David Frum

David Frum @davidfrum

And indeed, Biden is raising the tone in all kinds of ways. You noticed the "semi-fascist" comment because it was just about the first derogatory thing Biden has said all presidency about Trump and his faction. 15/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

Some people seem to take the view: Of course there's nothing much to be expected of Trump and Co. Trump would rant and rave more in 200 characters than Biden in 20 months in office. No point complaining about THAT, it cannot be helped. Biden, however, should raise the tone. 14/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

In 2022, it would be nice if every voter realized that honest elections and the rule of law matter most. But some worry more about their personal lives. Hence: join abortion and contraception to rule of law concerns. 13/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

It's not all pretty, any more than it was pretty in 1864. If human beings were made of different stuff, Salmon Chase would have said, "Mr. Lincoln, you are the man the country needs, I will have no part in any schemes against you." But he didn't. Hence: NY customs house. 12/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

In Philadelphia, Biden joined issues of direct and intimate concern - abortion, contraception, etc. - to more abstract issues of democracy that some voters might shrug off. That seems likewise to energize voters Biden and his party need. 11/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

In the past few days, Biden has acted to relieve student debt. I personally disapprove that measure. At another time, I'd oppose it vociferously. But it sure does seem to have energized a to-date listless youth vote. 10/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

The only sure way to stop Republican candidates from acting on those commitments is to deny them the power to act on those commitments. Which means beating them. Which means asking: what would Lincoln do in our case? 9/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

In 2022, most House and many Senate Republican candidates are committed to legal impunity for Donald Trump for January 6 and for the taking of sensitive documents to his Mar a Lago club. 8/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

In 2022, many state Republican parties are committed to tampering with state election processes - up to and including allowing gerrymandered state legislatures to over-rule popular votes for president if the majority votes in a different way than the legislature wants. 7/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

I am sure there were people writing in 1864, "Democracy is in danger. President Lincoln should invoke patriotism, not the patronage politics, to make that point." Lincoln knew otherwise. 6/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

Lincoln was renominated, the Union Army took Atlanta and speeded to further victories, Lincoln was re-elected. Crass patronage politics was part of how the war was won and the Union saved. 5/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

In summer 1864, Lincoln faced dissent from more radical Republicans. They hoped to replace him with Secretary of the Treasury Chase. Chase had a preferred candidate at the Customs House. So Lincoln dangled that appointment to deter Chase from challenging him. 4/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

In the 1860s, the NY Customs House was the greatest patronage plum in the federal inventory. Senior employees at the Customs House were compensated by a share in the customs revenues. Appointees could get rich - and kick back handsomely to the politician who got them a post 3/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

Lincoln recognized - as I trust we all now recognize - that the only way to save the Union was by his own re-election. So here is one thing he did to ensure that re-election: crass patronage politics at the New York Customs House. (More to come) 2/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

American democracy was in grave danger in the summer of 1864. The military situation was grim. Inflation was devouring wages. The draft pressed hard. The Democratic platform offered the rebel South a negotiated peace. Lincoln's grip on his own party was loosening ... 1/x — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

So about this idea, much discussed in certain quarters, that Biden should have expressed himself in a more high-minded manner in Philadelphia, with less effort to win votes for Democratic candidates in 2022 ... — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

Years ago, the late PJ O’Rourke quipped: “Just as some things are too strange for fiction, other things are too true for journalism” @JohnJHarwood — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

RT @peterbakernyt: Biden nominates George Kent, a career foreign service officer who testified under subpoena in the first Trump impeachmen… — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

RT @JohnJHarwood: personal news: today's my last day at CNN proud of the work thanks to my colleagues i've been lucky to serve the best… — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

RT @nxthompson: "Trump changed the rules of politics. Everybody, on all sides of politics, has no choice but to adapt." By @davidfrum http… — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

RT @TheAtlantic: “Whatever was true [once], in 2022 Trumpism cannot be regarded as some anomalous strain in U.S. politics,” writes @davidfr… — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

Words to remember. And if you're not reading The Dispatch yet, @allahpundit should give you reason https://t.co/DT7eDv1D1J https://t.co/Y4dMk8Y3T3 — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

RT @allahpundit: My final post: Farewell to Hot Air and hello to the Dispatch https://t.co/0r4Tp0dMmm Thank you to Townhall Media for supp… — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

RT @Mark_Goldberg: NP View: The Laith Marouf scandal is egregious in its own right, and for this government in particular, it’s indicative… — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

I just found out that the "Elvis has risen from the dead!!!" tweet purportedly by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration was fake. I've deleted my retweet. Still, the fact that so many ppl found it plausible says something.** ** Satire, I hope obviously. — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

The argument seems to be: Telling the truth about the direction in which Trump is leading his people ... will offend the people following the direction in which Trump is leading. Which may be true, but isn't useful. — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

The argument seems to be: Telling the truth about the direction in which Trump is leading his people ... will offend the people following the direction in which Trump is leading. Which may be a true, but isn't useful. — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

RT @RohdeD: "In the inverted logic of Trumpworld, theirs is the grievance that matters. They are always the wronged party. Storming the Cap… — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

.@anneapplebaum on Biden's Philadelphia speech https://t.co/26wehh8A5w — PolitiTweet.org

David Frum @davidfrum

@TheAtlantic it's a referendum election https://t.co/1DNKZlQ8Qn https://t.co/WEzGroosPG — PolitiTweet.org