RSS Feed MenuHere we are, deep into the most serious global economic crisis since 1945. We are only recently emerged from 8 years of a Republican presidency that satisfied almost nobody, Republicans very much included. You might think this would be a moment for conservative self-examination. You would be wrong.
We hear that 80 conservative leaders will gather today near George Washington’s Mt. Vernon to release a statement of principle. The statement, an advance copy of which can be read here, does a nice job of harmonizing the divergent points of view of the existing conservative establishment. But it exists in airless isolation from the actual concerns, troubles, and challenges facing the people of the country conservatives seek to lead.
* Are you an American who was earning less in 2007 than in 2000? The document has nothing to say to you.
* Did you lose your home or job or savings in the crisis of 2008-2009? Blank to you.
* Are you worried about the loss of your health insurance – or how you will pay for nursing care for your aged parents – or what 20% youth unemployment will mean for your newly graduated child’s life chances? Not our department.
* Do you wonder whether we are winning or losing the war on terror? Do you want an explanation for why it took so long for a conservative administration to react to military disaster? No answers here.
* Do you generally agree with conservatives – but wonder whether there is room in the conservative world for nonwhites, or the disabled, or the secular-minded, or the gay? The statement does not say “no,” but it does not say “yes” either.
* What about the environment? Economic competition from China? The moral implications of the biotech revolution? Illegal immigration? Educational standards? Well – what about them?
The document answers one question and one question only. If you agree that Barack Obama is engaged in a deliberate and relentless attack on the American constitutional order, well be assured: the conservative establishment is on your side. But if you think those worries are a hysterical distraction from the country’s actual problems? To you, the conservative world says: go away. We have nothing to offer you.
Hot Air » Blog Archive » Conservative leaders release “Mount Vernon statement” // Feb 17, 2010 at 12:41 pm
[...] faith. (Defending the right to have faith would have been much better.) Exit question: Read David Frum’s response to the manifesto. Isn’t he right, just this one [...]
joemarier // Feb 17, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Well, Newt always has something to offer! I like this better, but not by much… http://spectator.org/archives/2010/02/17/contract-renewal/
LFC // Feb 17, 2010 at 1:06 pm
David, you might toss in the fact that the GOP still claims the Obama stimulus plan was a total failure when other groups, including the CBO, claim it added over a million of jobs and is on its way to adding 2.5 million jobs. If you’re working because of that, the GOP has no answer for you other that things would have worked out just fine on their own.
Churl // Feb 17, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Interesting questions
1 Are you an American who was earning less in 2007 than in 2000?
2 Did you lose your home or job or savings in the crisis of 2008-2009?
3 Are you worried about the loss of your health insurance – or how you will pay for nursing care for your aged parents – or what 20% youth unemployment will mean for your newly graduated child’s life chances?
If the answer to 1 through 3 is “the government will take care of you and your dependents, then we don’t need conservatives at all, just further unfetter the welfare state.
4 Do you wonder whether we are winning or losing the war on terror? Do you want an explanation for why it took so long for a conservative administration to react to military disaster?
What military disaster, which conservative administration?
5 Do you generally agree with conservatives – but wonder whether there is room in the conservative world for nonwhites, or the disabled, or the secular-minded, or the gay?
What makes you think that these folks are not welcome among the conservatives? My guess is that you believe what your read in the New York Times and see on MSNBC.
6 What about the environment? Economic competition from China? The moral implications of the biotech revolution? Illegal immigration? Educational standards?
Indeed, what about the environment. We have an Environmental Protection Agency right now which has near dictatorial powers over many aspects of our lives. Would further empower that agency?
China? Hey, I thought the Frum Group was going to come up with some answers about something, send us a memo on China.
Moral implications of the biotech revolution mostly concern religious fundamentalists. You don’t like them much, so why do you care?
Illegal immigration? Either (a) we enforce immigration laws and standards or (b) we have an uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants. Go ahead and pick one, but if you pretend to pick (a( don’t weaken the option so that you can have cheap household help or your industrial friends can hire inexpensive slaughterhouse workers.
