Emanuel accepts White House job

[onehandle]

Source: Politico

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), a wily, aggressive West Wing strategist under President Bill Clinton, has accepted the post of White House chief of staff for President-elect Barack Obama, Democratic officials tell Politico.

The selection is the first major public decision by Obama since he was elected in a landslide on Tuesday.

The announcement will send a signal that Obama is eager to work with Congress, and plans a swift launch of an aggressive agenda that will focus on the economy, taxes, energy, education and health care.

"The chief" is sometimes known as the second most powerful person in Washington. The job has vast authority, as the boss of the hundreds of aides who work directly for the president, a public face of the administration on television, and a negotiator and salesman on Capitol Hill.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15371.html

[...of J.Temperance]

1. Fantastic news

Rahm Emanuel is a brilliant man, he'll make a great WH CoS, President Obama has made a wise choice choosing his LONG-STANDING friend for the job.

[madaboutharry]

2. Well, we can put that simmering and manufactured

controversy of whether he is going to take it or not to rest.

This morning should serve as a big warning to the new Obama Administration: NO THINKING OUT LOUD!

[asthmaticeog]

3. Good!

Now Rod Blagojevich gets to appoint an new Senator AND a new Congressman. Seems likely that Emanuel's successor is likely to be less right wing, since MOST Dems are less right wing than he is. Win-win.

[bread_and_roses]

6. yeah - that's at least a bit of silver lining...

...at least it gets him out of the Congress.

[Demit]

9. Copy that. Maybe the move will lessen the DLC atmosphere in Congress.

[defendandprotect]

16. Hillary is DLC leadership ...!!

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. Governors cannot appoint to fill vacancies in the House

Only in the Senate. A special election will have to be held.

[asthmaticeog]

31. Really? My mistake. Thank you.

Still, whoever gets in is almost sure to be a Dem in deep blue Illinois, and has to be better than Rahm. I'm still sort of optimistic about this.

[Freddie Stubbs]

32. If the district is capable of elected Emanuel in the first place, what makes you think that

it isn't capable of electing another DLC Democrat?

[asthmaticeog]

35. Of course they are. But few are as totally far gone as Emanuel.

You want this to be a bad thing, go ahead and let it. Frankly, I find it comical and ALL TOO TYPICAL that even after a landslide triumph, DU needs an apocalypse to wring its hands over. Fine, I'll stay away and let you all have your fret-fest without interrupting. I'll say this though - I'm a lifelong progressive, and Obama ain't one of us. However, he never claimed to be, which is why I'm finding it hard to hold any of this against him. He was a centrist at the beginning of the primaries with hardly a bit of difference between him and Clinton except for having an appealing modicum of class and humility. What does anyone imagine happened since then? Did I miss a road-to-Damascus experience that everyone else here knows about? Why are so many of DU's dumbshits surprised that the centrist Dem candidate is acting like a centrist Dem?

Don't answer that question, I don't actually want to hear from you.

[mirrera]

53. LOL... I keep saying that to my friends. He is who he is.

[mdmc]

4. beat

[Democat]

5. Kick right wing ass, Emanuel!

Every day!

[yellowcanine]

11. He will kick any wing ass, right or left, if that is what is necessary to serve Obama.

Just sayin'. True it is more likely that RW ass will need kicking.

[BrightKnight]

24. An iron fist with a velvet glove - n/t

[Zhade]

36. How can the man kick his own ass?

NT!

[Kalifornia.Kid]

7. An enforcer who will KICK ASS when needed.

[CoopersMom]

8. I thought he might be holding out in hopes of being appointed to Obama's senate seat

That would have been a very logical reason to hesitate. I'm hearing that Blagojevich probably plans to appoint himself, but he has only 13% approval ratings and has a potential indictment hanging over his head. I had heard that Obama is favoring Jesse Jackson, Jr. to be appointed. I would guess that Obama has enough power to make this happen, but I would have assumed that Emanuel would have been viewed as a more powerful force and a natural for the senate as opposed to the younger, less experienced Jackson. Oh well.

[Buenaventura]

10. i suspected that wednesday morning's elation

would be short lived - seems i was right. emanuel's appointment crushes any hope for bipartisanship, cooperation and progress. fuck emanuel and the DLC.

[jgraz]

12. Welcome to Chicago on the Potomac

Rahm is a poltical hatchet man, which is exactly what you want in that job. He was DLC because Clinton was DLC. He will adopt and embrace whatever political direction Obama chooses.

I like him much better in this job than in Congress, voting on legislation and worrying about his own reelection.

[Buenaventura]

38. perhaps he's what you want - please don't try to speak for me

[jgraz]

55. Um... which part of that post constituted "speaking for you"?

:shrug:

[katty]

13. Obama is hands on-keep Rahm on tight leash, use as necessary

when hardball required.

