Emanuel Spokesperson Denies He's Accepted Chief Of Staff ... And Other Transition Notes
Fox and MSNBC are reporting that Rahm Emanuel has accepted a job as Obama's White House chief of staff.
But an Emanuel spokesperson we just checked in with says that's not the case. No decision has been made, the spokesperson says.
It seems clear, however, that Emanuel is seriously considering the job. And Emanuel, an aggressive partisan warrior, is a choice that is likely to cheer people who don't want Obama to strike an overly conciliatory stance towards what's left of the Republican Party in Washington.
Meanwhile, Obama today announced his transition team, which will be overseen by John Podesta, a longtime D.C. insider who was chief of staff to Bill Clinton, Valerie Jarrett, a Chicago lawyer and long-time political adviser to Obama, and Obamaland insider Pete rouse, his Senate chief of staff.
Also assisting in the transition: William Daley, Governor Janet Napolitano, and Obama foreign policy adviser Susan Rice.
A list of Obama's day-to-day transition staff after the jump.
Late Update: John Harris and Jim VandeHei of Politico say that Obama's consideration of Rahm suggests that he's ready to press the Dems' partisan advantage in D.C.
Late Late Update: A number of you are arguing below that Rahm, far from likely to be confrontational towards the GOP, is more of a safe D.C. insider type choice. Separately, MSNBC is now backing off its report that he's joined the Obama administration.
Still Later Update: the Associated Press says the Rahm deal isn't done yet. Also, it's worth noting, as Steve Benen points out, that the chief of staff job could easily be less about ideology and more about execution, so it might be a mistake to conclude too much from the Rahm pick.
In other developments:
* John Kerry is denying reports that he's angling for the Secretary of State gig.
* Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly being considered for the head of Environmental Protection Agency, and he told HuffPo that he would take the job if it were offered.
Transition senior staff:
Chris Lu - Executive DirectorDan Pfeiffer - Communications Director
Stephanie Cutter - Chief Spokesperson
Cassandra Butts - General Counsel
Jim Messina - Personnel Director
Patrick Gaspard - Associate Personnel Director
Christine Varney - Personnel Counsel
Melody Barnes - Co-Director of Agency Review
Lisa Brown - Co-Director of Agency Review
Phil Schiliro - Director of Congressional Relations
Michael Strautmanis - Director of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
Katy Kale - Director of Operations
Brad Kiley - Director of Operations
Not to sound like a flighty airhead, but I'd like Rahm as chief of staff for the sheer entertainment value: he's quite witty.
And I tend to think of him as the standard Beltway Dem, albeit one with quite a zinger of a tongue. I don't know that his choice is going to cheer people who'd like Democrats to grow a spine.
November 5, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's a completely understandable pick, a nod to Chicago and to Emanuel's abilities. And Rahm is a scrapper who doesn't suffer fools (or anyone else, really) gladly, which could certainly be a good thing. I'm not in love with the choice myself; it feels too much like the old Democratic party. But I understand it.
November 5, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, he needs more of a break from the Clinton team than the Republicans. The forever triangulating Clintonistas are not going to deliver the change Obama promises. That is not to say there is no place for them in an Obama administration, just that the DLC and other Clintonites should be watched closely, they are fighting the fights left over from the 60s still, we must move forward. Besides, policy wise they were in bed with the deregulation movement. Rubin and what not, so I would prefer this post go to someone not trained in the Clintonian view so thoroughly as emmanuel.
November 5, 2008 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
O I like being flighty and I really really like looking at Rahm.
I approve this pick - the most elegant president ever with one of the most elegant COS ever.
November 5, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rahm is definitely easy on the eyes, that's for sure! It's the triumph of the Tall Skinny Guys from Chicago.
November 5, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, Tena, have I got the line for you. From part one of "How He Did It" on Newsweek's web site:
Obama's 2004 convention speech launched him into the strange world of celebritydom; he acquired the kind of aura that can transform a skinny, scholarly man with big ears into a sex symbol.
:-)
November 5, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
O that's great. LOL!
November 5, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
James Gandolfini always became a sex symbol and he was fat and balding.
Why? It's all about power. Women always go for the powerful guy -- even if he isn't the wealthiest guy in the room.
This also explains Henry Kissinger as a "sex symbol" back in the day.
November 5, 2008 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rahm is very nice to look at. ;)
Also, he's smart and tough and would be totally fab in the Obama administration. Plus the Chicago connections, would only help.
