Overview for News

The Dems' Lose-Lose Charity Tax Spike

Democrats are again looking at eliminating the charitable giving deduction. But this won't just hurt donors or the needy. It'll hit government too - in the pocketbook. Once again, tax reformers are considering limiting or eliminating the charitable deduction. There are three problems with their …

Written by Hank Adler on Monday March 28, 2011

How Bernard-Henri Lévy Started the Libyan War

The biggest push for Sarkozy's decision to intervene in Libya may have come from left-wing celebrity philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy. This weekend’s Financial Times contains a revealing article detailing French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s recent unilateral decision to grant diplomatic recognition …

Written by Ulf Gartzke on Sunday March 27, 2011

The Geraldine Ferraro I Knew

In 1984, after Walter Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro to be his running mate, I was part of a team assembled to accompany her on her first campaign swing. In a statement issued Saturday, President Obama commented on the life and death of Geraldine Ferraro; the President referred to the former …

Written by Les Francis on Sunday March 27, 2011

Will Japan Crisis Hike Interest Rates?

In the aftermath of the recent earthquake, will Japan stop purchasing U.S. debt and instead focus on its own recovery? Japan is the second largest foreign holder of US debt after China. In the aftermath of the recent earthquake it is expected that Japan will likely stop purchasing US debt and …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Sunday March 27, 2011

UN Turns a Blind Eye to Syria

As the Assad regime ramps up their campaign of repression, the UN Human Rights Council has stayed silent and focused instead on their favorite punching bag: Israel. As Syria verges on eruption, with riots and widespread killings across the state, the Syrian propaganda machine goes into full …

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Saturday March 26, 2011

New Media Holds Back Assad's Crackdown

Unlike his father, Syria's Bashar al-Assad can't respond to an uprising with brutal force. In the new media age, bloodbaths don't play with the Arab street or TV audiences. The traditional rules of engagement between the Syrian regime and its opponents have been suspended. The Carthaginian …

Written by Tim Hodgson on Saturday March 26, 2011

Who Will Lead Canada's Economic Recovery?

Canada faces one question: Who should be trusted to manage the economic recovery? Those who want government to spend more or those who want government to tax less? Every Canadian election is built upon a question. Should the sponsorship scandal be punished? (2006) Shall Canada have free trade with …

Written by David Frum on Saturday March 26, 2011

Japan's Economic Aftershocks

The quake that struck Japan could have serious consequences well into the summer as a damaged energy sector slows the nation's economy. This is Part 1 of a Two-Part Series on what the long-term consequences of the Japanese earthquake will be on America and Japan's economies. The aftershocks …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Saturday March 26, 2011

For GOP Nominee: 2012 Win Won't be Enough

Any Republican running for president must focus not just on winning in 2012, but doing so in a manner that leaves them positioned to govern in 2013. Any Republican contemplating running for president in 2012 has two formidable obstacles: November 2012 and what happens starting January 2013. For …

Written by Fred Bauer on Friday March 25, 2011

Boehner's Budget Battle Is Just Beginning

The Fiscal Year 2011 budget fight is about to morph into a fiscal battle over the 2012 budget and the present $14.3 trillion federal debt ceiling. As predicted, the Fiscal Year 2011 budget fight seems very likely to morph into a general fiscal battle that includes the 2012 budget and a fight …

Written by Steve Bell on Friday March 25, 2011

The Prowl: Should I Expose Myself?

Now that I've got a boyfriend, I'm faced with a new dilemma: should I tell him about my Vivian Darkbloom alter ego and that my romantic life is online for all to read? So this week, I’m venturing into the meta and writing a column about a column. Bear with me. The past few weeks, I have made …

Written by Vivian Darkbloom on Friday March 25, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor: Hollywood's Queen

Elizabeth Taylor experienced an almost Kennedy-esque, Shakespearean catalog of tragedies in her life, but managed to rise above it on screen and off. As anyone who's turned on the computer or the TV set knows by now, the Queen (of the movies) is dead. Tonight, Broadway will dim its marquees …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday March 25, 2011

The Fat Diaries: The 'Royal' Diet Hits America

A new French diet is all the rage in Europe and thanks to a rumored link with Prince William's future mother-in-law, the frenzy is about to hit our shores. Have you got your commemorative plate? Your William & Kate mug? Is your gigantic refrigerator bearing the likenesses of the …

Written by Monica Marier on Friday March 25, 2011

Why Did Baseball Diss the Duke?

In the 1950s, Duke Snider was seen as the equal of Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. But since his playing days, they've received all the attention. When Duke Snider passed away last month, his obituaries noted the raging debate during the 1950s over the three great New York City centerfielders – …

Written by Alan Hirsch on Friday March 25, 2011

Help! My Office Mate is a Freeloader

Eddie hears from a reader who's co-worker can't stop mooching off him. Is there a way to deal with this freeloader and keep things civil in the office? Writing in the Globe and Mail , David Eddie hears from a reader who's co-worker can't stop mooching off him. Is there a way to deal with this …

Written by David Eddie on Friday March 25, 2011

The Dems' Climate Change Dodge

Instead of fighting a bill which would prohibit EPA from regulating greenhouse emissions, Senate Dems are proposing to further limiting the agency's authority. Leave it to the Democrats to come up with weasly alternatives to Senator James Inhofe’s bill that would prohibit the Environmental …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Friday March 25, 2011

GOP Govt Transparency Bill Flunks Reality Test

GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold's bill to force federal agencies to post their expenditures every two weeks on the web is a neat idea, and completely unworkable. Before he sat on the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis penned a collection of essays that was published as a book called Other People’s Money . …

Written by Zac Morgan on Friday March 25, 2011

Europe's Newest Budget Bust

Following the collapse of its government Wednesday, Portugal seems almost certain to become the third EU country to accept an EU-financed bailout. Following the collapse of its government Wednesday and its parliament’s refusal to accept a budget, Portugal seems almost certain to become the third …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Friday March 25, 2011

Does the White House Know Obama's Libya Plan?

It's never a good sign when the president's spokesman tells you that the president's strategy is clear, without being able to reiterate clearly what the strategy is. This is never good: Asked about concerns raised the day before in a letter by the House speaker, John A. Boehner, Mr. Obama’s …

Written by David Frum on Friday March 25, 2011

The U.S. Army Critiques the Libya Campaign

President Obama should have taken a look at the U.S. Army Field Manual before signing up for the Libyan no-fly zone mission. From the U.S. Army Field Manual: For every objective, ensure unity of command under one responsible commander. From Thursday's New York Times : Only on …

Written by David Frum on Thursday March 24, 2011