Having survived administrations filled with transplants from Little Rock and Austin, the White House probably can adjust to the Chicago way. Still, it’s a concern that “No-Drama Obama” has picked “Rahm-bo” – Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill. – to be his White House chief of staff. As the Associated Press said about the former Bill Clinton adviser: “In contrast to Obama’s collegial style and that of his top campaign advisers, Emanuel is known as a foul-mouthed practitioner of brass-knuckled politics who relishes both conflict and publicity. He once mailed a dead fish to a political foe.”
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78 Comments
Simple answer, no. Republicans will be upset will practically all his picks because Obama isn’t putting Republicans or DINOS in his staff (the exception being Gates).
After Rove, are you serious? You’re going to complain about this?
We need a hard-liner in there.
This isn’t a job for weenies. I wish he would pick Hillary for something similar.
While some have argued against it, I lean toward the opinion Barack wanted a “bad cop” to run traffic against the competing egos and agendas of those who would try to distract the President away from the big picture.
That leaves Obama focused on priorities and the real crises du jour.
The reran a documentary on the show “The West Wing” with former presidents, press secretaries, Chiefs of Staff and clips from the show.
That last season, btw, was absolutely prescient. A skinny young minority (Jimmy Smits) vs. a respected older Republican maverick (Alan Alda).
Oh yeah…big “change”…surround himself with Washington insiders from the good ole boy network.
I have doubted Obama and have been concerned he would pander too much to the right.
I find this first pick on his part reassuring.
“Simple answer, no. Republicans will be upset will practically all his picks because Obama isn’t putting Republicans or DINOS in his staff (the exception being Gates).”
How do you know that? I myself would be very surprised NOT to see some moderate Republicans and Democrats on his staff.
As long as Emanuel doesn’t make the sort of mistake Rove made (looking at the Chief of Staff position as an extension of his campaign coordination duties and as an opportunity to torment the opposition), he’s probably a good pick. Good cabinets tend to be stocked with accomplished people with accomanying big egos who should feel comfortable giving their president their best advice, but who need to remember who is in charge.
The campaign for 2012 begins and O fires the first shot! Really, should anyone be surprised? Game on.
It isn’t that Obama went outside the Little Rock, Austin box to pick his Chief of Staff it is that his pick came from the Chicago Daley machine. Corruption, intimidation etc. is what comes to mind with Chicago style politics. Shame on the Eagle for trying to silver coat Obama’s first major decision.
It is politics as usual! I am willing to give Obama time to savor his victory. However, is this decision an indication of whats to come? If so,then the honeymoon should end with the media and the public sooner rather than later.
Typical Eagle to let Hussein Obama get a free pass with his first pick, the same man who once said “F***” the Republican Party. And you Commie Libs on this site like Monkeyhawk need to quit peeing in your pants. This guy is not Jesus Christ, he’s only President-Elect of the United States. I’m sick of people comparing this guy to Apollo, which Hussein Obama seems to think he is.
Maggotpunk and Monkeyhawk, people like you make me puke. I need barf bags when I read your anti-American hate. Hate. It doesn’t work.
Did anyone expect him to keep his campaign promises?
No, he did not contradict himself. The fact that he is building upon his base does not in any way preclude his reaching out as well. His base must be his foundation.
As for Mr. Inferior above – you are one of those who would only accept him if he totally capitulated to your inferiority – IF THEN. Stick your head a bit deeper in your barf-bag and don’t pull it out. You will feel right at home with yourself.
Ah, but your expressions of christian love and forgiveness, “ICTisInferior,” are rainbows in my life.
Joe the Williams returns!
Or escapes.
“I need barf bags…”
I suggest instead, Thorzine. It can only improve your mood and posts.
” I myself would be very surprised NOT to see some moderate Republicans and Democrats on his staff.”
I agree. I especially find the idea of Powell for Education to be intriguing.
