Overview for News

Purge Follow-Up

Anybody else notice that Stuart Butler is very suddenly no longer running domestic policy at the Heritage Foundation? Anybody else notice that Stuart Butler is very suddenly no longer running domestic policy at the Heritage Foundation? His successor is David Addington, formerly counselor …

Written by David Frum on Thursday September 2, 2010

The Purge at Cato

Brink Lindsey and Will Wilkinson’s departures from Cato raise troubling questions about what has happened to the right-of-center think-tank enterprise. The summer's biggest inside-Washington story was the abrupt and simultaneous departure of co-authors Brink Lindsey and Will Wilkinson from the …

Written by David Frum on Thursday September 2, 2010

Will Job Fears Pull Down Sweden's Center-Right Coalition?

With Swedish voters worried about jobs, Fredrik Reinfeldt's center-right coalition has a slight lead over the left in the upcoming elections. But can they hold on? Sweden’s Parliamentary elections on September 19 mark an interesting crossroads. The current center-right coalition government led by …

Written by Jonas Hellman on Thursday September 2, 2010

Why the Fair Tax "Money Back Promise" Won't Hold Up

The fair tax proposal to give families a tax "prebate" covering taxes spent on household necessities, might not work without a massive dose of bigger government. Some days ago, I wrote an article itemizing the strengths and weaknesses of a Mike Huckabee candidacy. I praised the former …

Written by Hank Adler on Thursday September 2, 2010

What Happened to Newt?

Newt Gingrich's strong opposition to the proposed mosque in lower Manhattan has come as a surprise to many political watchers. Read Ken Silber on the lower Manhattan mosque, here . I can understand people being discomfited or opposed to an Islamic center being located on Park Place in lower …

Written by David Frum on Thursday September 2, 2010

Does the First Amendment Apply to Muslims?

Many conservatives have begun to suggest that Islam may be incompatible American democracy and the constitution. Ramesh Ponnuru and Calvin Freiburger both take me to task for supposedly misrepresenting the thinking of National Review’s Andrew McCarthy. Are they right? You decide. Last …

Written by John Guardiano on Thursday September 2, 2010

Romer: My Plan Failed

In her last speech, departing Obama economic adviser Christina Romer called for a new stimulus -- a tacit admission that her first plan had failed. Dr. Christina Romer’s economic speech today, marking her last speech as an administration official, is an admission that the fiscal stimulus package …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday September 1, 2010

Can Castle Stop the Tea Party's Next Upset?

With Alaska's GOP primary resolved, attention now turns to Delaware where Mike Castle is attempting to hold off a Tea Party challenger. Joe Miller’s victory in Alaska has set the stage for the next race where the Tea Party wants to cause an upset victory. In Delaware’s GOP primary, Tea Party-bac…

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday September 1, 2010

What the Fair Tax Really Costs

The true costs of switching to and administering the fair tax could give voters a serious case of sticker shock. Some days ago, I wrote an article itemizing the strengths and weaknesses of a Mike Huckabee candidacy. I praised the former governor's intelligence and civility - but worried about …

Written by Hank Adler on Wednesday September 1, 2010

Why Obama's Iraq Speech Won't Win Over the Left

Obama's biggest political problem is the disillusionment of his liberal base. But Tuesday's Iraq speech is unlikely to win them back. David Corn asks a good question : Why is the president speaking tonight? [P]olitically there's little or no payoff for an Iraq war address. Obama can't brag, …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday August 31, 2010

The Fair Tax: Let It Stay Dead

The Fair Tax is an idea the sun should have set on long ago. Yet conservatives, including potential GOP candidate Mike Huckabee, continue to push the plan. Some days ago, I wrote an article itemizing the strengths and weaknesses of a Mike Huckabee candidacy. I praised the former governor's …

Written by Hank Adler on Tuesday August 31, 2010

Atlas Chugged

Conor Friedersdorf posts a question for Ayn Rand readers: In what ways is Atlas Shrugged prophetic? Conor Friedersdorf asks : Glenn Reynolds writes : " Atlas Shrugged seems prophetic in ever so many ways..." What ways specifically? As a participant in Hipster Shrugged I am …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday August 31, 2010

Canada's Misdirected Defense Splurge

Instead of focusing on the materiel our troops need most, Canada is squandering the limited defense budget on equipment that may never be used. Perhaps the silliest justification for the proposed spending of C$16 billion defense dollars for 65 yet-unbuilt F-35 stealth fighter jets, is that …

Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday August 31, 2010

Robert Gates, Mr. Excitement

If Robert Gates expects to rally Americans to the fight in Afghanistan, it will take more than the less-than-stirring words delivered Tuesday. Robert Gates, summoning Americans to the fight in Afghanistan. Success there is not inevitable. But with the right strategy and the willingness …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday August 31, 2010

Tea Party Aims for a Delaware Upset

Rep. Mike Castle is the clear front-runner in Delaware's Senate race. But a primary challenge from the Tea Party could cost Republicans the seat in November. em> The Hill Politico

Written by Fred Bauer on Tuesday August 31, 2010

The Private Museum Boom

Art critics have unfairly attacked the recent trend of billionaires financing and creating their own museums. Christopher Knight, art critic for the Los Angeles Times , made an interesting comment in a recent piece about construction plans for an institution to house the collection of Eli …

Written by Mark R. Yzaguirre on Tuesday August 31, 2010

Is It Time to Sell Off Fort Knox?

Ron Paul's call for an audit of Fort Knox isn't necessary; the gold reserves are there. Whether the U.S. should hold on to their gold stockpile though is debatable. Ron Paul has said that he wonders if there’s gold in Fort Knox and says he’ll introduce legislation demanding an independent audit …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday August 31, 2010

You Read it First on FrumForum

My latest CNN column argued that the White House can only wait until the economic recovery begins. Monday, Robert Gibbs let that plea for more time slip. William Safire used to write a column in which he'd try to read the mind of some world leader and imagine what Mikhail Gorbachev or Anwar …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Monday August 30, 2010

Bachmann: Congress Needs Business Sense

In a speech Friday, Rep. Bachmann touted her business acumen and proposed members of Congress run a business before running for office. In a speech to attendees of Americans for Prosperity’s ‘Defending the American Dream’ summit on Friday, Tea Party leader Rep. Michele Bachmann touted her …

Written by Tim Mak on Monday August 30, 2010

Reading the Worried Mind of Tim Geithner

With the economic recovery nowhere in sight and the midterm elections nearing, what would Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner say if he could speak freely? In my latest column for CNN.com, I try to image what Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is thinking as he waits for the economy to rebound and with …

Written by David Frum on Monday August 30, 2010