RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Benjamin Wittes, November 21, 2008, The Washington Post
President-elect Obama has reiterated his campaign promise to close Guantanamo Bay. As Benjamin Wittes writes, the incoming administration must create a systematic and rigorous review of the detainee population, whose handling will require wrenching choices with no easy answers. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, November 06, 2008, Politico
Stephen Hess offers suggestions to the new president-elect on how to best fill his cabinet. Hess cautions Obama, who will need to fill twice as many jobs than John F. Kennedy did, to factor in diversity as well as political and managerial talent. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, November 06, 2008, The Washington Post
President-elect Barack Obama will be besieged by proposals to reorganize government. Stephen Hess offers five tips for avoiding political minefields on the way to inauguration day. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William A. Galston, November 04, 2008, The New Republic
By the end of February 2009, the next president will have to define his top domestic priorities, submit a budget, and begin the difficult process of unwinding America's combat presence in Iraq. Despite today's crisis environment, William Galston cautions that the next president shouldn’t emulate FDR's first 100 days, or LBJ's feverish legislative pace in 1965 and 1966. The more ambitious the agenda, the more likely it is to fall victim to entrenched political realities. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
James P. Pfiffner, October 2008, The Brookings Institution
The White House Office is so large and complex that systematic process of policy evaluation is essential in order to provide the president with a range of options on all important policy decisions. However, some of the most important decisions that President Bush has made have been taken without the benefit of broad deliberation within the White House or Cabinet, writes James Pfiffner for a Brookings paper. Read More
VIDEO
Darrell M. West, September 04, 2008
Sarah Palin, Alaska's governor and the GOP vice presidential nominee, addressed the Republican convention in a speech widely acclaimed by her audience, but delivered amid criticism about her length of executive service in government. Darrell West analyzes the content of her speech and the tenor of her performance—and concludes she did what she was supposed to do.
VIDEO
Darrell M. West, August 29, 2008
Looking forward to the Republican National Convention, Darrell West thinks that there could be disagreements on some planks of the party’s platform. On issues like abortion and torture, Senator John McCain has broken with the Republican Party and taken a slightly more moderate stance.
VIDEO
Stephen Hess, August 29, 2008
Now that the confetti has fallen on the Democratic National Convention, the Republican one is now front and center. Stephen Hess outlines what Senator John McCain hopes to accomplish in Minneapolis.
VIDEO
Darrell M. West, August 28, 2008
Barack Obama has often addressed record crowds across the country. The Democratic Party’s nomination speech in front of 75,000 people at Invesco Field will signal that he’s thanking the crowds that nominated him, Darrell West says, not just the party insiders.
VIDEO
Darrell M. West, August 27, 2008
From Chuck Norris to Bruce Springsteen, celebrities are prominent in this 2008 presidential election season. Darrell West says that both parties enjoy celebrities, with Democrats getting more Hollywood attention and Republicans pulling from among stock car racers and other athletes.
VIDEO
Darrell M. West, August 27, 2008
John McCain’s campaign released an ad showing video footage from the Democratic presidential primary of Joe Biden criticizing Barack Obama’s experience as a leader. Darrell West says that these kinds of attack ads will play a prominent role in the 2008 election and that he expects the Democrats to fight back.
VIDEO
Darrell M. West, August 26, 2008
One lesson that can be learned from the 2008 presidential campaign is that common wisdom, the polls and the pundits can be wrong. Darrell West says that every time the experts think they have this election figured out the voters do something very different.
VIDEO
Darrell M. West, August 26, 2008
Looking forward to the appearances of Bill and Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention, Darrell West says that their speeches could be a positive for the party. West explains that a number of voters that supported Hillary during the primary still need to be convinced to support Barack Obama.
VIDEO
Darrell M. West, August 25, 2008
Some experts believe that a presidential candidate's choice of a running mate is not very important, because people generally vote the top of the ticket. However, Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies, says that this year the vice presidential candidates will play a significant role in the race between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Matthew C. Waxman, July 24, 2008, The Brookings Institution, Georgetown University Law Center and the Hoover Institution
Matthew Waxman examines the questions underlying the discussion of administrative detention, the possible need for new laws in combating terrorism, and how to make and review detention decisions for whom to detain. Read More