Overview for FF Spotlight

GOP Must Use Debt Debate to get Real Cuts

The GOP must extract political concessions with the debt debate. What other opportunity will there be to hold the Democrats' feet to the fire? I have been struck by the arguments here at FrumForum that the hard line Republicans against raising the debt limit are “radical.” I put aside the …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Who is the Priority Creditor on Default Day?

Here's a skill-testing question in this time of debt showdown, who is the most senior government creditor after Default Day? Here's a skill-testing question in this time of debt showdown. Who would be the more senior government creditor after Default Day: - A disabled Social Security …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Gaza Flotilla Faces New Setbacks

Looks like that one forlorn Gaza-bound flotilla boat from Piraeus is also in trouble with Greek law enforcement. And the Russian boat at the next dock is making a lot of noise! Looks like that one forlorn Gaza-bound flotilla boat from Piraeus is also in trouble with Greek law enforcement. And the …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 12, 2011

How to Make 2011 a Repeat of 1931

If the US government fails to make its payments, there is a risk of repeating the same crisis that struck the world in 1931. The US government is the largest purchaser of goods and services on planet earth. The government buys everything from equipment for cancer research to metal for warships …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Fox News Struggles to Replace Glenn Beck

Fox News has a new TV show to fill the 5pm slot that Glenn Beck had. But is "The Five" just lazy filler? How do you replace Glenn Beck's bizarre and rambling hour of television? If you come up with programming on Fox News, you decide that 5pm is a great time to do a conservative version of …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Monday July 11, 2011

Slow Recovery? Blame the Housing Boom

Why has recovery been so weak and slow? Businessweek argues: because we are still unwinding the consequences of the housing boom of the 2000s. Why has recovery been so weak and slow? Businessweek argues : because we are still unwinding the consequences of the housing boom of the 2000s. …

Written by David Frum on Monday July 11, 2011

Don't Mourn the End of Murdoch's Tabloid

Rupert Murdoch’s decision to shut down the News of the World is more of a blessing than a tragedy. The general reaction to media tycoon Rupert Murdoch’s decision to shut down the 168-year-old British weekly, News of the World , is that it’s something of a journalistic tragedy. In my …

Written by Peter Worthington on Monday July 11, 2011

Boehner Shows Leadership in Debt Negotiations

Boehner’s acknowledgement that a smaller debt deal makes sense seems to allow a path to avoid default and lets the GOP make the best of the politically disastrous decision to play with the debt limit. Let’s have some genuine applause for John Boehner’s leadership: his acknowledgement that a …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday July 11, 2011

The Candid and Frank Betty Ford

Betty Ford will be remembered for being a very candid first lady with a much more modest political profile. In my latest CNN column , I write about Betty Ford's candid and frank speaking style: The role of first lady is one of the most difficult in American public life. Few women have …

Written by David Frum on Monday July 11, 2011

Ethical Questions Raised at Mr. Bachmann's Clinic

An investigation into Marcus Bachmann's clinic suggests that it is using unethical practices by not warning patients about the dangers of "ex-gay" treatments. The Nation revealed this weekend that the Christian counseling centers owned by the husband and chief advisor of GOP Presidential …

Written by Ron Hill on Monday July 11, 2011

There is No Light Bulb "Ban"

There is no looming ban or phase out of incandescent bulbs. The entire hullabaloo is based on a fictitious claim manufactured by Rep. Joe Barton. As has been written about here before, a group of GOP lawmakers, including Joe Barton (TX) and Michele Bachmann (MN), have stirred up—along with …

Written by David Jenkins on Monday July 11, 2011

Debt Talks Don't Need an Ambitious Solution

If the debt talks produce only (i) an increase in the debt ceiling and (ii) a framework for cutting federal spending over the medium term - well, there are worse ways to resolve the crisis. If the debt talks produce only (i) an increase in the debt ceiling and (ii) a framework for cutting …

Written by David Frum on Monday July 11, 2011

Hold Students Accountable in Testing

While many people blame teachers for the decline in test scores, scrutiny needs to be placed on students as well. The results just came back, and just 31 percent of my tenth grade English students passed their state high school exam this year. This was my first year teaching a tested …

Written by Thomas Gibbon on Saturday July 9, 2011

How Israel's Lawyers Stopped the Second Flotilla

Israel has deployed a powerful new strategy against the latest wouldbe Gaza flotilla activists: Bore them to death. Israel has deployed a powerful new strategy against the latest wouldbe Gaza flotilla activists: Bore them to death. For three weeks, the activists aboard the lead flotilla …

Written by David Frum on Saturday July 9, 2011

Gays Don't Need a League of Their Own

Whatever one thinks of gay sports leagues, we should hope that, before long, they become entirely unnecessary. Just a few days after New York’s historic approval of same-sex marriage, the Onion ran a piece about a lawsuit against the North American Gay Athletic Alliance alleging discrimination …

Written by Alan Hirsch on Saturday July 9, 2011

Page One: Inside the New York Times

The new documentary Page One asks an important question: is it really surprising that people have lost faith in old media? "The old newspaper business is dying. PERIOD," proclaims noted columnist and author Jeff Jarvis, at one point in Andrew Rossi's up-to-the-second new documentary, Page One: …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday July 8, 2011

Testing Can Make Teachers Cheat

The revelation of systemic cheating on tests in the Atlanta's Public Schools is sad, but not surprising. Like everyone else who follows the world of public education, I was disgusted and saddened at the report issued by the office of Georgia Governor Nathan Deal this past Tuesday. The report, …

Written by Will Barrett on Friday July 8, 2011

Why Scalia and Thomas Won't Always Agree

Did Justices Scalia and Thomas reach different conclusions in a recent case because of how their parents raised them? Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas are both “originalists, ” which means they aspire to interpret the Constitution in accordance with its meaning as understood by the …

Written by John Guardiano on Friday July 8, 2011

The Jobs Report is Awful, but a Default is Worse

While the latest jobs report is dismal, it is no excuse for Republicans to have no plan or their own or to push for a default. The latest jobs report is truly dismal in that it shows a slight gain in jobs. However, it isn't the "death blow" or sure sign of a double-dip recession that might send …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Friday July 8, 2011

The Debt Ceiling's Collective Action Trap

The debt ceiling vote is one where every Republican will want to be on the losing side. But if they all win then the country will lose. If you're a Republican elected official, you want two things from the debt-ceiling budget talks: 1) You want the talks to succeed - to produce a deal that …

Written by David Frum on Thursday July 7, 2011