President-Elect Obama (*ding*) is well-known for his habit of wanting to hear opposing viewpoints. Unlike presidents-elect of the past, we cannot really judge what President Obama will do based on the people who surround him. He's a smart man with an open mind but he clearly knows Wright from Rahm right from wrong, so I don't think picking Rahm to be his Chief of Staff is that big a deal. He's bridging gaps and all that stuff he promised to. Bridging gaps doesn't prevent him from doing the other things he promised.

No, but it's the hammer by which change is effected.

I think Emmanuel's a dick. But a nice-nice Obama Administration isn't going to get anything done.

My sense is that Obama is highly pragmatic and will have a center-left administration. I think he will disappoint a lot of progressives.

But I think that his administration will be competent and will pay attention to fact and science. It's sad that any of these are noteworthy, but right now, they are.

Ah, but there's some nice refreshing kool-aid available under the brand name "Obama's just doing that in order to..."

In this case the flavor de jour is "... get him out of the House and under control."

I expect many new and varied flavors of that brand of kool-aid to go on sale shortly.

Yes, Obama's vastly better than McSame... but don't something into him things that weren't there to begin with.

Obama and Emanuel are the products of a generation of Democrats that were basically pistol-whipped into submission by the Republican party... before the Rethugs gained control, took the gloves off, and began ass-raping everyone and everything in sight.

Obama in legislature is a moderate or centrist Republican from decades ago who now seeks a non-existant middle ground... ground that ak lies alwayd turns out to lie just outside the Rethug doorstep. And Emanuel is supposed to be a "fighter"... but acts as a brittle abuse victim who lashes out at his abusers but actually fights only to hold what he has and keep the nightmares at bay... and that means constant capitulation to his abusers.

Yes, Obama's campaign notwithstanding, the Dems as a party are still pretty messed up and will only move forward under external pressure... and that pressure had better come from us.

... talk about messed up... my previous post seems to have had... problems

... maybe an editing buffer was loaded into the comment field instead of the edited text itself...?

let's see if it happens again...

Just remember who put you in office Barack; Howard Dean and his fifty state strategy. Rahm was the wrong choice.

Something that may be overlooked in many of President Obama's selections is, that when he said he would "work across the aisle", it wasn't the usual background political buzz that every politician says and rarely means. He actually meant it. I think that will mean those with divergent ideas within the party as well as republicans.

I agree, Brad, this Emmanuel fellow does not look like a good pick to be chief of staff! I would have thought Obama would choose Plouffe, the guy who ran his campaign masterfully without creating any resentments. This guy looks like a martinet and a future Dick Morris generator.

Don't fret, Rahm is a cry baby victim anyway, he wont make it either way

That's the influence of Mr.TC Z at work for your friendly middle-class hating Wall St round table psychopaths.

Great caption. I'll say one thing for mccain/palin..they sure weren't stingy in supplying material for puns & parody. Amazingly generous, in fact!
Maybe it's just me, but that picture needs a thought-bubble for Obama: "Ooooh...what was I THINKING?!"

I am completely disgusted with this. I wanted him out of the House, but not into the White House. Emanuel makes my skin crawl.

Some readers forget that the neo-con Emanuel refused to give Clint Curtis any bucks to run against Feeney in 2004 and Emaneul wouldn't give any other anti-Iraq war Democrats any bucks to run either.

Ya know, during the campaign it was a good thing O didn't listen to people who wanted him to this and do that...he followed his own course and won in the end. If he runs the country like he ran his campaign, we will flourish. I voted for Obama...I trusted his judgment to do the right thing in his campaign for office, and I trust his judgment to do what is right for the country now. Let him do his job and quit micro-managing his every step.

Sorry, there's more...we lucked out this time, but nothing has changed. There is alot of work to be done on HAVA. No one should be intimidated, suppressed, or lied to, to vote. Will anybody be arrested or jailed for throwing out voter names, or registration forms?? Probably not. We all need to contact our congressmen to repeal HAVA for real election reform without the machines.

