Entries

Reid Proposes to Extend Patriot Act

The Hill reports : Reid's approach differs from legislation backed by House Republicans as well as proposals from other Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday introduced a new proposal to extend three Patriot Act surveillance authorities that will expire at the …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

FBI Requests Unabomber DNA for 1982 Case

CNN reports : Authorities want to take DNA samples from "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski in connection with their investigation into the 1982 incident in which seven people died after taking Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide, according to the FBI office in Chicago. "As part of …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

Are GOP Donors Bailing on Newt?

Jon Ward at Huffington Post reports : Newt Gingrich's catastrophic first week as an official Republican primary candidate may knock him out of the race before it even gets started. And if he stays in, fundraising will now be much more difficult, and that could hasten his exit, Republican …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

Strauss-Kahn Patron of NYC Escort Agency

The Daily Mail reports : One of the most famous madams in America claimed today that shamed IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn paid her $2,500 for escort girls - and that one of them complained that he was too aggressive. Kristin Davis, 35, said the IMF chief, who has now sensationall…

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

Obama's Hazy Mideast Policy Reboot

There was scarcely a line in Obama's speech for me to disagree with; but what's troubling is the vagueness about what America will actually do. JOIN THE LIVE CHAT VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV Eli Lake reminds us that this is the same president who as …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 19, 2011

FroshUpdate: Rep. Diane Black Encounters 'Cantankerous' Town Hall

Freshmen continue to pump gas for constituents, while Rep. Diane Black experienced her first town hall since taking office, calling it ‘cantankerous’. Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Gibson introduced a bill that would issue an award to children of those killed serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Scott …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday May 19, 2011

Strauss-Kahn Asks for House Arrest

The AP reports : Hours after Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned from his post as manager of the International Monetary Fund — saying he felt compelled to focus his energy on the sexual assault charges he faces — the French politician will try to get out of jail. Behind bars on New York's …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

Don't Be Fooled: Default Will Be Painful

Talking heads and think tank fellows are claiming that paying off America’s debts without default will be painless, but their numbers just don't add up. Conservatives, whether they are think tank fellows or radio hosts, share the same talking point: paying off America’s debt’s without default will …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday May 19, 2011

Bush Family Splits on Romney Versus Daniels

News that Jeb Bush and Laura Bush have urged Mitch Daniels to enter the Republican race raises the question: is there a generation gap in the Bush family? News that Jeb Bush and Laura Bush have urged Mitch Daniels to enter the Republican race raises the question: is there a generation gap in …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 19, 2011

Report: Qaddafi's Wife & Daughter Fled to Tunisia

The Telegraph reports : Safiya Gaddafi and her daughter Aisha crossed into Tunisia "a few days ago" with a Libyan delegation, according to Tunisian security sources. Dozens of high-ranking Gaddafi officials, including ministers and ambassadors, have left the country or abandoned …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

Secret Service Sorry for Anti-FOX News Tweet

Huffington Post reports : The U.S. Secret Service issued an apology on Wednesday after an eyebrow-raising tweet went out on the agency's official Twitter account ( @SecretService ), which was just activated last week. The tweet, which stirred buzz despite swiftly being taken down, …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

The French Elite's Strauss-Kahn Defenders

David Rieff writes in The New Republic : Early in the summer of 1995, a colleague and I went into South Sudan to report from the side of the South Sudanese guerrilla army, the SPLA. At dinner on the day we arrived, completely out of the blue, one of our minders turned to me and said, “I …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

Strauss-Kahn Resigns IMF Post

Business Insider reports : Dominique Strauss-Kahn will announce his resignation as Managing Director of the IMF in the next few hours, according to French blog Atlantico , citing a French diplomatic cable. According to Atlantico, France's consul general in New York saw "DSK", as he is …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 19, 2011

Giffords Recovers from Surgery

Huffington Post reports : Doctors repaired Gabrielle Giffords' skull on Wednesday, the latest milestone in her recovery from an assassination attempt and a procedure that experts say will improve her quality of life. A gunman shot her in the head more than four months ago in Tucson, …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 18, 2011

Coburn Pulls the Plug on Senate Deficit Deal

The departure of Sen. Tom Coburn from the Gang of Six talks raises the odds that a significant fiscal deal won't be reached this year. As he looked down the dugout at his inept Mets, Manager Casey Stengel famously asked, “Can’t anybody around here play baseball?” The American people have a …

Written by Steve Bell on Wednesday May 18, 2011

Same Sex Case May Not Reach SCOTUS

Huffington Post reports : WASHINGTON -- The legal dream team behind the successful challenge to California's law banning gay marriage may end up having their work stalled by arcane legal processes. In a Wednesday morning briefing for reporters, lawyers David Boies and Ted Olson -- who …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 18, 2011

Reports Surfaced of Bin Laden Successor

Slate Magazine reports : Independent but unconfirmed reports suggest that al-Qaida has selected an interim chief to lead the militant organization while the group decides on a long-term replacement for Osama Bin Laden. That man: Saif al-Adel, a former Egyptian special forces …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 18, 2011

Al Qaeda Releases Posthumous Bin Laden Tape

The Daily Beast reports : He may be gone, but his voice still commands attention. In a newly released audio tape, Osama bin Laden is heard rejoicing in the string of uprisings in the Arab world, which have toppled autocratic rulers from Tunisia to Egypt. According to al Qaeda, the …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 18, 2011

WH: Debt Ceiling Must Be Raised

Huffington Post reports : WASHINGTON -- The White House said on Wednesday that there is no “Plan B” if Congress does not vote to increase the debt limit by August. The debt limit, which is currently set at $14.29 trillion, was reached on Monday, but Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 18, 2011

Obama Will Pledge Economic Aid to Egypt and Tunisia

Huffington Post reports : WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce plans Thursday to funnel billions of dollars in economic aid to Egypt and Tunisia as part of a broader effort to inject democracy into the Middle East and North Africa. Obama will unveil a massive package of …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 18, 2011