Brookings: Topics - Executive Branch

Strengthening United States Fiscal Policy

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Speaking before the Senate Budget Committee, Senior Fellow William Galston discussed how the Untied States’ current fiscal course is unsustainable. The level of deficits, debt, and borrowing from abroad projected for the next decade threatens not only our economic prosperity, but also our currency, global leadership, and national independence, he asserted. Galston recommended that an independent, bi-partisan commission be created to address the challenge of developing a sustainable fiscal policy.

Whose Stimulus: President Obama’s or the Democratic Congress’?

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many conservative commentators including, Michael Gerson, disdain President Obama’s stimulus bill and have trumpeted its alleged shortcomings. However, the accuracy of these criticisms is far from self-evident; it will be assessed by analysts in the months and years ahead as the bill’s funds are expended and evidence becomes available on their impact on the micro and macro-economy, writes Thomas Mann.

How Should the Obama Administration Handle Guantánamo Bay Detainees?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:24:05 GMT

The Obama administration is considering two different options for prosecuting Guantánamo Bay detainees in the United States. One option calls for trying detainees in several different federal courts in New York, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. The other idea is to try all such cases at a super-max prison in either Michigan or Kansas. Benjamin Wittes says resolving the many issues associated with Guantánamo Bay presents a challenge for the administration.

The Path to a New Immigration Reform

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With the new political landscape, the importance of immigration for the American economy and new policy ideas that address concerns regarding low-skill workers and border security, the ingredients are in place for comprehensive immigration reform. What are required are bold leadership, a new narrative and a commitment to overcome old stereotypes. History does not have to repeat itself on immigration policy, writes Darrell West.

United States Detention Policy: Will Obama Follow Bush or FDR?

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama seems poised to adopt the Bush administration's unilateral approach to detention. This approach has failed President Bush and it will not serve President Obama any better, write Benjamin Wittes and Jack Goldsmith. The president can still get what he needs on detention, they say, if he works from Congress's bipartisan center, releases more substantial information about the detainees he thinks cannot be set free, and speaks often about the need for stable rules to govern non-criminal detentions.

Designing Detention: A Model Law for Terrorist Incapacitation

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Closing the detention camp at Guantánamo Bay by President Obama's January deadline is pressuring the administration to craft a new system for incarcerating terrorist suspects, possibly through an executive order. Benjamin Wittes and Colleen Peppard suggest instead a model law for terrorist incapacitation.

Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor is Obama’s American Dream

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In nominating Sonia Sotomayor, the Obama administration must be more than satisfied with the early reaction from a political standpoint, writes William Galston. While Democrats are united and Hispanics are thrilled, those who oppose her must choose their words and tactics carefully so as not to antagonize further the nation’s fastest-growing demographic group.

The Supreme Court Confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Only a few years ago, a Supreme Court nominee like Judge Sonia Sotomayor could expect quick, nearly unanimous confirmation. Yet recent trends in Supreme Court nominations show Sotomayor can expect a highly contentious confirmation. Brookings expert Ben Wittes writes, our system has gone from one in which people like Sotomayor, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito are shoe-ins for confirmation to a system in which they are shoo-ins for confirmation confrontations.

Obama's Guantánamo Blueprint and America's Enemies

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, President Obama outlined his approach to closing the Guantánamo Bay detention center on the heels of Congress voting overwhelmingly to block the $80 million he requested to close the the prison. The speech was forward-looking, writes Brookings expert Ben Wittes, in that he maintained the need for a preventative detention system created by Congress and overseen by the courts.

Expanding Health Information Technology in the United States

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Armed with $19 billion dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Obama administration hopes to employ health information technology to improve medical treatment, cut costs by reducing errors and redundancies, and empower patients by giving them control over their own medical records. Not an easy task, warns Brookings expert Darrell West, since the federal government will need to address the financial, organization, and technological barriers limiting the utilization of health IT in the US.