Mugzi... wrong.

You're confusing the politician with the campaign. He ran an extraordinary campaign that broke the Dem's self-defeating 50% +1 strategy... and that's one thing.

HE ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE FISA CAPITULATION AND LED THE BAILOUT CAPITULATION JUST SO THOSE ISSUES WOULDN'T BE USED AGAINST HIS CAMPAIGN.

And that was something else.

(did you forget those small items?)

Don't confuse the politician with the campaign.

At best we'll have to watch him like hawks...

#15, I beg to differ...the campaign is the politician, just as the McCain campaign was McCain. Can you honestly think of McCain in any other light than what we just experienced?? Do I trust McCain's judgment after what we experienced with Palin?? No, McCain is his campaign. Obama knows these people and again I have to trust his judgment to do the right thing for the country. Rumor Bobby Kennedy for a possible position with EPA. Personally, yes I think that would be a good thing...he is certainly knowledgable with environmental issues as well as a passion for our environment. #15, while I can understand your passion too, I usually do not respond to yelling..

Gee Brad, you couldn't let Rush Limpballs and the rest of the kahn talking heads do the post election slam down? You had to jump in too, not even 24 hours into this historic event. If you wanted a Progressive black president maybe you should have voted for Al Sharpton when you got the chance.

The first time Obama reaches across the aisle and comes back with a bloody stump he will quickly learn that there's no such thing as working with rethuglicans. Also, he can expect a sharp stab in the back from any kahns he actually brings into his administration, something I'm hoping he really won't do.

The Chief of Staff is the office closest to the presidents. He needs a "pitbull' in there, someone he trusts, A LOYAL FRIEND, someone who has his back no matter what. This should really be his choice and above criticism.

Lighten up Brad. Maybe Obama isn't a perfect choice in your narrow view, but consider the alternative. Drink a beer, take a beat. Once Obama actually takes office then you'll have four years to slam away.

Pathetic Brad, as if Rahm can't follow orders from his boss?

You are a pip!

So good to see the support so early on. Pretty clear what we can expect from you in the future. . .

There will be old and new folks in government. Kinda stupid to think only fresh untainted blood will grace the Obama administration.

Man up and give the guy a chance - understand Barack will make mistakes and he will not do everything to suit your fancy and learn to live with it or you will lose readship. IMO

The headline says it all. Emanuel is Republican-Lite. From a Sam Seder article about the 2006 election campaign:

It is clear that the DLC did not want certain issues brought to the Democratic House caucus, including 911 Truth (Bowman), pre-911 screw ups (Rowley), voting machine fraud (Curtis), and congressional pederasty (Patty Wetterling, 6th Minnesota district). One can only wonder why the DLC would want to eschew candidates who the Bush administration would find extremely uncomfortable. The answer is simple --- the Republicans and DLC are basically one and the same. Similar foreign and domestic policy goals put them in bed with one another. Its no more complicated than that.

Link

Wow... I can understand Mugzi's subject change considering the flatly unassailable evidence of what Obama did to us re FISA et al... but terrikh's "Al Sharpton" and "learning curve" swerve and the "I iz Gatekeepers" meme of capt are just hilarious.

Major Dem capitulations can be laid at the doorstep of Hoyer and Emanuel, and Obama caved more than his fair share and now the sudden switch from the concepts of "Accountability Now" and "Eternal Vigilance" to "But they're our planes now" and "Don't Rock The Boat..."

"It is as always..."

Wilburrr... Not Ready To Make Nice Perhaps Never . . . The only thing that better cross that fucking isle is a shod hoof !!!

Emanuel Rahm = POS. Bad portent for the future. Never forget he refused to back anti-war candidates in 2004.

Barrr...ack ~ Vet them well ... the rest of you Dems keep it in your pants!

Remember the Arabian proverb: "Keep your friends close - hold your enemies closer."

Now Rahm Emanuel must answer to Obama rather than Pelosi.

