Overview for News

Liveblogging the RNC General Session

Updated: Jim Bopp, the chief sponsor of the Purity Test and Accountability resolutions, has withdrawn both proposals. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC Summit in Hawaii. The general session ended about 20 minutes ago. Click here to read my report on Chairman …

Written by Tim Mak on Friday January 29, 2010

Steele Slams Obama

RNC Chairman Michael Steele isn’t pulling any punches. In a speech to the RNC membership, the Chairman spent the bulk of a thirty minute speech criticizing the President for everything from speaking too often to insincere calls for bipartisanship. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from …

Written by Tim Mak on Friday January 29, 2010

Steele to Colbert: It's On

It might not happen in the next few months, he says, but sooner or later, Michael Steele is going to drop rhymes on Comedy Central with Stephen Colbert. The rap battle ain't over. Early on in his term, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele committed a supposed gaffe when he said …

Written by Tim Mak on Friday January 29, 2010

Steele Rips Obama's Fake Bipartisanship

FrumForum Exclusive: In a video interview with FrumForum, RNC Chairman Michael Steele slammed President Obama’s efforts for bipartisanship as “disingenuous” and argued that the GOP’s obstructionism was simply reflecting the will of the American people. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports …

Written by Tim Mak on Friday January 29, 2010

A Liberal Lament: When Will Obama Do His Reagan?

In his State of the Union speech, President Obama failed to do what Reagan did during his first address in 1982: make an argument not merely for discrete policies but on behalf of his worldview. President Obama’s SOTU address was politically shrewd, but ideologically circumscribed. He sought to …

Written by Eugene Debs on Friday January 29, 2010

Conservative Optimism

America's Future has produced a new ad slamming Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson for extracting $100 million in additional federal Medicaid funds for his state. The ad drives the point relentlessly home: No other senator got such a good deal for his state! And it lasts forever! And this is supposed …

Written by David Frum on Friday January 29, 2010

Debating Obama's Supreme Court Diss

Yesterday morning, I tweeted a link to a blogpost asking if any president had ever before so specifically criticized a Supreme Court decision in a SOTU? That tweet triggered a real-time debate between me and Glenn Greenwald. Yesterday morning, I tweeted a link to a blogpost here on the Supreme …

Written by David Frum on Friday January 29, 2010

Obama Doubles Down

Well, one thing we can say for sure about President Obama after Wednesday's State of the Union: Bill Clinton, he ain't. Well, one thing we can say for sure about President Obama after Wednesday's State of the Union: Bill Clinton, he ain't. And the congressional GOP is no doubt pinching itself …

Written by Gusher on Thursday January 28, 2010

Steele Hits Back at His Critics

At a press conference today at the RNC winter meeting in Hawaii, Republican Chairman Michael Steele took shots at his critics and defended his governing methods and fundraising efforts. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC Summit in Hawaii. (Honolulu, HI) - At a press …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010

Obama Lacking the "Vision Thing"

President Obama’s State of the Union Address last night may be the first sign that Americans may have begun to tune his words out. At some point in the George W. Bush Presidency, the majority of American citizens simply stopped listening to the President. That seemed to have begun early in …

Written by Steve Bell on Thursday January 28, 2010

Obama & the Dems: Still in Retreat

The president’s State of the Union speech is unlikely to change anything. Indeed, the political dynamics that existed before he spoke remain intact; Obama did nothing to alter or arrest them. The president’s State of the Union speech is unlikely to change anything. Indeed, the political dynamics …

Written by John Guardiano on Thursday January 28, 2010

Purity Test Nears Death

FF Exclusive: A sponsor of Jim Bopp's purity test resolution tells FrumForum that the purity test resolution could be discarded as early as this evening. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC Summit in Hawaii. (Honolulu, HI) - A sponsor of Jim Bopp's purity test …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010

Liveblogging the RNC Rules Committee Meeting

Updated: The rules committee meeting wraps up with Bruce Ash as the new chairman. The rules committee meeting wraps up with Bruce Ash as the new chairman. This could be crucial in the coming years, because rules committee members determine the procedure for selecting the delegates who will …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010

Chief Sponsor: GOP Purity Test Not Dead

Updated: RNC Chairman Michael Steele tells reporters that "after the expression of the chairmen's meeting, where the chairmen unanimously rejected (the purity test)," it might be "problematic" for Bopp to bring the resolution to the floor. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010

An Alternate History of Obamacare

My latest column for The Week examines Obama's mistake in pushing for healthcare reform instead of focusing on the voters' number one concern: the economy. My latest column for The Week examines Obama's mistake in pushing for healthcare reform instead of focusing on the voters' number one …

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 28, 2010

The Daily Show Looks for Laughs at the RNC Summit

FF Exclusive: Spotted, John Oliver of The Daily Show , at the RNC winter meeting, trying to get something embarrassing out of the members. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC Summit in Hawaii. Spotted, John Oliver of The Daily Show , at the RNC winter …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010

McCain’s Stand Against Bernanke: Principle Not Pandering

Updated: Critics of Sen. McCain are wrong to suggest that his vote against the confirmation of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was motivated by politics. Today the Senate voted to confirm Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Sen. John McCain however voted against the nomination, as …

Written by Paul Craft on Thursday January 28, 2010

Tea Partiers Turn on Palin for Backing McCain

Many Sarah Palin supporters have criticized her endorsement of Sen. John McCain's reelection campaign, even comparing her to that most dreaded of creatures: a RINO. Sarah Palin supporters are divided over her commitment to endorse John McCain’s Senate reelection bid. Though some understand and …

Written by Paul Craft on Thursday January 28, 2010

No Israeli Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Despite Israel's incredible generosity after the earthquake in Haiti, many are just using the episode to once again heap criticism on the country. It’s been years since Israel has had such a good public relations week. The Jewish State established the first field hospital in Haiti after the …

Written by Martin Krossel on Thursday January 28, 2010

Hawaii's Strange Anti-D.C. Anger

If there is tea party-esque anger here in Hawaii, it appears to be geared towards the U.S.A. itself. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC Summit in Hawaii. If there is tea party-esque anger here, it is geared towards the U.S.A., which is viewed by some in Hawaii as a …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010