The root of the problem (Frum's confusion and resulting poorly argued articles and positions -JB), I think, is that Frum’s analysis of conservatism’s dilemma in 2008 has served him poorly. Frum’s ostensible purpose is to “build a conservatism that can win again.” But we already won, and did so by taking a very different route than that recommended by Frum.
A look at Frum’s 2008 book Comeback helps to measure the distance we’ve traveled in two years. In Comeback, Frum warns against reviving a “more principled” Reagan-style conservatism — as the Tea Party has just done, with great success. “Most Americans [want] the federal government to spend more rather than tax less,” said Frum in 2008. On issues like health care and the environment, Frum declared, “conservatives find themselves on the less popular side of the great issues of the day.” I rule the article a TKO in the second round to the victor, Kurtz!
Thanks JB.
Thank you for your post!
Frum is dead to me, and I love Stanley Kurtz!
Frum has no principles, but Kurtz has ‘em coming out of so many different bodily orifices that it ain’t funny.