November 5, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd just like to take issue with all those saying that Emmanuel is physically appealing because I've always felt the opposite, he looks like an annoying prick.
November 5, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he's smart and tough and intelligent and quick-witted without being contemptuous. That's sexy in and of itself. But he's also very easy on the eye. I love those tall, curly-haired Jewish men with bedroom eyes. He's a swimmer, so you know he's in good shape, and well, he's tall and skinny, so that says something else about his....credentials.
November 6, 2008 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm...dunno. It seems to me if Obama is to make good on his promise to be inclusive and to reduce partisanship (even he does that by convincing a large majority of American's that progressive ideas are good), then Emanuel as his Chief of Staff may not be the best move. Rahm, despite his many strengths, is seen as divisive and highly partisan. I think Obama can do better.
November 5, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I definitely agree he's witty, but don't you think he comes off as hysterical sometimes? I've seen him a couple of times like that on the tube, when he's pissed off about something. He just doesn't strike me as being able to give off the steady, calm in control thing, even if he actually is steady, calm and in control. Get what I'm saying? It's about appearances, especially when you are in charge of staff.
Others below are complaining about him being classic insider Washington. Now that, on the other hand, I think that is a quality that people should think once or twice about before complaining about it in a Chief of Staff. I would remind people what happened to the Clintons in their first year or so because of their insistence on bringing in all fresh young newbies.
November 5, 2008 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he will take it. Very smart guy, and possibly RFK to get EPA cabinet post, great heads.
BTW, I want to thank everyone who encouraged and hoped Proposition 8 would fail here in CA. I suspect the end game here is the US Supreme Court someday.
November 5, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I gave No on 8 as much $$$ as I could, but I guess it wasn't enough. . . :-(
I did have the great joy of getting to go to the wedding on 10/25 of two of my greatest, dearest friends. Do you have any idea of what the status of their marriage will be?
November 5, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jerry Brown, our AG says they are legal, however, I hear now that challenges to that may be in the works, sadly. Thanks for your support. I have two gay kids, and although they seem more accepting of this than me, it still hurts.
November 5, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
So I have to put off marrying that cute guy living in my house for another time... :-(
The sad part is not about me.
The sad part is for the first time since Prohibition we've expressly denied constitutional rights to individuals where those rights had previously been defined.
On the plus side, we all remember how Prohibition turned out!
November 5, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that's finding the sliver lining! :-)
November 5, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, it brought about the rse in organized crime. Are you comparing gay married people to Al Capone? Mother of mercy, can this be the end of Rico? ;)
November 5, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Next, a court will have to decide if tens of thousands of licenses are now invalid. Talk aboutcher class actions!
It must go to the SCOTUS. We must not allow ourselves to continue to codify discrimination, because the erosion works both ways. Write gay people negatively into a Constitution, and now we have precedent.
CA is really fucked in the head to allow voters to change the state's Constitution on a straight majority vote. Talk aboutcher crack pipes!
November 5, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree - the first thing I thought was - wait a minute: I was taught that states have the constitutional mandate to expand rights beyond those express in the constitution. And I was also taught that you cannot curtail rights that exist.
This does need to go to the SCOTUS - but I don't want to send it to this one. However, the SCOTUS is funny - as much as the justices claim impartiality - they know what the people are saying if a majority of the people are saying it.
You can't ever tell -
November 5, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aye and indeed. This SCOTUS is not ready. But I have to imagine that several justices have their legs crossed, pee running down their legs, waiting to retire, but know that could not possible.
Unfortunately, it will unlikely be Roberts, Alito, or Scalia.
I do predict the Great Jehoshaphat will call home Clarence Thomas with that aneurysm the country so desperately needs.
November 5, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
So depressing Roberts is so young, relatively speaking. My brother is a Judge and loathes him, thinks he is vile.
November 5, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
My own prediction is that Roberts will be followed by Chief Justice Barack Obama.
November 5, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Appointed by President Hillary Clinton?
November 5, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not if Obama appoints Hillary to the Supreme Court first!
November 6, 2008 2:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
The ads were brutal. It ended up much larger than a contract between two people, but rather gay education to second graders, really stupid shit. And, I did not know this, but I guess African Americans and Hispanics (that I did know) are really against gay marriage, which is ironic, being that they themselves have been so subjected to discrimination.
November 5, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
And why would they do this? Why, in the face of blatant reality and self-experience on the matter, would they vote this evil measure into existence?
The answer lies in that collection of institutions which long ago was the only source of hope in a world without (perceived) hope: the Church.
