Rahm may face leadership challenge in November

[Rose Siding]

...Democratic lawmakers are debating who would become the majority whip: Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), moving up one step from caucus chairman, or Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the campaign wizard who would have orchestrated the victory.

...(T)he escalating rivalry between the two was on display this week when news broke that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) would funnel $60,000 into each of 40 House districts, breaking a stalemate between the DNC and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Several Democratic officials credited Clyburn with brokering the deal. He invited DNC chief Howard Dean to his hideaway office in the Capitol July 21 in the hopes of convincing him to dip into the DNC’s coffers and fund turnout efforts for House Democrats.
...
As an African-American and a well-liked caucus chairman, Clyburn could mount a strong candidacy. He ran unopposed for his current post.
...
With strong ties to the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), (Emmanuel) appeals to many moderates.....“He’s done a helluva job,” said Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), a founder of the Blue Dog Coalition....

But Emanuel carries some personal baggage with him. His penchant for profanity and bluntness provokes strong emotions in many quarters, especially with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

http://hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/091406/whip.html

[Wetzelbill]

1. yeah, Rahm is ok, I'm not a big fan though

I think he's pretty weak for the most part. He talks a good game, has the profane blunt tough guy image, but he is weak on lots of progressive issues. Typical DLCer. Wayyy to cozy with big business and the wishy-washy foreign policy status quo.

[snowbear]

2. Personally, I like Rahm...

Clear spoken, makes his point every time, great in debate situations.. :shrug: ..from my viewpoint, he's pretty damned good at what he does.

[Wetzelbill]

5. well yeah, he's a good tv presence and so on

But he's of the school that has overseen major Dem losses in the last 12 years. Got a flawed strategy that only wins when losing is almost impossible. Rahm is one of those guys who thinks its ok for Dems to not have a message on Iraq, for example. Just stand back and watch the GOP, hopefully, implode. It's dicey at best. When Jack Murtha was making a stand regarding our soldiers dying in Iraq, Rahm Emanuel was saying it wasn't a right time to commit to a position. He's like that on lots of issues. One week he sounds like he has a plan, then the next weak he weakens his stance. It's a fundamental reason why people don't know what Dems stand for. We'll see though, he has a month and a half not to blow it, but don't expect Rahm to seriously lead a counterattack when the GOP starts pulling their last minute dirty tricks. It just won't happen.

[Rowdyboy]

3. I have no problem with Rahm Emmanuel or the DLC but James Clyburn has....

earned the job and he deserves it, even if Dems win back the house this year...I don't hate Rahm like many do, but I also think his fans FARRRR over-rate him. He's not nearly so smart as he thinks he is, and he CERTAINLY does not deserve a promotion over Clyburn just for his work running this years congressional campaigns. Its been good , but not that good.

[snowbear]

4. Hmm... I'll have to check him out ... BTW....

Didn't Rahm already say that when his term is up soon, that he didn't plan to run again? I could've sworn I heard him say that on one of the talking-heads... :shrug:

[Rowdyboy]

6. IF the Dems retake the house, then Speaker Pelosi will have to deal with

a fight for Majority Leader, between current whip Steny Hoyer and John Murtha. The race for the new majority whip would be between Emmanuel and Clyburn. Clyburn has seniority-Emmanuel, hopefully, will have helped elect a Democratic majority congress.

Personally, I'm for Clyburn. I like Rahm, but he wants too much too soon. James Clyburn deserves his turn in the limelight-Rahm is young and can afford to wait for awhile.