Video: David Frum on Palin and “Say It Louder” conservatism
posted at 9:45 pm on November 17, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A parting shot via Bloggingheads as he inches towards the door at National Review. If this doesn’t rouse the readership from its post-election hangover, nothing will.
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All the passion of unsteamed clams.
Zzzzzzz.
profitsbeard on November 17, 2008 at 9:48 PM
isn’t this Lindsey another conservative for obama type?
joey24007 on November 17, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Just go away. Good riddance.
mariloubaker on November 17, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Frum: Palin as VP is a bad idea!
Well guess what, Frum! McCain just lost the election to the Obama, who garnered the most votes ever in a presidential election.
Who’s stupid now?!
e-pirate on November 17, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Might want to take a look at this:
These are Obama supporters…
coldwarrior on November 17, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Did he actually say “our side”? Fascinating.
sherry on November 17, 2008 at 9:54 PM
He’s so Frumpy.
Brian1972 on November 17, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Gosh….I sure feel revved up.
Yaaawwwnnnn……
NeoKong on November 17, 2008 at 9:58 PM
If it doesn’t, you’ll have to wheel out a few Fred Thompson videos about hats and hand-raising. They did the trick last time, maybe they’ll work again.
Big S on November 17, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Who is Brink Lindsey?
-Chest Rockwell
aquaviva on November 17, 2008 at 9:59 PM
a rino who pulled his punches lost and frum blames the right-wing.
sheesh.
reliapundit on November 17, 2008 at 10:01 PM
He’s resigning to spend more time with Bugs.
He’s canadian; she’s canadian; Brooks is canadian — why can’t they stay in canada?
Blake on November 17, 2008 at 10:01 PM
This is too much — Palin has a bonafide record of “change” and Frum still thinks she was/is a problem.
Sad sad sad.
Richard Romano on November 17, 2008 at 10:01 PM
yeah a RINO: besides being a hawk mccain could swap jobs with casey and no one would no the diff
reliapundit on November 17, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Wow. Talk much, Frum?
That’s 2:44 of my life I will NEVER get back.
wccawa on November 17, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Dang! Speaker went belly-up in the middle of Rush this afternoon (conspiracy? I THOUGHT I saw little green men on my lawn!) Anyway, I can make a guess: Snarky? Sour Grapes? Agree with NeoKong: Yawn.
Chewy the Lab on November 17, 2008 at 10:04 PM
He is doing us a favor by leaving. Bye RINO.
Big Orange on November 17, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I think Frum is basically right here: conservatives have to prove to the public that they can govern.
That is, use the powers – albeit smaller and more decentralized ones – responsibly and competently.
It’s not enough to say what you’ll do to reduce government. You also have to show – to get elected – that you can use those remaining powers competently.
I think the American still want leaner government; but they don’t want no government.
SteveMG on November 17, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Oh Dear God. That was the most disturbing thing I have watched in this whole campaign.
I heard the tail end of the guy who shot this film on H/C, so thank you for putting up the post so I could see it.
As disturbing as it was, the funniest one was the bimbo that said “yea Nancy Pelosi, I know her name but not her face”. Neither does Nancy, it’s been botox-distorted.
That video just depressed me. It’s a sad reminder of the sham that he pulleld on this country.
sherry on November 17, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Ah, yes, David Frum, aka the Canadian Media Genetic Incest Lottery Winner (son of famous mom, sister’s a columnist, wife is the daughter of famous newspaper dude and so on and so on).
At least he didn’t mention Mexicans this time.
fivefeetoffury on November 17, 2008 at 10:06 PM
DLTDHWTGLSY
SouthernGent on November 17, 2008 at 10:06 PM
It just cracks me up at this point…The ‘Cuda is far from perfect, but I’d rather have somebody who has actually rolled up her sleeves and gotten shit done to someone who has just talked.
meltenn on November 17, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Just watched it. It pretty much confirms our suspicions as to the typical Obama voter. That and much of the electorate in this country are completely and utterly ill-informed (that’s putting it nicely).
dugan on November 17, 2008 at 10:10 PM
There are two reasons why people tend to want limited government. The first is that they want to be left alone. The second is that they see the government as very wasteful – which it is – and often substitute “limited” for “more efficient”. If people think they can get a relatively good value for their tax dollar out of government (an iffy proposition), they don’t mind an expansion of government, as long as it doesn’t intrude on their daily lives too much. Outside of a few ideologues, this is pretty much all there is to it.