Education standards? How about extending an existing compassionate conservatism program. Let’s call the new one “No Child Left Behind or Even Allowed to Lag a Bit”
Republicans United. » On Mount Vernon: Forget About It! // Feb 17, 2010 at 2:17 pm
[...] David Frum is correct in criticizing the so-called “Mount Vernon Statement” of movement conservatives. He is correct that the document is just a rehashing of conservative nostrums and offers nothing to gays or minorities, let alone how to deal with the current economy. [...]
The Mount Vernon Statement « Wesley Gant // Feb 17, 2010 at 3:29 pm
[...] means in 2010 America. It isn’t a platform. The mistake that has been made by critics such as David Frum, or “Allahpundit” over at HotAir is assuming this is some kind of policy [...]
PracticalGirl // Feb 17, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Churl,
Re questions 1-3…I get your point that you think too many are waiting for the government to bail them out. But do you not see any resposibility for the GOP to advance some ideas that might stem the tide?
mike farmer // Feb 17, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I know this is a futile question, because hardly any of you at FrumForum interact with your commenters — we may as well be invisibile — but, what do you propose be done about these problems?
Do you believe that by loosening over-bearing regulations, cutting spending and lowering taxes, the private sector would rebound and start the economy toward weath creation?
Or, do you believe the government should continue stimulating the economy throuh government spending, regulating industry much more than it’s now regulated, pass a healthcare reform bill that mandates insurance purchase, then pass cap and trade?
Do you believe the proposals by the Obama adminsitration are the right policies for America’s future?
Or, do you believe the opponents of progressivism are right, that we need to limit government and announce no more big spending programs, no more taxes and no more regulations, so that there is stability in the market and investors are comfortable to invest, and companies are comfortable enough to hire, with the knowledge they can predict their future costs?
The main problem with lack of investment and economic growth is that no one with the wealth to create growth and jobs is willing to take a chance with a government that has taken on the power to change the rules and the costs at any moment. Do you think this is wise policy coming from the progressives?
PracticalGirl // Feb 17, 2010 at 4:34 pm
MikeFarmer:
“I know this is a futile question, because hardly any of you at FrumForum interact with your commenters — we may as well be invisibile — but, what do you propose be done about these problems?”
This is rather astute, considering this is an article about the lack of solutions…
sinz54 // Feb 17, 2010 at 4:48 pm
David Frum: The statement, an advance copy of which can be read here, does a nice job of harmonizing the divergent points of view of the existing conservative establishment. But it exists in airless isolation from the actual concerns, troubles, and challenges facing the people of the country conservatives shareeek to lead.
I totally disagree.
If they have managed to create a Manifesto that “harmonizes the divergent points of view” of conservatives, that’s quite an achievement. (I think it’s debatable whether it does, but it’s definitely a worthy goal.) You have to start with an exciting vision statement, before you can move on to specific policies.
You have to start there. Look at our own history. Our Declaration of Independence preceded our Constitution by 13 years.
sinz54 // Feb 17, 2010 at 4:52 pm
LFC:
The reason the stimulus package is a failure is right in the article YOU cited:
Aid to states, unemployment benefits and some tax provisions have been more successful and account for far more of the bill.
The real purpose of the bill was to prop up, and even expand, the payrolls of state and local governments. A blatant payoff to AFSCME and the other public-employee unions that had backed Obama for President.
Far less of the stimulus went toward the private sector. And that kind of stimulus won’t have staying power. Once you’ve kept public-school teachers on the payroll, what happens then? That’s not how we can compete with the rapidly rising high-tech economies of India and China.
America is a capitalist country, and its economy is driven by advances in the private sector. Sorry if you don’t like that.
LFC // Feb 17, 2010 at 5:05 pm
mike farmer said… Do you believe that by loosening over-bearing regulations…
Do you mean loosening like they did right before the current financial system collapse, or loosening like they did right before the S&L collapse?
Kevin B // Feb 17, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Sinz54 wrote:
You have to start there. Look at our own history. Our Declaration of Independence preceded our Constitution by 13 years.Much of that time was spent in a bloody war, to win what we had declared.
Is that what we have to look forward to in the GOP?
(I suppose I mean metaphorically.)
teabag // Feb 17, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Churl said.
“5 Do you generally agree with conservatives – but wonder whether there is room in the conservative world for nonwhites, or the disabled, or the secular-minded, or the gay?
What makes you think that these folks are not welcome among the conservatives? My guess is that you believe what your read in the New York Times and see on MSNBC.”
