Overview for FF Spotlight

Libya's Oil Shock Wake Up Call

With Libya in turmoil, the U.S. is getting another reminder of the dangers of tying our economy to unstable, uncontrollable petro nations. With Libya’s rancid Qaddafi regime coming apart at the seams, the U.S. is getting another reminder – as if one were needed – of the dangers of tying the U.S. …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Friday February 25, 2011

Why Can't the West Crack Down on Piracy?

This week, four Americans were murdered by Somali pirates, the latest proof that the West's attempts to combat this problem are falling short. Now that Somali pirates have finally killed some Americans, perhaps a more “robust” policy will be instituted to curb this blight. Jean and Scott …

Written by Peter Worthington on Friday February 25, 2011

Congress Passes the Buck on Budget Cuts

The fudged numbers used to calculate the Senate's $41 billion cuts and the $61 billion in House cuts make it clear: Congress is content to just talk about the debt. The House passed a version of the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution (CR) for Appropriations last week. The House GOP leadership …

Written by Steve Bell on Friday February 25, 2011

Gay Rights Groups to Obama: Repeal DOMA

Obama's decision to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court was welcomed by the gay community, but many wish he had gone further. The Obama administration's decision to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in federal court was welcomed by the gay community, to be …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday February 24, 2011

Where Were Qaddafi's Critics All This Time?

Switzerland has frozen Qaddafi's assets and human rights groups are urging intervention. But where were they a month ago when Qaddafi was just as heinous? It's been a bad 24 hours for Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhāfi (as Daniel Pipes tells us to spell the name): The Obama administration has urged that …

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 24, 2011

Walker Prankster: The James O'Keefe of the Left

Wednesday, Gov. Scott Walker was “punked” by Ian Murphy. But Murphy might be taken more seriously if he hadn't attacked the the right's best known prank artist. Yesterday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was “punked” by Ian Murphy, editor of the Buffalo Beast , an alternative, local newspaper. …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday February 24, 2011

State Pension Funds: Who's in Worst Shape?

Which states have the worst pension fund liabilities? Here's a hint: both of Obama's home states make the list. Here are the states in worst liability shape according to Pew : Hawaii, $16.6 billion in liabilities, only 69% funded. Kentucky, $34 billion in liabilities, only 64% funded. …

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 24, 2011

Boehner Can't Win the Shutdown

A new poll shows most GOP operatives opposed to a government shutdown. No doubt they remember what happened the last time. For members of Congress swept into the House on a surge of populist Tea Party support, shutting down the federal government may sound like a principled stand to take against …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday February 24, 2011

America's Secret Trillion Dollar Debt

When times were good, governors who cut taxes received praise for their "tough" fiscal conservatism. But they may have left taxpayers with a $1 trillion tab. A PS to my recent column about the huge mind-crunching pension liabilities of state governments: $1 trillion in total, according to the …

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 24, 2011

Germany's Defense Minister: Busted for Plagiarism

Germany's defense minister is feeling the heat after admitting he plagiarized his doctoral thesis. Will academics now look back at the degrees earned by other politicians? Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg, Germany’s Minister of Defense, is an aristocrat and political superstar. Articulate, …

Written by Robin Tim Weis on Thursday February 24, 2011

Is Arab Democracy an Oxymoron?

The West is hopeful that democracy will flourish in Egypt, but so far history has yet to produce one example of a truly democratic Arab state. When Natan Sharansky published The Case for Democracy a year after the US-led invasion of Iraq, he ignited a debate about the likeliness of democracy …

Written by Emmanuel Navon on Wednesday February 23, 2011

What Walker Could Learn from Daniels

Critics may blast Daniels for not pushing right-to-work legislation, but Daniels has shown why he is a excellent governor and should run for president. Mitch Daniels once again showed that he is not interested in running for president . And by doing so, he has shown why he should. Governor …

Written by Max Eden on Tuesday February 22, 2011

Thune's Out. Who Gains?

Today, South Dakota Senator John Thune announced that he wouldn't run for president in 2012. What does his decision mean for the rest of the GOP field? If you work on the assumption that the 2012 GOP nomination contest is a battle between Romney and not-Romney, John Thune's departure helps …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 22, 2011

The Young and Jobless: Does Either Party Care?

Washington is doing precious little to reduce unemployment especially amongst the young. Why is this problem such a low priority for both political parties? Washington is doing precious little to reduce unemployment especially amongst the young. My latest column for CNN.com asks: why is this …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 22, 2011

Can Qaddafi Survive Libya's Revolt?

After some 42 years of erratic rule – the longest in Africa - Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi deserves to be bounced. But it won’t be easy or bloodless. Will Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi be the next dictator to bite the dust? After some 42 years of erratic rule – the longest in Africa - he certainly …

Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday February 22, 2011

Keane Sees Success in Afghanistan

In a recent interview on Fox News, retired General Jack Keane highlighted the U.S. military's successes in the fight against the Taliban. Retired General Jack Keane was one of the architects of the surge in Iraq. He spoke with Fox News’ Bret Bair last night. And while Keane didn’t explicitly …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday February 22, 2011

Why the GOP Couldn't Win in 2008

Today, Laura Ingraham posed an important question to Donald Rumsfeld on her show: Would Obama be president today if the Iraq war hadn't happened? Laura Ingraham just posed an important question to Donald Rumsfeld on her radio program. Would Barack Obama be president today if the Iraq war had …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 22, 2011

Bust the College Tuition Bubble

A new study provides compelling evidence that while elite colleges are charging more, students may be getting less value from their degrees. David Leonhardt compiles the evidence in favor of my 2008 prediction of the busting of the college tuition bubble. Some politicians suggest that the …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 22, 2011

How Murkowski Trumped Palin

Sarah Palin may grab today's headlines, but by quietly moving to the center her longtime rival Sen. Lisa Murkowski holds a brighter political future. It could be said that Alaska has three lucrative exports: oil, fish and Sarah Palin. But while America’s most famous hockey mom has been soaking …

Written by Max Strong on Tuesday February 22, 2011

A Revolt the Realists Never Saw Coming

One of the great joys of the Arab uprisings in Egypt and Libya is seeing self-styled realists like Stephen M. Walt proved so wrong. Steven M. Walt, one of the authors of The Israeli Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy is at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. The thrust of his …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday February 22, 2011