Pat Sobkowski
@patsobkowski.com
Political Science Professor at Marquette. APD, Constitutional Law + history & Administrative Law. Writing a book on the Steel Seizure case. Contributor, @liberalcurrents.com
https://patsobkowski.com/
https://patsobkowski.com/
Abe is ready for thanksgiving.
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Abe is ready for thanksgiving.
It was late
At night
I was feelin’ something wasn’t right
There was not another soul in sight
Only youuuuuuuuuuu
At night
I was feelin’ something wasn’t right
There was not another soul in sight
Only youuuuuuuuuuu
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
It was late
At night
I was feelin’ something wasn’t right
There was not another soul in sight
Only youuuuuuuuuuu
At night
I was feelin’ something wasn’t right
There was not another soul in sight
Only youuuuuuuuuuu
Jeremiyah Love is a multi-generational player. He’s the best college player I’ve seen since Reggie Bush, and the best player I’ve seen at Notre Dame. I will miss him so much next year.
Thanks, JLove, for the memories. ☘️
Thanks, JLove, for the memories. ☘️
November 23, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Jeremiyah Love is a multi-generational player. He’s the best college player I’ve seen since Reggie Bush, and the best player I’ve seen at Notre Dame. I will miss him so much next year.
Thanks, JLove, for the memories. ☘️
Thanks, JLove, for the memories. ☘️
@jamellebouie.net this is even more ridiculous with the entire quote. Donald Trump = FDR is insane brain rot stuff.
November 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
@jamellebouie.net this is even more ridiculous with the entire quote. Donald Trump = FDR is insane brain rot stuff.
New addition to my office. My aunt got this for me. She purchased it from Paul Natkin, the photographer who took this iconic photo.
November 17, 2025 at 12:18 AM
New addition to my office. My aunt got this for me. She purchased it from Paul Natkin, the photographer who took this iconic photo.
Absolutely filthy. Best football player I’ve seen at Notre Dame. ☘️
November 16, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Absolutely filthy. Best football player I’ve seen at Notre Dame. ☘️
Andrew Rudalevige, The New Imperial Presidency
Written during the Bush administration, this is a follow up to Schlesinger’s 1973 book. Rudalevige argues that the statutory frameworks enacted after Watergate eroded, enabling subsequent administrations to consolidate power. I think it’s right!
Written during the Bush administration, this is a follow up to Schlesinger’s 1973 book. Rudalevige argues that the statutory frameworks enacted after Watergate eroded, enabling subsequent administrations to consolidate power. I think it’s right!
November 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Andrew Rudalevige, The New Imperial Presidency
Written during the Bush administration, this is a follow up to Schlesinger’s 1973 book. Rudalevige argues that the statutory frameworks enacted after Watergate eroded, enabling subsequent administrations to consolidate power. I think it’s right!
Written during the Bush administration, this is a follow up to Schlesinger’s 1973 book. Rudalevige argues that the statutory frameworks enacted after Watergate eroded, enabling subsequent administrations to consolidate power. I think it’s right!
Alvis, et al., The Contested Removal Power
To my knowledge, the only book length treatment of the removal power. The book carries through the court’s Free Enterprise Fund decision, so it’s a bit dated by now. A must read, nonetheless.
To my knowledge, the only book length treatment of the removal power. The book carries through the court’s Free Enterprise Fund decision, so it’s a bit dated by now. A must read, nonetheless.
November 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Alvis, et al., The Contested Removal Power
To my knowledge, the only book length treatment of the removal power. The book carries through the court’s Free Enterprise Fund decision, so it’s a bit dated by now. A must read, nonetheless.
To my knowledge, the only book length treatment of the removal power. The book carries through the court’s Free Enterprise Fund decision, so it’s a bit dated by now. A must read, nonetheless.
Maeva Marcus, Truman and the Steel Seizure Case
One of the best works of legal history I’ve ever read. Again, a dissertation-turned-book. It’s an indispensable analysis of the most important executive power case ever.
One of the best works of legal history I’ve ever read. Again, a dissertation-turned-book. It’s an indispensable analysis of the most important executive power case ever.
November 15, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Maeva Marcus, Truman and the Steel Seizure Case
One of the best works of legal history I’ve ever read. Again, a dissertation-turned-book. It’s an indispensable analysis of the most important executive power case ever.
One of the best works of legal history I’ve ever read. Again, a dissertation-turned-book. It’s an indispensable analysis of the most important executive power case ever.
Forrest McDonald, The American Presidency
This book rules and so does McDonald.
This book rules and so does McDonald.
November 15, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Forrest McDonald, The American Presidency
This book rules and so does McDonald.
This book rules and so does McDonald.
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make
Classic APD work. Skowronek’s taxonomy of reconstructive, articulative, and disjunctive presidents still influences APD scholars to this day.
Classic APD work. Skowronek’s taxonomy of reconstructive, articulative, and disjunctive presidents still influences APD scholars to this day.
November 15, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make
Classic APD work. Skowronek’s taxonomy of reconstructive, articulative, and disjunctive presidents still influences APD scholars to this day.
Classic APD work. Skowronek’s taxonomy of reconstructive, articulative, and disjunctive presidents still influences APD scholars to this day.
Jeff Tulis, The Rhetorical Presidency
Classic account of the rise of presidential rhetoric and its influence on the growth of presidential power. Gateway drug for me.
