Product Description

At a moment of crisis and pessimism for American conservatives, David Frum offers fresh ideas—and fresh hope.

Not in a generation has conservatism been in as much trouble as it is at the end of the Bush years. A majority of Americans say the country is “on the wrong track.” Voters prefer Democrats over Republicans on almost every issue, including taxes. The married, the middle-class, the native-born are dwindling as a share of the population, while Democratic blocs are rising. A generation of young people has turned its back on the Republican party.

Too many conservatives and Republicans have shut their eyes to negative trends. David Frum offers answers.

Frum says that the ideas that won elections for conservatives in the 1980s have done their job. Republicans can no longer win elections on taxes, guns, and promises to restore traditional values. It’s time now for a new approach, including:

A conservative commitment to make private-sector health insurance available to every American
Lower taxes on savings and investment financed by higher taxes on energy and pollution
Federal policies to encourage larger families
Major reductions in unskilled immigration
A genuinely compassionate conservatism, including a conservative campaign for prison reform and government action against the public health disaster of obesity
A new conservative environmentalism that promotes nuclear power in place of coal and oil
Higher ethical standards inside the conservative movement and the Republican party
A renewed commitment to expand and rebuild the armed forces of the United States—to crush terrorism—and get ready for the coming challenge from China

Frum’s previous bestselling books have earned accolades for their courage and creativity from liberals and conservatives alike. Today, with the conservative movement and the Republican Party facing their greatest danger since Watergate, Frum has again stepped forward with new ideas to take conservatism—and America—into a new century of greatness.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #403700 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-31
• Released on: 2007-12-31
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 9.43" h x .90" w x 6.39" l, .90 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In his new book, Frum (The Right Man), former speechwriter to President Bush, offers a conservative blueprint for accommodating challenges central to the next half-century of American life. Drawing on his expert knowledge of domestic politics and foreign policy, Frum shows how Republicans must evolve in accordance with the challenges and fluidity of contemporary America to win hearts, minds and elections. After staking out viably conservative positions on the salient political battles in America-healthcare, education, the economy, foreign policy, embryonic stem cell research, taxation and the like-Frum shines when dealing with the grand strategy of taxation, particularly his pro-growth model for accommodating domestic spending obligations such as social security. His analysis is particularly striking in its advocacy for consumption taxation in lieu of taxes that stifle investment and free enterprise. Taxes aimed at upper-class consumers rather than savings and investment is a provocative idea worthy of consideration. And although Frum's ideas are good, if not brilliant, the final chapter, in which he describes the errant behavior of the Bush administration, seems like a tardy rebuke to a president he once called The Right Man.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
At a time when much of the nation thinks the government is on the wrong track, David Frum, an avowed ideologue, examines the current state of the Conservative movement and offers suggestions for improvement. Arguing that the successful positions of the 1980s are no longer viable, Frum redefines the issues and offers Republican Conservatives a game plan for a comeback to political power. Lloyd James gives a clear and easy-to-follow reading of the text. This no-frills presentation is an advantage as Frum's analysis of past mistakes and proposals for future actions become a bit convoluted. James's tone remains matter-of-fact even when the text tends a bit toward whininess. He conveys a wry humor that keeps his performance from being a straight reading. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
PRAISE FOR DEAD RIGHT

“The most refreshing ideological experience in a generation.” – William F. Buckley

“Not just a great book – but a classic.” – Peggy Noonan

“The smartest book written from the inside about the American conservative movement.” – Frank Rich

“The Road to Serfdom of our time.” – Newt Gingrich

PRAISE FOR WHAT’S RIGHT

“One of the leading political commentators of his generation.” –Wall Street Journal

PRAISE FOR HOW WE GOT HERE

“[A]n audacious act of revisionism, written in a voice and style so original it deserves to be called revolutionary.” – John Podhoretz, National Review

“More than any other book I know, it shows how we came to be the way we are.” – Michael Barone

PRAISE FOR THE RIGHT MAN

"An acute analysis . . . [A] look at Bush different from any we've ever seen. Remarkably candid." – Los Angeles Times Book Review

PRAISE FOR AN END TO EVIL

“A radical, even revolutionary, vision of the contemporary world and the role that the United States can and must play in reshaping it . . . a refreshing departure from the postmodernist view of the world.” – New York Post