Overview for News

The Real Debt Debate Sticking Point?

Politico insinuates that a big sticking point for the GOP in the debt-ceiling negotiations is a demand that the earnings of hedge funds continue to be taxed at the 15% capital-gains rate rather than income-tax rates. Politico insinuates this morning that a big sticking point for the GOP in the …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday July 6, 2011

Where Was the Ambassador at the Reagan Statue Unveiling?

Was America's Ambassador not present at ceremony to unveil a new statue of President Reagan for partisan political reasons? The London Evening Standard reports that the American Ambassador was not present a ceremony in London to unveil a new statue of President Ronald Reagan: It was one …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Obama Calls for Lopsided Negotiations

President Obama has summoned Republicans to another round of negotiations over the debt ceiling. And now President Obama has summoned Republicans to another round of negotiations over the debt ceiling. Perhaps he will there deploy some previously invisible form of leverage. To the …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Rick Perry Talks Like He is Running

Spend a couple of hours watching Rick Perry on YouTube, and you have to think, "Yes, he's running." Spend a couple of hours watching Rick Perry on YouTube, and you have to think, "Yes, he's running." Here he is in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, speaking both about compassion and the …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 5, 2011

How Did the Sofitel Fail to Screen the Maid?

Why was the Sofitel New York completely unaware of the character of the maid that they hired? Dominique Strauss-Kahn The DSK scandal was disturbing from the start, there were so many oddities: the head of the International Monetary Fund - about as high up there as the Pope - yanked out …

Written by Sean Linnane on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Obama's Weakness Made Debt Crisis Worse

In my latest column for CNN, I discuss how Obama's weakness in his negotiations over the debt ceiling have made the debt crisis worse. In my latest column for CNN, I discuss how president Obama's weakness in his negotiations over the debt ceiling have made the debt crisis worse: Why aren't …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Default Will Extract a Political Price from the GOP

Republicans in Congress need to understand that there will be a political price to them, not only to the president, if they force the United States into a default. David Brooks delivers a withering column in today's NYT: The struggles of the next few weeks are about what sort of party the …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Is this Evidence that Pakistan Threatens Journalists?

When Pakistani journalists decline "for fear of reprisals" to comment on allegations that they have been threatened by the state security services, doesn't that strongly suggest that the allegations are true? When Pakistani journalists decline " for fear of reprisals " to comment on allegations …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Malloy Bungles Connecticut's Finances

Dan Malloy's attempts to be the "anti-Chris Christie" have not succeeded. In late May, liberals rallied around Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy as the “anti-Christie” (Malloy’s expression). Malloy sought to balance Connecticut’s budget through careful negotiations with public sector unions, …

Written by Harry Graver on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Fiscal Stimulus Didn't Work, Now What?

A White House report touting the success of the fiscal stimulus program is not the good news it is reported to be. A report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers has indicated that the stimulus added 2.3 to 3.2 percent to gross domestic product in the first quarter relative to …

Written by Hank Adler on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Remember America's Potential in Hard Times

Wrath over taxation may have started the Revolution, but reason, temperance, and conciliation won the republic. It has been frequently remarked that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies …

Written by Fred Bauer on Monday July 4, 2011

Can the Debt Crisis Lead to Impeachment?

The debt-ceiling crisis is growing into an impending constitutional crisis. The debt-ceiling crisis is growing into an impending constitutional crisis. Imagine this scenario: * House Republicans and the president fail to reach a budget agreement. * House Republicans refuse to raise the …

Written by David Frum on Monday July 4, 2011

How America's First Central Bank Was Killed

Amid current political pressures to abolish the Fed, Independence Day weekend is a good time to look back at the end of the Fed’s early precursor. This year is the 200th anniversary of a political fight that terminated the Bank of the United States, the nation’s long-ago central bank. Amid …

Written by Kenneth Silber on Sunday July 3, 2011

Remembering How the Youth Movement Got the Vote

Many people have forgotten that it took a bi-partisan campaign to successfully lower the voting age to 18. The decade of the 1960s was one of the most tumultuous and unsettling in American history. Assassinations, urban riots and college campuses erupting in violent protest roiled the nation. …

Written by Les Francis on Saturday July 2, 2011

Pawlenty Spins His Fundraising Numbers

The way they are trying to spin Pawlenty's fundraising numbers shows the dire situation his campaign is in. Today, Governor Tim Pawlenty’s spokesman, Alex Conant, released this statement: "Gov. Pawlenty will report that his campaign has raised about $4.2 million, and begins the third …

Written by Robert Lee on Saturday July 2, 2011

Pawlenty Can't Afford His Foreign Policy

There are a lot of problems with Pawlenty's plan to fund more overseas military missions while also cutting government spending. GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty recently called for $2 trillion in tax cuts for individuals and businesses in the next decade, as well as two to three …

Written by Nicole Glass on Saturday July 2, 2011

Why the World Needs Captain America

World War Two seems tried-and-tired, but it is exactly what the American film industry and people need right now. In the trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger , the viewer is exposed to explosions, one-liners, and loud music. However, he is also exposed to the namesake protagonist of the …

Written by Daniel Alexandre Portoraro on Friday July 1, 2011

Whose 'Better Life' Is It Anyway?

'A Better Life' is somewhat dated, but this movie about illegal immigrants is a pungent reminder of problems that still haven't been solved. Against the backdrop of this weekend's all-American celebrations, one of the more talked-about indie films coming out is the story of an immigrant Mexican …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday July 1, 2011

Girls Will Be Girls - Regardless of Pronouns

You won't close the achievement gap between boys and girls by getting rid of pronouns like “him” and “her”. Issues involving gender bias as it pertains to education of young children have been a topic of much concern and debate in recent years. On the morning of June 27th, I watched CNN’s …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Friday July 1, 2011

The Prowl: The Singleton's Wedding Dilemma

While I am happy to attend my friends weddings, going to them is bankrupting me and making me incredibly socially anxious. Yet another friend of mine this week became engaged. This will be my second engagement party so far this summer, on top of two weddings. I can only imagine what next summer …

Written by Vivian Darkbloom on Friday July 1, 2011