Overview for FF Spotlight

Nuke Energy: The Next Casualty of Japan

The aftershocks from the Japan quake are being felt around the world: Nuclear energy projects are being suspended with knee-jerk swiftness and little thought. It's like watching a Japanese Monster B-Movie: Battered by two epically-scaled natural disasters and now a human-made emergency in the form …

Read more

Written by Tim Hodgson on Thursday March 17, 2011

College Degrees: No Longer Recession-Proof

In this recession, even a college degree won't protect you from joblessness. The recession is proving that even a college degree does not protect you from joblessness. This may fly in the face of the conventional wisdom but the evidence backs it up. A chart from a Cleveland Federal Reserve report …

Read more

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday March 17, 2011

The GOP's (Quiet) Wall Street Reg Rollback

Republican efforts to fix Dodd-Frank are a model for dealing with Obamacare: instead of grandstanding, the GOP is offering real, practical reforms. Republicans’ efforts to change the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation should  offer the party a model for how it should deal with President …

Read more

Written by Eli Lehrer on Thursday March 17, 2011

What Carville Gets Wrong (and Right)

James Carville may be a homer for the Democrats, but give the devil his due: he's willing to admit when he gets it wrong. James Carville will never be a favorite of mine.  His willingness to go on television and slander women who told true things about Bill Clinton had that ship sail along time …

Read more

Written by John Vecchione on Thursday March 17, 2011

Honor Killings are Always "Barbaric"

On Tuesday, Canadian MP Justin Trudeau took issue with describing honor killings as "barbaric." He's backtracking now, but it's too late to hide his goof-up. Even if one tries, it’s pretty hard to see Justin Trudeau as anything but something of a jerk. Yes, he’s an MP, but that’s no …

Read more

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday March 17, 2011

Cut Medicare for the Richer, Not the Younger

Paul Ryan's budget ideas make a lot of sense. But there's one problem: why load more burdens on those under 40? Paul Ryan's advance previews of his budget ideas make a lot of sense. But they are missing one important piece. Here's the Wisconsin Congressman, head of the House Budget …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday March 16, 2011

Nuke Critic: U.S. Has 23 Fukushima-Type Reactors

Could a Japanese style nuclear disaster happen in the United States? Could a Japanese style nuclear disaster happen here?  There are currently 23 GE nuclear plants currently operating in the United States with a design that is identical to the Japanese Fukushima Daiichi installation which has …

Read more

Written by Shawn F Summers on Wednesday March 16, 2011

The Trouble with Gold Bugs

If it's socialism for government to fix the price of copper, how is it libertarianism for government to fix the price of gold? ... is splendidly summed up in today's House testimony by Lewis Lehrman. A dollar convertible to gold would provide the necessary Federal Reserve discipline to …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday March 16, 2011

The Right Way to Defend Nuke Power

The accident in Japan shouldn't make us abandon nuclear energy. The nuke industry though is doing a poor job convincing the public. The tragedy in Japan has led to much criticism of nuclear energy (mostly by the left), attempts to defend it (mostly by the right), and a lot of confused and …

Read more

Written by Charles Kozierok on Wednesday March 16, 2011

Is It Time for "Gaza Dictatorship Month"?

While the world is busy marking the annual hate-fest that is Israel Apartheid Week, students at Gaza’s Al-Azhar’s University are being attacked by Hamas. While thousands of students and academics around the world exercise their democratic right to protest in the name of Israel Apartheid Week (an …

Read more

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Wednesday March 16, 2011

Vendetta Time in Egypt?

The Washington Times' Eli Lake is seeing ominous signs that the new Egyptian government may be moving against allies of the former Mubarak regime. Eli Lake discerns some ominous harbingers in Egypt. The detention of an Egyptian industrial leader is raising new fears that those who prospered …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday March 16, 2011

Palin Slides Among Republicans

The latest ABC/Washington Post poll shows that Palin's unfavorable numbers with Republican voters are at an all-time high. The Hill reports : Palin's unfavorable numbers with Republicans are at an all-time high in  the new ABC/Washington Post poll released Wednesday, which shows other top …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday March 16, 2011

What if Sarah Palin Were President *Now*

With the economy, Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan, Libya and Egypt, the President has a few things to worry about. Does anyone still think Palin was up for the job? The economy, Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen.  Needless to say, the President of the United States has a few …

Read more

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Wednesday March 16, 2011

GOP Votes Against Climate Change Reality

By refusing to acknowledge that global warming is real, Republicans have opted for a pathetic denial of reality. Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have just voted to deny reality. In particular, they voted against an amendment offered by ranking Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman …

Read more

Written by Kenneth Silber on Tuesday March 15, 2011

Is the GOP Backbench Rebelling?

Fifty-four Republicans defected on the latest continuing resolution. Fifty-four Republican defections on the latest Continuing Resolution.

Read more

Written by David Frum on Tuesday March 15, 2011

Will GOP Back Benefit Cuts on Military Retirees?

State governors are reacting to deficits by cutting public employee benefits. Now similar cutbacks are being proposed at the federal level for military retirees. The teachers must be wishing they wore uniforms. Governors across the country are reacting to deficits by cutting - or trying to cut …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Tuesday March 15, 2011

The GOP's Oil Drilling Pipe Dream

The unrest in the Middle East is leading to an uptick in gas prices. But the GOP’s solution, more domestic drilling, won’t bring voters relief at the pump. Here we go again. Every time gasoline prices spike, no matter the reason, Republican leaders and talk radio’s libertarian elite reach for …

Read more

Written by David Jenkins on Tuesday March 15, 2011

2012 GOP Field: Who's Got the Best Jobs Plan?

The next GOP presidential nominee faces a tough question: what's your plan to create jobs? How ready are the candidates to answer? An F F survey finds: not very. The next Republican nominee for president will have to face the question: what is your plan to create jobs in America. How ready are …

Read more

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Monday March 14, 2011

Regs: Sometimes There Really is a Slippery Slope

Mandating carbon monoxide detectors may not mean tyranny, but its important to remember that regulations aren't always about the public interest. Frum Forum 's Noah Kristula-Green raises an eyebrow at conservatives or libertarians who oppose mandatory carbon-monoxide detectors. Fine. Carbon-mo…

Read more

Written by Jean Granville on Monday March 14, 2011

Does Obama Prefer a Qaddafi Victory?

The White House has moved slowly on Libya. Does Obama genuinely want to see Qaddafi toppled or has he decided that America is better off with his regime in place? The Obama administration has moved slowly on Libya. My latest CNN column asks: has the White House decided America will be better off …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Monday March 14, 2011