Overview for FF Spotlight

Romney: No Apologies For Romneycare

In a speech Thursday, Mitt Romney defended his Massachusetts health care plan and argued that it didn't resemble the President's health reforms. Here is a link to Romney's power point slide. Here is where he defends the mandate: For some, Romney's ability to defend the …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday May 12, 2011

Journal's Romneycare Attack Misses the Mark

Today's Wall Street Journal savagely criticizes Mitt Romney's health care record. But their argument isn't very convincing. Today's Wall Street Journal savagely criticizes Mitt Romney's health care record. Let's try to reverse-engineer the editorial to see what the editors believe …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 12, 2011

Bin Laden's Kid Lashes Out

When I first heard that Osama Bin Laden's son Omar was calling his father's death a violation of international law, I had to assume it was a joke. One’s first reaction is that it’s a joke – a parody to attract attention. But no. It’s apparently for real. If so, it shows how hopeless it is to …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday May 12, 2011

What Congress Really Thinks of Canada

A new study looked at the Congressional record to find out what representatives and senators really think about our neighbor to the north. What do American members of Congress really think of Canada? Well, it depends on the issue. Indeed, a Fraser Institute study examining 1,830 mentions of …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday May 12, 2011

Toomey's Budget: Too Good to Be True

Sen. Toomey's budget proposal promises a budget surplus achieved painlessly through a combination of tax cuts and spending increases. It's not going to happen. I am mightily impressed by Sen. Toomey’s budget proposal. It promises to achieve a budget surplus and, most importantly, it does that …

Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Thursday May 12, 2011

Obama's Next Target: Corporate Tax Loopholes

The Obama administration is moving forward with corporate tax reform proposals and, although it’s too early to judge, many of them look pretty good at first blush. The Obama administration is moving forward with corporate tax reform proposals and, although it’s too early to judge, many of …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Wednesday May 11, 2011

What the GOP Can Learn from Canada's Conservatives

Canada's right wing won control of parliament this month — but their strategy on immigration and Tea Party-types wouldn't work in the United States. American conservatives are looking at Canada's Conservative Party election win for lessons. But as my latest column for The Week points out, it's …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 11, 2011

Newt's Challenge: What's His Selling Point?

Conservatives look to character and ideology when picking a president. As Newt Gingrich seeks the GOP nomination, these traditional grounds are unavailable to him. What's the most important quality in a president? Over the past 15 years, conservatives have often emphasized character. The …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 11, 2011

Newt Stumbles Out of the Starting Gate

Newt Gingrich's campaign infrastructure was much vaunted in the run up to his announcement this afternoon, but it appears to hobbling at the moment. Newt Gingrich's campaign infrastructure might have been much vaunted in the run up to his presidential campaign announcement this afternoon, but it …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday May 11, 2011

Quake Bill Means Big Debt After the Big One

A new bill to help subsidize the purchase of earthquake insurance in California could leave the federal government with a massive debt if a quake hits. One of the consequences of the recent Japanese earthquake is that legislation that might not be a good idea seems significantly more appealing. …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday May 11, 2011

Primary Field Falls Flat with GOP Voters

A new poll shows that GOP primary voters aren't excited about their choices. But there's one thing they're certain of: which candidates they'll never back. A new Zogby poll makes two things very clear. First, Republicans are very unexcited about this field. Only one “candidate,” Gov. Chris …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Wednesday May 11, 2011

Can Mitt Move Beyond Romneycare?

Romney's health care speech on Thursday is a necessity and a gamble. Either a total defense or repudiation of Romneycare could damage him with GOP or swing voters. It's perhaps hard not to feel some sympathy for the situation Mitt Romney has found himself in. By the close of the 2008 Republican …

Written by Fred Bauer on Wednesday May 11, 2011

Mitterrand's Disastrous Legacy

Thirty years ago this week, François Mitterrand's victory ushered in a period of Socialist policies which France is still struggling to undo. Thirty years ago this week, on May 10th 1981, François Mitterrand was elected president of France. For French socialists, it’s an event to be commemorated. …

Written by Jean Granville on Wednesday May 11, 2011

The Dems' Big Oil Tax Break Trap

Senate Democrats are circulating a bill to cinch up oil company tax loopholes and use the resulting revenue to pay down the deficit. Senate Democrats are circulating a bill to cinch up oil company tax loopholes and use the resulting revenue to pay down the deficit. The bill would take aim at …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Wednesday May 11, 2011

Rep. Canseco: Obama AWOL on Texas Wildfires

The president is headed to Texas for two fundraisers, but Rep. Quico Canseco wishes he would spend his time helping the state fight its disastrous wildfires. President Obama speaks this afternoon on immigration reform in El Paso, Texas, followed by two DNC events in Austin. But while the president …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday May 10, 2011

Pakistan: Pariah State to Investors

Pakistani investors have shrugged off their government's reckless confrontation with the U.S., but foreign investors aren't so sanguine. Domestic Pakistani investors have shrugged off their government's reckless courting of confrontation with the United States. International investors are not …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 10, 2011

Pakistan's Markets Not Worried About Rift With U.S.

Pakistani investors seem strangely unworried about possible consequences to their country from being caught harboring bin Laden. Pakistani investors seem strangely unworried about possible consequences to their country from being caught harboring bin Laden. Or by their government's decision to …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 10, 2011

Erick Erickson's Strange Loyalty Test

For RedState.com, true loyalty seems to be always putting party before country. Jon Huntsman’s candidacy is a good place to test whether that view is widely shared. A Huntsman supporter emailed Ben Smith a biting retort to RedState.com 's denunciation of the former Utah Governor. Ironic …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 10, 2011

GOP Cost-Cutting Takes Aim at Medicaid

While the GOP has taken a lot of heat for the Ryan plan’s Medicare cost-cutting proposals, switching their focus to Medicaid isn’t the right response. According to reports, the House GOP is considering plans to reduce spending on Medicaid rather than the more politically intractable Medicare or …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Tuesday May 10, 2011

Don't Link Debt Deal to Budget Amendment

Many conservatives are floating the idea of linking balanced budget amendment as the price for raising the debt ceiling. But this approach has some serious problems. More than a few conservatives are floating the idea that the passage of a balanced budget amendment should be the price for …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday May 9, 2011