David Frum says GOP lost big and that Rush wants both parties to fail.

[Liberal_in_LA]

How GOP can rebound from its 'Waterloo'
By David Frum, Special to CNN


David Frum says Republicans suffered a big defeat with passage of health care

Frum says it's not realistic to think the bill's benefits, which will be popular, can be repealed

He says GOP can pledge to stave off higher taxes and more regulation of small businesses

Frum: Strategy served interests of talk radio by whipping up anger but led GOP astray


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Now the overheated talk is about to get worse. Over the past 48 hours, I've heard conservatives compare the House bill to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 -- a decisive step on the path to the Civil War. Conservatives have whipped themselves into spasms of outrage and despair that block all strategic thinking.

Or almost all. The vitriolic talking heads on conservative talk radio and shock TV have very different imperatives from people in government. Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination.

When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say -- but what is equally true -- is that he also wants Republicans to fail.

If Republicans succeed -- if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office -- Rush's listeners get less angry. And if they are less angry, they listen to the radio less and hear fewer ads for Sleep Number beds.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/22/frum.healthcare.gop.strategy/index.html?hpt=T2