Overview for FF Spotlight

The Prowl: There Are Bigger Weiners Out There

Anthony Weiner might be gone, but there are many other guys who are just like him. The very day I returned from my leisurely vacation in Argentina--having perfected the phrase "una cervesa por favor" and had my fill of dancing til 6AM and Iberico ham--I came back to an America in which …

Written by Vivian Darkbloom on Friday June 17, 2011

Can You Define What A Sport Is?

What counts as a sport? Two key criteria are physical exertion and competition, which leaves in bowling and competitive cheerleading. In a recent interview I gave to Gelf Magazine , I was asked: “Are the following ‘sports’: gymnastics, golf, archery, bowling, cheerleading, weightlifting?” …

Written by Alan Hirsch on Friday June 17, 2011

AMC Makes A 'Killing' With Crime Series

AMC's crime drama "The Killing" harkens back not only to David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" but also owes an unlikely debt to series headlined by working class women like "Roseanne." This weekend, after 13 episodes, one of cable's more buzzed-about new series, AMC Network's crime drama The Killing , …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday June 17, 2011

What "Moneyball" Misses About Baseball

The mammoth best seller Moneyball revolutionized baseball. Sheldon and Alan Hirsch have provided the first sensible rebuttal to the Moneyball approach. Over the last decade mathematicians have overrun the world of sports. Experts now scoff at conventional statistics like win-lose records, passer …

Written by Nat Frum on Friday June 17, 2011

Norquist Loses in Ethanol Subsidy Fight

During the debate over ending ethanol subsidies, Tom Coburn was the fiscal conservative while Grover Norquist was a fiscal phony. The media largely framed the debate over ethanol subsidies between Senator Tom Coburn and Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist as a contrast between two …

Written by J.D. Hamel on Friday June 17, 2011

Logic More Endangered Than Historic Sites

Who should defend old buildings and determine their historic worth? Even when structures are worth saving, private interests, not government, should decide. As it has every year for nearly a quarter century, the National Trust for Historic Preservation released a list of the America’s “most …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Thursday June 16, 2011

Debate Highlighted GOP's Far Right Turn

The Republican nominee is likely to position him or herself as the most conservative candidate to seek the Presidency in my lifetime -- more conservative than Goldwater in 1964 Watching the Republican presidential debate from Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday night was, for me, akin to a …

Written by Les Francis on Thursday June 16, 2011

Fanatics' Actions Don't Define U.S. Muslims

Gingrich defended his Muslims-as-Nazis stance by citing a Pakistani American who tried to bomb Times Square. What about the heroic Pakistani American killed on 9/11? On the stage at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire Monday night, Tim Pawlenty offered a definition of religious freedom: "The …

Written by Kapil Komireddi on Wednesday June 15, 2011

Huntsman Candidacy A Boon For GOP

Huntsman’s entry is positive for the GOP -- he reemphasizes the primacy of the economy, brings youth appeal and adds a cool composure that will appease partisan-weary voters. As FrumForum noted a few hours ago, former governor of Utah Jon Huntsman Jr. will officially announce his candidacy this …

Written by Stephen Richer on Tuesday June 14, 2011

Are Obama's Billions Backfiring?

Sustained productivity growth comes only as a result of capital investment that meets market needs. Simply throwing money at building roads, bridges, manufacturing plants or whatever doesn’t do the trick. The question worth asking now is pretty simple: will America’s current capital investment …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday June 13, 2011

U.S. Must Not Defeat Itself In Afghanistan

The cost of winning the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan is quite modest and quite manageable. The cost of losing, by contrast, could prove catastrophic for the United States. Say this for Congressional Democrats: When it comes to national defense and foreign policy, they are at least …

Written by John Guardiano on Monday June 13, 2011

Big Banks Fight Small Business Jobs Bill

Next week, the Senate will consider a bill that will free up business credit and create thousands of jobs without costing the U.S. a dime. So why are banks trying to kill it? Next week, the Senate will hold hearings on something called the “Small Business Lending Enhancement Act.” On its …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Saturday June 11, 2011

The Prowl: Keep Your Weiner to Yourself

Sending half-naked photos of yourself to random strangers on the internet is not acceptable behavior. Unfortunately, I've been the recipient of such messages. This week, I feel obligated to weigh in on the whole Anthony Weiner fiasco. I switched on three different nightly news programs earlier …

Written by Vivian Darkbloom on Friday June 10, 2011

When Sports Figures Go Rogue

Tressel's story is sadder than similar escapades involving ethically challenged coaches who didn’t try to conceal their willingness to push the ethical envelope. Jim Tressel, the mega-successful Ohio State football coach long admired for his religiously inspired ethical values, recently …

Written by Alan Hirsch on Friday June 10, 2011

"Tree of Life": Malick's Beautiful Misstep

Terrence Malick's Tree of Life is visually appealing and boasts all-star actors Sean Penn and Brad Pitt. But it lacks the storytelling needed to keep viewers awake. Usually the late spring and early summer's movie offerings are synonymous with light-as-a-feather, empty calorie escapist fare. …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday June 10, 2011

Technical Default? Don't Even Think About It

Senator Toomey is claiming that a technical default will be relatively painless. Every message from Wall Street is telling him he's wrong. This past week, differing assessments of the effect of a “technical default” on United States sovereign debt widened the debt ceiling split among …

Written by Steve Bell on Friday June 10, 2011

Obamacare's Tough Day In Court

Before the 11th Circuit panel heard the case, opponents of Obamacare had been told they would be laughed out of court. Instead, they have made a fight of it. The 11th Circuit has heard argument on the constitutionality of Obamacare. The duelists were Neal Katyal for the government (on loan from …

Written by John Vecchione on Friday June 10, 2011

Palin's PAC Piggy Bank

The release of Stephen Bannon's movie is prompting conservatives to wonder if Palin might after all run for president. But the Edwards indictment may give her pause. The release of Stephen Bannon's movie is prompting some conservatives to wonder hopefully or worriedly that Sarah Palin might …

Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

Newt's Loss, Perry's Gain

The resignation of Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign staff might turn out to be an epic win for Texas Governor Rick Perry. The big political news on Thursday involved the en masse resignation of Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign staff. It goes without saying that this isn't good news …

Written by Mark R. Yzaguirre on Thursday June 9, 2011

Newt's Implosion

Newt's campaign has collapsed so rapidly, abruptly, and seemingly hopelessly that it seems incredible anybody could ever have thought of his as a serious candidate. The Gingrich campaign has collapsed so rapidly, so abruptly, and so seemingly hopelessly that it seems incredible that anybody could …

Written by David Frum on Thursday June 9, 2011