But this is not 1865, and clearly not even 1965 any longer.
In short, magic-thinking lies at the foundation of these votes. This stupidity, being willful, I find to be, in the vernacular, evil.
November 5, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
More specifically, largely the Mormon church. Which is richly ironic given that they tried to flee the United States over their own sexaul/marital preferences. I cannot adequately express my loathing for that particular brand of church.
November 5, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Mormon Church is so demonstrably pulled out of Joseph Smith's asshole. The only difference between Mormon and Scientologists is about 100 years.
November 5, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Tom Cruise!
November 5, 2008 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The same bullshit happened in Florida, where I live.
As the brother of a gay man, it's pretty devastating. Way to go Florida -- Yay for discrimination.
November 5, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
So sorry, I heard, my sister is there, and she voted for it, the only sibling I really dislike. Also passed in Arizona.
November 5, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's been some talk about how the language of the amendment may have confused some voters. Those less-informed may not have voted the way they intended.
November 5, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, odd you say that, because ours was kind of funky too. I noticed the yes on 8 group actually showed the ballot and how to mark it, which was probably a wise thing to do, for future reference.
November 5, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
ok, now Franken is down by 462 -- aaaaagh!!!
MN SOS
November 5, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe we'll get lucky and get a great present around Christmas time... Senator Franken! Here's hoping. In anycase, we're not going to find out anytime soon.
November 5, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would make me so happy to see Coleman crash and burn.
November 5, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it just me or does the dude look totally fake, as in way too much plastic surgery? He looks like a typical sleazy politician.
November 5, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
He is very weird looking, gives me the creeps.
November 5, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Put a couple of bolts in his neck, and he's the spitting image of Frankenstein
November 5, 2008 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
And the vid on the front page has Coleman urging Franken to drop any challenge because "America needs to heal" and if roles were reversed Coleman wouldn't challenge.
Umm...yeah.
November 5, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
What an idiot! Coleman would be breathing fire and brimstone for a recount if Franken were only 576 ahead!
Republicans - Daddy Issues & Hypocrites, the whole lot of them!
November 5, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did I read there were something like 40,000 absenteen ballots in Minnesota that haven't been counted yet?? How can Coleman possibly declare victory for himself being 462 votes ahead when 40,000 ballots have not yet been counted??
Am I missing something here?
November 5, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, Coleman is missing his so called mind. You are right.
November 5, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shows how little Coleman knows about the state he supposedly represents. MN State law has the recount as automatic in this case. Franken isn't "pushing" anything.
November 5, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I can't wait until the thing swings to a Franken one-vote lead--then Coleman concedes, and the counting stops, right?
November 5, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sorry, but I must be missing something. Rahm Emmanuel signals that Obama is ready to push the Dems partisan advantage? The Rahm Emmanuel who wasn't that supportive of Dean's 50-state strategy?
That Rahm?
I must have drifted even further to the left over night, because I don't see Rahm as intensely partisan at all. I see him as intensely inside DCish.
November 5, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or just a "dish"
November 5, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Appears that Rahm has a bigger fan club than I might have assumed! ;-)
November 5, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL - yeah.
This is going to be so much fun. I've avoided seeing or hearing anyone in the present administration for years.
To have an administration that is this good to look at and talks so pretty, too - {{{{{SWOON}}}}}
November 5, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
and then faint !!
November 5, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Check out this great article about him:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-rahm-emanuel,0,926311.story
The last line is the best!
November 5, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's long - I started it but I bookmarked it for later.
I read the very beginning and thought: Jeez! This is a Chicago Ari Gold!
November 5, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
ladies.....
November 5, 2008 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want to know who's going to be Secretary of State, Treasury & Defense.
November 5, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Summers for Treasury because he knows all of the players as he's been there before. Folks will hate this as Summers Harvard stint ruffled a lot of feathers.
Gates will be asked to stay on at least in the interim while Obama focuses on the economic mess. Don't know if Gates will want to though.
Secretary of State? Lugar said he's not interested in any cabinet position, Kerry wants it, but Obama is worried that it will ruffle too many feathers on the right. Richardson shaved his beard for a reason...
November 5, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Gates is a pass, I heard Chuck Hagel.
November 5, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
An excellent pick. Hagel's always been the adult in the room.
November 5, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
No to Summers. We need to stop this now.
November 5, 2008 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is funny, from Newsweek. RE: Obama speaking about debate with Brian Williams moderating.
I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me ... answer it.' So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f---ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'."
