Return to Transcripts main page

Glenn Beck

What Caused California Fires?; Radical Protestors Attack Condoleezza Rice; George Carlin Defends Controversial Comment on Fires

Aired October 25, 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, an arson suspect arrested. Another killed in connection to the California wildfires. Which begs the question, could arson ever be used as a tool for terror?

Plus, a George Carlin rant on the wildfires sparks controversy.

GEORGE CARLIN, COMEDIAN: These people with the fires, they get what`s coming to them.

BECK: The legendary comedian, celebrating 50 years in showbiz, and he`ll talk to me about the words you can`t say on "The View".

And a protester has Condi Rice seeing red. And pink.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: War criminal!

BECK: Who are these pests in pink? All this and more, tonight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BECK: Hello, America. Today I have a bit of good news coming out of California. The Santa Ana winds have died down. Unfortunately, however, thousands of houses and people are still threatened.

While the fight goes on, authorities are trying to piece together how the fire started in the first place. Not surprisingly, it wasn`t global warming, and it looks like it may have been arson.

One Tuesday night event happened with Cal State. San Bernardino university police spotted a man in a suspicious remote area near the campus. They attempted to detain him. He tried to escape. And while being pursued by police, he began ramming their car. At that point the police shot him dead. Police don`t know for sure if he is or was an arsonist. But they are investigating.

In a separate incident a man was spotted squatting on the side of an isolated highway in California lighting a fire. California Highway Patrol helicopter tracked the man with infrared technology, and they arrested him. Meanwhile, people in the area of the fire managed to put it out before it grew out of control. The alleged arsonist, John Alfred Rund, is now being held on $750 -- $750,000 bail.

And in the midst of all of this fear and speculation, a 2003 FBI memo resurfaced, causing some speculation about the remote possibility of foreign terrorist involvement. So far absolutely no signs whatsoever of that possibility.

But here`s "The Point" tonight.

I`ve got to tell you, if you are intentionally setting a fire in California at this time of the year, in a drought, we can play all the semantics you want, but you are a terrorist. Maybe not the kind, you know, you`re thinking of, you know, training with the, you know, monkey bars in the desert, but I don`t see the need to make a distinction. You`re a terrorist, Jack. And here`s how I got there.

The 2003 FBI memo that I mentioned just a few minutes ago, it was a warning to law enforcement that captured al Qaeda terrorists had talked about a plot to set a series of forest fires in the western United States with devastating results. But that was foreign terror. What about the threat from here at home?

The Earth Liberation Front, as well as the Animal Liberation Front, ELF and ALF for short. I mean, they might have the least threatening terrorist acronyms in history. But don`t let the names fool you. Look these guys up on the Internet tonight.

They -- their brand of arson and terrorism has caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. The FBI even called ALF the most active extremist element in the United States. How come we haven`t heard about them more?

Here`s what you need to know tonight, America. While it is unlikely that these groups were involved in these fires, we have got to consider the threat that they pose and the destruction they actively strive for is just as real as any of these California blazes.

Jay Lehr is the science director at the Heartland Institute, and Joe Ruffini is a counterterror expert and author of "When Terror Comes to Main Streets".

Let me start with you, Joe. In 2003 al Qaeda said that this is what they were going to, do they were going to start burning down our forests, et cetera, et cetera. Is there any indication at all, other than bloggers, that al Qaeda could be involved in these fires?

LT. COL. JOSEPH RUFFINI, AUTHOR, "WHEN TERROR COMES TO MAIN STREETS": Are there any definite indications that we can hang our hat on, Glenn? No. But I will tell you that a very high-ranking al Qaeda operative was interviewed in 2003.

And he did say that, starting forest fires was looked upon as a serious drain on the economy and that, if enough of them were started by al Qaeda members, possibly they could get the United States to change their international policies.

And this particular operative that was debriefed, this was confirmed by Rohan Gunaratna, who has consulted for the CIA, MI-6, one of the leading al Qaeda experts in the world. And Rohan says it`s a credible threat.

BECK: OK. Jay, you think -- and I do too, as well, but if -- if this was terror, and I`m not saying that it is. I don`t have any idea; in fact I don`t think it is. But if it were, I think it would be more likely coming from, you know, ELF or ALF. Can you explain what these groups are?

JAY LEHR, HEARTLAND INSTITUTE: I certainly can, Glenn. And I do disagree with Joe. I doubt very strongly that there is an al Qaeda element here. And I think it is definitely the Earth Liberation Front.

It was started in London in 1992 by members of Earth First. And it`s a very loose organization whose focus is on maximizing destruction of those elements of society that make negative impacts on the environment. And they appeal to emotionally unstable people to do anything that will destroy progress and has an impact on the environment.

