Emanuel as Chief of Staff?

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 07:52:19 PM EST
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Is it true that Barack Obama might want Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff? "[O]fficials" told reporters today that Obama's campaign approached Emanuel. Who are these officials? They are "Democrats who ... spoke on condition of anonymity" because "they were not authorized to be quoted by name."

An aide to the congressman, Sarah Feinberg, said in an e-mail that he "has not been contacted to take a job in an administration that does not yet exist. Everyone is focused on Election Day, as they should be."

On the other hand: [more ...]

Both Obama and McCain have authorized their staffs to begin transition operations in recent weeks — although only one of them will be in a position to make use of the results. As far as is known, no job offers have been made by either man.

Obama's transition team should be working more diligently (and getting more calls returned) than McCain's this week.

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Emanuel as Chief of Staff? | 86 comments (86 topical)

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He's a violent (5.00 / 2) (#7)
by NYShooter on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:23:59 PM EST

partisan AND an accomplished ballet dancer.....Poifect!

: he can kick Rove in the butt (none / 0) (#62)
by coigue on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:20:19 PM EST

and piruette out of the room.

Parent

Given that the two names most often (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by tigercourse on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:33:45 PM EST

mentioned for Chief are Rahm and Daschle, I have to believe the left blogs must be a little miffed. They hate both of these guys.

But I doubt Rahm wants Chief of Staff. I think he wants to be the next Speaker.

I think they like Daschle. . (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:53:00 PM EST

'cause he came out early for Obama against Clinton.

But he presents a real problem -- the Obama Administration would really be in bed with the lobbyists then. Does anyone know -- does Obama's "no lobbyist" pledge extend into his Administration, or does it cover the campaign only?

Parent

I don't think that's a real problem. No one is (5.00 / 2) (#22)
by tigercourse on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:55:28 PM EST

going to hold him accountable for going back on his anti lobbyist schtick. I doubt many people believed it.

Parent

Whatever happened to (none / 0) (#77)
by Pepe on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 10:01:41 AM EST

'feet th the fire' and not like being lied too? Lies are lies; FISA was FISA; and again, lies are lies.

Parent

: "feet to the fire" is usually just (none / 0) (#82)
by tigercourse on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 02:00:51 PM EST

wishful thinking. By and large, once someone is elected, they can do what they want, particularly when the next election is 4 years away, and the advocacy group makes up a tiny percentage of the electorate.

Parent

Technically he doesn't take lobbyist money (none / 0) (#76)
by Pepe on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 09:55:19 AM EST

Realistically he always has even when saying he doesn't. The reason is he takes money from the same corporate executives that employ the middlemen lobbyists who work for those corporate executives. so while Obama can speak out of the side of his mouth and lay on his not so sincere populist campaign rhetoric he knows he is still in the pocket of the exact people he is campaigning against.

Of course the corporations and other special interests don't care that he runs against a generic demon as long as he gets elected and he is on their side. It's all about the favors after all, they could care less about generic demons Obama is running against. And lets not forget pork, as much of that pork goes right to the coffers of those same corporations or their subsidiaries.

I hope not many here are actually buying Obama's Johnny Come Lately opportunistic populist rhetoric that only appeared after the financial meltdown. This guy is going to be DLC all the way and will only give the public meaningless tastes of populist programs, enough to present the illusion that he is actually doing something for them.

Parent

the left blogs pretty much (5.00 / 2) (#63)
by coigue on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:25:30 PM EST

hate everyone.

Parent

I wonder how Nancy (none / 0) (#11)
by nycstray on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:36:40 PM EST

"he's a gift from God" would feel about that?

Parent

As I recall. . . (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:51:27 PM EST

she's not as young as she looks, is she? Presumably he can wait a few years until she retires, at least from the Speakership.

Parent

: Perhaps, but if things start going (none / 0) (#28)
by nycstray on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:01:32 PM EST

south for the Dems ala Carter, maybe not . . .

