The American Spectator

Red Phillips| 3.9.09 @ 4:07PM

I think a friend and I were responsible for coining the term paleo sympathetic, but I may be wrong. I'm claiming the credit until someone corrects me. :-)

Anyway, I agree. Rightward criticism of the movement must sound ... well ... rightward. Otherwise paleos, moderates, reformists, and libs all start to sound alike. This can not be wise. In this case, the enemy (moderates) of my "enemy" (the movement) is not my friend. They are even more of an enemy than the movement we already judge to be unfaithful to authentic conservatism.

Interloper| 3.9.09 @ 5:04PM

A typical passive-aggressive column from Lil' Jimmy Antle. Frum is doing what he needs to do to maintain relevance in 2009. Unlike the troglodytes of the American Spectator, he has no illusion that a party that is able to meet in Katon Dawson or Jim Antle's all-white country club can stand any chance of winning elections. A major presence that is costing conservatives any credibility in the mainstream even as we speak is the yammering maw of one Rush Limbaugh. Rejection of said gaping orifice is key to restoring the GOP to any semblance of legitimacy.

W. James Antle III| 3.9.09 @ 5:52PM

Actually, the New Majority seems to be aimed at increasing the party's appeal among the kind of upper-income, educated whites who might belong to country clubs. But I'm so happy to read of smearing anonymous commenter guy's sincere interest in "restoring the GOP." We'll all be listening to your advice real soon now!

Red Phillips| 3.9.09 @ 6:03PM

That right. All us little people in fly-over country that Frum thinks are icky are more likely to attend a Monster Truck Rally than join a country club.

Jeff| 3.9.09 @ 6:18PM

The only party in the last election with openly racists individuals was the Democrats ...

For those commenters that ignore the diversity in the GOP and at the same time ignore the racism and openly anti-Jewish members among the Democratic interest groups is simply ignorant and brings nothing but bad faith arguments to the table ...

I'd bet that more members of Obamas cabinet belong to a country club than Bush's last cabinet ...

The Democrats have been the party of the guilty rich and the slacker poor for several cycles now ...

Basil Plumley| 3.9.09 @ 6:41PM

Frum had his 15 minutes of fame with the "Axis of Evil" line. He has become part of the Condescending Right; folks who know more and what is best for us. They act out of self-interest rather than principle. Folks who see a greater threat from Sarah Palin than Obama.

Ironically, Interloper is still waiting for his 15 minutes of fame. A hint: your posts aren't doing it.

Interloper| 3.9.09 @ 6:48PM

I said "restoring the GOP." I guess Lil' Jimmy Antle can't read, including reading election data, or he would know the well-educated professional class voted largely for President Obama.

I invite Jeff to describe "the diversity of the GOP." He should take all the space he needs, though I know a couple of sentences will be sufficient. Fewer than three percent of minority office holders are Republicans. The overwhelming majority of people of color supported President Obama and the Democratic Party in the recent national elections. North Carolina and Virginia, partly courtesy of minority voters, may be the vanguard of the failure of the GOP's racist Southern Strategy. Those facts tell the story in a very colorful way.

Saying the GOP is diverse is the political equivalent of vaporware. It is also ironic coming from people who are eager to drive remaining Republicans who are not backward enough to suit them out of the party. Frum is among those Antle and his merry band of misanthropes seek to force out.

Mrs. Jackson| 3.9.09 @ 7:04PM

Clearly from the way he writes, David Frum believes people listen to him.

Who does he think he is? Rush Limbaugh?

Basil Plumley| 3.9.09 @ 7:12PM

Typical Interloper; noun, verb, racism.

I guess you can tell us which political party is taking vouchers away from Black children and forcing them to go to "scary" public schools.
Perhaps, you can tell us which current administration is looking the other way with regard to Human Rights so that China will buy more debt.
Enlighten us as to which political party stayed in power via Jim Crow Laws, lynching, as well as slavery.
The only thing missing at your Convention in Denver; torches.

Nice strawman argument Loopy. Like I said earlier; your posts aren't making it.

Red Phillips| 3.9.09 @ 7:13PM

I think that Interloper's constant and obsessive resort to PC grandstanding (He did it here in the second reply even though it was not at all germane to the post) betrays his own insecurity on racial issues. He is essentially repeating mantra like "I'm not a racist. I'm not a racist. Look at me. I'm denouncing racists. See, that proves I'm not a racist, right?"

Go see a therapist Interloper, and leave the rest of us alone.

ruth| 3.9.09 @ 7:40PM

Maybe we can start up a 'Get Interlooper Psychiatric Help' fund. I'd chip in some cash, for sure. With any luck, they'll lock him up.

W. James Antle III| 3.9.09 @ 8:17PM

Ah, yes. I'd already fixed the typo. And yes, if Interloper's own reading skills were so great he would know I've written quite a bit about upper-class white support for Obama. But clearly there is something deficient about my intellect -- I bother to spend time arguing with a child who posts under a fake name.

ruth| 3.9.09 @ 8:29PM

Evil child.