Problem is, INFERIOR Republicans will then call any moderate Republican who joins the administration sell-outs.
loner34 – you are right on with your question.
He picks a guy that has such a foul mouth that even the current vp would blush. He handles his foes like the reputation of gansters from Chicago.
What else could you expect?
BlueJay – I don’t think Mr. INFERIOR is Joe!
sunflower – actually, Mr. Emanuel does have some experience dealing with “gansters from Chicago”. That will serve him well in dealing with the even worse gansters fom the GOP.
Bitter are we?
beber – yes they are. Funny thing with the Chicago reference: there has long been a working relationship between Democrats in the city and Republicans in the suburbs and collar counties. Emanuel has been a part of that.
As with any President the One will not be able to please everyone, as for me I can only hope he will at least walk the middle of the line.
sunflower5
Posted November 7, 2008 at 8:26 am | Permalink
loner34 – you are right on with your question.
He picks a guy that has such a foul mouth that even the current vp would blush. He handles his foes like the reputation of gansters from Chicago.
What else could you expect?
–
there you go again being all negative – don’t you ever have anything positive to say?
How ironic you mention the current VP, because he is well known for his foul mouth also – isn’t he? BTW, isn’t McCain known for his foul mouth?
Now that Obama picked someone that is known to be someone that gets things done and you don’t like it because he comes from Chicago and has a foul mouth?
Your hypocrisy is showing – again.
To be fair, there are some Republicans who are not ‘outraged’ about this pick of Chief of Staff; so maybe there is hope after all of some actual governing being done this Congressional session.
The more a Republican rants and raves about Emmanuel being picked, shows just how insecure he/she is – or maybe they know the Democrats have more than a simple majority and are no longer tied to giving into Republicans getting their panties in bunch and throwing those hissy fits.
It might turn out to be a good pick…Emmanuel is definitely a street fighter,and that may come in handy when having to deal with the overbearing egos and nut cases in both parties of the Congress. I just hope Obama is strong on the foreign and security side, because there are some very dangerous people around the world who are out to take us down, and he’s going to have to have some brass cajones to deal with it.
I am not outraged. I am not even surprised. He did what all politicians do, picked who he wanted. The fact that the pick does not seem to agree with his style or what he has said about his way of governing doesn’t surprise me either. Politicians always seem to be that way. The fact that many of this board love it, even if it does SEEM to violate the way Obama has indicated he will lead, doesn;t surprise me either.
THt’s okay. He’s just another politician, and to the victor belongs the spoils.
Oh, yes. This is only the beginning. I’ve been a democrat my entire life and could not vote for Obama. And here is why: I said from the beginning, that to promote a junior Senator to the highest office is asinine. All Obama had to do to get my vote was to author one bill that became law. He did not do that. He had not proved that he could do anything but speak well. Big deal.
I said from the beginning that Obama is so inexperienced, so unaccomplished by DC standards, that he would have to rely on career politicians and Washington DC insiders, and we’d have George W Bush all over again. Well, guess what? His choice of VP in Joe Biden is not change. His first choice is Emmanuel is not change. It will be politics as usual. Wait and see.
It’s a huge disappointment, but I told you so. We’ll see what else Mr. Obama does. Don’t keep your fingers crossed that he will do the right thing; he always does what is best for him, his ego and his ambition. He will not lead in the middle. How ironic that Pelosi comes out the very next day after the election and rants to everyone not to expect change soon, that Obama needs to lead in the middle. What the hell is that? After promoting Obama and slamming him down our throats for the past year? The Obama fan club get what they deserve. Unfortunately, so will the rest of us.
So much for moving forward…I see by some of these posts there will not be much attempt at unity in regards to progress. We should call this the 2012 campaign thread.
I will be interested in seeing who gets chosen for leadership positions in Congress – especially the ‘whips’. People who want to work across the aisle of those who want confrontation. Boehner, for one, is one who has shown little willingness to compromise.