The job Chief of Staff is like the job of Executive Secretary. S/he is responsible for managing the agenda of the President [of the "company."]

I'm with Mugzi on this.

I also want to point out that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. [rumored to be an Obama favored choice for head of the EPA] is also one of the most powerful spokespersons for Election Protection/Integrity.

I think his appointment to Obama's cabinet would be one of the most important.

Pfeh, Kira. I thought of that proverb instantly too, but Emanuel is a hateful piece of work. He didn't "answer to Pelosi" except in the most technical sense. We didn't pick Hillary and this is one of the prime reasons we didn't pick her. Obama's doing this purely to get the Israel Lobby off his back. Period.

Well ... I'm going to wait and see what happens. I'm too worn out from the torturous past 5 years. I'm officially subscribing to the glass half full doctrine.

If all fails, look for me on Split beach.

While Obama will no doubt have a more centrist administration when you consider what we have been subjected to the past 8 years (Extreme Reich wing Neofascist) then centrist will seem like far left.

Also unlike the current nut bag in chief which is a complete moron, Obama is very intelligent, Iam sure he has his reasons.

I think this is a good article written by Rob Kall at OpEd News:

Emerging from the Bush/Cheney Cloud to Face PPPTSD and Learned Helplessness

...We've been suffering from Political, Partisan Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-- PPPTSD.

...Suddenly, with Obama's win, the clouds have cleared, light has shown through and the future's possibilities are very different. As we crawl out of our Bush/Cheney "fallout shelters" and other assorted emotional holes in the ground, it is understandable that some of us may wince or flich at any sudden movements, have flashbacks, have difficulty trusting, have moments of anger, panic or fear.

Now, as editor in-chief of opednews.com, I have been facing commenters who are angry, negative and who believed nothing would change regardless who was elected. Now, they are saying that nothing HAS changed. In some ways, they're demonstrating symptoms of learned helplessness, even though things may now, suddenly, be very different.

More at link.

Cute...

... now how does that mix with the reality that Obama helped trash the Constitution for political advantage and therefore seems likely to reinforce the damage... or even repeat the process?

Will you begin describing those of us who say watch carefully and question thoroughly as now suffering from "Obama Derangement Syndrome"?

Then I might as well label the "Don't Question!" crowd as a bunch of @#!^#$@# sycophants-in-the-making... but I don't. But this panglossian routine does seem awfully familiar...

And... just why are (some of) you so upset that others question?

Now if he would just pick Pelosi for something maybe we could finally get some investigations going.

Gee, Zap. I believe you've misconstrued my post #29. If you read the article I linked to I think you'll see it is very much different from your take on it.

I certainly am not upset with others questioning ... neither is Rob Kall [the author of the article] who has been critical of both parties Dem & Repub.

Maybe I should have included this paragraph [below] but I was trying stay within copy/paste limits according to Bradblog Rules.

Another paragraph from the Rob Kall article linked in #29.

Today, the positive psychology listserve group brought a study to my attention which showed that if people anticipated a positive experience, they'd experience health benefits. That reminded me of one of the factors involved in a model of happiness skills I'd described in the anatomy of positive experience. Basically, the model suggested that people could build their happiness skills by planning and anticipating postiive experiences. I think this also applies to those people who are suffering from PPPTSD.

Thank you so much, Kira, for not going crazy on the copy and paste boogie. I swear, sometimes I can't fathom the outrageous amounts of copy and pastes showing up... as though nobody would mind scrolling till their fingers fell off, or as though bandwidth were free, or as though people who were interested wouldn't just click the link and read it all fine and dandy.

I was all set to reap the health benefits of a positive attitude for a whole day, and already this Rahm thing is threatening my positive outlook badly. Obama himself admits his ambivalence thing, though he kind of likes it, and I seriously hate it. Seems to me he exposes himself really badly when he finally comes down on one side or the other of his fence sitting. He doesn't have a record of standing firm against measurable opposition on some really crucial matters, and so despite everyone's wishes to give him the benefit of the doubt, there is a demonstrated tendency to sell people out for political expediency that really upsets me. That's NOT a bipartisan spirit. It's a politically astute spirit.