Nope Churl this is real hence……..
Gay and lesbian state workers in Virginia are no longer specifically protected against discrimination, thanks to a little-noticed change made by the new Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo
Aaron // Feb 17, 2010 at 5:32 pm
“A deliberate and sustained attack on the Constitutional order” intentionally sounds conspiratorial, like a possible plan to institute a one-party dictatorship. The MVS traces attacks on the principles of the Declaration and to the concept of limited government back to “recent decades,” not to the Obama administration. Do you mean to deny that influential people have believed for many decades that Constitutionally limited government is an obsolete concept?
It is true that the piece is not a policy manifesto, but has the world really lacked for conservative policy manifestos in recent years? The Mount Vernon Statement is not the work of a coalition-building political party; that just isn’t its purpose. If policy-minded or coalition-minded people disagree with the principles espoused by the Mount Vernonites, perhaps they ought to explain where the principles are wanting.
mike farmer // Feb 17, 2010 at 6:06 pm
“Do you mean loosening like they did right before the current financial system collapse, or loosening like they did right before the S&L collapse?”
If you think lack of regulations caused the S&L crisis, then I don’t know what to say to you.
GOProud // Feb 17, 2010 at 7:36 pm
MikeFarmer, you could say two things: Barney Frank’s version of oversight of Fannie and Freddie; and repeated attempts at financial services reform by the Bush Administration rebutted by Congressional democrat obstructionists.
Of course, LFC already knows that –she’s just playing Democrat Apologist Stand-in until BlankHead can get his head out of the dark, cooling sands in ostrich land and do a proper rebuttal to your impertinence.
The Mount Vernon Statement: A Conservative Petition To The G.O.P. To Advance Neoconservatism By Funding The Military Industrial Complex | THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™ // Feb 17, 2010 at 7:57 pm
[...] noteworthy “must read” blogger reactions: The Frum Forum’s David Frum offers a plethora of rather IMPORTANT items the Tea Partiers Mount Vernonites left out of their charter; The Wonkette (adult content warning) [...]
Chekote // Feb 17, 2010 at 9:20 pm
The last thing we need is more statements.
- Macsmind – Home of the MacRanger Show // Feb 17, 2010 at 9:21 pm
[...] David Frum, everybody’s favorite Rockefeller Republican comments thusly on the Mount Vernon Manifesto released today. “* Are you an American who was earning less in 2007 than in 2000? The document has nothing to say to you. [...]
anniemargret // Feb 17, 2010 at 9:36 pm
chekote: “The last thing we need is more statements.”
Ditto.
But here’s a question for the conservatives on this blog. Are you really in need of new series of ’statements’ to explain yourselves? Just what has changed in the new and revised Republican party for 2012 exactly?
I don’t agree with all of Frum’s points, obviously, but he’s darn right about the persistence of homophobia, the religious-pandering in the GOP which has almost become a quasi-religious party even now, the glaringly obvious indifference about the plight of thousands facing serious problems with healthcare and insurance, the contempt it exudes for people struggling with low-income and job losses, etc.. so much of it a carryover from the Bush/Cheney years.
Most of what I read and listen from Republicans is the same/old, same/old.
Jim_M // Feb 17, 2010 at 9:40 pm
I thinks it’s great! Hoping my signature is next to Sarah’s =)
anniemargret // Feb 17, 2010 at 9:42 pm
…and here’s what I think of Obama and the Democrats, as I am one myself.
I think Obama has to stop playing nice. All this bipartisan stuff is pablum. Every Democrat knows that the Republicans are following the Rush Limbaugh script…”I hope he fails.” And they (Obama and Dems) did a lousy job selling the healthcare reform bill. I told my husband back in the early summer that their sales job was in the pits, and that the Republicans were framing the issue (wrongly of course…eg. Palin’s “death threats” etc..). They dropped the ball. The majority in this country would like to see a public option, but the fear-mongering has overtaken common sense .
In the end, it’s the citizens of this country that get hurt . A pox on both houses!
Jim_M // Feb 17, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Oh yeah.
Palin-Brown in twenty twelve !!!
anniemargret // Feb 17, 2010 at 9:43 pm
ahhhh Sarah….the “new” face of the Republican party!