RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove, December 19, 2008, Sydney Morning Herald
Michael Fullilove analyzes the age dilemma in Washington and notes the average age of a U.S. senator is 62—a full quarter of a century older than the average age of a U.S. citizen. However, there are growing signs—like the younger appointments to the Obama administration—that the American gerontocracy is crumbling at the edges. Read More
PAST EVENT
Friday, October 31, 2008
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
Senators McCain and Obama are making a final push to identify themselves with voters before November 4. In the campaign's final days, what tactics have proven to be the most successful? Will their efforts pay off? On October 31, Brookings's Opportunity 08 project and Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs examined key questions on the role of money, advertising and mobilization in the 2008 campaign. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Eli Y. Adashi and Darrell M. West, October 30, 2008, The New England Journal of Medicine
Prior presidential election campaigns once focused on abortion as the primary element of "reproductive freedom." However, during the 2008 presidential election, candidates now find themselves addressing a broader array of arguably related issues, including the use of human embryos for stem-cell research and whether such research should receive federal funding, writes Eli Y. Adashi and Darrell M. West. Judging by Senator Barack Obama's and John McCain's voting records and positions articulated on the Senate floor, the primaries trail, and their campaign Web sites, the 2008 presidential candidates differ substantially in their views on "reproductive freedom." Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove, October 24, 2008, The Brookings Institution
The contest between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama for the presidency of the United States is being followed intently around the world. Michael Fullilove examines the foreign policy differences between the two candidates and explores how international perceptions of the U.S. may shift following the election. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon and Ann Gildroy, October 22, 2008, USA Today
Michael O'Hanlon and Ann Gildroy believe an exit strategy from Iraq should incorporate the thinking of both presidential candidates. They argue the next president will need to keep pressure on the Iraqis to make compromises, but also that U.S. strategy requires patience and resolve as well as a stabilizing troop presence in the near term. Read More
VIDEO
Thomas E. Mann, October 20, 2008
Thomas Mann says that, with the presidential debates and months of campaigning behind us, the electorate has largely made their decision. In the waning days before the election, Mann suggests that the candidates should focus on mobilizing voters and underscoring the messages.
PAST EVENT
Friday, October 17, 2008
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
A troubled economy, an unpopular president and a costly war are among the issues shaping the presidential race—but what about other factors, such as race, gender and the ideological extremes of each party's base? Brookings expert Thomas Mann and Princeton University's Larry Bartels led an Opportunity 08 panel discussion on the fundamentals of the presidential contest. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC
Opportunity 08 hosted a discussion to examine some of the important policy concerns that the candidates and the debates have left unexamined. The discussion included such critical issues as education, immigration, North Korea’s nuclear program and U.S. relations with China. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William J. Antholis, October 14, 2008, Politico.com
For decades, energy has been an economic and national security flash point; and more recently scientists have warned of catastrophic climate change. Today, both presidential candidates list energy security and climate change as top priorities. In an interview with Politico’s David Mark, William Antholis described some energy security worse case scenarios, discussed where the candidates agree and disagree, and also where both are silent. Read More
PAST EVENT
Friday, October 10, 2008
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Washington, DC
A briefing on a new series of reports on the political demography of "purple" states in the 2008 election. Authors William Frey and Ruy Teixeira highlighted the political and demographic trends in the 10 battleground states: Virginia, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
October 10, 2008, The Brookings Institution
As President-Elect Obama prepares to lead the United States, what are the top global economic challenges facing the new president and his advisors and how should the new administration address them? A new report by Brookings global economic and development experts ranks the top 10 issues and details specific ideas for how to tackle the toughest challenges. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Jennifer Bradley and Bruce Katz, October 08, 2008, The New Republic
Jennifer Bradley and Bruce Katz examine the notion that America is still nation of small towns. Taking cues from Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin about her hometown of Wasilla, Bradley and Katz's metro area analysis shows that even so-called “small towns” like Wasilla are in fact part of larger metro areas, like Anchorage that contribute greatly to their state’s economy. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William A. Galston, October 07, 2008, The Brookings Institution
In the past week, Barack Obama made substantial gains in both national surveys and the key battleground states. Surveys indicated that Obama had bested McCain in the first presidential debate. Rather than reversing the impression Obama made in the first debate, he reinforced it, writes William Galston. McCain talked extensively about his own experience but did not make a strong case that Obama lacked the experience to be president. The town hall format made it more difficult for McCain to mount a sustained attack against Obama. As a result, Obama is one step closer to the presidency. Read More
VIDEO
Stephen Hess, October 03, 2008
The vice presidential face-off is behind us, but two more presidential debates lie ahead. Brookings presidential expert Stephen Hess says that televised debates are entertainment, providing voters a glimpse into the candidates’ demeanor, but little of their substance. Governor Sarah Palin showed viewers that she could stay in the ring with Senator Joe Biden, but it wasn't a changer in the race.
PAST EVENT
Friday, September 26, 2008
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
The Opportunity 08 project at Brookings, in partnership with the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, examined key questions about American electoral politics in the 2008 campaign. Read More