Overview for FF Spotlight

Did CIA Drop the Ball on Egypt?

Some in Congress are blaming the CIA for not properly informing them of events in Egypt. F F asked intelligence officials to evaluate the agency's performance. The press and some in Congress are blaming the CIA for failing to inform them of and analyze properly the events in Egypt. Frum …

Written by Elise Cooper on Thursday February 17, 2011

Young Voters Not Buying Brand Palin

A survey of college students' views on the GOP reveal that Palin isn't just unpopular on the left, she's turning off conservative students as well. Want to kill the future of the Republican Party? Nominate Sarah Palin. Q: Which demographic group (among others) is important for Republican …

Written by Stephen Richer on Thursday February 17, 2011

Thune: The Generic GOP Candidate

Democrats have done well by nominating personable politicians with scanty records. With John Thune, that trick might work for Republicans too. John Thune for president? Why? The famously tall senator from South Dakota is apparently readying himself to seek the Republican nomination, reports …

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 17, 2011

Christie: Washington Needs 'Fiscal Sanity'

Wednesday afternoon, NJ Gov. Chris Christie spoke in Washington, calling on the federal government to get tough on entitlement reform and spending cuts. This afternoon, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie gave a speech at the American Enterprise Institute calling for the federal government to show …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday February 16, 2011

GOP Cuts Target Clean Energy

Federal funds for energy research spur new innovation, drive economic growth, and help reduce pollution. But those funds may not survive the GOP House budget. Business heavyweights, think tank thinkers on the right and left, and even climate contrarian Bjorn Lomborg spent the better part of …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Wednesday February 16, 2011

Chris Christie: RINO-Tough

If Chris Christie were a soft-spoken, conciliatory Northeastern budget-balancer he'd just be dismissed as a Bill Weld/Mike Castle RINO. You won't read these words often at Frum Forum , but Mark Levin makes an important point today, if only indirectly. Critiquing Ann Coulter's cheer-leading …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday February 16, 2011

Is Egypt the Next Iran?

When dictatorships are overthrown, expectations are that democracy will flourish. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Why is it when dictatorships are overthrown, expectations are that democracy will flourish? This is rarely the case. At least not immediately. Historically, it’s more …

Written by Peter Worthington on Wednesday February 16, 2011

Want to Cut the Deficit? Jump Start Job Growth

Republicans are looking for ways to cut $100 billion from the budget. But the fastest, politically easiest way to reduce the deficit would be to revive the labor market. After having backed a $800+ billion tax-cut/stimulus package last December, House Republicans are now looking for ways to trim …

Written by Fred Bauer on Wednesday February 16, 2011

The Budget's Real Winners: Obama's Base

The Obama budget is just one piece in the president's reelection effort, designed to reward those voters who backed him in 2008. The Obama budget is not about fiscal rectitude. Rather, it is the first fiscal document of the president's reelection campaign. It is an attempt by the White House to …

Written by Lloyd Green on Tuesday February 15, 2011

The GOP's Budget Challenge

Conservatives face an impossible task: reconciling commitments to not raise taxes, to move to a balanced budget, and to also oppose defense and Medicare cuts. Money troubles can ruin even the happiest relationships. No wonder that the conservative coalition is experiencing so much strain. …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 15, 2011

Obama's Budget: Dead on Arrival

President Obama's budget proposes far too many new taxes, cuts too few programs, and won’t do enough to rein in the deficit. At a glance, President Obama’s budget looks like it might pass muster with some fiscal conservatives: there are plenty of program cuts (200), an end to many offensive …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday February 15, 2011

Don't Quit on Egypt

The Egyptian people are more than capable of handling democracy; and should absolutely be in control of their own destiny. On Sunday, I taped my second appearance on Crosstalk (my first appearance was last week). Crosstalk is a Russian English language television show. And amid all of the …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday February 15, 2011

Obama's Charity Tax Hike

Obama's budget proposes a reduction in the the tax deduction for charitable giving. Why's the president's budget hitting Americans for donating to charity? Yesterday, President Obama again proposed that the contribution deduction for charitable giving be limited to 28%. The president continues …

Written by Hank Adler on Tuesday February 15, 2011

Bush Torture Charges Would Undermine U.S. Law

Those who want foreign torture charges against Bush should answer a tough question: Does universal jurisdiction override US legal protections? Many of those who favor a foreign action against George W. Bush on torture charges make this argument: The international Convention Against Torture …

Written by David Frum on Monday February 14, 2011

Can Daniels Revive the American Dream?

By honestly addressing the challenges facing the American middle class, Mitch Daniels managed to give CPAC its most powerful and intelligent speech. Mitch Daniels gave the CPAC conference its most powerful and intelligent speech . The speech has been praised by many people for many reasons. I …

Written by David Frum on Monday February 14, 2011

Will Egypt's Revolution Go Global? No

Glenn Beck believes discontent in the Arab world will soon spread, exciting communist insurrection in western Europe and then jumping the Atlantic to the U.S. Here's a clip of Glenn Beck telling Bill O'Reilly that discontent in Arab world will soon leap over the Mediterranean and excite …

Written by David Frum on Monday February 14, 2011

Charge George W. Bush With War Crimes?

When people file actions in Switzerland against former president Bush, they are targeting the entire American legal system. My latest column for CNN explains why attempts to prosecute President George W. Bush for 'war crimes' in foreign countries (such as Switzerland) are really attacks on the …

Written by David Frum on Monday February 14, 2011

Where is the Serious Tim Pawlenty?

Tim Pawlenty is a successful former governor and could be an excellent president, so why is he running a cynical campaign? I'm increasingly worried that likely GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty is evolving into this year's Lamar Alexander. Lamar Alexander is one of the most effective and …

Written by David Frum on Monday February 14, 2011

Obama and GOP Punt on Deficit Cuts

Both the President's budget and the House Republican approach to deficit reduction fail to achieve even a modicum of debt stabilization. Pathetic. Both the President's budget submission today and the House Republican approach to deficit reduction fail to achieve even a modicum of debt stabilizat…

Written by Steve Bell on Monday February 14, 2011

High-Speed Rail: A Bad Idea But Not "Soviet"

High-speed rail might be a bad idea, but that doesn't mean it's the same as a Soviet policy. Not so long ago, the American Right was distinguished by its moral clarity. Recall that in 2005, in the face of Democratic demands that the US “engage” with North Korea, George W. Bush replied that, no …

Written by Ethan Epstein on Monday February 14, 2011