Rupublicans can learn from Canadian Conservatives: David Frum

[Valdez]

Debate about how to rebuild Republican support in a post-George W. Bush world is healthy and important for the party, but there's no need to talk about reforming Canada's conservative movement, commentator David Frum said Wednesday.

Frum launched a maelstrom of debate among American Republicans two weeks after penning a Newsweek magazine cover story that attacked the divisive rhetoric of popular and influential radio personality Rush Limbaugh.

In the story headlined "Why Rush is Wrong," Frum argued Limbaugh's acerbic views threaten to sink the party at a time when Republicans should be reaching out beyond their traditional core of voters, and he called him "a man who is aggressive and bombastic, cutting and sarcastic, who dismisses the concerned citizens in network news focus groups as 'losers."'

"It's triggered a very tense but I think healthy debate in the United States," Frum said in an interview.

"I wrote that piece at a time when Republicans - a party I support - seemed to be heading ever deeper into trouble because they were being identified in the public's mind with a figure who, although he attracted intense support, also attracted intense dislike with groups that a political party needs to win."

But Frum said he sees no issues with Canada's right-wing movement and calls Prime Minister Stephen Harper the best man to lead the country.

When asked what Republicans generally think of Harper, Frum didn't answer directly but suggested they might soon turn his attention to him.

"I think it is only just beginning to dawn on American conservatives that right now, the only conservative elected as head of government in the entire English-speaking world is Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada," he said.

"And that's a very new situation and I think it's going to take a while for Americans to absorb the irony and unexpectedness of that."

He said Republicans can learn from Harper, who recognized policy sacrifices must be made and voters with different points of view must be satisfied in order to win an election.

"Canadian conservatives have successfully learned the lessons that American Republicans need to learn ... when you're out of power," Frum said.

"Republicans in the United States have been successful for a long time, and they have maybe lost some of that edge that you get when you're working your way back."

Harper did come across well during U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Ottawa and appeared to be poised with dignity and confidence, said Frum, who predicted the leaders will get along and work well together.

"In many ways I think Harper has more in common with Obama than he has with George Bush," he said, adding both men are highly cerebral, and very much issue-oriented.

"Despite their ideological differences I think it will be a very fruitful relationship."

As for his relationship with Limbaugh, Frum said they haven't spoken since the article was released, but they share more of a "public debate rather than a private relationship."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090325/national/david_frum_conservatives

 

[Netto Azure]

Oh I read his article/essay denouncing wing-nut Rush Limbaugh in Newsweek recently

Why Rush is Wrong

The party of Buckley and Reagan is now bereft and dominated by the politics of Limbaugh. A conservative's lament.

It was a nice call for conservatives to reform themselves and stop shouting. =|

I just hope like Valdez that they'll listen. Lawl, I forgot that Frum was a Canadian Conservative. XD

 

[Fig]

Frum's estimates may be off-mark on Harper, though. He's in a though spot right now, and seems to be panicking and rallying the base like Republicans are wont to do.

Which is a bad move with the liberal having a scandal-free, centrist alternative to offer in the form of Ignatieff. Particularly one who is English-Canadian and therefore free to play the open hand policy toward Quebec.