The State of the Union Revealed a Sad Reality. David Frum

[Jarqui]

34. I have some distant, lengthy history with him

I have communicated with him directly - not about politics.
Both he and his sister were conservatives - probably still are.
His mother was an outstanding journalist but I wouldn't have described her as conservative - she never made me think of that about her she was so down the middle.
That he worked for GW Bush as a speechwriter really set me back - I couldn't imagine his mother doing that.

With Trump, he's obviously limited in how far right he would go.
He reminds me of the Republicans when I was growing up. They were conservative.
BUT for many of those I respected, the country definitely came first.
It was those type of Republicans that told Nixon he had to resign.
Unfortunately, there are not many of them around today. They're probably rolling in their graves over Trump.

A reasoned conservative voice is good for the country. It helps the pendulum from swinging too far to the left.
A good conservative voice makes us think about progressive efforts and helps to develop a better solution - getting us closer to what is best for the country and a palatable compromise that can be legislated.

One can't be accurate with generalizing but to me, that is what I think he does. I do not think it is a bad thing.

The other striking thing about him is how well informed he is.
He seems like a sponge for knowledge that is always at his fingertips when he talks.
Recently, when Trump snatched Maduro, Frum was interviewed within a few hours.
I don't have time to be on top of all the countries and their history, etc.
I think the interview with Frum was about 45 minutes.
I then spot checked some of the things he said. It was right on and has been since.
I came away from it feeling like I'd read three text books on Venezuela.
All the stuff he knew about its history, the oil business and where they fit, etc summarized & blew me away.
No way he could have put that together in a couple of hours. He knew what was going on.
To me, he blows away a bunch in what remains of the news media.