I'm not happy with Obama's choice of Rahm Emanuel

[Geek_Girl]

I don't like the DLC and have made no bones about it. But Obama deserves the right to choose cabinet members that are going to help him govern best. We elected him to office because we trust his judgment and so far he's earned that trust handily.

I'm imagine his choice for Rahm had more to do with a desire to have opinions and voices across the political spectrum. I imagine that there will be other cabinet choices I won't be happy with and some I will be happy with. But the sense I'm getting is that the President Elect is wanting surround himself with smart intelligent people with varying political views so he's not stuck in the kind of idealogical bubble that George W Bush seemed to be stuck in for the past 8 years.

This is not a bad thing IMHO though it does sting a little.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The Chief of Staff isn't a cabinet member

and he doesn't make policy. It's essentially an administrative position. You need somebody who knows how the White House works.

[prostock69]

67. He also decides who gets to see the pres.

Obama is going to need a pitbull (in a tutu) LOL! to keept the dems at bay. He picked him because he gets thing done. Obama is not going to be like Bush: Get into office, kick his feet up, then lite a cigar. He's going to hit the ground running. I'm loving his pick. Plus he's hot! meow!

[JuniperLea]

2. Well said

Very well said.

It does sting. It's like when your mom makes you shake hands with the kid down the street who just gave you a shiner.

[napoleon_in_rags]

3. He's expressed that his major task is to be a unifier.

And I think he's right. I wouldn't be surprised to see republicans on his cabinet as well, to be honest.

[Leopolds Ghost]

15. Anti-union, anti-industrial jobs, anti-New Deal, pro-war Republicans?

That is the DLC agenda and any "loyal Dem" who isn't aware of that needs to pay more attention.

[Greyhound]

4. According to an insider account on one of the other threads, this appointment was payback

for his help during the primaries. If so, it will be an easy task to burn him out and kick him down the road.

[Elidor]

6. I wish to subscribe to your newsletter n/t

[Greyhound]

11. Here's the reply...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4386444&mesg_id=4388750

After reading this, I'm cautiously optimistic about the near future, we'll see about the rest. As for the names floated for Sec of Treasury, I'm choosing to believe they are just rumors.
:kick:

[katty]

51. looks like payback-hopefully Obama keeps Rahm on a tight leash

[Greyhound]

60. I'm going to wait and see. My initial reaction to this is negative, but

Obama is very smart and has a good reason for this, I hope.

Political payback is legitimate, if repellent, and perhaps the "bad cop theory" is accurate. If nothing else it gets that creep out of the House, so for now we'll see.

[peace13]

5. Most of the time I am not happy with Obama...

I want him to hit back, put people in their place but hey he never does and guess what, he won the Presidency. I am so glad that he didn't listen to me! Peace, Kim

[Poll_Blind]

7. I hear ya, GG, but remember: Unlike Bush, Obama is his own man.

  That's never been as true in my lifetime as it is now, for him. Expect to see him working, sometimes very closely, with those that we like and sometimes dislike greatly. But realize that Barack is his own man. He has a poweful intelect. He is charming, clever and witty. He will make everyone who works with him feel important and useful. But at the end of the day, he's going to be making his own calls.

  I don't like the DLC either. I detest their tactics and their Republican-lite playbook and political focus.

  But Obama is not DLC, his message is not DLC, and I don't worry that whatever calls he makes will be his alone.

  He's a politician, but he doesn't "play politics". The best example of this was this article (regarding "street money" in Philadelphia) from the L.A. Times. It's not very long and it's a fascinating look into what Barack isn't willing to do to get votes. He did exactly the opposite of what Kerry and Clinton did- and he won.

PB

[rsweets]

58. Agreed,, REALLY strong individuals are not afraid of other strong individuals

[orleans]

8. IBTL.

link?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4388403

[TexasObserver]

9. He might not take the job, and rumor is he has other ambitions.

Even if he does take the job, he'll be doing Obama's bidding, not the reverse.

Competence is the key.

[Pastiche423]

10. It SUCKS

Not a good start. In fact, a really lousy one.

:thumbsdown:

[Behind the Aegis]

12. So you don't like him because he is DLC?

Is that the only reason? I have to ask, as you you stated: "I'm not happy with Obama's choice of Rahm Emanuel, yet gave no reason for your dislike. So, is it because he is associated with the DLC? And if so, why?

[JVS]

13. Association with the DLC is a reason.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. That wasn't the answer to my question.

Edit:

So what is your problem with this appointment (as you are not the OP)?

[Leopolds Ghost]

16. Why NOT?

You're not hostile to the DLC agenda, BTAe?

