2009 August | FrumForum

Entries from August 2009

Why is the Club for Growth Attacking Senator Bennett?

David Frum wrote on August 31st, 2009 at 11:30 pm

The Club for Growth has released a new ad attacking Utah Sen. Robert Bennett’s sponsorship of the Healthy Americans Act. But many of the ad’s criticisms of the Bennett bill also apply to the Republican alternative to the president’s health plans: the Coburn-Ryan bill. Why then is one bill Republican orthodoxy while the other is beyond the pale? more

77 Comments Topics: attack ad, Club for Growth, Coburn-Ryan bill, Democrats, health, health reform, healthcare, Healthy Americans Act, insurance, Obama, Obamacare, private sector, Republicans, Robert Bennett

Don’t Despair Yet, Mr. Bartlett!

Dennis Sanders wrote on August 31st, 2009 at 4:25 pm

In a recent post, former Reagan aide Bruce Bartlett correctly noted that the Republican party seems dominated by extremists. But, Mr. Bartlett also ignores the many grown-ups still in the GOP who are trying to steer the party towards the center. more

16 Comments Topics: Bruce Bartlett, Christine Todd Whitman, Democratic Leadership Council, Democratic Party, Glenn Beck, GOP, independents, John Danforth, Log Cabin Republicans, moderates, Republican Party, Republicans for Environmental Protection

Can Obama Save His Presidency?

Gusher wrote on August 31st, 2009 at 1:48 pm

Obama’s best bet for salvaging his agenda is to “pull a Clinton” and move to the political center. Yet there is no evidence the president is so inclined or even able to do so. more

25 Comments Topics: agenda, Arkansas, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Chicago, Columbia, Communist Party USA, Congress, economics, FDR, Harvard, Hawaii, Indonesia, Joe the Plumber, liberal, mainstream media, media, Obama's grandparents, policy, presidency, White House

A Worthy Cause

Sean Linnane wrote on August 31st, 2009 at 11:15 am

Michael Yon has been doing heroic work reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan since December 2004. Now Michael needs your help. more

1 Comment Topics: Afghanistan, David Petraeus, helicopters, Iraq, journalism, Kopp-Etchells effect, Michael Yon, reporting, Special Forces, the Surge, war correspondent, war zone

New School Year, Same Frustrations

Thomas Gibbon wrote on August 31st, 2009 at 12:52 am

The start of another school year does not signal a new day in our worst urban schools. Last year’s colossal problems had three months off. As soon as the bell rings and the buses roll in, the embarrassing reality of “education” in inner city schools will resume. The problems of last year will have snowballed; a new crop of students will be sadly left behind. more

18 Comments Topics: Baltimore, classroom, D.C., D.C. Public School System, detention, education, education reform, high school, inner city, Michelle Rhee, poverty, public education, public schools, students, suspension, teachers, teaching, unemployment, violence, Washington

Being the Angry Party Will Keep GOP Out of Power

Thomas J. Marier wrote on August 31st, 2009 at 12:47 am

The way many conservatives see it, the way to win is not by emulating the no-drama strategy of the Obama campaign, but rather the hard-nosed, foul-mouthed Chicago tactics of Rahm Emanuel circa 2005 and 2006. But this strategy will not work for the GOP. more

42 Comments Topics: baby boomers, Barack Obama, Bruce Bartlett, Chicago tactics, conservatives, Democrats, GOP, Grand Old Party, health, health care, healthcare, healthcare reform, media, medical care, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, Michael Steele, minorities, moderates, Mugwumps, Newt Gingrich, Obamacare, private insurance, Rahm Emanuel, Republican, Senior's Health Care Bill of Rights

The Headlines Review

Napoleon Linardatos wrote on August 30th, 2009 at 8:10 pm

Napoleon Linardatos presents a humorous take on today’s headlines.

