Overview for FF Spotlight

Whose 'Better Life' Is It Anyway?

'A Better Life' is somewhat dated, but this movie about illegal immigrants is a pungent reminder of problems that still haven't been solved. Against the backdrop of this weekend's all-American celebrations, one of the more talked-about indie films coming out is the story of an immigrant Mexican …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday July 1, 2011

Girls Will Be Girls - Regardless of Pronouns

You won't close the achievement gap between boys and girls by getting rid of pronouns like “him” and “her”. Issues involving gender bias as it pertains to education of young children have been a topic of much concern and debate in recent years. On the morning of June 27th, I watched CNN’s …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Friday July 1, 2011

The Prowl: The Singleton's Wedding Dilemma

While I am happy to attend my friends weddings, going to them is bankrupting me and making me incredibly socially anxious. Yet another friend of mine this week became engaged. This will be my second engagement party so far this summer, on top of two weddings. I can only imagine what next summer …

Written by Vivian Darkbloom on Friday July 1, 2011

Pity the West Virginia Mountaineers

Can West Virginian football fans overcome the resignation of their old coach Bill Stewart? I like West Virginia. Some of my closest friends hail from the mountaineer state, and they’re good-natured about its unglamorous reputation. West Virginians are salt of the Earth – loyal and decent, …

Written by Alan Hirsch on Friday July 1, 2011

Can Students Focus on Self-Development?

Since the college degree has decreased in value, its time for college to refocus on being about self-development. This is the third part in a FrumForum series on the value of college written by FrumForum's summer interns. I spent my first year of college with no unique desires to learn – …

Written by Nicole Glass on Friday July 1, 2011

Not All Students Are Equally Studious

Not all students work equally hard. The problem is that too many students are just paying and showing up for college, not working. This is the third part in a FrumForum series on the value of college written by FrumForum's summer interns. I am currently a student at Georgetown University’s …

Written by Fred Messner on Friday July 1, 2011

College is About Skills, Not Wages

The skill-set that college gives us to allows us to navigate the real world and the careers within it are much more important than a bump up on the wage bracket. This is the second part in a FrumForum series on the value of college written by FrumForum's summer interns. Once, a great …

Written by Robert Lee on Friday July 1, 2011

Log Cabin Director: Donors Want an Inclusive GOP

FrumForum contacted Log Cabin director R. Clarke Cooper to comment on his recent appointment to the RNC finance committee. FrumForum contacted Log Cabin director R. Clarke Cooper to comment on his recent appointment to the RNC finance committee: It is worth noting there is a developing …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Friday July 1, 2011

Obama Puts Congress on Notice

Obama has taken off the gloves in his fight with Congress over the debt ceiling increase. In his statement and news conference yesterday, President Obama decided to take off the gloves in his fight with Congress over the debt ceiling increase. His performance should stand as a reminder to …

Written by Steve Bell on Thursday June 30, 2011

There is No Upside to a Default

Can anyone explain to me slowly what exactly congressional Republicans are doing on the debt ceiling? Can anyone explain to me slowly what exactly congressional Republicans are doing on the debt ceiling? Yes, I perfectly understand the need to restrain borrowing (relative to GDP), …

Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Thursday June 30, 2011

Obamacare Won't Die in the Courts

The Sixth Circuit's decision upholding the constitutionality of Obamacare is a death knell for the current strategy to repeal the bill. The Sixth Circuit's decision upholding the constitutionality of President Obama's massive health reform bill is a death knell for the current Republican strategy …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Wednesday June 29, 2011

Obamacare Divides the Sixth Circuit Court

The many opinions from the Sixth Circuit Court show why you can't predict judges based on who appointed them. Say what you want about Obamacare, it has generated tremendous opinions on first principles of Congressional and Constitutional power. A little while ago, the Sixth Circuit rejected a …

Written by John Vecchione on Wednesday June 29, 2011

Free Conrad Black

One of the remarkable things about Conrad Black's trial is that even his fiercest detractors are paying tribute to the man's character. In my column for The Week I argue against the recent decision to send Conrad Black back to prison: Of all the ugly aspects of the American prosecutorial …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday June 29, 2011

The Supreme Court Does Not Work for Big Business

Another Roberts-led Supreme Court term has ended, and journalists are again claiming the court is owned by business interests. Another Roberts-led Supreme Court term has ended, and another journalistic “the-Court-is-overwhelmingly-and-blatantly-pro-business” season has begun. Consider the …

Written by Stephen Richer on Wednesday June 29, 2011

Can Conservatives Accept Success in Fighting Terror?

America is winning the War on Terror, but some conservatives seem reluctant to accept the gains they fought so hard to achieve. America is winning the War on Terror. At least by the most visible metrics, that is. As David Frum wrote for FrumForum, the death of Osama bin Laden was the …

Written by Fred Messner on Wednesday June 29, 2011

Did New York's Marriage Vote Change Anything?

For all the hype surrounding New York’s vote to legalize same-sex marriage, gay couples will still be denied many legal rights. For all the hype surrounding New York’s vote to legalize same-sex marriage, a number of points stand out. The first: gay marriage was already legal in New York, …

Written by Ron Hill on Tuesday June 28, 2011

My Gay Marriage Harms Nobody

Despite what some would argue, same-sex marriage is not the end of the world. It’s just allowing that world to get a little bit bigger. On September 15, 2007, I got married. It was a pretty normal, run-of-the-mill event -- as weddings are. It was held in a small, picturesque Episcopal Church …

Written by Dennis Sanders on Tuesday June 28, 2011

First Amendment Tour De Farce

If California thinks simulated beatings of women are obscene, who is Justice Scalia is to argue with them? Can kids now sue their parents for confiscating their video games? Two rulings from the Supreme Court before they get out of town have illuminated the broad, almost, unrestricted view the …

Written by John Vecchione on Monday June 27, 2011

Same-Sex Marriage: A Dissenting Opinion

Same-sex marriage is the equivalent of the government mandating that two plus two equals five. Those who continue to say it equals four will be punished. David Frum has now thrown in the towel on same sex “marriage” . In point of fact his original view was correct. This conjugal view of …

Written by John Vecchione on Monday June 27, 2011

Here's How To Get To A Debt Ceiling

Here’s the dirty little secret of the endlessly protracted debt ceiling negotiations —it actually isn’t that hard to meet the targets set out by either side. The theatrics of the past two weeks aside, the wink and the nod seem to be already communicated as the President, the Speaker of the …

Written by Steve Bell on Monday June 27, 2011