[Behind the Aegis]

18. What is the DLC agenda?

[Leopolds Ghost]

19. Ending the industrial economy in favor of a FIRE economy; Ending the new deal; social issues.

Appeal to the professional class as the new party base
(top 20 percent who made over $60 K ten years ago, or $120 K post-Greenspan era inflation)

Alienate "special interests" (blacks and unions) EXCEPT when they vote against social issues the Blue Dogs oppose (Mideast Peace; Gay marriage; Affirmative action; fuck it -- the DLC only cares about abortion, education, and secularism.)

[Behind the Aegis]

20. "FIRE" economy?

I don't know that acronym (FIRE).

"Blue Dogs oppose (Mideast Peace; Gay marriage; Affirmative action; " According to whom?

"the DLC only cares about abortion, education, and secularism.)" huh?

[JHB]

25. FIRE: Finance, Insurance, Real Estate

In other words, the part of the economy that doesn't produce anything, ideally helps facilitate the other parts which DO produce, and without regulation has a history of periodically blowing itself to bits from falling for swindlers.

[Behind the Aegis]

55. Thank you. Hadn't heard that acronym.

[Romulox]

26. Deregulation, "free trade" w/ no human rights or environmental controls, Wall Street bailout

opposition to universal healthcare, etc.

Basically, indistinguishable from the John McCain platform (save some of the "culture war" issues...)

[harun]

34. Republican economics (in two words)

[Individualist]

61. also warmongers and anti-progressive.

They want the Democratic Party to be nothing more than a subservient branch of the republicans.

[TWiley]

17. Kennedy and Lincoln both tried that

Unfortunately, evil won that debate by trading inside information. Remember, the Fundamentalist Conservatives really did declare war on "us" and they mean every nasty word of it. To them, liberals are not human, and Jesus loves them more.

I hope Obama will stay smart, stay safe, and will surround himself with folks who have a legitimate opinion, and avoid the same fringes that dominated the bushtapo.

[JCMach1]

21. Obama is a CENTRIST regardless of what the Right-Wing

Mouthpieces say...

He is going to piss off a lot of DUers before he is finished with his cabinet!

[LostinVA]

22. Me eiether-- but it isn't a surprise

Neiether Obama nor Biden are "liberal Democrats." I expect his Staff and Cabinet to be full of DLCers, or "unofficial" DLCers like teh two of them. Most Americans are centrists. I deplore it, but it's not a surprise.

[JHB]

23. I'll say this: I'd rather be unhappy with his appointments but satisfied with his results...

...than "winning" the appointments but losing the actual policy decisions.

So the thing to do is keep the pressure on for the policies, no matter who's on staff.

[Romulox]

24. The "diverse viewpoints" meme is losing steam. Where are the LIBERALS surrounding Obama?

On the Right, he's got:

Jason Furman
Austan Goolsbee
Rahm Emmanuel
Larry Summers
Colin Powell

On the Left, he's got:

???

[cali]

28. well, as long as you're including rumored appointments

it's rumored that he's got:

RFK Jr.
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg
John Kerry

[Romulox]

30. I was thinking more of supporters of working people, not noblesse oblige types...

John Kerry isn't exactly a "chicken in every pot" type, for example.

[politicasista]

53. Kerry and Obama have similar views when it comes to foreign policy

There is no one (besides Sen. Clinton and Dean) that has worked harder to get Obama elected than Senator Kerry.

He has the respect of many international leaders. And there is no lawmaker alive that has exposed more government corruption than Kerry.

It's not up to us. We can agree to disagree, but whomever Obama picks, it's HIS choice. It means he trusts him or her period. Who is your pick?

Interesting you complain there are no liberals surrounding Obama, yet Kerry is a liberal and Obama's best surrogate, but that's not good enough you.

[Alcibiades]

35. I really hope he taps RFK Jr. for something

That would more than make up for Emanuel.

[bdamomma]

39. Bill Richardson too.

He's on that list.

[Romulox]

65. Another Clinton retread DLCer... nt

[Obamarama]

27. What the fuck? One day in and you're already bitching?

If you got to go to tea with the Queen of England, you'd probably bitch and moan about the lumps in the sugar. I wondered how long it would be before people started whining about this or that. Didn't take very long I can see.

[watercolors]

31. My thoughts too!

Are we going to go thru this with every pick? GEEEeezz!

[MessiahRp]

46. So wait just because Obama's a Democrat we have to like every single thing he does?

The OP said they disliked the choice but supports him on it, what's the big deal.

I hate to tell you this because it may not be what you want to hear but it is our job to keep Obama accountable. Obama himself would have it no other way. We need to speak up if we disagree, even if it's on trivial stuff so he knows where we stand just as much as the other side will. Obama himself said even if he disagrees with us he will listen and there should be no shame in speaking up when you disagree with his decisions.

