What the Fair Tax Really Costs
The true costs of switching to and administering the fair tax could give voters a serious case of sticker shock. Some days ago, I wrote an article itemizing the strengths and weaknesses of a Mike Huckabee candidacy. I praised the former governor's intelligence and civility - but worried about …Why Obama's Iraq Speech Won't Win Over the Left
Obama's biggest political problem is the disillusionment of his liberal base. But Tuesday's Iraq speech is unlikely to win them back. David Corn asks a good question : Why is the president speaking tonight? [P]olitically there's little or no payoff for an Iraq war address. Obama can't brag, …The Fair Tax: Let It Stay Dead
The Fair Tax is an idea the sun should have set on long ago. Yet conservatives, including potential GOP candidate Mike Huckabee, continue to push the plan. Some days ago, I wrote an article itemizing the strengths and weaknesses of a Mike Huckabee candidacy. I praised the former governor's …Atlas Chugged
Conor Friedersdorf posts a question for Ayn Rand readers: In what ways is Atlas Shrugged prophetic? Conor Friedersdorf asks : Glenn Reynolds writes : " Atlas Shrugged seems prophetic in ever so many ways..." What ways specifically? As a participant in Hipster Shrugged I am …Canada's Misdirected Defense Splurge
Instead of focusing on the materiel our troops need most, Canada is squandering the limited defense budget on equipment that may never be used. Perhaps the silliest justification for the proposed spending of C$16 billion defense dollars for 65 yet-unbuilt F-35 stealth fighter jets, is that …Robert Gates, Mr. Excitement
If Robert Gates expects to rally Americans to the fight in Afghanistan, it will take more than the less-than-stirring words delivered Tuesday. Robert Gates, summoning Americans to the fight in Afghanistan. Success there is not inevitable. But with the right strategy and the willingness …Tea Party Aims for a Delaware Upset
Rep. Mike Castle is the clear front-runner in Delaware's Senate race. But a primary challenge from the Tea Party could cost Republicans the seat in November. em> The Hill PoliticoThe Private Museum Boom
Art critics have unfairly attacked the recent trend of billionaires financing and creating their own museums. Christopher Knight, art critic for the Los Angeles Times , made an interesting comment in a recent piece about construction plans for an institution to house the collection of Eli …Is It Time to Sell Off Fort Knox?
Ron Paul's call for an audit of Fort Knox isn't necessary; the gold reserves are there. Whether the U.S. should hold on to their gold stockpile though is debatable. Ron Paul has said that he wonders if there’s gold in Fort Knox and says he’ll introduce legislation demanding an independent audit …You Read it First on FrumForum
My latest CNN column argued that the White House can only wait until the economic recovery begins. Monday, Robert Gibbs let that plea for more time slip. William Safire used to write a column in which he'd try to read the mind of some world leader and imagine what Mikhail Gorbachev or Anwar …Bachmann: Congress Needs Business Sense
In a speech Friday, Rep. Bachmann touted her business acumen and proposed members of Congress run a business before running for office. In a speech to attendees of Americans for Prosperity’s ‘Defending the American Dream’ summit on Friday, Tea Party leader Rep. Michele Bachmann touted her …Reading the Worried Mind of Tim Geithner
With the economic recovery nowhere in sight and the midterm elections nearing, what would Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner say if he could speak freely? In my latest column for CNN.com, I try to image what Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is thinking as he waits for the economy to rebound and with …Glenn Beck's Culture War Sideshow
The U.S. is in the most severe recession since WWII. Yet at the Beck rally, speakers urged Americans to be more religious and ignored the real problem facing the country. Here's an actual problem that needs fixing: The U.S. is mired in the most severe recession since World War II. Here's a …Breaking with Groupthink on Affirmative Action
America's major corporations often laud the importance of diversity in higher education. But are they doing so freely? Harvard Professor Randall Kennedy argues in The American Prospect that the “diversity” rationale for affirmative action -- namely, that “better learning and decision-making …Our Untapped Water Power Potential
Hydroelectricity is the leading source of renewable energy in the U.S. Yet Washington continues to ignore it in favor of costlier and less-dependable solutions. Hydroelectricity is the leading source of renewable energy in the United States, hydroelectric power plants produced 248 billion …For a Better Stimulus: Free the Credit Unions
Instead of dishing $30 billion to small banks, Obama should remove the caps on credit union lending for a bigger stimulus, with less government. There’s no reason for conservatives to get excited about the “small business lending fund” bill that the Senate plans to consider after it returns from …Bachmann Tries to Steal Beck's Thunder
Glenn Beck’s event was billed as non-political. The same can't be said for Michele Bachmann’s tea party rally also held on the National Mall. Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” event was billed as non-political. While the accuracy of that description is debatable, it was definitely non-partisan. The …
Beck's Biggest Gamble
By choosing to rival Martin Luther King with a rally on the anniversary of the “I have a dream” speech, Glenn Beck may have set himself up for failure. There are two dangers inherent in speaking from the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of Martin Luther King's “I have a dream” speech. Danger …Beck Gets Religious
As with most things Glenn Beck, the hokey overtook the serious at the “Restoring Honor” rally held on the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial. If Beck can’t have politics, he’ll try to have religion. That seemed to be the lesson from Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally, held at the footsteps of the …