Overview for FF Spotlight

GOP Wants Deal, Tea Party Wants Shutdown

At a Capitol Hill rally, Republicans urged Sen. Reid to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government. But at another rally, conservatives cheered for a shutdown. Freshman Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) at the press conference. House Republicans held the latest in a series of …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Pawlenty: Big in Canada

Canada's Liberal Party claims that a new Stephen Harper campaign ad bears a strong similarity to a recent Tim Pawlenty commercial. The Globe and Mail writes this morning that "a slick new Conservative television ad that seeks to present Stephen Harper as a statesmanlike leader bears an unusual …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Obama Moves to Heal Rift with Merkel

The White House announcement of a state dinner for Chancellor Angela Merkel comes at a low point in US-German relations. The recent White House statement announcing that Angela Merkel would receive her “Medal of Freedom” at a June 7th state dinner came as a surprise to many. The last state …

Written by Robin Tim Weis on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Ryan's Rosy Job Numbers: Fact or Fantasy?

Ryan's budget has received the most criticism for his unemployment figures. FF spoke to the source of the numbers to see if they add up. The element of the new Ryan/GOP budget which has received the most condemnation and in some cases mockery are the unemployment figures. Specifically, the Ryan …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Will Congress Buy Ryan's No Nonsense Budget?

Paul Ryan has taken the great leap forward by proposing a budget which tackles the real drivers of our debt crisis. But is Washington ready to act? Paul Ryan, House Budget Committee Chairman and realist, has taken the great leap. He has publicly proposed a budget resolution for Fiscal Year …

Written by Steve Bell on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Is Gates Undercutting Obama on Libya?

The blogosphere is up in arms after Secretary Gates' promise to Congress that there will be no ground troops in Libya. Is he overriding the president's foreign policy? Is Defense Secretary Robert Gates guilty of “insubordination”? Jennifer Rubin and Mark Thiessen think so. This because Gates …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Is GOP Overplaying Shutdown Card?

By risking a shutdown over the 15% of the budget devoted to non-mandatory spending is the GOP losing political capital for the entitlement spending fight? Threatening to shut down the government over spending is certainly an effective, if drastic, measure. In principle, its good--even admirable--t…

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Big Labor Pushes for a Judicial Coup D'etat

In Wisconsin, opponents of Gov. Walker's union bill are backing a leftist candidate in hopes of unseating a conservative Supreme Court justice. Will their power play work? The election of judges has a long and storied history in the United States. While federal judges get lifetime appointments, …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Ryan: 'It's Not A Budget, It's A Cause'

Tuesday morning, Rep. Paul Ryan unveiled his 2012 fiscal year budget proposal, calling for close to $6 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years. 12:57pm: The last question to Ryan: do you regret your vote on TARP? Ryan: No. I hate TARP, but …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday April 5, 2011

What's at Stake in Ryan's Budget

Paul Ryan’s budget plan could spur an intelligent conversation on spending. But what we’ll probably hear from the left are the same scare tactics and budget cut horror stories. Tomorrow, Rep. Paul Ryan will release his highly anticipated budget plan. Early reports suggest that along with …

Written by J.D. Hamel on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Don't Bank Our Future on Oil We May Not Have

Advocates of more drilling often cite figures on America's unproven reserves to push their arguments. But relying on those figures could leave the U.S. in a bigger energy jam. Over the weekend, I noticed that an op-ed in Investor’s Business Daily took me to task for citing “proven” oil …

Written by David Jenkins on Tuesday April 5, 2011

GOP Freshmen Flex Clout in Budget Fight

Freshman Republicans gathered on the Senate’s steps Monday calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass the GOP continuing resolution. Republican Freshman Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), whose office organized the event, speaks at the press conference. Freshman Republicans …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Obama's KSM Flip-Flop: A Win for Bush

After reversing course and embracing the very policies he criticized as a candidate and tried to undo as president, Obama may owe George W. Bush an apology. When George W. Bush was president, then candidate Barack Hussein Obama railed against indefinite detention and military tribunals. After …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday April 5, 2011

How the GOP Could Win by Cutting Defense

When they meet at the White House Tuesday the GOP may need to concede on defense spending to win cuts in entitlements. But is the trade-off worth it? When they meet at the White House Tuesday , Some Democrats will ask for military spending cuts as part of any budget deal while some Republicans …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Ryan's 2012 Budget: Radical or Realistic?

Tuesday, Paul Ryan will formally present the Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2012. Here's a primer on the new budget proposals biggest question marks. Tuesday, Paul Ryan will formally present the Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2012 at noon. Frum Forum will liveblog the presentation of the …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday April 5, 2011

2012 Won't be Won in Chicago

Team Obama's set up HQ in Chicago and launched their 2012 bid. But can they govern as well as they campaign, especially when so far removed from Washington? Well, the suspense is over. President Barack Obama is going to be a candidate for reelection in 2012. Whew! It’s not clear why such an …

Written by Les Francis on Monday April 4, 2011

Obama's Reelection Edge

Obama's ratings aren't stellar (at about 47%), but they're in the same ballpark as Clinton, Reagan, and Nixon's were at the same point. And they were reelected in landslides. Here's one major political factoid on President Obama's side: all three post-World War II incumbents who lost their bids …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday April 4, 2011

The Tea Party Must Learn it Doesn't Run the Country

Conservative Republicans are debating the budget without realizing that they don't represent the entire country or all its citizens. The next deadline for Congressional action on a comprehensive appropriations bill for the remainder of the current fiscal year is fast approaching. A bill has to be …

Written by Les Francis on Monday April 4, 2011

GOP Gets Budget Cuts Even Without Shutdown

Over the course of the budget negotiations, the Republicans have managed to make real cuts in discretionary spending. Three quick thoughts about the possibility of a government shutdown which could happen on Friday if Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on a budget: 1. It’s probably not …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday April 4, 2011

ROTC Returns to the Ivy League

In a welcomed development, the ROTC program will be returning to Columbia University. This marks the end of a long-running cultural battle. On Friday, April 1, the University Senate at Columbia University voted in favor of supporting the return of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) …

Written by Mark R. Yzaguirre on Monday April 4, 2011