David Frum is wrong about the Right's past and future

The Washington Examiner ^ | 3/9/09 | Michael Taube

[theruleshavechanged]

I’m afraid the man who wrote “Dead Right” is dead wrong. While Goldwater and Reagan were different people who faced very different political circumstances, the latter succeeded due to the path that the former set in motion. In other words, Goldwater did make Reagan possible.

[theruleshavechanged]

I'm glad somebody finally spoke up. . .

[pallis]

Besides Carter, there is one more thing that made the difference between Reagan and Goldwater, and that was the Moral Majority. Reagan had it, and Goldwater didn’t. Republicans abandon social conservatives at their own peril. It was the Moral Majority that allowed Reagan to capitalize on Goldwater’s inroads into the South.

[popdonnelly]

David Frum needs to stop fighting with other Republicans, and take aim at the Democrats, who are spending this country into oblivion. If he can’t figure out that the Democrats’ squandermania is destructive, he isn’t much of a conservative.

[ontap]

You are absolutely right! My only gripe with Goldwater was is his waining years, his wife forced a lot of softening of his conservative principles.