Classic account of the rise of presidential rhetoric and its influence on the growth of presidential power. Gateway drug for me.
November 15, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Jeff Tulis, The Rhetorical Presidency
Classic account of the rise of presidential rhetoric and its influence on the growth of presidential power. Gateway drug for me.
Classic account of the rise of presidential rhetoric and its influence on the growth of presidential power. Gateway drug for me.
Charles Thach, The Creation of the Presidency
This was Thach’s doctoral dissertation, published in the early 1920s. It’s a great (short!) read. Thach didn’t have access to the Documentary History of Ratification, but you can’t blame him for that.
This was Thach’s doctoral dissertation, published in the early 1920s. It’s a great (short!) read. Thach didn’t have access to the Documentary History of Ratification, but you can’t blame him for that.
November 15, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Charles Thach, The Creation of the Presidency
This was Thach’s doctoral dissertation, published in the early 1920s. It’s a great (short!) read. Thach didn’t have access to the Documentary History of Ratification, but you can’t blame him for that.
This was Thach’s doctoral dissertation, published in the early 1920s. It’s a great (short!) read. Thach didn’t have access to the Documentary History of Ratification, but you can’t blame him for that.
Edward Corwin, The President: Office and Powers
For years, this was the standard book on the Presidency until Neustadt’s book came along. It’s aged well, in my opinion.
For years, this was the standard book on the Presidency until Neustadt’s book came along. It’s aged well, in my opinion.
November 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Edward Corwin, The President: Office and Powers
For years, this was the standard book on the Presidency until Neustadt’s book came along. It’s aged well, in my opinion.
For years, this was the standard book on the Presidency until Neustadt’s book came along. It’s aged well, in my opinion.
Dave Lewis, Presidents and the Politics of Agency Design
Another classic that discusses how, why, and when, Congress decides to create independent agencies, and its effects on the executive branch.
Another classic that discusses how, why, and when, Congress decides to create independent agencies, and its effects on the executive branch.
November 15, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Dave Lewis, Presidents and the Politics of Agency Design
Another classic that discusses how, why, and when, Congress decides to create independent agencies, and its effects on the executive branch.
Another classic that discusses how, why, and when, Congress decides to create independent agencies, and its effects on the executive branch.
Louis Fisher, Presidential War Power (3d Ed.)
Fisher’s encyclopedic account of legal and political disputes re: executive power over foreign affairs is indispensable. Well written and researched.
Fisher’s encyclopedic account of legal and political disputes re: executive power over foreign affairs is indispensable. Well written and researched.
November 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Louis Fisher, Presidential War Power (3d Ed.)
Fisher’s encyclopedic account of legal and political disputes re: executive power over foreign affairs is indispensable. Well written and researched.
Fisher’s encyclopedic account of legal and political disputes re: executive power over foreign affairs is indispensable. Well written and researched.
Michael McConnell, The President Who Would Not Be King
Despite my (strong) disagreements with parts, this book is a creative argument that the framers divvied up the prerogative powers into different clauses of the Constitution.
Despite my (strong) disagreements with parts, this book is a creative argument that the framers divvied up the prerogative powers into different clauses of the Constitution.
November 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Michael McConnell, The President Who Would Not Be King
Despite my (strong) disagreements with parts, this book is a creative argument that the framers divvied up the prerogative powers into different clauses of the Constitution.
Despite my (strong) disagreements with parts, this book is a creative argument that the framers divvied up the prerogative powers into different clauses of the Constitution.
William Howell, Power Without Persuasion
Another classic that serves as a foil to Neustadt. Howell argues that the president has mechanisms at his disposal to act unilaterally.
Another classic that serves as a foil to Neustadt. Howell argues that the president has mechanisms at his disposal to act unilaterally.
November 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM
William Howell, Power Without Persuasion
Another classic that serves as a foil to Neustadt. Howell argues that the president has mechanisms at his disposal to act unilaterally.
Another classic that serves as a foil to Neustadt. Howell argues that the president has mechanisms at his disposal to act unilaterally.
Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power
A classic that shows how limited the president’s formal powers are. Instead, RN argues, the president must rely on persuasion, prestige, and other forms of soft power.
A classic that shows how limited the president’s formal powers are. Instead, RN argues, the president must rely on persuasion, prestige, and other forms of soft power.
November 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power
A classic that shows how limited the president’s formal powers are. Instead, RN argues, the president must rely on persuasion, prestige, and other forms of soft power.
A classic that shows how limited the president’s formal powers are. Instead, RN argues, the president must rely on persuasion, prestige, and other forms of soft power.
Free books from colleagues. 😍
November 11, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Free books from colleagues. 😍
This is wrong. Basic conlaw I doctrine.
November 6, 2025 at 4:42 AM
This is wrong. Basic conlaw I doctrine.
I’ve been on quite a shopping spree. 2nd printing of Bailyn’s “Ideological Origins.”
November 5, 2025 at 3:41 AM
I’ve been on quite a shopping spree. 2nd printing of Bailyn’s “Ideological Origins.”
Fugitive slave rendition helped lead to what Nick Parrillo calls the “salary revolution.” Bounties undermine legitimacy in administration because they incentivize bad faith actors by offering them more money for doing their jobs poorly.
November 1, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Fugitive slave rendition helped lead to what Nick Parrillo calls the “salary revolution.” Bounties undermine legitimacy in administration because they incentivize bad faith actors by offering them more money for doing their jobs poorly.