Overview for FF Spotlight

Taking the Oath of Allegiance

I expected my swearing in ceremony to be a bureaucratic rubber-stamping of citizenship papers. But for all my patriotism, I had underestimated my new country. The U.S. immigration authority was bedecked with the usual array of leather-strap epaulettes and official badges. He sat atop a little …

Written by Danielle Crittenden on Sunday July 4, 2010

A White House Fourth

My most memorable Fourth? That's easy: 2001. White House staff were invited to bring their children to the South Lawn to watch the fireworks. My most memorable Fourth? That's easy: 2001. White House staff were as usual invited to bring their children to the South Lawn to watch the fireworks on the …

Written by David Frum on Sunday July 4, 2010

Life Under the Gaza "Siege"

Egyptians are beginning to notice that life in Gaza -- despite the blockade -- is often cheaper, more convenient and easier than in their country. In a recent article in the Egyptian weekly, Rooz Al-Yousuf , journalist Muhammad Hamadi, questions what ‘siege’ in Gaza people are talking about, …

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Sunday July 4, 2010

Neglecting Freedom Abroad

Three weeks ago, Egyptian police brutally beat a young political activist to death. Yet Obama refuses to raise the case with Egyptian authorities. Three weeks ago, Egyptian police brutally beat a young political activist to death outside of an Internet café in Alexandria, Egypt. The …

Written by Eric Trager on Sunday July 4, 2010

Getting Ready for Canada's 150th Birthday

Maybe it's a good time for Canada to think a little ahead and start planning for the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Canada Day 2010 finds Canadians in a rare mood of self-confidence. The country has suffered less from the global recession than any other major economy. No region is threatening …

Written by David Frum on Saturday July 3, 2010

Obama's Afghan Reality Check

Until the President can explain his goals in Afghanistan, the voices of critics like Michael Steele will only get louder. Barack Obama has an Afghanistan problem. Today, Michael Steele became the first major political figure to publicly criticize President Obama's Afghan policy. Steele called the …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Friday July 2, 2010

Will Merkel's Coalition Hold?

According to current polls, 62% of Germans (and many pundits) now believe the center-right government that has ruled the country since October 2009 will collapse. Christian Wulff took the oath of office in Berlin this Friday, capping a political cliffhanger for Chancellor Angela Merkel, who …

Written by Ulf Gartzke on Friday July 2, 2010

Why Canada Loves the Queen

Having a Queen as head of state seems ludicrous, but for Canadians it makes us different from the U.S., which has long exhibited royal envy. The Queen has made over 20 visits to Canada during her reign of nearly 60 years (in 2012), but this is only the third time she’s been in Canada during …

Written by Peter Worthington on Friday July 2, 2010

Israel's Hamas Spy Wins Asylum

Mosab Hassan Youself spent a decade spying on Hamas for Israel. Yet, when he sought political asylum, the U.S. government tried to deport him as a terror threat. Until Wednesday, Obama’s Department of Homeland Security had tried to deport a former Hamas member who it claimed had been involved …

Written by Martin Krossel on Friday July 2, 2010

Did Steele Go Wobbly?

Michael Steele's Afghanistan-skeptical comments seem to have been unscripted, but who knows. So I feel like an idiot. About a week ago, one of the young staffers here proposed an article: "What happens if Republicans bug out on Afghanistan?" I nixed it. "Let's not deal with hypotheticals." …

Written by David Frum on Friday July 2, 2010

Obama Reels in Immigration Reform

One may wonder why, with a long and painful economic recovery still ahead, Obama is trying to push the issue of immigration reform. On the surface, the President’s speech on immigration Thursday was simply a restatement of existing policy goals. Delving deeper, however, one may be able to …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday July 1, 2010

Europe Fights Crucifix Ban

Eight European countries have joined a petition by Italy to overturn a European court ban on Christian crosses in classrooms. Yesterday, Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, San Marino, Romania, and Russia joined Italy in arguing against the European Court of Human Rights, claiming …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Thursday July 1, 2010

How Judges are Like Umpires

Justice Roberts metaphor comparing judges to baseball umpires has taken a lot of criticism, but might be more accurate than his critics will concede. If you haven't been following the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings, you haven't been missing a heck of a lot. We've learned that Elena Kagan is …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday July 1, 2010

Avoiding the Next Great Depression

Paul Krugman is warning that the U.S. has entered an economic depression. His policy prescription is misguided, but where are the conservative solutions? My latest column for The Week examines Paul Krugman's fears that the American economy may have entered a depression and the continuing need …

Written by David Frum on Thursday July 1, 2010

Nuke Panel Keeps Yucca Mountain Alive

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has thrown a wrench in Obama's plans to quickly shutter the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. On Tuesday, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board ruled against the immediate closure of Nevada’s nuclear waste repository, …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Thursday July 1, 2010

How to Win the Fight Over Sarbanes-Oxley

Relying on long-shot legal challenges won’t undo Sarbanes-Oxley's most burdensome provisions. After five years of legal wrangling, the Supreme Court earlier this week upheld all substantive provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley law. Even though the law, an overbearing, poorly drafted, government-…

Written by Eli Lehrer on Wednesday June 30, 2010

GOP Senators Grill Kagan

On day two of Elena Kagan's confirmation hearings, the GOP challenged her to defend her position barring military recruiters while Dean of Harvard Law. Well, it didn't take very long for Elena Kagan to completely revoke virtually everything she said in a 1995 law review article . In that review, …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Tuesday June 29, 2010

Christie's Budget Cuts Spur Abortion Fight

New Jersey’s legislature is currently debating a bill to restore $7.5 million in funding to family planning centers across the state. New Jersey’s legislature is currently debating a bill which would re-appropriate $7.5 million to family planning centers across the state. Proponents of the bill …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Tuesday June 29, 2010

Virginia GOP Takes Heat for Global Warming Denialism

With the U.S. on pace to experience the warmest year in recorded history, can we count on the GOP to take climate and energy issues seriously? In February the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) produced an ad titled “ 12 Inches of Global Warming , ” which used the snowstorms to ridicule a pair of …

Written by David Jenkins on Monday June 28, 2010

Losing the PR War in Afghanistan

In the modern media age, you no longer win wars by killing maximum numbers of the enemy. You win (or lose) wars by using violence to shape global public opinion. My latest column for CNN.com looks at General McChrystal's firing and the larger story lost in the ensuing media uproar. In the …

Written by David Frum on Monday June 28, 2010