Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
David Frum, a speechwriter for President George W. Bush, has become known in recent years less for what he's contributed to conservatism and more for his falling away from right-of-center thinking. It was not that long ago that he wrote conservatives who opposed the Iraq War out of the movement, rather memorably headlined "Unpatriotic Conservatives."
But when other people started wondering whether he was accurately called a conservative, he didn't take it so well.
At first. He claimed he lost his salary from right-of-center think tank as part of an ideological purge.
I'm not entirely sure that it was Frum's politics that hurt the relationship, so much as his lack of output. Still, it was somewhat sad that the purger had become the purged.
But in an interesting turn of events, Frum did quite an honorable thing and voluntarily resigned his position as the "conservative" on Marketplace, the American Public Media radio show that discusses business and economics. He'd long been the "conservative" counterpoint to former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.
Well, whereas Reich is a solid liberal -- and then some -- Frum fits the media template of a conservative. Meaning, he's not that conservative. Even as a media critic, I don't bother fighting this common situation -- where two moderates represent conservatives and two liberals represent liberals and it's called a balanced roundtable.
Frum conceded this week, though, that he is "not very representative of the conservative mainstream" on "the issues that today most passionately divide Americans." "I can't deny that there is something false about the situation," he wrote, adding that conservatives are "entitled to hear somebody articulate that view as well as it can be articulated."
And he stepped down.
I admire this move immensely, even if I wonder how out-of-touch the management at Marketplace must be to have to be told by the guy they're paying that he's not the right guy for the job.
But this leaves an opening. Who do you think should replace Frum? I'll add my nomination below.
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Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
OK. I nominate Timothy P. Carney, the wonderful right-of-center columnist at the Washington Examiner. He focuses on economic issues, having written Obamanomics and other critiques of crony capitalism. He is knowledgeable about economic policy, the role that corporations play in crafting legislation, and was well-trained by Robert Novak to be skeptical of everything. He's a great journalist and would make for a fun addition to the team.
Oct '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Richard Fernandez of the Belmont Club. ;)
Edited on October 14, 2011 at 3:40pmOct '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Well, my opinion of Frum has improved.
Jun '11
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Agreed. He's a worthy heir to the Prince of Darkness.
Sep '11
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
I'd go with Amity Shlaes.
Feb '11
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
For a business program, I would nominate former BB&T CEO John Allison
Sep '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
I have rarely heard this program, but I will make a guess on the basis of a counterpoint to Robert Reich, who I think is only marginally to the right of Trotsky (a Menshevik rather than a Bolshevik?). But Reich is more of a professor than a politician.
So taking that into account, my pick would be John Lott. More professorial than political, interesting ideas, pretty far to the right without being in the John Birch Society. A worthy counterpoint to Reich. Another benefit is that this is a radio program which means that you will not be mesmerized by Mr. Lott's strange eyebrows while he talks.
Feb '11
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
David Frum was never a conservative in the American tradition. Rather, he was always more philosophically alligned with Canadian conservatism, which until recently was offically called "Progressive Conservatism". His views on health care and social spending, for example, come right out the Candian playbook, which is virtually unassailable up here.
Mar '11
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Thomas Sowell or Walter Williams
Jul '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Yes, Walter Williams. Perfect.
Jul '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Dr. Walter E. Williams
Apr '11
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Mark Steyn
May '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Marketplace, a radio program about business on a network that doesn't compete in the marketplace and whose affiliates are funded by panhandling. Yeah.
Edited on October 14, 2011 at 4:36pmFeb '11
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Russ Roberts of George Mason and EconTalk fame.
Dec '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
I'd suggest Peter Schiff, but he's too busy being one of the evil rich.
Jul '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
I second the Walter E. Williams and Thomas Sowell nominations and add Arthur Laffer to the list.
Sep '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
I think you're completely right. In the same vein, I believe that Christopher Hitchens (a fan of whom I've been for decades and who is friends with Frum) is a freedom fighter in the Anglo sense rather than the American sense, which I also think he recognizes by referring to himself as an Anglo-American. Fine with me. I think it's genuine, perfectly good, and apt. I do think, though, that it belies the fact that his political orientation, though a mix of New World and Old World perspectives, relies on a rather heavier dose of the latter. Off topic, I know.
Oct '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
I second er, rather 'fourth,' Walter E. Williams.
Off-topic, but Mark Steyn was recently on Dennis Miller's radio show, and they made a good team, both funny and playing off each other. I'd like to see them work together more. E.g. when Steyn said others in radio should follow his model of discussing civilizational collapse, tempered by coverage of music, musicals and movies, Miller commented roughly, 'Yeah, instead of 'Annie Get Your Gun,' everyone get your gun.
Edited on October 16, 2011 at 3:54amOct '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
Many good to great suggestions above, but my nomination is Don Luskin,co-author of "I Am John Galt" - http://www.iamjohngalt.com/ - and a superb business and political pundit. See also http://www.trendmacro.com, Kudlow, WSJ, NR, etc.
Aug '10
Re: Frum Admits He's Not Conservative, Calls For Replacement
I wish I could "like" this suggestion twice. Carney's staunch libertarianism is a perfect counterpart to Robert "corporatism made flesh and sent to dwell among us" Reich.
FWIW, Carney is campaigning for the slot.