August 6th, 2008 at 9:39 pmFirst Jack Bauer dictates US policy now Batman to bad we can’t get a real person to do something . Jan 20th can’t get here soon enough maybe Beck can shut his gob then
August 6th, 2008 at 9:56 pmTell it to that annoying Bozell jackass. I don’t even have tv or most media and still weird dudes gripping about it bums me out
August 6th, 2008 at 10:14 pmeven more when they are embracing it when it suits there needs and funky warped perceptions…Saving Private Ryan was okay at best…
August 6th, 2008 at 10:16 pmTripleKick 9 Says:
bush’s methods have been flawed of course, however. He has in fact stopped al queda cold, not that tp will give credit.
Is that what you call the situation in Afghanistan?
August 6th, 2008 at 10:23 pmThat where Al Qaeda was when we invaded Iraq, and there they still are, and in control of about 50% of Afghanistan.
Al Qaeda stopped cold?
Are you stupid?
Either you are a moron or you think we are, if you think anyone believes that hot air you are spouting.
The Axis Of Evil will be arriving with Dread Dormammu from The Dark Dimension. The Use of Red Krptonite will turn Superman into Toby Keith. Glen Beck, newscaster for Bizarro News Media Network, will be reporting on getting Mr Mxyzptlk to say his name backwards.
Now for the Hippest of All Trips….The Return To Reality
August 6th, 2008 at 10:49 pmSo the next Batman installment can’t come soon enough for the Batsychophants.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:07 amSame Bat time, Same Bat Channel, Same Bat Cum dripping from Beck’s mouth.
TripleDick 9 Says:
3/4 of al queda top leadership is dead or captured. Inform yourself, please.
Haven’t you been saying this same shit for about 4-5 years now?
August 7th, 2008 at 12:21 amIf Beck were speaking from a left perspective, his remarks would qualify as uproariously good satire. Since he’s from the right and (apparently) serious… that’s kinda scary.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:22 am.
Batman = CARTOON CHARACTER
Bush = WAR CRIMINAL
… not even remotely the same.
.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:35 amYet they think Wall-E is horrific Liberal propaganda.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:24 amWill they still be whining about liberal Hollywood or will they figure out they can’t have it both ways?
It’s no secret that these people see things that people with IQs above… say… 13 do not.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:47 amBeck is a two-bit hack.
A Dennis Miller of sorts without the 5 cent words.
I mean, he thinks he’s funny?
August 7th, 2008 at 2:45 amBloody hell, Dark Knight is FICTION.
Fictional characters can get away with and eventually atone for any wrong doings they do with good intentions…because they’re not real.
It’s much harder to do if you’re a real person.
In fact, I can think of alot of fictional characters which’re more like Bush and Cheney — who do horrible things in the name of making the world (or universe) a better place.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:06 amBatman went on vacation while the batphone was flashing red?
BTW Batman never conquers his enemies, they keep coming back movie after movie after movie after movie.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:49 amFunny - in Batman, he catches the Joker using his invasive eavesdropping techniques -all in about a day (or week’s, not sure) worth of starting it. Funny how several years later, we’ve been doing the same thing, but Osama Bin Laden is still out there somewhere. And Batman destroyed the whole contraption when he caught his villian - will that happen here too ? (I ask, tongue in cheek).
August 7th, 2008 at 11:13 amFine, Glenn. Let Chris Nolan write the beginning, middle and end of Bush’s script and I’m totally down with that.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:26 pmSomeone should ask Glenn if he saw what Luscious Fox did with the spy-tech after Batman caught the Joker…because blew it up since such a technology would be an inherent danger if someone else got their hands on it, which was mentioned earlier in the movie. If anything, Batman does push the limits of rule and law to stop a madman in the Joker, but he listens to the moral centers around him in Rachel, Alfred and Fox. He didn’t cherry pick what to listen to and when to listen to it.
If Batman was a conservative hero, wouldn’t he have at least made Arkham Asylum a Gitmo, kept the tech and made sure Gordon and some of those civilians died for sh!ts and giggles?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:44 pm