Targeted Killing in U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy and Law

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

American domestic law has long accepted the use of targeted killings as self-defense toward ends of vital national security that do not necessarily fall within the strict terms of armed conflict. However, the legal space for it and the legal rationales on which it has been traditionally justified are in danger of shrinking, writes Kenneth Anderson.

Looking Forward, Not Backward: Refining American Interrogation Law

Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Benjamin Wittes and Stuart Taylor examine how to amend American interrogation laws to balance the need to avoid the past administration's excesses against the need to get intelligence from captured terrorists. They review the post-September 11 evolution of Bush administration policies on interrogation, the experiences of the CIA and the military and the lessons to be learned from those experiences.

Better Rules for Terrorism Trials

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

More than seven years after 9/11, the government’s legal, practical and moral authority to detain suspected terrorists without trial remains a subject of fierce debate. Robert Litt and Wells Bennett say Congress could significantly ameliorate the problem by authorizing the creation of a National Security Bar, a permanent corps of security-cleared lawyers who could represent defendants in terrorism-related cases.

Does the 100 Day Presidential Benchmark Matter?

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:18:51 GMT

Brookings presidential scholar Stephen Hess discusses the relevance of the 100-day benchmark moment to gauging a president's ability to fit the shoes and the office of his many notable predecessors. The comparisons, he notes, are not easy to make.

From Campaigning to Governing: Politics and Policymaking in the New Obama Administration

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Since taking the oath of office, President Barack Obama has faced a daunting set of immediate policy challenges and has had high expectations for significant changes in politics and policymaking. Nearing President Obama's first hundred days in office, Thomas Mann assesses his achievements and setbacks in a lecture given to the University of Melbourne Law School.

The Future of President Obama's Agenda

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Although many commentators believe that President Obama will be forced, or at least well advised, to focus his agenda on the economy, President Obama has wagered his presidency on the proposition that the U.S. budget and political system can simultaneously absorb an economic stimulus, bail-outs of financial institutions, the housing sector and the automobile industry, and a social-democratic programme not seen since the days of Lyndon B. Johnson writes William Galston.

The Healthy Americans Act is No Laughing Matter

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Of all the major items on President Obama's agenda, health reform has the best chance of passage during the current Congress, writes William Galston. Yet, the strategic question before Congress is whether health reform will proceed on a bipartisan or Democrats-only basis.

Will Obama’s Agenda Pass Congress’s Budget Resolution?

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Congressional Budget Office’s analysis of President Obama’s budget proposal projects a deficit of $9.3 trillion over the next decade, thereby forcing congressional leaders to look for changes to reduce it. Although the Senate Budget Committee has not yet finished marking up its version of the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution, Democrats are likely to diverge from the president’s desires. While Congress supports most of the president’s priorities, they are poised to sideline many of the programs President Obama proposed to implement, writes William Galston.

Restoring Obama's Promise

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many argue that President Obama is biting off way more than he can chew, "overloading" the system and dealing with all sorts of "side issues," when he should be focusing solely on the broken economy. E.J. Dionne writes that Obama's biggest task will be restoring faith that what he had in mind is still possible.

A Cap And Trade Calamity?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A strong cap-and-trade program seems unlikely to pass given the economic downturn, writes William Galston. Since a majority of Americans say economic growth should be given the priority and Midwestern states depend more heavily on coal-fired power plants, President Obama’s options for cap-and-trade legislation are limited.

The End of Bipartisanship for Obama's Big Initiatives?

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration is considering seeking passage of its health reform and climate change initiatives with a legislative strategy that would require only 51 senators to vote yes, rather than the usual 60 of 100. Sarah Binder joined a featured discussion in the Washington Post to discuss her views on amending the majority rule in the Senate.

Innovation in Education: Invest in What Works

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorized the Secretary of Education to establish a $650 million Innovation Fund to expand the work of schools that have made gains in closing achievement gaps. With growing discussion and considerable money heading in the direction of innovation, Russ Whitehurst provides recommendations on how the Department of Education should evaluate successful programs.