Parent

I wouldn't want Rahm to be my Chief of Staff. He's (none / 0) (#68)
by DeborahNC on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 04:22:19 AM EST

too volatile, and would definitely want as much power as possible. Also, he'd probably only allow the DLCers in to see Obama.

On the other hand, I would not want Tom Daschle either. He's too weak, IMO, and as a leader he was a wimp. I wish that Obama would appoint somebody with just an ounce of progressiveness in her/him (in all of his appointments, FTM). I hope his UNITY mantra doesn't leave us with multiple Republican cabinet members.

I wonder how far he's going to take the bipartisan thing. Republicans don't know how to be bipartisan. Just sayin'.

Parent

Obama will surely need (5.00 / 4) (#42)
by Radiowalla on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:19:43 PM EST

someone who is well versed in the ways of both the executive and legislative branches. I'm less impressed with Daschle because I mainly remember him as being pretty wimpy when he was Majority Leader of the senate. Emmanuel seems to have a sharper focus on what is important for the Democratic party.

If I were going to be president, I'd pick Leon Panetta.

Which is exactly why Obama (5.00 / 2) (#66)
by gyrfalcon on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:46:16 PM EST

would pick Daschle over Emanuel. Daschle, IMHO, embodies Obama-ism, and I also find it hard to believe he worked so hard behind the scenes to get him into this thing with no promise of major, major payback.

Parent

Good point, but I still don't see the appeal of (none / 0) (#70)
by DeborahNC on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 04:42:24 AM EST

Daschle. He was a weak Senate Majority Leader and let the Republicans ride roughshod over the Dems during his tenure. As a person, he appeared to be a nice guy, but allowed Republicans to harnass too much control.

One can work with the opposition without letting them control the agenda. And, we all know, the Republicans will take all the power they can get!

Parent

: I don't get it, either (none / 0) (#75)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 09:27:16 AM EST

So you'd have to ask Mr. Obama what the appeal is.
But it's exactly his go-along non-confrontational style that I would assume is what would appeal to him for his chief of staff.

Parent

Yep (none / 0) (#78)
by Pepe on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 10:09:53 AM EST

Daschle personifies post-partisanship. He might have invented it. He's Obama's guy alright. Both wear their pants down around their ankles.

Parent

Isn't he the one leading the (none / 0) (#43)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:21:57 PM EST

preliminary transition team? I think I read that.

Parent

Oh, I hadn't know that. (5.00 / 2) (#46)
by Radiowalla on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:26:58 PM EST

I hope it's true. I love Leon Panetta.

Parent

It may be John Podesta I'm thinking of. (none / 0) (#50)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:33:59 PM EST

Podesta has set up teams aligned with Cabinet agencies and government departments. Leon E. Panetta, another former Clinton chief of staff and a onetime California congressman, is part of a group evaluating candidates for senior White House staff and high-level national security and economic policy positions.

Link

Parent

: That would be fine, too! nt (5.00 / 2) (#61)
by Radiowalla on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 10:51:32 PM EST

Parent

I hadn't read down far enough to see that you'd (none / 0) (#69)
by DeborahNC on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 04:27:01 AM EST

already highlighted the wimpiness of Daschle when I made my comment above. Glad to know others feel that way too.

Parent

Hmmm... Isn't RE kinda a hawk on (none / 0) (#1)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 07:56:53 PM EST

foreign policy? I don't know much about his domestic ideology.

I think his father (none / 0) (#17)
by NYShooter on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:49:25 PM EST

was a pretty famous Zionist. Maybe floating Rahm's name was meant to help with the jewish vote.

Parent

Wasn't his mother. . . (none / 0) (#26)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:59:45 PM EST

in some French movie or something? There was a scandal, I recall. . .

Parent

I suppose that's where (none / 0) (#34)
by lilburro on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:06:55 PM EST

he gets that Gainsbourgian look...

Parent

Serge Gainsbourg.... (none / 0) (#38)
by Radiowalla on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:13:27 PM EST

I'm beginning to get enthralled with this thread.

