Whither National Review?

The election of Barack Obama—not to mention the nomination of Sarah Palin—has made things a wee bit awkward over at National Review, the conservative magazine founded by William F. Buckley. First, Christopher Buckley, son of William F., resigned from NR shortly after endorsing Barack Obama in these pages. Now, The New York Times reports that David Frum, who writes a blog on NR’s website, is heading for the exits, too. Frum was highly critical of Palin’s selection, which put him at odds with others in NR’s print and digital domains. “The answers to the Republican dilemma are not obvious and we need a vibrant discussion,” Frum tells The Times. “I think a little more distance can help everybody do a better job of keeping their temper.” NR editor Rich Lowry says, “Bill [Buckley] was always very concerned about having a high-minded and thoughtful discourse. If you read the magazine, that’s what it was and that’s what it is.”