Entries

The Next Economic Crisis

A more immediate threat to the global economy than the China-U.S. payment imbalance problem is the large current account and budget deficits characterizing the Greek, Irish, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian economies. A more immediate threat to the global economy than the China-U.S. payment …

Written by Desmond Lachman on Tuesday December 1, 2009

Pull the Plug on AIG

Shares of the insurance company AIG fell 15 percent yesterday on a report that the company didn’t have the resources necessary to pay its likely claims. The government should call in its loans, break up the company, sell its holdings, and put AIG out of business once and for all. Shares of the …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday December 1, 2009

A Note to Readers

I'm happy to report as of month's end: more than 130,000 unique visitors visited more than 348,000 of our pages in the month of November. There's an audience for a reformed, governance- minded conservatism, and as hard experience shows the limits of the angry ideology of the right blogosphere, that …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday December 1, 2009

Hope Returns to Honduras

On Sunday, Porfirio Lobo was chosen in a free and fair election as Honduras’ next President, allowing the country to breathe a little easier after months of political uncertainty. On Sunday, Porfirio Lobo was chosen in a free and fair election as Honduras’ next President, allowing the country to …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday December 1, 2009

Hillary: Man Up on Afghanistan

While President Obama dithers, Secretary of State Clinton has channeled her inner hawk and is sending a clear message to the Afghan people that the U.S. is committed to victory. Maybe the Obama administration realizes now that its words matter, and that talking down Afghanistan makes victory there …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday December 1, 2009

Republican-Leaning Independents Hate the Party Leaders

Over half of Republican-leaning independent adults say that they either dislike the entire crop of 2012 wannabes or would rather just run John McCain again. It seems that a man called "Nobody" is leading the pack for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination amongst independents. Over half of …

Written by Alex Knepper on Monday November 30, 2009

Romney’s Religion Problem is Mine Too

As a Mormon attorney who travels frequently, I can tell readers that even David Frum underestimates the prejudice faced by Mormons. I am a Mormon patent attorney in Utah. I travel frequently, and I can tell readers that even David Frum underestimates the prejudice faced by Mormons. I am the …

Written by Steven Rinehart on Monday November 30, 2009

Taking Aim at Auto Insurers

With health insurance dominating the political debate, few Americans give much thought to automobile insurance. In Michigan, however, some new proposals may create more regulation and scare away insurers. With health insurance dominating the political debate, few Americans give much thought to …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday November 30, 2009

Punishing the SEALs

Earlier this week, news broke that three Navy SEALs may be court-martialed for allegedly punching a prisoner. According to a source of mine - a retired SEAL - this development may be payback from the Navy's brass for the SEALs breaking the rules of engagement during an earlier mission. Earlier …

Written by Sean Linnane on Monday November 30, 2009

Dubai Bust

Dubai’s banking sector could exist only because it was backed by an implicit security guarantee from the United States. Every rich country has skyscrapers, but there is only one that can be counted on to defend the skyscrapers of others. My National Post column this weekend focuses not on …

Written by David Frum on Sunday November 29, 2009

Wrong Question Professor Krugman!

In a recent post, Paul Krugman dismisses the idea that Dubai may be the first of many more sovereign defaults. But Krugman also ignores the real danger facing many states: a combination of big debts and fixed exchange rates. Paul Krugman lays out three scenarios for Dubai, ruling out only the …

Written by David Frum on Saturday November 28, 2009

Why Watch Cable?

As a sometime talking head on CNN, I'm arguing against interest here - but Friday was a day that fully drove home the uselessness of cable news. All day long, cable breathlessly reported the Tiger Woods story, while managing totally to ignore what had actually occurred. As a sometime talking head …

Written by David Frum on Saturday November 28, 2009

Mormons for President?

Maybe Mitt Romney’s adherence to the teachings of Joseph Smith proves him a sucker. But there’s no sign of the sucker about him when he reads a balance sheet! Why should we assume he’d be any more gullible when it came time to negotiate a treaty or face down a foreign threat or review an EPA …

Written by David Frum on Saturday November 28, 2009

Palin's Way to Win Friends and Influence People

The saying goes: ordinary leaders move to the center - great leaders move the center to them. Sarah Palin endorses neither concept. If her recent interview with Greta van Susteren is reflective, she adheres to what might be called the Go F--- Yourself school of leadership. The saying goes: …

Written by David Frum on Friday November 27, 2009

Romney's Evangelical Problem

A recent statement of principles released by conservative Christian intellectuals was endorsed by over 150 people, but lacked a single Mormon signatory. This is ominous news for the Romney 2012 campaign. Jonathan Rauch draws attention to a Nov. 20 open letter signed by Christian intellectuals. …

Written by David Frum on Friday November 27, 2009

Kirk Bags a Conservative Endorsement

Mark Kirk secured his fourth endorsement from a prominent member of the Illinois GOP on Wednesday when freshman Congressman Aaron Schock backed Kirk’s bid for Barack Obama’s former Senate seat. Mark Kirk secured his fourth endorsement from a prominent member of the Illinois GOP on Wednesday …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Friday November 27, 2009

A Conservative Win or a Labour Collapse?

A new poll from Britain shows that the Tories will crush Labour and David Cameron will be the next PM, but also shows gains for many smaller political parties. A new poll from Britain shows the Tories maintaining their lead over Labour. The poll is interesting both for the obvious message - …

Written by Henry Olsen on Friday November 27, 2009

Why We're Thankful

Col. Lewis Millett joined the U.S. Army at age 21 in the summer of 1941 – and then deserted, because the U.S. wasn’t yet in the war. He joined Canada's army to go overseas and fight the Nazis. His lifetime of service in both armies would earn him 26 medals - including a Medal of Honor. I first …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday November 26, 2009

Elephants Talk Turkey

What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Frum Forum polled some Republicans and conservatives - including Grover Norquist, Mark Kirk, Chuck DeVore, Arthur Brooks, Marco Rubio, and Charlie Crist - to see what their plans were this year, and whether they had any Thanksgiving traditions. What are you …

Written by Chris Brown on Wednesday November 25, 2009

The CRU's Climate Change Scandal

The recent behavior of scientists at the UK's Climate Research Unit shows that scientists — even brilliant ones — are not better than other people. They are at least as prone to vanity, malice, groupthink, charlatanism, and outright dishonesty as those in any other line of work. My latest column …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday November 25, 2009