"(If Clinton is a top-notch wonk, where does George W. fit on the scale)"
I agree that was a cheap shot and Lord knows, the last thing we would want in the White House is a Policy Wonk (since it is an occupational title, it should be capitalized). There is no end of policy wonks (generically speaking, lower case) who would volunteer their services to the White House if called. They would trip over their feet to accept the call.
I was somewhat bothered last night to hear Mr. Bush, asked for comment about Tony Blair's magnificent speech to Labor Party convention, say, well, he "echoed my own remarks." Squint.
On the matter of academics in the White House, you can be sure that Lyndon Johnson, short on academic credentials, rued the day he kept aboard the team Kennedy had assembled, i. e. the Harvard Bundy brothers, McNamara et al. This may be a stretch but had he stuck with savvy politicians, Vietnam might never have occurred. |