[defendandprotect]

15. Disgusting news -- another DLC corporate traitor --

[brentspeak]

20. I can't disagree with that assessment.

Emanuel is representative of everything that has gone wrong within the Democratic party leadership of the past 30 years. He is the anti-Howard Dean (the man who should be the WH COS.)

[katty]

21. he is known as the pit bull, is he not? that is his rep?

if this is the pick Obama has to watch/control him.

[brentspeak]

22. It's not his temperment or hard-driving style that offend me

It's his pursuit and advocacy of both neoliberal corporate economic policies and neoconservative foreign policies, and his backdoor political assaults on Democrats who don't support those policies.

[katty]

25. got it-yes, i've read his bio/career ascendancy...this is disturbing

[NashVegas]

34. Which Begs The Question:

Will CoS keep Rahm too busy to recruit Republican businessmen to the Democratic party?

[defendandprotect]

48. ..and more "blue dogs" to knock out progressive Dems ...???

[Zhade]

37. Hear, hear.

NT!

[Pastiche423]

23. The anti-Howard Dean

Nothing more needs to be said.

My celebration glow lasted less than 12 hours. If this 1st decision is a portent of the future, Obama will be appointing republicons - from his own party!

[lovuian]

27. me neither this guy is definitely a POOR Choice

me wonder what Obama was thinking

[Democat]

26. Let's give Obama a little benefit of the doubt, at least for a few days!

The guy is a few hours into his presidency and already he's under attack from his own team?

Let's see what Obama has got planned! No pick for any post is going to make 100% of us happy, but remember that Obama is the one making the decisions. The guys he's hiring are for giving advice and for enforcing Obama's decisions. Let's see what happens!

[defendandprotect]

49. dupe

[defendandprotect]

50. The appt of Emmanuel is FACT -- !! The question is: Whose "team" is Obama on --???

DLC is enemy of ideals of DEM Party in every way -- wake up!!

Picking up fascists, criminals, liars like Gates, Powell --??

HOW does that possibly make sense to you??

We're not looking for "100%" happiness...

We're looking for a return to sanity ..

NOT to repeat the outrages, failures, criminal behavior of last 8 years ...

and more of which these people were a part---!!!

[LTR]

30. I see Obama's logic here

He's trying to avoid Clinton's mistakes.

In 1993, Clinton hired Mac McLarty as his COS. They were buddy-buddy. Too much so, in that Mac became too much of a yes man.

Obama likes to surround himself with people who can challenge him and not kiss his ass. We'll see that in his cabinet. Don't be surprised if you see a few Republicans there. That's the way he works.

For Obama, not a bad pick, though as a political mastermind, Emanuel does have his limitations.

[high density]

33. Well this is an effective way to get him out of the House...

[scratchy]

17. Israeli Rahm Emanuel, now that's a strange sounding name,

Rahm Emanuel`s father was a member of the Irgun, and Rahm worked on an IDF base as a civilian volunteer during the Gulf War. He holds Israeli Citizenship (I believe that this should disqualify him from being in the White House).

Now IMAGINE someone with a Muslim or Arab name working as a gardener at the white house :-)

[pjt7]

18. Would Emanuel encourage the prosecution

of guilty Wall Street crooks or protect them?

[scratchy]

19. He will do what is good for his administration.

And we know that what is good for an administration is not the same as what is good for the country.

[defendandprotect]

51. The administration is supposed to do what is "good" for the people ...

not capitalist crooks -- !!

Nor for itself ...

Wake up!!

[Behind the Aegis]

28. "He holds Israeli Citizenship "

Any proof? I have never found any, except on neo-Nazi and other hate sites. We may hold dual citizenship, but I haven't found a reliable source. Do feel all dual citizens should be barred from the White House?

"Now IMAGINE someone with a Muslim or Arab name working as a gardener at the white house :)"

No need to imagine, his name is Barack Hussein Obama II and he is not the gardner, but our next PRESIDENT!

[aldo]

29. Terrible news -- same old, same old

Rahm's a DLC snake. Pro-war also. Pro-corporate money. Look at his backstabbing of anti-war candidates in 2004. Off to a bad start already.

[brooklynite]

39. Emanuel Officially named Chief of Staff (with Statements)

Source: MSNBC

President-elect Obama has officially named Rep. Rahm Emanuel his chief of staff. Emanuel, who is the chairman of the Democratic Caucus, is the fourth-ranking member of the U.S. House. He previously worked in the White House under Bill Clinton and has served four terms in Congress.

Statement from President-elect Barack Obama:
“I am pleased to announce that my good friend, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, has agreed to serve as my White House chief of staff. I announce this appointment first because the Chief of Staff is central to the ability of a President and Administration to accomplish an agenda. And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel.

