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Glenn Beck

Sex Offenders Put Back on the Streets; Why is McCain`s Campaign in Trouble?; Will Faith-Based Toys Gain Popularity?

Aired July 16, 2007 - 19:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GLENN BECK, HOST (voice-over): Tonight, dangerous sex offenders freed. I`ll tell you how some of our country`s most notorious child predators managed to make it out from behind bars and into our neighborhoods.

Plus, is Cheney pushing for military action against Iran? A new report claims the vice president is urging Bush to act against the regime before leaving office. Will the president listen? My prediction, coming up.

And Charlie Daniels. I`ll talk with the always outspoken musical legend about his crusade to help a true American hero.

All this and more, tonight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BECK: Well, hello, America.

Let me just put it right onto the table. Hide your children, because the courts, at least the ones here in New York state, are swinging open the doors and letting convicted sex offenders roam free. This is going to blow your mind.

First of all, if you ask me, serving your time is one thing, but protecting the innocent from those who have proven that they cannot control themselves is something else. Something far more important.

So here is the point tonight. When it comes to sex crimes, it`s one strike and you`re out. That`s it. Criminals should not have their rights placed above the safety of the law abiding public. But that is exactly what`s happening, and here`s how I got there.

According to a new report in "The New York Post", a huge number of dangerous sex offenders have been put back on the streets where they can potentially wreak havoc and destroy more lives. And if it can happen here, it can happen in your state, too.

Anybody who commits a crime against a child needs to have the full weight of the law crash down on their -- on their head like a load of bricks, man. And when that offense is a sex crime, put these people away for good!

No one can disagree that former New York governor, George Pataki, believes in that idea. You know, he`s stronger than anybody else. He made the tougher treatment of sex offenders a signature law enforcement issue.

George Pataki believed that we should have additional laws that allow for the confinement of sex offenders even after they`re released from prison. That is, as long as the state can prove the offender suffers from some mental abnormality that makes him, quote, "unable to control his dangerousness."

Hello. They`re sex offenders. By committing the crime the first time, they`re admitting they can`t control their dangerousness.

Who exactly is it that doesn`t see this as common sense? Who is it exactly that is against tougher laws for sex offenders? What politician thinks that a guy who rapes a 10-year-old kid could be rehabilitated?

You don`t have to be a fancy pants lawyer to understand it makes good common sense to find a way to keep these dangerous perverts off our streets. And if we had stiffer penalties that matched the evil of these sex crimes, lawmakers would need to get creative or push the envelope just to keep our women and children safe.

However, the state court of appeals here in New York State decided they don`t really agree with that. Predatory sex offenders were entitled to new hearings. So they released nearly 50 of these guys back on the street.

So tonight, here is what you need to know. The sex offenders released here in New York were serving sentences for a staggering range of sex crimes. One of them was convicted for raping a 3-year-old boy. And he was just one of nearly 50 convicted sex predators that the New York state court system put back on the streets.

Sleep well tonight, New Yorkers. Oh, sleep well. Knowing that the system has us afraid of the criminals instead of the criminals afraid of us.

Joining us now, former New York governor, George Pataki.

Governor, how did you feel when you read about this release?

GEORGE PATAKI, FORMER NEW YORK GOVERNOR: Glenn, it`s disgusting. We worked very hard to lower crime in New York, and we changed over a hundred different laws. Tough criminal justice laws work. It`s that simple. And today New York safe is the safest it`s ever been, and it`s the safest of any of the large states in America.

But when you see something like this, where I couldn`t get through the Democratic-controlled assembly a tough law to keep violent sexual predators behind bars, it`s just wrong that dozens and dozens of people, who you know are going to be out there, they`re going to prey again. They`re going to prey on our children, and ultimately they`ll end up back in jail. But how long will it take? And it`s wrong, and it shouldn`t have happened.

BECK: Governor, I have to tell you. I read a story in the paper this week, and it was a teeny story, and it was about childhood obesity. And it said the problem is that our kids aren`t walking to school anymore. In the `60s, you know, 90 percent were walking to school or riding their bikes.

Now it`s down to 49 percent. And experts say -- this is a quote. Experts say it`s because of safety concerns like no sidewalks. And I thought, sidewalks? We`re worried about our kids being kidnapped or raped or abused or shoved into a car. That`s what we`re afraid of.

How is it that these people miss this?

PATAKI: I don`t understand it either. I`m totally with you on this, Glenn. And in fact, I tried to get a tough law passed. And in fact, when I couldn`t, I used my executive powers to civilly confine almost 200 violent sexual predators who otherwise would have been out on the street.

