Overview for FF Spotlight

It's a Randslide

The Kentucky GOP Senate primary ended with tea party favorite Rand Paul blowing by establishment-backed Trey Grayson. The question for Paul now is whether he can withstand the Democrats attacks in the general election. The Kentucky GOP Senate primary ended in a ‘Randslide’ Tuesday evening, with …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday May 19, 2010

Rand Paul's Troubling Victory

Rand Paul's victory in the Kentucky GOP primary is a depressing event for those who support a strong national defense and rational conservative politics. Rand Paul's victory in the Kentucky Republican primary is obviously a depressing event for those who support strong national defense and …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 18, 2010

Homeland Security's Wasted Billions

The Department of Homeland Security has been marred by mismanagement almost since the day it was established. Since 2003, most of the $30 billion given to states to help protect against terrorism has been wasted on localities that didn't need the funds. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) …

Written by Jonas Stankovich on Tuesday May 18, 2010

Giannoulias Closes in on Kirk

Alexi Giannoulias' campaign is now floating an internal poll that shows him tied with Congressman Mark Kirk in the Illinois Senate race. If these numbers are right, that would mean Giannoulias is actually gaining ground despite a hurricane of bad press. Alexi Giannoulias' campaign is floating an …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Tuesday May 18, 2010

GOP Targets Murtha's Old Seat

Today, as Pennsylvania goes to the polls, forget about Specter versus Sestak. The real race worth watching is in the 12th district, where the GOP could pick up their first win of the midterm season. Ever since his dramatic switch to the Democratic Party last April, Senator Arlen Specter’s bid …

Written by Shawn F Summers on Tuesday May 18, 2010

Attack on Cartoonist a Threat to Us All

My latest column for CNN.com discusses the recent attacks on Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks and argues that by failing to punish the attackers, the authorities are only inviting further violence. My latest column for CNN.com discusses the recent attacks on Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks and argues …

Written by David Frum on Monday May 17, 2010

GOP Shirking From the Kagan Fight

UPDATED: Elena Kagan will likely be on the Supreme Court bench for 30 years or more. The Right should ensure that she is run through the same gauntlet conservative nominees to the Court are exposed to. Over at The Weekly Standard Jim Prevor (who I do not know) has made an important point …

Written by John Vecchione on Monday May 17, 2010

Bipartisan Purging

All incumbents seem to be under greater scrutiny than ever by their party activists. Angry and fearful voters seem to dislike almost everybody and everything. The defeat of Utah Sen. Bob Bennett, the harrowing race faced by Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln, and the howlings of outrage on blogs from …

Written by Steve Bell on Monday May 17, 2010

Jumpstarting the Green Economy

Without clear direction from Washington on how the U.S. will deal with carbon emissions, corporate America is falling behind foreign firms in the race to invest in renewable energy. It doesn’t seem right to hurl depressing statistics at recession-weary Americans, just as we’re kinda sorta …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Monday May 17, 2010

Defending Canada's Afghan Mission

Sincere though they may be, those who think our soldiers should not be wasted in Afghanistan could learn much from the parents of soldiers who are killed there. Incredible is the pride and support shown by those families and their moral courage in the face of tragedy. Sincere though they may be, …

Written by Peter Worthington on Monday May 17, 2010

Don't Bail Out Big Oil

Private companies have the right and, indeed, the responsibility to make money by drilling for oil. But if their activities cause environmental damage, they shouldn’t be able to escape paying the costs. At least for now, Sen. Lisa Murkowski has successfully blocked efforts to raise the …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Friday May 14, 2010

Why the French Don't Look Like Slobs

One of the peculiar things about Paris is that many of the working-class people, metro musicians, and even homeless people, are more put-together than your average American. Recently, I was riding along metro line six (the line that runs past la Tour Eiffel and l’Arc de Triomphe = tourist …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Friday May 14, 2010

Suckered by North Korea's Healthcare "Paradise"

After a recent visit to North Korea, the Director-General of the UN’s World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, praised the nation's health care system as "something most other developing countries would envy." Hold on to your hats, folks, for a weird assessment of North Korea. The …

Written by Peter Worthington on Friday May 14, 2010

Rand Paul's Personal Special Interest

Rand Paul's libertarianism stops where his pocketbook starts, or so reports the Wall Street Journal today. Rand Paul's libertarianism stops where his pocketbook starts, or so reports the Wall Street Journal today: Tea party favorite Rand Paul has rocketed to the lead ahead of …

Written by David Frum on Friday May 14, 2010

Fighting Obesity Starts at Home

If Mrs. Obama is serious about her war on childhood obesity she should start by targeting the parents who feed their kids too much junk. As part of Michelle Obama’s childhood anti-obesity campaign, the White House issued a 120-page report detailing ways to help America’s kids shed the pounds. …

Written by Crystal Wright on Friday May 14, 2010

Libya Elected to UN Human Rights Body

With the election of Libya, a nation awarded the lowest possible ratings for political and civil liberties, to a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, the time has come to ask if the UNHRC has finally run its course. On 14 May, Libya won a seat on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), however it …

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Friday May 14, 2010

Will McCain Share Bennett’s Fate?

Senator John McCain is still in danger of ending up like Utah’s Bob Bennett: swiftly ejected from public office and scorned by the local GOP that had supported him for so long. A Republican senator runs for reelection in a mountain west state, a traditional GOP stronghold. The incumbent, in …

Written by Paul Craft on Thursday May 13, 2010

Following Rand Paul to Disaster

My latest column for The Week looks at the impending victory of Rand Paul in the Kentucky GOP senatorial primary and the message his backers hope to send to the party. My latest column for The Week looks at the impending victory of Rand Paul in the Kentucky GOP senatorial primary and the …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 13, 2010

New Proposed Loan Regs Slam the Poor

With the nation in the midst of tough economic times, a new proposal in the Senate to restrict short term “payday” loans will only increase the difficulties low-income individuals face to obtain credit. Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina currently has a plan to reduce payday lending. Her stated …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday May 13, 2010

NJ Voters Back Christie's Budget Slash

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is emphatically swinging his budget axe, and in so doing providing perhaps the earliest window into voters’ newfound respect for fiscal austerity. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is emphatically swinging his budget axe, in so doing providing perhaps the …

Written by Corey Chambliss on Thursday May 13, 2010