Entries

U.S. Suspends Pakistani Military Aid

The New York Times reports : The Obama administration is suspending and, in some cases, canceling hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to the Pakistani military, in a move to chasten Pakistan for expelling American military trainers and to press its army to fight militants more …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday July 9, 2011

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Japan

The Huffington Post reports : A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake has reportedly struck off Japan's eastern coast. Tsunami advisories have now been issued following the Japan earthquake , Tokyo Breaking News reports. According to Reuters, Fukushima nuclear plant workers evacuated …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday July 9, 2011

Boehner Rejects Obama's Debt Ceiling Bargain

The Huffington Post reports : House Speaker John Boehner is rejecting President Obama's offer to make historic cuts to the federal government and the social safety net, saying in a statement Saturday evening that he can not agree to the tax increases Democrats insisted on as part of the …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday July 9, 2011

Military Now Accepts Openly Gay Recruits

Talking Points Memo reports : The Pentagon announced Friday that it is suspending its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of banning openly gay servicemen and women. The em> Army Times

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday July 9, 2011

Pawlenty Downplays Iowa

Talking Points Memo reports : Tim Pawlenty and his top staff are increasingly downplaying the importance of Iowa in interviews, a strange turn given its central importance to his campaign so far. Pawlenty told reporters that "this week is the first time that I've campaigned in earnest in …

Written by FrumForum News on Saturday July 9, 2011

Hold Students Accountable in Testing

While many people blame teachers for the decline in test scores, scrutiny needs to be placed on students as well. The results just came back, and just 31 percent of my tenth grade English students passed their state high school exam this year. This was my first year teaching a tested …

Written by Thomas Gibbon on Saturday July 9, 2011

How Israel's Lawyers Stopped the Second Flotilla

Israel has deployed a powerful new strategy against the latest wouldbe Gaza flotilla activists: Bore them to death. Israel has deployed a powerful new strategy against the latest wouldbe Gaza flotilla activists: Bore them to death. For three weeks, the activists aboard the lead flotilla …

Written by David Frum on Saturday July 9, 2011

Gays Don't Need a League of Their Own

Whatever one thinks of gay sports leagues, we should hope that, before long, they become entirely unnecessary. Just a few days after New York’s historic approval of same-sex marriage, the Onion ran a piece about a lawsuit against the North American Gay Athletic Alliance alleging discrimination …

Written by Alan Hirsch on Saturday July 9, 2011

Top U.S. Military Officer Starts 4-Day China Trip

Reuters reports : The top U.S. military officer begins a four-day trip to China on Sunday in another sign of warming military ties between the two countries after a break in relations following a $6.3 billion U.S. arms deal with Taiwan. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

Senate Dems Draft Debt-Reduction Plan

The Washington Post reports : Senate Democrats have drafted a sweeping debt-reduction plan that would slice $4 trillion from projected borrowing over the next decade without touching the expensive health and retirement programs targeted by President Obama . Instead, Senate Democrats …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

Perry Plans Donor Meeting, Iowa Outreach

Politico reports : Rick Perry has started calling Iowa Republicans and a former RNC finance chairman is helping to convene a meeting of national donors later this month in Austin to discuss financing a potential 2012 campaign — signs that the Texas governor and his allies are stepping …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

Obama Calls On Boeing, Workers To Resolve Dispute

The Associated Press reports : President Barack Obama is calling once again for Boeing Co. and its workers to resolve their differences without "wasting a lot of time in court." Obama was asked about the National Labor Relations Board's lawsuit against the aerospace giant in a KING-TV …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

U.S. Education Dept. Joins Probe of DC Test Scores

The Associated Press reports : The U.S. Department of Education has joined an investigation of possible cheating on standardized tests, and District of Columbia leaders said Friday they welcome the scrutiny. "I actually think that that is a huge step in ensuring that we have a thorough, …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

IMF Approves Loan For Greece

Reuters reports : The International Monetary Fund's executive board on Friday approved a disbursement of about 3.2 billion euros to help Greece pay debts due this month and return to positive economic growth in 2012. In announcing the payment, part of a 110 billion euro IMF-European Union …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

UN: U.S. Execution of Mexican Citizen Was Illegal

The Associated Press reports : The United States broke international law when it executed a Mexican citizen, the United Nations' top human rights official said Friday. The Texas execution of Humberto Leal "raises particular legal concerns," including whether he had access to consular …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

Former First Lady Betty Ford Dies At 93

The New York Times reports : Betty Ford, the outspoken and much-admired wife of President Gerald R. Ford who overcame alcoholism and an addiction to pills and helped found one of the most well-known rehabilitation centers in the nation, has died at 93. Chris Chase, Mrs. Ford's biographer, …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

Page One: Inside the New York Times

The new documentary Page One asks an important question: is it really surprising that people have lost faith in old media? "The old newspaper business is dying. PERIOD," proclaims noted columnist and author Jeff Jarvis, at one point in Andrew Rossi's up-to-the-second new documentary, Page One: …

Written by Telly Davidson on Friday July 8, 2011

The Fat Diaries: Competitive Eating is Nothing to Cheer About

Does scarfing 20,000 calories in 10 minutes make one worthy of fame and fortune? Of course not. Profuse sweating? Lethargy? Painful gas? A diet of yogurt and water? Ah , the glamorous lifestyle of the professional eater. As you know, the weenie heard round the nation this week was number …

Written by Monica Marier on Friday July 8, 2011

Pelosi returns to debt ceiling talks

Politico reports House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is back at the bargaining table — but it’s not yet clear whether she’s willing to make a deal. Burned by President Barack Obama’s decision to keep her out of negotiations on last year’s tax deal and this spring’s budget bill, …

Written by FrumForum News on Friday July 8, 2011

Testing Can Make Teachers Cheat

The revelation of systemic cheating on tests in the Atlanta's Public Schools is sad, but not surprising. Like everyone else who follows the world of public education, I was disgusted and saddened at the report issued by the office of Georgia Governor Nathan Deal this past Tuesday. The report, …

Written by Will Barrett on Friday July 8, 2011