Emanuel has been a hawkish, pro-war Democrat who has also used his DCCC to railroad liberals out of Democratic primaries in favor of center-right Dems. He deserves the scrutiny he's receiving here.

But as the OP said, it is Obama's decision and not his last for his Administration positions. I'm sure we'll get some great progressives and I'm certain we'll have some Republicans on board. I can easily see Chuck Hagel and Colin Powell being a part of this Administration.

Doesn't mean we have to like them though and I tend to believe Obama knows and respects our opinions and disagreements on these things just as much as he appreciates when people agree with him.

This is not George W. Bush. Differing opinions are welcomed here.

After all that's supposed to be the great hallmark of Obama... his willingness and eagerness to listen to the other side.

Rp

[Obamarama]

68. I couldn't agree with you MORE......

It would be nice if we could bask in victory for ONE OR TWO FUCKING DAYS before we start bitching and moaning and picking apart. Bitching one day in is a bit much if you ask me. There's FOUR FUCKING YEARS to critique. I'm sure I'll be doing some of the critiquing along the way, too. But Jesus on a trailer hitch, there's something to be said about sitting back, taking a breather from the negativity for a few days and reveling in a long-fought victory after a difficult challenge.

[NYC Liberal]

29. Yes he put Emanuel in as Chief of Staff, but RFK Jr. is already in the run for the cabinet!

Obama is smart. He's going to have a wide variety of opinions in his staff and cabinet, because he not only wants diversity, he doesn't want yes-men like Bush!

This is a good thing.

[theboss]

32. He's not a Cabinet member

He's Chief of Staff.

His job is to make sure that everyone gets to work on time and does their job.

Considering that he is a tyrant, he will probably be pretty good at that.

[harun]

33. It is unavoidable Obama will have a few DLC'rs in there, hopefully it is very FEW

[QC]

36. Obama's top economic advisor is the DLC's official economist.

Yes, Austan Goolsbee is both the Obama campaign's top economist and the DLC's top economist. At the same time.

So it is nothing new for the DLC to have influence within the Obama camp, and I'm not sure how someone could be shocked by this.

[OHDEM]

37. Clearly, we're not all going to agree with every choice...

Obama makes. It's great that we can engage and we can and SHOULD hold his feet to the fire on important issues.

I do think that the Chief of Staff should probably be someone who is an insider in Washington who can get things done and Rahm fits that bill. I think Obama knows him pretty well personally and trusts him as well.

[bdamomma]

38. Well it is Obama's choice who he wants.

who else would you suggest for his Chief of Staff if it wasn't Emmanuel.

Well, he's got to make a few more appointments and we won't be happy with all of them, but Obama knows what he is doing.

Well he offered Dick Lugar something and he said thanks but no thanks. Next.

[nolabels]

40. Rahm Emanuel is the antidote to Lieberman

There is obviously several things being targeted with a Rahm Emanuel appointment so early. Do not underestimate how crafty and sly Obama really is. Obama did not get where he is by making a whole lot of mistakes :shrug:

[unblock]

41. rahm is a no nonsense, get-things-done kind of guy, which is what obama needs in a chief of staff

first, obama was never going to be particularly liberal.

second, we should remain far more concerned with what congress will do than with what obama's staff will do. if the republicans in the senate filibuster everything until they get some of their right-wing poison into every piece of legislation, or if the power center among democrats in congress is overly conservative, that has far more bearing on things than any one or few executive appointments.

[kath]

47. Agree that Obama is no liberal. Disappointing as it is, I think the sooner people realize that (or

remember it) the better off we'll be. No point in having our hopes too high. He is far, far better than any Republican would have been, and that will have to be enough, for many of us.

Let's hope that eventually (and the quicker the better!) the Democratic Party can get back to what it used to be -- the party for working people and the poor. Enough of the corporatist Repub-lite bullshit.

[katty]

52. concur, Obama is a centrist/dlc'er and ran on that record

[unblock]

59. largely, but not entirely. steepening income tax progressivity is not exactly a dlc position

my main point was that chief of staff is not the sole arbiter of policy. sure there's power there, but rham's more of a practical, workmanlike guy in that position. he'll efficiently implement obama's policies, whether they're centrist, liberal, or otherwise.

[CoffeeCat]

42. I share your thoughts and concerns....

Rahm Emanuel has been a cheerleader for the Iraq war. He was on "Real Time" several months ago,
and he sounded like a neocon. I wasn't happy.