No Comments Topics: Anne Fine, AP, Barack Obama, bears, Ben Bernanke, Colorado, Congress, Denver Post, Federal Reserve, Financial Times, Gaddafi, GOP, health, health care, health care reform, healthcare, Honduran coup, Honduras, identity fraud, insurance, insurance policies, Internet, iPod, Iran, Iranian dissidents, Iranian reformers, Italy, J.K. Rowling, Libya, Mensa, Microsoft, migration, New York Daily News, New York Times, Newsweek, Obama administration, Obamacare, plasma TV, Post Office, Reuters, Seniors Health Bill of Rights, Suze Orman, The Times, United States, visa, Wall Street Journal, wildlife, Yahoo

Megrahi’s Release: Another Shoe Drops

David Frum wrote on August 30th, 2009 at 10:00 am

A news report today suggests that while the Obama administration was opposed to the release of al-Megrahi, it made clear that it was open to compromise – such as house arrest in Scotland – rather than implacably opposed, period. The yielding attitude of the Obama administration seems to have contributed to persuading the U.K. and Scottish governments that they had room to proceed without too many consequences. more

7 Comments Topics: Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, Barack Obama, BP, British Petroleum, Gaddafi, Gordon Brown, Greenock Prison, Independent on Sunday, Jack Straw, Kenny MacAskill, Libya, Lockerbie, Lockerbie bomber, London, Megrahi, murder, oil, Scotland, Secretary of State, State Department, terrorism, The Times, U.K., U.S., United Kingdom, United States, War on Terror, Washington

Marine War Dog Hero Dies

Sean Linnane wrote on August 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am

MWD Flapoor was one of our great military working dogs who was on the front lines with our Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Flapoor did two tours of Iraq, and was awarded the Purple Heart after he was wounded in a suicide bombing. His handler, Marine LCpl Brown, made this tribute video so we can all remember one of our beloved K9 heroes. more

5 Comments Topics: bomb, canine, dog, Flapoor, Iraq, Iraq War, Iraqi police, k-9, k9, Marine Corps, Marines, military working dog, MWD Flapoor, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Purple Heart, Ramadi, suicide bomber

Why I Am Anti-Republican

Bruce Bartlett wrote on August 30th, 2009 at 8:44 am

I got an e-mail from a prominent Republican asking why I am so anti-Republican these days. In my opinion, the party got on the wrong track during the George W. Bush years and no longer bears any resemblance to the party of Ronald Reagan. more

201 Comments Topics: 2010 midterms, AEI, American Enterprise Institute, anti-Republican, birthers, Bruce Bartlett, CBO, conservatism, Democratic Leadership Council, Democrats, George W. Bush, Glenn Beck, GOP, Grand Old Party, Hoover Institute, MCPA, Michael Steele, moderates, OMB, partisanship, Reaganite, Republican, Republican Party, Ronald Reagan, Wrong on Race

Can’t I Dissent On Anything?

Sam Theodosopoulos wrote on August 28th, 2009 at 5:45 pm

As an intern at a conservative organization here in Washington D.C., I was taken aback when a colleague suggested that I was “working in the wrong place” because I don’t consider myself pro-life. more

76 Comments Topics: abortion, big tent, Brent Bozell, Catholic, Cold War, College Republican, conservative, D.C., Frank S. Meyer, fusionism, GOP, Grand Old Party, Grover Norquist, ideology, intern, Media Research Center, moderate, pro-choice, pro-life, Republican Party, Sam Theodosopoulos, social conservatives, social issues, Washington, William F. Buckley, young, youth

Michael Pollan: I’ll Still Shop at Whole Foods

Michael Pollan wrote on August 28th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

CEO John Mackey’s views on health care, much as I disagree with them, will not prevent me from shopping at Whole Foods. Whole Foods is not perfect, however if they were to disappear, the cause of improving Americans’ health would suffer. more

79 Comments Topics: alternative food system, boycott, food, fresh food, health, health care, health reform, healthcare, In Defense of Food, insurance, John Mackey, Michael Pollan, Obamacare, sustainable agriculture, The Omnivore's Dilemma, unions, Whole Foods, Whole Foods boycott

Rangel’s Tax Code Confusion

Brad Schaeffer wrote on August 28th, 2009 at 4:37 pm

To understand some of the rancor in the town hall meetings, pick up today’s Wall Street Journal. The paper reports that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, recently “amended” his 2007 tax returns to include an extra $780,000 in assets and income. Oops. more