The FBI listed them in 2001 as the No. 1 domestic terror group, and in 2006 they had a giant operation and were able to arrest and convict 18 members of ELF.

BECK: OK.

LEHR: One particular one, Chelsea Gerlach, was founder of -- developed fires from 1996 to 2006 that cost $20 million. And she said she did it because she was upset about the state of the earth.

And I think there is arson here, and I`ll be very surprised a few months from now if we don`t have a lot of evidence of accelerants and that this is an organized or semi-organized arson.

BECK: I have to tell you, Jay, what makes you -- what makes you say that? Because right now, you know, we know that it was arson, at least partly responsible for this. But what makes you say this is organized? I mean, I think it`s just as likely that it`s just some nut job that`s like, "Ooh, look at the pretty fire."

LEHR: Well, all right. You`re right in the fact that ELF, the Earth Liberation Front, they don`t have a membership; they don`t have a spokesperson; they don`t have leadership; they can`t be destroyed; they can`t be infiltrated; they can`t be stopped.

But they do put out enough information to emotionally disturbed people who are concerned about the environment to create this destruction.

Now, we know the Santiago fire is arson. We even chased down a perpetrator that was -- was shot in the act. I believe, when the fires are over and we send our fire teams in to investigate, we`ll find lots of elements of arson.

BECK: OK.

LEHR: And while -- when I say organized, I just say they`re all impacted by the Earth Liberation Front.

BECK: OK. Joe, how...

RUFFINI: I didn`t make a connection. I did not make a connection between al Qaeda and the current fires. What I was saying is, is that it remains a credible threat, because the idea has been put in the mind of the western terror cells, and the western terror cells are basically working autonomous from the top leaders of al Qaeda.

They can pick targets of opportunity. They can pick their methods. And they`re free to do what they want. Now, I agree that there`s no evidence that the current fires are terrorist-related.

BECK: Why wouldn`t they have done this -- because they would be very effective? If they talked about this in 2003, why hasn`t it happened?

RUFFINI: That`s a good question.

LEHR: Well, the...

BECK: Hang on. Joe, can you give me that answer?

Go ahead.

RUFFINI: Well, specifically why events don`t happen, according to timelines I think it`s very, very hard to explain or understand. I think the reason why we`re not seeing activity by al Qaeda in the United States now is they don`t want to tip a very sensitive balance of what they perceive to be American politics and world events going in the way of the Islamist cause.

BECK: OK. Now, Jay, you were talking about a plot from ELF in 2006. It was taking down power plants, cell phone towers, destroying forests, et cetera, et cetera.

Why is it, do you suppose, that we don`t see this in the media? Why do most people in America -- why have they never heard of ELF? This is a dangerous, dangerous group.

LEHR: Glenn, Glenn -- Glenn, you have asked a great question. The biggest thing that ELF has on its side is that the public gives them a pass. They haven`t killed many people. They haven`t maimed too many people, though they have some.

But they`ve created environmental destruction, and the general member of the public -- we`re all environmentalists today -- and they figure, well, they`re not doing stuff so bad. They are terrorists.

And probably the biggest message that you can get across to your audience today is to understand, if we do find evidence that these are deranged people that have been impacted by the Earth Liberation Front to start these fires, that they are the leading domestic terrorists. And we shouldn`t have one thought that isn`t recognizing that this is evil perpetrated in our country.

I don`t think it is al Qaeda. I think homeland security has done a great job in keeping al Qaeda from doing anything like 2001.

BECK: Yes.

LEHR: But ELF is inside this country, and they get a -- they get a pass on it.

BECK: I have to tell you, both of you guys, I mean, I hope that it`s just a crazy person, quite honestly, disconnected from everything else.

Jay, Joe, thanks.

Now, where am I wrong? Republicans and Democrats, we have got to divorce ourselves from these homegrown radical groups. They don`t deserve a serious place or even just ignoring them at anybody`s table. Agree or disagree? Go to CNN.com/Glenn right now to cast your vote.

Now, coming up, I`m going to tell you about another group to watch out for. Look out, threat level pink. Code Pink. Condi Rice got protesters` bloody hands shoved in her face. These are the kind of people that we`ve got to stand up against.

And comedian George Carlin swings by. Get his controversial opinion on the wildfires in California.

And a quick programming note. Country music star Travis Tritt on the show tomorrow for a full hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Well, if you`ve been watching this program over the past few months, you understand there is no reason why we shouldn`t be using nuclear energy. It`s clean; it`s cheap; and more importantly, it`s safe.

So that`s why the protest of the so-called oil rockers -- yes, man, I`m against nuclear development -- it doesn`t make any sense at all. And we`ll have the full story in tonight`s "Real Story".

