Overview for News

Murtha Donors Raided By Feds

A recent FBI raid on a Pennsylvania defense contractor has reopened old questions about the ethics and staying power of Rep. John Murtha. Brothers Ron and Bill Kuchera are top executives with Kuchera Industries and Kuchera Defense Systems. The offices of these companies were raided late last …

Written by Liz Mair on Monday February 2, 2009

Blogging: Entrepreneurship Trumping Central Planning

When David and I started together at the National Post at the paper’s launch in 1998, both of us approached our job in roughly the same way. In the morning, we would check in with a supervising editor, discuss topics and word count, and then settle on an assignment. We'd work through the day, …

Written by Jonathan Kay on Monday February 2, 2009

Obama's Muscle

Richardson, Geithner, now Daschle – is there a pattern here? In three cases, President Obama’s nominees have encountered potentially nomination-wrecking problems. Richardson withdrew, Geithner brushed past all objections, and to date anyway Daschle is benefiting from senatorial …

Written by David Frum on Monday February 2, 2009

God Save The Queen, and Fast!

U.S. counter-terrorism strategy may be in disarray but it’s a paradigm of consistency compared to our closest ally across the Atlantic… A recent article in the em> Daily Mail

Written by Joshua Glatter on Saturday January 31, 2009

History Is Unkind To Weakness

“I just voted and I’m very happy, ” Mukhalad Waleed, 35, said in the city of Ramadi, in Anbar. “We could not do the same thing the last time because of the insurgency.” So the New York Times reported yesterday . Saddam Hussein did not promote voting while …

Written by John Vecchione on Saturday January 31, 2009

Insults Aren't Policy

I'm a political consultant. So I understand the utility of over-the-top populist rhetoric, even when it's kind of silly. But Claire McCaskill isn't a candidate in a campaign. She's a Senator amid a crisis. Her demand that employees at any bank that receives TARP funds receive no more than the …

Written by Ken Kurson on Saturday January 31, 2009

But Wait, There's More Waste!

An internal document obtained by NewMajority on Friday details even more wasteful spending in the now-$1.2 trillion spending bill that the Senate will take up next week. The bill is so large that only 7 percent will be spent by the end of fiscal 2009. Yet even with this massive spending - if …

Written by Moira Bagley on Friday January 30, 2009

Plan For Failure

Here you are in a school identified as being persistently dangerous and that performs below average on every city and state-wide exam. You’re standing in front of 30 or more kids; many of the kids are identified with some form of learning, behavioral or emotional disorder. Some of them …

Written by Thomas Gibbon on Friday January 30, 2009

Steele Is The Right Guy For The Job

Some Democratic spinners will attack the Republican National Committee for indulging in tokenism. And yes, some members may have voted for Michael Steele because he is … Catholic. But never mind what the other guys say: they would have found grounds to attack any of the choices. What …

Written by John J. Pitney on Friday January 30, 2009

I'm Betting On Michael Steele.

I'm thrilled with Michael Steele's victory. His outsider persona, record of success in Maryland government, strong rhetorical skills, and boundless enthusiasm all bode well for a rejuvenated RNC. But we all have work to do, as Steele will remind us. I think it's great as well that he was …

Written by John S. Gardner on Friday January 30, 2009

Big News At Rnc Meeting

Ken Blackwell is out; backing Michael Steele. Ben Smith has the latest: http://www.politico.com/blogs/wbr> bensmith/0109/Blackwell_backs_ Steele.html

Written by FF Washington Insider on Friday January 30, 2009

We Greet Our Presidents With High Expectations

The late Richard Scammon, the great psephologist, told me a story years ago about presidential mandates. It is probably apocryphal. A young reporter was meeting with the newly elected president John Kennedy. “What is the meaning of your election? What is your mandate,” he …

Written by Karlyn Bowman on Friday January 30, 2009

Steele Wins!

MICHAEL STEELE ELECTED RNC CHAIRMAN: Ben Smith at Politico with the report . From The NewMajority Scroll : John Gardner - " I'm betting on Michael Steele. " John J. Pitney - " Steele is the right guy for the job. " John Avlon - " Michael Steele for RNC Chair. " Brad Wine …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Friday January 30, 2009

Democrats Earmark Ban Didn't Last Long

It took less than a month for congressional Democrats to jettison President Obama's call for an earmark moratorium. With $819 billion in new spending roaring out of Washington, anonymous Democratic legislators could not resist slipping in a few pet projects of their own while writing the …

Written by Moira Bagley on Thursday January 29, 2009

Michael Steele For Rnc Chair

The RNC committee members are meeting to decide the next party chair – and the best choice would be Michael Steele. First, the selection of Steele would be a decisive step in the right direction toward addressing the diversity deficit the GOP faces. Selecting Steele would not solve that …

Written by John Avlon on Thursday January 29, 2009

Social Conservatives Need Allies Too

So, occasionally people ask me, "Joe, you're a social conservative. So, why are you posting on FrumForum.com?" By "people ask me", I mostly mean, I ask myself. I'm a social conservative, but not just a social conservative. I'm still for the usual conservative Republican positions: less …

Written by Thomas J. Marier on Thursday January 29, 2009

Words To Live By

Rahm Emanuel today: " The most important number here for this recovery plan is how many jobs it produces, not how many votes it gets." OK - Mr. Emanuel, you're on. How many jobs did you just buy for the $819 billion? Let's suppose that the money could produce a new job to replace every …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday January 28, 2009

Handing Our Enemies The Advantage In Space

The Obama Administration is pushing the idea of banning “space weapons.” This proposal sounds lovely, but like nuclear disarmament in the 1980s, would be a unilateral effort on the part of the United States and Europe. Countries which regard the West as their enemies or …

Written by J. Moses Browning on Wednesday January 28, 2009

People Who Sue People are the Luckiest People... in Obama's Washington

Looks like the first major statute to emerge from the new Democratic Congress- and to be signed by President Barack Obama - will be the Lily Ledbetter law. This law effectively eliminates the statue of limitations in pay discrimination cases. It's being represented as a big victory for women. In …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 27, 2009

Can Republicans Regain Gillibrand's Seat?

With Hudson Valley congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand selected to succeed Hillary Clinton as New York's junior senator, there is a rare opportunity for Republicans to gain back a formerly safe seat they first lost in 2006. The open question is who county-chairs will select to run in the special …

Written by John Avlon on Tuesday January 27, 2009