Bartlett: End the Debt Ceiling

One consequence of the psychodrama over the debt ceiling is that we can now discuss how to remove it. In his column Bruce Bartlett reminds us that we have known since the 1950's that the debt ceiling doesn't reduce spending: While politicians and the general public believe that the debt limit …

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Written by FrumForum Editors on Monday August 1, 2011

Are the Birthers the Next Black Panthers?

Bruce Bartlett wonders if conservative elites today see the teabaggers, birthers and others as cannon fodder to promote larger conservative goals the same way liberal elites originally viewed extreme left groups in the 1960s. Bartlett's comparison is thought-provoking, but I think it fails for a …

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Written by David Frum on Wednesday September 2, 2009

Don't Despair Yet, Mr. Bartlett!

In a recent post , former Reagan aide Bruce Bartlett correctly noted that the Republican party seems dominated by extremists. But, Mr. Bartlett also ignores the many grown-ups still in the GOP who are trying to steer the party towards the center. In a recent post , former Reagan aide Bruce …

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Written by Dennis Sanders on Monday August 31, 2009

Being the Angry Party Will Keep GOP Out of Power

The way many conservatives see it, the way to win is not by emulating the no-drama strategy of the Obama campaign, but rather the hard-nosed, foul-mouthed Chicago tactics of Rahm Emanuel circa 2005 and 2006 . But this strategy will not work for the GOP. Bruce Bartlett, as always, is a fascinatin…

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Written by Thomas J. Marier on Monday August 31, 2009