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February 06, 2009
Frum, Diminished
Allahpundit linked this David Frum article at Hot Air, and it has sparked quite an intense debate. In two threads.
It’s an interesting and thought-provoking article, but would have been more so had Frum displayed more self-restraint. He spends too much time engaged in the same sort of characterization he decries. For example, it seems unfair and untrue to dismiss those who adhere to ideology as "men of wrath."
Frum complains about the unwillingness of ideological purists to compromise, but then spends a good deal of the article clucking at them in a condescending manner. If he were truly interested in party unity, then he’s got to cut down on the subtle cheap shots at those with whom he disagrees and approach the debate in good faith.
Sarah Palin is a gifted politician, but I’m leery of making her - or anyone, really - the face of “true conservatism” since putting an ideology’s hopes in one person is an exercise in inevitable frustration. It’s unfair for conservatives to use her as a measuring stick to measure one's fealty to 'true conservatism,' but it’s also unfair for writers like Frum to regard her as what that ails the Republican party and tsk tsk at voters he clearly regards as the rubes who supported her.
I like Palin and would like to see her succeed politically, but people on both sides of this argument do her no favors by regarding her as a symbol rather than a politician.
What really bothers me about the article, and Frum in general, is that the types of candidates he supports and thinks will form a new majority (Rudy Giuliani, John McCain) have, to put it nicely, 'underperformed' with voters. Moderates are uninspiring because once you get past the 'can't we all just get along' rhetoric, they don't stand for much other than their own ability to sound reasonable.
Posted by slublog at February 6, 2009 10:54 PM
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Comments
For all the adulation that Ronald Reagan inspired he also attracted more than his fair share of detractors. Many on the right may wish for another Reagan-type but an equal number fear a real conservative more than they do a liberal democrat.
The ugly truth about many republicans is that they aren’t the least bit conservative. They are very liberal and deeply hostile to real conservative governance. McCain and his GOP-Light agenda is why the GOP lost and will continue to lose until Mr. Steele brings the hammer down on people who wear the R after their name when they’re really D’s.
Cutoff all financial and logistical support for ANY republican who strays from conservative orthodoxy and tell congressional leaders that ANY member who votes against party interest will immediately be stripped of all committee assignment and caucus leadership roles.
Posted by: Murph at February 8, 2009 11:03 AM
"Underperformed" is right! It is called a failure to lead and inspire, and our side needs inspiring leaders to work for the good, because our opponents, the Party of Movie Stars, has plenty of "sizzle" if no content. For example...
Obama: "Chickenlittle-in-Chief"
Posted by: sherlock at February 9, 2009 02:27 PM