November 5, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Somebody in the Rahm Emanuel camp has loose lips, and that's very unlike how Obama operates, at least during his campaign.
Rahm is a DLC'er, and only considered hyper-partisan because he did his job so well in getting folks elected. I think Rahm will piss off progressives and wing nuts equally. He's a govern from the middle pick if I ever saw one.
November 5, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
He wouldn't be my first choice. Too much the good ole boy rather than someone who embodies "change we can believe in".
November 5, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is the change, Rahm is all about getting things done. Rahm knows the players and the ins and outs of the House, and Biden is Obama's point man in the Senate - it looks like he's getting ready to work with both branches rahter than try to force things through.
November 5, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I dunno. I read Naftali Bendavid's book "The Thumpin': How Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats Learned to Be Ruthless and Ended the Republican Revolution" about his management of the DCCC mid term strategy of 2006, and was quite impressed with his smarts and toughness. I can see why Obama would be interested in tapping him.
November 5, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo. It's time we stopped judging people by whether they're left, right or center and start judging by how well he can do the job he's being asked to do.
Did I miss something? Wasn't that what last night was all about?
November 5, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, Rahm Emanuel and Chuck Schumer publically took credit for work that Howard Dean was actually responsible for. I don't think he's the whiz bang that everyone else does, and his political instincts about the 50 state strategy sucked, hugely.
November 5, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emanuel's right - he hasn't accepted, but he's been asked. It's all over the Chicago newspapers today and the local news. He hasn't accepted - yet.
Wondering when the right wingers will start referring to Chicago as the "Liberal Left Camp David."
November 5, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rahm Emmanuel knows how to deal with the pit bulls on the other side. We don't want a milk toast in their. When the barbarians were at the gate in the Clinton years he knew how to throw the burning oil on them. He can be Obama's "bad cop" enforcer.
November 5, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could Rahm be a perfect mole?
November 5, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is Tom Daschle still being considered for Obama's chief of staff?
November 5, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
No offense, but he seems way too weak.
November 5, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep.
November 5, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Last I read is that Daschle has no interest in the spot. IIRC he wants the HHS Portfolio.
November 5, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Emanuel has been asked and not accepted then who is doing the leaking? Is Obama leaking to put pressure on him to accept? That seems to be a dirty trick and not his style. How can he not accept now that it's so public?
If Emanuel does accept, he should have to come without any staffers. Somebody in there leaks like a sieve.
November 5, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the primary purpose of CoS is to implement the president's agenda and get it through Congress rather than to create policy, Rahmbo would be a great choice, I think. But regardless, I have great faith in Obama's judgment and feel it's worth it to give him wide latitude based on what he showed in the campaign. Yes, he will disappoint from time to time in both appointments and policy, but on balance, I feel right now that he is likely to be the most effective, dynamic, transformative president of my lifetime.
November 5, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I tend to agree. Rahm will be well-managed, whatever his faults. And given any task, I foresee excellence.
November 5, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
And talk about a cool, cool guy...........so calm when facing challenges and opposition.
November 5, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
And, yes, he's quite the hotty-p'totty!
November 5, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a silly misreading of the pick. You pick a Chief of Staff based upon skill at internal management skills. It says nothing about (a) policy direction or (b) how the Obama administration will relate to factions in Congress (an external management skill).
November 5, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ugh. Terribly written. I need more sleep.
November 5, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Misleading - Obama's already declared devotion to a bipartisan cabinet, like Lincoln did. Hence, Bob Gates being invited to stay on as Defense Secretary.
November 5, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I view Rahm as a twofer. I think he's ideally suited to WH COS; he knows how a White House should work and knows how to knock heads to keep everybody there on the same page- Obama's page. At the same time I'm quite happy to get him out of the Congressional leadership and especially out of Congressional campaign strategy, since he never did understand either what Dean was trying to do or the necessity for better Democrats, not just more. That's addition by subtraction where Congress is concerned.
November 5, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, two more names above for the Transition Team:
Sarah Palin - Joe Six-Pack Slang Translator & 3rd Grader Kudos Director
Todd Palin - Snow Removal
November 5, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only if their official offices have bars.
November 5, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm waiting for Karl Rove to come on Fox and tell me how the appointment of Rahm Emanuel would signal commencement of bitter partisanship?
IMO, BO would be ruthless against the rightwingers who want to destroy his governing capacity and supportive and welcoming of those who are willing to join in finding some common ground.
November 5, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aye. Once has the sense President Obama's DoJ is going to be businer than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.
President Obama...I could write that a couple more hundred thousand times!
