Overview for FF Spotlight

Obama's Missed Opportunity in Cairo

Last year, Obama gave a major speech at Cairo University. Why didn't the press or White House care enough about reform in Egypt to make the case then? I'm watching the Gibbs briefing. He's being grilled on President Obama's failure to pressure Egypt on democratic reform. Fair enough. But last …

Read more

Written by Martin Krossel on Friday January 28, 2011

Who's Afraid of Obamacare? Obama

This morning's HHS “defense” of health reform read like White House talking points. But it did make one thing clear: Obama knows the health bill is a political loser. This morning, the Department of Health and Human Services put out a “defense” of the Obama administration’s health care reforms …

Read more

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Friday January 28, 2011

How Realistic is Obama's Green Revolution?

President Obama called in his State of the Union speech for securing 80 percent of U.S. electricity from “clean” sources by 2035. Is it doable? President Obama called in his State of the Union speech for securing 80 percent of U.S. electricity from “clean” sources by 2035. Is it doable? Sure. As …

Read more

Written by Jim DiPeso on Friday January 28, 2011

How Wall Street Fueled the Housing Binge

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission report deals harshly with those fabulously compensated financial executives who never saw the crisis coming. Let’s face it: You won't read every page of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission report. But Frum Forum will, over the next days. So let’s …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Friday January 28, 2011

Wall Street’s Meltdown: Who’s to Blame?

The financial crisis panel makes it clear that while many were responsible for the mortgage meltdown, the Fed was the one entity that could have stopped it. Let's face it: You will not read every page of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission report. But Frum Forum will, over the next days. So …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 27, 2011

How the Regulators Failed

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Report paints a disturbing picture of the federal agencies tasked with overseeing America’s financial sectors. At least from what I’ve read of it so far—and, no, I haven’t finished all 662 pages—the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Report paints a …

Read more

Written by Eli Lehrer on Thursday January 27, 2011

Obama's China Envy

Obama used his SOTU address to lament that “China is building newer airports,” and imply that we should too. But do we really want an infrastructure race with China? Dandong is a city in Northeast China with a population about 780, 000. Here is a photograph I took of Dandong’s airport last fall – …

Read more

Written by Ethan Epstein on Thursday January 27, 2011

Who's Bigger: Senate Tea Partiers or GOP Centrists?

The GOP Senate Tea Party caucus may grab the headlines, but the moderate GOP Main Street Caucus has the members. The GOP Main Street Caucus has more members in the Senate (4) than the Tea Party caucus does. At Politico , Manu Raju and Scott Wong write : [S]o far, the entire group …

Read more

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 27, 2011

Scheuer's New Bin Laden Bio

Michael Scheuer was once head of the CIA's bin Laden unit, but what's most arresting in his new book is that the man detailed to catch bin Laden couldn't even speak Arabic. The mailbag brings a copy of Michael Scheuer's new biography of Osama bin Laden. I am not an admirer of Michael …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 27, 2011

Preventing Prison Rape

Seven years after Congress passed a bill to stop prison rape, the DOJ finally came out with preventative guidelines. Sadly, they won't do much to help. Seven years after Congress passed legislation mandating new federal standards to prevent prison rape and several months after the official …

Read more

Written by Eli Lehrer on Wednesday January 26, 2011

Obama Takes the Lead on Malpractice Reform

Obama's call for medical malpractice reform is being met with skepticism by the left and right. But this time the president's right. During his State of the Union address, President Obama announced that he was willing to consider the possibility of medical malpractice reform as part of his …

Read more

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Wednesday January 26, 2011

Marshall McLuhan Speaks

Here 's a wonderful new site launched for the McLuhan centennial with clips of the guru speaking. …and he agrees with me. I think. That's what Woody Allen promised anyway. But why not see for yourself? Here is a wonderful new site launched for the McLuhan centennial with clips of the guru …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday January 26, 2011

Obama's SOTU: Hit or Miss?

In Obama's State of the Union address conservatives can find much to like, as well as much to be wary about. What to like in Obama's SOTU: The gracious congratulations to the Republicans and John Boehner. His reminders of the country's positive accomplishments, including the country's …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday January 26, 2011

What Obama Didn't Say

If the purpose of a State of the Union is to declare an agenda for governing, Obama failed. If the purpose of a State of the Union is to set a grand thematic narrative for the next year: Obama succeeded. The theme is, activist government, but less of it. But if the purpose of a State of the …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday January 26, 2011

Tonight's Best SOTU Drinking Games

In preparation for tonight’s State of the Union address, here's your guide to the night's best drinking games. In preparation for tonight’s State of the Union, I decided to do a bit of reading…  Not to catch up on any of the salient issues, but to get a good overview of some of the drinking …

Read more

Written by Stephen Richer on Tuesday January 25, 2011

Who Would You Sit Next to at the SOTU?

For this year's State of the Union address, congressmen are playing a bipartisan game of musical chairs, looking for cross-party partners to sit with. If you were a member of Congress, whom would you like to sit next to at tonight’s State of the Union speech? I’d sit next to Congressman …

Read more

Written by Jim DiPeso on Tuesday January 25, 2011

Why Obama's Budget Freeze Won't Cut It

Early reports about the content of the State of the Union address prove what most already know: Obama just isn't that serious about fiscal discipline. Early reports about the content of the State of the Union address prove what most already know: President Obama just isn't that serious about …

Read more

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday January 25, 2011

Don't Count Rahm Out

Rahm Emanuel is back on the ballot. With him leading the field and lining up money and endorsements, did anyone really think a court would deny him his prize? Surprise, Surprise.  Rahm Emanuel, the president’s former chief of staff,  is back on the ballot for mayor of Chicago.  The …

Read more

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday January 25, 2011

Russia's Islamic Terror Wake-Up Call

The horrendous attack by terrorists on Domodedovo airport should make Russia more appreciative of the problems faced in the West with militant Islam. The terrorist attack on Moscow’s Domodedovo airport that killed 35 and injured up to 170, has got to be regarded as more than a tragedy. It was …

Read more

Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday January 25, 2011

The Rahm Verdict

If Rahm Emanuel is ultimately barred from running for mayor of Chicago, will that exclusion become a metaphor for the first 2 years of the Obama administration? Question: if Rahm Emanuel is ultimately barred from running for mayor of Chicago, will that exclusion become a metaphor for the first 2 …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 25, 2011