Entries

Obama Backs GOP Earmark Ban

Obama Backs GOP Earmark Ban USA Today reports: Who says the parties can't get along? President Obama just issued a statement applauding the decision by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to reverse course and "back a ban on funding for lawmakers' pet projects, …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Silver: Pawlenty is a "League Average" Pol

Silver: Pawlenty "League Average" Nate Silver at the New York Times writes: Thursday’s post — our first look in some time at the 2012 Republican primary field — generated quite a bit of reaction, and not all of it favorable. One critique, articulated by political …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Diet Secrets of World Leaders

Thanks to Bob Shrum, the host at the NYU Florence conference, I had dinner tonight with former PM Gordon Brown. Big topic: getting into better physical shape. Courtesy of Bob Shrum, the host here at the NYU Florence conference, I had a chance to have dinner tonight with Gordon Brown, the former …

Written by David Frum on Monday November 15, 2010

How to Bring Parties Back to the Center

Primary voting and campaign financing allow small groups to capture parties and disenfranchise the middle. But it doesn't have to be this way. Primary politics and campaign finance allow small groups of highly committed voters to capture political parties and disenfranchise the middle. But it …

Written by David Frum on Monday November 15, 2010

McConnell Backs Earmark Ban

McConnell Backs Earmark Ban Politico reports : Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declared Monday that he now supports a GOP ban on earmarks, a stunning reversal that puts the Kentucky Republican in line with the tea-party wing of his party and conservative senators who have …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

McCain Warns of GOP Isolationism and Protectionism

McCain Warns of GOP Isolationism David Weigel reports : Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) sounded an alarm about some of the Republicans joining him in Congress next year, warning that they could affect the consensus on the war in Afghanistan and might pose challenges to free trade agreement…

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Tea Partiers to Lame Duck: No New Bills

Today on the Hill, Americans for Prosperity held a rally to oppose the passing of Democratic bills during the lame duck session and to back the GOP's earmark ban. Americans for Prosperity held a rally this afternoon to oppose the passing of Democratic legislation during the lame duck session and …

Written by Tim Mak on Monday November 15, 2010

NBC News Prez Threatened to Fire Olbermann

NBC Threatened to Fire Olbermann Howard Kurtz at The Daily Beast reports: Keith Olbermann was having dinner with his manager at an Upper East Side restaurant, chewing over their battle to lift his suspension at MSNBC, when Phil Griffin called. Michael Price stepped out of the …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

How to Hijack a Political Party

The secret to political success is leverage: organize a few like-minded friends, seize control of a county organization and work your way up. Primary politics and campaign finance allow small groups of highly committed voters to capture political parties and disenfranchise the middle. But it …

Written by David Frum on Monday November 15, 2010

Rangel Walks Out of Ethics Trial

Rangel Walks Out of Ethics Trial The AP reports : Rep. Charles Rangel walked out of his ethics trial Monday after a House ethics panel denied his request to delay it, and the panel's top lawyer urged the committee to push toward a decision in the case. The once-powerful …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Clegg's Dilemma: How to Sell Compromise?

The Lib Dem dilemma - how to govern with the Tories and then defend their policies before the base - mirrors a problem for U.S. conservatives as well. In the U.S., primary politics and campaign finance allow small groups of highly committed voters to capture political parties and disenfranchise …

Written by David Frum on Monday November 15, 2010

DeMint Blames Steele for GOP Senate Setback

DeMint Blames Steele for GOP Senate Setback Politico reports: The lack of a well-organized voter mobilization effort by the Republican National Committee could have cost the GOP “a few Senate seats, ” Sen. Jim DeMint suggested Sunday. Partly as a result, the South Carolina …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Watch: Bush Defends TARP

Watch: Bush Defends TARP In an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley, former president Bush defended his decision to rescue Wall Street's banks. Click here for more .

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Plan: End U.S. Afghan Combat Role by 2014

Plan Would End U.S. Afghan Combat Role by 2014 The New York Times reports: The Obama administration has developed a plan to begin transferring security duties in select areas of Afghanistan to that country’s forces over the next 18 to 24 months, with an eye toward ending the …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Graham "Stunned" by Afghan-U.S. Rift

Graham "Stunned" by Afghan-U.S. Rift ABC News reports: In an exclusive interview today on "This Week," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told anchor Christiane Amanpour that he was "just stunned" by Afghan President Hamid Karzai's comments to the Washington Post that took issue with a …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Phasing Out Our Fossil Fuel Pork

Energy subsidies aren't necessarily bad. What the new Congress needs to decide though are which energy sources we actually benefit from favoring. The International Energy Agency’s latest World Energy Outlook says it’s time to put the kibosh on fossil fuel subsidies, which totaled $312 billion …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Monday November 15, 2010

Tea Party to GOP: Avoid Social Issues

Tea Party to GOP: Avoid Social Issues Politico reports : A gay conservative group and some Tea Party leaders are campaigning to keep social issues off the Republican agenda. In a letter to be released Monday , the group GOProud and leaders from groups like the Tea Party …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Aung San Suu Kyi Freed by Burmese Junta

Aung San Suu Kyi Freed by Burmese Junta The New York Times reports : YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi , was freed from house arrest on Saturday, setting her on the path to a possible new confrontation with the generals who had kept her out …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Cameron Lobbies for UK to Host World Cup

Cameron Lobbies for UK to Host World Cup The Daily Mail reports : Prime Minister David Cameron has emerged as England's best - and possibly last - hope of securing the World Cup finals for England in 2018. Bid officials have intensified their lobbying as the …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010

Lid Dem President: Tory Pact is 'Raving Mad'

Lid Dem Prez: Tory Pact is 'Raving Mad' The Independent reports : The new president of the Liberal Democrats last night dismissed the idea of a long-term pact with the Tories as "absolutely stark raving mad". In comments likely to raise the hackles of traditional Conservatives…

Written by FrumForum News on Monday November 15, 2010