Entries

Bernanke: Fed Considering More Stimulus

The New York Times reports : The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke , gave a subdued account of the economy’s health Wednesday, saying that he expected the economy to grow at a moderate pace during the rest of the year, with unemployment declining “only gradually.” The …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Chavez To Get Chemotherapy For Cancer

BBC News reports : Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has acknowledged that he expects to have radiotherapy or chemotherapy in his ongoing cancer treatment. But he still did not say what type of cancer he has, in a telephone interview with state TV. Mr Chavez had surgery in Cuba last …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

McConnell Defends Debt Plan

The Huffington Post reports : Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), under siege from conservatives over his opt-out proposal for the debt ceiling debate, defended the idea in crassly political terms during an interview on Wednesday morning. The Kentucky Republican, appearing on …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Bernanke Gives Some Good News

There was some good news in Ben Bernanke's testimony today about the strength of the economy and the housing sector. Some good news in Ben Bernanke's testimony today: On the positive side, household debt burdens are declining, delinquency rates on credit card and auto loans are down …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Salter: GOP Ceded High Ground to Obama on Debt Deal

Mark Salter writes : It must surely be infuriating for Republican members of Congress to be criticized by President Obama for their lack of political courage. The grown-up in the White House who compares their work habits unfavorably to his daughters' homework practices and admonishes them …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Chait: GOP Anti-Tax Position is Insane

Jonathan Chait writes : It should not have come as a remote surprise when House Speaker John Boehner announced last weekend that he was abandoning negotiations for a “Grand Bargain” to bring spending and revenue into line with each other. The surprising thing was that Boehner ever pondered …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Obama foreign policy based on anti-colonialism

Tablet Magazine reports Last week President Barack Obama’s administration announced that it was going to engage Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. As the White House explained, American officials from previous administrations have already met with members of the prominent Islamist party—a …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Republicans split on trade tactics

The Hill reports House and Senate Republicans are split on how to proceed with three pending trade agreements as negotiations with the White House continue over the inclusion of a worker-assistance program. Although Republicans in both chambers agree that the program — known as Trade …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Obama sets record, raises $86M

The Hill reports President Obama raised a mammoth sum for his campaign in the second quarter collecting $86 million to support his reelection, a figure that should far surpass the fundraising totals for his Republican challengers. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina strong> announced …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

GOP Message of the Day: Retreat!

The McConnell plan offered Republicans an ingenious exit from the debt-ceiling confrontation, but conservatives in the media are reviling the plan. The McConnell plan offered Republicans an ingenious exit from the debt-ceiling confrontation: the debt ceiling would be raised in exchange for a …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Republican Fundraising: It's Worse Than it Looks

The bottom line is that Republicans will need to raise more money to win in 2012. Many of those engaged in conservative happy talk about the huge fundraising gap between President Obama's haul ($86 million) and that of all Republican candidates combined (about $35 million) suggest that the …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Wednesday July 13, 2011

China's Economy Slows Due To Interest-Rate Hikes

The New York Times reports : The Chinese economy expanded at an annualized rate of 9.5 percent during the second quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics reported on Wednesday, a figure that, for all its strength, represented a slowdown from the sizzling pace of previous quarters, and …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday July 13, 2011

Gingrich: GOP Shouldn't Back Down In Debt Fight

The Associated Press reports : Congressional Republicans should not relent in the battle with President Barack Obama over raising the federal debt ceiling , former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said during a presidential campaign swing through South Carolina on Tuesday. When he was speaker, …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Reid: Jobless Benefits Could Be Part of Debt Deal

The Huffington Post reports : A deal to raise the statutory U.S. borrowing limit and cut the federal budget may preserve federal unemployment benefits set to expire at the beginning of next year, lawmakers said Tuesday. President Obama has said he'd agree to billions in spending cuts in …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Pak. May Withdraw Anti-Terror Forces As U.S. Suspends Aid

The Washington Post reports : Pakistan’s defense minister has said that the country might withdraw thousands of troops from its volatile border areas in response to a suspension of U.S. military aid , a move that would undermine Washington’s interests in a region that is home to al-Qaeda …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 12, 2011

UN Security Council Condemns Syria Embassy Attacks

Reuters reports : The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" attacks by demonstrators on the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus. Both Washington and Paris sharply denounced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been trying for four months to stamp out a …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Yemen Fighting Nears Saudi Border

Reuters reports : Factional fighting in Yemen's north entered its fifth day on Tuesday, bringing violence closer to the border with Saudi Arabia, while the United States' top counter-terrorism official visited Sanaa. Twenty-three people have been killed and dozens injured in the northern …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Romney Rejects Gay Marriage Pledge

The Associated Press reports : Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign said Tuesday that he will not sign a conservative Iowa Christian group's far-reaching pledge opposing gay marriage, making him the first Republican presidential candidate to reject it. Two of Romney's rivals for …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 12, 2011

House GOP's Bid to Void Light Bulb Law Fails

The New York Times reports : House Republicans on Tuesday failed to advance a measure that would repeal regulations that increase efficiency standards for light bulbs, rules that they have assailed as an example of government overreach. “The 2010 elections demonstrated that Americans …

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 12, 2011

McConnell Plan Could Let Obama Raise Debt Limit

The New York Times reports : The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said Tuesday that a bipartisan budget deal with President Obama was probably out of reach, and he proposed a plan under which the president could increase the federal debt limit without Congressio…

Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 12, 2011