David Frum's Blog, page 94

Women in Combat: A Debate that Deserves More than Giggles

Supporters of the decision to open all combat positions to women rely heavily on one technique to advance their case: ridicule.

What Immigration 'Compromise?'

Byron York on why the "bipartisan compromise" on immigration is no compromise at all.

Quote for the Day

"Americans are still skeptical of Washington. If you shove a big government program down their throats they will recoil. But many of their immediate problems flow from globalization, the turmoil of technological change and social decay, and they’re looking for a bit of help. Moreover, given all the antigovernment rhetoric, they will never trust these Republicans to reform cherished programs like Social Security and Medicare. You can’t be for entitlement reform and today’s G.O.P., because...

Further Chaos in Egypt: Tweets Describe a Cairo Hotel's Terrifying Ordeal

Below are a series of tweets reflecting escalating panic from the staff of theSemiramis InterContinental Hotel. Fortunately, it appears things were resolved.

The Five Dumbest Myths About Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood

Americans have bent over backwards since Egypt's revolution convincing ourselves the Muslim Brotherhood is an organization seeking to move Egypt forward. And so we have trotted out the usual platitudes.

Trollope v Hardy

I was diverted from a task at hand this morning by a fascinating Twitter exchange with @jeetheer about the respective merits of the novelists Anthony Trollope and Thomas Hardy. I do love many of Trollope's novels. My own venture into fiction finishes with a favorite quotation from Phineas Finn. It occurs after Phineas has just suffered the defeat of his bill to improve the condition of Irish tenant farmers. Despairing, he is consoled by an elder statesman of his party.

Woman Encounters Own Face On Canada's New Raoul Wallenberg Stamp

Incredible story from Canada. Judith Weiszmann, a Second World War survivor, encountered her own face on a stamp honoring Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish man whose efforts saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from falling into the hands of Nazi Germany. Go read:

Let's Have a Smarter Approach to Marijuana

Smart Approaches to Marijuana has formally launched. Read more here.

Yes, Kids Need 'Shitty' Jobs

Scott Adams wonders if having "truly unpleasant" jobs in childhood motivates people to achieve more in life. (H/T Sullivan).

Who Wins from Immigration Deal? Not Republicans

What's the matter with the GOP?