Obama's Education Policy

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama spoke about implementing the merit pay system for teachers as well as expanding charter schools in a effort to reform the education system in the United States. Brown Center Director Russ Whitehurst joined Politico's Jonathan Martin and CBS News’ Bob Schieffer on Washington Unplugged to talk about the politics behind Obama's education policy and how it would affect our education system.

The President’s Education Agenda

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Russ Whitehurst assesses President Obama's education speech and applauds his commitment to regaining our international lead in education by addressing the "crazy quilt of state standards and assessments." But, he argues, "the proposal to provide incentives to states that improve their standards is a far weaker prescription than is desirable or politically possible."

Barack's Too-Long Wish List: How the President Should Focus His Agenda

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Like Presidents Reagan and Carter, Obama has an ambitious agenda for the nation. But will President Obama be as successful in pushing his agenda as Reagan, or as unsuccessful as Carter? Surprisingly, a key indicator of success is not early economic performance. As Brookings expert William Galston writes, the core issue is clarity and self-discipline, to deal with only a relatively small number of issues at a time. Thus, President Obama needs to focus his considerable leadership and communication skills on the financial crisis.

Assurance to the Nation: Obama Delivers First Address to Congress

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With an unflinching speech, President Obama went before Congress Tuesday night with ambitious plans to rebuild the weakening economy and achieve goals ranging from energy diversification and emission reductions to health care and education reform. William Galston writes that public reaction is likely to be favorable in the short term. But his bolds words may end up producing more doubt than hope if the president’s reach exceeds his grasp.

Long-Term Terrorist Detention and Our National Security Court

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For years there has been a debate about whether to create a national security court to supervise the non-criminal military detention of dangerous terrorists. However, the hard question about a national security court is not whether it should exist but rather what its rules should be and, just as important, who should make these rules. As Jack Goldsmith writes, Congress and the President, rather than the courts, must play the predominant role in crafting these rules in order to have a well-designed national security court.

Why the Stimulus Package May Be Too Weak to Fix the Economy

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration seeks to promote three goals through the stimulus package: jump-start an immediate surge in consumer demand and job creation; make a down-payment on longer-term campaign promises; and initiate a new era of bipartisanship. However, writes William Galston, due to the bill's divided focus, its stimulative effects may prove too weak to halt or reverse more than a fraction of the job losses predicted for the next two years.

The Obama Orders: A Quick and Dirty Analysis

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In his second full day in office, President Obama issued three major executive orders concerning interrogation and detention in the war on terrorism. As expert Ben Wittes writes, the most eagerly anticipated order closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay is far less significant than the interrogation order, and falls short of answering the major detention-policy questions facing America today, including the fate of Guantanamo’s residents.

Maintaining Presidential Popularity During a Recession

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Barack Obama starts his term with the highest approval rating of any recent new president. Expert Darrell West writes that President Obama can maintain his popularity, amid dismal economic news, with his oratorical skills, ability to keep people hopeful about the future, and use of new technologies for public outreach.

President Obama's Plan to Close Guantánamo

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:40:53 GMT

Ben Wittes says that President Obama’s three executive orders on closing Guantanamo Bay and detainee treatment are more of a process than a solution for the problem. In reality, he says, it does less than many expected.

The 44th President of the United States

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. In his first speech as president, Obama called for a return to the values of “restraint and humility” in foreign policy, boldly declared an end to the debate over the proper role of government, and instead pledged pragmatism on domestic issues—government that works. Expert Bill Galston assesses the inaugural address.

The Challenges of Closing Guantánamo

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President-elect Barack Obama plans to fulfill his campaign promise and issue an executive order next Wednesday directing the closing of the Guantánamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. Benjamin Wittes joined experts in a New York Times running commentary to discuss the challenges the new administration will face in closing Guantánamo.

