Entries

Preserving The Legacy Of A Radio Legend

The ancient Egyptians could scratch lines on a papyrus scroll, roll it up and put it in a jar in a dry cave--and 2,500 years later, the document would still be legible (assuming its discoverer could read ancient Egyptian). Modern technology is more impressive, but also more fragile. Celluloid …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 15, 2005

Gomery Makes Strange Bedfellows

What is it with these Liberals? When Fox News wants to come to Canada, they go on about the distinctive Canadian way of life and the perils of U.S.-style politics. Yet let one of their own get into trouble, and nationalism flies out the window: Suddenly Warren Kinsella and Sheila Copps are belting …

Written by David Frum on Monday February 7, 2005

The End Of The Transatlantic Affair

Over lunch at a Washington think-tank some time ago, a high-ranking German official told the room about his country's determination to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council. The reaction? From the Americans present, indifference verging on boredom. For the Europeans, though, it was as …

Written by David Frum on Monday January 31, 2005

Will A Rising Loonie Sink Martin's Ship?

What is Paul Martin thinking about as he jets around the planet? We can't know, but here's my guess: He's thinking about money. Not his own money -- as the old joke goes, Martin's fortune is big enough to look after itself -- but the unit of money itself, the once-pitiful, now mighty Canadian …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 25, 2005

It Was Always About Him

Review of "Here Be Dragons" by Peter C. Newman Not since George Brown has a Canadian journalist wielded such direct political power as Peter C. Newman did in his prime. His reporting helped destroy two prime ministers (Diefenbaker and Pearson) and contributed to creating a third (Pierre Trudeau). …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 18, 2005

Don't Worry About Running Out Of Oil

Two young men join the communist party in the 1930s. Years pass. They grow up, lose their illusions, leave the party and rejoin normal American life. More years pass. They achieve some intellectual renown, are offered teaching posts at major universities and settle into comfortable middle age. Then …

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 13, 2005

The Un's Tsunami Power Play

Disasters bring out both the best and worst in human nature. The tsunami that struck South Asia last week has inspired generosity and compassion in millions of people around the world. It has also created opportunities for profiteering and advantage-seeking -- and some of the very worst offenders …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 4, 2005

Gop, You Are Warned

No issue, not one, threatens to do more damage to the Republican coalition than immigration. There's no issue where the beliefs and interests of the party rank-and-file diverge more radically from the beliefs and interests of the party's leaders. Immigration for Republicans in 2005 is what crime …

Written by David Frum on Friday December 31, 2004

Ottawa Isn't Making It Easy To Have Children

Last week, I described the dangers posed by Canada's low fertility rate: 1.5, less than three-quarters the number necessary to replace the existing population. (That column can be found in the 2004 archive of my Web site, www.davidfrum.com.) This week, it's time to talk about answers. Children …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday December 28, 2004

Unto Canada, Too Few Children Are Born

Christians this week celebrate the most important birthday in the history of the world. Christmas is a glad event even for those of us not of Christian faith. And yet there is a hint of sadness in all these nativity scenes: For in our day-to-day secular context, nativity is becoming a rarer and …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday December 21, 2004

A Blow To Canada's Families

'We've had gay and lesbian marriages in six provinces for almost a year and society hasn't collapsed." So said NDP MP Bill Siksay in the House of Commons last week. You have to wonder: Isn't that setting the policy bar a little low? Normally, we expect a new government idea to pass a higher …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday December 14, 2004

Returning To The Fold

Is Canada rejoining the Western alliance? For a decade, the Chretien government seemed to take pride and pleasure in tweaking and teasing the United States and Britain. On issues ranging from border security to Iraq, Jean Chretien and foreign minister Bill Graham seemed to be auditioning for roles …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday December 7, 2004

Straight Talk From Harper's Tories

It's hard to figure out which bias is stronger in the Canadian press: its hatred of Stockwell Day or its enthusiasm for the late Yasser Arafat. Combine the two and you get quite an explosion -- as The Canadian Press proved with an almost heroically biased hit piece on Mr. Day last week. There …

Written by David Frum on Thursday December 2, 2004

Why Bush Is All Charm Now

WASHINGTON--George Bush's event planners have learned something from history. When Ronald Reagan spoke to Parliament in 1987, he was interrupted by heckling from the NDP benches led by Svend Robinson. That was almost two decades ago, but the lesson has been absorbed: A presidential visit offers …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 30, 2004

Powell's Loyalty The Real Issue

WASHINGTON - Colin Powell's resignation as Secretary of State was one of those surprises that should have come as no surprise at all. Foreign-policy Washington has been gossiping for a week now about the new consulting firm Powell and his top aide and best friend Richard Armitage will soon be …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 16, 2004

The Perils Of A Rising Loonie

News reports say that President Bush has accepted an invitation to visit Canada. This is good news -- a sign that the childish anti-Americanism of the Chretien years has been laid aside. It is news that comes just in time, for Canada now faces a stark new challenge from the United States: not war …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 9, 2004

Astonishing Night When America Chose The Strong Man

Election day began badly for the Republicans. At 1pm, the first exit polls began to circulate on the internet. They showed startling leads for John Kerry. Another round of polls circulated at 2, then a third a little past 4. True, there were peculiarities in these early exit poll numbers. One …

Written by David Frum on Thursday November 4, 2004

The Final Push

"Whatever it takes." - From George W.Bush's acceptance speech at the Republican Convention, September 2, 2004 "Not necessarily." - John Kerry's reply to Mr Bush's charge that Mr Kerry would have left Saddam Hussein in power, October 8, 2004 In case anybody needed reminding of what this US …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 2, 2004

The Case For George W. Bush

LetÕs start with the bad news. George Bush is not the most eloquent president in the history of the United States. HeÕs not the best-read either. Like most of us, heÕs riddled with flaws and imperfections. And heÕs made some mistakes as president. ThatÕs not unique either. The case for George …

Written by David Frum on Thursday October 28, 2004

The Wrong Man At The Wrong Time

I'm not going to waste time and space on an endorsement column. I am sure you already know who I am supporting in the 2004 U.S. presidential election and why. Instead, let me offer something more useful: a sober assessment of what a Kerry victory would mean and what consequences it might have. …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday October 26, 2004