The problem for Republicans is that they have earned a reputation for being both inefficient and a bit too prying about peoples’ lives. This doesn’t mean that the Democrats are a heck of a lot better, but people are willing to give them a chance.
Big S on November 17, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Let’s keep cancelling more of those subscriptions people.
There are more Frums at NR that need a pinkslippin.
This is great. Nothing like a good enema for the movement.
Sapwolf on November 17, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Frum and his ilk lost the election and now they want to ignore the fact that they lost because they were moderates, not because they couldn’t attract moderates. He looks like an idiot so he will point his finger at conservatives, the very people that warned of this.
You’ll never be Rush Limbaugh Frum, you don’t have the brains or the talent to do it.
Big Orange on November 17, 2008 at 10:13 PM
David, what are you conserving?
spmat on November 17, 2008 at 10:14 PM
“Boston Legal” has a case on now where a lady (Cheri Oteri from SNL) gets fired for voting for John McCain. Great show.
SouthernGent on November 17, 2008 at 10:14 PM
This “debate” is an odd one.
We had “moderates” chose our nominee this year – the moderate McCain. He ran a muted, middle of the road campaign, and he lost.
It is possible that no Republican could have beat the MSM, err, Obama, this year. But obviously the moderates’ choice did not pull it out.
So the argument now, IMO, should be about reforming the primary system so that “moderates” don’t get the same level of control over our nominee in 2012, and how we make sure we never nominate someone without fire in his, or her, belly again.
18-1 on November 17, 2008 at 10:15 PM
I almost shut that off at three min. but …
That shows a case for the fairness doctrine?? maybe…nah
I guess Murdock was right…
We are so screwed.ug
jerrytbg on November 17, 2008 at 10:16 PM
The Democrats just voted in favor of the bailout and now want to bailout UAW, which the majority of Conservatives opposed.
Not only is the largest heist in world history, Frum thinks the Dems don’t threaten their money. $750 billion IS our money.
I read Frum’s book; what an intellectual lightweight.
Dadvocate on November 17, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Yes, I think that’s the view of many Americans. At least, those that are deciding elections.
But when someone points this out – not agreeing with it but just stating it – one is hammered or criticized for being a RINO or helping the Democrats.
I’ve got some disagreements with Frum’s prescription for the problem. But he’s pretty accurate, it seems to me, as to his description of the problem.
SteveMG on November 17, 2008 at 10:18 PM
PURGE!!!
jerrytbg on November 17, 2008 at 10:19 PM
I agree with what you said, we just have to remember to make the republicans who voted for this pay. Had McCain been on the right side of the immigration debate and opposed the bailout big time, we would have the white house. He put himself over principle.
Big Orange on November 17, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I see the problem here………… they get paid to sit around all day talking to each other.
The Media, Democrats and RINOs picked John McCain to be the Republican Presidential Candidate BECAUSE of the diatribe you hear here……. and there unwillingness to go back to the source of the problem IS the problem.
Don’t want to be uninvited to the cocktail parties as the token “Conservative” boys? Still want to be called by your “friends” in the press?
It’s this simple………….. the whole current Economic Collapse is a direct result of the CRA and the Democratic regulations that forced banks to give loans to people who could not pay them back, then bought them up under Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, bundled the loans, and sold them to investors all over the world with the backing of the United States Government.
THIS ALONE was an election winner, but no one wanted to name names and spell it out to the American Voters…………. they just wanted to talk about how much money Gov. Palin spent on clothes and her daughters uterus.
………. and now they are in reflection. “Let’s talk this out”. I tell you what boys, why don’t you go fornicate with yourselves…….. or better yet, sign up for a job with Mr. Obama, President Elect, the Office of….
Seven Percent Solution on November 17, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Oh, and by way of comparison, if we had just run a strong conservative for president, with a “moderate” VP and lost the argument would be that the conservative at the top of the ticket is what doomed us, not the moderate in the VP slot.
By the way, I think this might be of interest.
2008 McCain moderate lost
2004 Bush conservative won
2000 Bush conservative won
1996 Dole moderate lost
1992 Bush moderate lost
1988 Bush conservative won
1984 Reagan conservative won
1980 Reagan conservative won
1976 Ford moderate lost
1972 Nixon moderate won
1968 Nixon moderate won
1964 Goldwater conservative lost
You have to go back to 1964 to find a Republican candidate perceived* as a conservative that lost a Presidential election…
*It is open to interpretation, but overall I think you can divide the candidates perceived status into moderate or conservative without too much difficulty.