The Obama Era and the Digital White House

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Barack Obama’s presidential campaign used an array of online tools to organize supporters and raise money. Now, his administration will try applying the same tools to governing. Darrell West joined The Kojo Nnamdi Show to discuss the future of e-government.

Assessing the 110th Congress, Anticipating the 111th

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah Binder, Thomas Mann, Norman Ornstein and Molly Reynolds look ahead to the 111th Congress and what it will take to overcome the shortcomings of the 110th. Although the previous Congress was able to achieve some policy successes, increase oversight of the executive and strengthen ethics standards and procedures, it was limited in its ability to overcome fully the realities of divided government, the ideological polarization of the parties and the institutional dynamics that have shaped Congress in recent years.

Presidential Accountability for Wars of Choice

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this Issues in Governance Studies, Bruce Buchanan examines how Congress and the American people evaluate presidential wars of choice. When it comes to whether or not to use American military power, presidential discretion is virtually unchecked. Using the Korean War, Vietnam War and the current Iraqi operation as case models, Buchanan explores the presidential accountability for wars of choice and recommends the use of policy trials.

Wrenching Choices on Guantanamo

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Transition Memo to the President-Elect

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Where Obama Should Find Cabinet Members

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

A Primer For Obama's Transition Team

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In Defense of Caution: Why President Obama Shouldn't Push For Too Much Too Fast

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Policy Making in the Bush White House

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Sarah Palin's Acceptance Speech

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:11:42 GMT

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.

The Republican Platform

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:44:08 GMT

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.

Obama's Stadium Acceptance Speech

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:43:34 GMT

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.

Celebrities at the Conventions

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:39:53 GMT

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.

The 2008 Presidential Election Ad Wars

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:57:47 GMT

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.

A Convention Surprise?

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:45:04 GMT

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.

The Clintons at the Convention

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:19:03 GMT

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.

Vice Presidential Candidates

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:05:32 GMT

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.

Administrative Detention: The Integration of Strategy and Legal Process

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

The Decider Who Can't Make Up His Mind

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Daniel Benjamin examines George W. Bush's foreign policy decisionmaking over the course of his presidency. Benjamin argues that despite conventional wisdom which sees the president as decisive and unyielding, Bush has in numerous instances exhibited "a chronic failure to reach decisions or implement those that are made."

Congress's Guantanamo Burden

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A divided Supreme Court ruled that Guantanamo Bay detainees have a right to seek release. Benjamin Wittes writes that many fundamental questions remain unanswered and urges Congress to enact a comprehensive legislative solution to the problem of detentions in the war against terrorism.

High Time for a Helping Hand for Strapped American Families

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Americans are gloomy about the economy these days. Despite widespread economic malaise, writes Elisabeth Jacobs, little has been done to strengthen the safety net for American families in financial duress. And though some presidential candidates have begun to call for action, evidence suggests that the American people need action now.

John Yoo Interrogation Memo

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Justice Department recently released John Yoo's 2003 "torture" memo to Congress. Questions remain on what to do with the people the military and the CIA interrogated brutally in 2002 and 2003, writes Ben Wittes, and how the CIA should handle such people in the future.

How and When Experience in a President Counts

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Experience has become a dominant issue in the 2008 presidential campaign. Charles Jones examines the CVs of the three remaining contenders and explores whether prior White House experience is a guarantee for success and how the historical experience of experience might apply to 2008.

Creating a New Public Diplomacy Cabinet Post

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the 21st century, spreading global public understanding of America’s institutions, culture and political values is as important as the work of traditional diplomats, writes William Galston. Galston proposes creating a Cabinet-level agency with the mission to make the case for America as a force for peace, prosperity and political reform.

Prepare for the Iraqi Humanitarian Crisis: Open Letter to U.S. Presidential Candidates

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The next American president will face the challenge of a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq. Even in the best of cases there will be almost five million Iraqi refugees and IDPs who will need help to find solutions. Brookings expert Elizabeth Ferris reminds the candidates that if solutions are not found—if the displaced remain homeless, jobless, destitute and vulnerable to abuse and exploitation—the ramifications will be widespread for Iraq and the entire region.

