Entries

Any Room for Social Conservatives in the Vital Center?

After reading many of the contributions to yesterday's Frum Forum symposium on restoring centrist politics, it seems as if many proponents of centrism envision a movement with no room at all for social conservatives. I want to believe in some new "centrism", really, I do. But there's a …

Written by Orestes Brownson on Wednesday February 10, 2010

Andrew Sullivan and the Jews

I've managed to disagree with everything Andrew Sullivan has written about John Yoo without ever thinking Sullivan guilty of anti-Korean animus, and it should be equally possible to disagree with Sullivan about Israel these days without accusing him of anti-semitism. I've managed to disagree with …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday February 10, 2010

Andrew Sullivan and the Jews

I've managed to disagree with everything Andrew Sullivan has written about John Yoo without ever thinking Sullivan guilty of anti-Korean animus, and it should be equally possible to disagree with Sullivan about Israel these days without accusing him of anti-semitism. I've managed to disagree with …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday February 10, 2010

GOP Has Shortage of Moderates and New Ideas

While many have talked about the shrinking Republican tent when it comes to how it treats moderates, there is also a shrinking tent of ideas. As much as we make fun of Democrats for employing 1970s ideas to solve current issues, many in the GOP act like it's 1980 all over again. E.D.: You are …

Written by Dennis Sanders on Wednesday February 10, 2010

GOP Has Shortage of Moderates and New Ideas

While many have talked about the shrinking Republican tent when it comes to how it treats moderates, there is also a shrinking tent of ideas. As much as we make fun of Democrats for employing 1970s ideas to solve current issues, many in the GOP act like it's 1980 all over again. E.D.: You are …

Written by Dennis Sanders on Wednesday February 10, 2010

Bailing Out Greece is Just the Start

Reports suggest that Germany is preparing to lead a bailout of Greece amid speculation the Greeks could default on their government debt. The Euro-zone countries though should use this crisis to implement serious reforms to strengthen the European monetary union. If anyone wondered why the …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Wednesday February 10, 2010

Bailing Out Greece is Just the Start

Reports suggest that Germany is preparing to lead a bailout of Greece amid speculation the Greeks could default on their government debt. The Euro-zone countries though should use this crisis to implement serious reforms to strengthen the European monetary union. If anyone wondered why the …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Wednesday February 10, 2010

Paterson Won't Resign

New York Governor David Paterson shot down rumors that he was planning to resign at a press conference Tuesday, hoping to quash a controversy that has consumed Albany for several days. New York Governor David Paterson shot down rumors that he was planning to resign at a press conference …

Written by Richard Brownell on Wednesday February 10, 2010

Paterson Won't Resign

New York Governor David Paterson shot down rumors that he was planning to resign at a press conference Tuesday, hoping to quash a controversy that has consumed Albany for several days. New York Governor David Paterson shot down rumors that he was planning to resign at a press conference …

Written by Richard Brownell on Wednesday February 10, 2010

Escaping the Left/Right Straitjacket

F F Symposium: If the right is David Frum and the left is, say, Howard Zinn, count me as a conservative; if the right is Sarah Palin and the left is Bill Moyers then put me down as a liberal. American public opinion in almost every way we can measure bunches up toward the moderate middle. Yet …

Written by Bruce Bawer on Tuesday February 9, 2010

Escaping the Left/Right Straitjacket

F F Symposium: If the right is David Frum and the left is, say, Howard Zinn, count me as a conservative; if the right is Sarah Palin and the left is Bill Moyers then put me down as a liberal. American public opinion in almost every way we can measure bunches up toward the moderate middle. Yet …

Written by Bruce Bawer on Tuesday February 9, 2010

Voters Need to Support Their Local Moderate

F F Symposium: The public has to send the message that policy is more important than politics by supporting officials and candidates who argue from the center and are willing to reach compromises. American public opinion in almost every way we can measure bunches up toward the moderate middle. …

Written by Christine Todd Whitman on Tuesday February 9, 2010

Voters Need to Support Their Local Moderate

F F Symposium: The public has to send the message that policy is more important than politics by supporting officials and candidates who argue from the center and are willing to reach compromises. American public opinion in almost every way we can measure bunches up toward the moderate middle. …

Written by Christine Todd Whitman on Tuesday February 9, 2010

More Competitive Districts Could Restore Political Civility

F F Symposium: As long as Congressional incumbents are protected by partisan gerrymandering which gives most Democrats and Republicans safe seats, there is little incentive for politicians and their journalistic allies to appeal to swing voters. American public opinion in almost every way we …

Written by Michael Lind on Tuesday February 9, 2010

More Competitive Districts Could Restore Political Civility

F F Symposium: As long as Congressional incumbents are protected by partisan gerrymandering which gives most Democrats and Republicans safe seats, there is little incentive for politicians and their journalistic allies to appeal to swing voters. American public opinion in almost every way we …

Written by Michael Lind on Tuesday February 9, 2010

Developing a Centrist Consensus is Critical

F F Symposium: As the nation faces the consequences of its domestic spending policies, a centrist-driven effort to fundamentally reform entitlement spending and the tax code is the only answer to a growing domestic and international threat. American public opinion in almost every way we can …

Written by Steve Bell on Tuesday February 9, 2010

Developing a Centrist Consensus is Critical

F F Symposium: As the nation faces the consequences of its domestic spending policies, a centrist-driven effort to fundamentally reform entitlement spending and the tax code is the only answer to a growing domestic and international threat. American public opinion in almost every way we can …

Written by Steve Bell on Tuesday February 9, 2010

Focus on Coalitions Not Consensus

F F Symposium: Consensus is a political end in tribal societies; it is not and should not be an end in democratic societies. Liberal democracy requires contention, which in turn requires a real deliberation and coalitions that can actually govern. American public opinion in almost every way we …

Written by Mark Lilla on Tuesday February 9, 2010

Focus on Coalitions Not Consensus

F F Symposium: Consensus is a political end in tribal societies; it is not and should not be an end in democratic societies. Liberal democracy requires contention, which in turn requires a real deliberation and coalitions that can actually govern. American public opinion in almost every way we …

Written by Mark Lilla on Tuesday February 9, 2010

Sarah Takes on Wall Street

For how much longer will economic conservatives ignore Sarah Palin's anti-business rhetoric and continue to give her a free pass? The next time I say something negative about Sarah Palin and her Baghdad Bobs tell me to “go back to the Huffington Post,” please consider that they’re warming up to …

Written by Alex Knepper on Tuesday February 9, 2010