They sued the courts by a one-vote decision. They didn`t say we couldn`t have the law. They said that my executive powers didn`t allow me to do this. So what I tried to do is go back and get a law passed to cover the actions I had taken, and none of these people would be out on the street. They shouldn`t be. And we couldn`t get it passed.

BECK: So who -- who, and I`m not asking for names. I`m asking for mentality. Who is possibly against -- I`m talking about 10-year-olds and 6-year-olds and 2-year-olds being repeatedly raped by these sex offenders. Who is possibly against keeping these guys behind bars forever?

PATAKI; Glenn, it`s the same old argument. There are those who would rather have 50 sexual predators out on the street than one who they believe might have been wrongfully confined.

So they put in place all these loopholes and all these escape clauses so that ultimately the law can`t work and people who unquestionably should be behind bars are out on the street instead.

It`s the same mentality that made New York the most dangerous state in America, because we didn`t have criminal justice laws that protected the people. We didn`t have long enough sentences. We didn`t have the death penalty for cop killers. We need that in New York state.

And there are always those who are going to think somehow society is to blame. In fact, I happen to believe when a criminal commits the crime, that criminal is to blame and they should be removed from society so we can live in peace.

BECK: I`ve got to tell you -- I don`t want to change the subject here, but I read -- I read a case this weekend about the cop killers here in New York. And there were three paragraphs out of 20 about where the gun came from. And I thought, where the gun came from? It`s not the gun`s fault; it`s the criminal`s fault.

You know, I don`t understand how we can`t go on some things. If you don`t want to kill them, you don`t want to execute them, how we can`t say one strike and you`re out.

I don`t know, Governor. Are you with me on you molest a 3-year-old, you get one shot and you`re done?

PATAKI: You molest a 3-year-old, you should never be out on the streets of any state, let alone New York.

Again, I totally agree, and I worked to try to pass those laws. We now have a new law in effect in New York. I hope it works. I fear it`s far too weak, there are too many loopholes. But I`m going to continue to speak out.

And Glenn, thank you for what you`re doing, because we need tougher laws to protect the children and the people of our country.

BECK: You let us know how we can help, Governor.

PATAKI: Thank you, Glenn.

BECK: Thanks a lot.

I want to bring in former prosecutor, New England School of Law professor Wendy Murphy.

Wendy, I`m just guessing. I know you; I love you. You`re not happy today.

WENDY MURPHY, PROFESSOR, NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF LAW: You think? You know, I don`t know where to begin with this, because the first point that you made is the most important, which is that there is no question these guys are going to rape again.

BECK: OK.

MURPHY: So who made the decision to let them out? It`s -- let me tell you who it is. It`s the ACLU and it`s the defense attorney lobbyists, the American Criminals` Liberties Union, as I like to refer to them. They`re the ones spending all the lobbying money making it hard for lawmakers to do their job.

Which God bless Governor Pataki. This was a guy who not only was thinking outside the box when he tried to use his executive powers, he was kicking the box in the butt a little bit. Really trying to shake things up. That`s what it takes to transcend those very powerful lobbying groups. The criminal defense bar, ACLU, they`re why kids are not safe on our streets.

BECK: I`ve got to tell you, Wendy. I`m reading a book right now. It`s called "The 5,000 Year Leap" by Skousen, and it`s about our Founding Fathers and putting this government together.

And I`m looking at this stuff and I`m thinking, it is the ACLU. It is NAMBLA that are doing this. When are these politicians going to wake up and realize they are so dramatically out of step with the American people?

Here we have yet another case. I bet I could go through this building and talk to 50 people and 49, if not all 50, would say you molest a 3-year- old, you should never see the light of day. How is this not common sense?

MURPHY: Yes. Well, look, the founders are rolling over in their graves every time they hear stories like this, I`m sure.

But I think the actual question whether they`re going to change is this, when it happens to one of their kids, when there`s enough of a disaster that they`re shamed into it or when we give children the right to vote or give them some money. Kids are powerless. They can`t effect any meaningful change.

And you know what they do? They go -- these lawmakers go on the nightly news and say, "I care about children. I want to make the streets safe in New York." And then they go kill the bill behind closed doors, and we don`t hold them accountable.

We are at fault if we elect these people to represent us, because they`re the ones putting children in danger.

BECK: Do you know anybody that has put together a really significant, "one strike, you`re out" kind of bill?

MURPHY: Yes, I mean, virtually any state that has a Jessica`s Law, which is a mandatory 25 years behind bars with a long-term of probation thereafter.

BECK: I don`t want any probation. I don`t want it at all.

MURPHY: Mandatory -- mandatory 25. And it takes a lot of political...

BECK: Mandatory life.