Now, nothing, nothing in America is more American than disagreeing with the way our government is being run. It is not your right. It is your responsibility. But there`s a line. Don`t you think? And I think it was crossed yesterday with the radical anti-war group called Code Pink.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was testifying at a House meeting on the U.S. Middle East policy when a Code Pink freak freaked out. She waved her fake blood-colored hands all over the secretary`s face, screaming, "War criminal, the blood of millions is on your hands."

The woman was eventually dragged out, along with a number of other freaks. They were all arrested. I guess they forgot they have the right to peacefully assemble.

I`m a little hostile, because I know these Code Pink people. And let me tell you, they rank pretty high on the old crazy meter.

More importantly, I keep thinking back to what my grandmother used to say. Show me your friends, and I will show you your future. Democrats, you can stay silent all you want about these guys, but don`t you realize you`re being judged by the company you keep?

It`s this kind of hysterical, confrontational protest that gets attention, but it`s groups like Code -- Code Pink that are speaking on behalf of your party and your positions to a lot of people. Our Democratic parents and grandparents honestly would be ashamed of these people.

Andrea Billups is a national correspondent for the "Washington Times".

Andrea, for anybody who is not familiar with Code Pink, can you fill us in on who they are and some of the things that they have done?

ANDREA BILLUPS, CORRESPONDENT, "WASHINGTON TIMES": Sure, Glenn. Code Pink is an organization that was founded in 2002 sort of in the wake of our involvement of the war in Iraq.

It has three main founders, women who have a long history in the protest and sort of social injustice movement. They`re -- I guess they`ve been described as old hippies. And they do have roots that stretch back kind of far into the `70s.

They are a very well-organized -- they claim to have about 250 groups, or sort of loosely organized chapters around the country. Yes.

BECK: They`ve done things like they`ve held a vigil out at Walter Reed in 2005. Do you remember that?

BILLUPS: I do. I do. This was something that sort of raised their profile and probably in a negative way. A group of women, including Cindy Sheehan, were outside of Walter Reed Medical Center with sort of mock coffins and signs that sort of inflamed and infuriated a lot of people who thought they were terribly unpatriotic and...

BECK: Yes. Well, they said, "Maimed for life." I mean, they`re horrible, just a horrible group of people.

I mean, look, you can be against the war. You can have this debate. There`s nothing more American than saying that. But this is -- these people are over the line.

And I want to ask you the question. Hillary Clinton has never spoken out about these people. No one in the Democratic Party has said anything. It`s "no comment" about Code Pink. Why?

BILLUPS: Well, Glenn, I think that Hillary is sort of in a difficult position, because these women, if you look at them, are sort of her base in a way. These are women who are feminists. They`re, some of them, professional women. So for her to speak out puts her in an awkward position.

Although they have followed her around and protested at events that she`s had. I suspect, Glenn, that she`s going to have some trouble, particularly if she is the nominee, because I imagine they will use her heightened political profile to sort of ratchet up the volume against her war stance.

BECK: Yes. And they have already -- they have already -- they`ve already given an award to Murtha and other people in Congress. Democrats, you`ve got to divorce yourself from these people, because this is who`s hijacked your party.

Andrea, thanks a lot.

BILLUPS: Thank you.

BECK: Now let me talk about security here. How did this woman with the blood-stained hands get so close to the secretary of state at a time of war? I know we have metal detectors, and you`re not getting a knife in there, et cetera, et cetera. But good heavens, man, is this a breach of security?

Lou Palumbo is the director of a private security firm, Elite Group Limited, and he`s actually done some work for me.

And Lou, I know if I`m in your hands with your group, I`m safe. Would you have let these people get this close to Condoleezza Rice?

LOU PALUMBO, DIRECTOR, ELITE GROUP LIMITED: Well, the thing I want to say, Glenn, is if you review the tape and you look at the proximity of the agents in respect to the secretary of state, you`ll immediately see three people between them.

I will say with certitude, if the security agent from the State Department was properly positioned behind the secretary of state, this problem would not have been as explosive and as dynamic as it was. Just simply review the tape; you`ll see what I`m saying.

BECK: Yes.

PALUMBO: The fact of the matter is, is that we do have to accept the fact that there are people that want to express an opinion different than what`s consistent with our government.

BECK: But you know what, Lou? I mean, that`s fine. Look, I understand. You`re going to, you know -- but look, these are not representative of the American people.

There are a lot of people that are frustrated with the war, and they want the Congress to move in a different direction. But it seems to me that the hard-working Americans on both sides of this issue are doing that. They`re working hard. They`re at work.

And Congress is becoming some sort of a weird freak show, both with the people that represent us and then the people who don`t represent us at all that are watching the people who don`t represent us. Make sense?

