Overview for FF Spotlight

Lockerbie: The Scandal of the Decade?

The WikiLeaks cables offer more evidence the British government was complicit in the early release of bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. In 1988, 259 passengers and crew were killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. As my latest column for The Week discusses, the recently released WikiLeaks cables …

Written by David Frum on Friday December 10, 2010

Why Heston Deserves a Stamp of Approval

The Post Office launched its "Legends of Hollywood" series of postage stamps over 20 years ago. But one big name has been overlooked: Charlton Heston. Almost three years after his passing at age 84 from complications due to Alzheimer's Disease, Hollywood -- and Republican -- icon Charlton Heston …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday December 10, 2010

The Fat Diaries: Fighting the Holiday Cookie Monster

At holiday parties, I have to be the adult who smiles and lets the kids go nuts while pretending I have no desire for any of the pecan snowballs, brownies or chocolate thumbprints. I got three holiday-themed emails in my inbox this week. That in itself was nothing special, but instead of …

Written by Monica Marier on Friday December 10, 2010

Gary Johnson's Defense Delusions

Former NM Gov. Gary Johnson is a favorite of young libertarians. But his desire to slash defense and retreat from the world won't sell to the rest of the base. There’s been some interesting commentary in the conservative blogosphere about the presidential prospects of former New Mexico Governor …

Written by John Guardiano on Friday December 10, 2010

House Dems Double Down

Democrats have responded to their midterm blowout by re-embracing Pelosi, insulting the public and labeling Obama a sellout. What are they thinking? In his column today in the New York Times, David Brooks looks at the unwillingness of many House Democrats to support the president's bipartisan …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Friday December 10, 2010

Lebanon: A Country without a State?

Lebanon has an army, central bank, a president and prime minister. Yet, these state-like institutions mean surprisingly little to the life of the country. The car came whizzing the wrong way up a one-way street, squeezing past the car in which I was sitting with millimeters to spare. "You have to …

Written by David Frum on Friday December 10, 2010

Will the GOP Drop the Ball on the Payroll Tax Cut?

Paul Krugman thinks the tax deal hurts Obama's re-election chances. But a 2011 fight over the payroll tax could lead the president to a big political victory. Paul Krugman thinks the tax deal hurts President Obama's chances of re-election. The Democratic parts of the deal will be on the …

Written by David Frum on Friday December 10, 2010

Nobel Prize Puts China's Leaders to Shame

Today, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But the calls from human rights activists for China to release him have fallen on deaf ears. Today, the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded to Chinese dissident and peace activist Liu Xiaobo. But Liu’s seat at the ceremony will be empty …

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Thursday December 9, 2010

How Obama Sparked the Dems' Tax Revolt

If Obama, a former community organizer, had followed the basic tenets of organizing he might have avoided having the House block his tax cut compromise. Obama, famously a former community organizer, cut a deal with the Republicans on tax cuts without exercising the basic tenets of organizing. …

Written by Eugene Debs on Thursday December 9, 2010

Reid Kills DADT Repeal

There are, no doubt, many homophobic Republicans, but the anti-gay faction of the GOP didn’t kill the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal. Harry Reid did. There are, no doubt, too many homophobic Republicans. But the anti-gay faction of the GOP didn’t kill the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal; Harry …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday December 9, 2010

Assange: Bond Villain?

Is WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a real-life James Bond villain? Is Julian Assange a real-life Bond villain? It’s a question that has been bouncing around certain corners of the interweb for a while but which has become even more urgent in the days leading up to his arrest in London. What …

Written by Jonathan Foreman on Thursday December 9, 2010

For Docs, the Fix is In

This week, the Senate approved a one-year "doc fix" to avoid cuts in Medicare payments to physicians. But real reform still waits. “The prospect of being hanged focuses the mind wonderfully”. America may not be at the gallows quite yet, more like in the appeals process when it comes to the …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Thursday December 9, 2010

Beirut's Puzzling Building Boom

Beirut is that rare city where you can both speak Arabic, buy whiskey, and not worry much about car bombs. Yet, the property boom here makes no sense. OK here's the thing I don't get about Lebanon. Beirut is gripped by a building boom on the scale of Dubai in 2005, cranes everywhere, condos …

Written by David Frum on Thursday December 9, 2010

EPA Punts on Clean Air

This week, the EPA decided to delay new standards that would have placed tougher limits on smog pollution. Take it from Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles. A contest between data-backed expert recommendations and politics is like a contest between a pee wee youth football team and the New England …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Thursday December 9, 2010

Steele Wavers on RNC Chair Bid

Challengers are jumping into the RNC chairman's race, yet incumbent Michael Steele has stayed silent and still not announced whether he will run for reelection. Why has RNC Chairman Michael Steele still not announced a bid for reelection? Chairman Steele has been uncharacteristically quiet since …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday December 8, 2010

The Left-Wing's Primary Challenge Bluff

Left-wing Democrats are muttering about a primary challenge to President Obama in 2012. They're bluffing. They're bluffing. Left-wing Democrats are muttering about a primary challenge to President Obama in 2012. Some propose Howard Dean, others Russell Feingold. The president shouldn't worry …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday December 8, 2010

German Feminist Catfight

In Germany, family minister Kristina Schröder, has sparked a fierce debate after trying to explain what it meant to be an independent woman today. Women in France and Germany are given every imaginable benefit to make it as easy as possible to balance a career and motherhood, and feminists the …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Wednesday December 8, 2010

Middle East's Future: Terror or Progress?

Three decades ago, Middle Easterners fixed the blame for all their problems on the US, Europe and Israel. How much has really changed? I'm at a conference in Beirut Lebanon this week that brings together Western analysts and people associated with various subsets of political Islam, both peaceful …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday December 8, 2010

Healy Out of RNC Race

Connecticut GOP Chairman Chris Healy announced Wednesday that he will not run for RNC chair and threw his support behind Gentry Collins’ bid. Connecticut Republican Chairman Chris Healy, who had been reportedly looking at entering the RNC Chairman's race, has decided not to run and will instead …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday December 8, 2010

Will Voters Even Notice the Payroll Tax Break?

Obama's new tax cut deal will reduce payroll taxes on Social Security and Medicare. But will the voters notice the income boost? On Tuesday, President Obama gave a press conference where he exonerated his left wing base for holding him to unrealistic expectations, arguing that they ignored his …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday December 8, 2010