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The Spectacle Blog
In response to the frenzied anticipation for David Frum’s debut novel Patriots (available in paperback May 7, so start pitching your tents outside Borders!) the Huffington Post has been serializing Frum’s cheeky Washington satire online. Today HuffPo features, on its exclusive left-hand column, part 5 of Mr. Frum’s entry into the arts and letters, and one of the characters seems surprisingly familiar. While devoted Frum-philes obsess over the similarities between the artist and his central literary creation “Walter” (a moderate Republican opinion blogger for mainstream news sites, or something) a colorful supporting character named “Freddy Catesby” caught my eye:
“So you are probably wondering: Why has Freddy Catesby invited me to lunch? Freddy Catesby, the founder of the Constitutional Review, Patriot News guest host, and bestselling author! Freddy Catesby: who has known U.S. presidents, who has entertained a British prime minister in his home, and who — people say — once dated the Princess of Wales. And it’s this same Freddy Catesby who is taking me out to lunch. Why? It’s the most natural question in the world! It’s exactly what I’d be wondering if I were sitting in your chair.”
The waiter filled Catesby’s wine glass, then looked questioningly at me. What the hell. I nodded yes.
“To understand why I invited you, you have to understand me. I’m not only the founder of Constitutional Review, although I’m proud of my role in launching the magazine. You know that Time magazine called us the most influential political magazine in the country on our 10th anniversary? I’ll put you on the list for our 30th anniversary dinner next month as my guest, I’ll put you at my table.
No, no, don’t thank me — it’s my pleasure.
“All those things I’ve accomplished, all the awards and accolades — they mean nothing to me. I live for my principles, not for recognition. What I care about is fighting the Kultursmog. You know I coined the term?”
Quite the honor. As the late Dorothy Kilgallen once quipped, “You’re nobody in this town until you’ve been skewered by Frum!”
View all comments (19) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Patrick Howley
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Martin | 4.27.12 @ 2:15PM
This is completely incomprehensible, and I regard myself as reasonably knowledgeable about the conservative literary world. Who is it satirizing? Not NR, founded in 1955, and TAS was founded in 1967. What was founded in 1982-83?
I always find Frum obnoxious and leftist; presumably this is more of the same.
Humphrey Dumfries | 4.27.12 @ 4:16PM
Martin, please see R. Emmett Tyrrell's response to the first question ("What is Kultursmog?") in this interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utf_dw7mzNI
Crassus| 4.27.12 @ 2:30PM
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
W| 4.27.12 @ 2:34PM
I think he is satirizing R. Emmet Tyrell, who uses the term Kultursmog.
Derek Leaberry| 4.27.12 @ 3:36PM
For you youngsters, R. Emmet Tyrell invented the very apt term Kulturesmog. Unfortunately, half of those who call themselves "conservative" have surrendered to the Kulturesmog or are a vital part of it.
Jack in Wi.| 4.27.12 @ 3:48PM
I think a lot more then half, especially including Frum.
C Bowen | 4.27.12 @ 6:54PM
Frum hired this college kid to write for his forum, one Alex Knepper. Turned out Knepper had a published libertine position on, well, boy-man relations.
(AmSpec's own John Guardiano defended Alex)
Frum defended the guy too--until he had no choice but to fire him. Which is proof there are limits to Frum's depravity.
Clint| 4.27.12 @ 4:18PM
Frum Is Another One Of These NeoCon Israel Firster Canuck Boat People,Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain.
" In the book, Republicans are thinly disguised as “Constitutionalists” and Democrats as “Nationalists.” Gen. George Pulaski, a maverick moderate conservative war-hero president—think John McCain melded with Mitt Romney—has just been elected to replace a one-term black liberal president, Monroe Williams. The country is mired in economic malaise and a war with drug lords in Mexico. The conservative fundamentalists in the Constitutionalist party turn on the new president when he wants to raise taxes to cover budget shortfalls and pay for the war effort."
Laine| 4.27.12 @ 5:00PM
Ugh. Frum has reverted to his dead mother's very leftward orientation. She was what passed for a media culture maven in Canada. Frum Jr.'s bitterness at being turfed from conservative heights he reached writing for (the not so conservative George W. Bush) by his own missteps has been taking potshots at real conservatives ever since while posing as one himself. So he's the worst kind of lefty - a dishonest one doing as much damage as he can behind conservative lines. Wonder how this plays with his wife who is the daughter of a real Canadian Conservative worthy named Peter Worthington, ex editor of the most conservative newspaper in Canada? Guess she's copacetic with whatever puts food on the table, even betrayal of a cause they both supposedly supported...
Seek| 4.27.12 @ 7:29PM
Frum may well have an ulterior motive. Or it may be -- yes, it sometime happens -- that he has Second Thoughts. The process works from Right to Left, not just from Left to Right.
Humphrey Dumfries | 4.27.12 @ 4:19PM
"What is Kultursmog, you ask? Kultursmog is political culture of our country, which is besmogged by the left wing point of view. It pollutes everything it settles on—and it settles on a great deal. It's the one pollutant that the liberals never say anything against. But I, as an environmentalist of sorts, have done my best to speak out about and vanquish Kultursmog, but for now, it's out there—and we need to deal with it." - R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.
Bill| 4.27.12 @ 4:35PM
Veep short list:
1. Bob McDonald: the South
2. Jeb Bush: Sunshine Guru
3. kelly Ayotte: Women votes
4. Mitch Daniel: Rush-Belt fiscal hawk
5. Chris Chritie: Straight talker, no apology
Rob Portman, Pat Toomey, macro Rubio do not want the VP job.
My pick: Kelly Ayotte
Why: GOP must win the women votes.
Rick V.| 4.27.12 @ 4:41PM
"Jeb Bush: Sunshine Guru." Thanks Bill. Honestly, I cannot understand the accolades heaped upon Jeb. Maybe they're justified, maybe not. But, love 'em or hate 'em, this is not the time for another Bush to lead this country ... at a time when we need a leader most.
Laine| 4.27.12 @ 5:05PM
The Bush name has successfully been made toxic as nuclear waste at the federal level for Jeb Bush's lifetime by the Left. It doesn't matter whether he is in fact "the smarter brother". Anyone who chose that kind of ball and chain as VP would be a fool. This would be like trying to foist an Obama sibling on conservative voters in a couple of terms.
Quartermaster| 4.30.12 @ 6:29PM
For myself, I don't see anyone on that list worth having. We need Toomey in the Senate, assuming he doesn't "grow" in the job. As for the rest, if they were on fire, I'd pull up a chair and watch the show. Ain't none of them conservative.
No matter who we get this time around, the outcome is gonna be the same. The country is finished.
Jack in Wi.| 4.27.12 @ 4:43PM
Bill: That has to be the worst bunch of losers on the face of the Earth. I mean Jeb Bush? What happened to your former hero's Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry? It seems to me Perry would at least balance the ticket geographically. Of course he is as inarticulate and dumb as Romney. But he may be able to debate the senile dementia patient Biden, in a debate, and possibly win.
Laine| 4.27.12 @ 5:08PM
Inarticulate does not mean dumb. Conversely, articulate as Obama is constantly described (meaning he reads a teleprompter well) does not equate with smart as Obama is without a doubt the most ignorant POTUS of all time but with cracker jack media fixers. Obama and Biden are Dumb and Dumber.
JmsA| 4.27.12 @ 8:02PM
Obama is articulate?
NCW| 4.27.12 @ 5:57PM
Pitch your tents outside Borders? Good luck finding one, a Borders, that is.