Overview for obama

A Recovery Menaced By Dysfunctional Politics

In a time of fundamental uncertainty, what do we know for certain? No, that’s not a Yogi Berra kind of question. Timing of passage of an increase of some size in the national debt ceiling remains uncertain. Which side will blink first remains uncertain. Final form of the legislation …

Written by Steve Bell on Friday July 29, 2011

Ratings Agencies Want to See Bush Tax Cuts Lapse

The suggestion that the US needs to cut $4 trillion in projected debt over the next ten years in order to avoid a downgrade in its debt rating, posed here in an S&P report , has gained significant traction among many on the right. Erick Erickson, when he's not denying "absolution" to the …

Written by Fred Bauer on Tuesday July 26, 2011

Obama: "Make Your Voices Heard"

President Obama last night appealed to supporters to make their voices heard, to pressure Congress to raise the debt ceiling. The demand he emphasized most: that any deal extend the administration enough credit to get past the next election. Odd priority, no? You might have expected that this …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 26, 2011

Watch: David Frum Talks Debt Ceiling and Obama

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Written by FrumForum News on Tuesday July 26, 2011

Will Debt Crisis Wedge GOP Away From its Business Base?

Is Obama intentionally trying to make the Republicans appear maximally reckless and irresponsible? Isn't it conceivable that Obama's real end-game in these budget talks is to destroy Republican presidential fundraising for 2012 by goading congressional Republicans in 2011 into appearing maximally …

Written by David Frum on Thursday July 14, 2011

Sorry, the Debt Limit Looks Constitutional

Despite what some would hope, it looks like the debt ceiling is indeed constitutional. With negotiations over the debt limit going down to the wire, the threat of a catastrophic default looms on the horizon. In order to prevent this disaster from happening, some analysts and experts think …

Written by Ajay Ravichandran on Wednesday July 6, 2011

Obama's Weakness Made Debt Crisis Worse

In my latest column for CNN, I discuss how Obama's weakness in his negotiations over the debt ceiling have made the debt crisis worse. In my latest column for CNN, I discuss how president Obama's weakness in his negotiations over the debt ceiling have made the debt crisis worse: Why aren't …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Can the Debt Crisis Lead to Impeachment?

The debt-ceiling crisis is growing into an impending constitutional crisis. The debt-ceiling crisis is growing into an impending constitutional crisis. Imagine this scenario: * House Republicans and the president fail to reach a budget agreement. * House Republicans refuse to raise the …

Written by David Frum on Monday July 4, 2011

Obama Puts Congress on Notice

Obama has taken off the gloves in his fight with Congress over the debt ceiling increase. In his statement and news conference yesterday, President Obama decided to take off the gloves in his fight with Congress over the debt ceiling increase. His performance should stand as a reminder to …

Written by Steve Bell on Thursday June 30, 2011

Obama is His Own Worst Enemy

The way to defeat Obama is to focus on his own weaknesses and failings, not to invent new ones. David Brooks wrote a perceptive column today about the deficiencies in President Obama's leadership style. He can expect a barrage of negative comment from conservatives who will reject Brooks' …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday June 28, 2011

Bad News from Afghanistan

A new report suggests that despite battlefield victories, the U.S. is still failing to win over the Afghan people. This is not good news. Despite battlefield gains against insurgents in southern Afghanistan, the United States is failing to win over Afghans in the heartland of the Taliban, a …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 17, 2011

Obama's Cynical Drilling Drive

Obama's decision to expand U.S. oil production might be smart politically, but it won't do anything to reduce gas prices. What President Obama’s Saturday radio address should have said: "My fellow Americans. Today, I am directing the Department of the Interior to conduct annual lease sales in …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Monday May 16, 2011

Birthers Try Out a New Line of Attack

Some birthers are falling back on a second line of defense: even if Obama was born in this country, his father wasn't, making Obama "native born" but not "natural born". A historical curiosity: Some birthers are falling back on a second line of defense: even if President Obama was born in this …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday April 27, 2011

The Health Cost Fix Obama Won't Accept

There are new questions about Obamacare's preferred cost control mechanisms. Yet, one possible solution for the president's health cost worries is still off the table. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) -- Obamacare-- is coming under new attacks as the constitutionality of the …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Thursday April 21, 2011

Obama's West Coast Swing

Obama's trip to California didn't just give him the chance to fill his campaign coffers. It was also a reminder to Washington that he still owns the youth vote. It was fitting that President Barack Obama kicked off his bid for a second term last week in Chicago. The Windy City is, of course, his …

Written by Les Francis on Thursday April 21, 2011

GOP Won't Win Debt Blame Game

If the U.S. does experience a credit downgrade, the Republican party's reputation for economic competence will take a big hit in the eyes of voters. There may be less in Standard & Poor’s new negative outlook on US debt than meets the eye. There’s no actual downgrade of the US credit rating …

Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Wednesday April 20, 2011

Obama Stays Silent on Syria

The uprising in Syria gives the U.S. a chance to advance its interests and ideals, but Obama's insistence on engaging authoritarian regimes may squander the opportunity. The U.S. response to the recent events in Syria reveals that the Arab revolts have not completely shaken President Obama’s faith …

Written by Lauren Noble on Wednesday April 20, 2011

Washington Moves Slowly After Debt Warning

S&P's debt outlook announcement shocked Washington. But with Congress out of session and members focused on jobs and gas prices, we're still no closer to a long-term debt deal. Standard and Poor’s unexpected announcement yesterday that it had put United States sovereign debt on watch with …

Written by Steve Bell on Tuesday April 19, 2011

Wall Street's Wake-Up Call

Neither President Obama's deficit reduction plan speech nor Congress' response seem to have settled market fears about America's soaring debt. This morning Standard and Poor’s put its long-term rating on United States sovereign debt on negative outlook. The equity market, as I write, is off by …

Written by Steve Bell on Monday April 18, 2011

Qaddafi's Choice: Power or Prison?

Before Libya, the White House was warming to the idea of an international criminal court. But now Qaddafi's fears of a war crime trial are hampering efforts to find an exit plan. "The Elba option is impossible in the modern world," sighed an unhappy German diplomat. Elba is a small, scenic …

Written by David Frum on Monday April 18, 2011