It might seem to be contradictory, but it’s as much strategic. Obama will surround himself with staff who compensate for areas in which his knees are weak. If he continues to follow suit, when he has his staff and cabinet in place, he can hit the auto-pilot switch and forget he’s the president.
Meanwhile, in the losers camp:
“WASHINGTON — Rep. Roy Blunt, the House of Representatives’ second-ranking Republican, stepped down from his leadership post Thursday as the House GOP moved quickly to reposition itself as more conservative, unified and eager to fight Democrats in the Obama era.
The Missouri congressman’s resignation came a day after Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., the House’s third-ranking Republican, quit his leadership job. Likely to replace them are two combative favorites of die-hard conservatives: Virginia’s Rep. Eric Cantor, expected to replace Blunt, and Indiana’s Rep. Mike Pence, who’d take Putnam’s place.
Ohio Rep. John Boehner is expected to remain as the House minority leader, in charge of a Republican caucus that could lose as many as 26 seats — eight races remain undecided — in the 111th Congress.”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/55437.html
Sounds to me like the losers are not interested in bipartisanship and Obama is smart to choose someone who can deal with them.
BHO is not going to have ANY Republicans anywhere near the oval office. Get ready for moveon.org to get their payback for the $88M they donated to his campaign.
Would you car for some cheese ctulrey? :)
erika01 – if you’re the same person from the Opinion Line, I seriously doubt you have been a democrat all your life – not from some of the postings I’ve read over there.
You keep saying Obama has done nothing but yet if you would do some research, he has done quite alot. The fact that you cannot seem to grasp that fact, says alot about whether you really are a lifelong Democrat.
Besides, are we to believe you about Obama or the several prominent Republicans that endorsed Obama and has come out publicly in support of Obama?
would the voters rather have moveon.org or the Radical Righties??? I think the voters have spoken quite loudly and clearly.
Let’s fact it, the Radical Right wing of the Party was a major fact in this election and their Karl Rove tactics of fear and smear attacks backfired this time.
The guy picked a tough guy who had worked in the White House the last time a Democratic took the White House and the Congress. And also happens to be a friend from Chicago.
Why is this a surprise? Can you imagine a clear signal that the new guy ain’t gonna get rolled by Republican hate machine that went after Clinton in 1993? Or that Congressional Democrats will be dealing with someone who knows the game, and picked someone they know very well for the job?
My sense is Obama will do what he can to reach out to the “other side”–to the extent they have any interest in reaching back. But, honestly, it was never about “rainbow-farting unicorns.”
ctulrey – we shall see. I suspect we might see Gates stay and possibly Powell in there. Of course, you will simply deny that they are Republicans unless they are approved by Karl Rove.
“Rage” –
Of of the keys to Jimmy Carter’s failed presidency is he overplayed the Outsider card, building a staff top-heavy with campaign loyalists and Washington neophytes.
Rahm Emanuel knows how the White House works, knows how Capital Hill works, how the media works and, most important, how Obama works.
As we’re seeing with Joe Lieberman (and as promised by McCain in his concession speech) the key to bipartisanship isn’t so much the party in power reaching across the aisle but the minority realizing it must get along to go along or risk political relevance.
If congressional Republic Party ideologues continue with their obstructionist ways, they’ll continue to fail. If their participation in government is guided by some of their stated “principles,” a President of Obama’s temperment will likely change the tone of Washington that began with Newtie Gingrinch in 1994.
“We must never negotiate out of fear,
but we must never fear to negotiate.”
– JFK
“the key to bipartisanship isn’t so much the party in power reaching across the aisle but the minority realizing it must get along to go along or risk political relevance.”
“can you honestly say that the Democrats folowed this principle while in the minority?
We must never negotiate out of fear,
but we must never fear to negotiate.”
– JFK
I agree
“can you honestly say that the Democrats folowed this principle while in the minority?”
I don’t recall extensive use of the Filibuster. Democrats actually cooperated with the passage of the Bush tax cuts and also with the funding of his wars.
