Rahe notes that there were many panels on George W. Bush and his policies at this point in his administration, at the 2006 APSA convention.

The contrast is stunning. His conclusion: “It was eerie. It was as if there had been no Obama presidency. If I am right in my analysis, the complete absence of panels assessing Obama’s record is an indication that the academy now regards Obama as an indefensible embarrassment.”

David Broder, the nation’s pre-eminent political reporter for 40 years, used to attend APSA conventions in search of information and insight. Broder is no longer with us, but if he were and had attended this year’s APSA convention, it seems even he would have left empty-handed.