Overview for FF Spotlight

FF Exclusive: Did Weiner Lie to President Obama?

Rep. Weiner may have lied to Obama directly about his Twitter scandal--denying outright to the president that he tweeted a lewd photo of himself to a college student. Rep. Anthony Weiner may have lied to President Obama directly about his Twitter scandal--denying outright to Obama that he tweeted …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday June 9, 2011

America's Debt Bill Comes Due

Politicians are jockeying for position as the bill comes due on our gaping national debt. But without an agreement soon, we'll all be stuck with the check. Politicians are jockeying for position as the bill comes due on our gaping national debt. As I explain in my latest column for The Week …

Written by David Frum on Thursday June 9, 2011

Did Geithner Really Kill The Recovery?

The Left is focusing their ire on Treasury Secretary Geithner, accusing him of pushing austerity measures that have weakened the economic recovery. Zachary Goldfarb’s reporting in the Washington Post has revealed an important piece of information about why the economy is slowing down. Forget …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday June 9, 2011

Are Voters Ready for a Mormon Prez?

Romney is often derided as a flip-flopper. A new poll though reveals that voters' biggest issue with him may be the one belief he's held on to his entire life: his religion. Political watchers claim that the greatest impediment standing between Mitt Romney and the White House is his almost comic …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday June 9, 2011

GOP Rallies Support For Budget Reform

Calls for Congress to adopt a two-year budget process first emerged decades ago. But now Republicans are seriously pushing the idea in the debt limit talks. Republicans in Congress have begun to force talks on budget process reform, starting with instituting a two-year (biennial) budget, …

Written by Steve Bell on Wednesday June 8, 2011

T-Paw Needs More Than Google to Cut Deficit

Tim Pawlenty’s “google test” is a pretty good idea. But it’s not likely to save lots of taxpayer money or significantly cut the size and scope of government. I like Tim Pawlenty’s economic plan a little better than David Frum . Although they aren’t revolutionary, I’m happy to cheer for most of …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Wednesday June 8, 2011

Librarians Defend Teen Gore

An enormous Twitterstorm has arisen over a WSJ reviewer's expose of the increasingly gruesome and sensationalistic books being targeted at teenagers. An enormous Twitterstorm has arisen over a Wall Street Journal reviewer's expose of the increasingly gruesome and sensationalistic books being …

Written by Tessa Berenson on Tuesday June 7, 2011

GOP's 2012 Choice: Romney... Or Obama

Normally, Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are polar opposites. Today though the two figures have something in common: a new poll shows both on political life support. On the political spectrum, Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are polar opposites. Normally, that is. Today, the two figures have …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Tuesday June 7, 2011

Peru's New Prez: Closet Chavez Fan?

Ollanta Humala says his commitment is to economic growth and social inclusion. Is it possible he changed his ideology and became the pragmatic leader Peru needs? On Sunday, June 5, Peruvians had a difficult election to make. On the runoff for the presidential elections they had to choose between …

Written by Daniela Chacón Arias on Tuesday June 7, 2011

Pawlenty's Tax Cuts Won't Boost Jobs

Tim Pawlenty wants his economic policy to generate jobs, but lower taxes on upper-income earners might not do the trick. During the Q&A session of Pawlenty's economic policy speech Tuesday in Chicago, he was asked a simple question: why do we need even more tax cuts? The questioner noted that …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday June 7, 2011

Weiner's Digital Flashing

Who finds fulfillment, sexual or otherwise, from a three-year series of sexually explicit electronic-only relationships that never lead to physical intimacy? A quick thought about Rep. Anthony Weiner: if his account is true, it seems pretty obvious that he is an exhibitionist who gets off on …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday June 7, 2011

Obama Woos Angela Merkel

President Obama has by honoring Angela Merkel’s path and achievement tried to remind Germany to punch according to its heavyweight class. It is hard to judge whether Barack Obama is an avid Spider-Man fan or not, but with his latest humble reception of Angela Merkel, Obama indirectly underlined …

Written by Robin Tim Weis on Tuesday June 7, 2011

Weinergate: It's None Of Our Business

Do any of us really “win” when a public official is disgraced and humiliated? It seems to me that all of us are losers in this sad and sordid affair. They got him, and they are exulting. “Best. Press. Conference. EVAH!” tweeted a jubilant Robert Stacy McCain after Rep. Anthony Weiner’s …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday June 7, 2011

Reporter Gets Payback on Weiner

A few days ago, Rep. Weiner's staff called the police on WCBS New York reporter Marcia Kramer. Kramer though may have gotten the last laugh at today's presser. I noticed an interesting little detail regarding Andrew Breitbart's impromptu introductory remarks at Rep. Anthony Weiner's press …

Written by Mark R. Yzaguirre on Monday June 6, 2011

Hey Weiner: Sexting Isn't Sexy

Men view sexting differently than women do. Weiner’s belief that woman would want to see an image of his erection isn’t just misguided, it’s almost predatory. Two of the lessons constantly drilled into the female psyches of my generation are, ‘ Nothing is private on the internet, especially …

Written by Tessa Berenson on Monday June 6, 2011

Does Pawlenty Have a Jobs Plan?

On Tuesday, Tim Pawlenty will unveil his economic policy. So far, he's focused on tackling the debt, but will his speech also have serious policies to spur job growth? On Tuesday, Tim Pawlenty will deliver his big economic policy speech in Chicago, promising a "specific plan for boosting the …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Monday June 6, 2011

GOP Fringe Plays Into Obama's Strategy

The weak economy gives the GOP a good chance to win in 2012. Unfortunately, the party's fringe is distracting voters from Obama's dismal economic record. The weak economy gives the GOP a good chance to win in 2012. Unfortunately, as I discuss in my latest column for CNN.com, the GOP's fringe is …

Written by David Frum on Monday June 6, 2011

GOP Senate Pick-Up No Sure Thing

Republicans cannot and should not take a Senate takeover for granted. With Democrats defending at least eight seats Republicans could conceivably win, the GOP has the best opportunity of the decade to change the composition of the United States Senate. Although it would take a much better …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday June 6, 2011

Republicans Go Wobbly on Libya

The GOP is right to worry that Obama hasn't explained our aims in Libya. But backing Kucinich's Libya bill was the wrong way to express these concerns. Donald Rumsfeld famously said that a nation goes to war with the army it has, and not necessarily the army it wishes it had. Rumsfeld caught a …

Written by John Guardiano on Monday June 6, 2011

Romney's Climate Change Straight Talk

Tim Pawlenty was rightly praised for speaking out against ethanol subsidies. But why hasn't Romney received accolades for telling a more dangerous truth? When Tim Pawlenty called for a (gradual) end to ethanol subsidies, he won accolades as a "truth teller." Surely he deserved them, even if (as F …

Written by David Frum on Monday June 6, 2011