Overview for News

The Incoming Moderate GOP Congress -- Not

Political scientist Boris Shor is predicting a new crop of GOP moderates in the 112 Congress. But big tent Republicans shouldn't get their hopes up. Political scientist Boris Shor is predicting a new crop of Republican moderate congressmen. He writes : By nearly all accounts, the Republicans …

Written by Andrew Gelman on Friday October 29, 2010

The Economy Doesn't Have Liftoff

Updated: The WSJ reports the economy grew at an annual rate of 2% in the 3d quarter. That figure is an ominous failure. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the US economy grew at an annual rate of 2% in the 3d quarter. If recovery from recession were complete -if we are well into a …

Written by David Frum on Friday October 29, 2010

Hamas: Homosexuality Worse Than Terrorism

Hamas leader replies to Western criticism: "You in the West do not live like human beings. ... You accept homosexuality. And now you criticize us?" From Gaza, Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar fulminates to Reuters against Western condemnation of the Islamic terrorist movement: You in the West …

Written by David Frum on Friday October 29, 2010

Why America Won't Repeat Russia's Afghan Defeat

This week, Mikhail Gorbachev warned that victory in Afghanistan is "impossible". U.S. forces though have been careful not to repeat the Soviets' mistakes. Remember Mikhail Gorbachev, the former leader of the Soviet Union? No? Well, you’re not alone. Most people no longer remember Gorbachev, a …

Written by John Guardiano on Friday October 29, 2010

A Goal for the GOP: Include Everybody

This week in Toronto, a conservative mayoral candidate won election backed by an ethnically diverse coalition. Can Republicans learn to do the same here? This week in Toronto, a conservative mayoral candidate won election backed by an ethnically diverse coalition. As my latest column for The …

Written by David Frum on Friday October 29, 2010

O'Donnell's "Hook-Up": Gawker's in the Wrong

It’s a sorry moment in political journalism when we must look towards the National Enquirer as a standard-bearer in reporting ethics. I’m not a fan of Christine O’Donnell and until this moment (actually, including this moment) considered her an embarrassment to the GOP. However, if it is …

Written by Danielle Crittenden on Thursday October 28, 2010

Anti-Israeli Hummus Boycott Humorous

There's a video of protesters demanding a boycott of Israeli hummus. But, if you want to bring down the Israeli war machine, you can't rely on little gestures. Just saw this video of Philadelphia area anti-Israel protesters putting on an amateur song-and-dance act in a local supermarket …

Written by David Frum on Thursday October 28, 2010

Iran & Saudis Could Join UN Women's Rights Body

Just when you thought the UN couldn't lose more credibility, comes news that Iran and Saudi Arabia may join the UN body which promotes women's rights. Just when you thought the United Nations could not lose any more credibility, comes news that Iran and Saudi Arabia are poised to join the UN …

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Thursday October 28, 2010

Yitzhak Rabin: No Peacenik

How did the man who declared that he would “break the bones” of the Palestinians become the Mahatma Gandhi of the Israeli Left? How did the man who declared that he would “break the bones” of the Palestinians become the Mahatma Gandhi of the Israeli Left? Like every year, the commemoration of …

Written by Emmanuel Navon on Thursday October 28, 2010

O'Donnell's Radio Tantrum Shows She's Not Ready

During a recent interview, a Delaware station captured on video an amazing glimpse of Christine O'Donnell's imperiousness and entitlement. Delaware radio station WDEL captured on video an amazing glimpse of Christine O'Donnell's imperiousness and entitlement. It's visible on Facebook, here at the …

Written by David Frum on Thursday October 28, 2010

Times' Hacks Feed White House Flacks

Tuesday, the Times buried a report about Democratic campaign spending behind an empty story on GOP lobbyists. Guess which one the White House ran with? Say what you will about its politics, the New York Times is the finest journalistic institution in the world. No one breaks more stories. …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday October 28, 2010

Will Foreclosures Hit Yet Another Peak?

Home foreclosures hit the highest level in U.S. history in September 2010. But will they jump higher in October? Home foreclosures hit the highest level in U.S. history in September 2010. At this pace, we have to fear that October foreclosures may have jumped higher still. Troubling sign: …

Written by David Frum on Thursday October 28, 2010

Kirchner's Argentina

Nelson Kirchner, former president of Argentina, has died aged only 60. The country he ruled though is still recovering from years of misrule. Nelson Kirchner, former president of Argentina, has died aged only 60. Some thoughts on the country he led, inspired by a recent visit: Here's a …

Written by David Frum on Thursday October 28, 2010

Teddy Roosevelt was a Backpacking Elitist Too

Charles Murray claims that anyone who knows of good backpacking spots in the Sierra is an "elitist". When it comes to Teddy Roosevelt, he may have a point. Sierra Nevada backpackers, beware! Charles Murray, the social policy savant and arbiter of cultural do’s and don’t’s, has proclaimed that …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Thursday October 28, 2010

Tea Party Boost May Be Short-Lived

In a recent column, Peggy Noonan proclaimed that the tea party "saved" the GOP. But its still unclear if the movement will have any staying power after 2010. Peggy Noonan recently wrote a piece in the Wall Street Journal in which she proclaimed, among other things, that "the Tea Party saved …

Written by Mark R. Yzaguirre on Thursday October 28, 2010

The Party of Medicare

John Boehner has pledged that Republicans will call a vote on restoring Obama's cuts to Medicare. It's a clever move and a warning of what's to come. On the Sean Hannity radio program this afternoon, Speaker-presumptive John Boehner was interestingly cautious about promising actually to do …

Written by David Frum on Thursday October 28, 2010

Scott Pulls Ahead After Blackberrygate

Polls show Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott ahead after his Dem opponent Alex Sink was caught breaking debate rules during their televised clash. Rick Scott just might win Florida’s gubernatorial race. A new poll conducted during and after Scott went after Democratic opponent Alex …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Wednesday October 27, 2010

The Wrong Way to Shrink State Govt

In a quest to save money some states are looking at downsizing their legislatures. But the moves will be bad for governance and save little money. In a quest to save money and improve governance, at least three states—Maine, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky—have given serious consideration to …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Wednesday October 27, 2010

Can Pawlenty Win Over the Tea Partiers?

Minn. governor Tim Pawlenty is known for his quiet and thoughtful manner. Can he really be the man of the hour in today’s tea party fueled volatile climate? President Obama was in Minnesota this weekend and Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota governor and unannounced 2012 hopeful, prepared a short video …

Written by Bryce McNitt on Tuesday October 26, 2010

Closing the Book on the Thomas Story

Despite new allegations from a former girlfriend of Justice Clarence Thomas, Washington looks ready to move on from the controversy. Clarence Thomas’ former girlfriend, lawyer Lillian McEwan, appeared on Larry King last evening and made new allegations: that Thomas had a pornography fetish, …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday October 26, 2010