Return to Transcripts main page

Glenn Beck

Does Hillary Have a Chance?; Meteorologist Disagrees with Global Warming Theory

Aired January 22, 2007 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

GLENN BECK, HOST: Coming up, Hillary is in and she`s in it to win. Put that on a bumper sticker. But she won`t, and I`ll tell you why in a few minutes.
Plus, the Weather Channel is going after people who question global warming. That and more, next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Tonight`s episode is brought to you by "Glenn Beck`s Cheese-tastic Salute to the `90s". Join Glenn as he looks back at your favorite dated relics from the `90s, like the Macarena, Crystal Pepsi and Hillary Clinton. Glenn Beck`s Cheese-tastic Salute to the `90s". Word up!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Man, I don`t know about you, but I don`t think anybody saw this one coming. Hillary Clinton has decided to run for president. I heard that. I had to read it three -- three or four times. I was as shocked as when I found out that Britney Spears and K-Fed were divorcing. I thought those crazy kids would last forever.

Anywho, as I watched Hillary`s announcement on her web site -- which I watch all the time; it`s great -- I was struck by a couple of things.

One, her delivery. It had all of the charm and charisma of a roof shingle. And the second thing was what`s with the green leaves in the background? What`s up with that? I thought this was recorded in January in New York, but more on that later in "The Real Story".

Here is the point tonight. I believe Hillary Clinton is the Vanilla Ice of politics, a relic from the `90s that is out of touch with the tastes of today. That is precisely why Hillary Clinton will not be the first female president of the United States and here`s how I got there.

First, let`s take a look at this announcement, shall we?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So let`s talk. Let`s chat. Let`s start a dialogue about your ideas and mine, because the conversation in Washington has been just a little one-sided lately, don`t you think?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: No. I really don`t. Let`s talk. Let`s chat. Let`s have a conversation? Aaa!

First of all, I`m probably too much of a guy here on this one. Perhaps stereotypically so. A conversation? Just too chick for me. I`m sorry. Hillary, I don`t need a conversation and you don`t need one with me. You don`t need to hear from me. I don`t need to hear from you. Let`s not kibbutz on the phone.

I`m not looking for somebody who takes political advice from Steve, the guy that works behind the counter at Blockbuster, or Glenn, the idiot talk show host. I need somebody who can be the president, someone who can provide leadership.

You know, we`ve gone from these listening tours to online conversations. Enough already! Just tell me where you stand on the issues. It`s not like you`re actually going to be listening to us and say, "Wait a minute. That`s a great solution to the war, guy who lives in his mom`s basement. Thank you very much."

Come on! You`re going do what you were going to do anyway. And the last thing you`re going do now is tell us what those things are, because at this point you`re a freakin` politician.

You know, there are also a couple of other things that are just wrong with Hillary. One, she`s old school, but not like in a cool sort of way. More in a Roberta Flack kind of way.

She personifies the type of politics that America is sick of: slick politicians who will tell you exactly what you want to hear just to get elected. Politicians who have this giant machine behind them that`s just cranking out bogus images and hollow sound bites. America has rejected that type of politics, and it`s exactly the kind of politics that Hillary seems to embrace.

Two, you can`t pin this woman down. I mean, have you noticed in the last few years? Do you know where Hillary Clinton stands on the war? I mean, I know she voted for it, but she`s kind of against it-ish, isn`t she? She`s sort of pretty sure the troops surge won`t work, but gosh darn it, we want to win, maybe. I don`t know. I swear to you, my brain hurts trying to figure her positions out.

Hillary, there are -- there are reason yes Barack Obama is surging in the polls, and I believe unless he screws it up, will pass you by.

Listen to this quote from Obama`s new book. Quote, "In the back and forth between Clinton and Gingrich in the elections of 2000 and 2004, I felt sometimes like we were watching a psychodrama of the Baby Boom generation, a tale rooted in old grudges and revenge plots hatched in a handful of college campuses long ago."

Senator Obama, man, if you weren`t such an out of your mind crazy Ted Kennedy liberal, I`d not only vote for you, I think I`d French kiss you right now, man. That`s the way I feel. I think that`s the way America feels.

This is what he gets that Hillary Clinton doesn`t. It`s where America is and Hillary Clinton isn`t. Based on this, not her politics, just on this, I just don`t see her as being the one. I believe her time has passed as has the time for all of the politicians like her.