November 5, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
--and welcoming of those who are willing to join in finding some common ground.--
Which is how many Republicans? 2? 1?
November 5, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
heh heh
The GOP will have a Dawn, of sorts, once President Obama takes office and the forked-tongue Cheney is no longer threatening them with treason for voting for stem cells.
Of course, it will be up to the GOP to actually wake up, and I gave that slim odds.
November 5, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama will taking his agenda to the American people. Those Repubs who face elections in 2010 will have to consider whether they want to be protrayed as reaching across the aisle or obstructing the efforts to get this country out of the ditch.
November 5, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly!
November 5, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joseph, is that the top of your hiney showing? Very sexy stuff.
November 5, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you'll be surprised at the number. Many of them were cowed by the screwballs running the party, but after getting their asses handed to them in two straight elections, this is an opportunity for the saner ones to take control back.
November 5, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep - he needs someone who will kick asses and take names - and I'm sure he knows that.
November 5, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
His AG pick, for me, is the most serious. Followed by State. And I roll around candidates for both in my mind, and it's like an endless slot machine at the momemnt.
We need a Hoover w/out the paranoia, but maybe with some updated dresses.
For State, Richardson would be....adequate. I'm looking for the homerun.
November 5, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any chance Holbrooke would take State? He would be the top choice, IMO.
November 5, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aye, you're probably right there. Hollbrooke is CERTAINLY the adult in the room.
November 5, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Holbrooke has too much experience for the role and would have his own voice, rather than speaking for the Obama administration.
November 5, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about a non-interventionist for a change?
November 5, 2008 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear the GOP has some garments--barely worn!--they'd like to get rid of. . .
November 5, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Patrick Fitzgerald would make the ideal Attorney General, if what we want in the position is someone honest, impartial, talented, experienced, and discreet. Plus he went to the right high school.
November 5, 2008 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
If this is a leak, it may be to take the electorate's temperature on the choice of Emmanuel. Personally, I find him to be too reminiscent of the Clinton years when we really need forward momentum and "change we can believe in", as I mentioned up-thread.
November 5, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he would be excellent, he is still young, cool-headed and takes no prisoners. I suspect the rumor is true.
BTW, are all Chicago guys cute or what?
November 5, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, we are! (blush blush) :-)
November 5, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
"he is still young, cool-headed and takes no prisoners".
I'll give you that, but can Emmanuel be inclusive? Is he a unifier, and a negotiator similar to Obama. Or are those irrelevant virtues for a chief-of-staff?
November 5, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Mayor Daley's quite a hunk.....
November 5, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah Mayor Daley's a real catch.
November 5, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
HuffPo officially confirmed Rahm Emanuel accepted the COS position.
Greg, was that up on their site before or after you spoke to R.E.'s spokesperson?
November 5, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/27/obamas-chief-of-staff-rah_n_138240.html
November 5, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was there, and they say according to MSNBC.
November 5, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, Repubs are already complaining about Emanuel so he sounds promising.
November 5, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a soooo excited right now - I'm seriously considering watching the entire series of THE WEST WING all over again in celebration!!
November 5, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope we see Samantha Power re-emerge soon. She was definitely one of the worst casualties of the primary season.
November 5, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign!
November 5, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign 2!
November 5, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy crap!! My Mom just called me from the 'burbs to tell me Obama won DuPage County!
DuPage County is one of the most conservative Republican strongholds in the country - most houses have at least 3-4 McCain signs in their yards. Obama was the first Democrat to win DuPage in decades...maybe a generation!
November 5, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've got a crush on Jill Biden.
November 5, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign! :)
November 5, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me three!
November 5, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe like most politicians Obahma is a good actor! He has made the same promises that many prior presidents have and frankly I do not feel he will do anymore for this country than they have either! His stand on the war in iraq is flat idiotic. I know that all of you out there feel that the troops do not belong over there and inocent men and women, fathers and wives are dieng for no reason but I am a LNCPL in the USMC and believe it or not we are fighting for all of you to have that opinion. Some of us are very young in fact most of us but we know the risks we are taking and we take those risks so that incidences like 9-11 do not happen again. As much as i dislike it we need to be over there or they will make their way to the United States killing inocent women and children that didnt know the risks. We lose more people to car accidents each day that we do fighting the war in iraq. All that people hear are the bad things that happen over there and the media leaves out all the good we are doing!
