The Dems' Misguided Rust Belt Stimulus
The Democrats new "pro-manufacturing" agenda might help the party rally their supporters in the labor movement, but it isn't a good idea for the economy. The Democratic Party has pinned a lot of its hopes on a “pro-manufacturing” agenda. It’s a bad idea. Promoting manufacturing is an unachievable …Why Are So Many Falling for Birtherism?
A new CNN poll finds that 27% of Americans still wonder whether the president was born in the United States. A new CNN poll finds that 27% of Americans still wonder whether President was born in the United States. No, that was not a typo. 11% of those surveyed responded that they were …Is the Senate to Blame for Obama's Stalled Agenda?
George Packer's newest essay depicts a paralyzed Senate. But is the Senate to blame for the stalled Obama agenda? George Packer's essay on the U.S. Senate is a characteristically superb piece of reporting. He presents an institution paralyzed by a droning uselessness that depresses and …Can Graham Survive as a Maverick?
This week, a third GOP county organization in South Carolina voted to censure Senator Lindsey Graham. Is Graham in real political trouble? Greenville County is the largest county in South Carolina. On Tuesday, the Republican organization in Greenville County passed a resolution condemning Senator …The RNC's Bizarre Foreign Outreach
Why did the RNC try to set up meetings between Chairman Steele and foreign ambassadors. And even more puzzling: how did the email messages get released? Politico reported last evening that the Republican National Committee tried to set up meetings between Chairman Michael Steele and foreign …Whatever Happened to "Enforcement First"?
Instead of focusing on enforcing our immigration laws, Sen. Graham is attacking birthright citizenship. The GOP should not follow him off this cliff. Until about five minutes ago, Senator Lindsey Graham was one of the chief proponents of comprehensive immigration reform. Today he supports the …Refudiate the 9/11 Mosque Boycott
Whatever questions we have about the 9/11 mosque's promoters, we should remember the mosque's users: the Muslims entitled to pray as any other citizen. National Review editorialized today against the so-called Ground Zero mosque. More than that: It urged a kind of secondary boycott, public …Lebanese Troops Ambush IDF
Tuesday's fatal border clash was the most serious escalation of violence between Israel and Lebanon since the end of the war four years ago. Earlier today, the Lebanese Armed Forces fired at IDF troops positioned along the Lebanese border in northern Israel, killing one Israeli soldier and …Can Obama Sell an Iran Strike?
With the Democrats souring on Afghanistan and Republicans distrustful of his foreign policy, an attack on Iran might be Obama's hardest political sell. There have begun to be hints and signals that the Obama administration is rethinking its policy on Iran. Michael Barone has detected shifts in …Obama's Next Big Bailout
The Democrats are pushing — with little public scrutiny — a new bill to funnel $26 billion to the states and some of the party's favorite interest groups. Harry Reid, Barack Obama and a range of other Democratic heavyweights are pushing—with surprisingly little public scrutiny—what once would …Can Bloggers Lie to Score a Scoop?
Washington blogger Evan Gahr unfairly deceived RNC Chair Michael Steele to score an interview. But the real loser when bloggers resort to such tactics is the public. Washington blogger Evan Gahr released a transcript today in which Michael Steele suggests that he’s running for reelection as RNC …
We Can't Win Unless We Nation-Build
In his American Spectator article attacking nation-building in Afghanistan and Iraq, Jed Babbin dismisses the only effective strategy for victory. Last week here at Frum Forum , I explained that nation-building is a necessary and integral part of the U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan. …Why Israel Needs Voting Reform
Giving the Israeli public a referendum law could help reform the country’s debilitating proportional representation voting system. Member of Knesset Yariv Levin has recently tried (unsuccessfully, so far) to pass a law that would compel the government to organize a referendum before approving …Just How Bad is the Recession?
Paul Krugman has argued that the current recession is worse than the economic downturns of the 70s and 80s. But do his claims hold up? I keep seeing that chart that shows how employment declines in the current recession are so much worse than in past ones. You know, this one : On many …