MURPHY: Mandatory life is fine, too. But I`m saying you`ve got to get the prosecutor onboard to make the right charges. You`ve got to get the judge onboard not to sneak out of those loopholes that the law always allows and they`ve got to provide public accountability in our legal system.

Most of the judges give these guys low sentences, because we`re not there with C-SPAN cameras, watching them give the store away. We need better public accountability.

BECK: OK, Wendy, thanks a lot.

Coming up, more top level staffers are leaving the McCain campaign. I am a McCain fan, but it looks like his Straight Talk Express is about to derail. And I actually think this is bad news for America. I`ll explain next.

Also, Vice President Cheney is reportedly pushing President Bush to take action before -- on Iran before he leaves office. Sounds almost like a prediction I`ve made on this program. Are we headed for another showdown in the Middle East? Don`t miss tonight`s "Real Story."

And the devil may down be in Georgia, but music legend Charlie Daniels is here with me in New York. He`ll stop by to discuss his special benefit concert for a seriously injured troop that needs a house. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Coming up a little later on in the program, a new report claims that Vice President Cheney is urging the president to take military action against Iran. Where have I heard that before? I`ll tell you whether that`s a realistic possibility.

But first, since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, it has become even more essential that our commander in chief understand what it takes to keep America safe, both by taking decisive action here and abroad.

But when you look at the current crop of candidates who want the job in `08, one guy who seems to grasp this better than others is Senator John McCain. Trouble is, he may not be a candidate for much longer.

After layoffs and the resignation of top aides last week, McCain`s campaign was holding on by a thread. Now today, almost his entire press unit called it quits. And that has me worried, because no matter what the press tells you, they`re not quitting because of the war. Yet, this story is about his stance on the war.

When it comes to our war in Iraq, and the need for victory, he`s one of the only guys who gets it, and he has from the very beginning. McCain is the sole candidate to have served in the military, and I think that gives him a unique understanding and appreciation of how crucial the victory in Iraq really is. He knows that Americans do not like to fight wars. But when we do, we want to win them.

Cheri Jacobus, she is the Republican strategist and president of Capital Strategies Public Relations.

Cheri, do you agree with me that the press has got this all wrong; it`s not about the war?

CHERI JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I think that issues with the McCain campaign are not about the war. The mainstream media certainly likes to talk about that. He obviously had problems with the immigration issue.

But look, John McCain is known as the guy that sticks to his principles. That`s pretty much what he -- what made him successful in 2000, where he very well could have been our president after that. And I think that that could carry him through now, Glenn. I mean, he`s going through some rough spots.

But look, this campaign is not about his staff. It is about the candidate. It is about his principles. And when you`re talking about an issue as important as the war in Iraq, I think ultimately the American people are going to stick with a candidate who knows who he is, knows what he feels about this from the beginning, is not putting his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing.

And John McCain, as you pointed out, he pretty much -- very much could be that guy.

BECK: Well, I mean, he is and he isn`t. I mean, he`s the only guy that, I mean, you know, look, he`s from the beginning saying, "Hello, we don`t have enough troops. We need to go over there and really kick butt and let`s win this thing and unleash the military might of the country.

However, his problems also range from no torture, which I don`t think most people really understand. I mean, when you got somebody who you know is a really bad guy and you`re in the heat of the battle, you got to do what you got to do. We`re not for Abu Ghraib, but we are for taking care of business when we have to, I think.

The other thing is, the McCain-Feingold bill was a nightmare, and the McCain-Kennedy. He might stand for things that he believes, but a lot of people have just finally said, OK, I mean, you`re just wrong too many times.

JACOBUS: I think a lot of people have turned their backs on him, but I think I`m going to give him about a 25 percent chance that he can turn this around and at least hang in there a bit longer and remain a viable candidate. Because he is a guy that sticks with principles.

And I think that if we start seeing more progress and this mid- September Petraeus report comes out, and it looks like the surge is, in fact, working, McCain is going to start looking a lot better. And you know, people might start forgetting some of those other things.

We`re talking about somebody who`s going to have the title commander in chief.

BECK: Yes.

JACOBUS: And if McCain is the guy that can wear that better than, say, a Hillary Clinton, you know, I think the American people are going to sit up and take notice.

BECK: Cheri, I know that you`re a Republican strategist, and I would like you to just take off the Republican hat for a second and just talk to me -- just talk to me as an American here.

Because I don`t understand, Republican or Democrat, how you expect to be the commander-in-chief if you are willing to accept a loss in a war. I mean, look, you know, I`m not a military strategist, but I am a thinker.

This whole thing in the Middle East is going to melt down. We`re not seeing -- these aren`t the best -- or the worst times we`ve seen. These may be the best times we see in quite some time. How do you expect to win as president and commander in chief when you appear at all soft on war?