How do we have a free exchange of ideas without all the freaks?

PALUMBO: Well, I don`t think that we can. And the simple fact of the matter is that, even if we kind of portray them as freaks, that doesn`t diminish their rights. They still have rights to dissent. And that`s what we experienced today.

BECK: All right, Lou. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Just a reminder. Tickets are on sale now for my annual Christmas stage show. It is a mix of funny family stories, my thoughts on the true meaning of Christmas. That`s what it really is. It`s "what is the meaning of Christmas? Do we even know anymore?"

Now, if you`re an ACLU attorney, let me just throw this out there. Probably don`t want to buy a ticket to this. It`s one of those shows that you`re like, "Wow, I don`t think I`ve ever heard anybody in public say this kind of stuff in a long, long time."

This is the last year that I do these stories and this particular show. It`s been sold out in city after city for the last five years. You can get your tickets now at GlennBeck.com. For all the details, that`s GlennBeck.com. And we`ll see you soon.

Now, coming up, he made seven dirty words you can`t say on TV famous. Now George Carlin has a new DVD out called "All My Stuff". He`ll join me in a second to talk exactly about the stuff that he said on "The View". Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: There are a lot of comedians that can make you laugh, but it`s a precious few that can also make you think. George Carlin is one of those guys. He`s been doing it for 50 -- 50 years?

CARLIN: Correct. Counting a few years in radio, yes.

BECK: How do you feel about that?

CARLIN: Very well. It`s -- you know, we have these numbers that we all honor as milestones.

BECK: Yes.

CARLIN: And so 30 years on HBO, 50 years in comedy and show business. And 70 years on the planet.

BECK: It`s weird. Tomorrow is my 30th anniversary in radio.

CARLIN: How do you like that?

BECK: You know. It`s not 50. The CD...

CARLIN: Yes.

BECK: This is everything that you`ve -- this is all of it? This is what you`ve done?

CARLIN: These DVDs...

BECK: DVDs.

CARLIN: Yes. Represent -- get your initials straight.

BECK: Yes, I`m sorry.

CARLIN: They represent -- they are all of the HBO shows I`ve done. That`s been the centerpiece of my -- of where I`m reaching a mass audience since 1977.

BECK: Yes.

CARLIN: So there are 12 of them in there. There`s actually a 13th one that we couldn`t include. And No. 14 is on March 1.

BECK: Unbelievable. Funny, funny, funny guy. A hundred and ninety dollars.

CARLIN: Yes.

BECK: It`s called "All My Stuff." right?

CARLIN: Strictly for Christmas and strictly for real fans or collectors.

BECK: Yes. No, great stuff.

CARLIN: Thank you.

BECK: You were on "The View" this week.

CARLIN: That`s right.

BECK: You were talking about the forest fires. And you said something extraordinarily honest about your point of view on the forest fires, that -- well, go ahead, say it.

CARLIN: Well, overbuilding. Hyper development. Americans seem to think that the party`s going to last forever and the holiday goes on and on. And they don`t really see the error of certain things.

I mean, Thomas Raynesford Lounsbury was an educator in the 19th century, and he said, "It never ceases to surprise me at the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge."

And that`s what it is. People know better. People sense better. But they go against it. They just think there are no consequences.

BECK: It kills me that people, you know, build up -- you know, you go to Hollywood, and you see these houses on the cliffs.

CARLIN: Yes.

BECK: And you`re thinking -- and you can`t get insurance for them.

CARLIN: No. That -- and that reality may make people change their habits eventually.

CARLSON: Right. Now, you got a lot of heat for that, saying that.

CARLIN: Yes. A little bit.

BECK: I have, you know, talked about the fires this week.

CARLIN: Yes.

BECK: And people are all up in arms. Are you amazed that we live in a world that you just -- has it gotten worse, George?

CARLIN: Oh, yes.

BECK: You`ve been putting this stuff -- saying outrageous stuff forever.

CARLIN: It`s a steady downhill slide. You know, we`re headed -- this country is really finished. I mean, it really is technically finished. It`s just a matter of playing out the end-game.

BECK: Well, that`s happy.

CARLIN: Well, it`s true. It`s true. You can see it, you can smell it. Anyone who can`t see it or smell it doesn`t understand.

BECK: Yes.

CARLIN: There`s a medical term that they use in hospitals when a person has no future left on this planet, they can`t be helped anymore. And they put it on the chart: CTD, "Circling the Drain".

And that`s what we`re doing. We`re slowly circling the drain. And the circles get smaller and they get faster. I enjoy it. Personally, I don`t have a stake in the outcome. I personally enjoy this circus that I`ve been invited to.

