Romney Ad

I ran into this Romney Ad released last week following the Democratic debate.

Romney attacks Clinton while emphasizing his own executive experience. I think the ad is effective. Romney is a strong public speaker with a better presidential image than Giuliani. It is also interesting to note that he has shifted his campaigning to Clinton attacks.

Just food for thought: Pomona held a discussion of the 2008 presidential election featuring a few of the Politics Faculty and the new Con-Law Professor, Justin Crowe, made an interesting argument that the real "winner" of the campaign is Bush's approach to presidential powers. In particular, he argued that while Democrats have attacked Bush's use of policy, They have not questioned his authority to implement those policies, especially with respect to national security. More specifically, Crowe mentioned the lack of transparency in the Bush administration and the unlikelihood that any of the candidates would operate differently.

I think the argument has some gaps (torture being the main one) but it is interesting to consider that the main Democratic candidates are not campaigning against presidential authority. In fact, I think it says a lot that the exception to this is Ron Paul as the loudest voice for less Presidential voice.

The West Wing

For more on the points that Matt raised (and for the writing assignment), see a story on a recent statement by Senator Clinton and an analysis of her comments.

Look here for a list of White House offices.

All presidents worry about staff leaks. LBJ did. Even the Bartlet White House did.