Release date: Jan. 22, 2007

Emory Experts Comment on President Bush's State of the Union Address

Jan. 22, 2007

Contact: Beverly Clark, 404-712-8780, beverly.clark@emory.edu
Contact: Elaine Justice, 404-727-0643, elaine.justice@emory.edu

Emory University political scientist and congressional expert Randall Strahan is available to comment on how the new Democrat-led Congress may respond to President Bush's proposals in his State of the Union speech. Strahan says the speech will set the tone for how the President hopes to work with the Democrat-controlled Congress the next two years. The President will defend his policy in Iraq, but also identify issues on which the White House and Congress might work cooperatively," he says. Strahan is the author of the forthcoming "Leading Representatives: The Agency of Leaders in the Politics and Development of the U.S. House." 404-727-7913 or polsrs@emory.edu

Drew Westen, professor of psychology and psychiatry and director of clinical psychology at Emory, can provide a psychological analysis of political issues, including the influence of emotions and non-verbal communication on voters' decision-making. Westen says the public has largely tuned out the President's message about Iraq and terror since Bush has effectively ignored their mandate from the November election. "The President will likely shift back to a moderate, compassionate conservative approach and away from the strategy of playing to the base." Westen is the author of the forthcoming "The Political Brain: The Art and Science of Getting Elected." 404-727-7407 (w), 404-375-6639 (cell) or dwesten@emory.edu

William Buzbee has been following the administration's recent shifts on the environment and can comment on President Bush's latest proposals. Buzbee, director of the Emory Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program, is co-author of an amicus brief submitted in last year's Carabell and Rapanos environmental cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. The brief was an unprecedented bipartisan joint submission by four former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrators, and Buzbee was called to assist due to his research analyzing federal power to protect the environment. 404-727-6507 (w), 404 788 2531(c) or wbuzbee@law.emory.edu

Charles Shanor, professor of constitutional law, is available to discuss the legal issues surrounding homeland security, and proposals on the minimum wage. Shanor teaches a seminar on law and terrorism that includes topics such national security surveillance of terror suspects versus criminal investigations, trials in federal court vs. military tribunals, changes in immigration law and use of profiling. Shanor is the author of "National Security and Military Law." 404-727-6811 (w), 404-275-8430 (c), or cshanor@law.emory.edu

Emory University is one of the nation's leading private research universities and a member of the Association of American Universities. Known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities, Emory is ranked as one of the country's top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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