Rahm Emanuel knows how the White House works, knows how Capital Hill works, how the media works and, most important, how Obama works.
Nailed it, Monkeyhawk.
“can you honestly say that the Democrats folowed this principle while in the minority?
Yes, in both the good and bad scenarios of it.
Ever heard of No Child Left Behind?
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/07/04/us/05allies.600.jpg
Of of the keys to Jimmy Carter’s failed presidency is he overplayed the Outsider card, building a staff top-heavy with campaign loyalists and Washington neophytes.
Heh, I was a teenager at the time, but I well remember the “Georgia Mafia”. :)
You know what? He picks who he picks. As long as they are well versed in the field they are selected for, bully. As long as he makes good decisions for America as a whole, and not just select groups, bully. Let the man settle into his office. He may not even keep the people he is selecting now.
For those who voted for the empty suit, it’s a bit late to be worrying about his picks now! His inspirations are Farrakhan, Wright, Ayers, Rezko, Marx, nothing will suprise me now.
GGN – when the empty suit picked Palin it sealed his fate.
There are alot of positions to yet appoint.
We shall see what Change really means.
I don’t necessarily think the guy is a bad choice. Our country is in one of the worst trainwrecks in its history, and quite frankly now is NOT the time for a butt-kissing yes man to be a chief of staff.
I think a lot of McCain-Palin sore loser nay-sayers are hoping Obama will drop the ball and deep-six America. If that’s not the very definition of being a traitor, I don’t know what is.
Suck it up and deal with it. Get over being butthurt and do your part to HELP instead of being part of the ongoing problem.
Since Republicans tried to portray Obama as some kind of sissy during the campaign, I can understand their shock and surprise when he chooses a streetfighter to be his White House chief of staff.
We need only to look at the campaign machine Obama built to get a preview of how his administration will run. Smooth, efficient, and relentless.
Rhonda complains that Emmanuel sent somebody a dead fish.
Hey, Rhonda, have you ever tried to mail a live one?
*****
That’s the difference between Obama and Bush (the Worst. Possible. President.):
Obama surrounds himself with experienced and intelligent people. WPE surrounds himself with ideological hacks.
Wow Gunnut- you know Marx is dead right? LOL. I am not worried BTW.
One thing that does concern me: rumors that he might pick Larry Summers as Treasury Secretary.
There are already petitions against it being sent to the transition team.
It looks like Rahm Emanuel is an excellent choice.
‘Lindsey Graham Praises Emanuel Selection ‘
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/11/lindsey_graham_praises_emanuel.php
In a statement:
“This is a wise choice by President-elect Obama.
“Rahm knows Capitol Hill and has great political skills. He can be a tough partisan but also understands the need to work together. He is well-suited for the position of White House Chief of Staff.
“I worked closely with him during the presidential debate negotiations which were completed in record time. When we hit a rough spot, he always looked for a path forward. I consider Rahm to be a friend and colleague. He’s tough but fair. Honest, direct, and candid. These qualities will serve President-elect Obama well.
“Rahm understands the challenges facing our nation and will, consistent with the agenda set by President-elect Obama, work to find common ground where it exists. I look forward to working with him in his new position and will continue to do everything I can to help find a pathway forward on the difficult problems facing our nation.”
Obama will reach out to the moderates (who will be alienated by the retrenching RW), the ultra conservatives will not be able to present any significant obstacle to getting legislation passed. And, if the do, there’s always the ‘nuclear option’ for silencing the obstructionist.
I thought the RR would be thrilled with the appointment of an ‘Emanuel’!
Repubs hate Emanuel for his tactic of getting conservative dems to push out hard core RR types.
Wow, Brenda . . . I mean . . . Sunflower is so concerned about profane language.
That’s why she called on Cheney to publicly apologize after he told Sen. Leahy to “go f*** himself” on the floor of Congress right?
Uh, no.