I`ve often said when you`re born in the world you`re given a ticket to the freak show. When you`re born in America, you`re given a front row seat. And I couldn`t enjoy it more.

BECK: I would love to spend more time with you, sir.

CARLIN: Thank you. We should do it.

BECK: What a privilege.

Don`t forget, George`s new DVD box set, "All My Stuff" in stores right now.

Coming up, illegal immigration, a problem I`m very aware of. But some illegals are committing additional crimes, and U.S. citizens are increasingly becoming the victims. The facts, the outrage, in tonight`s "Real Story". And it`s next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Recent school shootings have left all of us wondering whether allowing students and teachers to carry concealed weapons might have made a difference. We have the right to defend ourselves from these lunatics, don`t we? That`s why this week, college students all around the country are wearing empty holsters to class, a sign of protest that maybe more in the media should take notice of. We`ll take note of it in just a few minutes.

But first, welcome to "The Real Story." Back in 1979, musicians like Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and Bruce Springsteen, man, all got together to form a group called MUSE, Musicians United for Safe Energy. Well, they put on a little series of concerts and released an album to raise awareness of the evils of nuclear energy. The "Real Story" is: Good for you, America. They`re back, and just in time, only this time their message is as relevant as a new Jackson Browne album, and even more annoying.

Back in the 1970s, a protest cry of "no nukes," it was still ignorant of the real science behind nuclear energy, but at least it was understandable, considering the Three Mile Island accident was still fresh in everybody`s memory. But here`s the thing: No one died or was even hurt at Three Mile Island. The reality is that no one -- not one person -- has ever died as a result of nuclear energy in this country.

Coal mines, however, comparatively speaking, are death traps. Nuclear energy in the new millennium is as safe and as economical as an alternative that we have to consider, if we`re going to decrease our dependency on all of that evil oil and coal that the hippies are complaining about.

All of these Hollywood types are always telling us, "Hey, man, look at France. If we were more like France, we`d all be great." Well, OK. Does that mean we should cut taxes like France is cutting taxes, or warning the world about Iran like they are, or getting nearly 80 percent of their electricity from nuclear energy, because it`s clean, reliable, and safe? Wow, it`s almost like I`m seeing the light, dope smokers. How about you?

The new incarnation of Musicians United for Safe Energy is trying to stop Congress from guaranteeing the loans for construction of new nuclear reactors. There hasn`t been a new one built here in the United States since the 1970s. And the bottom line is: Hey, hippie singers, you say no to coal plants, you say no to oil, you say no to nukes, you know what? All we`ve got is wind and solar power. Yes, let`s have fun wrecking our eyes reading by candlelight. We need more than wind and solar.

Senator James Inhofe is a Republican from Oklahoma.

Senator, I`ve got to tell you, these guys are -- I mean, I can`t take it anymore. It`s almost like they`re against everything.

SEN. JAMES INHOFE (R), OKLAHOMA: Well, you know, you said it right. You know what your viewers are wondering right now, Glenn? They`re saying, well, if they don`t want nuclear, they don`t want oil and gas, they don`t want coal, and they don`t even want wind anymore, because it`s killing the birds, now, how do you run the greatest machine in the history of mankind called "America"?

BECK: You don`t. I mean, you know, one of these groups was -- where was it? The Aspen, you know, one of these think-tanks, one of these Aspen conventions. And they go out and they actually said, "You know, we have to go back to the pre-industrial levels of carbon footprints." What, are you kidding me? You can`t shut the United States of America off. And am I wrong, sir? Nuclear energy is not dangerous, unless it`s in the hands of like the Russians.

INHOFE: No. In fact, they`re even resurrecting Jane Fonda now, I understand, from her old days. But, you know, nuclear energy, those individuals that are yelling and screaming about greenhouse gases, they ought to be real excited about this, because it doesn`t have any greenhouse gases. It`s cheap; it`s efficient.

And as you mentioned, in France -- I don`t like to emulate France very often, but one thing they`re doing right is they`re using nuclear energy. We have not had a new application until two weeks ago in 30 years.

BECK: I mean, you know, one of the co-founders of Greenpeace left Greenpeace because he was like, "Wait a minute, nuclear energy is the answer to a lot of your problems." I swear to you, it`s like these radicals hate people. Do you have -- because I have them here -- do you have the figures on how cheap it is compared to oil and gas?

INHOFE: No, it`s much cheaper, but...

BECK: Wait, wait, Senator, Senator. It`s not just much cheaper. Oil is $9.63 for a kilowatt hour. Natural gas is $6.75 for a kilowatt hour. Nuclear power is $1.72.

INHOFE: And solar is 17 times more than that.

BECK: Well, good.

