NOW WHAT?: Can the new president rise above partisan polarization to govern effectively?

Event Details

By their words and actions, Obama and McCain have, in effect, promised to be "post-partisan" presidents. But, given the important differences between the parties on issues such as health care , the economy and foreign policy, can they deliver on this promise? This panel of distinguished practitioners and scholars will examine the campaigns of both candidates to determine whether they have successfully laid the groundwork for true bipartisan cooperation in the next administration.

Now What? was moderated by Sid Milkis, Assistant Director for Academic Programs at the Miller Center and White Burkett Miller Professor of Politics at U.Va. This panel will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 24 and features:

Juliet Eilperin, National reporter, Washington Post

In 2005, Eilperin published her first book, Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning the House of Representatives, which has been featured on several radio and television shows, including Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and NPR's "Fresh Air with Terry Gross."

William Galston, Senior Fellow of Governance Studies, Brookings Institution

Galston is a former policy advisor to President Clinton as well as the Saul I. Stern Professor of Civic Engagement and Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy. His current research focuses on designing a new social contract and the implications of political polarization.

Barbara Sinclair, Professor Emeritus of American Politics, UCLA

Sinclair is the author of Unorthodox Lawmaking: New Legislative Processes in the U.S. Congress. Her most recent publication is Party Wars: Polarization and the Politics and National Policy Making.

Edward Wasserman, Knight Professor of Journalism Ethics, Washington & Lee

Wasserman has served as a columnist for The Miami Herald. His work had also appeared in the American Journalism Review, Legal Times (Washington, D.C.), The Recorder (San Francisco), Texas Lawyer (Dallas) and The Fulton County Daily Report (Atlanta.)