She didn’t do anything of the kind . . .
IOKIYAR.
Meanwhile, James Dobson manages to break both God’s Law and Godwin’s Law in fund-raising letter!
http://www.unbossed.net/index.php?itemid=2395
‘Ten Facts You Need To Know About Rahm Emanuel’
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/top_10_facts_you_need_to_know.html?nav=rss_blog
I wouldn’t take anything Lindsey Graham says too seriously.
Here’s some memories, wow how time flies.
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2007/11/jesus-rode-a-do/
Austrian_Economist posted November 7, 2008 at 11:51 am
I wouldn’t take anything Lindsey Graham says too seriously.
————————
Well, Graham and McCain are close friends. . .
cosmos,
Thanks for posting the link to the information on Rahm Emanuel. I’ve seen him several times on Bill Maher and found him to be intelligent and willing and able to speak his mind. I don’t think intelligence or lack of it is something we need to worry about when it involves the current President Elect or those he chooses for his staff.
And you Commie Libs on this site
Commie
Marxist
Socialist
I wish you all would make up your mind so I can go study up on what I am, because I always thought I was an American.
P-Mom,
” I wish he would pick Hillary for something similar.”
That would be unlikely; he needs Hillary right where she is in the Senate.
Did anyone expect him to keep his campaign promises?
President Elect Obama makes one choice, and suddenly he’s broken his promise? Gee, I guess if he would keep the current staff and admin, everything would be fine with the right, right?
Dream on.
PreD – you have to expect such an outburst from Mr. INFERIOR – he is a real sore loser. WAH!
Have you seen this in the mainstream media here in the States?
What do you make of paragraph 5?
Yes! Change indeed!
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910047157&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
The dude stabbed a table while yelling, “die die die!”.
Sounds like a Misfits fan.
Sweet.
Every commander needs an executive officer to do the dirty work so the commander can remain pristine and above the fray.
Somebody’s gotta be the SOB.
Dennis
Monkeyhawk
Posted November 7, 2008 at 11:42 am | Permalink
Meanwhile, James Dobson manages to break both God’s Law and Godwin’s Law in fund-raising letter!
http://www.unbossed.net/index.php?itemid=2395
—————-
I always like to stay current and after reading the letter I’m not sure what laws he broke. Help me out.
Those whining about Rohm are the same ones who cheered for Rove and Limbaugh. So WTFE.
Obama knows he is up against the likes of Rove, Limbaugh, Spirit One, etc. He SHOULD have a chief of staff who can go toe to toe with those kind.
I friggin fuggin come from Chicago: I lived 16 years in that fine city. Bite me. So the man has a rich vocabulary? Good!
I bet he won’t look into Putin’s soul!!!!
They are lost.. the talking heads have not given them their thoughts on this yet…
Any President who doesn’t have a vicious pit bull as his chief of staff would be so far up to his chin in beltway bs, he wouldn’t have time for anything else but digging. Obama knows this and knows what he needs. No problem there.
http://www.236.com/video/2008/get_your_war_on_new_world_orde_10121.php
Paragraph 5 from Pleefer’s link:
In an interview with Ma’ariv, Emanuel’s father, Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, said he was convinced that his son’s appointment would be good for Israel. “Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel,” he was quoted as saying. “Why wouldn’t he be? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to clean the floors of the White House.”
So his father is a racist idiot. The real question is whether Emmanuel will convince Obama to pursue the same disastrous policies in Israel that we’ve seen.
He can try, and, in truth, I’m not too optimistic about any Washington politician in that regard. But Emmanuel will work for Obama. In current (powerful) role in the Congress, he had no such obligation.
That’s something to consider too.
P.S. Junior is not dad, either. Anyone know, offhand, Junior’s own positions on that mess?
Rage, thanks for chiming in on it…
Well folks gave Mel Gibson a hard time over his father. But then he was popped for the dui and repeated his father, “proving” his own thoughts.
We’ve entered the surreal.