INHOFE: So, anyway, what I wanted -- last time we were talking, we were talking about global warming. Tomorrow morning, I`ll be doing a thing on just the science, since in the last six or seven months, this totally refutes some of the things they`re saying right now.

But they ought to be looking at nuclear. Look, we need all of the above. We need oil and gas and nuclear. We need coal. There`s clean coal technology now. We`ve got to run this machine called "America," and we can`t keep doing it on somebody else.

BECK: Senator, I have to tell you, I feel like Americans must have felt back before World War II when people were screaming out, "We`ve got to build ships; we`ve got to build ships; we`re in trouble; we`ve got to build ships." I feel like screaming to everybody in Congress, "We`ve got to build power plants; we`re in trouble."

Are you going to? Are you going to pass the legislation to federally guarantee these loans or not?

INHOFE: Well, we did that back in `05, so that`s already passed. What they`re trying to do now is repeal it. But we should have credits and incentives to use this new technology. I think we will.

BECK: Senator, thank you very much.

Now, while some people are more afraid of nuclear energy than they should be, some people in Washington still don`t fear illegal immigration enough. Not only do illegals drain our social services and threaten our national security, but the "Real Story" is some of them are committing crimes that have deadly consequences and Americans, especially those Americans in border states like Texas, are fed up to here.

Border towns are on the front lines of this issue. The citizens there are feeling ignored by the system that is supposed to be protecting them. Last week in Houston, Texas, Angel Hernandez was allegedly driving drunk when he hit and killed a little girl. She wasn`t even 2. Look at her. He fled the scene. Police eventually caught him and arrested him. And the reason why they caught him is because he hit two more cars as he was fleeing the scene.

All the authorities know for sure is that his blood alcohol level was over the legal limit. He`s originally from Mexico, and he didn`t come to the United States legally. We have got to start taking illegal immigration seriously in this country.

Now, I know that deaths from drunk drivers happen all the time in America, but here is one that didn`t have to happen. If Angel Hernandez wants to get drunk and go for a joyride, great, go, go back to your country of Mexico.

Illegal immigration is taking our jobs. It`s taking our towns. It`s taking our sovereignty. And for one mother and father in Houston, Texas, it took their little girl. How much loss will finally be enough?

Dan Patrick is a radio talk show host, KSEV in Houston, Texas, and he`s also a state senator.

How are you, Dan?

DAN PATRICK, TEXAS STATE SENATOR: I`m good, Glenn. Thank you for having me back.

BECK: OK, first of all, I want to run down illegal immigration, because I was talking to my good friend who`s your morning man at KSEV, Pat, about Texas is ahead of the curve, America is not where Texas is yet. Just break down illegal immigration by the numbers in Houston.

PATRICK: Let me give you these numbers, and they`re startling. First of all, Texas leads the nation in drunk driving accidents and deaths. Secondly, we estimate that 30 percent of the people in our local jails across the state are illegal; 17 percent we know, Glenn, are illegal in our federal prisons.

It is a huge impact on crime in our communities. If you look at health care, we have a hospital in Harris County, which is the third largest county in the country, by the way, right here where Houston is, last year, 81 percent of the babies born in that hospital were born to mothers who are here illegally; 21 percent of the health care cost in the state that we know of go to illegals.

Our education system, it costs about 40 percent more to educate a student who shows up at the school door who doesn`t speak English and doesn`t have any educational background than it costs to educate an American-born student. And on the border, Glenn, carjackings, hijackings, rapes, crimes are out of control. If you took the counties from San Diego to Brownsville that go across the four states and made it a state, it would be number one in crime in the United States of America.

Crime is out of control. Most people, Glenn, come here, they want to work, they want to have a share of the American dream. But in the last decade, we`re seeing a tremendous number of people who are coming here who are drug runners, pimps, sexual predators, criminals, drunk drivers, you name it.

A friend of mine`s a sheriff down on the border near Del Rio. And he said, "Dan, when I went down 10 years ago, I used to be like Andy of Mayberry. I kept maybe a gun in the gun compartment. I never had any issues." Today, I went out on patrol with him not long ago. Four of us armed to the teeth.

We had our automatic weapons, we had our flak jackets, because now you never know what you`re going to run into. And the drug dealers who have -- the crime is out control just on the other side of the border. It`s now seeping in to our border towns on this side.

BECK: Dan, I have to tell you -- and this is what Pat and I were talking about yesterday -- I am concerned that most of America doesn`t see this, and they don`t go to Texas. I go to Texas. I lived in Texas for a while. There is a fundamental shift in Texas, and I felt it in the last year.

There is -- you guys are on the front lines. And Texans, it is a ticking time bomb. You`ve got a bond issue coming up, and it`s not a race issue like you would think, like, you know, whites against Hispanics. It`s blacks and Hispanics. Can you explain this?