So here is what I know tonight. I think there`s been a leapfrogging of the old guard. Hillary Clinton can thank the Michael Moores of the left and the right for that. They turned the rancor up a few notches in the last decade or so, and the country is just sick of it. Because of this the last people Americans will turn to are the icons of this age of acrimony.

Now here`s what I don`t know. I mean, if anybody can, you know, convince us that, "What? I had nothing to do with that" it`s Hillary Clinton. Can she reverse this? She has been oddly silent on some of the biggest issues of our day. If anyone can triangulate her way into a position, oh, it`s Hillary Clinton, but will America buy it?

John Mercurio is a senior editor at the "National Journal".

John, can Hillary actually shed her old guard image and reinvent herself yet again?

JOHN MERCURIO, SENIOR EDITOR, "NATIONAL JOURNAL": Well, you know, I think that`s what`s what she`s been doing for the past six years. You know, there`s a certain segment of the Republican Party, a relatively small segment comparatively who remembers her from the 1990s, from the Clinton White House and will never, ever be won over to a Clinton campaign, a Hillary Clinton campaign.

But over the past six years in the Senate, I think you`ve definitely seen her in a very calculated way move to the center, try to reinforce and invigorate her -- her national security position. I think to some extent she`s been successful.

Look, there`s polls out this week that show her actually leading John McCain in a head-to-head campaign.

BECK: Right. You bring up the GOP. I`ve heard from people who say, "Oh, well, the Republicans will unite against her, et cetera, et cetera. There`s nobody more polarizing than her."

I think that`s a bunch of bull crap for the one reason that I don`t think you win elections on being anti-somebody. That`s the way the Democrats have been losing the elections. You`ve got to be for something.

MERCURIO: That`s exactly right. That`s why John Kerry didn`t win in 2004, because he was not running a positive campaign. He was just anti- George Bush.

Look, again, I just think that ultimately, that sort of idea that Republicans unify and unite behind -- or against Hillary Clinton is very pre-9/11.

BECK: Yes.

MERCURIO: Not to put it in overly catastrophic terms. But I think people at this point say, look, you know, we were obsessed with Whitewater. We were focused on scandals and the Clinton scandals of the 1990s, a lot which were -- were credible scandals and credible issues that people were debating, but in a time when we`re talking about a war in Iraq and we`re talking about terrorism around the world, you know, focusing on the fact that people find her to have a polarizing personality, I think, is -- is a little outdated.

BECK: Here`s where -- here`s where I -- you know, I think that she is so calculated. I mean, you said a minute ago, you know, on a very calculated way that people -- that is pre-2004 kind of thinking. That there is this need and a want for genuineness.

I want to play you a couple of clips here where she is practically robotic in this speech that she gave. It doesn`t feel genuine at all. Watch these clips.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: I grew up in a middle-class family in the middle of America, and we believed in that promise. I still do. I spent my entire life trying to make good on it. So let`s talk. Let`s chat. Let`s start a dialogue about your ideas and mine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Let`s talk. Let`s chat. Let`s have a dialogue.

MERCURIO: And Glenn, I grew up in the middle-class family in the middle of America.

BECK: Exactly right.

MERCURIO: She`s pounding those words.

BECK: Oh, yes.

MERCURIO: She is a centrist. She is the middle. She`s reaching for the middle of the political spectrum.

BECK: Don`t you feel like America would rather have somebody like Obama? If you`re talking about liberals, they`d rather have somebody like Obama who has said, "Look, man, I tried cocaine, but I`m honest about it. This is who I am, warts and all"?

My favorite quote is, "Yes, I inhaled. Isn`t that the point?"

MERCURIO: You know, look, ultimately, I think -- I think ultimately an interesting strategy that Obama should -- should sort of exercise is this idea of trying to push Clinton into that sort of politics as a usual corner.

I mean, look, Bush-Clinton, Bush-Clinton. That will be the lineup of presidents if Hillary Clinton is elected the next president. And for Obama I think the strongest argument he can make is that he represents something new. He represents something that the country has never seen before.

And Hillary Clinton to some extent would almost in an arguably, and interesting way be the incumbent. Be sort of the politics as usual candidate.

BECK: Yes. John, I wish we had more time, since I`d love to get into the fact that now 60 percent of America says that they would vote for a woman, which leaves 40 percent saying no women and 38 percent saying no black, which is stunning to me.

John, thanks a lot.

