Obama Dines With Conservative Kings

Post columnist the only coherent voice in a fractured opposition

(NEWSER) - In 2006, Charles Krauthammer urged Barack Obama to run for president, guaranteeing he’d lose. That didn’t exactly work out, but Obama’s rise has been good for the Washington Post columnist, who has become the central anti-Obama voice, writes Ben Smith in Politico. His writing drips with a clarity and confidence the fractured right craves. “He’s the most important conservative columnist right now,” says David Brooks of the New York Times. More»

Op-ed page woes spread to editorial on Nobel Peace Prize

(NEWSER) - The next-to-last straw was the Washington Post editorial saying Neda Agha Soltan should have won the Nobel Peace Prize, which isn't awarded posthumously. The last straw was today's op-ed raising—but not bothering to answer—the question of whether President Obama can even accept the honor without violating the Constitution. The piece confirms that "the Post op-ed page has gone completely off the rails," and Alex Pareene of Gawker isn't holding back. More»

The odd friendship between a conservative columnist and liberal president

(NEWSER) - Nominal conservative David Brooks is one of President Obama’s unlikeliest allies, writes Gabriel Sherman for the New Republic. The New York Times columnist was on board early, publishing an op-ed titled “Run, Barack, Run” in 2006. Lately, Brooks has written more favorably of Obama than Paul Krugman has. Sherman explores the “bromance” between the prominent pundit and “the most liberal president of his lifetime.” More»

But president endured tougher questioning than last conference

(NEWSER) - President Obama bypassed reporters from the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and other major papers last night, instead taking questions from Spanish-language TV station Univision and military newspaper Stars and Stripes. Yet the president faced tougher questions than at his first press conference, often in the form of sharply worded follow-ups, Howard Kurtz of the Post writes. More»

Ex-Bush speechwriter Frum heads pack that may include Noonan, Limbaugh

(NEWSER) - At the New York Times op-ed page, William Kristol is out; that leaves a spot open for another conservative to keep David Brooks company, writes Michael Calderone in Politico. Times editor Andy Rosenthal wouldn’t comment, but Calderone has guesses on a replacement:

1. David Frum: The former Bush speechwriter and National Review contributing editor is working on reinventing the GOP at NewMajority.com.