Overview for News

What if Bush Had Done It?

Our friend the Washington Insider called to ask: had any president before ever denounced the Supreme Court to their own faces in the way that Barack Obama just did? Our friend the Washington Insider called to ask: had any president before ever denounced the Supreme Court to their own faces in the …

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 28, 2010

Boycotting the State of the Union

I didn't watch the State of the Union Show, on account I don't believe in subjecting myself to enemy propaganda. I didn't watch the State of the Union Show, on account I don't believe in subjecting myself to enemy propaganda. Instead, we present . . . ( drumroll ) . . . STORMBRINGER propaganda …

Written by Sean Linnane on Thursday January 28, 2010

How Scott Brown Stopped Andy Card's Senate Challenge

FF Exclusive: In September of last year, it seemed unlikely Scott Brown would win the Republican nomination if former Transportation Secretary Andy Card decided to take him on in a primary. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC Summit in Hawaii. (Honolulu, HI) - Before …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010

RNC Chairman Has Steel Grip on Members

FF Exclusive: Michael Steele has nothing to worry about. Even his supposed 'enemies' are praising his work at the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting in Hawaii this week. Click here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC Summit in Hawaii. (Honolulu, HI) - Michael …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010

Repackaging the Obama Agenda

UPDATED: Right now, things don't look too good for President Obama. So - he's fiddling with his message. He's sprinkled it with a lot of zingers to excite his base - and a few rhetorical concessions to appease his critics. Along the way, he deviated more than once from strict truth. The core …

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 28, 2010

No Love for Rubio Amongst Florida RNC Members

FF Exclusive: At the RNC summit in Hawaii, FrumForum spoke with all three of Florida's RNC members and found a dearth of support for Marco Rubio's senatorial campaign. On the other hand, two of the Florida members came out strongly in favor Governor Charlie Crist. Click here for all of Tim …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday January 28, 2010

Obama's Worst Lines

The president came across as battle-weary, on the whole, but he still managed to slip in a few particularly egregious remarks. The president came across as battle-weary, on the whole, but he still managed to slip in a few particularly egregious remarks: 1. Referring to Iran as "The Islamic …

Written by Alex Knepper on Wednesday January 27, 2010

Pawlenty Keeps Pushing Constitutional Amendment

In an interview on Fox News last night, Pawlenty rightly ridiculed Obama's planned spending freeze, but also kept pushing for a balanced-budget amendment -- an idea that will not pay him any political dividends. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6TS64WAWO8 Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty must …

Written by Bryce McNitt on Wednesday January 27, 2010

Hatch and Schumer’s Big Idea

Senators Hatch and Schumer have proposed an especially elegant version of the payroll tax cut . And the plan is all the more important now that CBO chief Doug Elmsdorf is projecting that unemployment will hover near 10% for all of 2010, and that it will take four years for unemployment to subside …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday January 27, 2010

GOP Should Pick its Fights

This election cycle is proving such a target-rich environment for Republicans that they are now at risk of missing the long-term requirements for creating a lasting Senate majority. A win is a win – but some wins are better than others. This election cycle is proving such a target-rich environment …

Written by Henry Clay on Wednesday January 27, 2010

Playing State of the Union Bingo

Here are a list of words and phrases that are likely to appear in tonight’s speech. Arrange them 5x5 in a standard bingo format and play along at home to make the speech go faster. Usually, everyone’s a winner. In the spirit of the late William Safire, who popularized the White House acronym …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Wednesday January 27, 2010

Another Arrest

On the other hand, they should throw the book at this guy . On the other hand, they should throw the book at this perp . This business of throwing pies in the faces of politicians to make a political point is not a joke. The groups who engage are also implicitly boasting of their ability to …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday January 27, 2010

The James O'Keefe Arrest

I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict: the James O'Keefe/Landrieu phone interference case will be resolved with a very stern talking to by a judge, no criminal record, and 100 hours of community service each for the four arrested young people. I'm going to go out on a limb here and …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday January 27, 2010

Losing Faith in Karzai

Two classified cables authored by U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry and leaked to The New York Times provide startling details of just how little trust America's top diplomatic official in Afghanistan has in the Karzai government. Two classified cables authored by U.S. Ambassador …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Tuesday January 26, 2010

Not Listening

In today's online edition of Newsweek I argue that Obama has cut himself off from the centrist Republicans who gave him his margin of victory in 2008. In today's online edition of Newsweek I argue that Obama has cut himself off from the centrist Republicans who gave him his margin of …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 26, 2010

Enter Hayworth

Thirteen years ago, I followed Phil Gramm for The Atlantic . Along the way, he had an encounter with a local football star now running for Congress: JD Hayworth. Thirteen years ago, I followed Phil Gramm for 10 days for The Atlantic . Along the way, he had an encounter with a local football …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 26, 2010

Self-Induced Jihad Syndrome Strikes Again

Another self-starter arrested in NJ: Lloyd Woodson apprehended after a convenience store clerk thought something was wrong with him (noticed bulges under coat) and called police. Another self-starter arrested in NJ: Lloyd Woodson apprehended after a convenience store clerk thought something …

Written by Sean Linnane on Tuesday January 26, 2010

Is Obama the New Hoover?

With his planned spending freeze, many are now viewing President Obama as the second coming of Herbert Hoover. Liberals see a well-meaning technocrat who can't put together a political coalition while conservatives see a president who made a stock market crash worse through a series of ill-timed …

Written by Andrew Gelman on Tuesday January 26, 2010

Dems & GOP Pass the Buck on the Deficit

Despite all of their concerns about the president's outrageous spending habits and the unsustainable deficit run up by the Bush administration, Senators from both parties joined to kill a planned bipartisan commission to address the nation's colossal budget deficit. We should be ashamed of the …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Tuesday January 26, 2010

Hayworth Poised to Challenge McCain

A 2010 Hayworth-McCain battle would, in many respects, fit into a larger political trend in which a conservative GOP candidate like challenges an established, more moderate candidate. After months of speculation, former Arizona GOP congressman J.D. Hayworth appears poised to challenge John McCain …

Written by Paul Craft on Tuesday January 26, 2010