Parent

: Me Neither (none / 0) (#45)
by lilburro on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:26:49 PM EST

Parent

I can't remember. . . (none / 0) (#2)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 07:58:17 PM EST

is Emanuel loved or hated (there never seems to be a middle ground) by the left-o-sphere at the moment? I'm pretty sure he was on the list of "New York money liberals" that Markos condemned a year or two ago. And I know he wasn't an Obama supporter during the primary -- neutral, if I recall.

But he's certainly not in the unity schtick camp -- that will make some folks happy, I'm sure.

He's hated by the Markos Kult (5.00 / 2) (#47)
by Radiowalla on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:28:31 PM EST

because he's seen as uber-DLC and all that jazz.

Parent

: in that case (none / 0) (#73)
by sarany on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 07:13:27 AM EST

I hope Rahm gets the position. All things being equal, that is. :-)
I'd love to see the Kosbots get a few painful pokes in their eye, after the tone of that site in Primary season.
I was saying back then, that if Obama won the nomination, that the initiation Hillary put him through was the prep he needed for the GE, and now I'm sure that's true. He's a far better candidate because of Hillary.
Mark me down as holding a strong dislike of Daily Kos and the self-congratulatory gang that calls it home.

Parent

the story is a plant (none / 0) (#3)
by white n az on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 07:58:48 PM EST

to make it look like another 'measuring the drapes' kind of story.

It's BS

Emmanuel can have pretty much any job he wants in an Obama administration and Rahm knows it.

It's a BS story

That was my first thought. (none / 0) (#4)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:01:34 PM EST

Parent

sure - look at the source (none / 0) (#21)
by white n az on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:55:21 PM EST

AP (Associated Press)

which has become very partisan (Fournier)

which is not troubling me to see large newspapers like the Tribune papers dropping AP altogether and they will be hard pressed to survive another 2 years.

Parent

Shame (none / 0) (#64)
by gyrfalcon on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:40:05 PM EST

It would be a terrible, terrible thing to see AP go down. They've had bad, bad editorial direction for the last few years, but they're an invaluable organization. Hope for a management change, not a dissolution.

Parent

: few? (none / 0) (#79)
by wystler on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 11:53:49 AM EST

how many is "few"?
when did they give Nedra Pickler a byline? (2000)
AP is in a death spiral. it's been quite a while since they really did news, rather than hit-piece journalism with a RW slant.
No longer a question of "if" ...

Parent

He's a pretty tough cookie, (none / 0) (#5)
by NYShooter on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:05:58 PM EST

Swears a lot, violent temper, disciplined, maniacally focused.......perfect for Chief, if you ask me.,

They don't call him Rahmbo. . . (none / 0) (#6)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:10:30 PM EST

for nothing, I guess.

Parent

: He's called "The Killer" (none / 0) (#67)
by shoephone on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 01:11:39 AM EST

by those in his own party. He is feared, not liked.

Parent

Emanuel and I have some things (none / 0) (#8)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:32:42 PM EST

in common since I hear he has a style that has been known to alienate ideological allies and doesn't have patience for whining. My kind of guy! ;)

Who is going to be appointed to Obama's (none / 0) (#9)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:33:29 PM EST

seat? I hope it's not the person I'm thinking. I'll bet it is.

I heard it's JJJ. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:37:39 PM EST

Parent

I'm still mad at him. Can we have his dad (5.00 / 2) (#13)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:38:19 PM EST

instead?

Parent

I have chosen JJJr (5.00 / 7) (#16)
by Steve M on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:49:09 PM EST

as the one person who will never, ever be forgiven for that primary campaign. It's gotta be someone!

Parent

I don't know, Keith O is pretty dang close. (5.00 / 6) (#27)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:00:02 PM EST

I expected better of him. David Duke or didn't cry for Katrina. Both are pretty bad things to say.

Parent

Oh yeah! Now I remember. I got him and his (5.00 / 3) (#30)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:03:05 PM EST

dad mixed up. Sr. was the one who defended B. Clinton.

