The most interesting sideshow during Egypt’s convulsion has been among American conservatives, who are slicing themselves into interesting subgroups over whether to support the demonstrators. As I’ve written here previously, a great many neoconservatives are sticking to their intellectual guns, supporting democracy in Egypt even at the possible expense of Israel’s security. Others, like John Bolton, are locked into old-fashioned power politics: you support your allies. Others, like Charles Krauthammer, take a more–dare I say it–realistic path, realizing that the change, if it comes, needs to be carefully calibrated, with the Egyptian Army having a major say.
Today, (hat tip/Ben Smith), we have Bill Kristol sticking with the demonstrators and calling out free-range lunatic Glenn Beck, for his hilarious commie-muslim caliphate delusions. This is not unimportant. Kristol lies very close to the throbbing heart of the Fox News sensibility. And I’ve heard, from more than a couple of conservative sources, that prominent Republicans have approached Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes about the potential embarrassment that the paranoid-messianic rodeo clown may bring upon their brand. The speculation is that Beck is on thin ice. His ratings are dropping, too–which, in the end, is a good part of what this is all about. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a mirror-Olbermann situation soon.