Overview for FF Spotlight

Why I'm Running for Senate

This year, Republicans have a chance to correct the party's mistakes and push it back on the right track. And as a U.S. Senator, that's what I will do. I am running for the United States Senate in New Hampshire as a Republican. I do so with great pride because for me the word “Republican” is …

Written by Bill Binnie on Tuesday September 7, 2010

A GOP Contract with America for 2010

Similar to 1994's Contract with America, the GOP needs to provide voters with a platform spelling out their plans to create jobs and fix health reform. My latest column for CNN.com argues that similar to 1994's Contract with America, Republicans need to present voters with a platform. A manifesto …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday September 7, 2010

The Credit Collapse

Many economists are worried about a double dip recession. But as this scary chart from the St. Louis Fed shows, we might still be waiting to see the bottom of the first dip. You want to see a scary chart ? Take a look at this from the St. Louis Federal Reserve . A double …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday September 7, 2010

The Twitter Revolution in Action

This weekend, world-famous novelist Margaret Atwood, found herself in a fight that would be unimaginable in the days before social media. If you want to see the Twitter revolution in action, sign up for the Twitter feeds of Ezra Levant and Margaret Atwood and read back through the past 48 hours. …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday September 7, 2010

Shake-Up on the Energy Committee

With Sen. Murkowski's defeat and three other retirements, the Senate energy committee will soon have four Republican vacancies. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) stunning defeat in her state’s GOP primary has left a lot of folks scratching their heads about the outcome and asking questions. Did …

Written by David Jenkins on Monday September 6, 2010

A Workers' Paradise? Not Exactly

The communists of Eastern Europe did not win over the support of artists by terror alone. They also seduced them. On my last day in Poland, I stopped by the National Gallery in Warsaw. The Gallery is a story in itself: built in the 1930s, destroyed by the Germans, badly rebuilt by the communists, …

Written by David Frum on Sunday September 5, 2010

Perry's Gaffes Keep Texas Gov Race Close

In red state Texas -- and in what should be a big year for the GOP -- Republican governor Rick Perry is in a surprisingly close race for reelection. Rick Perry has, perhaps due to the more-localized nature of state politics, not caught fire in the media as a tea party icon. But his eyebrow-raising …

Written by Alex Knepper on Sunday September 5, 2010

Can Christie Stop the Tea Party's Next Upset?

NJ Gov Chris Christie's endorsement of Delaware Senate candidate Rep. Mike Castle could further boost Christie's national profile -- if Castle can pull out the win. The blogosphere's been buzzing for the past few days about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's endorsement of Mike Castle . This is …

Written by Fred Bauer on Sunday September 5, 2010

A Sex Scandal Without Any Sex

British Foreign Secretary William Hague is at the center of a media firestorm over rumors he got up to something naughty with a handsome young male staffer. Imagine you are a newspaper editor. Your reporters whisper to you that a certain important politician is gay. The man's married, which makes …

Written by David Frum on Saturday September 4, 2010

Huffman: Policy is Taking a Backseat to Politics

Oregon GOP senatorial candidate Jim Huffman spoke with F F , sharing his ideas on the economy, health care reform and the need for bipartisanship in Washington. Friday morning David Frum interviewed the Republican Senatorial candidate in Oregon, Jim Huffman, about his thoughts on policies …

Written by Tim Mak on Saturday September 4, 2010

When Did Animal Planet Go National Enquirer?

Barbara Amiel finds that tabloid TV and shock culture have made their way onto the nature programs of Animal Planet. Writing in Maclean's , Barbara Amiel finds that tabloid TV and shock culture have made their way onto the nature programs of Animal Planet. When we were dog-less in Manhattan, …

Written by Barbara Amiel on Friday September 3, 2010

Keeping Your Home From Going to the Dogs

Meghan Cox Gurdon shares the difficulties in trying to keep one's home free of pets. Writing in the Washington Examiner , Meghan Cox Gurdon shares the difficulties in trying to keep one's home free of pets. The ancient city of Babylon had walls so thick, they couldn't be breached. Ha-ha, the …

Written by Meghan Cox Gurdon on Friday September 3, 2010

GOP Infighting Could Hand NY-23 to Dems... Again

The Republican infighting in New York's 23rd district has again intensified, with candidate Doug Hoffman vowing to run even if he loses the GOP primary. Though the media spotlight has faded away, Republicans in New York’s 23 rd congressional district continue to wage civil war over the …

Written by Tim Mak on Friday September 3, 2010

Obama's Second Stimulus? No Thanks

Obama's new stimulus plan -- with infrastructure spending and payroll tax cuts -- will be just as unsuccessful as past attempts to jump-start the recovery. The Obama administration, congressional Democrats and more than a few congressional Republicans are reportedly considering new “stimulus” …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Friday September 3, 2010

The Fair Tax Rate: So Last Century

Since its proposal, fair tax backers have continued to insist that a 23% rate is perfect. Yet in that time government spending has grown by trillions. Some days ago, I wrote an article itemizing the strengths and weaknesses of a Mike Huckabee candidacy. I praised the former governor’s …

Written by Hank Adler on Friday September 3, 2010

The Judicial Vacancy Blame Game

One in eight seats on the federal judicial bench are vacant. But who is responsible: stonewalling Republicans or a slow White House? I was surprised by a recent piece in the 0, 771599.story"> Los Angeles Times claiming that one in eight seats on the federal judicial bench were still empty, …

Written by John Vecchione on Friday September 3, 2010

The Purge at Cato

Brink Lindsey and Will Wilkinson’s departures from Cato raise troubling questions about what has happened to the right-of-center think-tank enterprise. The summer's biggest inside-Washington story was the abrupt and simultaneous departure of co-authors Brink Lindsey and Will Wilkinson from the …

Written by David Frum on Thursday September 2, 2010

Why the Fair Tax "Money Back Promise" Won't Hold Up

The fair tax proposal to give families a tax "prebate" covering taxes spent on household necessities, might not work without a massive dose of bigger government. Some days ago, I wrote an article itemizing the strengths and weaknesses of a Mike Huckabee candidacy. I praised the former …

Written by Hank Adler on Thursday September 2, 2010

What Happened to Newt?

Newt Gingrich's strong opposition to the proposed mosque in lower Manhattan has come as a surprise to many political watchers. Read Ken Silber on the lower Manhattan mosque, here . I can understand people being discomfited or opposed to an Islamic center being located on Park Place in lower …

Written by David Frum on Thursday September 2, 2010

Does the First Amendment Apply to Muslims?

Many conservatives have begun to suggest that Islam may be incompatible American democracy and the constitution. Ramesh Ponnuru and Calvin Freiburger both take me to task for supposedly misrepresenting the thinking of National Review’s Andrew McCarthy. Are they right? You decide. Last …

Written by John Guardiano on Thursday September 2, 2010