If Hillary really is serious about following in her husband`s footsteps, you know, one of the things she has to do is work on the image. Just -- you know, some people find her a little cold. Me, personally, no. I -- I actually believe that she can change that. I have an idea she might want to try.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Running for president can get so exhausting. The handshakes, the hugging, having to pretend like you really care. That`s why we created Rent-a-Kid. At Rent-a-Kid, we have kids of all shapes and sizes available for all your campaign needs.

So the next time you need to appear warm and fuzzy, instead of the cold, calculating, political animal that you really are, give us a call, because at Rent-a-Kid, having a heart is only a phone call away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is GLENN BECK.

BECK: Coming up, with the tragically unpredictable weather we`ve been having, it`s hard to argue with climate change, harder to argue with the Weather Channel. I`ll talk to one meteorologist whose controversial stance on global warming almost cost him his certification.

And China takes out an old weather satellite with ballistic missiles. Just a little space cleaning? Not so much. Why we may be getting ready for the next arms race. That`s "The Real Story" tonight.

Plus, since when is seeing the star of "Charlotte`s Web" in a rape scene entertainment? Those crazy independent filmmakers. They`re a hoot. We`ll have a preview of some the disturbing offers coming out of Sundance. Don`t miss it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: From unseasonably warm temperatures in the north to devastating storms in the south, it has been a strange and deadly winter all around the globe, and there is no denying it. Something is going on with the weather, but here`s the hitch. There is no clear answer to what that something is.

Now, I personally believe in global climate change. Not disputing even that pollution and giant Escalades like mine certainly aren`t helping, but are they causing this?

The notion of man`s complete responsibility for global warming has wrongly been adopted as universal truth here in our country. Remember, you know, just because Al Gore made a documentary doesn`t mean that all of the information he presented were irrefutable facts. Where were the SUVs when the dinosaurs were burned?

You know, it`s just like two doctors having a differing opinion on how to handle a treatment of a disease. There are numerous alternative views on why the Earth`s climate is what it is.

Now, the thing that I`ve noticed, and I don`t know if I`ve noticed this, too. You know the people always scolding people: "You`ve got to embrace diversity"? They`re often the least receptive to diverse points of view on global warming.

And you`d think if there`s one place that would entertain all of the theories on the weather, it would be the freakin` Weather Channel. Yes, you`d think that, but you`d be wrong.

James Spann is a meteorologist with the highest level of certification from the American Meteorological Society. His credentials are impeccable until the Weather Channel decided they wanted to take away his AMS certification, because he didn`t believe that global warming is manmade and not a natural process.

What happened? How did -- why is it, James, that you don`t believe that this is a manmade process?

JAMES SPANN, METEOROLOGIST: Well, Glenn, the earth`s climate has changed since the day God put it here. We have had these cyclical changes, and I believe that most of this is purely natural.

Quite frankly, to those of us in the operational community -- and we`re talking meteorologists that look at computer models and data in a simulated public forecast -- we don`t see much difference in the global warming in the last 10 to 15 years compared to the global warming we had from about 1910 to about 1945.

The 1930s were extremely cold across the globe. And I just don`t see a lot of difference in that.

And to us, the co2 emissions -- and let me say this. I think we should reduce this for better air quality. We`re going to run out of fossil fuels. We have many issues. And I`m all in agreement that we should reduce that.

But the idea that this is producing catastrophic manmade global warming just doesn`t make a lot of sense. It`s a pop gun compared to atomic bomb issues like volcanic dust in the stratosphere, the position of the sun, the temperature of the sun, the structure of the earth`s magnetic poles and ocean currents. That`s what makes the big changes.

BECK: OK.

SPANN: So in our opinion, a large part of this is not manmade. It`s natural.

BECK: James, I mean, I`m sure that all makes sense, and you don`t look like a kook. But you`ve got to have somebody chained in your basement, because you`re clearly a kook, because you have to be if you come out and say these things.

It`s amazing to me that I feel as though we`re almost living in McCarthy times when it comes to global warming. They are doing everything they can to shut people like you down. Why?

SPANN: There`s really -- there`s really two issues, Glenn. We`ve got the global warming issue. Is it manmade? Is it natural? There needs to be a healthy debate.

And what prompted a lot of this was the comment from the anchor at the Weather Channel. And she apparently wrote in her blog. In fact, I read her blog that if you don`t agree with her, then if you are certified by the AMS, then you should not be certified.