Red Phillips| 3.9.09 @ 8:36PM

Since Interloper's entire project seems to be to create a track record to demonstrate that he is oh so un-racist so he can feel better about himself, then you would think he would be proud to post in his own name.

PCP Smoker| 3.9.09 @ 8:39PM

Well, that's the problem. Paleos want/ wanted to make the party even more conservative. Frum and his ilk, use the "X-conservative" approach, where x stands for some liberal policy or the other.
For example, Rod Dreher, a Limp-paw hater, created "Crunchy Conservatism", which was paternalistic environmentalism and antigrowth policies under the heading of conservatism. Similarly, "Wallmart Conservatives", is Drohat's way of pushing for New Deal policies under the conservative banner. Frum's explanation of his four points were, essentially, give in to global warming, give in to socialist healthcare, give in to high taxes.
So basically, if we adopt liberalism and learn to love the McCains, the Bushes -father and the idiot son, Bob Dole and, the infamous, Bob Micheals, then we can win again. Do notice that all of those guys, absent Bush the idiot, were and remain losers.

ruth| 3.9.09 @ 8:46PM

PCP, lots of clarity in your post. Not bad for a PCP smoker; do you still have your teeth, too?

Jeremiah| 3.9.09 @ 8:52PM

What I honestly don't understand is why people seem unable to handle ANY criticism of Limbaugh, no matter how thoughtful or well-intentioned.

Limbaugh has become, it seems, like Palin, more of a symbol. And people will do anything to protect their symbols and whatever aspects of their identity are bound up in them.

jaa1169| 3.9.09 @ 9:06PM

Limbaugh has become, it seems, like Palin, more of a symbol. And people will do anything to protect their symbols and whatever aspects of their identity are bound up in them.

Sounds like the messiah , OBAMA. Right now, getting on my knees and kissing his a@@, giving up all my money, to support his socialist views

CH| 3.9.09 @ 10:41PM

Conservatives can't handle criticism of Limbaugh-- this drivel coming from the 'Obama knee-pad twins', Interloopy and Jeremiah (could they be one and the same?). Gosh almighty libturd twins, that's a knee-slapper!

Ran| 3.9.09 @ 10:43PM

Red... I'm more likely to pick-up a Garand and attend Camp Perry competition. Something about punching a third of an inch hole in paper within a ten inch circle at three hundred yards is far, far more satisfying than reading Davy Frum's latest.

I see the "middle" differently. Quite a few - possibly the significant portion - are waiting for "good ideas" from the Left and the Right both to emerge. Some will vote with us, when we convince them of the advantages of our view. That, if memory serves, was what created "Reagan Democrats": Offer up better ideas, and they will reward one with enough votes at the pols.

We tried the recipes offered-up by the Frums and the "moderates", and lo-and-behold, not only did the Conservative base stay home, but the "middles" voted for the one guy promoting tax-cuts. Why didn't we think of that??

We don't need another liberal in a bad suit selling us on the idea that he's a "conservative". What we need is a Conservative in a bad hair-cut selling the many advantages of libertarian-conservative policy. The "middle" will ignore the hair-cut and stare at their wallets and their week-end gear and vote appropriately.

kenworth| 3.9.09 @ 10:44PM

Winning elections like who? Bob Michael ,
Gerald Ford,these guys not only spent 30 years in
the minority the dems had them believing that
they DESERVED to be there. Frum and Brooks
should go back to their fetal position until further notice.

ruth| 3.10.09 @ 12:02AM

Red--LOL. You crack me up.

Alan Brooks| 3.10.09 @ 12:12AM

Interloper revealed his crypto-antisemitism in writing "wondering jew" but perhaps the wittle troll meant to write "wandering" instead.
so from now on we can use his hate-sentiments against him.

HE HAS BEEN OUTED!

ruth| 3.10.09 @ 2:09AM

Pooper knew just what he meant. Stupid play on words. Loser.

whiterb| 3.10.09 @ 9:52AM

He mentioned middle class income stayed flat the last eight years. Some of you know it alls might address this matter.Or does the middle class getting screwed, now stand as another holy sacrament for the conservative movements. Nothing gets Rushy more riled up than a minimum wage increase.

N. P. West| 3.15.09 @ 9:37AM

I think what is missed in this exchange is that there is an actual "alternative Right" to the Frum moderates, the neocons, the Religious Right, the Rush Limbaugh/Fox News/Ann Coulter mainstream, and even the paleocons.

Look at the blogging over at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's "First Principles" and "Front Porch Republic" which is edited by Allan Carlson, Rod Dreher, and Daniel Larison. With these two blogs a more Kirkian traditionalist conservatism is emerging that is questioning the direction of conservatism in this country. Dreher, along with Ross Douthat at the New York Times, represent a new generation of traditionalists who echo the arguments posed by the Distributists, the Southern Agrarians, T.S. Eliot, Russell Kirk, Richard Weaver, and Robert Nisbet. How many conservatives have ever heard of these eminent figures or ever cared about what they had to say about economics, politics, and foreign policy? As long as the conservative movement remains en thrall to libertarian economics and individualism and a neocon foreign policy things won't change. The time is now to listen to alternative arguments.