Overview for FF Spotlight

Petraeus Must Fight for CIA

Members of the intel community praised the selection of Gen. Petraeus to head the CIA, but stressed that he would need to work hard to maintain the agency's morale. General David Petraeus is taking on a new job responsibility: if confirmed by the Senate, he will become the twenty-second CIA …

Written by Elise Cooper on Saturday April 30, 2011

A Health Care Race the U.S. Shouldn't Win

A new study claims that U.S. health spending is rising faster than in other countries. But will it spur Washington to finally start curbing costs? A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation comparing U.S. healthcare costs with the rest of the world is providing ammunition to both sides in the …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Saturday April 30, 2011

Canada's Election Wild Card

When reading Canadian polls 48 hours from an election, remember that Canadian party loyalty is much weaker - and Canadian opinion therefore more volatile - than in the US. When reading Canadian polls 48 hours from an election, remember that Canadian party loyalty is much weaker - and Canadian …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 30, 2011

Canada's Liberals Face Post-Election Shake-Up

The Liberals are unlikely to lose as badly in 2011 as the old Progressive Conservatives lost in 1993. But they may be facing the same kind of identity crisis. Polls are sometimes wrong. Voters sometimes - often, actually - change their minds during the final weekend of a campaign. That said: …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 30, 2011

Can the GOP Break Its Oil Addiction?

The House GOP wants to cut spending. Why then are they so reluctant to take on big oil's subsidies and tax breaks? The problem with intellectual inconsistency is that it usually comes back to bite you. The House Republican leadership is getting a painful lesson in this regard because of their …

Written by David Jenkins on Friday April 29, 2011

The Prowl: Yes, He Just Wasn’t Into Me

Last weekend was an objective disaster. After traveling all the way to NYC to see him, my boyfriend prioritized both the Celtics and napping over me. Last weekend was an objective disaster. To summarize, first, my investment banking boyfriend prioritized both the Celtics and napping over seeing …

Written by Vivian Darkbloom on Friday April 29, 2011

Trump's Next Reality Hit

Pundits are already making bets on whether "The Apprentice" survives. But if Trump plays his cards right, his reality career doesn't need to come to an end. Last week, I took a look at what happens when one well-off family allowed a camera crew to insinuate itself into their daily lives, back in …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday April 29, 2011

The Hockey Star Who Vanished

60 years ago, Bill Barilko scored one of the most famous goals in Toronto Maple Leafs history. It was also the last goal the 24-year-old ever scored. It was 60 years ago that the most famous goal in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs was scored in overtime, to win the Stanley Cup. It was …

Written by Peter Worthington on Friday April 29, 2011

Markets Won't Indulge GOP Debt Threats

The GOP’s debt ceiling threat has been tried before and last time the markets were quick to shoot it down. The GOP’s debt ceiling threat has been tried before and last time the markets were quick to shoot it down. Way back in antediluvian times—about l995—a very successful investor and Soros …

Written by Steve Bell on Friday April 29, 2011

Town Hall Rage: Hype or Reality?

It's easy to get lost in the 'Town Hall Descends into Mayhem' narrative but at many events, citizens and their representatives have managed to keep their cool. It's easy to get lost in the 'Town Hall Descends into Mayhem' narrative - after all, it's one of the few interesting stories that can be …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday April 28, 2011

Why Didn't GOP Stand Up to Birthers?

Abe Greenwald suggests that Obama deliberately exploited the birther pseudo-controversy. If he's right, why did the GOP play along so willingly? Abe Greenwald suggests at the Commentary blog that President Obama deliberately exploited the birth certificate pseudo-controversy. Greenwald …

Written by David Frum on Thursday April 28, 2011

Atlas Canned?

The producer of Atlas Shrugged is threatening to drop plans for sequels. But every Rand fan knows you can't let criticism get in the way of genius. Because of poor box office performance and very negative reviews, the producer of the movie version of Atlas Shrugged , John Aglialoro, has decided …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday April 27, 2011

Birthers Try Out a New Line of Attack

Some birthers are falling back on a second line of defense: even if Obama was born in this country, his father wasn't, making Obama "native born" but not "natural born". A historical curiosity: Some birthers are falling back on a second line of defense: even if President Obama was born in this …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday April 27, 2011

Norquist Moves to Nix Bipartisan Debt Plan

A new proposal by the Bipartisan Policy Center could make it easier to cut the debt. But some conservatives are already dismissing the plan for leaving revenue raising on the table. Can the debt be brought down if the Congress sets targets for how it wants to do it in dollar amounts? That is the …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday April 27, 2011

What Medicare's Boss Can Learn from Ryan

Yesterday, Medicare's head Dr. Don Berwick labeled Paul Ryan the real "rationer-in-chief." Berwick though may want to pay closer attention to part of the Ryan plan. You have to give the administration and congressional Democrats credit for talking point consistency. They’ve hammered away at one …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Tuesday April 26, 2011

Washington's Gas Price Blame Game

Both parties have responded to the gas price debate with the same old rhetoric: blaming greedy speculators or regulations on domestic drilling. Here we go again: Gasoline prices are dancing at or above $4 per gallon, and politicians on both sides of the aisle are dusting off tried-and-true …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Tuesday April 26, 2011

Barbour's Withdrawal Boosts Romney

Now that he's out of the race, Haley Barbour - the ultimate party regular - will gravitate to the party regulars' consensus choice: Mitt Romney. Who benefits from Barbour’s withdrawal? Short answer: Romney. Barbour would have been effective competition for support of Romney donors. As is, Barbour …

Written by David Frum on Monday April 25, 2011

GOP Freshmen Take Heat For Ryan's Medicare Plan

During the two week recess in their home districts, Republican freshmen are getting challenged by constituents for their votes on Medicare. During the two week recess in their home districts, Republican freshmen are getting challenged by constituents on their votes which would drastically change …

Written by Tim Mak on Monday April 25, 2011

Will Labor Board's Boeing Ruling Stand?

I'm still looking for a labor lawyer who thinks that the NLRB has much hope of prevailing in its recent complaint against Boeing. I'm still looking for a labor lawyer who thinks that the NLRB has much hope of prevailing in its recent complaint against Boeing. Anybody out there hear anything …

Written by David Frum on Monday April 25, 2011

How Norquist's Pledge Blocks Real Deficit Cuts

Economically, Grover Norquist's rule on what constitutes a "tax increase" makes little sense. And politically, it's making deficit reduction much more difficult. Eli Lehrer has an incisive piece on this page about Tom Coburn's "Gang of Six" tax proposals. I believe however that the proposals …

Written by David Frum on Monday April 25, 2011