Ex-Bush Speechwriter Frum "Terrified" By Current GOP Landscape

NY Times:

As a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former speechwriter for President Bush, you're surprisingly critical of him in your new book, claiming he has appointed "consistently mediocre people" to important jobs and made "a shambles" of the Iraq war. Do you see the book as a mea culpa?

No. Mea culpa is a kind of hand-wringing, breast-beating, woe-is-me attitude that I don't share. What I am saying is that there is exhaustion, intellectual exhaustion on the part of Republicans and conservatives.

And that their long winning streak in Congress has ended?

What I am terrified of is that the Republican Party is heading into a period of political defeat. We lost the election in 2006. I am terrified that we can lose the election in 2008. We can lose in 2012, and it will take us half a dozen years to do the rethinking we need to do.

Read the whole story: NY Times

Comments

[ZingoBonMot]

I'm just glad I am NOT the person who has to launder Frum's skivvies.

[Harrier]

As a former Republican, after this administration, I will not vote for a Republican in a very long time. The preemptive war and the arrogant/ extravagant overspending spending. Poor, if any, economic plan, so much corporate welfare, essentially attacking the middle class and absolute inability effectively address healthcare. I have not seen a more frustrated public that feels so disconnected to the policies to their country.

Unfortunately, it appears the old guard of the Democratic party are just as insane as their Republican counterparts.

It appears to me, the technology is there and the atmosphere is here here a third moderate party can slowly work together in each state and work agendas

[FastMovingCloud]

To use his own vernacular, what a schmuck!!
I loved the question "how many writers does it take to come up with a three word phrase?". This is rich. He proudly told everyone that he came up with the Axis of Evil back when the Chimp's approval ratings were high. Now that its' in the dumpster, he collaborated on the phrase.

[geobushono]

cripple these bastards with irs audits......
I hope the incoming Dems have learned that US politics is not about being weak.

John Edwards for President.

The Art of War
http://www.kimsoft.com/polwar.htm

[swift goat pet for truth]

If he is so upset, why doesn't he just move back to Canada, or Russia, or wherever...

[Boobaloo]

The racist, war mongering Zionist piece of crap Frum doesn't get to degrade the Chimp when it's Frum & the Israeli mouth piece AEI that is in part responsible for the Iraqi war.

[Bluedanube]

The Republican Party is deserving of the same fate as that of the Whig Party. More appropriate would be the Know-Nothing Party.

[Bendersky]

"What I am saying is that there is exhaustion, intellectual exhaustion on the part of Republicans and conservatives."

I don't buy it. For there to be "intellectual exhaustion" on the part of the conservatives, Frum, there has to be an intellect to begin with. Intelligence these days seems to be the one characteristic that precludes someone from becoming a republican candidate. That, of course, is where you come in, with clever sound bites and memorable nothings for your neocon speeches.

And I hear that you're terrified of the direction that Bush has gone, Frum, but put yourself in our shoes--we've born witness to it from day one (actually, even before the guy took office), and have watched as a chorus line of sychophants, dimwits, and idealogues have marched their way in (and of late, out) after they have completely destroyed the fiber of this country and destabilized the planet. You, of course, did your part with your "collaboration" on the "Axis of Evil" speech. Now your making a career on one tired, vaccuous cliche that made Bush seem every bit as politcally ignorant as he truly is.
So congrats on the job with Rudy. No dopubt he hired you to come up with another catchy cliche' that means absolutely nothing, but that the American people can remember while you try to help yet another incompetent repub try to gain office.

Why is it that every low level Bushie is suddenly finding God after they leave office and then see what a disaster the guy is? Having Bush and Cheney in office for lo these 7 years has been like watching Nero fiddle on Capital Hill while the world is gasping for air.

[Dandy12]

The neocons and this administration have damaged both the Republican Party and the nation. They have been pro-war and anti-middle class, and have squandered out resources, and have not been good stewards.

[MsLiz]

Frum is a schmuck.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/schmuck

[VOTER]

Another worthless warmonger deserving of jail time.

Send this Creep to Iraq and put him on the front line so

he can grasp the meaning of the word, "terrified."

[Querent]

He's terrified. This is the kind of thing that can terrify a NeoCon. They might lose an election. Nobody's life is at stake. At least, nobody on their side.

There's a word for this kind of person: coward.

[doneflyin]

Well Mr. Frum I'm just real glad that you are terrified that the Republicans will lose in 08 because I am horrored that they might win.

You NeoCons and your AEI need to be kicked to the curb permanently!

Worst President and administration ever. If we are lucky it will cause the Republican party to go the way of the Whigs.

[sammy333]

A war ideolog is scared of other war mongers? Aah - I know, he is just complaining that they do not hire him to write their speaches. Well, mr Frum, pushing that poison is not hard, they can do it without you, it is just shameful.

[mommadona]

Betcha Canadian Frum's papers aren't in order....
Betcha he's here under the radar.

Ooooops!