The Huntsman-Pawlenty RINO War
Two slick new ads attacking Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty as reasonable moderates show just how divorced from reality today's GOP is. Two slick new ads are out attacking Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty as reasonable moderates. As I point out in my latest column for The Week , these ads show just …GOP Running Out of Time to Win Debt Fight
The clean debt limit vote has predictably failed. But by wasting time on political games, the GOP may have run out of time to cut the long-term spending deal they want. The clean debt limit vote has predictably failed. Of course, it wasn’t the best conceivable option. A debt ceiling increase …How Palin Taps the GOP's Economic Fears
For non-wealthy Republicans - as for non-wealthy Americans generally - the past half-decade has been a terrible time. This is part three in a series. Click here for part one and part two . Not every Republican lives in Greenwich and earns millions. For non-wealthy Republicans - as …A Debt Fight the GOP Can't Win
Fighting over the debt limit will end in a GOP defeat. The party should instead use its political capital to fight for serious entitlement reform. Congress’ rejection of a “clean” debt ceiling increase isn’t surprising and probably won’t have many short-term consequences. Largely because most …Extreme Weather: A Climate Change Wake Up Call?
Climate scientists have been predicting for years that carbon loading in our atmosphere will create droughts, floods and other extreme weather events. Bill McKibben, founder of the global climate campaign 350.org , recently wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post titled em> A link between …Budget Ahead for Disaster Relief
Eric Cantor is right that Missouri's disaster relief should be offset by other cuts. But a one-time offset isn’t enough: we need a permanent fund to pay for disaster relief. Eric Cantor is right to insist that disaster relief payments to Missouri and other tornado-damaged locales be offset with …Want Big Budget Cuts? Weaken the Dollar
Republicans promise that rapid action to cut government spending will return us to prosperity. But their approach may not work if they also call for a strong dollar. Republicans promise that rapid action to cut government spending will lead to a quick return to prosperity. They have some …
Who Really Wins with Ryan's Budget?
Sarah Palin speaks to a radical mood: a mood of victimization and resentment. But Paul Ryan speaks to another radical mood: the radicalism felt by many affluent Americans. This is part two in a series. Click here for part 1 . Palin speaks to a radical mood in the country: a mood of …Romney: The Candidate the Media Forgot
The media is following Sarah Palin's every move while they also ignore the GOP's clear front-runner: Mitt Romney. The media is following Sarah Palin's every move, but as I write in my CNN column today, they also ignoring the GOP's clear front-runner: Mitt Romney. Sarah Palin has mesmerized the …Hospitals: The New Teachers' Unions?
In the 80s and 90s, teachers’ unions resisted measuring education progress with student testing. Now hospitals are opposing similar efficiency tests. Are hospitals the new public-school teachers' unions? From the New York Times today : More generally, [hospitals] are apprehensive about …Arrest Warrant Won't Make Qaddafi Budge
By issuing an arrest warrant for his war crimes, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court will guarantee Qaddafi won’t go quietly. By issuing an arrest warrant for his war crimes, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court is guaranteeing that Libya’s Muammar …Russia's Internet Challenge
The successful debut of Yandex, "Russia's Google", on NASDAQ heralds the country's growing IT industry. But can Russian tech compete on a global scale? Yandex, deemed by some to be the “Russian Google”, recently raised some eyebrows when its chief technology officer, Ilya Segalovich, claimed …An American Warrior in an African War
Frum Forum contributor Sean Linnane is hard at work on a novel. This Memorial Day, we present the prologue to his latest work. Frum Forum contributor Sean Linnane is hard at work on a novel. This Memorial Day, we present the prologue to his latest work: As a map, the continent of …
Palin Storms Into Rolling Thunder
Sarah Palin made an appearance at the Rolling Thunder rally Sunday in Washington, stealing the spotlight away from organizers and their important cause. When SarahPAC treasurer Tim Crawford emailed Politico to tell them that updates for Sarah Palin’s weekend itinerary “will be posted on the …Wall Street's Getting Nervous About a Default
Who are you going to believe: the GOP Congressmen who say a short-term default won't matter or the financial professionals warning against that? “Don’t go to a butcher for back surgery.” My Air Force veteran father used to say that. It meant: don’t listen to folks about important matters unless …Israel Alone Won't Win GOP Jewish Voters
Conservatives are hopeful that Obama's missteps over Israel will bring more American Jews into the Republican camp. But it will take more than one issue. These days, it seems that Jews have more reason to vote Republican. Frum Forum ’s Fred Messner noted that the Republican Jewish Coalition …Obama Falls for Abbas' Bluff
Holding the geopolitical equivalent of a pair of twos and a pair of threes, the Palestinian Authority President has bluffed and bullied Obama into an awkward predicament. Mahmoud Abbas must be a very good poker player. Or else Barack Obama must be a very bad one. Holding the geopolitical …Rick Perry: Too Lucky to Rule Out
It’s a mistake to underestimate Rick Perry's chances as a presidential contender. Throughout his political career he's exhibited an uncanny talent for luck and timing. There's been increased chatter this week about the presidential ambitions of Texas Governor Rick Perry. Governor Perry has made …FrumForum Toasts New ACU Chair Al Cardenas
Frum Forum held a dinner Thursday, May 26 to honor Al Cardenas, the new chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU) Frum Forum held a dinner last night to honor Al Cardenas, the new chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU). Cardenas assumed the chairmanship during the 2011 …