PATRICK: Yes. In the city of Houston, Houston Independent School District, the largest in the state of Texas, so it`s a big school district, there`s an $800 million bond issue. And many people in the black community, including black ministers and black legislators, are against it because 75 percent of the money are going to Hispanics. And so we`re seeing a divide here within the minority groups.

Let me give you another amazing statistic real quick.

BECK: Real quick.

PATRICK: Seventy percent of the students in Dallas ISD, HISD, male students, Hispanic- and African-American, do not complete high school. Fifty percent of the students across the state do not complete high school. Illegal immigration is impacting Texas in every shape and form. It`s coming to your neighborhood.

BECK: It is. It`s coming your way.

Dan, thanks a lot. That`s the "Real Story" tonight.

Coming up next, public viewer`s back, and I bet he`s going to tell me how much he loves the show. He watches and critiques for you. Don`t miss it. It`s coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Media has a story, the fires. And they have -- what you have to understand is the ratings. The ratings for these fires have been outrageous on television. If you`ve been doing live fire stuff, boy, people are just flocking to the television to watch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s the concern as we look at this and there we see the flames once again?

BECK: So it`s like heroin. Now the media organizations have their fix, and they don`t want to go through withdrawals. You`re going to start -- now we`re going into the finger-pointing place. As much as they say, "No, we want the good news," no, they don`t.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Quick programming note. Tomorrow night, country music star Travis Tritt joins me for a full hour of honest questions. Sure, I want good news from Travis Tritt. He`s a legend. He`s got lots to say, but we`ll find out the dirt tomorrow. And you don`t want to miss it. Honest questions with Travis Tritt.

Now, I don`t want to beat around the bush. You watch this show because, I mean, come on, I know, you like me and you say, "I`ve just to watch that guy again because I like it so much." One person doesn`t, and that person is Brian Sack. And he`s here to pick me apart in your name.

BRIAN SACK, PUBLIC VIEWER: Why do you say I don`t like you?

BECK: In your name, viewer. It`s the public viewer, Brian Sack. Hello, sir.

SACK: Hi, sir. Why do you say I don`t like you?

BECK: Well, I`ve watched this segment before.

SACK: I love you. I wanted to come on today, and I wanted to celebrate your oratory panache, but then I found someone who actually did a better job of it than I could.

BECK: Really? And who is that?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Everything that spills out of my mouth is like poetry.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SACK: Poetry, well...

BECK: You know what? I`ve got to tell you, Conway Cliff, and I bet it`s you, Eric in Virginia, in the control room, they roll tape during the whole -- that`s in the middle of a commercial. That`s not right.

SACK: I`ve got everything, buddy. I`ve got everything. And speaking of poetry, here`s some poetry that they rolled tape on.

BECK: This is going to be ugly. This is going to be ugly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: It`s a strange stance unless you -- you know, unless you`re running for crazy of Mayor Town.

Come and preorder this. It comes out in about a book. It is a fantastic groundbreaking new book...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SACK: Comes out in about a book. OK, so maybe you`re...

BECK: Comes out in about a month.

SACK: Maybe the viewers are a little confused, but the most important thing is that the guests understand what you`re saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Max, where do I have this one wrong?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where do you have what wrong?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Oh, boy. You don`t look happy. You`re going to disagree with me, too.

SACK: OK. All right.

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: I don`t know if that one made it to air. He wasn`t happy. I said, "You`re not happy," and he went, "Just ask me the question."

SACK: Well, you know, if the English isn`t working for you, at least we`ve got some non-verbal signals we could use.

BECK: Yes.

SACK: Yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Tight little circle of ring. It`s been -- it`s been our attorney general, Johnny Sutton, and George Bush. These guys have known each other forever. I mean, how are you going to break up that ring? How are you going to get in and prove that anything was going on with the Mexicans?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SACK: OK.

BECK: I have other hand signals that I could give you right now. But I don`t think I should.

SACK: I know. I want you to keep those hands in full view, please. All right, so the English, the sign language, that`s not working, but at least you`re making an effort to be bilingual.

BECK: Yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Hello, America. Or, if Mexican President Felipe Calderon had his way, I guess I would be saying, "Hola, Mexamerica."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SACK: Hola.

BECK: And may I say? So hot, I am en fuego.

SACK: You`re en fuego?

BECK: En fuego.

SACK: Oh, dios mio. Anyhoo, what`s your obsession with bats?

BECK: Bats?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: If that scares the living bat crap out of you, good. Let`s get rid of the illegal employees and fine the bat snot out of these companies who hired them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SACK: I don`t know what`s more disturbing, the scatological stuff or the bat references.

