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"Frumming" Down The GOP Field

By Aaron Goldstein on 8.15.11 @ 3:33PM

John Guardiano takes David Frum to task for stating that Michele Bachmann does not qualify for the Oval Office.

Well, if one reads through Frum's piece, Bachmann isn't the only Republican who he deems unfit to be President. He writes, "Disenchanted Republicans have shopped for a credible alternative to Romney. Ron Paul, Sarah Palin, Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann obviously do not qualify."

As for Rick Perry, Frum writes that he "may have what it takes." Okay, that sounds promising. But Frum's very next paragraph reads, "Perry has weaknesses: Brains-wise, he is not exactly the sharpest pencil in the packet." Needless to say, I don't think the Perry campaign is going to be seeking an endorsement from Frum anytime soon. In fact, it seems that Frum is at pains to dumb down the GOP field. Or should I say "Frum down"?

Now, of course, Frum is entitled to his opinion. But the things which are obvious to Frum aren't necessarily obvious to Republican voters in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina nor for that matter to independent voters across the country who are fed up with President Obama.

View all comments (23) | Leave a comment

thirteen28| 8.15.11 @ 3:42PM

"Perry has weaknesses: Brains-wise, he is not exactly the sharpest pencil in the packet."

Translation: I went to Harvard and Perry only went to Texas A&M.

FU, Frum.

simon templar| 8.15.11 @ 4:26PM

Thirteen, you stole the words right our of my mouth..ditto!
Let me add no one is stupid or lacks brains who is a third term governor presiding over the largest state in the union. The guy is certainly not dumb..you may not agree with his politics, but not dumb.

Ditto, FU Frum, you damn elitist know nothing snob!

Al Adab| 8.15.11 @ 4:58PM

Rats! An Aggie? How sad. I thought he was OK before. Hook 'em Horns.

Occam's Tool| 8.15.11 @ 5:16PM

Aggies. Yes, Aggies....

This Frog Cannot Restrain...
The Inevitable Refrain....

Texas Armadillo and Mustaches University,
Where the Men Nonsense Bellow,
And The Women are so thir-ir-stee,
College Station is a Hole,
Nights feel like Months readily,
Where the Radiation Glows,
Giving multiple limbs so easily...
Makes me glad I went, you know,
To Cowtown University!

Thank you very much. Texas A & M is known for its two nuclear research reactors on Campus, plus Research on the Attwatter Prairie Chicken. For more data on the Attwater Prairie Chicken research at A & M, download Riff-Trax's "Unto the Least of These." It is, basically, one long, involved, Aggie Joke.

Actually, I'd vote for Perry if he was the Candidate, no question. Aggies are alright, even if I whomped them, personally, in College Bowl in 1984.

Al Adab| 8.15.11 @ 5:30PM

Of course A&M was smart enough to gobble up Island Univ. at Corpus. Aside from the weather that is some campus.

Occam's Tool| 8.15.11 @ 7:44PM

Indeed (Medical School University of Texas.)

BD57| 8.15.11 @ 3:55PM

For a Republican to have "brains," he (or she) has to agree with Frum.

Al Adab| 8.15.11 @ 4:59PM

W went to Yale, but that couldn't count as he was "wrong" on the issues. It is all subjective.

Derek Leaberry| 8.15.11 @ 4:29PM

I think David Frum and his little pack of acolytes meeting at his tree-fort on Foxhall Road would have problems with most Republican politicians unwilling to jettison cultural conservatives, the religious and the Tea Party. Frum's merry band is certainly in the Romney column with Huntsman as the back-up choice.

For a man who wishes to make waves in the Republican Party, David Frum and his blog attract a largely left-wing following not much different from the following found on the Daily Kos. Thus, Frum has created his own tiny ghetto of anti-conservative conservatives whose only allies are to the left.

Al Adab| 8.15.11 @ 4:45PM

All this means is that The Left considers qualifications to be completely subjective. A qualitiative list would likely include the right college, correct PC views, belief in central planned economy; certainly not anything like executive or military leadership experience.

Occam's Tool| 8.15.11 @ 5:19PM

And obviously, the Best President of the Twentieth Century went to an affiliate of TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY! (Eureka College.) As mentioned in his 1980 Film at the RNC.

Wah, Wah, Zoo, Zoo!
Give 'em Hell, TCU!

Sorry. Verklempt. Forgive me.

