Leave it to the professionals

Samantha Power has just resigned from Obama's campaign after calling Hillary a "monster" during what she thought was an off-the-record conversation. I don't have the credentials to evaluate Powers as an analyst, so I'll refrain from opining as to whether this is a blessing or a tragedy for the nation. I do think, though, that Obama's campaign is suffering for something that it should be more celebrated for: getting academics for advisors instead of professional government appointees. Academics are used to speaking their minds; people like Gene Sperling know when to shut up. Clinton's team are better at dealing with the political side of policy, and at some level that matters. But it seems more important to have good policies.