I understand that`s something that you can`t drive through and get that. That involves academic standards. That involves your on-air work, your content, your style and a rigorous examination. You work hard for that.

And she`s saying if you don`t agree with me, your certification needs to go away, and to me that`s very troubling. I think in science you need a free marketplace of ideas, a good exchange.

I love to read papers from those that are on the manmade, catastrophic global warming bandwagon. That`s the only way I can educate myself, but for them to try to silence this side, that is very disturbing.

BECK: She came out with a statement recently where she -- she pretty much basically said, "You know what? I -- we want to -- here at the Weather Channel we want to have a discussion and anybody, we`ll discuss it with anyone, but you must understand that we`re moving this forward."

So in other words, she was pretty much saying we`ll have a discussion with anyone, but you must first understand that global warming is caused by man and we`ll move from there. Wasn`t she?

SPANN: To me, that`s what it sounds like, Glenn. And quite frankly, I`m hoping that maybe, one day soon, she can come on this show, and we can have all a healthy debate about that. I would love to speak with her about that. She has been unavailable.

We do a local podcast here called Weather Brains. We`ve tried to get her on that. But apparently, she`s out at Sundance, involved in a big film that is promoting the concept of...

BECK: What a surprise.

SPANN: ... this catastrophic manmade global warming. And we find that to be interesting, but she`s been unavailable for comment, so hopefully she`ll be back from that here soon.

BECK: It`s amazing how many people are unavailable to talk to people like you, people like me. They just will not make themselves available to have a civilized debate on these things.

James, thank you very much.

Coming up, the Golden Globe Award-winning drama that`s right at the center of some controversy. One of the stars on the hot seat for an anti- gay slur he used more than once. Uh-oh, that`s next. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: All right. Every day you can hear my radio program on stations across country including the home of Peter Boyles in the Morning, 630 KHOW in Denver. And if you can`t find an affiliate in our area, please sign up and listen online at my web site, GlennBeck.com.

Now, in St. Louis, our affiliate there is 97.1 FM talk. Dave Glover does the afternoon program.

Hello, David.

DAVE GLOVER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Hello, buddy. How you doing, man?

BECK: Good. I want to talk to you a little bit about this controversy that`s going with "Grey`s Anatomy". And I don`t know very much about it, honestly, because I don`t watch "Grey`s Anatomy" out of protest.

GLOVER: Who are you protesting?

BECK: I`m protesting that they took "Boston Legal" off Sunday night. And I refused to watch it from the beginning, because I was a fan of "Boston Legal." Until, like, everybody is having sex with everybody on "Boston Legal". I can`t watch that anymore.

GLOVER: Yes.

BECK: I`m down to this crappy show. But anyway, Dave, what is the -- what is the controversy? One of the guys called another guy a naughty name.

GLOVER: Yes. Basically you have Isaiah Washington, who`s one of the stars of the show, who referred to one of his co-stars during a heated argument as a derogatory term for a gay man that starts with "F", rhymes with maggot. Did it a couple more times after that. And do you like how I did that?

BECK: Yes.

GLOVER: And...

BECK: Do you know that "The New York Times" wouldn`t even print -- I mean, we can say the word. We`re having an adult conversation here. Wouldn`t even print the word "fagot."

GLOVER: Right.

BECK: Wouldn`t print it. I find that amazing.

GLOVER: Well, then what happened was they won some Golden Globes and very awkwardly during the interview afterwards, this guy steps up and denies the whole thing, making it thus more of a controversy.

Now he comes out and says, "Look, I did it. I have a problem. I`m seeking help. I need all of your help."

Here`s my take on it, Glenn.

BECK: Yes.

GLOVER: When did we elevate obnoxious behavior to a medical condition? You know, I mean, when is just being a jerk, an obnoxious jerk mean that you now have to go to rehab? We`d be having the same conversation each week.

BECK: It`s Michael Richards and before that it was Mel Gibson. It`s the same damn story.

GLOVER: Yes. It is the same story. And we need to stop. Just call it what it is, OK? When someone acts in an obnoxious way, they are being a jerk. If people do it enough, they are a jerk, and it doesn`t mean that they have a genetic condition that makes them do it.

It means they`re a jerk and they need to study and grow up, be a man and stop acting like a jerk, not go seek out medical attention or, you know, spiritual counseling. Just stop it.