November 5, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aren't the Iraqis themselves asking for U.S. forces to be out by 2011? Anyway, thanks for your service and your comment here, but there are smarter ways to protect our shores than invading countries like Iraq that never threatened us.
November 5, 2008 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we may be in for a surprise here, I expect that Rahm is being considered not to keep the Republicans in line, but to keep the Democrats in line. Look, the GOP is neutered, at least for two years, with only the fillibuster (which Rahm can't do anything about anyway), but he WILL knock heads on the Dem side if needed to push the Obama agenda. This is about Party discipline, not confrontation.
November 5, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rep. James Clyburn gives his endorsement to Rahm:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/clyburn-rahm-would-make-a_n_141349.html
November 5, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
What am I missing here?
It's now public that Obama has asked Emanuel to be his Chief of Staff, and it's also public that Emanuel has taken it under consideration.
OK, the brand-new President Elect asks you to take on a critical job, and you tell the world that you're thinking about it?
Usually you don't leak these things until the deal is done. Whatever happened to the watertight Obama ship?
And who is Emanuel to leave Obama hanging in the air like this? You either accept or decline immediately "for pressing personal reasons".
I busted my butt for Obama, but this is an unpromising start.
November 5, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. Now if Rahm ends up turning it down, Obama settled for his second choice, not exactly the start the eventual COS needs.
Something is going on here. Rahm is known for his leaks, but he isn't stupid enough to make this power play (assuming he's trying to force himself into the role) so it must have been offered and Rahm told his aides about it and probably told his aides that he was going to accept.
I suspect that Obama was taking the day off and Emanuel was supposed to sit on the news until tomorrow and one of his staffers leaked it and all parties look worse because of it. Emanuel for leaving Obama hanging, Obama because Emanuel is keeping him hanging.
I hope whenever it is finally announced that things are explained, and the leak is fired.
If I was Obama I'd be extremely pissed.
November 5, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I find it amusing that both of you assume that what's being reported is actually the case.
If you read the Politico version, it's "Democratic sources". In two years of campaigning, has the Obama team ever leaked anything? No. But "Democratic sources" have been making statements freely to the press during that time.
For instance, those "Democratic fundraisers", who, in June, declared that Obama was planning on raising 100 million a month. That set of endless handwringing in June, July and August because he "hadn't met his goals". And that was just utter bullshit.
I'd be very skeptical about "Democratic sources" who claim to know anything about the Obama campaign, given how disciplined it has actually been.
November 5, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perception becomes reality.
November 5, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Huh? What are you referring to?
The perception among the media about Obama's fundraising "problems" never became actual fundraising "problems".
The "Democratic sources" in DC who are yakking to the press may be taking advantage of this media spotlight to curry favor with the media as a "source".
At this point, I don't believe anything that "Democratic sources" say.
November 5, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess we disagree about tempests and teapots here.
I do know (first-hand, for what it's worth) that people are sworn to drop-dead secrecy when up for political spots. Here it looks like someone (RE's staff?) has been-freelancing, not a good sign when filling a sensitive job.
If I was read to say that Ob's people MUST have been the source of a leak, I mistyped myself.
Apologies for causing annoyance.
And please believe me, I'd crawl over broken glass to have President Obama (how nice to type the phrase) succeed.
November 5, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
My point was that we don't even have a credible source on this, just a lot of Democrats in DC yakking to the press. As usual. MSNBC has backed away from its report.
We don't know for sure that Obama offered the job, that Emanuel is considering it, or anything. What we know for sure are the identities of the transition team.
So I'd be careful to come to conclusions that Obama is going to have to offer it to the second best person if Emanuel turns it down, or that this will somehow reflect poorly on his administration.
And if Emanuel's staff is the source, then I would argue that Obama should choose someone else, because Emanuel's staff obviously can't be counted on to be disciplined.
November 5, 2008 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess we disagree about tempests and teapots here.
I do know (first-hand, for what it's worth) that people are sworn to drop-dead secrecy when up for political spots. Here it looks like someone (RE's staff?) has been-freelancing, not a good sign when filling a sensitive job.
If I was read to say that Ob's people MUST have been the source of a leak, I mistyped myself.
Apologies for causing annoyance.
And please believe me, I'd crawl over broken glass to have President Obama (how nice to type the phrase) succeed.
November 5, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess we disagree about tempests and teapots here.
I do know (first-hand, for what it's worth) that people are sworn to drop-dead secrecy when up for political spots. Here it looks like someone (RE's staff?) has been-freelancing, not a good sign when filling a sensitive job.