JACOBUS: I think that, for the American people, Glenn, the thing is that they think that a politician running for president is being a politician before they`re thinking of being commander in chief. Ultimately, that`s going to hurt them.

We do have to be it in to win. We do have to understand that this isn`t going to be easy, and we could be involved in these types of conflicts on some level for a very, very long time. This just is our new reality.

And anybody running for president that expects to be commander-in- chief who isn`t being honest with the American people about those challenges and about what they can or can`t do, ultimately will pay a price.

I would hope they would not become commander in chief simply by being Pollyannaish about it, being unrealistic and thinking they can win just by throwing bombs at the Bush administration. Bush isn`t running for re- election. Dick Cheney is not running for president. Each of these people have to stand on their own.

BECK: You know, I really, truly believe the reason why everybody launches bombs, both back and forth, is because very few people actually have an answer. And it stops you from giving an answer that you, A, either don`t have, or B, you know the American people don`t want to hear.

JACOBUS: Well, and at this point, I don`t know if the people running for president have to have a specific plan for the war. I mean, we do have to, I think, at least wait until the mid-September report. Some folks aren`t willing to not do that.

BECK: OK.

JACOBUS: But at least to have some basic principles that you stand for, I think, would go a long way in terms of gaining the trust of the American people.

BECK: Cheri Jacobus, thank you very much.

JACOBUS: Thank you.

BECK: Quick programming note. Tomorrow on my radio program, I will be joined by America`s mayor, Rudy Giuliani. He`ll be my radio guest. We`ll talk about the fight against radical Islam, the war in Iraq, his run for the White House, John McCain. Don`t miss it tomorrow on the radio program, Rudy Giuliani.

Now coming up on TV, Wal-Mart says they`re going to start selling faith-based children`s toys, which sounds great, but my question is, is Sampson really going to have the same appeal as Spider-Man?

Plus, the stock market rallies to an all-time high, despite oil prices at almost $80 a barrel. Is this a bull market or just bull? Tonight`s "Real Story".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: I always say the answer to most problems is capitalism. You want to do something? Figure out a way to make it profitable, and you won`t be able to stop them. Instead of complaining about our kids being inundated with things like Bratz dolls, one company called One to Believe, decided to come up with some alternatives.

They`re being called faith-based toys, and its makers -- there`s no demand for those things. Think again.

Next month, Wal-Mart is going to start selling talking Jesus dolls, which might freak me out a little bit, and Goliath action figures in over 400 of their stores.

Jim Daly is the president and CEO of Focus on the Family.

Hi, Jim, how are you?

JIM DALY, PRESIDENT/CEO, FOCUS ON THE FAMILY: Great, Glenn. How are you doing?

BECK: Very good.

The talking Jesus doll, well, I`m all for this, because I`ve got to tell you. I`m so sick of the toys that my kids are playing with. But conservative toys or religious toys, let`s be honest, suck most of the time.

DALY: They`re usually cheap, that`s for sure.

BECK: Yes.

DALY: But, you know, this is a vast right-wing conspiracy to put toys that might teach honesty on the show.

BECK: I know, I know. Well, I`m looking at some of these dolls. I mean, you look at some of these dolls, and you think, you know, put them -- put them up to Darth Vader or Spiderman. I mean, there`s Daniel and the lion. I mean, come on. Next to Darth Vader, which one is your kid going to play with?

DALY: I think they`d pick Darth Vader. But if they had a choice, they might -- they might pick something else.

But I think for parents, I mean, it`s just a great alternative for people that are trying to teach their kids truth...

BECK: Yes.

DALY: ... things that, you know, help them grow up to tell the truth, be a good citizen, those kinds of things. Why not allow them to learn these things from action figures that express those values?

BECK: Jim, do you -- do you know of anything, because honestly, I`m trying to get -- I have my kids watching "Veggie Tales", you know, the "Veggie Tales", vital stories, et cetera, et cetera, and it really is like pulling teeth. I mean, they just -- my son is jumping off the furniture, "To infinity and beyond." He`s not doing, you know, the lion`s den from "Veggie Tales".

Do you know anything that you have seen that is extraordinarily effective that captures the imagination of young kids, that`s a toy or a game?

DALY: Yes, I think "Veggie Tales" has done an extremely good job getting into the kids` market and really expressing those values in ways that are catchy. The tunes, I know my kids and all the kids that we hang out with all know the tunes by heart.

BECK: Yes.

DALY: And they love the little lessons. I think they`ve done a great job combining biblical themes with humor.

BECK: They`re the best out there.

DALY: ... not to uptight. It really is.

