FrumForum | Building a Conservatism that can win again

Would the Real Birthers Please Stand Up?

When the first GOP presidential debate gets held, there's one question that should be asked as preliminary screening to separate the sane from the cynical or crazy. When the first Republican presidential debate gets held, there is one question that should be asked by the moderator to perform …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday March 29, 2011

For GOP Nominee: 2012 Win Won't be Enough

Any Republican running for president must focus not just on winning in 2012, but doing so in a manner that leaves them positioned to govern in 2013. Any Republican contemplating running for president in 2012 has two formidable obstacles: November 2012 and what happens starting January 2013. For …

Written by Fred Bauer on Friday March 25, 2011

Pawlenty Aces His Screen Test

Tim Pawlenty's new exploratory committee video looks sleek and smart and modern, which is by the way how the Republican party ought to look. How much do I like this Tim Pawlenty exploratory video? I like it a lot. Let me count the ways: I like the way Pawlenty talks …

Written by David Frum on Monday March 21, 2011

T-Paw: The Generic GOP Choice?

The Kristol-Barbour falling out is getting all the headlines, but the real story is Pawlenty’s falling in with Bill Kristol. Real Clear Politics offers a clear summation of the Kristol-Barbour spat. But it's easy to read this story upside down. The real news here is not the Kristol-Barbour …

Written by David Frum on Friday March 18, 2011

What Carville Gets Wrong (and Right)

James Carville may be a homer for the Democrats, but give the devil his due: he's willing to admit when he gets it wrong. James Carville will never be a favorite of mine. His willingness to go on television and slander women who told true things about Bill Clinton had that ship sail along time …

Written by John Vecchione on Thursday March 17, 2011

Palin Slides Among Republicans

The latest ABC/Washington Post poll shows that Palin's unfavorable numbers with Republican voters are at an all-time high. The Hill reports : Palin's unfavorable numbers with Republicans are at an all-time high in the new ABC/Washington Post poll released Wednesday, which shows other top …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday March 16, 2011

Watch Frum: Walker Will Be a Hero to GOP Governors

On The Last Word , Frum and host Lawrence O'Donnell discuss Newt's appeal to values voters and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's future. Wednesday night, David Frum appeared on MSNBC's The Last Word . Frum and host Lawrence O'Donnell discussed whether probable GOP presidential candidate Newt …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Thursday March 10, 2011

Newt's Family Values Problem

Gingrich's personal life has been and will be politically lethal. But it's not the infidelity. It's the arrogance, hypocrisy, and (most horrifying to women) the cruelty. Pete Wehner tries to assess how much past marital infidelity will hurt Newt Gingrich's presidential chances. Many of the …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday March 8, 2011

Pawlenty: GOP Nominee by Default?

Pawlenty would be a fine president. Yet, I've never met anyone enthusiastic about him. Can he reach the presidency with everyone saying, "He's fine, he'll do"? Jonathan Chait reasons his way to Pawlenty as the most plausible GOP nominee for 2012. Chait is applying the Sherlock Holmes methods: …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday March 8, 2011

How to Sell Your Divorce to Values Voters

Like Newt Gingrich, former Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer is on his third marriage. But Roemer has a unique strategy for explaining his marital history. Byron York has a hilarious account of Buddy Roemer's speech to the Faith and Freedom coalition in Waukee, Iowa. The former Louisiana governor …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday March 8, 2011

The Prowl: The Politics of Infidelity

Newt Gingrich has had three marriages and an affair. Does his stance on social issues make these private matters fair game in the public arena? As many of you are aware, this week Newt Gingrich announced that he is sort of maybe running for president. He’ll let us all know; but he is definitely …

Written by Vivian Darkbloom on Friday March 4, 2011

Talk Radio's Love Affair with Christie

Why is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie the heartthrob of the talk radio right while Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is suddenly an intolerable RINO? Laura Ingraham this week criticized New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for his apparent intention to sit-out the 2012 presidential campaign. She …

Written by Jay Gatsby on Thursday March 3, 2011

Fox's 2012 Presidential Bracket

Today, Fox News decided to suspend Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum until they decide on presidential bids. But why only single out these two contributors? It would be fascinating to know the process by which Fox News decided that Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are running for president, and …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday March 2, 2011

Overview for 2012-election