Entries

Germany Denies U.S. Soldier Asylum

The New York Times reports : The German government has denied asylum to an American soldier who deserted in 2007 to avoid a second deployment in Iraq. The case of the soldier, André Shepherd, had been closely watched by antiwar advocates as a test of whether the German government was …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Japan Plugs Radioactive Leak

BBC News reports: A leak of highly radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean from Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has been stopped, its operator reports. Tepco said it had injected chemical agents to solidify soil near a cracked pit, from where the contaminated water had …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Boehner: Dems Would Win A Shutdown

Politico reports: Speaker John Boehner is warning his Republican colleagues that Democrats would “win” a government shutdown and the GOP would suffer a political catastrophe if the federal government runs out of money at the end of this week. “The Democrats think they benefit from a …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday April 6, 2011

GOP Hopefuls Back Ryan Plan

Politico reports: Republican presidential hopefuls were quick to express their support for House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan Tuesday — even as they were cautious about embracing the specifics of his ambitious budget proposal. The Wisconsin Republican has proposed cutting roughly $6 …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Libyans Prepare For Divided State

The Washington Post reports: BENGHAZI, Libya — “One Libya, with Tripoli as its capital” is spray-painted on walls around this rebel city and glides off the tongues of opposition leaders. Moammar Gaddafi will fall in a week, they predict, two at the most, and they’ll build a new country …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Wasserman Schultz New DNC Chair

Politico reports: President Barack Obama has chosen Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz as the incoming chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee , the party announced late Tuesday. Wasserman Schultz, 44, was chosen for her strength as a fundraiser and as a television …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Sleepless And Loving It

The Wall Street Journal reports: For a small group of people—perhaps just 1% to 3% of the population—sleep is a waste of time. Natural "short sleepers," as they're officially known, are night owls and early birds simultaneously. They typically turn in well after midnight, then get up just …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Ryan's Rosy Job Numbers: Fact or Fantasy?

Ryan's budget has received the most criticism for his unemployment figures. FF spoke to the source of the numbers to see if they add up. The element of the new Ryan/GOP budget which has received the most condemnation and in some cases mockery are the unemployment figures. Specifically, the Ryan …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Shutdown: Hard Times Or Paid Vacation?

As negotiations stall over the continuing resolution, Capitol Hill staffers have mixed feelings about the impending government shutdown. As negotiations stall over the continuing resolution that would fund government for the rest of the fiscal year, the House of Representatives and their staff …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Will Congress Buy Ryan's No Nonsense Budget?

Paul Ryan has taken the great leap forward by proposing a budget which tackles the real drivers of our debt crisis. But is Washington ready to act? Paul Ryan, House Budget Committee Chairman and realist, has taken the great leap. He has publicly proposed a budget resolution for Fiscal Year …

Written by Steve Bell on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Is Gates Undercutting Obama on Libya?

The blogosphere is up in arms after Secretary Gates' promise to Congress that there will be no ground troops in Libya. Is he overriding the president's foreign policy? Is Defense Secretary Robert Gates guilty of “insubordination”? Jennifer Rubin and Mark Thiessen think so. This because Gates …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Ivory Coast Factions in Talks

BBC Reports : The UN says three generals loyal to Ivory Coast's besieged President Laurent Gbagbo are negotiating terms for surrender in return for guarantees of safety for him and themselves. France says negotiators are on the brink of agreeing his departure. Mr Gbagbo is sheltering …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday April 5, 2011

U.S. Envoy to Meet Libyan Rebels

ABC News reports : President Obama’s liaison to the Libyan opposition, Chris Stevens, arrived in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi today, two senior U.S. officials tells ABC News. He was also accompanied by several humanitarian experts from the U.S. Agency for International Development …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Is GOP Overplaying Shutdown Card?

By risking a shutdown over the 15% of the budget devoted to non-mandatory spending is the GOP losing political capital for the entitlement spending fight? Threatening to shut down the government over spending is certainly an effective, if drastic, measure. In principle, its good--even admirable--t…

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Palin Praises Ryan Budget

The Hill reports : Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) on Tuesday commended House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget, calling it "Serious & necessary." Palin, a potential 2012 presidential candidate, said that Ryan's proposal is a good start (and linked to an op-ed …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Obama: 'No Excuse' for Not Reaching Budget Deal

The New York Times reports : At an impromptu news conference at the White House, President Obama said there was “no excuse” for failing to pass a budget for the rest of this year, and that he was no longer willing to accept one short-term deal after another to temporarily keep agencies …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Senate Repeals 1099 Tax Measure

The Hill reports : After a months-long battle, the Senate voted Tuesday, 87 to 12, to repeal the 1099 tax-reporting requirement in Democrats’ healthcare reform bill. The measure now goes to the president, who is expected to sign it, making it the first part of his party’s signature …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Geithner: Corporate Tax Reform Coming

The Hill reports : Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers Tuesday that the administration is crafting a corporate tax reform plan that would eliminate some tax preferences in exchange for a lower corporate tax rate. Geithner had previously said that he wants the administrat…

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Big Labor Pushes for a Judicial Coup D'etat

In Wisconsin, opponents of Gov. Walker's union bill are backing a leftist candidate in hopes of unseating a conservative Supreme Court justice. Will their power play work? The election of judges has a long and storied history in the United States. While federal judges get lifetime appointments, …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Kaine Launches VA Senate Bid

The Hill reports : Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine launched Tuesday his campaign for Senate. Kaine, in a video recounting his previous work in Virginia, principally as governor, said what had long been suspected: that he'd run to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.). …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday April 5, 2011