18-1 on November 17, 2008 at 10:25 PM
dont let the door hit ya in the @$$…………..
tamtam20 on November 17, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Douche acts like Palin has never done anything legislatively. I can understand if people don’t like her policy decisions, but to act they don’t even exist and her qualifications are only having kids is beyond misleading.
Hog Wild on November 17, 2008 at 10:28 PM
I love how he mocks the idea that “anyone can run this government.” Well, that’s kinda what this country is based on, David. We broke away from a monarchy and set up a system in which anyone born in the country over the age of 35 can become President of the United States. Now, you can quibble over whether you think they have the “right stuff” to do the job, but Frum is arguing that we have but a select group of people in the country worthy of the office and if we consider anyone else, we are to be scorned. Very sad.
Jim-Rose on November 17, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Frum’s snide reference to Palin as “anyone” undermines his entire message. And he thinks he knows more than he does.
It would require extensive polling to determine why the GOP message wasn’t heeded. No doubt it could have been better delivered but the Obama voters linked to by coldwarrior leaves one with the impression the GOP message was not even heard.
Without “a free press” it won’t be. Perhaps Frum should concern himself with that. It’s his profession.
Basilsbest on November 17, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I quit the Democrats because they spent money like water and fought wars like sissies.
I refuse to join the Republicans until the STOP SPENDING MONEY
PattyJ on November 17, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Oh, and issues like abortion or gay marriage will be argued about for centuries. I loved Sarah Palin because of her small government, fiscal conservative governance, and her social issues were just icing on the cake.
The Reps cannot continue to grow government and try to seduce me with all the hot button social issues.
I’m the voter Frum is talking about, and I kind of agree with him.
PattyJ on November 17, 2008 at 10:33 PM
1964 Goldwater conservative lost
And remember, Goldwater was the first to run as a conservative which was a rejection of the Republican Party being a “New Deal light” party as it had been for years. This paved the way for Reagan. Now, in 2008, people like Frum tell us the GOP needs to go back to the pre-Goldwater era and be watered-down Democrats. Insanity!
Jim-Rose on November 17, 2008 at 10:33 PM
What is this David Frum you speak of…
phreshone on November 17, 2008 at 10:36 PM
What a ego that man had. They were both boring!
sheebe on November 17, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Oh, and another note, had McCain picked a liberal like Lieberman, or even a squish like Graham I would not have voted for him. How many conservatives is this true of? I don’t know…but I don’t see him picking up more independents by offering less of a difference from Obama.
18-1 on November 17, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Not to get some big Palin argument but where do you get that she’s done anything to reduce the size of Alaska’s government and she’s enacted fiscal conservatism as Governor?
lowandslow on November 17, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Nah he’s a bafoon.
True, not enough legit outlets
nah… went right over his head…whoosh
jerrytbg on November 17, 2008 at 10:44 PM
“………. and now they are in reflection. “Let’s talk this out”. I tell you what boys, why don’t you go fornicate with yourselves…….. or better yet, sign up for a job with Mr. Obama, President Elect, the Office of…”
I couldn’t agree with you more.
Alana on November 17, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Frum: A complete waste of skin.
woodswalking on November 17, 2008 at 10:47 PM
“democratic party no longer a threat to their money”
whisky tango foxtrot?!
Buckaroo on November 17, 2008 at 10:47 PM
OK. I listened very closely to what David Frum said in that two and three quarters of a minute. Presumably, so did everyone else who is reading this comment.
Can you tell me what David Frum thinks Republicans should DO as opposed to what they should NOT do, should NOT have DONE?
Can you tell me what IDEA David Frum has proposed that, when presented to the changing electorate, will pop the shallow mantra of “Change” like the bubble it is?
Can you tell me what David Frum STANDS FOR, rather than what he stands AGAINST?
And why did Frum spend that whole filibuster talking about the election that just ended two weeks ago tomorrow (briefly interrupted by “YAH” by whoever the dude in the left side of the screen is) mentioning Governor Palin and Rush Limbaugh but not saying a word about his fellow moderate McCain being the loser?