Mukasey Has the Capacity to Be a Great Attorney General, But Not the Time

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Michael Mukasey has the capacity to be a great attorney general, writes Brookings Benjamin Wittes, but not the opportunity. Arriving a year too late, Mukasey will not achieve greatness himself, but might set the table for it in the next attorney general, who will have a momentous opportunity to institutionalize and shape the war on terrorism in law for the long term.

Lo Stato della Nazione: l'addio piatto di Bush

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Federiga Bindi assesses President George W. Bush's final State of the Union addres.

State of the Union 2008: President Bush's Final Year

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

January 29, 2008, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

With Americans rattled by a weakened economy, President George W. Bush delivered his last State of the Union address on January 28. On January 29, leading Brookings experts discussed the president’s domestic and foreign policy agenda and the outlook for action.

Il lungo addio di George W. Bush

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Federiga Bindi assesses President George W. Bush's final State of the Union addres.

Gun Shy: The Justice Department Weighs in on the Second Amendment

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Benjamin Wittes examines Solicitor General Paul Clement's legal brief in the Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban and argues that "Acknowledging the amendment as proclaiming a right, but candidly treating that right as more flexible and less absolute than its neighbors in the Bill of Rights" is an appropriate way to translate Second Amendments values from the founding era to our own.

Modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In December 2005, the New York Times reported, and President Bush confirmed, that the National Security Agency had been conducting electronic surveillance of international communications, to or from the U.S., without obeying the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The disclosure ignited a wildfire of political and legal controversy, which continues to generate heat today.

Waterboarding and Torture

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Controversial interrogation techniques such as waterboarding have become flash points in the debate over the limits of U.S. interrogation policy since the launch of the Iraq war. Fellow Benjamin Wittes discusses waterboarding and its political implications.

The Mukasey Ultimatum

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

On Tuesday, a divided Senate Judiciary Committee approved Michael Mukasey as U.S. attorney general despite concerns about his refusal to denounce simulated drowning as torture. Fellow Benjamin Wittes writes that there are several good reasons to let Mukasey dodge that question.

Gridlock on Capitol Hill

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

According to recent public opinion polls, approval rating for Congress remains particularly low. With ideologically divided parties sharing power and eyeing the upcoming presidential election, writes Sarah Binder, we should not be surprised to see stalemate on Capitol Hill.

Mukasey is the Right Attorney General - Seven Years Too Late

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Benjamin Wittes argues that while Federal District Judge Michael Mukasey's nomination to be the next attorney general is a home run, he faces a daunting challenge in turning around a demoralized department before the end of this administration's term.

Q&A on Alberto Gonzalez's Resignation

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Q&A with Stephen Hess, The Brookings Institution (8/27/07)

The Law On Wiretapping

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Benjamin Wittes; The New Republic (8/18/07)

Department of Defense Energy Strategy

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Gregory Lengyel (August 2007)

Shaping the 44th Presidency

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Kathryn Tenpas and Charles O. Jones examine what the 44th president will inherit, a diminished presidency, in a system that appears now to be pitted against itself.

Stability in Iraq: A War We Just Might Win

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Michael E. O'Hanlon and Kenneth M. Pollack (7/30/07)

New Security for New Threats: The Case for Reforming the Interagency Process

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Kenneth Dahl (July 2007)

Does NASA Still Have the Right Stuff?