Parent

: And gave Obama a talkin to on TV :) (5.00 / 1) (#32)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:04:11 PM EST

Parent

Why only the lackeys? (none / 0) (#57)
by lambert on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 10:11:00 PM EST

Seriously.

Parent

Because (5.00 / 1) (#59)
by Steve M on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 10:33:58 PM EST

I've grown to find the permanently bitter folks like you just as distasteful as the actual villains of the story. The Democratic primary wasn't the greatest injustice in world history. Grow up already.

Parent

HEY! (none / 0) (#60)
by andgarden on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 10:35:30 PM EST

Lambert is my favorite permanently embittered person! (I'm tempted to say "Just like Pat Buchanan is my favorite. . .")

Parent

Thank, andgarden. I think. (none / 0) (#84)
by lambert on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 04:38:26 PM EST

But, seriously, if bitterness is what it takes to see the absurdity of holding a lackey accountable, while giving the lackey's master a free pass, then I'm proud to be bitter!

Parent

The assumption here, (none / 0) (#85)
by TChris on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 12:51:41 PM EST

unsupported by any evidence whatsoever, is that the "master" is directing the actions/words of the "lackey."

Parent

: My understanding of modern political campaigns (none / 0) (#86)
by lambert on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:38:30 PM EST

is that the candidate is responsible for all statements made by supporters, especially prominent ones -- since those are the standards set by the party leader's own campaign apparatus.

Parent

Heh (none / 0) (#83)
by lambert on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 04:36:01 PM EST

Instead of answering the question, you characterize the questioner.

Nice tactic, but... It exposes the fact that you can't, or won't, answer. I wonder why?

Parent

Refresh my memory. I thought (none / 0) (#15)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:39:44 PM EST

his dad was worse, no?

Parent

: He implied Hillary's "tears" were fake (5.00 / 7) (#29)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:02:43 PM EST

and said we'd have to examine future ones closely and that she had never cried for Katrina victims. This was just after the NH primary.
I personally didn't see JJ Jr cry so I could say the same about him, huh?

Parent
: Worse what? (5.00 / 3) (#65)
by gyrfalcon on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:42:14 PM EST

JJ Sr. has his flaws, but his heart is totally in the right place. JJ Jr not so much, IMHO. JJJr appears to be a very angry man who wants desperately to stick it to his dad by being tougher and more powerful. Feh.

Parent

That's what I read on some local IL (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by tigercourse on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:39:17 PM EST

blog the other day.

Parent

He's from New York. (5.00 / 4) (#20)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:54:49 PM EST

And I doubt he'd get appointed with that temper that he has.

And anyway, I hear Peter Parker has some incriminating photographs of him.

Really, I'd expect Captain America to know better! :-)

Parent

Just as long as The Hulk's (5.00 / 3) (#24)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:58:00 PM EST

convicted felon buddy loses this tuesday...

Parent

What am I missing? Jackson Jr is an (none / 0) (#25)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:58:44 PM EST

Illinois Representative, isn't he?

Parent

Sorry, Teresa. . . (5.00 / 3) (#31)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:03:39 PM EST

J. Jonah Jameson is a character out of the American literary canon -- the Spiderman comics. He's the foul-mouthed editor of a tabloid in New York who's always editorializing against Spiderman while, unknown to him, Spiderman's alter ego Peter Parker is his ace freelance photographer.

In this way the existential dualities of the American working class are illuminated, and Doctor Octopus gets his tuchus whumped.

Parent

I am so out of touch with you guys. :) (5.00 / 5) (#33)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:05:45 PM EST

At least use a college football reference or I'm lost.

Parent

Heh, I was thinking they could at least (5.00 / 4) (#35)
by nycstray on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:07:49 PM EST

use a D.C. (comics) reference!

Parent

Sorry, the rabid capitalist (5.00 / 2) (#40)
by Fabian on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:17:05 PM EST

in the DC universe is Lex Luthor and he's just a touch more ambitious than JJJ. Heck, Luthor probably owns a few major newspaper chains!