As for his “point” about “Say it louder” conservatism that he ascribes to Rush Limbaugh: Drink a maddog espresso and pay attention, Sleepy! Limbaugh was warning against nominating mushy moderates like John McLame and Mike Huckin’ Freakabee because they didn’t have a coherent conservative message, and they DON’T shout it loud! Only Palin was able to muster that despite McCain’s best efforts to mute her, and as we now know, it was only Palin that kept the margin of defeat at only 4%.
Yeah, Dave, it sounds like 2006 all over again when we say “Conservatism didn’t lose,” and that’s because it’s still true. Doofi like you, Christo Buckley, Kathleen Parker, the annoyingly snooty Peggy Noonan, and the nauseating, multi-Obamagasmic David Brooks have gotten a lot of mileage in the MSM by claiming the GOP is lost in the wilderness. I can’t disagree with you about that, but you would have more credibility in saying so if your vague, shallow, transparent “solutions” weren’t cell-phoned in from the Obama-Biden campaign bus you hitched a ride on!
L.N. Smithee on November 17, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Read his book(s)…he’s the original big government “compassionate conservative”. Well, maybe not the original – but if you like “small government, fiscal conservative governance” you’re not the voter he’s talking about.
kcewa on November 17, 2008 at 10:50 PM
I am pro life first. A social conservative. If the party wants to be moderate and run pro abortionist, I will vote elsewhere. It is up to the base which way I go.
Jonah Goldberg
THE SOUL OF THE GOP
IT CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE BASE
http://tinyurl.com/6d38jq
rockdalian on November 17, 2008 at 10:50 PM
I’m new to this game, but I’m sure it would be possible to parody these two.
They sit around and think. Then they sit around and think about what they have just thought about. Then they talk to their friends to get their impression of what they were just thinking about.
You could rerun in the same conversation, but replace “conservative” with “Green Bay Packers” and “libertarian” with “Pairs Ice Dancing” and it would be more entertaining – and more socially relevant.
What a loss. How will we recover.
Midnightrain on November 17, 2008 at 10:51 PM
And don’t forget…he was wearing a headphone…lol…
I’d like to get a bobblehead doll of him….moving target…lol
jerrytbg on November 17, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Look, I realize the National Review meant something, some time ago, but I haven’t read it for years and I’ve survived nicely.
The only posts at the Corner that I read are ones that blogs I subscribe to have linked to – usually to complain about what those asshats have said now. I realize there are a few bright spots (Mark Steyn!, VDH) but in general I don’t bother reading it because if I want to be pissed off by moderates and liberals, I have blogs for that – and the blogs are a good deal less sanctimonious about their views.
Does anyone here subscribe to it or make the website a daily stop because they really, really love it? (Not just for blog fodder or your daily dose of outrage.)
Kathy, you’re killing me. :-)
Laura on November 17, 2008 at 10:55 PM
At least he doesn’t let facts get in the way of his opinions!
huckleberryfriend on November 17, 2008 at 10:56 PM
All in all though…all this reinforces the premise…
THEY are terified of Sarah Palin! yea…they should be.
jerrytbg on November 17, 2008 at 11:09 PM
I’m a social and national security consevative.
The Republican party was a permanent minority party until it reached out to social conservatives. It will return to that status if it continues to ignore or patronize us.
If it came down to economic issues I would be more than happy to vote for a moderate or conservative democrat.
kcewa on November 17, 2008 at 11:11 PM
This is CRAP!
2 things lost the election;
The Rumsfeld era of the Iraq War.
The Economic meltdown.
Don’t give me this culture shift, republicans have to change garbage!
186k on November 17, 2008 at 11:14 PM
What is an intellectual?
Is it someone who engages in mental masturbation, confusing their own inner world with reality, even if that inner world is a fantasy world, even when it is not based on fact, or is it someone who has the “proper” education in leftist thought?
William2006 on November 17, 2008 at 11:15 PM
David Frum reminds me of a snake after his head has been chopped off.
It keeps wiggling, but it doesn’t know it’s dead yet.
faraway on November 17, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Thanks. Priceless.
Someone needs to shove this video up Shep Smith’s ass sideways.
Jaibones on November 17, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Social conservatives have little reason to vote if the choice is between the Red Jersey Party and the Blue Jersey Party.