BECK: You know what? Here`s the deal. I mean, if you`re fining the bat snot out of somebody, that`s a lot. I don`t know if you know this. Bats have very bad allergy snot problems. I just heard. I`m not a batologist, but I am a thinker.

SACK: I just got some answers. One of the crew pulled a clip.

BECK: What`s that?

SACK: I have answers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: I`m not exactly a genius, really even book smart, or really, quite honestly, all that literate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SACK: Now, was that said on air or was that tape?

BECK: No, that was on the air, and I stand by that.

SACK: Now, as you know, I`ve got a huge team working for me. They all have the same name. But I asked them, I said, "Guys, give me a clip. Give me something that even the media watchdog groups don`t need to take out of context."

BECK: Yes.

SACK: And this is what they came up with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Stop betraying us by sitting on their hands and fart -- and start -- and fart acting. Fart acting? That`s kind of like, "I think I just farted," when I didn`t.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SACK: They do`d it. They do`d it.

BECK: I stand by that, too. That`s what fart acting is. "Oh, my goodness." See, I didn`t fart. But I`m pretending that I...

SACK: Feign outrage and point somewhere else.

BECK: All right, Brian, thanks a lot.

SACK: Thanks very much, Glenn.

BECK: Now, if this has made you uncomfortable at all, it might be the stench in here. Jeez. Time for a spoonful of sugar, brought to you tonight by Travelers Insurance. If you`re getting married and love haunted houses, what the heck? Why not get married in a haunted house?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome, friends, family, and well-wishers. Until death that you two shall part. You may now kiss the bride. Love never dies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So for the living or the dead, they`ll always be together. Ha, ha, ha, ha!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: OK, that sounds like fun. Brought to you tonight, this spoonful of sugar, by Travelers. Your risks can change quickly. Make sure your insurance stays in-synch.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Well, in the wake of Virginia Tech massacre, many have finally come to the conclusion that maybe this gun-free zone not such a good idea. It turns our kids into targets. The only people with guns in schools are the bad guys. And when they walk into a school or a college campus, it`s like shooting fish in a barrel. Maybe we should try the idea of giving ourselves a fighting chance.

That is exactly what Students for Concealed Carry On Campus is trying to do. They`re trying to organize college students all across the country who want to exercise their Second Amendment right to defend themselves.

Ethan Bratt is one young man who wants to carry a gun on campus.

Hello, Ethan. How are you?

ETHAN BRATT, STUDENTS FOR CONCEALED CARRY ON CAMPUS: Good. How are you doing, Glenn?

BECK: Good. You`re in Seattle?

BRATT: I am.

BECK: You`re mighty popular there. University of Washington?

BRATT: No, I`m actually attending Seattle Pacific University.

BECK: Oh, even more popular then with the empty holster.

BRATT: Oh, yes, drawing a little bit of attention.

BECK: I bet. Explain the thought here.

BRATT: The empty holster is supposed to signify the fact that students and faculty, when they come onto campus, they are disarmed. They have metaphorically an empty holster on them, and that`s it, unable to defend themselves against anything that might take place.

BECK: Any campuses around the country that do allow you to carry a weapon and any stats?

BRATT: Actually, the state of Utah allows -- all schools in the state of Utah are open for concealed carry. That`s been since the inception of their carry permit. It was just in the last year-and-a-half that these state court said that these schools cannot enact rules that would penalize faculty or students who carry...

BECK: Any stats that show that the Utah schools are any safer?

BRATT: Well, I can tell you that there has never been a Virginia Tech or a Columbine-type shooting anywhere in the state of Utah.

BECK: You know, the thing is -- and this is why I say, you know, you`re in Seattle -- you`re carrying a holster, an empty holster. People tend to look at people who want concealed carry permits, especially in a town like Seattle, and not everybody -- I mean, I`m from Seattle. But people who are carrying a gun, they`re made to look like they`re dangerous. That`s not exactly the truth, is it?

BRATT: No, absolutely not. Actually, statistically speaking, people who have a concealed carry permit are five times less likely to engage in violent acts.

BECK: All right, Ethan, best of luck to you. Stay safe out in Seattle.

BRATT: Appreciate it.

BECK: Let me bring an umbrella.

BRATT: Thank you.

BECK: Don`t forget, find out a whole lot more about the TV and radio shows by signing up for my free e-mail newsletter. It comes out every day. Tomorrow it will have highlights from moron trivia. It`s what we do every Friday on the radio, easy questions, incredibly easy questions, and incredibly stupid people answering them. Hear all the audio in my free newsletter tomorrow. Go to glennbeck.com tonight and sign up.

From New York, good night, America.

END