(Luthor also got himself elected POTUS at one point. I'm fuzzy on exactly how that came to pass.)

Parent

I've been gone from the universe for (5.00 / 3) (#44)
by nycstray on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:22:51 PM EST

a few years, so I'm fuzzy on it also.

I didn't put as much stock into the "other" characters as they didn't sell as well (product) ;)

Exception, Catwoman, lol!~

Parent

You probably missed the Catwoman reboot (5.00 / 3) (#54)
by Fabian on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:40:12 PM EST

where they just jumped in and changed some continuity. It included a little fashion show of all the outfits that the character wore. I have to admit, Catwoman's outfits were probably the most modest of the comic book world.

Parent

I did miss that (5.00 / 3) (#55)
by nycstray on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:52:24 PM EST

Her original movie costume used (still does?) hang out by the conference room door. Looked like a close fit for me. I was tempted! One of the editors over in the games division used to rewrite the new releases and distribute them around the office. They were always good for a laugh! I was going to put a whip on my door, but new rules came down and we had to keep all our "toys" withing the walls of our office . . . {sigh}

Parent

: She's into leather now. (none / 0) (#71)
by Fabian on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 05:31:55 AM EST

I can't figure out if it's influenced by the movie costume or her fetish outfit from Batman: Year One.

Parent

Teresa's rolling her eyes right now! LOL (5.00 / 2) (#36)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:08:59 PM EST

Parent

I don't know what's happening to education (5.00 / 4) (#39)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:14:01 PM EST

in this country anymore! Doesn't anyone read the classics?

Parent

I remember Archie and Veronica. Does (5.00 / 2) (#41)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:17:21 PM EST

that help? I'm thinking hard but can't come up with another one.

Parent

I don't know them. (5.00 / 3) (#48)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:29:49 PM EST

Where they in the X-Men?

Parent

No silly! They were Avengers! (5.00 / 2) (#49)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:32:11 PM EST

Parent

All I can say is TChris is very patient with us. (5.00 / 2) (#51)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:35:00 PM EST

Parent

I was thinking the same thing. :) (5.00 / 2) (#52)
by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:37:53 PM EST

Parent

TChris is being patient (5.00 / 4) (#56)
by TChris on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:53:12 PM EST

because his comic book collection is in the attic. For chief of staff, Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred seems the logical choice. Wonder Woman for Attorney General. The Flash for Dept. of Transportation. Lightning Lad for Dept. of Energy.

Parent

I'm shut out again. (5.00 / 2) (#72)
by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 06:37:36 AM EST

I thought we were promised a bipartisan Administration. Yet you've nominated only insider candidates.

What America needs are super heroes who aren't already from DC!

Parent

: The Tick! (none / 0) (#74)
by Fabian on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 09:02:12 AM EST

For U.N. ambassador.

Parent

You people a blog. . . (5.00 / 4) (#53)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:38:37 PM EST

with the commenters you have, not the commenters you want.

Parent

Teresa (5.00 / 2) (#58)
by cal1942 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 10:22:34 PM EST

Reading the comic book comments I was completely lost and thinking; when I was a kid my range was limited to Archie. I didn't care what Jughead or Archie or Reggie(?) did. I just gawked at Betty and Veronica.

I guess my pre-teen years were wasted.

Parent

Yep, lost on that one too! (none / 0) (#37)
by Teresa on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:12:02 PM EST

Parent

really! (none / 0) (#80)
by wystler on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 11:54:51 AM EST

JJJ?

source?

seems highly unlikely

Parent

who has contributed... (none / 0) (#23)
by white n az on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:57:41 PM EST

the most money to Blagojovich (sp?) and remained out of jail? I think that is the person most likely to succeed.

Parent

Lynn Sweet follow-up (none / 0) (#81)
by wystler on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 12:09:56 PM EST

here

money shot:

"Don't believe everything you read. I don't," Axelrod said.

Emanuel as Chief of Staff? | 86 comments (86 topical)

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