Overview for News

GOP Freshmen Revolt Picks Up Steam

Over the course of the budget battles of the last few months, a growing group of freshmen have begun to lead a revolt against Republican leadership. Over the course of the budget battles of the last few months, a growing group of freshmen have begun to lead a revolt against Republican leadership…

Written by Tim Mak on Friday April 15, 2011

Obama's Right: Some Tax Breaks Have to Go

Republicans are wrong to consider any elimination of a tax expenditure as a tax hike. Many revenue expenditures should be treated as spending programs to be cut. President Barack Obama’s speech on deficit reduction left a lot to be desired: his agenda offers too many goodies for his party’s base, …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Friday April 15, 2011

GOP Freshmen Reflect on a Rough 100 Days

Today, freshmen congressmen mark their first one hundred days in office. F F surveyed the newly elected Republicans on the first days on Capitol Hill. Today, freshmen Congressmen mark their first one hundred days in office. So what have they learned over their first hundred days? Frum …

Written by Tim Mak on Friday April 15, 2011

Obama's Do Nothing Deficit Plan

Obama's deficit plan is atrocious. In short, he doesn’t want to cut entitlements (so there’s no long-term solution) but he does want to raise your taxes. The deficit plan presented by Obama is atrocious. In short, he doesn’t want to cut entitlements (so there’s no real long-term solution) and he …

Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Thursday April 14, 2011

Third of GOP Freshmen Rebel on Budget Vote

This afternoon, 27 Republican freshmen bucked the leadership's wishes and voted against the continuing resolution to keep government funded. This afternoon, 27 Republican freshmen bucked the leadership's wishes and voted against the continuing resolution that would fund the government through the …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday April 14, 2011

New Tax Revenues: The Fiscal Crisis Fix?

Conservatives looking for an alternative to the Ryan plan will need to pay more attention to tax revenues if they hope to craft a serious response to the fiscal crisis. This is part six. Click here to read the entire series. The fourth element of a conservative response to the …

Written by David Frum on Thursday April 14, 2011

Ryan Won't Disown Heritage Analysis

After an event where he defended his budget, I spoke to Rep. Paul Ryan about the controversial economic analysis from Heritage Foundation used in his recent proposal. Today, at an event hosted by the think tank e21 and moderated by Fred Barnes, Rep. Paul Ryan defended his budget proposal. I asked …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday April 14, 2011

Was GOP Fooled By Its Own Budget Numbers?

A number of Republicans are complaining about the “bad deal” their leadership struck last week. Were they confused about the actual budget numbers? A substantial number of the House Republican caucus are now complaining loudly about the “bad deal” their leadership struck to pass the Continuing …

Written by Steve Bell on Thursday April 14, 2011

Ryan: My Budget is a Political Winner

At an event hosted by the think tank e21, Paul Ryan responded to Obama's Wednesday budget speech and defended the political viability of his own proposal. Paul Ryan is shocked that the president has attacked his budget proposal and is now painting the GOP as a party which wants to leave seniors to …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday April 14, 2011

Election Majority is Harper's to Lose

With the election two weeks away, a majority government seems not only within Harper’s grasp but, judging from polls after the leadership debates, virtually a sure thing. Regardless of media opinions as to who won the debates, there’s little indication that many minds have been changed. …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday April 14, 2011

For Trump, There's No Bad Publicity

Donald Trump may become the first man in American history to actually run for President in order to make money. Say what you will about Donald Trump, but the man is nothing if not creative. Trump’s not the first uber-wealthy person with an outsized personality to run for President (see Perot, …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Thursday April 14, 2011

Romney: Not Cynical Enough?

Romney may be notorious for changing his stance on issues, yet lately he seems too eager to say what he believes rather than what will win political points. Is Mitt Romney's biggest problem that he’s just not cynical enough? It seems like a ridiculous conclusion since the man is notorious for …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday April 14, 2011

Obama Doubles Down on Price Controls

President Obama has outlined a set of proposals for reducing the cost of Medicare. But more price controls and panels won't get the job done. President Obama has outlined a set of proposals for reducing the cost of Medicare. The White House assumes that empowering an independent panel to simply …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Thursday April 14, 2011

GOP Freshmen: No Tax Hikes to Cover Deficit

Freshmen Republicans reacted negatively to President Obama's speech on the deficit Wednesday, with many echoing Boehner's 'line in the sand': no new taxes. Freshmen Republicans reacted to President Obama's speech on the deficit Wednesday, with many echoing Speaker Boehner's 'line in the sand' - no …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday April 13, 2011

Defense Bears the Brunt of Obama's Cuts

Obama’s plans to slash the defense budget would handcuff a U.S. military that is already too limited and too constrained in what it can do. Perhaps the most objectionable aspect of Obama’s speech involves his pledge to gut the defense budget. “Gut” is not a word I use lightly; but that seems to …

Written by John Guardiano on Wednesday April 13, 2011

How Means Testing Social Security Could Backfire

Means-testing the elderly for entitlements is gaining popularity on the right. But when it comes to Social Security, it could reward bad economic choices. Yuval Levin's provocative essay on going "Beyond the Welfare State" offers the following prescription for a conservative re-thinking of …

Written by Fred Bauer on Wednesday April 13, 2011

Ryan's Budget Gives Obama What He Wants

The Republican plan to cut taxes and slash government health care spending gives the president prime opportunities for political victory. “Whatever you do, don’t serve to his backhand.” “Don’t be nervous. I have the new Ryan serve. It’s bold!” “Trust me on this. Don’t serve to his backhand.” …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday April 13, 2011

Why This Dem Loved Obama's Speech

While he could have offered more specifics, Obama's Wednesday afternoon speech on deficit reduction gave the Democratic base what they wanted to hear. Once again, Barack Obama has given a hell of speech when he had to. While it can be argued that he could have offered more specifics, the …

Written by Les Francis on Wednesday April 13, 2011

Michele Bachmann: Bad Constitutionalist

Michele Bachmann’s recent statements on the budget fight show she still has a lot to learn about the U.S. Constitution. Michele Bachmann’s recent statements on the budget fight show she still has a lot to learn about the U.S. Constitution. In her criticism of the compromises being made, she …

Written by Perry Yates on Wednesday April 13, 2011

Obama: I'll Cut $4 Trillion

In the President's speech on how he would reduce the deficit, he spent most of his time attacking the GOP budget. Full speech transcript here . 2:43pm: This didn't feel like a policy speech, even though it was sprinkled with policy ideas. The main focus and the meat of the speech came from …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday April 13, 2011