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CPAC Gossip Girl

UPDATED: Spotted: Mitt Romney at a meet-and-greet. The event is so packed that guests discussing moving it to avoid a fire hazard. Follow Frum Forum 's Rachel Ryan for all the up to the minute gossip from CPAC 2011. CPAC 2011 Day 2: Friday, February 11 I bumped into Mississippi …

Written by Rachel Ryan on Friday February 11, 2011

Thune at CPAC: Obama 'Weak' on Terror

Speaking at CPAC 2011, Sen. John Thune criticized President Obama, claiming that thepPresident failed to take the terror threat seriously. Frum Forum has obtained a copy of the speech that Sen. John Thune is about to deliver at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The potential 2012 …

Written by Tim Mak on Friday February 11, 2011

Edmund Burke Blogs Egypt

The protests in Egypt bring to mind Edmund Burke's reflections on an earlier revolution. When I see the spirit of liberty in action, I see a strong principle at work; and this, for a while, is all I can possibly know of it. The wild gas, the fixed air, is plainly broke loose; but we ought …

Written by David Frum on Friday February 11, 2011

Romney Rips Obama's Economic Record

In his speech at CPAC 2011, Mitt Romney settled on an effective line of attack: criticizing the Obama administration for their failed jobs record. After thanking David Keene and "Castro's nemesis" Al Cardenas, Ann Romney introduced her husband and likely GOP presidential contender, Mitt Romney. …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Friday February 11, 2011

Is It Time to Get Tough with Mubarak?

With Mubarak clinging to power, is there anything the United States can do? Early yesterday, the cable news channels reported that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was relinquishing power and acceding to the demands of the protesters. Then later in the day we learned otherwise: Mubarak stubbornly …

Written by John Guardiano on Friday February 11, 2011

Why Did Wall Street Get Off the Hook?

Reading the financial crisis report, it's clear that the smartest guys in the room turned out to be the most ignorant. Yet, by and large, they haven't paid much of a price. Let’s face it: You won’t read every page of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission report. But Frum Forum will, over …

Written by David Frum on Friday February 11, 2011

GOP Grills Obama's Medicare Chief

Thursday, when questioning Medicare head Dr. Donald Berwick, the GOP may have missed an opportunity to hit at Obamacare's real flaw: no cost controls. On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee had the opportunity to question Dr. Donald Berwick, the new head of the Center for Medicare …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Friday February 11, 2011

FrumScrum at CPAC

I'll be having a drink in the lobby bar at CPAC at 5 p.m. today. Join me and our team from Frum Forum . I'll be having a drink in the lobby bar at CPAC at 5 p.m. today. Anyone who'd like to discuss -- or debate -- the future of moderate Republicanism is welcome to join me and our team from …

Written by David Frum on Friday February 11, 2011

Obama's Egypt Misstep

By placing himself on the side of "change", Barack Obama's fingers are now caught in the Egyptian mousetrap. Barack Obama's fingers are caught in the Egyptian mousetrap. By earlier today placing himself on the side of "change," the president put himself in a situation where "non-change" becomes …

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 10, 2011

New CPAC Head Distances Group from GOProud

In an exclusive interview with F F , new ACU chair Al Cardenas distanced his organization from the gay rights group GOProud. The new chair of the American Conservative Union, Al Cardenas, today distanced his organization from GOProud, telling Frum Forum in an exclusive interview that “it’s …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday February 10, 2011

Paul Backers Heckle Cheney & Rumsfeld

Whose idea was it to book Don Rumsfeld to receive his "Defender of the Constitution" award right to a room full of anti-war, Ron Paul libertarians. Someone at CPAC thought it would be a good idea to book Donald Rumsfeld to receive his "defender of the Constitution" award right after Rand Paul …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday February 10, 2011

Rand Paul at CPAC: GOP Budget Cuts Not Enough

As soon as Senator Rand Paul takes the stage at CPAC 2011, the follow Paulians in the bloggers' area where I'm camped out begin a loud chant of "End the Fed." You know it’s an audience full of Ron Paul fans when the crowd applauds to the introductory speaker saying that the next speaker wants to …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday February 10, 2011

Trump Disses Ron Paul

In front of a CPAC crowd full of Ron Paul supporters, Donald Trump pulled no punches and made it clear that their chosen candidate won't be president. Donald Trump is the surprise speaker at CPAC this year. The speaker who introduced Trump had this to say about him: "During this time when …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday February 10, 2011

Was the FBI Too Busy to Fight Financial Crime?

The crisis panel report suggests the FBI may have been too overloaded to tackle white collar crimes. Was the war on terror an aggravating factor in the financial crisis? It seems a ridiculous question. Yet the FCIC entertains the question. From pp 162-163: In 2005, 25,988 [suspicious …

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 10, 2011

CPAC Kicks Off

With CPAC 2011 almost upon us, F F is geared up and ready. Here's your guide to the major events, speakers and parties. With CPAC almost upon us, Frum Forum is geared up and ready to cover every newsworthy moment of the conference. Follow Frum Forum writers Tim Mak, Noah Kristula-Green, …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday February 10, 2011

Farewell, Fannie & Freddie

Fannie and Freddie likely contributed more to the 2008 financial mess than any other government entities. Now, it's time to get them off the taxpayers' backs. Republicans, not without reason, want to get Fannie and Freddie off of taxpayers’ backs as soon as possible. They’re right. Fannie and …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Wednesday February 9, 2011

Cardenas Elected New ACU Chair

American Conservative Union Treasurer Al Cardenas has been elected as the next chairman of the ACU in a meeting of the organization’s board. American Conservative Union Treasurer Al Cardenas has been elected as the next chairman of the ACU in a meeting of the organization’s board, Frum Forum …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday February 9, 2011

You Read it First in FrumForum

Our Tim Mak, continuing his long streak of being first with conservative and GOP news, yesterday broke the story that Al Cardenas will be ACU's new Chairman. Our Tim Mak, continuing his long streak of being first with Republican and conservative news, broke the story that Al Cardenas will succeed …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Wednesday February 9, 2011

Save the Patriot Act

Last night, the House voted against extending critical provisions of the Patriot Act, a vote which could deny law enforcement key tools for preventing terror plots. Last night, the House of Representatives voted not to suspend the rules and pass three key counterterrorism amendments to the …

Written by Charles Stimson on Wednesday February 9, 2011

Bush Torture Charges are an Affront to Law

Does the UN convention on torture apply to an American president? I received an inquiry from a reader and broadcaster about my recent post on George W. Bush and the international rule of law. I was asked directly: Did I deny that the UN convention on torture applied to an American president? …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday February 9, 2011