Fiscal conservatives are people I can agree with but they are also the ones who have consistently betrayed conservative principles. If they believe in affirmative action they will vote the money and government bureaucracy to see it done. If they believe in gun control they will vote the money and government bureaucracy to see it done. Same for Global Warming, Universal Health Care, etc.
Fiscal conservatism easily leads to compromise and big government solutions.
Social conservatism tends not to lead to such compromises as they tend to be moral positions and thus less amenable to compromise.
sharrukin on November 17, 2008 at 11:21 PM
As for the various media types who rant and rave against angry conservatives that “the media didn’t elect Obama” – really? Watch the video.
This crap all came from the broadcast news media, and the “news” that they spend the rest of their efforts on – Pelosi, Reid, Frank – is a complete mystery to every one of these effing nitwits.
Jaibones on November 17, 2008 at 11:22 PM
I have no problem with Frum, or his opinions. I agree with many of his sentiments.
He’s wrong about the role the media played. He’s wrong about the very nature of this vote (i.e., if these people were voting against Palin because she lacks detailed knowledge of NAFTA, or economics (she doesn’t), or the intricacies of the Parliamentary system – then why the hell would they vote for Obama?
Frum is entitled to his own opinions, but not to his own facts, as someone pointed out above.
Jaibones on November 17, 2008 at 11:26 PM
The Hispanic problem is very real, as is the scary notion of the youth vote becoming reliably Democratic. Our party does need to improve. But the way to improve is by being conservatives and applying our intellectual muscle to compete on “kitchen table issues,” not by trying to out-Democrat the Democrats, which is what Frum suggests and what McCain did to his detriment.
Outlander on November 17, 2008 at 11:27 PM
I would have stayed home..
well, in a figurative sense.
local and State elections and all that..
DaveC on November 17, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Can’t wait for Rush tomorrow.
I thought Frum could recover, he is smart enough. But this recent rant has me convinced that he is on the deep end away from republicanism and into David Brooks territory.
In other NRO opinion, I would strongly ask National Review to pass the pink slip to Kathleen Parker. She is a showboating Obama supporter with an irrational and vulgar disdain for Palin. Her appearance in Colbert’s show demonstrates to me that she is a democRAT.
jencab on November 17, 2008 at 11:31 PM
It’s true what you say: We can’t win without the social conservatives. But unless the demographics of the electorate change, we can’t win with them either.
If the 2012 electorate mirrors the 2008 electorate, we’ll need 65% of the white vote to win. That’s the only to compensate for our poor showing among blacks and Hispanics. (McCain took 55% of the white vote.)
But we can’t get to 65% when we’re losing white youth by 10 points, and white people with a college degree by 8 points. These are the groups David Frum is talking about, and these groups don’t care for the GOP’s social conservatism.
So, we can’t do without the evangelicals, and we can’t get the other votes we need if we keep the evangelicals. It’s a pickle.
Now, Karl Rove says we should try pick up the numbers we need from Hispanics. But Mary, when you go to talking about what all that might entail, you’ll stain a lot of drawers up in here.
I say we lay back and think of England.
paul006 on November 17, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Wow.
Palin should take some tips. If she communicated like that, there’s be no stopping her!
Saltysam on November 17, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Each and every day, more conservative kooks eating their own.
*eats popcorn*
benny shakar on November 18, 2008 at 12:00 AM
The sad part is that they exceeded my expectations. :)
FloatingRock on November 18, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I agree with everything David Frum said in the video.
I guess that means I’ll be leaving the Hot Air faithful. Sometimes there are good links here, but clearly the audience here does not want anyone to challenge their pre-existing views, no matter how badly beaten Republicans are at election day.
Your “big government is bad” concept is wrong. It’s too simplistic. Think some more.
OK, good luck. I love ya and I hope you come back strong because America needs you guys very much.
God protect the USA, especially until January 20, 2013.
indythinker on November 18, 2008 at 12:10 AM
Rove maintains his delusion after Amnesty went down in flames. He’s got a lot of company. Carville was a superior political operative by far.
RINOs like Frum aren’t being purged so much as they’re fleeing — having exposed themselves for the phonies they are. They know they’ve lost all credibility and think dumping on Palin and the base somehow saves face.
McCain came so close for such a pathetic RINO candidate. If Palin had been at the top of the ticket, they’d have won.
Bye, bye Frum. Don’t keep in touch now, ya hear? Dumb hicks.