99 - I know. I can't second guess anymore - my head is going to explode if I don't adopt the glass half full approach.

I do pray Obama puts RFK, Jr. in his cabinet. I wrote RFK today to express my boundless delight that he might be head of the EPA and spokesperson for Election Integrity/Protection activists.

99 - Ezra Klein at American Prospect does pro & con re: Rahm. The comments are very thought provoking. I enjoyed.

Yuh, a bunch more "balanced" people talking who undoubtedly agree on things like some cave dwellers with box cutters blew up the towers and getting Rabin and Arafat to shake hands is devotion to peace in the Middle East. I recognize that Obama's need for a tough Chief of Staff could make people look at Rahmbo, but Daschle would certainly have been way tough enough if that was his mandate. We want honest, decent people in that White House, and I don't think Emanuel is either of those things, especially not honest. He doesn't mind playing seriously dirty, and he's put his weight behind too many crummy people. I seriously hate this first appointment.

I agree about Rahm. I've actually despised him over the last few years. But I'm withholding judgment until I see what happens in January.

After watching the way Obama ran his campaign, I can't imagine him allowing people on his team who persist in lying. Obama also, reportedly, doesn't approve of leakers. I hope he's made that clear to RE. If only I could be a fly on the wall...

And, yes, those who believe the OCT boggle my mind but until that story is pursued by the CM$M, I'm afraid it will be the handful of us who must keep that fire & narrative going. Thank God Obama won instead of McCain. We do at least have a chance now.

I personally want 2 things at the top of Obama's To Do - Restore our Civil Liberties and authorize the Justice Dept. to undertake a full criminal investigation of gwb et al.

Of course we're in the middle of a recession and possible total financial meltdown plus a giant grab bag of serious problems [not the least of which is the stacked courts] - gwb's gifts that keep on giving.

I hope Bugliosi finds his lawyer & the right judge.

I like Rahm. After years (decades?) of spineless Democrats, we need a hatchet man. A real hatchet man, one not afraid to bash heads and fight.

Let's see some Republicans bleed, for a change.

Ancient, thanks for reminding me to watch today's [11/6] DN.

And here's a snippet about Rep. Emanuel's contributers:

http://www.opensecrets.o...-for-chief-of-staff.html

Or this one about his devotion to peace in the Middle East:

http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh10242006.html

or this one with even more details about his political prowess:

http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh10142006.html

maybe rahms appointment tell us that the same neo con crowd that controls the machines, is back inside. can conspiracy theories be compartmentalized?

Wilburrr... ~ I beginning to think Rahmbo may be an excellent selection! Lets get in the way back machine and go back to 1992 when Bill Clinton started ... the fucking repupliKKKans allowed him NO honeymoon and were on his ass on day one thus crippling his presidency from the start ther was Vince foster and then he lost the house and then there was the most Famous Felicio in the history of the mankind.

...and if you don't think that fucked up things for him and dragged him to the right your as dumb as sarah palin. But the man still got a lot good stuff accomplished or at least he held back some of the gop's corruption .

2000 ~ the Deserter in Queef was installed by the Kangaroo Scotus and the scroteless dems just drooled all over them selves.
(and some still are...)

2008 ~ The gop (Greedy Old Perverts) are ramping up for another 1992 scenario ~ If you don't think so ... just spend a few hours listening right wing talk radio (and the callers) if ya can stand it ... they are preparing like Ali and Frasier to do some Lefty subversion and ass kicking in earnest ... Well begun is important.

Within 24 hour of Obama Winning the election WTKK(K)'s jay severin III said "we're working on impeachment!" the he said in response to Obama's plea "I want you help" severin said " _ _ _ _ YOU ! in essence FUCK YOU!

So I'll take Rahmbo any day!