Overview for News

An Idea For Senators

The US economy is in freefall because Americans have suddenly discovered themselves to be much poorer than they believed. Bruce Bartlett estimates that the 20% nationwide decline in housing prices has slashed household net worth by $10 trillion. Feeling poorer, consumers spend less - perhaps …

Written by David Frum on Monday February 9, 2009

How Should Conservatives React To The Stimulus Measures? Our Experts Weigh In.

Frum Forum has asked a group of free market economists to assess the stimulus ideas working their way through Congress. Which should Republicans favor? Which could we live with? Which should be opposed absolutely? We will be posting replies as they come in. Today we hear from Alan Viard …

Written by FF Political Report on Monday February 9, 2009

Bruce Bartlett On The Stimulus Package

Frum Forum has asked a group of free market economists to assess the stimulus ideas working their way through Congress. Which should Republicans favor? Which could we live with? Which should be opposed absolutely? We will be posting replies as they come in. Today we hear from Bruce Bartlett, …

Written by FF Political Report on Monday February 9, 2009

Gregory Mankiw On The Stimulus Package

Frum Forum has asked a group of free market economists to assess the stimulus ideas working their way through Congress. Which should Republicans favor? Which could we live with? Which should be opposed absolutely? We will be posting replies as they come in. Today we hear from Bruce …

Written by FF Political Report on Monday February 9, 2009

Eric Rasmusen On The Stimulus Package

Frum Forum has asked a group of free market economists to assess the stimulus ideas working their way through Congress. Which should Republicans favor? Which could we live with? Which should be opposed absolutely? We will be posting replies as they come in. Today we hear from Bruce Bartlett …

Written by FF Political Report on Monday February 9, 2009

Looking North For Ideas

If conservatives were given a free-hand to re-write the stimulus bill, what should they press for? Here’s a simple check list: Agree with spending money now, but in a more restrained manner. No to massive spending commitments years into the future. No to any new …

Written by David Gratzer on Monday February 9, 2009

A Look At What Is Left

A review of Alan Wolfe's em> The Future of Liberalism

Written by David Frum on Sunday February 8, 2009

After Daschle's Demise

Ceci Connolly, blogging at washingtonpost.com , describes “proponents of overhauling America’s heath care system” as being “shocked” when Mr. Daschle withdrew his name from nomination. Reading the The New Republic Online , that would seem to be an understatemen…

Written by David Gratzer on Sunday February 8, 2009

Conservatism's Greatest Failure: The Academy

The conservative revolution was supposed to be a revolution. It has not been. It has been an insurgency. And while that insurgency captured a vast swath of open territory, it failed utterly to capture the key citadels of American culture, beginning with American higher education. The academic …

Written by Allen Guelzo on Sunday February 8, 2009

Pakistan Frees A.q. Khan

This is a gigantic disaster: Emblematic of what I am worried about . What can we do about this? Well, for starters, how about we send a démarche to Islamabad that says, "Congratulations, chappies, you just elevated yourselves to the top of our targeting list in the event of a terrorist …

Written by Michael Anton on Saturday February 7, 2009

What Went Wrong in Iraq - The Definitive Account, Part 6

This is the last installment of a six-part series. Read part one here , part two here , part three here , part four here and part five here . The past two years have seen an impressive turnaround in Iraq. Violence has abated, economic activity has recovered. Americans usually …

Written by David Frum on Friday February 6, 2009

Elliot Spitzer Whiffs On Social Security Reform

There is one statement in Elliot Spitzer's Slate.com article on Social Security personal accounts that I fully agree with: "'We told you so' is just about the most annoying sentence one can utter." Sure is. Beyond that, though, Spitzer's argument that stock market declines over the past year just …

Written by Andrew Biggs on Friday February 6, 2009

California Republicans Prepare For 2010

It's Ronald Reagan's birthday. Born February 6th, 1911, 98 years ago. California's greatest political son remains the only California Governor ever to serve as U.S. President. With Ronald Reagan ever in the background, California Republicans attempt in the 2009-2010 election cycle to pick …

Written by Larry Greenfield on Friday February 6, 2009

The Chicago Way

From February 4, in the Chicago Tribune 's " Clout Street " blog: " Daley mum on stimulus project list " Mayor Richard Daley said today Chicago has compiled a wish list of "shovel-ready projects" to spend federal economic stimulus funds should Congress approve them. Unlike hundreds of …

Written by FF Political Report on Friday February 6, 2009

Is Conservatism Dead? No - Its Resting

In the current New Republic , Sam Tanenhaus offers a long analysis of the state of conservatism under the provocative heading: “ Conservatism Is Dead ” – minus the customary editorial precaution of a protective question mark. There are two obvious rebuttals to Tanenhaus’ claim. The first is that …

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 5, 2009

Much Ado About (almost) Nothing

President Obama generated huge headlines yesterday by announcing caps on senior executive pay at large financial institutions. The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that President Barack Obama laid out strict new regulations on executive compensation Wednesday, strafing Wall …

Written by Stanley Jevons on Thursday February 5, 2009

Something To Work For

Arne Duncan said at his confirmation hearing that it’s never been so cool to be smart as it is now that we have a super smart black president. At my school, it is not considered cool to be smart. Last spring was the last time our principal tried to have an awards ceremony for smart and …

Written by Thomas Gibbon on Wednesday February 4, 2009

Geithner, Daschle... Obama? Tax Impropriety In Prez's Past

Newly minted Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and former Heath and Human Services contender Tom Daschle aren't the only ones close to the Obama administration with tax improprieties. It seems the problem that has become a rash in the new Democratic regime includes the commander in chief as well. …

Written by Moira Bagley on Tuesday February 3, 2009

What Verdict Has The Past Year Rendered On Social Security Reform?

It’s hard to remember, but much of 2005 was spent arguing about Social Security reform, an issue that’s been quiet since then. But with President Obama’s statements that he wants to take on Social Security , and his sponsoring of a “fiscal responsibility summit” …

Written by Andrew Biggs on Tuesday February 3, 2009

Hillarycare, On The Installment Plan

Are you a banker? These are tough times. Your shrewd idea to offer subprime mortgages to people who didn’t qualify for a credit card has proven less than stellar and led to your company’s share price dropping 95%. Your golfing buddy even transferred his fourth mansion’s deed …

Written by David Gratzer on Tuesday February 3, 2009