BECK: You know, what kills me is -- I mean, can you even imagine you`ve got the network of the mouse? Can you even imagine the ton of bricks that came down on that guy?

GLOVER: Further controversy is Isaiah Washington is African-American. The co-star he called the name then came out of the closet and said, "Well, no one knew this before, but I am gay."

What if that gay had called him the "N" word? Would he even had made it to the afternoon? I don`t think so.

BECK: No. The other thing I find interesting is that Washington fired his P.R. person. Like it was his fault or her fault.

GLOVER: How dare you tell me to lie openly?

BECK: It`s my public -- it`s my public relations people. They`re all screwed up, and they need help. And they need everyone`s prayers, I`ll tell you that.

GLOVER: Absolutely.

BECK: Dave, thanks a lot.

Back in a minute with "The Real Story".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Lizards, ice storms, Hillary. Yes, the wrath of winter is finally upon us. Only one thing can save us and that`s, well, I guess this guy. Find out Glenn`s tips for surviving winter by going to CNN.com/podcasts or iTunes. Then download Glenn`s podcast, "Sick Twisted Freak".

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: All right. Welcome to "The Real Story."

And unless you were hiding in your Election `08 bunker in your basement all weekend long, then I`m sure you`ve heard by now, yes, we have a new candidate, they have announced the formation of an exploratory committee for the `08 Democratic presidential nomination, and they did it by embracing some of that new technology I`ve been hearing so much about, posting a video on their intra-Web site.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: Hello. This is Governor Bill Richardson. Today I`m announcing the formation of a presidential campaign exploratory committee.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Sure, that`s the one everybody was talking about. Bill Richardson is in it, and he`s in it to win it, or should I say "ganar it," since, you know, just about all you`ve heard about Bill Richardson, at least if you`ve been reading the paper this weekend, is apparently he`s Hispanic. Didn`t know that.

But lost in all the hoopla and excitement over that announcement was the fact that another candidate also forming an exploratory committee -- please, if you`ve just eaten dinner, maybe you have an upset stomach, please avert your eyes. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I announced today that I`m forming a presidential exploratory committee. I`m not just starting a campaign, though; I`m beginning a conversation with you, with America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Ooh! No offense there, Hillary, but I think I`m going to take a pass on that conversation. I love so much about this video. My favorite part, I think, is the way she is acting. She is acting and telling you it`s very, very -- I`ve been agonizing over this decision. It`s been very hard to make this decision.

But the real story tonight, Hillary -- she decided to run for president when she was, like, eight. No, I believe that she may have also filmed this little Web video a very long time ago, as well. I want you to look at this video again.

OK, besides, you know, the staged, cozy living room scene, there`s a window there with, gosh, doesn`t it look like an awful lot of green trees behind her? Now, I`m no arborist, but I am a thinker. And it doesn`t seem like trees should have their leaves in January in New York or Washington, unless it`s that damn global warming again. My gosh, that stuff just won`t let up.

If that video was just filmed, then maybe they consulted focus groups to figure out what kind of background relates the best to the average American. You know, Hillary likes green trees, and Americans like green trees. I think we`ve got it.

Now, we did call Hillary`s office a couple of times today about this, but I guess them commenting on staging for her Web video is not really a top priority for her right now, because they never really called us back. But I believe that was a big mistake for them, because it led me to wonder what other sets they may have tested in focus groups. In turns out we found a few.

There are a few of them. There`s this one, which was meant to appeal to baby boomers. And I think it`s a lot more impressive than the trees, but then I really love this one. I had no idea she was there. And, Hillary, I think your focus group may have steered you wrong. I`m just saying.

Next, you may have heard that China launched a ballistic missile into space and destroyed one of their old weather satellites in a test that outraged nations across the world, but don`t panic, because Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joe Biden said Sunday, quote, "We shouldn`t be overly worried about this."

Well, gee, Joe, thanks. I`m feeling better already. And, by the way, we still haven`t figured out what that weird smell was in New York City, but don`t worry about that, either. Just, here, implant the chip in your forehead and everything will be all right.

Real story tonight? Once again, ignore Joe Biden. You should be worried about this. China broke 27 years of peace in space, and they did it to send two very strong messages right to the United States. The first message is: The Chinese want the U.S. to sign an international treaty seeking to prevent arms race in outer space.