And I think -- I think you`re right, though. So often products that aim for a Christian market tend to be cheesy. And I would just hope that with 80, 90 percent of the population in the U.S. claiming to be Christian, that we could do a little better. I hope this -- this succeeds.

BECK: Cheesy or just too stiff? I mean, you know, we all have values, but we`re still -- we`re still human beings, you know? And I think you go to the mall and you just feel assaulted by -- you know, by the clothing and everything else. You just can`t, you know, you`re like is there anybody with my values that is actually in merchandising?

DALY: I just don`t -- I don`t understand it. Why would we want to teach our kids to beat up others, lie, cheat and steal as a value system in raising our kids. So I don`t know why anybody would have a problem. I love the headline in "USA Today", because it says "Retailer Wal-Mart Gets Religious".

BECK: Yes. No, just starts to get in line with the American people.

Jim, thanks a lot.

Coming up next, Iranian missile launchers are aimed at U.S. military bases, and they`re found in Iraq. Is it time to take action? Don`t miss the "Real Story", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Coming up a little later on in the program, country music legend Charlie Daniels will be here. He`ll be performing along with some other country superstars at a benefit concert for a wounded American hero. He`s got a lot to stay. Stick around.

But first, welcome to "The Real Story." Now, I may not be a uranium engineer, but I am a thinker. And the two main ingredients you need for a nuclear bomb, aside from all the stuff that, you know, I don`t understand, are knowledge and time. Well, when it comes to Iran, it`s pretty clear they already have the knowledge, and the whole world is doing a heck of a good job with giving them the time. As the U.N. now debates the third round of resolutions against them, negotiators from the IAEA met in Tehran last week and, quote, "reached an agreement on the modality for resolving the remaining outstanding issues."

Well, that`s good, because that damn modality, that`s been nothing but trouble, huh? Wake up! They`re stalling, and we`re buying it. Instead about talking about modalities, which, by the way, are the conditions on negotiations -- I had to look it up -- why don`t we focus on newspaper reports out of Qatar this weekend that have said the Iranians have chosen 600 targets in Israel to launch missile strikes if they`re attacked? Didn`t hear that one with Katie Couric, did you? No. One part of the reasons you`re not watching Katie Couric, but that`s another story.

The "Real Story" is that, while the world waits for something catastrophic to happen before they take action, the U.S. may already be planning for it. This is bad news: According to the British newspaper "The Guardian," Vice President Dick Cheney -- that evil, warmongering criminal, as they like to call him -- has convinced the president to consider military action on Iran before his term ends because they just don`t trust the next president will deal with the problem.

If that scares the living bat crap out of you, good, because it may be the only way to pass unprecedented, crippling sanctions that could get us out of this mess without a bullet ever being fired. But that window is closing, and it is closing quickly. And mark my words: If Iran is still baking yellowcake next November and a Democrat or a dove Republican wins the election, let me tell you something: This country will, unfortunately, be at war with Iran before the next inauguration.

Ilan Berman is vice president for policy at American Foreign Policy Council. Ilan, I`ve got to tell you. I`ve been saying this for a while. I don`t think this guy is going to let Iran off the hook. He`ll take us in there and strike them if he doesn`t think the next president will. Am I wrong?

ILAN BERMAN, AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL: Well, that`s really the $64,000 question. I know you and I have had that conversation before. I really think a lot depends on political will. We know that the administration is talking softer now about Iran than it was six months ago, and six months ago it was talking softer than six months before that. So the impulse for inertia, for political inertia, because of the election, because of all sorts of things that are happening with regard to Iraq, is pretty great. So whether the president decides to move against Iran decisively remains to be seen. But if he does, it`s because he`ll be swimming against the tide, not with it.

BECK: Oh, what do you mean?

BERMAN: Well, in terms of the knowledge, as you said, it`s quite clear that the Iranians are stalling, that the Iranians buying time. But in terms of the political consensus about what to do about Iran, we`re actually worse off now than we were six months ago.

BECK: Absolutely, but that`s why I think this guy will do it. I mean, I really -- say what you want about George Bush. He says what he means and means what he says when it comes to the Middle East, and I think he really does understand the problem. I may not agree on how he`s trying to solve the problem, but he does understand the problem. And I don`t think this guy will -- if he senses there is no political will, he`ll do -- I mean, I hate to quote the end of the series of "The West Wing," but he`ll do what Bartlett did, and that is, "You know what, guys? I`m sorry. I know this sucks to be you, because you have to clean up the mess, but I`ll take the fall for this. I`m taking us in. I`m going to solve this problem."

BERMAN: Well, that may be true. I certainly think, you know, as you do, that right now is that real window of opportunity where, if the president was serious about this, he could implement all sorts of things -- diplomatic, informational, economic -- that could actually stop short of military conflict. But it`s quite clear that, as we move down that timeline, the likelihood of a confrontation, of some sort of military confrontation, becomes much greater.

