Overview for News

Understanding The Venezuelan Political Tragedy

For those following the continuing tragedy and crisis in Venezuela, the Caracas Chronicle's introduction to recent Venezuelan politics is the best place to start. http://www.caracaschronicles.wbr> com/2005/10/readers-guide-to- venezuela-in-chavez.html

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 12, 2009

Buy Before Reading

So the stimulus deal is all done and likely to be signed within 4 weeks of Inauguration Day. Impressive in one way. Still - there's something about this rush to spend that reminds me of Warren Buffet's zinger that people will put more care into the decision to buy a new refrigerator than into an …

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 12, 2009

Don't Ask, Won't Tell: No Role For Bipartisan Oversight On Stimulus

Congress just voted almost a trillion dollars in new spending on a party-line vote. And it seems that Republicans could be denied any role in overseeing the stimulus funds. Both the House and the Senate version of the stimulus bill reject any congressional oversight of the stimulus funds. Both …

Written by Moira Bagley on Wednesday February 11, 2009

If Obama Pushes, Netanyahu Will Fall

In yesterday’s Israeli election, Kadima (probably) obtained one more seat than Likud, but it is Likud that has the better chance of assembling a governing coalition. Hence the absurd spectacle of both Netanyahu and Livni claiming victory. This stalemate is a result of Israel 's …

Written by Emmanuel Navon on Wednesday February 11, 2009

What Gaza Could Be Like

Nat Frum, 15, visited Israel for the first time just after the recent ceasefire. This is the second of his reports. For the first, click here . (Nat Frum with an IDF soldier at the Gaza border. The soldier is holding a "stress ball" that Nat's group distributed.) On the roads …

Written by Nat Frum on Wednesday February 11, 2009

Chicago-style Politics At The Census?

Recently, the Obama administration revealed that the next Census Bureau Director would report directly to the White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. This is a departure from the norm, in which the Census chief would be responsible to the Secretary of Commerce. Republicans were quick to …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday February 11, 2009

Troops From Spain? "no Mas!"

Despite its history of terrorist attacks, the Spanish Government has once again said it has no plans to increase its troop commitment to NATO in Afghanistan, ignoring an informal request from General Petraeus, presumably acting on behalf of the Obama Administration: “We don't plan for …

Written by John S. Gardner on Wednesday February 11, 2009

Did Even Obamas Supporters Expect Something This Radical?

Let's pause to absorb the radicalism of what President Obama and congressional Democrats have just done. Their stimulus plans will raise the baseline of federal spending by $1.2 trillion (counting interest) and raise the federal share of GDP to 28% (from a recent low if 18% and a current level of …

Written by Michael Anton on Wednesday February 11, 2009

Let's Make A Deal

The stimulus bill has passed Congress with almost no Republican votes: 3 in the Senate, 0 in the House. Republicans hung tough, and the result is a bill that reflects Democratic goals – and pays off Democratic constituencies. Probably that was the way the bill was going to turn out no …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday February 11, 2009

Money Will Never Be Enough

The walls of the stairwell leading up to the third floor, where I teach, are full of blotchy paint jobs. Each night, or at least a few times a week, the custodians paint over the stairwell walls. The walls and the steps are littered with gang symbols and warnings. The one sign that always makes …

Written by Thomas Gibbon on Tuesday February 10, 2009

Heartburn In Foggy Bottom And The Pentagon

The late Peter Rodman, a former aide to Henry Kissinger on the National Security Council, apparently had two surprisingly close readers: National Security Advisor James Jones and President Obama. There’s really no other way to interpret the big article in Sunday’s Washington Post …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Tuesday February 10, 2009

The Texas/mexico Border Blues

It seems that our border situation with Mexico gets worse by the day. I recently picked up a copy of the Houston Chronicle , and the front page featured stories of several Americans recently killed in the surge of drug-cartel-related violence that has been spilling over the border from our now …

Written by Marshall Bowen on Tuesday February 10, 2009

Obama On Stand By

Yesterday, the Obama administration delivered its first rebuff to its most left-wing supporters. In a San Francisco courtroom yesterday, a Justice Department lawyer told judges that the Obama administration would “stand by” a brief filed by the Bush administration. This short …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 10, 2009

The Wrong War At The Wrong Time

During the run up to the Iraq war, liberals used to complain that President Bush was attacking the wrong enemy. “Iraq did not attack us on 9/11.” In reply, President Bush offered a complicated argument about how fighting in Iraq would contribute to American security. If the US had …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 10, 2009

Conservatives Of Tomorrow: Charlie Smith

Identifying and supporting young conservative leaders is an important part of building a majority that can win again. I will highlight the work of some young people who have already established themselves as leaders, starting with a young man who runs one of the largest youth organizations in …

Written by Karin Agness on Monday February 9, 2009

Dealt The Toughest Hand

A cohesive group of committed teachers who believe that inner city students can learn could make a school work anywhere under any conditions. I say this confidently after teaching in what has been deemed the worst of the worst city high schools in a city with a ruinous system of schools. Recently, …

Written by Thomas Gibbon on Monday February 9, 2009

Corporate Green

“Will you join us?” It’s a strange question when not coming from a Hare Krishna. Asked by an oil company beckoning travelers to become more energy efficient to combat global warming, this query is a strange but welcome sign of the times. (Although some global warming doubters …

Written by John Murdock on Monday February 9, 2009

Score One For The Little Guys

I realize that trying to convince Republicans that class action lawyers are sticking up for the little guy is a bit like trying to convince Democrats to court the NRA (notwithstanding Senator Gillibrand), but as a lifelong vaguely Scoop Jackson-y registered Democrat, I’ve often found …

Written by Joshua Glatter on Sunday February 8, 2009

You Call This Discipline, Mr. President?

Am I the only one baffled and a little bit disappointed in the speech by President Obama last night? Let’s recall that House Democrats wrote their version of the stimulus bill without any pretense of soliciting Republican input, and were happy to pass it without a single vote from across …

Written by Douglas Holtz-Eakin on Friday February 6, 2009

The Obama Party

It hardly came as a surprise to anyone on election day when Barack Obama cruised to a 2-1 landslide victory over Senator McCain among voters younger than 35. The youth vote had long been considered an arrow that solely belonged in Obama's quiver. It was the secret to his upset in Iowa, the source …

Written by Zac Morgan on Friday February 6, 2009