This was a little test that was meant to give us a little kick in the pants, which doesn`t make a ton of sense because -- well, I mean, everybody knows the best way to prove how much you hate something is to do it yourself, like, for instance, this weekend I had a couple of hookers over to the house, you know, just to prove to my wife how much I hate them and how much I despise adultery. And then I swore I`d never go do that and made my wife sign a pact that she`d never do it, either.

Come on. It`s completely illogical. There are better ways to prevent an arms race than starting one. That`s why I think the second message they`re sending is far more important.

A couple of weeks ago, the Chinese government published a national defense study which concluded that their national security -- China`s -- is facing, quote, "challenges that cannot be ignored." Kind of vague, I know, but then they get a little more specific. Quote, "The U.S. continues to sell advanced military equipment and to strengthen its military liaison in exchange with Taiwan."

It is about Taiwan, and specifically it`s about our support for their democracy. They are the Asian version of Israel. Even though Joe Biden may still be asleep, the rest of us need to wake up and realize that China isn`t a friend of ours. They never have been.

But they`re not like Iran or North Korea. They`re more like the old Cold War with the USSR, a country that is just sitting there, licking their chops, waiting to be the world`s next superpower. They`ll sell us cheap electronics, make those cute little drink umbrellas, while hoping that we don`t notice that they`re selling things like fighter jets, surface-to- surface missiles, and battle tanks to Iran for cheap oil.

Just like the old USSR, they have been a threat for years, growing right underneath our nose. And if you want proof, go back to 1998 when a bipartisan House committee released a report criticizing the Clinton administration for allowing two American aerospace companies -- do you remember this? -- to damage our national security by providing Chinese space engineers with technical data that could help their ballistic missile program.

Well, looks like we know what they did with that now. Thanks, Bill!

For quite a while, Washington has been trying to get the Chinese to agree to a couple -- to a Cold War-style phone hotline in the White House that directly connects our two countries. China`s stance has been, "Yes, we`ll get back to you."

It seems far more urgent here in the United States, and now we know why. Most people have no idea how devastating it would be to lose our satellites, but our next guest is about to wake you up.

Michael Coumatos -- Coumatos? I`m sorry, Michael. Coumatos is the former director of war gaming at U.S. Space Command, co-author of "Space Wars: The First Six Hours of World War III," a war game scenario.

Mike, I read part of your book this weekend, some frightening stuff. Tell people exactly what it means to lose our satellites.

MICHAEL COUMATOS, CO-AUTHOR, "SPACE WARS": Hi, Glenn. It`s Coumatos, by the way.

BECK: I`m sorry.

COUMATOS: But thank you for trying.

(CROSSTALK)

COUMATOS: And it`s a tough name. You should have seen what it`s like in school.

We have a vulnerability in space. And the premise of our book, when we set out to write this, because of the experience the co-authors have had in dealing with our space systems and our dependency on space -- and we should know, all of us should know we are a space-faring nation.

As a space-faring nation, that also means there are vulnerabilities. And those vulnerabilities include financial sectors, our whole economy, our national security, our entertainment, media, television, all that we depend upon and all that we enjoy, much of that, much of that is transported through the commerce of space.

BECK: So in your book...

COUMATOS: And that vulnerability...

BECK: I`m sorry. In your book, you talk about how we are blind. They hit us up in space, and we can no longer see -- a doomsday scenario unfolds rapidly, because we don`t know what`s happening. We don`t know what`s been launched against us, et cetera, et cetera. Define that a little bit.

COUMATOS: Sure. Through our story, we are able to point out that, in national security, for example, our command and control systems, our ability to conduct reconnaissance or surveillance. In the areas that we are trying to conduct operations, wherever they might be in the world, and in our story you probably recall reading the part about Iran and some of the issues there, that blinding, that ability to go deaf creates an asymmetry for a potential adversary.

And that adversary takes advantage of that, conducts operations as they see fit, while we`re scrambling to put the picture back together and to conduct the communications necessary for our operations.

BECK: Michael, there is -- I read this years ago, and I don`t even know if this is true. My recollection is spotty on a lot of things. Oh, it`s the years of alcohol.

But, you know, I seem to remember there is a sweet spot in space that we`ve wanted to occupy because you, for some reason or another, and I don`t know why, nobody can target it. You can`t hit it. So if you have satellites in that particular position, they`re relatively safe. Is that even true? And does anybody occupy that space?

