Entries

Coburn Denies Assisting Ensign

Talking Points Memo reports : If the Senate Ethics Committee's report on the ethics scandals of former Sen. John Ensign were a movie, the Nevada Republican would no doubt be the star -- but Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) would get second billing. Coburn's role as an intermediary between his friend …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday May 15, 2011

Iran and N. Korea Sharing Missile Tech

Reuters reports : (Reuters) - North Korea and Iran appear to have been regularly exchanging ballistic missile technology in violation of U.N. sanctions, according to a confidential U.N. report obtained by Reuters on Saturday. The report said the illicit technology transfers had …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday May 15, 2011

Rahm Sworn In As Chicago Mayor

The Chicago Sun-Times reports : A poncho-wearing Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel blended in with a small, soaking wet crowd Saturday afternoon at Grant Park during a concert to kick off his inauguration. About 200 people braved a blustery afternoon to hear the band Chicago and lend their …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday May 15, 2011

Blackwater Founder Working With the UAE

The New York Times reports : ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Late one night last November, a plane carrying dozens of Colombian men touched down in this glittering seaside capital. Whisked through customs by an Emirati intelligence officer, the group boarded an unmarked bus and drove …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday May 15, 2011

GOP Donors Take Lead on Gay Marriage

The New York Times reports : As gay rights advocates intensify their campaign to legalize Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships." href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/same_sex_marriage/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier"> same-sex marriage in New York, …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday May 15, 2011

Shirley Sherrod Returns to Work at USDA

Politico reports : Shirley Sherrod, the U.S. Department of Agriculture employee who was forced out after a portion of a videotape was misleadingly used to show her making a racially insensitive remark, will start working for the USDA again, the department told POLITICO Friday. But she’s …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday May 15, 2011

Washington Stalls on Debt Limit Deal

The most frustrating part of the fiscal and debt debates in Washington DC is that all the participants are using the same arguments they've always used. The movie, " Groundhog Day ," rushes to mind as we watch the tragicomedy of the recent debates on the national debt and the country's fiscal …

Written by Steve Bell on Sunday May 15, 2011

Huckabee Won't Run in 2012

The New York Times reports In what many took as just the latest sign that he won't run again, Huckabee announced a new venture earlier this week — educational, animated DVDs to teach history to kids, a project he's hawking Friday night on "The O'Reilly Factor." He has also come under …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011

Is Larry Summers a Scientist or a Politician?

A new interview of Larry Summers shows the tension between his public persona as both a social scientist and as a political figure. A couple things in this interview by Andrew Goldman of Larry Summers currently irritated me. I'll give the quotes and then explain my annoyance. 1. Goldman: …

Written by Andrew Gelman on Saturday May 14, 2011

Americans Charged with Aiding Taliban

CNN reports : Two South Florida imams and a third family member were arrested Saturday on charges of providing support to the Pakistani Taliban, the Justice Department said. In addition, three others in Pakistan were also indicted on the same charges. FBI agents arrested Hafiz Khan …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011

Pakistan Spy Chief Rips U.S.

The New York Times reports : In an unusual, and apparently heated, closed-door session of Parliament, Pakistan’s spy chief issued a rousing denunciation of the United States on Friday for its raid that killed Osama bin Laden and denied that Pakistan maintained any links with militant …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011

NASA: Shuttle Launch on Monday

The Wall Street Journal reports : Two weeks after space shuttle Endeavour's launch was postponed due to electrical problems, the orbiter appears ready to blast off on Monday morning, with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords once again expected to watch. The Arizona congresswoman, who is recovering …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011

Mubarak's Wife in Hospital

BBC reports : The wife of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is recovering in hospital after falling ill when told she was being detained in a corruption probe. Initial reports said Suzanne Mubarak, 70, suffered a heart attack but some officials say it was a "panic attack". Mrs …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011

Louisiana to Open Spillway

The AP reports : Army engineers prepared Saturday to slowly open the gates of an emergency spillway along the rising Mississippi River, diverting floodwaters from Baton Rouge and New Orleans, yet inundating homes and farms in parts of Louisiana's populated Cajun country. About 25,000 …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011

WH to Open Alaska Reserve to Drilling

The Los Angeles Times reports : President Obama will open Alaska's national petroleum reserve to new drilling, as part of a broad plan aimed at blunting criticism that he is not doing enough to address rising energy prices. The plan, unveiled in Obama's weekly radio address Saturday, …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011

Stop Flirting with Debt Disaster

I always assumed that the first American political party to contemplate default as a way to achieve its political goals would be the Communist Party of the USA, not the GOP. The Wall Street Journal 's weekend interview with famed investor Stanley Druckenmiller may have the most eyebrow-raising …

Written by David Frum on Saturday May 14, 2011

Mel's Big Screen Midlife Meltdown

Mel Gibson returns to the screen this week with one of his best performances ever in Jodie Foster's new upscale suburban desperation dramedy, The Beaver . After having previously taken on Charlie Sheen and Donald Trump in the past several weeks, I suppose it was only a matter of time before I …

Written by Telly Davidson on Saturday May 14, 2011

Anti-Israel Critics Want More Attention

A debate over awarding an honorary degree to anti-Israel playwright Tony Kushner has led to the ridiculous claim that critics of the Jewish state don't have a voice. In a world full of problems, we all must make choices about where to invest time and energy. There are so many different …

Written by David Frum on Saturday May 14, 2011

IRS: Collect Taxes on Donations

Politico reports An Internal Revenue Service effort to collect gift taxes on large individual donations to social advocacy groups, which eventually could include the new political organizations that cropped up in the 2010 midterms, is already drawing threats of lawsuits. …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011

WH Denies Libyan Rebel Recognition

Christian Science Monitor reports Libyan rebels met with top national security officials at the White House Friday, but the delegation failed to achieve the main plum it sought from the visit: official recognition by the United States of Libya’s self-declared interim government. In …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday May 14, 2011