Feedie on November 18, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Trust me, you don’t want to go there.
benny shakar on November 18, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Pretty well sums up my feelings on this.
Thanks L. N.
Also, indy. The Republicans were beaten because they forgot to aggressively teach and live by the first principles of conservatism. As you point out, one can’t just say, “big government is bad,” you have to tell people why it is bad and what big government does to limit economic and personal freedom.
However, Frum seems ready to join the Whitman’s of the world and throw social conservatives over the side of the boat, something that would gurantee that Republicans remain a minority party for decades to come.
sdun1 on November 18, 2008 at 12:29 AM
The old saying, and I will change it a little: Opinions are like belly-buttons – everybody has one…..
DL13 on November 18, 2008 at 12:37 AM
The Republican Party has plenty of problems right now, but that isn’t one of them.
FloatingRock on November 18, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Sorry, but Frum sounds like a typical liberal elitist. Loves to be the smartest person in the room and loves to tell you about it.
The Republican party is in trouble, because America cannot tell the difference between us and the Democrats.
Why would Americans buy the old crappy car when they can buy the shiny new one? It may not run any better, but it sure looks good. (For a little while, at least)
I am fully convinced Republicans will find their principles again and stand on them.
With their constant shifting of positions, these liberal Republicans have no solid foundation to build on.
What these liberal republicans do not realize is that the Democrats don’t want them either. They are just being used. They will be discarded by the Democrats as easily and quickly as they dismissed Sarah Palin.
kcarpenter on November 18, 2008 at 12:48 AM
According to the exit polls only 9% of voters felt that the Republican party became to conservative while the rest either thought they were incompetent or lost their way. The majority is clearly correct.
“compassionate conservatism” is the nonsense that got us here in the first place.
V15J on November 18, 2008 at 12:52 AM
Palin’s record speaks for itself. She is a proven fiscal conservative. Take a look at this if you don’t believe me.
ramrocks on November 18, 2008 at 12:52 AM
I only got to the part where they start talking about Harriet Myers, then I had to turn it off.
I am soooo tired of these idiot ‘intellectuals’, speaking as if they have any..ANY idea at all about, well..anything at all.
What are they saying?
We need people that have that draw.
We need people that can generate energy and excitement.
We need fresh people.
We need a look to tomorrow.
We need people with a record of achievement.
We need people who aren’t afraid to go against the big guns.
And so….what? We need more McCain’s and Sarah Palin is the problem ?
Please. We lost the election because it was a tough headwind AND McCain just couldn’t generate a message that was coherent and felt squishy about taking the fight to the dems.
Palin was the only thing that worked. And when she stumbled it was because of the dummy handlers that were more comfy straddling the fence than fighting the good fight that SHE is obviously more comfortable waging.
SHE is the fighter. She was . And Frum and other suited, ‘pinky up’ elitists are saying SHE should be the one put out to dry?
Trust me frummy. And please oh please send this message to Peggy noon-er and Kathleen Parker.
YOU”LL GO BEFORE PALIN GOES.
take that to the bank.
Handel on November 18, 2008 at 12:53 AM
The problem with big government conservatives is that they’ve had their chance. Bush governed as a one for 8 years and I don’t see much of a record of achievement there one could brag about, and McCain lost running as one.
It is true that conservative economics are less popular then conservative social policies. I think that just means you put more emphasis on the latter, unless of course Obama destroys the economy, a distinct possibility considering what his allies in congress have been doing.
18-1 on November 18, 2008 at 12:59 AM
OMG 2+ minutes… I could not get through. What an annoying boring, little misogynistic man.
Buckeye Babe on November 18, 2008 at 1:22 AM
I was surprised when Frum brought up Harriet Miers. All it tells me is conservative elitists are loyal to liberal elitists. Ann Coulter was right and I won’t say anymore about that poor Miers woman. Nominating her was no favor; she was victimized by that bungler and the WH hacks who thought it was a good idea.
Feedie on November 18, 2008 at 1:32 AM
In this clip Frum takes the bases support of Sarah Palin as saying “to run the government how hard can it be”, but that’s not what the base was saying. The base has seen how badly things have been ran, and how far we have moved from our core beliefs, both social and fiscal, and said, How much worse could she be, at least she is one of us.
DFCtomm on November 18, 2008 at 1:40 AM
Frum can’t even tie his tie. What’s he doing telling a political party what to do?