COUMATOS: Not quite, Glenn, but what you may be thinking about is the geosynchronous belt, which makes it very difficult to target, but it`s not impossible. And things such as jamming can reach that geosynchronous belt, and we`re talking about satellites that are 22,000 nautical miles above the Earth, and that sweet spot makes things difficult, but not impossible.

BECK: We have things that will keep our eyes open if China ever decided to take out our satellites? Do we have things up there that will be happening?

COUMATOS: Now you`re getting into an issue that -- no. We, in fact, don`t have a good awareness about what goes on in space. So whether it`s a solar wind, or a meteorite strike, or somebody doing jamming, or lasing, or using micro- or nano-satellites, we are not necessarily sure what may have occurred.

And so that is one of the issues that we bring forth, as we talk about some of the vulnerabilities, and that is just an understanding and having an awareness of what has happened to satellites.

BECK: Yes, Michael, I have to ask you, you realize that you have like every 8-year-old boy`s dream job. You are the war-gamer at U.S. Space Command. That`s like a job that Pixar would come up with. It`s great! Thanks a lot, Michael.

That is the "Real Story" tonight. If you`d like to read more about this or if you`ve found a real story of your own, tell us about it, please. Go to glennbeck.com and click on that "Real Story" button. Back in a second.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Controversial proposal in Daytona Beach would create a special village to house hundreds of the country`s homeless people. The village will provide shelter, psychiatric help, and the support of neighbors.

Can we go back and read the words of FDR? You give man something for free, and it breaks their spirit! You can`t do it! And, by the way, I highly doubt that any other homeless people around the country would flock to this new homeless Mecca of really nice houses, 125 acres of land. You don`t have to work. You get free health care. And you`re in Florida!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: A 12-year-old girl gets brutally raped to a soundtrack by Elvis Presley. Another girl slowly tortured to death in an Indiana basement. And a group of men who call themselves "zoos" openly admit to having sex with animals.

Horrific stories of true crime? No. Uh-uh. Not exactly. More the subjects of some of the most-talked-about films debuting at this year`s Sundance Film Festival. Hey, Robert Redford, thanks.

While Sundance has always championed the adventurous spirit of the indie movies, this year`s offerings seem a little dark in the pursuit of art, I`m just saying.

Missy Schwartz is a correspondent for "Entertainment Weekly." This is her fourth year reporting from Sundance.

Missy, a little dark for these movies? What is up in Sundance this year?

MISSY SCHWARTZ, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Well, I think Sundance -- you`re right -- Sundance has always been a place where movies have been controversial, and therefore tend toward the dark side, but, yes, you`re absolutely right. This year, there`s really a dark shadow over Sundance this year.

And why? It`s a dark time in the world. And, you know, artists are the ones who always go to those places that the rest of us would maybe not like to go so much. So...

BECK: I mean -- but wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait. There`s a difference between -- it`s a dark time in the world. The Depression was a dark time in the world, and I seem to remember "Pennies from Heaven." I mean, what happened to, you know, some -- hey, let`s get people uplifted and feel good about stuff. We`re going bestiality and rape of a 12-year- old girl?

SCHWARTZ: Well, I have not seen "Zoo" yet. And "Hounddog," the Dakota Fanning movie you`re referring to, is premiering tonight. And there`s absolutely -- it`s the most buzzed-about movie right now, only just because of the controversy surrounding it and the very premise, and people wondering what on Earth this movie is.

And for a while, before it had a title, it really was referred to unofficially, of course, as the Dakota Fanning rape movie. So I can`t expound on it yet, because I haven`t seen it. It has not screened at all, but it`s definitely the hot ticket of this evening.

BECK: Missy, have you talked to anybody out there who might be -- maybe watching some of these movies and saying, "Wait a minute, maybe there`s a reason we`re not doing well at the box office right now"? Has that dawned on anyone that maybe America doesn`t want to see the "Dakota Fanning being raped" movie?

SCHWARTZ: Well, I think that that`s a fair question, but Sundance has never really been a forum for box office gold. This is much more of a place where filmmakers get started and also award season contenders. You know, those don`t always tend to be the movies that make the most money. For that, you know, there isn`t really a film festival for box office jackpots. But if there is, it`s not here.

BECK: Are there any happy people there? Is there anybody that`s, like, hey, things aren`t that bad? Come on, you can`t say to me that there`s no -- are there any -- even "Little Miss Sunshine" last year, which I didn`t see it, but I hear, you know, not the happiest movie of all time, but it had a little bit of sunlight in it. Is there anything like that that you`re seeing this year?

