Overview for News

More Obama Apologies

The FT reports : In the new spirit of multilateralism, the US mission at the UN put out a “progress report” last month that noted: “The United States mission to the United Nations is demonstrating to the world every day the changes that have come to US foreign policy under …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 13, 2009

Was the GOP "Pizza Party" Just a Romney PR Stunt?

The National Council for a New America launched its “listening tour” at a pizza parlor in Arlington, Virginia on Saturday, May 2. Who are the Republicans leading the NCNA? Besides the Congressional leadership, the group’s “national panel of experts” includes former …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Tuesday May 12, 2009

New Boss for a Tough War

There are a lot of officers out there who know their stuff on paper but putting it together under field conditions - even in training - is another thing altogether. Having leaders who are able to field and lead forces, against an enemy willing to stand and fight, calls for very unique leadership …

Written by Sean Linnane on Tuesday May 12, 2009

Why Cant Republicans Do This?

You know those annoying calls claiming that your car warranty is about to expire (even if you don’t have a car or just bought a new one)? Which you can get (as I do, often) even if your home or cell phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry ? Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) …

Written by John S. Gardner on Monday May 11, 2009

Gay Marriage: A Way Out, Part 1

This is the first in a series. Read part two here , and part three here . This post and the four that will follow argue for a conclusion that will strike many readers as preposterous: The goals of those who favor marriage equality, I believe, are not inconsistent with the goals of those who …

Written by Austin Bramwell on Monday May 11, 2009

Its Not About Sykes

Chris Cillizza writes: "Too much?" Sykes asked, when the lines drew a mixture of laughter and boos. That was the question debated throughout Washington on Sunday -- whether Sykes had crossed an imaginary line with her attacks on Limbaugh, turning a fun night into a harder-edged partisan …

Written by David Frum on Monday May 11, 2009

Venezuela Worse And Worse And Worse

The FT reports on the latest milestone on Venezuela's road to collapse: Hugo Chavez has run the state oil company as his personal property, using its income to fund payola programs for his supporters. As oil prices have declined, the state company has found it harder and harder to pay bills …

Written by David Frum on Monday May 11, 2009

Obama Nominee Wants To Strip Employers

Very revealing article written by Craig Becker, President Obama's announced "intention to nominate" Democrat candidate for the National Labor Relations Board. On page 500, at the end of the paragraph continuing over from the preceding page is a telling comment: "[I conclude] that employers …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Sunday May 10, 2009

Gop Should Seize Space

Space policy has seen its share of political realignments and role reversals over the decades. From the fifties into the seventies, the Democrats were the party of space enthusiasm, while the Republicans tended to fret about the cost and purpose of it all. John F. Kennedy decided to send a man to …

Written by Kenneth Silber on Sunday May 10, 2009

Frum On Thomas Hardys The Woodlanders

I have a new bookshelf entry on Thomas Hardy's The Woodlanders up below.

Written by David Frum on Sunday May 10, 2009

Our Fearless Media

Was that the most sycophantic White House correspondents dinner ever? Certainly the most so I've ever seen. It's pretty bad when the president's speech about the press is not only much funnier but also more daring than the comedian's speech about the president. ("Many of you cover me; all of you …

Written by David Frum on Sunday May 10, 2009

Populist Mustard

I'm in California at my parents' house this week. They're both lifelong Orange County Republicans, McCain voters, and predisposed to dislike Obama, and when I played the "what kind of a man eats ketchup" audio for them, they couldn't understand it. When I told them that the same criticism is making …

Written by Conor Friedersdorf on Saturday May 9, 2009

America - Maybe Not So Different From Europe After All?

So argues UCLA historian Peter Baldwin in a highly interesting article in the British magazine, Prospect . Two key excerpts: Americans are also thought of as diehard individualists who live in a society of sharp elbows and an ethos of live and let live. They are imagined to be unusually …

Written by David Frum on Saturday May 9, 2009

Perils Of Print

My National Post column for the weekend updates the Chrysler story - but not fast enough! The creditor group succumbed to government pressure on Friday as I was filing the story. Winning through intimidation does sometimes work, at least in the short run. In barely four months, Barack …

Written by David Frum on Saturday May 9, 2009

Traditionalists Against Ketchup

Another instance of anti-ketchup traditionalism: Thrasher's French Fries (est. 1929) in Ocean City, Maryland. They have a big sign saying something like NO, YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANY KETCHUP. They stick with the old English, now Maryland salt-and-malt-vinegar tradition. Photo courtesy of …

Written by J. Moses Browning on Friday May 8, 2009

Somebody Likes Him!

George W. Bush Library raises $100 million in 100 days, CNN reports.

Written by David Frum on Friday May 8, 2009

White House Correspondents Dinner: The Reality Show

Over the past month or so, producers of two different reality show projects contacted me about series they planned to set in Washington, D.C. (where I live). In fact, there seems to be a multitude of reality show producers prowling the city, scouting all kinds of Capital "types"--young, attractive …

Written by Danielle Crittenden on Friday May 8, 2009

Mustard-gate

What kind of a man eats his hamburger without ketchup? That was the big question yesterday on talk radio , after President Obama visited an Arlington, Virginia, hamburger place on Tuesday and ordered his burger with spicy mustard. First answer: Texans . Texans traditionally eat hamburgers …

Written by David Frum on Friday May 8, 2009

Is Cornyn A Rino?

No - but according to em> Politico

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 7, 2009

At Last: A Republican Win

Congratulations are in order. Yesterday, Republican Frank Fannon IV won a city council seat in Alexandria, Virginia. Alicia Hughes, an independent candidate supported by the local GOP, won a seat as well on the six member council. Together, these two span> have broken the Democrats' …

Written by Henry Clay on Wednesday May 6, 2009