11 Comments Topics: Charlie Rangel, ethics, Ethics Committee, ethics investagion, House Ways and Means Committee, IRS, tax code, tax returns, unreported income, Wall Street Journal

Vermont: Lots of Cows, Not Many Elephants

Richard Brownell wrote on August 28th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Vermont’s Republican Governor Jim Douglas announced that he will not seek reelection next year, leaving Republicans with an open gubernatorial race in what is perhaps the most liberal state in the nation. more

2 Comments Topics: 2010 election, Bernie Sanders, Brian Dubie, Democratic Governor's Association, gay marriage, GOP, Grand Old Party, Howard Dean, Jim Douglas, liberal, New England, Republicans, socialist, Vermont

The Shifting Balance of Power

David Frum wrote on August 28th, 2009 at 11:13 am

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has just announced a new ambassador to Washington: a member of Canada’s left-most party, someone who can speak the language of Pelosi and Obama. Another example of how the implosion of the GOP has implications around the world. more

1 Comment Topics: ambassador, Barack Obama, Canada, Gary Doer, George Shultz, GOP, Manitoba, Michael Wilson, Nancy Pelosi, New Democratic Party, Ottawa, Republican Party, Stephen Harper, United States, Washington

Gaddafi’s Son: Bomber’s Release No Surprise to U.S. & U.K.

Sean Linnane wrote on August 28th, 2009 at 10:45 am

Some telling comments from Gaddafi’s son today in the Glasgow Herald. He anticipates deals between Libya and London, declares Lockerbie bomber Megrahi “an innocent man” and claims that the U.S. knew well in advance about Megrahi’s release. more

No Comments Topics: bomber, bombing, Gaddafi, Iran, Libya, Lockerbie, London, Megrahi, Pan Am, Syria, terrorism, United Kingdom

A Kennedy Lesson for Obama Critics

David Frum wrote on August 28th, 2009 at 10:21 am

Peggy Noonan’s Wall Street Journal column today reminds readers of a graceful tribute to John F. Kennedy delivered by President Reagan in 1985. As the nation pays tribute to Jack Kennedy’s last brother, we should remember: There are boys and girls who will feel into the 2080s about President Obama the same way that Peggy Noonan still feels about President Kennedy. more

17 Comments Topics: Catholic, Democrats, Irish, Jack Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Obama, Peggy Noonan, Republicans, Ronald Reagan, Wall Street Journal, White House

My Opponent, Senator Kennedy

Les Francis wrote on August 27th, 2009 at 11:39 pm

My own feelings about Senator Kennedy are a bit more complicated or nuanced than those of many of my friends and associates, for I have never been able to forget — nor entirely get over — Senator Kennedy’s challenge to my old boss, Jimmy Carter, for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. more

13 Comments Topics: 1980 Democratic primary, 1980 Presidential election, bipartisanship, Democrats, education reform, Eunice Shriver, George Bush, independents, Jimmy Carter, John Kennedy, Les Francis, public policy, public service, Republicans, Robert Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Senate, Ted Kennedy

Senator Frum

David Frum wrote on August 27th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that he will appoint my sister, Linda Frum Sokolowski, to the Canadian Senate. I am so proud of and thrilled for Linda, a woman of unique grace, talent and accomplishment. more

8 Comments Topics: Art Gallery of Ontario Foundation, Barbara Frum, Canada, Canadian Prime Minister, Canadian Senate, Conservative Party of Canada, David Frum, Gemini, Linda Frum Sokolowski, National Post, Ontario Arts Council, Stephen Harper, United Jewish Appeal

Obama’s Big Idea: Bankrupt Medicare Faster

Stanley Goldfarb wrote on August 27th, 2009 at 1:30 pm

The president has spoken repeatedly about how well Medicare works and has promised seniors it will be strengthened by his plans. But Medicare is going bankrupt and is unsustainable: It will be $37 trillion in deficit by the year 2050. more

77 Comments Topics: AMA, bankruptcy, doctors, Gail Wilensky, H.R. 3200, health, health care, health reform, healthcare, hospitals, insolvency, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Michael Steele, patients, physicians, SGR, sustainable growth rate

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