Overview for FF Spotlight

Defending Cameron's Tory Rebrand

Many have argued that David Cameron’s Tory rebrand cost the party voters and resulted in a hung Parliament. Conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic though need to understand the measure of the difficulties the Conservatives faced and (partially) surmounted in the election. British conservative …

Written by David Frum on Saturday May 8, 2010

The Vanished World of a Wartime Generation

In civilian life, Canadian officer Brigadier James Roberts was a businessman. But when war came, like so many others, he discovered that he was a superb soldier, inventive and brave. A rare funny moment from the last days of the Second World War: It fell to the Canadians to accept the …

Written by David Frum on Saturday May 8, 2010

Why French Men Are Still Cads

As is common knowledge, the French are world-class romantics. Single men and married men alike flirt shamelessly in a way that definitely would not fly in a puritan, post-feminist America… and yet, American women love it. As is common knowledge, the French are world-class romantics. Single men …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Friday May 7, 2010

The Pacific: Taking Aim at Hanks’ Yanks

In The Pacific , Tom Hanks is wrong to portray the war against Japan as a war of "terror and racism". In fact, the Marines who fought through the Pacific, island by island, quickly learned respect for Japanese soldiers. How many, one wonders, are following the 10-part dramatization of the …

Written by Peter Worthington on Friday May 7, 2010

More on Mark Levin's Free Ride

Can anybody imagine the major conservative intellectual magazines publishing anything critical today about our conservative entertainers? Here is a 2002 essay in Dissent , a flagship magazine of the American Left, on Michael Moore. It's balanced, but with the balance tilting to the negative. …

Written by David Frum on Friday May 7, 2010

Fiorina and Devore: 'Let No-Fly List Suspects Purchase Guns'

During last night's California GOP Senate debate, seemingly oblivious to the fears raised by the attempted Times Square bombing, candidates Chuck DeVore and Carly Fiorina both defended allowing terror suspects on the government's no-fly list to purchase firearms. The California Republican Senate …

Written by Elise Cooper on Friday May 7, 2010

Palin's Surprising Fiorina Endorsement

In a move sure to disappoint supporters of Chuck Devore, whom Glenn Beck called "the tea party candidate", former Alaska Governor and tea party favorite Sarah Palin endorsed Carly Fiorina in the California GOP Senate race. Former Alaska Governor and Tea Party favorite Sarah Palin endorsed …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday May 6, 2010

Mapping the Path to a Tory Victory

It's clear the Tories will form the largest party in Parliament. The early results from key seats though will reveal whether the Conservatives will be able to govern as a one-party majority or need the support of other parties. It's pretty clear now that the Tories will form the largest party in …

Written by Henry Olsen on Thursday May 6, 2010

Pawlenty Looks to Boost National Profile

A new book deal and the continuting controversy over a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling striking down his budget cuts, should help cure Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty of his low national recognition. Pawlenty is among the least known of Republicans angling for his party's presidential nominatio…

Written by Bryce McNitt on Thursday May 6, 2010

Terrorists Should Keep Their Citizenship

My latest column for The Week argues against Sen. Lieberman’s proposal to strip Americans who serve international terrorist organizations of their citizenship. My latest column for The Week argues against Sen. Lieberman’s proposal to strip Americans who serve international terrorist …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 6, 2010

Captain Kirk as Canada's Head of State?

In Canada, momentum is gaining for the Prime Minister to pick a long-shot candidate for Governor General: William Shatner. In Canada, the Governor General sweepstakes continue, and momentum is gaining for one long-shot pick: William Shatner. The decision as to who becomes to the next Governor …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday May 6, 2010

When Presidents Go Beyond the Law

In my recent bloggingheads with Glenn Greenwald we spoke about whether presidents can ever be forgiven for breaking the law. I argued that they ought to avoid it where possible, but sometimes they have to gamble. My recent bloggingheads with Glenn Greenwald built up to a fundamental divide, …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 6, 2010

The Fixed-Currency Trap

Many conservatives see Greece as a parable upon the dangers of excess government debt. It is that. Above all, however, it is a parable on the dangers of excess government debt in a fixed-currency regime. Kenneth Rogoff (co-author of the brilliant new book on financial crises, This Time is …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 6, 2010

Red and Blue America's Values Divide

Jonathan Rauch’s latest column presents an important look at the lifestyle divide between Red and Blue America and tries to understand why six of the seven states with the lowest divorce rates in 2007, and all seven with the lowest teen birthrates in 2006, voted blue. Jonathan Rauch offers an …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 6, 2010

Will the Greek Nightmare Become America's Reality?

The U.S. economy is more vibrant than Greece’s, but as the Democrats add more debt to an already strained budget, the broken Greek model should serve as a lesson to Washington. Three dead and massive riots now in the streets of Athens. Paralyzing strikes from civil servants, so used to so much …

Written by Brad Schaeffer on Wednesday May 5, 2010

Rethinking Petraeus in 2012

In the American Spectator , Philip Klein has a cover story speculating over a possible presidential bid by Gen. Petraeus. But before conservatives get carried away, they should first examine whether a Petraeus candidacy would be good for the movement or the GOP. In the American Spectator , …

Written by Thomas J. Marier on Wednesday May 5, 2010

Arizona's Common Sense Approach to Racial Profiling

Critics of Arizona’s new immigration bill contend that it unfairly allows police to detain anyone looking Hispanic. But for the U.S. to be able to enforce its immigration laws, officials must pay common sense attention to ethnicity. The new Arizona law making it a state crime to be an illegal …

Written by Howard Foster on Wednesday May 5, 2010

GOP Should Be Ashamed of AZ's Anti-Immigration Law

The passage of Arizona's anti-immigration bill has damaged the perception of the GOP in the minds of millions of Hispanic-Americans. This law has basically told the fastest growing minority in America that they are not to be trusted. My mother has an accent. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, my …

Written by Dennis Sanders on Tuesday May 4, 2010

Are Cameron's Tories Ready to Govern?

UPDATED: David Cameron has addressed the Conservatives' political problem, but not their policy problem. Margaret Thatcher had an approach to elections, but above all an approach to government. Does Cameron? At the website of the UK magazine, The Spectator , John O'Sullivan and Allen Massie are …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 4, 2010

Will Europe Learn from Greece's Budget Meltdown?

One by one, European governments are beginning to show signs of breaking economically. Greece may get bailed out for now but its debt will only grow, reaching 400% by 2040. Missing from the media coverage of Greece’s budget meltdown has been a message perhaps never before proven so true: social …

Written by Jonas Stankovich on Tuesday May 4, 2010