However, Emanuel appears to be a very powerful mover and shaker--when it comes to leveraging Democrats
and furthering our agenda. He's highly organized and he's got a very persuasive personality. He
seems soft spoken, but I guess he's a real pit pull--when it comes to negotiations and ensuring that
the Democratic agenda is furthered.

Obama isn't making him Secretary of State. Obama is using Emanuel's ability to influence and his leadership
skills. You need a strong, persuasive presence as a chief of staff, and I think Emanuel is a good fit.

Emanuel would serve the President, and if Obama's policy's are to the left of Emanuel's--Emanuel would have
pull with the more conservative and middle-of-the-road Democrats, that Obama would need.

Good fit....but I do share your concerns.

It will be interesting to see Obama's cabinet cobbled together.

[Liberal Dose]

43. Rahm's hemming and hawing and dawdling rather than just saying yes or no is disrespectful to

President Obama, but what do you expect from a "Republican Lite" DLCer. :shrug:

[rudy23]

44. I'm not thrilled about it either, but hey--it gets him out of Congress!

I'd rather have him in an administrative position than an ideological one. I do have some faith that his style will be effective in his position.

I agree that Obama is a centrist at heart, and is going to piss us off numerous times. We have to hold his feet to the fire in an effective manner. I really hope he doesn't echo some of the things Rahm Emanuel has said, because they are Bush-lite, but he's done a great job of thinking in a post-partisan way. This is why he won, so let's see how he carries out his vision before we jump all over him.

[Miss Chybil]

45. You'll get over it, I'm sure.

There will be a lot of things over the next four/eight years you're not going to like and Raum will fade into them.

For me... I've got a very open mind. From what I've seen over the last two years I trust Obama to make the best choices for himself and for us.

[AlCzervik]

48. look he isn't perfect but he's got a pretty good voting record, pro choice, A on veterans care

that has to count for something.

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=33530&type=category&category=61&go.x=10&go.y=10

[elias7]

49. I'm not happy with Obama's choice of pastors

[AmyCamus]

50. How many more Bill Clinton insiders will be named by Obama?

CHANGE! Remember, Barack? You promised CHANGE.

[tjwash]

62. Bill C and his staff are pretty sharp on turning around a horrible economy

So Obama may just want to listen to what they have to say.

[magellan]

54. We get Jesse Jackson Jr. in his seat -- this is WAY OK with me!

It's a good trade-off I think. A progressive Dem who can and I believe will vote his conscience no matter how good Emanuel is at marshaling the troops.

This is from Jackson's website:

“Several years ago, I wrote a book called “A More Perfect Union: Advancing New American Rights.”

“In that book, I proposed new amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments, if adopted, would guarantee all Americans new, affirmative rights. They include:

* a public education of equal high quality,
* comprehensive and universal health care,
* equal pay for woman,
* and a federal voting system to replace the current system that varies in all 50 states – even within the states.

“The current U.S. Constitution makes no mention of education, health care, or equal pay. Indeed, what I am proposing is nothing short of a second American Bill of Rights."

Imagine the Freeper heads exploding!! :)

[magellan]

57. I didn't think this through, and then my connection went down

I'm happy about this because I thought Jesse Jackson Jr would inherit Emanuel's committee seats, but is that the case?

Also, can someone explain how the vacated seat is filled?

[dragonlady]

64. If you mean Barack's seat, that would be great

Rahm was rumored to be among those interested in getting the vacant Senate seat from Illinois. This appointment would clear away one competitor to Jesse Jr.

[magellan]

66. I'm confused (which is really nothing new for me)

Emanuel and Jackson are both Reps, not Senators, right? How does Obama's seat figure into it?

I read that when Emanuel vacates his seat Jackson will take it. From that I had assumed he'd take over Emanuel's committee seats as well, but now I'm not sure. Do you know? And there's still a vacant seat in the House when this shuffle is done, how is that filled?

What I'm hoping is that it leaves room to maybe bring another progressive on board.

[blues90]

56. Why is it mandatory this trust in everything any president believes

I don't like Rahm , never have , never will and if people are not going to question Obamas choices then there is no freedom of speech or expression or independant thought.

All these decisions were made long ago it is only when the people know it is made to seem like they were sudden choices.

I like how Pelosi made the statement that they should govern from the middle then suddenly Rahm accepts the position as this was not all planned out.

Give me a break. And what position will Powell suddenly be handed as if his sudden endorsement was not also planned out well in advance.

It's a game , it's politics but I don't have to like it or agree with it.

[ProfessorGAC]

63. You Really Think Powell Is Getting A Job?

He can't wait to retire. He doesn't want any more gov't positions. Look how well the last one worked!

And, do you really think Obama's dumb enough to bring him in after the debacle at the U.N.?

That's ridiculous.
The Professor