Overview for News

Not What the Doctor Ordered

The House health reform bill is about more than covering the nation’s uninsured. Rather, it’s about remaking the nation’s health care system. In 2008, three researchers decided to cost out the expense of insuring those in America lacking health insurance. The Health Affairs paper estimates …

Written by David Gratzer on Thursday November 12, 2009

Armistice in the Obama-Fox War

The war ends exactly the way wars between politicians and media organizations always end: with the politician's capitulation. The war ends exactly the way wars between politicians and media organizations always end: with the politician's capitulation. This outcome confirms the theory that …

Written by David Frum on Thursday November 12, 2009

What the Tories Have to Teach Us

In the current Commentary , I draw four British lessons for American conservatives. In the current Commentary , I draw four British lessons for American conservatives. (Behind pay wall, subscription required.)

Written by David Frum on Thursday November 12, 2009

Better Food, Smarter Students?

A diet higher in fruits and vegetables, lower in fats and sugars, reduces student absenteeism and boosts test scores, claims this column in the FT . A diet higher in fruits and vegetables, lower in fats and sugars, reduces student absenteeism and boosts test scores, claims this column in …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday November 11, 2009

Ben Collins for Wisconsin Lt. Governor

I got to know Ben Collins when this former Special Forces Captain who served three tours in Afghanistan emailed me to express passionately held views on the conduct of the war. I had a chance to talk to him and was impressed by his intense commitment to politics and public policy. Now he is running …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday November 11, 2009

Dodd's Financial Plan

I'll confess to a bias: I mistrust any bank regulation plan that emerges from the Senate, that plush haven of special interests. The most fascinating thing in the upcoming debate will be which party lines up with which financial industry interest groups. I'll confess to a bias: I mistrust any bank …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday November 11, 2009

How Krugman Got It Wrong

Nobel laureate Paul Krugman has written that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac “didn’t do any subprime lending." Somehow Krugman seems to have missed Fannie and Freddie's acquisition of $4.3 trillion in subprime, low down payment (5% or less) and Alt-A loans. In July 2008 Nobel laureate Paul Krugman …

Written by Edward Pinto on Wednesday November 11, 2009

New York's Busted Budget

New York's political leadership is unable or unwilling to curb the state's steep and growing deficit. Governor Paterson is out of political capital, the Democrats are beholden to public sector unions that oppose cuts and the Republicans won't agree on how big the deficit really us. Gov. David …

Written by Richard Brownell on Wednesday November 11, 2009

Kirk Pushed to the Center

Mark Kirk's Senate campaign in Illinois has been taking heat from both the left and the right. Mark Kirk has been taking heat from all sides recently. Last week Kirk took heat from the left and the right when a leaked memo emerged that revealed the generally moderate Kirk to be seeking a Palin …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Wednesday November 11, 2009

Clinton's Call on the Senate

All dressed up for his role as "Ghost of Christmas Past," clanking his chains, to warn Democrats: You don't want to end like me. All dressed up for his role as "Ghost of Christmas Past," clanking his chains, to warn Democrats: You don't want to end like me.

Written by David Frum on Wednesday November 11, 2009

Obama at Fort Hood

A fine eulogy, with a deftly written condemnation of the alleged shooter's presumed radical Islamic motives. It almost makes up for the president's weird "shout-out" preface to his first statement on the shooting. A fine eulogy, with a deftly written condemnation of the alleged shooter's …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 10, 2009

Afghans Don't Trust Their Own Government

The results of a recently released Gallup poll suggest that the Afghan democracy project is going worse than expected. 8 in 10 Afghans believe their country is riddled with widespread corruption and more than half don’t think Karzai is doing enough to address it. The results of a recently released …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Tuesday November 10, 2009

Scozzafava - The Verb

What's wrong with upstate New York Republicans? Is this what happens when you sink into minority status in your state - you just cease attracting political talent that knows how to play the game? What's wrong with upstate New York Republicans? The eventual conservative favorite, Doug Hoffman, …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 10, 2009

The Hasan Revelations

Can we stop taking our shoes off now? The recent revelations about Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan raise the unhappy thought that what we've been doing these past 8 years isn't security. It's security theater. Can we stop taking our shoes off now? The Hasan revelations raise the unhappy …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 10, 2009

How Republicans Win in Westchester

In Westchester County, New York, Republican candidate John Cronin rode to a big win by presenting himself as moderate, focusing on the issues and addressing issues the GOP often ignores. North Castle , NY is 43% Democrat, 34% Republican and the rest non-affiliated or independent. Yet Republican …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Monday November 9, 2009

Funding Obamacare on the Backs of the Middle Class

The Senate Finance Committee's health reform bill features a provision which would reduce tax deductions for out of pocket medical costs and raise the financial burden on middle class families. The Senate Finance Committee version of the healthcare bill has a hidden provision that will hurt every …

Written by Elise Cooper on Monday November 9, 2009

New York Dems Turn on Paterson

When Democratic New York Gov. David Paterson called for a special legislative session this week to address the state's crippling budget woes, state Democrats initially threatened to boycott. The complete lack of respect for the state's top elected official by members of his own party does not bode …

Written by Richard Brownell on Monday November 9, 2009

Terror Threat Blurs the Rules of War

On Nov. 4, an Italian court convicted 23 CIA operatives in the kidnapping of an Egyptian terror suspect. As courts intrude into national security matters, Western security services will likely resort to more discreet - but not necessarily more legal - counter-terrorism methods. On Nov. 4, an …

Written by Jean Granville on Monday November 9, 2009

Ship Carries Memory of 9/11

The Navy's newest vessel, the U.S.S. New York , carries seven and a half tons of steel from the World Trade Center in its bow. The Navy's newest vessel, the U.S.S. New York , was commissioned last weekend in New York City, with over 6,000 people in attendance. The San Antonio -class …

Written by Richard Brownell on Monday November 9, 2009

The Lawyers Win One

Small but sophisticated interest groups use big political battles to gain special advantages. My column on CNN.com details the trial bar's successful insertion of anti-tort-reform measures into the House health bill. My column on CNN.com details the trial bar's successful insertion of …

Written by David Frum on Monday November 9, 2009