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Gregg Easterbrook, NPR "Morning Edition" (5/30/07)

The Conservative Legal Establishment's Strange Youth Culture

Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Benjamin Wittes, The New Republic (5/28/07)

James Comey's Damning Testimony

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Benjamin Wittes, The New Republic (5/17/07)

Alberto Gonzales Digs Himself a Deeper Hole

Mon, 14 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Benjamin Wittes, The New Republic (5/14/07)

Reviving Faith in Democracy

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 30, 2007, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

In a new book, What Democracy is For: On Freedom and Moral Government (Princeton University Press, 2007), Stein Ringen points out the failure of the world's democracies, most specifically the United States and Britain, to live up to their own founding ideological values and expectations. Ringen, professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Oxford, argues that citizens are increasingly distrustful of their government and apathetic to participating in public affairs. On Monday, April 30, Stein Ringen joined Brookings Senior Fellows William Galston and Kent Weaver to discuss the policy solutions he proposes in his book that aim to restore faith in global democracy. Panelists also discussed Ringen's view that a global economy must be grounded in shared values of freedom and democracy.

A Conversation on Politics and Government with U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL)

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 25, 2007, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Politics and the Justice Department: Finding a Path to Accountability

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 20, 2007, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Brookings continued its Judicial Issues Forum series with a discussion on lessons learned from the attorney general firings and other legal controversies. Panelists discussed the trial and conviction of Scooter Libby, former White House chief of staff; the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act; prosecution of voter fraud; and the replacement of all U.S. attorneys by the Clinton Administration in 1993.

How to Judge Defense Secretary Robert Gates

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Michael E. O'Hanlon, The New Republic (4/3/07)

Who Should Replace Alberto Gonzales?

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Benjamin Wittes, The New Republic (4/2/07)

Evaluating the New Executive Order on Regulation

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Robert W. Hahn and Robert E. Litan (April 2007)

The President's New Executive Order on Regulation

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Robert W. Hahn and Robert E. Litan agree that the president’s executive order on regulation is a step in the right direction, but the order should take a more significant step by subjecting all federal regulatory agencies to the same kind of discipline that the executive order requires of executive agencies.

State of the Union 2007: President Bush Faces a New Congress

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

January 24, 2007, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

President Ford: Moral Leadership

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Ron Nessen, The Washington Post (12/28/06)

America Has Emerged as a Loser in the Middle East

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Philip H. Gordon and Jeremy Shapiro, Financial Times (8/21/06)

The Veto-Free Presidency: George W. Bush (2001-Present)

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In this Issues in Governance Studies paper, Kathryn Tenpas examines the veto record of President George W. Bush.

Global Attitudes Toward U.S. Foreign Policy

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 13, 2006, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Interagency Dialogue: The Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Carlos Pascual, Joint Force Quarterly (Summer 2006)

Partisan Politics at the Water's Edge: Lessons from the Dubai Seaports Imbroglio

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In this Issues in Governance Studies paper, Peter Beinart examines the shifting currents in American foreign policy.

More Change May be Coming at CIA

Sun, 07 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Michael E. O'Hanlon, NPR (5/7/06)

West Wing Shuffle

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Kathryn Dunn Tenpas; The Washington Post (4/2/06)

Rising Debt Is Very Scary

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Diane Lim Rogers and Andrew L. Yarrow, The Baltimore Sun (4/2/06)

Analyzing the State of the Union

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

February 01, 2006, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

After a very difficult year for him politically, President Bush used his 2006 State of the Union address to relaunch his presidency. With widespread concerns about the war in Iraq and the direction of the country more generally, the speech aimed to bolster the case for his approach to Iraq and the economy–and to outline an agenda to replace proposals like Social Security reform that have been set aside.

The Limits of Rice's Diplomacy

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Ivo H. Daalder, NRC Handelsblad (1/17/06)

9/11 Commission: A Review of the Second Act

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Yesterday the ten former members of the 9/11 Commission, working together as private group called the 9/11 Public Discourse Project (PDP), released a 5-page final report grading the enactment of the Commission's recommendations published in July 2004.

Terrorism Threat 'Will Never Go Away'

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Richard A. Falkenrath, CNN (12/5/05)

All Over but the Pullback from Iraq

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Jonathan Rauch; The Washington Post (12/4/05)