BECK: But it doesn`t -- even if we say we don`t have the political will, Israel -- I mean, I had Benjamin Netanyahu on this program. He said, "You guys don`t take care of it, we will." That will set the entire Middle East on fire, will it not? They put these nuke sites in villages. I mean, they`ve built houses above the concrete-enforced bunkers. I mean, you`ll kill people there, and it will set the Muslim world on fire.

BERMAN: No, I think that`s certainly a very real threat. And what we should think about with regard to Israel is, Israel is not the United States. The Israelis are obviously much more seized of this problem because they`re not separated from Iran by a large ocean. But do they have the firepower to pull this off? And what are they actually going to be pulling off?

The Israelis don`t ever talk about denuclearization, because they know they can`t do it. They talk about delaying the Iranian program. And this is, I think, a very big distinction, because policymakers in the United States should be thinking about, well, let`s assume that the Israelis do do it. Is the end result that they envision the same as what we would like to have happen? I suspect that the answers are kind of different, and it really behooves us to be thinking carefully about what we want to have happen in Iran. Obviously, the campaign that we would be looking at would probably be much broader.

BECK: I would certainly just like to see the people rise up, and I fear that -- and you agree with me, I know -- we`re not doing nearly enough to encourage them to do that. Ilan, thanks.

Next, I found an article today that I honestly -- I have to read to you verbatim. As you listen to this, see if any alarm bells or memories go off for you. Here is it is, first quote: "U.S. stocks finished a week of extraordinary highs, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Standard`s and Poor`s 500 stock index surging to record levels and the tech-heavy Nasdaq rising to a more than six-year high." Alarm bell number one, ding, ding, ding.

"It is the strongest global market that we`ve seen in the history of measuring these things." Ding. "When the market opens today, the Dow will flirt with a record-breaking 14,000 points." Hello, alarm bell number three. "The psychological significance of breaking a Dow milestone, some experts said, could help propel the index to 15,000 by next year`s end."

How short are our memories, America? Isn`t this the same kind of garbage that was being peddled to us back in 2000 to justify how a pet supply company named Pets.com, just because it was online, was really worth millions of dollars? The real story is that we have successfully created another bubble. And articles like this one, to me, prove it.

The exact same things were being written during the no-lose Internet stock era, then the real estate bubble. We still don`t even know how bad that thing`s going to get. And now they`re being written about the entire stock market. So we`ve got oil prices at near record highs, gas is over $3 a gallon, Iran is playing nuclear blackmail, Al Qaeda wants to launch a spectacular attack against us, the market is just climbing a wall of worry? That`s a quote.

If you listen to the experts, nothing to be afraid of, nothing to see here, people, move on, go buy some more stock. You know, I know this kind of nonsense appeals to the "Let`s get rich quick" side of us, but that`s exactly why you should ignore it and use some common sense. Lasting wealth isn`t made when everybody is talking about Dow 15,000. It`s made when everybody is running from the market. Ask yourself: Does that make sense?

Aaron Task, the editor-at-large at TheStreet.com, I`m not an expert. You, sir, are. And I know you disagree with me.

AARON TASK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, THESTREET.COM: I do disagree with you, Glenn. I think the market is very strong fundamentally, and it`s a lot different than it was in 1999 and 2000. You talk about Pets.com. That company didn`t make any money, you know, back then we kept talking about eyeballs. Now we`re talking about companies that actually make a lot of money.

BECK: I understand that, and I know that we`re not talking corruption. I mean, there were a lot of things that happened in the `90s that hopefully we don`t have going on for us. But what we do have going this time is oil. And I know you believe that oil is not that big of a deal, but our whole economy is based on oil. We`re in a war with the Middle East. Iran is playing games with us. Al Qaeda wants to hit us. How could it possibly be that, when oil prices go up, the stock market goes up?

TASK: Well, a, that`s what`s been happening for the last four-plus years. I mean, oil has come a long way with the stock market.

BECK: How has it happened?

TASK: How has it happened? Well, first of all, we keep thinking that it`s the 1970s all over again. And back then, energy costs were the biggest influence on a corporation`s bottom line. Today it`s far less important for corporations, mainly because unionized workers back then were about 35 percent of the workforce, and they were asking for cost-of-living wage increases, as energy prices went up. Now you have unions that are about 6 percent of the workforce, and they can`t ask for wage prices. They`re giving concessions at places like GM and Ford. So, a, you don`t have the hits to corporations` bottom lines. That`s the first thing.

