Overview for FF Spotlight

Why Moderates are Ditching the Right

There isn't a movement in the U.S. committed to building a moderate conservatism. The impulse among the dissatisfied on the right is to simply walk away. I've been reading the ongoing debate about where libertarians belong with some interest. Folks like Brink Lindsey are arguing that the …

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Written by Dennis Sanders on Thursday July 22, 2010

Watch Frum: Breitbart Fans Racial Division

Wednesday, David Frum appeared on MSNBC's Countdown to discuss Andrew Breitbart's role in Shirley Sherrod's firing. Wednesday, David Frum appeared on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and spoke about Andrew Breitbart's role in Shirley Sherrod's firing and the failure of the conservative …

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Written by FrumForum Editors on Thursday July 22, 2010

Rally Organized for Woman Arrested at Western Wall

A rally will be held today in Washington in solidarity with Anat Hoffman, who was recently arrested by Israeli police for carrying a Torah at the Western Wall. A rally will be held today at noon in Washington in solidarity with the recently arrested Anat Hoffman. Hoffman is the chair of the “Women …

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Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday July 22, 2010

RNC: Hidden Debt Allegations "Misleading"

The RNC hit back today at allegations that they failed to report $7 million in debt and attempted to mislead donors. The  Washington Times broke a story this morning alleging that the Republican National Committee failed to report more than $7 million in debt : The Republican National …

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Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday July 21, 2010

Florida Feud Could Cost GOP Gov Race

In the Florida GOP gubernatorial primary fight between Rick Scott and Bill McCollum the real winner may be Democratic nominee Alex Sink. Ever heard of Alex Sink? Yeah, neither has anyone in Florida... but that hasn't stopped her from taking the lead over both Rick Scott and Bill McCollum in PPP's …

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Written by Jeb Golinkin on Wednesday July 21, 2010

Is Breitbart the Right's Dan Rather?

Conservatives acknowledge that Shirley Sherrod was unfairly defamed but still shy from criticizing Andrew Breitbart for his role in the controversy. My latest column for The Week looks at the failure of the conservative media to criticize Andrew Breitbart for his role in the defamation and …

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Written by David Frum on Wednesday July 21, 2010

Israel-U.S. Relationship: Too Hot?

Tuesday at the Nixon Center, Chas Freeman and Robert Satloff debated whether Israel is a strategic asset or a liability for the United States. Israel: strategic asset or liability? That was the topic for an on-the-record debate today at the Nixon Center between Chas Freeman and Robert Satloff. …

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Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 20, 2010

Rand Paul's Beef with Lincoln

Unlike his father, Rand Paul doesn't openly criticize President Lincoln as a tyrant; but he knows how to signal his acceptance of such views to the Tea Party fringe. The Tea Party’s problem with Abraham Lincoln doesn’t end with Mark Williams, formerly of the Tea Party Express – just ask Rand Paul. …

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Written by Jim Higdon on Tuesday July 20, 2010

Black is Back

For the first time in this case, the sun is breaking through for Conrad Black. After receiving bail, there’s a good chance he’s finished with prison. It’s probably too early to say what getting bail means for former media tycoon Conrad Black, but it’s a startling decision by the 7th Circuit …

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Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday July 20, 2010

Is the Koch Family Warming to the Tea Partiers?

Some of the conservative movement’s most important financial backers may be adopting a more favorable view of the Tea Party. The Washington Examiner ’s Mark Tapscott has an important interview with Dr. Richard Fink, the President of the Charles G. Koch Foundation and the Vice-President of …

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Written by Tim Mak on Monday July 19, 2010

Will Obama Sink the Dems in November?

Obama's numbers may be falling nationally, but some GOP candidates will need to be careful about turning their races into a referendum on the president. Gallup released weighted state-by-state approval ratings for President Obama from January to June of this year. These figures suffer the same …

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Written by Jeb Golinkin on Monday July 19, 2010

America's Vendetta Against Conrad Black

That the IRS would bring suit against Conrad Black, after his Supreme Court win, reeks of malice more than justice. That the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would bring suit against Conrad Black, claiming $71 million in unpaid taxes, reeks of malice more than justice. It’s hard to escape …

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Written by Peter Worthington on Monday July 19, 2010

What's Wrong with the Obama White House?

When a president's numbers drop, suddenly everybody becomes an expert in political strategy. My latest column for CNN.com looks at Obama's drop in the polls and considers whether a new political strategy is really what the president needs. When a president's numbers drop, suddenly everybody is …

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Written by David Frum on Monday July 19, 2010

How the GOP Lost the Kagan Fight

If the GOP had held just two more Senate seats in the election debacles of '06 and '08, Obamacare would have failed and Kagan would have been rejected. The debacle election years 2006 and 2008 have borne bitter fruit for Republicans.  If, over that cycle, they had held just two more seats …

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Written by John Vecchione on Monday July 19, 2010

Palin’s English

Sarah Palin's misuse of "refudiate" instead of "repudiate" is unlikely to endure. But one Palin word invention really does seem to be catching on. Much giggling on the blogs about Sarah Palin's mis-tweeting the word "refudiate" to mean "repudiate." Palin's defense:  Shakespeare made up words too. …

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Written by David Frum on Monday July 19, 2010

FrumForum's (Revised) Mission Statement

I asked readers to help write a one-sentence description of a modernized conservatism. Thanks to your responses, I've redrafted our mission statement. Thanks to discerning comments from our readers , a second draft of a one-sentence mission statement for the site. FrumForum champions a n …

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Written by David Frum on Monday July 19, 2010

McDonnell's Virginia Turnaround

Although the midterms are months away, the news of Virginia's $220 million budget surplus will boost state Republicans in close races. In 2008 and 2009, Virginia was called a “bellwether state” by numerous political pundits.  The recent news that Virginia has a budget surplus of at least $220 …

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Written by Seth Levey on Monday July 19, 2010

Washington's Costly Beach House Bailout

On Thursday, the House will vote on a new bill which could turn the government into an insurer for just about every hurricane-prone house in the country. Just about anyone can find a reason to hate the “Multi-Peril Insurance Act” that the House of Representatives will vote on this week. The bill, …

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Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday July 19, 2010

You Read it First in FrumForum

John Boehner is set to unveil a slate of policy proposals to be implemented if the GOP wins back the House -- a move first predicted here at Frum Forum. From today's Washington Post : Sometime after Labor Day, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner plans to unveil a blueprint of what …

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Written by FrumForum Editors on Sunday July 18, 2010

The Perfect Pool

Headquarters for Team STORMBRINGER Middle-East Operations has a spacious, 164-foot-long infinity pool flanked by shady, palm-studded islands. The water is temperature controlled, so it's always an oasis-like 84 degrees.   Uncle Stormy's Romanesque Villa de Tempest at the …

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Written by Sean Linnane on Sunday July 18, 2010