If I was read to say that Ob's people MUST have been the source of a leak, I mistyped myself.
Apologies for causing annoyance.
And please believe me, I'd crawl over broken glass to have President Obama (how nice to type the phrase) succeed.
November 5, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry about the repeats, either my computer or the TPM server burped.
November 5, 2008 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
[rolls eyes]
good grief.
November 5, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
You said it.
He's the president-elect for less than 24 hours, and the carping has already started.
November 5, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Robert F. Kennedy Jr would be a brilliant choice to head the EPA.
November 5, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign.
November 5, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I heard him speak here in Denton a couple years back and the room was packed and folks were buzzing. He has been doing a yeoman's job of exposing the Bu$h agenda for environment rape. He understands the interconnectedness and importance of wildlife on our national psyche. I have no idea if he would be an excellent Cabinetmember or administrator of a huge bureacracy.
November 5, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd prefer a scientist or doctor to be head of the EPA, as opposed to a lawyer. I know Kennedy has done excellent work with the Riverkeepers, but after the disaster that the Bush EPA has been, it would be really nice to have someone with a rigorous science background running things.
November 6, 2008 5:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign. Wouldn't that be a major reversal. The right will say radical, but even so the EPA is in desperate need of starkly different leadership.
November 5, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rahm Emanuel has an Israeli Passport. I voted Obama.... if this is true...
Obama's first act as president was to betray his anti war base.... I cannot believe my eyes...
the Jews were rewarded first.... Rahm Emanuel means more war on more Muslims....
Obama.... lawn jockey for the JEWS... we've been had.... AGAIN
November 5, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to put to fine a point on it, Mr. Anti-Semite, but go fuck yourself!
November 5, 2008 6:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not only are you stinking up the joint, you're messing up my spelling. So please do fuck off.
November 5, 2008 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Like we're really supposed to believe this douche bag voted for Obama? Nice try.
November 6, 2008 12:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Given that Obama's campaign was extremely disciplined, the leak seems more likely to have been from Emanuel's camp than from Obama's. Possible reason? Emanuel is negotiating with the prez-elect, and wishes to put a little pressure on him. Those Chicago guys are tough!
November 5, 2008 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
When I first heard the rumor of Rahm Emanuel as a possible White House chief of staff, it was a few days prior to the election. Beyond the fact that Emanuel is smart and tough and knows Washington inside and out, my first thoughts were that the rumors of his selection could help Obama politically in Florida. I'm not saying that's the reason for the leak, but it could be.
November 5, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
The leak evidently is Emanuel himself, according to Mark Ambinder at The Atlantic.
November 5, 2008 7:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Doesn't that sort of disqualify him then?
November 5, 2008 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heard from a very good source that Philadelphia's Judge Nelson Diaz is being strongly considered for Sec of HUD. He wuz President Clinton's General Counsel for HUD, knows the terrain, is brilliant and would be a terrific choice.
November 5, 2008 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
WEhat's with all of these Clintonites? If we wanted a 3rd Clinton term we'd have elected Hillary.
November 5, 2008 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Considering that there has only been one Democratic presidency in the past three decades, it's inevitable that some qualified Democrats will come from the Clinton administration. I'm sure that when the Obama team is complete, it will have a unique blend all its own.
November 5, 2008 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I do not believe Emanuel represents the sort of open, consensus-building approach to governance that Barack Obama wants to project for his administration. Emanuel is an insider power-broker and partisan hatchet man - the Dems' Tom DeLay. That's not the Obama style.
This is not about ideology; it's about temperament and governing style. Emanuel sends the wrong message, and would be a bad first step.
November 5, 2008 7:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rahm Emanuel has a hard-nose reputation, but there is nothing to suggest that he is a hatchet-man or the Democratic version of Tom Delay.
November 5, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
If things don't go well for Franken maybe he could be press secretary.
November 5, 2008 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
A little OT but I saw this and liked it:
Rosa Parks sat
so Doctor King could walk.
King walked so Barack Obama could run.
Obama ran so children EVERYWHERE could fly.
-anonymous
November 5, 2008 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Creepy!
November 5, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES! Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the head of Environmental Protection Agency! :)
November 5, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Screw Rahm Emanuel and his Hamlet prima donna act. Not what we need on Day One.
November 6, 2008 12:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not that I even recall the makeup of previous transition teams, but six women of thirteen positions sounds like a remarkably balanced group, gender-wise.
A very promising sign!