SCHWARTZ: Nothing anywhere close to the sort of joy that you end up feeling at the end of "Little Miss Sunshine." There isn`t -- and on two respects, there`s not been a huge breakout hit like that one, and there hasn`t been anything sort of that much sort of excitement and happiness.

So, I mean, there have been comedies. There`s Mike White`s "The Year of the Dog," which is also -- I mean, it is about grieving, and a single woman who`s grieving the death of her beloved dog, but it`s a comedy. And, I mean, it`s an edgy comedy. I mean, don`t worry, there`s no bestiality, it`s just a...

BECK: Well, I mean, do we know? Was there an autopsy on the dog? I mean, what did they know and when did they know it?

Last point, we`ve got to run, but Weinstein bought a move with John Cusack, who I love, but it`s about Iraq. Do they really think anyone wants to see an Iraq movie? Or is this, again, "Let`s just get an award"?

SCHWARTZ: I think it`s -- I think it`s really, this is the place for people who love movies and who aren`t going just to sort of escape their problems. It`s to see the art of filmmaking and actors, you know, giving performances. So, yes, it`s definitely not...

BECK: I don`t even understand that, missy. I really don`t. I love movies. I love great acting, but I don`t want to hang myself at the end of it.

SCHWARTZ: I hear you. I hear you.

BECK: Thank you very much.

Let`s check in now with Nancy Grace and find out what she`s got coming up on the show tonight -- Nancy?

NANCY GRACE, CNN HOST: Glenn, tonight, an alleged child predator turned celebrity. The 41-year-old pizza parlor manager, the one charged with snatching two little Missouri boys straight off the street in broad daylight, remember, holding one captive for years? Well, now he`s giving jailhouse interviews to the media. That`s right! Michael Devlin has turned into a star, and that is wrong.

Plus, why didn`t one of the boy victims leave when he had the chance? Tonight, some answers.

And also tonight, Amber Alert for a young Indiana mom and her four children kidnapped from their own home.

BECK: Don`t forget, you can check out Nancy tonight at 8:00 and 10:00 Eastern, right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Hello. I`m Satan`s mentally challenged younger brother, as Stephen King called me, with your e-mail for the day.

Last week, I showed you a picture of a house that I passed by on my way home. Still has its Christmas lights up, and sparked a ton of controversy. My stance is, unless you have some sort of family tragedy, your lights have got to be down by now.

Sara in Colorado was upset. "Beck, my Christmas lights are up, but only because here in Colorado we`ve been covered in snow. Would you like to come to my house and help me find the lights under all that snow? That`s what I thought. Add that to the exception list.`

All right, Sara, back on down. If you`re almost buried under 12 feet of snow, I guess I`d cut you a break, this year. But don`t get used to it, because I`m working closely with my buddies in the evil conservative oil industry to make sure global warming gets worse next year. I`m letting the SUV run an extra 10 minutes so you won`t be able to blame the snow anymore.

Beth in Phoenix writes, "Glenn, I read that researchers have decided that today is the most depressing day on the calendar. Please tell me something uplifting. I`d prefer it had nothing to do with a bestiality documentary."

OK. I think we can do that for you, Beth, especially on January 22nd, the most depressing day of the year. That`s what a group of researchers, apparently when they`re taking a break from curing cancer and stopping spousal abuse, announced today.

It`s the perfect storm of unpaid Christmas bills, failed New Year`s resolutions, and cold weather. But if you want to cheer up, how about this story? Tallahassee, Florida, duck hunter, he goes out, and he`s hunting, and he shoots a duck. He puts the duck in his refrigerator. Later his wife opens the refrigerator door, and the duck looks up at her. Somehow the duck survived in the refrigerator for two days, and the hunter`s family immediately brought it to a wildlife rehabilitation center where they think it will actually survive.

Now, no word on why they thought it was OK to shoot the duck in the field, but then felt terrible while it was dying in an appliance, but there`s a happy story of triumph against all of the odds, just to cheer you up on the most depressing day of the calendar.

We`ll save the story from ABC News that they`re reporting on discovered documents that show an Iraqi insurgent plan for attacks here in the U.S. We`ll tell you that tomorrow on the not-most-depressing day of the year.

You can e-mail me about terrorist attacks or dead ducks in your refrigerator at GlennBeck@CNN.com. We`ll see you tomorrow on the radio, then back here tonight, you sick freak.

END