BECK: But hold it. I mean, look at your logic here. You`re saying because the corporations don`t have to give employees breaks -- I mean, those employees, if they`re hit with $5-a-gallon gasoline, how do they survive? And even if they don`t, they`re not out buying the iPod anymore, and that`s how the companies are hurt.

TASK: Right, I`m not saying it`s not affecting people, and it`s certainly hitting the lower-end consumer. But the reality of the world we live in now is that the high-end consumer is about 40 percent of U.S. consumer spending. So as long as the rich keep spending, the economy is actually going to be doing OK. Now, we can talk about whether that`s the kind of country you want to live in.

BECK: That is not the kind of country I want to live in.

TASK: That`s the kind of country you do live in, though. That`s where we are today.

BECK: You know, we are so -- listen to this conversation. We are so narcissistic in this -- I`m a capitalist, man. I love money. I love the ability to make money.

TASK: Me, too, absolutely.

BECK: But you know what? There comes a time when you`ve got to do the right thing for the country.

TASK: Well, then you`ve got to cut taxes for the poor and the middle class and raise them on the rich. But nobody wants to do that.

BECK: No, you don`t. No, you don`t. You don`t ever have to raise taxes. You don`t ever have to raise taxes.

TASK: Well, if you keep the tax code as it is now, then you still have this economy that`s tilted more towards the wealthy, and their consumer spending is going to have a bigger influence.

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: I don`t think there`s anybody that`s sane and conservative that says let`s keep this tax code that we have now. Aaron, I`d love to have you back and continue this conversation. That is "The Real Story" tonight. We`re out of time.

Coming up, the superstar from country music, Charlie Daniels, drops by to tell us about a very special concert he`s performing for one of our injured troops, and that is coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Have you heard the latest? They`re now selling ice. You can now buy designer ice. I believe that we`re at the end of civilization. Now we`re going into grocery stores to buy ice. And I don`t mean like ice, "I`m having a party, I need some for the cooler," I mean designer ice. These are designer ice cubes. These ice cubes are from the polar caps. Why would we be taking ice from the polar caps? Haven`t you heard they`re melting? Are you going to take that ice away from the polar bears, as well?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: You know, sometimes we really don`t know who we are until we face something that you just never thought you could handle. For National Guard Sergeant Kevin Downs, that moment came two summers ago in Iraq when his Humvee was attacked. The other three soldiers inside were all killed, but Downs, somehow or another, was blown from the gunner`s hatch. With burns covering 60 percent of his body, doctors were convinced that he wouldn`t make it. But not only is he still alive, he`s an inspiration to everybody who knows him.

Now, this man who has done so much for us in our country is in need of a home. And tomorrow night, in Downs` hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, organizers hope to raise enough money to buy a home for him. The event is called "Home for a Hero." And one of the main performers on stage will be country music legend Charlie Daniels.

And Charlie is with us. Hello, Charlie. How are you, sir?

CHARLIE DANIELS, THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND: Hi, Glenn. Thanks for having me on.

BECK: That`s good. Now, that`s a hat.

DANIELS: That`s a hat.

BECK: I mean, if I were wearing it, it would be a clown hat.

DANIELS: You`d look like a bug under a cabbage leaf probably, right?

BECK: Yes, I would. Sir, tell me a little bit about a fundraiser tomorrow.

DANIELS: Well, we`ve got a bunch of people. You know, the country music community is a pretty big-hearted outfit. And Kevin needs some help. He deserves some help, and we`re going to try to get together the money to build him a house. And we`ve got a whole bunch of us coming together at Greer Stadium tomorrow, starting at 7:00, to try to raise money to help him out. He`s a fine young man. He gave so much for his country, and we owe him.

BECK: He`s still living in a hospital, is he not?

DANIELS: Yes, well, I think he`s in and out. He`s supposed to be there tomorrow night, so hopefully...

BECK: And what is his condition exactly?

DANIELS: Well, you know, I haven`t seen him in a while. I don`t really know for sure, but hopefully he`s getting better, but he`s going to need a house with some special -- he`s going to need a special needs house. So we`re going to try to help him get it.

BECK: Yes, good. Now, you just released a CD "Live from Iraq." You`re over there quite a bit. What`s morale like over there now?

DANIELS: I found morale to be really good. The last time I was there was last year, in `06, and I found morale to be good. I found -- you know, our military are the best we got. They`re the best young people we got. And they give up some years of their lives that mean a lot just to go over and to fight for us, and they deserve our respect. And I have the utmost respect for them, but the morale was fine the last time I was there.

