The New York Times, always on top of the big story, has discovered Glenn Beck and written one of those anthropologist-style pieces about these strange, restive creatures called conservatives: They are “Mad, Apocalyptic, Tearful.” The Times includes the millimeter-deep political analysis of Bill Maher, who parrots Bill Clinton’s old canard that talk-radio critics inspired Tim McVeigh to bomb Oklahoma City.

And when you’re looking for Republicanish criticism of an effective conservative broadcaster, David Frum is your guy, and lo:

The conservative writer David Frum said Beck’s success “is a product of the collapse of conservatism as an organized political force, and the rise of conservatism as an alienated cultural sensibility.”
“It’s a show for people who feel they belong to an embattled minority that is disenfranchised and cut off,” he said.

What’s really telling about the Times report is that they take the Maher radio-terrorist line seriously enough that they quote Beck forswearing violence:

“Let me be clear,” Mr. 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.”

Comparing Glenn Beck to Tim McVeigh makes about as much sense as comparing Rachel Maddow to Valerie Solanas. Nonsensical, but that’s the Newspaper of Record.