Overview for News

Where Do GOP Candidates Stand on Ryan's Budget?

In the wake of the NY-26 special election results, which Republican presidential candidates will prove most vulnerable to the challenges that will come with running on the Paul Ryan budget proposal? In the wake of the NY-26 special election results, which Republican presidential candidates will …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday May 25, 2011

Admit it, GOP: Ryan's Budget Isn't Perfect

Why can't Republican leaders see what's obvious to others: that the Ryan budget has NO chance of passing until 2013, and isn't popular with voters? (NB: This is not addressed to any specific individuals. I also believe that supporters of the Ryan budget have every right to make their case as …

Written by Fred Bauer on Wednesday May 25, 2011

GOP Jews are Clear: Israel is an Election Issue

Despite cynical requests from Democrats, Republican Jews plan to keep Israel as an election issue in the next campaign cycle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must have scored a big win in his speech to Congress. In a Monday meeting at the Blair House between Netanyahu and Jewish …

Written by Fred Messner on Wednesday May 25, 2011

Conservatives Scramble To Explain NY-26 Loss

Yesterday, the GOP lost an important race in NY-26. Conservatives are already offering excuses to minimize the importance of the loss. Yesterday the GOP lost an important race in NY-26 when Democrat Kathy Hochul defeated Republican Jane Corwin. Conservatives are already offering excuses …

Written by Tessa Berenson on Wednesday May 25, 2011

Top 5 NY-26 Excuses

After the Republican debacle in New York's 26th congressional district race, expect the excuses to soon start flying. Coming excuses for NY 26: 1) It was a special election in a district that soon won't exist anyway: ignore it. 2) The Democrat won because of a populist spoiler candidacy. …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 25, 2011

Why Voters Aren't Buying the Ryan Plan

CBO projects that by 2030 Ryan's vouchers would cover only 30% of the cost of an insurance policy equal to Medicare today. And the GOP thinks voters will back that? A footnote to the above posting regarding the Ryan budget plan. The Ryan plan does maximum damage to Republicans because of its …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 25, 2011

Paul Ryan: 2012's Goldwater?

NY-26 turned into a referendum on the Ryan plan for Medicare, handing the Dems a win. Yet, the GOP continues to ignore the political dangers in Ryan's budget. I used to worry that Sarah Palin would be the Barry Goldwater of 2012. My bad. Paul Ryan is the Barry Goldwater of 2012. The Goldwater …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 25, 2011

GOP's New Line: Budget Cuts Bring Boom Times

Many in the GOP are convinced that immediate and significant spending cuts can cause significant economic growth. But does this claim hold up? The open seat in NY-26 has gone to the Democrats, yet some conservatives still argue that despite its political unpopularity the GOP budget needs to be …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday May 25, 2011

Medicare Fix Must Include Means-Testing

Anyone who is honestly contemplating Medicare's future must admit that controlling costs means some level of means-testing. The Democrats may have picked up a seat in New York by running against Paul Ryan's Medicare reform proposals. Anyone who is honestly contemplating Medicare's future though …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Wednesday May 25, 2011

GOP's Clean Debt Vote Won't Fool the Dems

If the GOP continues to substitute theatrics for substantive spending proposals the Dems will end up getting the debt ceiling increase and a lot of political capital. The House proposal for a "clean" debt vote is pure political theater. Given the way the House works, leadership almost never …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday May 24, 2011

You Read It First at FrumForum

The Washington Post fact-checks the story about Newt's Tiffany's account and finds it lacking. F F readers though knew it didn't bling true. WaPo fact-checks the story about Newt Gingrich's Tiffany credit card account today and finds it lacking . Or you could have read it on Frum Forum …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 24, 2011

Israel's Borders: The Wrong Fight for Obama

Veteran US Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller gives his verdict on Obama's proposal on 1967 border lines: It was "dumb." Veteran US Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller on Obama's Middle East speech. It was " dumb ." To pick a fight with the Israelis on the eve of the visit of an …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 24, 2011

Malloy's Dud Budget Deal

CT governor Dan Malloy has been praised as the "anti-Chris Christie" for his deal with the state's public sector unions. But his budget won't solve Connecticut's fiscal crisis. Connecticut’s Governor Dan Malloy has recently attracted the praise of the left due to his self-branded “anti-Christie” …

Written by Harry Graver on Tuesday May 24, 2011

With Daniels Out, Who Speaks to GOP Youth?

Many conservatives are saddened by Mitch Daniels’ exit, especially the growing grassroots student initiative which pulled out all the stops to convince him to run. There are many conservative columnists, donors, and op-ed writers are saddened by the exit of Mitch Daniels from the presidential …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday May 24, 2011

Treasury Fire Sale Could Take Years

Any plan to ward off a default by selling government assets would be unworkable in the short term. An emerging right-wing meme about how to deal with the prospect of a debt default is that the federal government can pay off its debts by selling its assets. Veronique de Rugy of Cato and the …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday May 24, 2011

Why Pawlenty Doubled Down on Ethanol

It's right for Tim Pawlenty to travel to Iowa to denounce ethanol and other farm subsidies. But is this his way of downplaying his Iowa expectations? It's courageous, principled, and right for Tim Pawlenty to travel to Iowa to denounce ethanol and other farm subsidies. But I'm also left wondering: …

Written by David Frum on Monday May 23, 2011

French Socialists Stand Up for Privilege

With the French Socialist Party defending Dominique Strauss-Kahn, should they be renamed as the French Monarchist Party? Maybe they should just rename the French Socialist Party the French Monarchist Party? From the em> Telegraph

Written by David Frum on Monday May 23, 2011

Israel's Focus: Security Not Borders

If implemented, Obama's statement on borders would put the decisive power over Israel's self-defense into the hands of a new state incapable or unwilling to do the job. In his address to the Middle East, President Obama called for Israel's 1967 borders to provide the starting point for a negotiate…

Written by David Frum on Monday May 23, 2011

GOP Wonks Lose with Daniels' Exit

The challenge for those on the right who admired Mitch Daniels is to figure out how to get the rest of the party to embrace his pragmatic perspective. Mitch Daniels’ has exited the GOP presidential field and he leaves a large cadre of unhappy conservative policy wonks in his wake. The sentiments …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Monday May 23, 2011

Canada's Senate Needs an Overhaul

PM Stephen Harper is being criticized for appointing defeated MPs to the Senate. But the blame is unfair especially since his efforts for reform have been rejected. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being roasted these days for appointing a bunch of Tories to the Senate who recently failed to get …

Written by Peter Worthington on Monday May 23, 2011