CanadianGuy on November 18, 2008 at 2:05 AM
Frum thinks it’s sheer foolishness not to see which way the demographic wind is blowing and adjust sails, but he doesn’t say what core values couldn’t be abandoned to court this new demographic. I can’t see the appeal of becoming a better Democrat than the Democrats even if it means we are a permanent minority. There are some values I won’t sacrifice.
DFCtomm on November 18, 2008 at 2:17 AM
indythinker wrote:
Well, yet another perfect cop-out. Profiles in courage.
After you.
I invite you to expand on “You’re … too simplistic” as if that is a suggestion.
Frum — whose claim to fame is being a speechwriter — didn’t have any ideas either, so I wonder what it is you agreed with: The part about Dems being trusted with your money? The part about Republicans threatening suburban values? The part about the GOP “giving up on making government work?”
L.N. Smithee on November 18, 2008 at 5:17 AM
No, no, no. You don´t have to compromise on any values in order to appeal to all people (except bums and certain elitists), be they Hispanics, Asians, whatever. Don´t buy into the liberal narrative that conservative ideas are bad for “the little guy”. The opposite is true. But of course there is nothing conservative about driving away Hispanic voters because you are unable to keep your distance from the “deport em all” crazies, or because you stand by and say nothing while Democrats paint you as the party of “the Rich”.
What SteveMG said is true though: You have to prove that you can govern competently and in the interest of the people. Small government is the ideal, but there are no free markets in agriculture, energy, healthcare, transportation and a dozen other sectors – and there will never be. Never. Giving the impression that you don´t care is fatal. Third way economics which take into account the superiority of markets while accepting the legitimate roles of government are what wins elections. Bush knew this and Bush won a lot of elections for us. Social conservatism is the other part of the winning formular. While you must not be authoritarian or intrusive, there is nothing wrong with fighting for traditions and social institutions. Conservatism contains a lot of realism and experience about human nature and society. If nothing else, strong social institutions and traditions are what unites us and makes small government possible, which is why liberals cannot wait to tear them down (so that nothing stands between you and the state).
Once you get that you also understand that Palin and most GOP governors are pretty close to the mainstream and the winning formula. What they must do is to overcome the manipulation of language that allows the party of the elites to pretend they´re for the little guy, that allows the race/class/sex/age hucksters to call us divisive, that allows the intolerant and authoritarian left to claim that we are the ones imposing our values on others.
el gordo on November 18, 2008 at 5:34 AM
Barry Goldwater had a dream.
Martin Luther King had a dream.
Ron Reagan had a dream.
John McCain is happy that the socialist con man who defeated him “Couldn’t have been nicer”. And the media has just about destroyed Palin’s image.
Priceless.
BTW Seven Per Cent and the line down to LN were excellent. I also heard that the Hispanic vote will prove to be very fickle in future years. I have no idea what Rove is thinking. I shudder at legal abortion but a ban is not going to bring the Hispanic or Catholic vote.
IlikedAUH2O on November 18, 2008 at 6:38 AM
Frum is an idiot. Conservatism wasn’t even on the ballot, so how can he say that voters rejected it?
What he said.
bigbeas on November 18, 2008 at 7:29 AM
Hey Frum, look at the mess we are in and tell me that you have to be a “rocket scientist” to run our congress. All these “experts”, all these people who are so smart, and look at the mess.
The fact is, most any average person could run the government more efficiently then how it has been run…what it does take, which it does not have, is values, conservative values, and it take a personality to get elected.
We just had the least experienced person ever to run for a major ticket, just get elected to President…it doesn’t take brains, it takes a personality…Biden, you think he has a logical brain in his body?
Connect with the people, and you will get elected…
right2bright on November 18, 2008 at 7:37 AM
As conservatives we can shout our principles from the rooftops, but it will take another disastrous democratic administration for non-conservatives to see the logic, and there will be many converts who don’t see the logic, they’re just willing to try something new. I think that’s pretty much what happened this year in reverse.
anniekc on November 18, 2008 at 7:49 AM
NR needs to purge now!
Only people who heart palin need apply for NR!
Squid Shark on November 18, 2008 at 7:50 AM
For years now, people I know have been saying that they’re liberal, but they live their lives as fiscal conservitives.
nope!!
percisely!
jerrytbg on November 18, 2008 at 7:51 AM
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