BECK: You know, Charlie, you know, the thing I`m amazed by -- and I think you`re right, that they are the best that we have. They honestly give me hope in the future. And right after 9/11, when I saw how brave they were and how full of virtue they seem to be -- I mean, I know we have our problems, but they`re good, decent people, and they really believe in what they`re doing -- I wonder, you know, how they do it every day, just by hearing the bull crap coming out of Washington with people not fighting this to win. I mean, they could all be home if we would just...

DANIELS: I think they just kind of tune it out. I mean, they hear it. There`s no doubt about it. They hear it. They read it. They know about it. But I think they just kind of tube it out and have a little tunnel vision and go ahead and do -- they`ve got a great sense of mission. I think they just go ahead and do what they know needs to be done. And, you know, they figure that they have their orders, they`re going to carry them out, and they get it done in a good way.

BECK: Do you think that the sense of not fighting to win is -- let me ask you this -- frustrating to you? Does it seem like we`re fighting to win?

DANIELS: Well, it`s frustrating to me, but the only people that aren`t fighting to win are the people in, you know, the people in D.C. that keep...

BECK: That`s what I mean. Everybody says that we`re tired of the war. I think we`re tired of politicians fighting this as a bunch of suits instead of letting our soldiers do it.

DANIELS: I absolutely agree. I wish we could take the politics out of it for about a year and, you know, let General Petraeus and the troops have it, and I think we`ll get it over with.

BECK: Yes. I saw on your Web site -- I didn`t know there was a Charlie Daniels` blog, but there is, the Charlie Daniels Soap Box. And you had a few choice things to say about immigration.

DANIELS: Yes. You know, let`s make it legal. We got a bunch of people -- I have to be in Washington and here in town -- that keep trying to pass bills to do something about immigration. All we got to do is abide by the laws we have now, and we wouldn`t have that problem. That`s what got us in trouble to start with. Why are they going to enforce a bunch of new laws any better than they`re doing the old ones? So...

BECK: Well, how come the politicians don`t understand that? Because that is universal. That is the universal line for most Americans: just enforce the law. You know, we`ll believe you when you start enforcing this.

DANIELS: Well, what`s funny to me is they keep telling us that, you know, that we need people to do the work here, and yet they keep sending jobs out of the country. So, you know, which is which?

BECK: Charlie, thank you very much, sir. The best of luck to you.

DANIELS: Thank you, Glenn. Got a lot of admiration for you, buddy.

BECK: Thank you. Likewise.

Coming up next, presidential hopeful John Edwards hits the road for his poverty tour, a man who gets $1,200 haircuts. How is it exactly that he`s relating to the poor? I`m just saying, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Well, today, John Edwards has launched his American poverty tour. Apparently, he`s going to stand out from the rest of the pack of Democrats by being the one candidate who truly cares about the poor. Well, that`s, you know, all well and good and everything, but don`t you find it a bit strange coming from a guy with a $400 haircut? Maybe that`s just me. I mean, I could be completely wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator John Edwards knows poverty. No, he`s not poor anymore, far from it. But as the son of a mill worker, he knows firsthand the immense struggle that comes with not being incredibly, filthy rich beyond one`s wildest dreams, which he is now. Beginning today, the senator will embark on a three-day tour to highlight his unwavering commitment to the poor. He`ll be visiting some of the country`s most impoverished communities, communities with names like Youngstown, Whitesburg, Cleveland. We`re calling it the "Road to One America" tour.

Sadly in the America we live in today, there are two Americas, one for the rich and one for the poor. During the next three days, we hope to draw attention to this ever-growing divide, and we`ll start by touring these impoverished communities in a private jet. Now, we already know what you`re saying: How can you be as rich as Senator Edwards and still care about poverty? Well, Senator Edwards wants you to know that he does care. Just look at him. If that`s not the face of a man who cares, according to women 25-54, I don`t know what is.

And to prove he does care, during the next three days, Senator Edwards is making his campaign for the presidency affordable to everyone, even the poorest. Now, for a limited time only, we`re asking that you send the John Edwards campaign eight dollars. Yep, just eight dollars to show that you`d rather not be for. By sending just eight dollars to the campaign of Senator Edwards, you`ll be helping to defray some of the immense costs that come with a presidential campaign, costs like television commercials, private jet travel, and, of course, hair care. Eight dollars may be a drop in the bucket for someone as rich as John Edwards, but it does add up.

So, please, see it in your heart to support John Edwards for president. He may be loaded but, hey, eight bucks is eight bucks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: That`s incredible. Don`t forget, if you want to know what`s on tomorrow`s radio program or television program -- don`t forget, Giuliani is on the radio tomorrow -- or if you`d like a little more in-depth commentary of the news, we can make some more up. All you have to do is sign up for my free daily newsletter. You get it in the e-mail at glennbeck.com.

From New York, good night, America.

END