November 6, 2008 2:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
One of the cornerstones of Amer. for. policy is US support for Israel. But it cannot even be brought up without generating an immediate comment like this:
"Not to put to fine a point on it, Mr. Anti-Semite, but go fuck yourself!" (See ttarleton above)
The AS-word stops all conversation and the snarling vitriol is supposed to intimidate everyone into silence.
If Mr. Emanuel's father had been a member of Hezbollah, there would be major headlines and explosions of horror on every blog. He was in fact a member of Irgun, a organization responsible for the 1946 bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in which 91 people were killed. If Palestinians carried out such an attack today, there is no one who cannot imagine the immediate response from Israel and the expressions of support for it on the part of the US government.
Discussion of the massive double standard practiced in the US regarding what is always called Israeli defense vs what is always called Palestinian aggression remains taboo. I will not be comfortable about the appointment of Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff until we've seen more explicit expressions of what Obama's approach to American-Israel-Palestine relations will be.
The usual immediate resort to shouting, insults, and bad language in blog discussions doesn't fill me with optimism.
November 6, 2008 5:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Rahm can't make up his mind, that immediately disqualifies him in my view. Find someone who is enthusiastic about the job.
November 6, 2008 7:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rahm Emmanuel is bringing drama to Team "No Drama Obama". He should shut up and either take the job or not take the job.
I wonder why the Obama campaign leaked the Rahm as chief of staff memo to the media yesterday? All I can think of is that Rahm probably told the Obama campaign that he would take it but what happened is his wife made him pull back on it at the last minute for she got cold feet and that is why there is more drama than the Obama campaign normally has.
I wonder what Axelrod thinks of that for he and Gibbs were the champion of "No Drama Obama"? I am sure he ain't happy and will probably talk to Rahm since they are best friends.
I can understand why Team Obama leaked Rahm Emmanuel as chief of staff when McCain was pushing the Obama "pals around with anti-semitics such as Khalidi" bullshit mem throughout Florida. Leaking that info then spoke to the Jewish community in Florida that Obama is NOT anti-semitic as McCain/GOP were pushing.
Not sure what's going on with this. Expect no more leaks coming out of the Obama team about any for sure cabinet positions from now on until Obama announces it himself. With that note expect John Kerry NOT to get the Secretary of State position since he was graveling for it in the press. Richardson has kept his mouth shut even after MSNBC asked him about it.
November 6, 2008 8:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rahm, take the job already!
November 6, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I really hope Kennedy doesn't get the FDA position. Not only is someone with a rigourous background in science needed there, this is the man responsible for that ridiculous, false and alarming report on vaccines and autism in Rolling Stone. I'm with Orac and Timothy Noah on this one.
I hope Kennedy shooting off his mouth to HuffPo dooms him, just in case Obama had a serious enough brainfart to think that pleasing Clinton and Ted Kennedy was more important that putting someone solid and competent in place.
November 6, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hoping to see some diverse picks that include Latinos. Why hasn't Bill Richardson been mentioned yet?
November 6, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have to believe that the clock is seriously ticking on this. If Rahm doesn't sign on by the end of the day I expect the Obama camp to announce that they've moved on.
I would consider David Plouffe as Chief of Staff if Rahm bails.
November 6, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm told to go fuck myself because I stated the obvious.... AND I'm a poseur because I don't want a former IDF soldier and Israeli passport holder as Chief of Staff?
See, this is what happens... the Jews have destroyed another election, because they are loyal to a foreign government.
Let's have some full disclosure here.... if you are a Jew... just admit it!
See.. they don't.. they sling mud and tell everybody else how horrible we are... while they buy and sell our politicians with impunity... and if the goy complain? -- WE are the assholes.
I'm sick of Israel, sick of Jews and sick of warring on half of humanity because of these sleazy, treasonous bastards.
November 6, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like this pick. He is very smart and pragmatic. For those who think he is divisive, well, you are not wholly right -- he is the guy who masterminded the strategy of running conservative democrats in otherwise red areas - Jim Webb for example. If Obama is smart he will govern from the center. This pick does not preclude that.
November 6, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am not lovin' the mood of "how many women/Latinos/Jews/blacks/kennedys/FOBs." He needs to go with the very best, smartest, most competent and hard working person for each job, period. Party affiliation (assuming loyalty; no need to let the Rs run the office), race, gender, paybacks and such do not matter a whit to me. Look at w - gave us Gonzalez 'cuz he was a good freind, owed alot, and bonus he was Latino. He was also about as smart as Sarah Palin. and don't get me started on Harriett Myers.
November 6, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink