David Frum's Blog, page 198

Journalist, Or Spy? Xinhua Doesn't Distinguish

Canadian reporter Mark Bourrie quit his $50,000 a year job at Xinhua News Agency (part of China's state media arm) after it became apparent his employment was predicated on being willing to spy on behalf of the Chinese government. The last straw was when they asked him to "prepare a transcript of a press conference the Dalai Lama held with reporters in Ottawa last April."

Julian Assange's New Digs At The Ecuadorian Embassy

Looks like Wikileaks' founding leader (and alleged rapist) Julian Assange might have found a permanent home, the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. From the Guardian:

Are Housing Hawks Wrong?

Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research delivers a strong reproof to those (like me!) who believe that reducing consumer debt is the key to accelerating recovery.

Should Abortion Be Legal in Cases of Rape?

Do your own tally, but by my reading, 7 out of 9 participants in the National Review Online symposium on this question say: "No."

What Cable Can Do

On August 23rd, I posted a column suggesting what the future of cable news could look like.

The Best Way to Reduce Abortions?

Prosperity. As the National Right to Life Committee's graph shows, the steepest reductions in abortion in the United States occurred in the years between 1990 and 2000, with a slower rate of reduction after 2000 - and a leveling off after 2005.

Brutal Attack On Palestinian Met With Near-Universal Rebuke

After a brutal attack levied on a Palestinian youth by several Israeli teenagers, Michael Koplow, author of the Ottomans and Zionists blog, notes the unusually nonpartisan outpouring of condemnation from Israeli politicians:

A Consumption Tax for Romney

Former FrumForum contributor Kenneth Silber makes the case at Research magazine that Romney would be wise to embrace both a progressive consumption tax, as well as a carbon tax:

Proposed Orwell Statue Faces Orwellian Politics at BBC

A report appeared on August 22 that BBC director general Mark Thompson rejected a proposed statue of George Orwell for BBC HQ as "too left-wing."

Thanks For The Feedback

Today's featured reader comment comes from "iamcameo," who said the following in the post: "A Consumption Tax For Conservatives"