Entries

Still the Best Healthcare in the World

Fear of the loss of American medicine at its best is what is riling the town halls. Americans like what they have. They worry that it cannot continue. And they correctly surmise that a president with other spending priorities seeks to take it away. A pregnant American arrives at her doctor’s …

Written by David Frum on Friday August 14, 2009

Kaus Takes an Edwards Victory Lap

With John Edwards at last acknowledging paternity of Rielle Hunter's baby, Mickey Kaus lovingly chronicles the collapse of Edwards' "edifice of lies." With John Edwards at last acknowledging paternity of Rielle Hunter's baby, Mickey Kaus lovingly chronicles the collapse of Edwards' "edifice …

Written by David Frum on Friday August 14, 2009

Group Think in Obamaland

In politics, it is easy to assume that everyone thinks just like the allies with whom you surround yourself. How do Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer author an article that uses the word "un-American," regardless of its context? Between their two offices, a minimum of 10 different sets of eyes must …

Written by Henry Clay on Friday August 14, 2009

Not the Color of His Skin, But the Cost of His Plans

Even though there are many people who don’t like the fact we have a black president, I don’t think that’s where the town hall anger is coming from. Rather, people are waking up to the reality of how much a government healthcare plan will cost. One thing is for certain, healthcare reform is …

Written by Crystal Wright on Thursday August 13, 2009

The Reckless Right Courts Violence

Hysterical talk from TV and radio hosts may be a cynical marketing exercise. But it's getting too dangerous to ignore. A man bearing a sidearm appears outside President Obama's Aug. 11 town hall meeting in Portsmouth, N.H., under a sign proclaiming, "It is time to water the tree of liberty." …

Written by David Frum on Thursday August 13, 2009

What I Saw at the Town Hall

Twenty minutes into my two-hour wait to get a seat at Senator Ben Cardin's town hall event, I started keeping a "Nazi tally" by counting references I overheard to Adolf Hitler, Germany, or the Nazi Party. The town halls are exactly what you're seeing on TV. The crowds are overwhelmingly conservativ…

Written by Alex Knepper on Wednesday August 12, 2009

Americans Ignore the True Costs of Health Insurance

In the health insurance debate nobody seems to talk about the role of the American paycheck. The Republican party should push for health insurance "cafeteria plans," where individuals can take their hidden paycheck costs in paid insurance premiums or in ordinary taxable cash. One thing I'm …

Written by Thomas J. Marier on Wednesday August 12, 2009

Europe's Fear of Capitalism

Which German politician said the following? "As a citizen, I would not like again to become the object of Anglo-Saxon financial capital. Germany does not protect me from this, but only Germany in Europe does." Which German politician said the following? As a citizen, I would not like again …

Written by John Rosenthal on Wednesday August 12, 2009

Birthers: Ignorance is No Excuse

According to a new poll, 7% of North Carolinians who voted for John McCain do not believe Hawaii to be a part of the United States. They may be older voters who never quite absorbed the news that our 50th state is indeed our 50th state. Sadly, even if the latter is the case, it doesn't explain …

Written by Eugene Debs on Tuesday August 11, 2009

A Politics That Will Kill Us

Conservatives famously champion what we call a “culture of life.” But how about a politics that is concerned with ensuring that as many Americans as possible are healthy? Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney often joked during the primaries: “Being a conservative Republican in Massachusetts …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday August 11, 2009

Obama's Medicare Cuts

Byron York in the Examiner today digs deeper into a point made yesterday by FF's Gusher : President Obama's healthcare scheme rests heavily upon Medicare cuts. For conservatives battered by years of Democratic Medi-scare campaigns, it's tempting to repay the Democrats with a taste of their own …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday August 11, 2009

Moderate Voters: We've Been Punked by Obama

An increasing number of independents, moderate Democrats and Republicans who voted for Obama are very uncomfortable with his radical left of center agenda. Yikes, it looks like the bloom is withering off the Obama fairytale of change . Many Americans are starting to feel …

Written by Crystal Wright on Monday August 10, 2009

Now It’s the Dems Turn to Experience Mediscare

The Dems are finally discovering what should have been obvious from the sea of gray and white heads in evidence in all those town hall videos: senior citizens loathe Obamacare. The Washington Post finally discovers what should have been obvious from the sea of gray and white heads in evidence …

Written by Gusher on Monday August 10, 2009

Limbaugh: No Retraction on Nazi Comment

The American voter dislikes and punishes intemperate talk. When Rush Limbaugh calls President Obama a Nazi, that does not hurt Obama. It hurts every Republican who by remaining silent, seems to assent. On "Meet the Press" this weekend, David Brooks used the word "insane" to characterize Rush …

Written by David Frum on Monday August 10, 2009

Get a Grip

So let me get this straight: Sarah Palin used her first public appearance (since she showed the world what a fighter she is by quitting because people were being mean to her) to call the Obama Administration’s health plan “truly evil”? So let me get this straight. Sarah Palin used her first …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Sunday August 9, 2009

The Headlines Review

Napoleon Linardatos comments on the headlines. Napoleon Linardatos comments on the headlines. “California city shuts down girl's lemonade stand” - Fresno Bee , August 6, 2009 The era of corporate excess and greed is over. * * * “White House Cybersecurity Chief Quits” - Wall …

Written by Napoleon Linardatos on Sunday August 9, 2009

A Dissent on Comparative Effectiveness

Contra David Frum , I’m not sure we need “government bodies to compare the effectiveness of different healthcare practices”. In fact, my biggest worry is that government will stifle innovation. Contra David Frum , I’m not sure we need “government bodies to compare the effectiveness of different …

Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Sunday August 9, 2009

Reforms Conservatives Can Favor

As healthcare passions rise, let's keep in mind there are reforms that Republicans and conservatives can and should support. As healthcare passions rise, let's keep in mind reforms that Republicans and conservatives can and should support. Here's my (non-exhaustive) list: * We should favor …

Written by David Frum on Saturday August 8, 2009

Obamacare’s Victims and Targets Speak Out

The healthcare debate is arousing passions unseen since the 1960s. Many Americans rightly fear that their medical care and the medical care of their elderly parents is about to be diminished. The healthcare debate is arousing passions unseen since the 1960s. Not even Iraq War II evoked the …

Written by Lloyd Green on Saturday August 8, 2009

The Lunacy of the Birthers

The birthers claim that President Obama is not legally entitled to occupy his office because he is not in fact a “natural-born citizen” of the U.S., as the federal Constitution requires. This claim rests on two assertions, one wrong, one crazy. It used to be tough and unrewarding to be a crank. …

Written by David Frum on Saturday August 8, 2009