David Frum's Blog, page 186

University of Pennsylvania Professor Calls for Jailing Anti-Islam Blasphemers

Anthea Butler, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania, has a peculiar view on the American understanding of free speech.

Who's to Blame for Romney's Blunders?

The emergence of The American Conservative magazine from the shadow cast by its dark triad of founding fathers is one of the more inspiring moral exoduses in recent journalism. This today by Scott Galupo on Romney's Libya statement is both smart and wise. Forgive me if I quote more than just a small slice, I dont want to risk that somebody might fail to click the link to read it all, although you still should.

If You Thought the 2008 Recession Was Bad, Wait Till China's Bubble Pops

In one of the most thought-provoking pieces I've read in a long time about China, a long-time British resident of that country, married to a Chinese woman, explains his decision to leave. Below is a long extract from a longer article. Trust me, you'll want to read the whole thing.

Is the Great Recession making Americans more class-conscious?

Pew says yes.

Update on the Teachers Strike in Chicago

The caption says it all.

Does the Media Reaction to a Presidential Debate Matter?

Yes, according to the University of Chicago's John Sides, who discusses the broader importance (or lack thereof) of debates in an article for the Washington Monthly. One example was particularly striking.

Et tu, Moody's? Why America might lose its AAA credit rating (again)

The Financial Times is reporting today that credit ratings agency Moody's is considering stripping the United States of its AAA credit rating. Why they are making such a threat might, but shouldn't, be a surprise.

Mitt's Mistake: Putting Dirty Harry on stage

Seth Masket has a theory for why Mitt Romney failed to receive the usual bounce in polling numbers after his speech at the Republican National Convention.

Slurs only bolster Sandra Fluke's cause

In my column for CNN, I detail why lobbing slurs and insults at Sandra Fluke only emboldens her cause.

Don't Audit The Fed

Barry Eichengreen's latest post at Project Syndicate argues against an audit of the Federal Reserve, citing concerns about market stability and the unnecessary political pressures incentivized by such an intrustion in a sensitive institution. Most interesting is his example of how an audit helped worsen the Great Depression.