Overview for News

Russia's Islamic Terror Wake-Up Call

The horrendous attack by terrorists on Domodedovo airport should make Russia more appreciative of the problems faced in the West with militant Islam. The terrorist attack on Moscow’s Domodedovo airport that killed 35 and injured up to 170, has got to be regarded as more than a tragedy. It was …

Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday January 25, 2011

The Rahm Verdict

If Rahm Emanuel is ultimately barred from running for mayor of Chicago, will that exclusion become a metaphor for the first 2 years of the Obama administration? Question: if Rahm Emanuel is ultimately barred from running for mayor of Chicago, will that exclusion become a metaphor for the first 2 …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 25, 2011

The Problem with Medicaid

Arizona’s plan to severely restrict Medicaid eligibility reflects the real problem with American medical care: its cost. Arizona’s plan to severely restrict Medicaid eligibility reflects the real problem with American medical care and that is its cost. I am a nephrologist and Medicaid actually …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Tuesday January 25, 2011

Thomas’ Financial Forms: No Scandal Here

Liberal groups are crying "gotcha!" after news that Justice Thomas failed to report his wife's income, but the lapse is more overblown than serious. The LA Times , at the urging of Common Cause, is running a story headlined "Clarence Thomas Failed to Report Wife's Income." It goes on to report …

Written by Austin Bramwell on Tuesday January 25, 2011

Will Leaks End Mideast Peace Process?

Leaked documents showing the Palestinian Authority open to concessions could lose them the support of the Palestinian people. The leaked documents published by Al-Jazeera and The Guardian show the Palestinian Authority considering concessions in exchange for big gains. But, as I discuss in my …

Written by David Frum on Monday January 24, 2011

2012 GOP Race: Off to a Slow Start

Kevin Drum raises an interesting question: why has no Republican formally declared their candidacy for president? Jim Geraghty reminds that today is the fourth anniversary of Barack Obama's declaration for presidency. Kevin Drum follows up with a question: why has no Republican yet formally …

Written by David Frum on Monday January 24, 2011

Tom Gross Remembers His Late Father

Frum Forum is proud to publish these remarks by Tom Gross on the passing of his father. REMARKS BY TOM GROSS AT THE FUNERAL OF JOHN GROSS January 14, 2010 London, My father was an exceptional person. I have known that all my life, of course, but nevertheless I have been taken …

Written by Tom Gross on Sunday January 23, 2011

How Do You Put a SOTU Together?

How do you decide what goes into a State of the Union speech and what is unnecessary padding? Combine one part Speech from the Throne. One part campaign ad. And one part Oscar Night. That’s the formula for a presidential State of the Union address. While working in the Bush White House, I had …

Written by David Frum on Saturday January 22, 2011

Abramoff: Hero or Villain?

Casino Jack certainly presents a great satirical indictment of lobbying. But Jack Abramoff, as sweaty and sleazy and crude and rude as he was, was right. In her recent book, Third World America, columnist Arianna Huffington observed, "Some people look at laws and say, 'Why' or "Why …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday January 21, 2011

You Read it First at FrumForum

Matt Yglesias notes that Bill Kristol has voiced support for a gold standard, something that would not surprise readers of Frum Forum . Today on his blog, Matthew Yglesias noted that Bill Kristol has shown some support for a gold standard: If Kristol seriously thinks there were no …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Friday January 21, 2011

Responding to Olbermann and ThinkProgress

Keith Olbermann and ThinkProgress have criticized me for linking to a blog post. There are several issues surrounding this that need to be cleared up. Last night, Keith Olbermann criticized me for linking to this post by John Wilson. Olbermann seems to have been reacting less to the post …

Written by David Frum on Friday January 21, 2011

China and America can Forge an Energy Partnership

China and America normally view each other with suspicion, but on energy policy, there is space to cooperate. Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit has raised the usual narrative about the numerous ways in which the U.S. and China annoy each other. One is energy. Anxiety over China's …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Friday January 21, 2011

Frum: The SOTU Obama Will Never Give

What should President Obama say for his State of the Union speech? In the latest issue of Esquire magazine, I give my suggestions for what President Obama should say at his State of the Union address next Tuesday: It's a weird feeling of gender bending to imagine writing a major speech for …

Written by David Frum on Friday January 21, 2011

How Serious Are the GOP Budget Cuts?

The GOP has unveiled its list of proposed budget cuts. Frum Forum asked some contributors whether the proposals are truly serious. The Republican Study Committee has released its guide to exactly what government programs the GOP wants to cut. David Weigel reports that a lot of the cuts …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Thursday January 20, 2011

US Should Avoid Emulating Canadian Healthcare

The US needs to worry about emulating Canada's healthcare system, not the United Kingdom's. I am mostly on the same page as Dr. Goldfarb in the health care debate, although I’m a lot more skeptical that there’s much to learn from reforms to the UK’s National Health per se. In his most recent …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Thursday January 20, 2011

Was Lieberman Good for the GOP?

Joe Lieberman came into power because conservatives in Connecticut dethroned liberal Republican Senator Lowell Weicker. Was it worth it? Noah Kristula-Green writes that "Joe Lieberman’s retirement is a great time to reflect on the benefits of big tents and broad coalitions," and "the fact that …

Written by Thomas J. Marier on Thursday January 20, 2011

Clean Air Act Under Attack

Its safe to say nobody wants dirty air. Yet the new House Energy and Power Subcommittee Chair Ed Whitfield is calling to reopen debate on the Clean Air Act. Typically, when politicians stake out a position against laws that limit pollution, they are careful to indicate support for the underlying …

Written by David Jenkins on Thursday January 20, 2011

The GOP’s Universal Coverage Dilemma

It is time for the GOP to say why it is in favor of universal healthcare coverage. Should Republicans come out in favor of health coverage for all? As my latest column for The Week discusses, we may live with a large number of uninsured but we still provide care to all. A GOP policy that …

Written by David Frum on Thursday January 20, 2011

Learning to Live with Obamacare

Don't let Wednesday's repeal vote fool you. The GOP's already signaling that an apocalyptic showdown over health care isn't in the works. Reminisce with me for a moment on the summer of 2009. Remember it? Swine flu? Protests in Iran? The Hangover ? Think back now on another memory from that …

Written by Shawn F Summers on Thursday January 20, 2011

Remembering Deamonte Driver

Ezra Klein summons the memory of the sad story of Deamonte Driver. But if we're going to remember the story, let's remember the story in its entirety. Ezra Klein summons the memory of the sad story of Deamonte Driver, a 12 year old Washington boy who died because of an infected tooth. But if we're …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday January 19, 2011