Overview for obama

Senate Should be GOP's 2012 Priority

Here's some advice for the GOP: focus on the Senate in 2012. A big Senate pickup could advance a conservative agenda even with a Dem in the White House. Here’s some early advice to the Republican Party: focus on the Senate in 2012. The presidency probably isn’t winnable but a big pickup in the …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Sunday April 17, 2011

Obama Dems Back Away From Big Government

Before his budget negotiations with the GOP, Obama's accepted an important fact: a large part of his base doesn't want to be tied down defending the welfare state. In a recent Washington Post piece Sally Kohn suggested that the liberal emphasis on tolerance as a social good has hampered the …

Written by Mark R. Yzaguirre on Sunday April 17, 2011

Obama's Do Nothing Deficit Plan

Obama's deficit plan is atrocious. In short, he doesn’t want to cut entitlements (so there’s no long-term solution) but he does want to raise your taxes. The deficit plan presented by Obama is atrocious. In short, he doesn’t want to cut entitlements (so there’s no real long-term solution) and he …

Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Thursday April 14, 2011

Defense Bears the Brunt of Obama's Cuts

Obama’s plans to slash the defense budget would handcuff a U.S. military that is already too limited and too constrained in what it can do. Perhaps the most objectionable aspect of Obama’s speech involves his pledge to gut the defense budget. “Gut” is not a word I use lightly; but that seems to …

Written by John Guardiano on Wednesday April 13, 2011

Ryan's Budget Gives Obama What He Wants

The Republican plan to cut taxes and slash government health care spending gives the president prime opportunities for political victory. “Whatever you do, don’t serve to his backhand.” “Don’t be nervous. I have the new Ryan serve. It’s bold!” “Trust me on this. Don’t serve to his backhand.” …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday April 13, 2011

Why This Dem Loved Obama's Speech

While he could have offered more specifics, Obama's Wednesday afternoon speech on deficit reduction gave the Democratic base what they wanted to hear. Once again, Barack Obama has given a hell of speech when he had to. While it can be argued that he could have offered more specifics, the …

Written by Les Francis on Wednesday April 13, 2011

A Deficit-Cutting Fight Both Parties Can Win

The best deficit reduction plan may be one every party has issues with. Here's my roadmap to reaching a bipartisan deal. As we wait for President Obama to reveal his proposal for deficit reduction on Wednesday afternoon, I ask readers to consider my debt-cutting proposal. The Ken Silber Plan …

Written by Kenneth Silber on Tuesday April 12, 2011

The Good and Bad News in the Budget Deal

Dealmakers in both parties may have prevailed over the confrontationalists in this budget battle, but the most important and difficult decisions still await. Obviously this is no way to run a railroad. Still - the train did not crash. The deal to avert a government shutdown is a story of good …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 9, 2011

Can the GOP Avoid the Shutdown "Trap"?

Here's a question every Republican should ask: If the shutdown is an Obama trap, why not ... refrain from stepping into it? Question every Republican should ask: If the shutdown is an Obama trap, why not ... refrain from stepping into it? Tweet

Written by David Frum on Friday April 8, 2011

The Gitmo Debate's Biggest Loser

Obama's received flack for his Guantanamo flip-flop. But the biggest loser may be Attorney General Holder who pushed hardest to try KSM in New York. U.S. President Barack Obama is being sniped at for his apparent flip-flop in now okaying military tribunals in Guantanamo instead of civilian trials …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday April 7, 2011

Obama Moves to Heal Rift with Merkel

The White House announcement of a state dinner for Chancellor Angela Merkel comes at a low point in US-German relations. The recent White House statement announcing that Angela Merkel would receive her “Medal of Freedom” at a June 7th state dinner came as a surprise to many. The last state …

Written by Robin Tim Weis on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Is Gates Undercutting Obama on Libya?

The blogosphere is up in arms after Secretary Gates' promise to Congress that there will be no ground troops in Libya. Is he overriding the president's foreign policy? Is Defense Secretary Robert Gates guilty of “insubordination”? Jennifer Rubin and Mark Thiessen think so. This because Gates …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Is GOP Overplaying Shutdown Card?

By risking a shutdown over the 15% of the budget devoted to non-mandatory spending is the GOP losing political capital for the entitlement spending fight? Threatening to shut down the government over spending is certainly an effective, if drastic, measure. In principle, its good--even admirable--t…

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Obama's KSM Flip-Flop: A Win for Bush

After reversing course and embracing the very policies he criticized as a candidate and tried to undo as president, Obama may owe George W. Bush an apology. When George W. Bush was president, then candidate Barack Hussein Obama railed against indefinite detention and military tribunals. After …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday April 5, 2011

2012 Won't be Won in Chicago

Team Obama's set up HQ in Chicago and launched their 2012 bid. But can they govern as well as they campaign, especially when so far removed from Washington? Well, the suspense is over. President Barack Obama is going to be a candidate for reelection in 2012. Whew! It’s not clear why such an …

Written by Les Francis on Monday April 4, 2011

Obama's Reelection Edge

Obama's ratings aren't stellar (at about 47%), but they're in the same ballpark as Clinton, Reagan, and Nixon's were at the same point. And they were reelected in landslides. Here's one major political factoid on President Obama's side: all three post-World War II incumbents who lost their bids …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday April 4, 2011

How America Lost the Green Tech Race

The good news from a new clean energy investment report is that the sector shook off the recession blues in 2010. The bad news is that the U.S. is trailing the rest of the world. The good news from the latest Pew Charitable Trusts and Bloomberg New Energy Finance clean energy investment report is …

Written by Jim DiPeso on Thursday March 31, 2011

The Real Libya Policy Obama Won't Admit

President Obama’s campaign in Libya may be the most deceptively sold U.S. military policy since World War II. And people say George W. Bush lied about Iraq! President Obama’s campaign in Libya may be the most deceptively sold U.S. military policy since Franklin Roosevelt’s “all aid short of …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday March 30, 2011

Intel Experts: 'Don't Quit Until Qaddafi's Gone'

Monday, the president argued the case for our mission in Libya. FF asked members of the intel community for their views on the Obama doctrine. In his Libyan speech, President Obama established the Obama Doctrine: America would intervene to stop a murderous tyrant from massacring their citizens. …

Written by Elise Cooper on Tuesday March 29, 2011

Obama Keeps Bill Happy

Some speechwriter must have had a little chuckle as he drafted President Obama’s remarks at the UN. Some speechwriter must have had a little chuckle as he drafted President Obama’s remarks at the UN. Obama apologized to former President Clinton for keeping the Secretary of State so busy that …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday March 29, 2011