Overview for News

Stopping the Breakdown of the Family

Opponents of the D.C. City Council's decision to legalize gay marriage aren't bigots. They are just rightly worried about the effects of the continuing breakdown of the American family. Despite the opposition of many D.C. residents, the D.C. City Council bypassed a ballot vote, ignored …

Written by Crystal Wright on Monday January 11, 2010

A Double Welcome

Two important new web ventures launch today: The New Republic's new online literary section, The Book, and Tucker Carlson's new Daily Caller. Two important new web ventures launch today: New Republic' s new online literary section, The Book, edited by Leon Wieseltier and Isaac Chotiner, will …

Written by David Frum on Monday January 11, 2010

My John Edwards Moment

I only met John and Elizabeth Edwards in person once in my life, but in light of this week’s revelations, the story takes on new meaning. I only met John and Elizabeth Edwards in person once in my life, but in light of this week’s revelations, the story takes on new meaning. We were at an …

Written by David Frum on Monday January 11, 2010

The Dark Horse?

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty made a modest second place showing behind the decided favorite Romney in the first National Journal Republican insider poll of the new presidential election cycle. Q: Please rank the top five candidates, 1 through 5, in terms of who you think is most likely to …

Written by Bryce McNitt on Sunday January 10, 2010

The DOJ's War on Blackwater

Last week, federal prosecutors charged two security contractors from the company formerly known as Blackwater in the killings of two Afghan men. By now it's all over the news: the United States Justice Department continues its undeclared war on the Company Formerly Known as Blackwater: strong> …

Written by Sean Linnane on Sunday January 10, 2010

Why Were Dems Silent About Edwards Scandal?

A distinguished roster of Republicans and conservatives were willing to speak out in real time against Palin's nomination to vice president. Yet according to revelations from the newly released Game Change , none of the many Democrats who knew or suspected the truth about John Edwards were willing …

Written by David Frum on Sunday January 10, 2010

Transcending Disability

The stigma and prejudice associated with disability won’t disappear until society becomes accustomed to seeing people like Charles Krauthammer pursuing excellence in all fields of human endeavor. A few days ago, John Guardiano wrote an excellent tribute to Charles Krauthammer to mark his 25th …

Written by Martin Krossel on Saturday January 9, 2010

The Newest Put Down

The newest way to slam a belief you disagree with is to call it "religious." The newest way to slam a belief you disagree with -- or maybe it's not so new -- is to call it "religious." For example , "Market Fundamentalism is a quasi-religious faith that unregulated markets will somehow always …

Written by Andrew Gelman on Saturday January 9, 2010

Steele's 12-Step Plan for Self-Destruction

What supporters of RNC Chairman Michael Steele most expected from him is that he’d broaden the party. His new book’s 12-step plan for Republican recovery however amounts to a formula for narrowing the party into the fundraising arm of the tea party movement. Former RNC chairman Jim Nicholson …

Written by David Frum on Saturday January 9, 2010

England Made Him

My National Post column this weekend addresses the underwear bomber's British connection. My National Post column this weekend addresses the underwear bomber's British connection. Abdulmutallab joined University College's Islamic Society and was soon chosen president. The London Times …

Written by David Frum on Saturday January 9, 2010

Restoring Fiscal Health at the Local Level

Whatever long-term fiscal problems states face, most local governments have it even worse. But without resorting to extreme measures, there are still a few things local governments might do to get their fiscal houses into order. Whatever long-term fiscal problems states face, most local …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Saturday January 9, 2010

Don't Blame the Filibuster

Political reformers who want to help promote more bipartisan legislation in the Senate should focus less on ending the 60 vote cloture rule and more on weakening the power of the party caucuses. Pleas for Congressional "bi-partisanship" flood the media marketplace. Esteemed columnists and think …

Written by Steve Bell on Friday January 8, 2010

Steele Can't Have it Both Ways

In his book, Michael Steele loudly criticizes Republicans who support policies with which he disagrees. But now that he's taking fire for his mismanagement of the RNC, he's invoking Reagan's so-called Eleventh Commandment. In his book , Michael Steele loudly criticizes Republicans who don't …

Written by Daniel Webster on Friday January 8, 2010

Reid to Ford: Drop Dead

If Politico is correct Harry Reid personally attempted to shiv former House Rep. Harold Ford Jr.'s plans to contest Kirsten Gillibrand's nomination for the New York Senate seat. I personally suspect that Harold Ford Jr.'s relatively conservative voting record as a member of the House of …

Written by David Frum on Friday January 8, 2010

The War Must Be Obama's Top Priority

It’s high past time for the president to acknowledge that winning the War on Terror is his most important, overriding responsibility. Everything else -- including so-called comprehensive healthcare reform -- is secondary. The media are sure to laud President Obama for forthrightly addressing, …

Written by John Guardiano on Friday January 8, 2010

Obama Underwear Bomber Fail

The president's speech today acknowledged failure in a generic way - but no particular failure was mentioned and nobody will be held to account. So my spy-minded friend's prediction that Obama would get tough with intelligence failures turns out wrong. The president's speech today acknowled…

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 7, 2010

Prop. 8 Trial isn't Made for TV

A federal judge argued yesterday that the trial over the constitutionality of Proposition 8 should be videotaped and made available over the internet. Allowing cameras into the courtroom however could jeopardize the integrity of this trial. A San Francisco federal judge argued yesterday that the …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday January 7, 2010

President Obama Vs. Candidate Obama

On the campaign trail, Obama promised to take federal funding for his campaign, to close Guantanamo, and to televise dealmaking on healthcare reform. Promises made - promises all broken. Candidate Obama promised to take federal funding for his campaign, to close Guantanamo, and to televise …

Written by Brad Schaeffer on Thursday January 7, 2010

Barack Obama – Tough Guy

A friend close to the intelligence community argues that Obama has been much tougher on the intelligence agencies after the Christmas bombing attempt than President Bush was after 9/11. A (right of center) friend close to the intelligence community makes this point. He talked too rapidly for me to …

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 7, 2010

Profiling Done Right

My column in The Week offers some suggestions. My column in The Week offers some suggestions.

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 7, 2010