David Frum's Blog, page 49

Iowa's Republican Advocate for Public Education

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, has proposed increasing the state’s education budget by $187 million. While most Republican-led states have focused on vouchers and charter schools, Iowa has no private school voucher program and has only 3 charter schools in the entire state.

Sexual Protest: How Boston College Students are Fighting Their School

A network of Boston College students who run a condom distribution network out of their dorm rooms may face disciplinary action for breaking the school’s policy on contraceptives. Because of Boston College’s association with the Catholic Church and the Jesuits, the school abides by Church teachings that forbid the use of contraceptives.

Nuts! Dale Peterson of Youtube Fame Arrested For Stealing Cashews

Law and order supporter and ex-potential Alabama Ag Commissioner Dale Peterson (the stud in the video above) had a little run-in with the law (H/T Jamie McFadden):

Why Do These Russians Hate History So Much?

I totally agree with this Gawker commenter's response to a group of Russians climbing the Great Pyramid and taking photos:

2013: What a Year for Marriage Equality!

Seven senators (senators!) have changed their public position on gay marriage in this new year. As the Hill's Daniel Strauss reports:

Pray for Nelson Mandela

One of the world's great men needs your prayers, reports the New York Times:

Pippa's Pearls of Wisdom

Five gems from Pippa Middleton's first column for the Waitrose grocery chain's in-house magazine, as brought to you by the UK edition of Metro newspapers (you'll have to click through for the final four):

The EU's Terrible Handling of Cyprus

Robert Shapiro, co-founder of the Progressive Policy Institute and a Clinton administration economic official, writes scathingly of the EU's handling of Cyprus:

Bill Clinton: Still Shaky on the Truth

Bob Shrum takes Bubba to task!

Here's What Divorce Does

One of the arguments against same sex marriage goes along the lines of, 'it will lead to the demise of the institution of marriage.' Here's the problem: the institution of marriage began to erode when divorce rates spiked in the 1970s - long before same sex marriage was even a topic of discussion.