Al Adab| 8.15.11 @ 5:27PM

Go Horned Frogs.

Occam's Tool| 8.15.11 @ 7:43PM

Thank you, Al.

jim| 8.15.11 @ 4:53PM

Why does anyone listen to or read Frum? He is as much a conservative as LaRouche is a Democrat, that is he calls himself one but his actions/remarks do not track that declaration.
Therefore, ignore Frum and perhaps he will return back to the cocktail party from which he deigned to leave in order to make his learned pronouncements such as this one.

David W| 8.15.11 @ 4:55PM

As a long-time Texan (almost a native, my Mom's fault that she couldn't wait another year before having me) I'm not 100% a fan of Perry. However, I belive that Perry is without a doubt better qualified as President that the current occupant (the current occupant isn't qualified to ask me "paper or plastic").

Conservative Bob| 8.15.11 @ 5:24PM

ROTFLMAO.... but you are absolutely correct in that everyone who has bagged my groceries has at least had a job in the privite sector...

Solo| 8.15.11 @ 5:20PM

Well....I proclaim to Frum that Rick Perry has better SAT's, a higher IQ and a better QPA in college than Obama did!

Could he dispute that?

LOL!

Occam's Tool| 8.15.11 @ 7:43PM

I did.

c. j. acworth| 8.15.11 @ 6:40PM

What I'd like to know is why we are supposed to place such high value on grades earned in school. After all, we've had the benefit of rule by an Ivy League grad for the last couple of years, and how has that worked out for us?

I Survived Arlen Specter| 8.15.11 @ 6:48PM

Frum(p) is inconsequential & a founder of the useless group of RINOs known as "No Labels". Frum(p), like most RINOs would like nothing more than a continued blurring of the lines between conservatism & modern leftism. Like the infamous RINO from my hometown Michael Smerconish, Frum(p) sees conservatism & conservative ideas as a barrier to the "No Labels" brand of faux conservatism moving forward & gaining traction & would love to see the conservative movement replaced by "No Labels" merry band of unprincipled jellyfish who will continue to elect pathetic leaders like our current Tiger Woods wanna-be who currently takes up useful space in the Oval Office. Ignore Frum(p). He is about as useful as a catflap in an outhouse.

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 8.15.11 @ 8:02PM

ISAS: Yeah that "No Labels" wave is just really washing across the Country, huh? It should get here any day now!! It's making the Tea Party look like a bunch of beginners, with they way they're changing the culture in Washington. Ha!! This Frum is a loser, his No Labels campaign is a joke, and nobody should listen to a word he says ever again. FU-Frum!!

Lesser Weevil| 8.15.11 @ 7:50PM

David who?

Timothy L. Pennell| 8.16.11 @ 7:18AM

Rick Perry isn't smart. He's not the sharpest pencil in the pack.
Abraham Lincoln is considered by many, if not most, to have been our Greatest President. He was never considered to be "the sharpest pencil in the pack".
When he went up against Stephan Douglas, in debate, he was given NO CHANCE, by the David Frums of the world. There weren't any Chris Mathews, back then, to admit to WETTING THEMSELVES, at the sound of his voice.
Lincoln was not the FIRST Speaker, that day in Gettysburg. The first speaker was someone David Frum would swoon over, if he were alive, today. And, he went on and on and on and on and on. And, I'm sure lots of big words were used. Perhaps, even some FRENCH.
Lincoln spoke next. Reading from a small piece of paper, that he took from his pocket, I believe.
The "Not that bright" Lincoln spoke for just a moment. His words, chosen carefully, and spoken from the heart. This Backwoods Dolt, had just given one of the Greatest Speeches, ever given. His fellow speaker was so touched, that he asked Lincoln for a copy, noting that: Nobody would remember what he had said, in the hours long speech that he had given, but that, Lincoln's speech would be remembered, always.
This DULL PENCIL, Freed the Slaves, and Saved the Union.
We have a man in the White House, who thinks he's the SECOND COMING. He's the SMARTEST guy who's ever been elected President. His I.Q. is "Off the Chart". (Just don't ask anyone what his I.Q. actually is, because "I have no idea") He's got a fine crease in his slacks. The "Cut of his Jib" is out of this world. And he can READ from a Teleprompter, what OTHER PEOPLE WROTE, like nobody's business. He went to Colombia. He went to Harvard. He knows all the big words.
He is DESTROYING this Country.
Go figure.
Eh, David?