“During his seven years in the Clinton White House, Rahm was the point man on some of the most difficult issues, from the passage of landmark anti-crime legislation to the expansion of health care coverage for children. In just six years in Congress, he has risen to leadership, helping to craft myriad important pieces of legislation and guide them to passage. In between, Rahm spent several years in the private sector, where he worked on large and complicated financial transactions. That experience, combined with his service on the committees on Ways and Means and Banking, have given Rahm deep insights into the challenging economic issues that will be front and center for our Administration. Though Rahm understands how to get things done in Washington, he still looks at the world from the perspective of his neighbors and constituents on the Northwest Side of Chicago, who work long and hard, and ask only that their government stand on their side and honor their values. The son of an Israeli immigrant, Rahm shares a passionate love for this country, and has devoted much of his life to its cause.

“His decision to accept this position is a wonderful reflection of that commitment, for it is not easy to give up the significant position he holds today as chair of the House Democratic conference. The post he has accepted also will require more time away from Amy, and their children, Zach, Ilana and Leah, which I know is painful and difficult.

“I appreciate his friendship. And I, and all Americans, should be grateful that Rahm is once again answering his country’s call."

Statement from Congressman Rahm Emanuel:
“I know what a privilege it is to serve in the White House, and am humbled by the responsibility we owe the American people. I’m leaving a job I love to join your White House for one simple reason - like the record amount of voters who cast their ballot over the last month, I want to do everything I can to help deliver the change America needs. We have work to do, and Tuesday Americans sent Washington a clear message -- get the job done.

“I have loved the time I spent in the House, both the successes and the setbacks, and I am grateful to the people of the Fifth Congressional district who sent me to work on their behalf. I was proud to serve on a leadership team with Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn. They have taught me invaluable lessons -- even a few lessons in humility, believe it or not.

“I want to say a special word about my Republican colleagues, who serve with dignity, decency and a deep sense of patriotism. We often disagree, but I respect their motives. Now is a time for unity, and Mr. President-elect, I will do everything in my power to help you stitch together the frayed fabric of our politics, and help summon Americans of both parties to unite in common purpose.

“It has been almost 150 years since Americans turned to a proud son of Illinois as their President. Early in his first term, Abraham Lincoln said, “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.”

“Today, once again, our country is piled high with difficulty, and Americans have put their trust in President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden to think and act anew. And Mr. President-elect, I promise that your White House will do everything in our power to rise to the occasion."

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/06/1661343.aspx

[Deep13]

40. What this says to me.

Obama is fucking serious about getting things done. He will take help from anywhere he can get it. He also knows that while it is good to be the public face of hope and change, he needs a real enforcer to bring change about.

While I would not necessarily want Emanuel as the top official, he is an excellent choice as a manager.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

42. Emanuel will last one term.

But what a term that peomises to be. He is just the person to get things done and barriers moved.

No, I do not like some of the things he has done. In the past, his arrogance and pig-headed ways terribly affected a campaign I worked on, and it was for no clear reason, seemingly just because he could.

That said, in these times and in the days ahead, few could equal his abilities.

Mark my words: he will resign before Obama's second term. He has his own agenda as well.

[riverwalker]

41. Emmanuel, just remember

We elected Barack Obama as president.
One disloyal move and it will be your ASS. You are expendable, you are replaceable.
Barack is not.

[John Q. Citizen]

43. I like this choice for some reason

I'm not a big Ralm Emanuel fan, but I think it makes sense on a number of levels for President Elect (wow my first time to write that, brings a smile to me) Obama to have an asshole for Chief of Staff.

That way Obama can be wise and resolute, but have someone close at hand to enforce the party line when necessary.

Also, putting him in the White House takes him out of the house. Which may allow a progressive to take that seat. And Ralm is competent even if i disagree with his actions at times. He's proven extremely good at getting what he wants. And if he is now employed at getting what Obama wants that's probably a good thing.

[Gin]

44. I don't know much about him but this jumped off the page for me

and not in a good way..

In between, Rahm spent several years in the private sector, where he worked on large and complicated financial transactions. That experience, combined with his service on the committees on Ways and Means and Banking, have given Rahm deep insights into the challenging economic issues that will be front and center for our Administration.

[santamargarita]

45. Up yours right-wing assholes!

Good!

[eridani]

46. Fine by me. Now he won't be picking out pro-war candidates for DCCC n/t

[no limit]

47. More DLC in the white house, why am I not suprised?

[defendandprotect]

52. TWO years from now another opportunity ...

start thinking about it now--

And STOP turning your $$ and time over to DEMS without strings ---

[Zorra]

54. Corporations want to keep a close eye on the new Prez, and Rahmie is their guy. n/t