Overview for News

Michelle Obama's Burger-Gate

The Washington Post reports that First Lady Michelle Obama had a hamburger for lunch. The Washington Post reports that First Lady Michelle Obama had a hamburger for lunch: First lady Michelle Obama ordered a whopper of a meal at the newly opened Washington diner Shake Shack during lunch …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 12, 2011

GOP Must Use Debt Debate to get Real Cuts

The GOP must extract political concessions with the debt debate. What other opportunity will there be to hold the Democrats' feet to the fire? I have been struck by the arguments here at FrumForum that the hard line Republicans against raising the debt limit are “radical.” I put aside the …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday July 12, 2011

The Economy Can't Survive Abrupt Spending Cuts

An economic precedent that is remotely comparable to an abrupt hit-the-wall 44% cut in federal government spending is the defense build-down at the end of World War II. I'm trying to think of an economic precedent even remotely comparable to an abrupt hit-the-wall 44% cut in federal government …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 12, 2011

This is Not the End of Ron Paul

Ron Paul has announced that he will not be seeking the reelection for his House seat and will instead be focusing on his Presidential campaign. Ron Paul has announced that he will not be seeking reelection for his House seat and will instead be focusing on his presidential campaign. (Or will it …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Will Hamid Karzai be Assassinated Next?

The assassination of Ahmed Wali Karzai is probably and indication of what the future holds for Afghanistan. More than anything else, the assassination of Ahmed Wali Karzai is probably and indication of what the future holds for Afghanistan. Never mind that he was President Hamid Karzai’s …

Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Gaza Flotilla Faces New Setbacks

Looks like that one forlorn Gaza-bound flotilla boat from Piraeus is also in trouble with Greek law enforcement. And the Russian boat at the next dock is making a lot of noise! Looks like that one forlorn Gaza-bound flotilla boat from Piraeus is also in trouble with Greek law enforcement. And the …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 12, 2011

How to Make 2011 a Repeat of 1931

If the US government fails to make its payments, there is a risk of repeating the same crisis that struck the world in 1931. The US government is the largest purchaser of goods and services on planet earth. The government buys everything from equipment for cancer research to metal for warships …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 12, 2011

You Read it First at FrumForum

Two papers are reporting that excess housing is slowing down the recovery, something that would be familiar to FF readers. The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Businessweek both have articles discussing how excess housing supply is slowing down the economic recovery. This would not be news to …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Tuesday July 12, 2011

GOP Losing Touch With Economic Reality

In the debt debate the President has the bully pulpit and the GOP is getting its clock cleaned. President Obama’s news conference this morning confirmed the age-old truth: a President has the bully pulpit. More people saw, or will see in some format, the President’s remarks today than …

Written by Steve Bell on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Fox News Struggles to Replace Glenn Beck

Fox News has a new TV show to fill the 5pm slot that Glenn Beck had. But is "The Five" just lazy filler? How do you replace Glenn Beck's bizarre and rambling hour of television? If you come up with programming on Fox News, you decide that 5pm is a great time to do a conservative version of …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Monday July 11, 2011

Slow Recovery? Blame the Housing Boom

Why has recovery been so weak and slow? Businessweek argues: because we are still unwinding the consequences of the housing boom of the 2000s. Why has recovery been so weak and slow? Businessweek argues : because we are still unwinding the consequences of the housing boom of the 2000s. …

Written by David Frum on Monday July 11, 2011

Don't Mourn the End of Murdoch's Tabloid

Rupert Murdoch’s decision to shut down the News of the World is more of a blessing than a tragedy. The general reaction to media tycoon Rupert Murdoch’s decision to shut down the 168-year-old British weekly, News of the World , is that it’s something of a journalistic tragedy. In my …

Written by Peter Worthington on Monday July 11, 2011

Boehner Shows Leadership in Debt Negotiations

Boehner’s acknowledgement that a smaller debt deal makes sense seems to allow a path to avoid default and lets the GOP make the best of the politically disastrous decision to play with the debt limit. Let’s have some genuine applause for John Boehner’s leadership: his acknowledgement that a …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday July 11, 2011

The Candid and Frank Betty Ford

Betty Ford will be remembered for being a very candid first lady with a much more modest political profile. In my latest CNN column , I write about Betty Ford's candid and frank speaking style: The role of first lady is one of the most difficult in American public life. Few women have …

Written by David Frum on Monday July 11, 2011

Ethical Questions Raised at Mr. Bachmann's Clinic

An investigation into Marcus Bachmann's clinic suggests that it is using unethical practices by not warning patients about the dangers of "ex-gay" treatments. The Nation revealed this weekend that the Christian counseling centers owned by the husband and chief advisor of GOP Presidential …

Written by Ron Hill on Monday July 11, 2011

There is No Light Bulb "Ban"

There is no looming ban or phase out of incandescent bulbs. The entire hullabaloo is based on a fictitious claim manufactured by Rep. Joe Barton. As has been written about here before, a group of GOP lawmakers, including Joe Barton (TX) and Michele Bachmann (MN), have stirred up—along with …

Written by David Jenkins on Monday July 11, 2011

Debt Talks Don't Need an Ambitious Solution

If the debt talks produce only (i) an increase in the debt ceiling and (ii) a framework for cutting federal spending over the medium term - well, there are worse ways to resolve the crisis. If the debt talks produce only (i) an increase in the debt ceiling and (ii) a framework for cutting …

Written by David Frum on Monday July 11, 2011

Amanda Foreman's Own World on Fire

Amanda Foreman just published A World on Fire. What many people may not know is that Foreman wrote the book while nursing a husband with cancer and raising five children. Amanda Foreman just published A World on Fire , a book that aimed to place the American Civil War in internation…

Written by Tessa Berenson on Sunday July 10, 2011

Hold Students Accountable in Testing

While many people blame teachers for the decline in test scores, scrutiny needs to be placed on students as well. The results just came back, and just 31 percent of my tenth grade English students passed their state high school exam this year. This was my first year teaching a tested …

Written by Thomas Gibbon on Saturday July 9, 2011

How Israel's Lawyers Stopped the Second Flotilla

Israel has deployed a powerful new strategy against the latest wouldbe Gaza flotilla activists: Bore them to death. Israel has deployed a powerful new strategy against the latest wouldbe Gaza flotilla activists: Bore them to death. For three weeks, the activists aboard the lead flotilla …

Written by David Frum on Saturday July 9, 2011