Overview for FF Spotlight

The Not So Big Conservative Base

The American electorate is not as politically polarized as many think. Polls may show that more Americans define themselves as "conservative" than "liberal", but those rank and file voters are not defining "conservative" in the same way as pundits and politicos. Stanford's Morris Fiorina, one of …

Written by Bradley Smith on Saturday December 5, 2009

D.C.'s Newest Star

Months before the gate-crashed state dinner, White House social secretary Desiree Rogers showed she wasn’t going to like social secretaries of the past who retreated from the limelight. The day after the Obamas’ gate-crashed state dinner, the Washington Post ran a story featuring a large …

Written by Crystal Wright on Saturday December 5, 2009

Obama's Speech May Have Lost the War

The great American wartime leaders -- Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Reagan -- all understood the power of words in war. Sadly and ironically, although he fancies himself a great orator, President Obama does not. In his speech on Afghanistan, Obama never even used the word “victory”. David Frum …

Written by John Guardiano on Friday December 4, 2009

Why They Hate Us

In a recent blogpost, Harvard professor Stephen Walt tallied the number of Muslims killed by the U.S. and presented this as grounds for the Muslim world's anti-American bent. His approach though ignores the real forces driving Muslim disapproval of the U.S. Stephen M. Walt, the famously …

Written by John Vecchione on Friday December 4, 2009

Making the Tea Parties G-Rated

Tea Party: The Documentary Film successfully captures the energy behind the Tea Party protests. But the film's biggest fault is its failure to denounce or even acknowledge the birthers, truthers, and conspiracy theorists within the movement. I attended the premiere of this film hoping that it …

Written by Tim Mak on Friday December 4, 2009

Courage Under Fire

Kate Nesbitt, age 20, standing a tall five-foot-nothing, became the first woman in the Royal Navy awarded the Military Cross, for running through Taliban fire to save the life of a wounded soldier. This is an unusual story of bravery in Afghanistan that is both surprising and inspiring – Able …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday December 3, 2009

Why the GOP Will Thank Ted Olson

While some conservatives are celebrating the New York State Senate defeat of a gay marriage bill yesterday, Ted Olson has been working to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage. If he succeeds, Republicans will owe him a debt of gratitude. Yesterday, the New York State Senate crushed a …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday December 3, 2009

Kirk's Choice: Purity or Victory

By continuing to pander to the national conservative base, Rep. Mark Kirk is alienating the people who actually matter: the voters of Illinois. Three Republican candidates hoping to replace Rep. Kirk in the Illinois 10 th are distancing themselves from Kirk’s hard line position over the potential …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday December 3, 2009

Jenny Sanford's Media Blitz

Almost six months after her husband, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, admitted to an affair, Jenny Sanford has decided to capitalize on her family’s notoriety. Jenny Sanford is making lemons into lemonade. Almost six months after her husband South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted to …

Written by Crystal Wright on Wednesday December 2, 2009

The Reid Bill's Hidden Pork

ClintonCare sat at 1,342 pages. The Reid bill is 2,070 pages, pre-amendments. Democratic leaders have put together increasingly long bills, packed with regulations and pork. Break time for nursing moms? Hundreds of millions in funding to help teenagers make the transition to adulthood (including …

Written by David Gratzer on Wednesday December 2, 2009

The Purges Will Continue Until the Membership Grows

Frum Forum has learned that supporters of the GOP purity test resolution have obtained the necessary co-sponsors to bypass the RNC’s resolutions committee and bring the resolution forward for a vote. FrumForum has learned that despite losing the sponsorship of a National Committeewoman from …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday December 1, 2009

Pull the Plug on AIG

Shares of the insurance company AIG fell 15 percent yesterday on a report that the company didn’t have the resources necessary to pay its likely claims. The government should call in its loans, break up the company, sell its holdings, and put AIG out of business once and for all. Shares of the …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday December 1, 2009

Hillary: Man Up on Afghanistan

While President Obama dithers, Secretary of State Clinton has channeled her inner hawk and is sending a clear message to the Afghan people that the U.S. is committed to victory. Maybe the Obama administration realizes now that its words matter, and that talking down Afghanistan makes victory there …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday December 1, 2009

Romney’s Religion Problem is Mine Too

As a Mormon attorney who travels frequently, I can tell readers that even David Frum underestimates the prejudice faced by Mormons. I am a Mormon patent attorney in Utah. I travel frequently, and I can tell readers that even David Frum underestimates the prejudice faced by Mormons. I am the …

Written by Steven Rinehart on Monday November 30, 2009

Punishing the SEALs

Earlier this week, news broke that three Navy SEALs may be court-martialed for allegedly punching a prisoner. According to a source of mine - a retired SEAL - this development may be payback from the Navy's brass for the SEALs breaking the rules of engagement during an earlier mission. Earlier …

Written by Sean Linnane on Monday November 30, 2009

Wrong Question Professor Krugman!

In a recent post, Paul Krugman dismisses the idea that Dubai may be the first of many more sovereign defaults. But Krugman also ignores the real danger facing many states: a combination of big debts and fixed exchange rates. Paul Krugman lays out three scenarios for Dubai, ruling out only the …

Written by David Frum on Saturday November 28, 2009

Why Watch Cable?

As a sometime talking head on CNN, I'm arguing against interest here - but Friday was a day that fully drove home the uselessness of cable news. All day long, cable breathlessly reported the Tiger Woods story, while managing totally to ignore what had actually occurred. As a sometime talking head …

Written by David Frum on Saturday November 28, 2009

Palin's Way to Win Friends and Influence People

The saying goes: ordinary leaders move to the center - great leaders move the center to them. Sarah Palin endorses neither concept. If her recent interview with Greta van Susteren is reflective, she adheres to what might be called the Go F--- Yourself school of leadership. The saying goes: …

Written by David Frum on Friday November 27, 2009

Romney's Evangelical Problem

A recent statement of principles released by conservative Christian intellectuals was endorsed by over 150 people, but lacked a single Mormon signatory. This is ominous news for the Romney 2012 campaign. Jonathan Rauch draws attention to a Nov. 20 open letter signed by Christian intellectuals. …

Written by David Frum on Friday November 27, 2009

A Conservative Win or a Labour Collapse?

A new poll from Britain shows that the Tories will crush Labour and David Cameron will be the next PM, but also shows gains for many smaller political parties. A new poll from Britain shows the Tories maintaining their lead over Labour. The poll is interesting both for the obvious message - …

Written by Henry Olsen on Friday November 27, 2009