Entries

Obama Signs Patriot Act Extension

The Associated Press reports : WASHINGTON – Minutes before a midnight deadline, President Barack Obama signed into law a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. "It's an important tool for us to continue dealing …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday May 27, 2011

America's Pakistan Problem

Hillary Clinton's recent visit to Pakistan to gauge the country's commitment to fighting Islamic extremism didn't go well. Hillary Clinton visited Pakistan on Friday (Pakistan time). According to the New York Times : [US] officials described [the visit] as an effort to measure Pakistan’s …

Written by David Frum on Friday May 27, 2011

GOP Flirts with 2012 Disaster

Maybe Republicans should nominate Paul Ryan. Or Sarah Palin. Maybe we need to get the passions of 2009-2011 out of our system once and for all. Maybe Republicans should nominate Paul Ryan. Or Sarah Palin. Maybe we need to get the passions of 2009-2011 out of our system once and for all. Maybe it's …

Written by David Frum on Friday May 27, 2011

Frum: America's Debt Crisis Mirrors Europe's

On NPR's Marketplace , David Frum points out the similarities between Europe's debt crisis and America's: Can't pay -- or won't pay? On Monday, European financial markets were rocked by new fears for the future of the Euro currency. The Euro dropped to a two-month low against the …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday May 27, 2011

Hamas PR Chief: Violence is Still 'Plan A'

Just Journalism reports : Osama Hamdan, the head of Hamas’ international relations department, used a television interview to clarify the Islamist organisation’s intention to use violence against Israel, following its recent reconciliation with Fatah. According to Memri’s translation …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday May 27, 2011

Christie's Climate Change Straight Talk

Chris Christie may have pulled New Jersey from the Northeast's power plant cap-and-trade program but in the larger battle on climate change, he's on the right side. Chris Christie has pulled New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or "Reggie," the power plant cap-and-trade …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Friday May 27, 2011

Ed Schultz's Secret Canadian Connection

It turns out that Ed Schultz has a little-known connection to Canada. MSNBC's Ed Schultz has a secret past ... as a Winnipeg Blue Bomber in the Canadian Football League . Schultz had a brief tryout with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1979 and then returned to Fargo to work as a sports broadcast…

Written by David Frum on Friday May 27, 2011

Pelosi: Medicare is Race-by-Race Issue

The Hill reports : The top House Democrat said Thursday that Medicare won't necessarily be the decisive issue on the campaign trail next year. In the wake of Democrat Kathy Hochul's upset victory in New York Tuesday — one that hinged in part on criticism of a Republican plan to turn …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

Goodwin Liu Withdraws

Slate Magazine reports : Goodwin Liu, President Obama's nominee for a seat on the 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals, sent a letter to the president a few hours ago officially withdrawing his name from consideration. Liu's nomination was filibustered in the Senate last week, when Republicans …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

House Defeats Effort to Scale Back Afghan War

The Hill reports : The House on Thursday narrowly shot down an amendment to scale back military operations in Afghanistan, highlighting growing congressional opposition to the war. In a close 204-215 vote, the House rejected a bipartisan amendment from Reps. James McGovern (D-Mass.) …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

Gaddafi Hiding Out in Hospitals

The Daily Beast reports : Libya's despotic leader Muammar Gaddafi is allegedly hiding out in Tripoli hospitals at night to avoid NATO attacks, according to an anonymous European official. Gaddafi's senior commanders have also reportedly stopped communicating via mobile phones for fear …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

Disaster Aid Under New Scrutiny

Politico reports : While much of Joplin, Mo., is still under rubble from a devastating tornado, conservatives in Congress are starting to argue for a tougher approach to disaster aid, demanding that any funding be offset by cutting federal money elsewhere. Disasters will no …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

Romney to Launch Campaign June 2

Politico reports : Mitt Romney will announce his bid for president next week in New Hampshire. The announcement, first reported by the Union Leader , will be on Thursday, June 2 at the Stratham farm of Doug and Stella Scamman, longtime GOP activists. The location of the long-expected …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

House Passes Patriot Act Extension

Huffington Post reports : Congress on Thursday passed a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. Votes taken in rapid succession in the Senate and House came after lawmakers rejected attempts to temper the law …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

Federal Reserve Criticized for Lending Secrecy

Huffington Post reports : In the midst of the global financial crisis in 2008, the Federal Reserve lent Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Royal Bank of Scotland at least $30 billion each at interest rates as low as 0.01 percent with no public disclosure of the details, Bloomberg News …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

Bachmann to Make 2012 Announcement Next Month

Huffington Post reports : Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) signaled on Thursday night that she can be expected to make a presidential announcement next month in the key early primary state of Iowa. The Tea Party favorite trickled out the details in a conference call with reporters …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

Afghan Bomb Kills 7 Americans

The AP reports : Nine NATO service members were killed Thursday in Afghanistan, including seven U.S. troops among eight who died when a powerful bomb exploded in a field where they were patrolling on foot, officials said. Two Afghan policemen also died and two others were wounded in …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

Fox Viewers Are Most Misinformed

Tim Dickinson writes at Rolling Stone : ...The Obama era has spurred sharp changes in the character and tone of Fox News. “Obama’s election has driven Fox to be more of a political campaign than it ever was before, ” says Burns, the network’s former media critic.“Things shifted,” …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011

SCOTUS: Immigration Isn't Just a Fed Problem

Thursday’s ruling upholding an AZ immigration law doesn't mean that a more controversial measure will stand, but it does suggest the Supreme Court is open to state enforcement. Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld a 2007 Arizona law allowing authorities to revoke the business licenses of companies …

Written by Fred Messner on Thursday May 26, 2011

Mead: Obama Hits "Sour Spot" With Mideast Policy

Walter Russell Mead writes : I had never thought there were many similarities between the pleasure-loving Charles II of England and the more upright Barack Obama until this week. Listening to his speeches on the Middle East at the State Department, US-Israel relations at the AIPAC annual …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 26, 2011