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In reply to the discussion: A thread in support of ousting Third Wayer Rahm Emanuel [View all]RiverLover
(7,830 posts)10. Heck yeah, I'm in!
(repost)
by Bill Curry
Salon
3/1/2015
...In 1995 I came to work in the Clinton White House and for a time dealt with Rahm on a daily basis. For a White House staffer he seemed strangely inarticulate. (It may explain some, though obviously not all, of the profanity.) When he spoke it was almost always about tactics; almost never about policy.
Two things about him stood out. One was the contempt he heaped on unions and liberals. I thought if he were ever caught on tape it would seriously damage the president and be the end of Rahm. Some later claimed to regard these rants as performance art but even at close range they seemed real enough to me. In any case I never heard him say an unkind word about the rich.
Most striking was the viciousness of his personal attacks, often over trivial things. He famously sent a pollster a dead fish wrapped in a newspaper in lore a mafia death notice for being late with a report.
...In Congress he hewed right on economic and fiscal policy and was a hawk on defense. As Obamas chief of staff he purged Clinton-era liberals, which resulted in a team of economic advisers more conservative than that of any Democratic president since Grover Cleveland. Whether following their advice or his own instincts, Obama ditched ethics reform, aid to homeowners with bad mortgages, a minimum wage hike and the public option; a disastrous set of choices from which he never fully recovered.
Through it all Rahm cultivated his image as a ruthless operative. By the time he got to be mayor of Chicago he was the Keyser Soze of the Democratic Party, shrouded in legend, a guy who if you crossed him would slit your throat as you slept. It was a reputation he relished....
...The race confuses Washington. Its a colorless town and for years Rahm was its most colorful figure, a source not just of news but of dark comic relief. Reporters imbibe the views of politicians who think the rules of the game immutable. This week even the astute E.J. Dionne compared Rahm to Bill de Blasio, a hero to progressives, calling it mildly ironic that left of center voters would give Rahm such a hard time.
Many progressives dont get it either. If you put them all on Sodium Pentothal and asked if grass-roots politics can still beat big money, my hunch is theyd say no. Many pray the party will reform itself. Obamas late awakening fans that flame. But if you want to know how likely that is, peruse the numbingly vacant report the DNC issued last week allegedly laying out its vision. Frederick Douglass said it best. Power concedes nothing without a demand.
On April 7 pay-to-play politics goes on trial in Chicago. The voters will be the judges. Crowell says holding Rahm accountable was a victory in itself, but she knows now its a fight they can win. For sure its an uphill climb, but then just last week it was impossible.
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/01/rahm_emanuels_moment_of_reckoning_how_he_ended_up_in_a_fight_for_his_political_life/
Two things about him stood out. One was the contempt he heaped on unions and liberals. I thought if he were ever caught on tape it would seriously damage the president and be the end of Rahm. Some later claimed to regard these rants as performance art but even at close range they seemed real enough to me. In any case I never heard him say an unkind word about the rich.
Most striking was the viciousness of his personal attacks, often over trivial things. He famously sent a pollster a dead fish wrapped in a newspaper in lore a mafia death notice for being late with a report.
...In Congress he hewed right on economic and fiscal policy and was a hawk on defense. As Obamas chief of staff he purged Clinton-era liberals, which resulted in a team of economic advisers more conservative than that of any Democratic president since Grover Cleveland. Whether following their advice or his own instincts, Obama ditched ethics reform, aid to homeowners with bad mortgages, a minimum wage hike and the public option; a disastrous set of choices from which he never fully recovered.
Through it all Rahm cultivated his image as a ruthless operative. By the time he got to be mayor of Chicago he was the Keyser Soze of the Democratic Party, shrouded in legend, a guy who if you crossed him would slit your throat as you slept. It was a reputation he relished....
...The race confuses Washington. Its a colorless town and for years Rahm was its most colorful figure, a source not just of news but of dark comic relief. Reporters imbibe the views of politicians who think the rules of the game immutable. This week even the astute E.J. Dionne compared Rahm to Bill de Blasio, a hero to progressives, calling it mildly ironic that left of center voters would give Rahm such a hard time.
Many progressives dont get it either. If you put them all on Sodium Pentothal and asked if grass-roots politics can still beat big money, my hunch is theyd say no. Many pray the party will reform itself. Obamas late awakening fans that flame. But if you want to know how likely that is, peruse the numbingly vacant report the DNC issued last week allegedly laying out its vision. Frederick Douglass said it best. Power concedes nothing without a demand.
On April 7 pay-to-play politics goes on trial in Chicago. The voters will be the judges. Crowell says holding Rahm accountable was a victory in itself, but she knows now its a fight they can win. For sure its an uphill climb, but then just last week it was impossible.
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/01/rahm_emanuels_moment_of_reckoning_how_he_ended_up_in_a_fight_for_his_political_life/
We have to kick this dirty rethug to the curb. Then follow it with kicking the rest of the rethugs who've infiltrated the Democratic party OUT. We just have to demand it.
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Rahm isn't a "third-wayer". He's a Republican in Democratic clothing. Period. eom
BlueCaliDem
Mar 2015
#1
"a mindset that stated that the traditional championing of the labor/working class base was
ND-Dem
Mar 2015
#81
Ike was a business republican and he was better than third wayers. Didn't want to ship jobs
ND-Dem
Mar 2015
#80
Eisenhower and Nixon need to be viewed in the context of FDR's massive victories and
merrily
Mar 2015
#102
like i said; that may well be, but the republicans of the time had to talk democratic, and
ND-Dem
Mar 2015
#103
On the one hand, it's no surprise who feels most like voting does not matter. On the other hand,
merrily
Mar 2015
#104
Knocked it out of the park and rang a church bell with it a 100 miles away!
TheKentuckian
Mar 2015
#84
That is probably a good definition. In Arkansas we went from conservative Democrats to
LiberalArkie
Mar 2015
#118
Especially in California. Republicans run as Democrats but vote consistently Republican in the House
BlueCaliDem
Mar 2015
#122
I wonder who is behind this Chicago Gang. I know Penny Pritzker is involved, but
rhett o rick
Mar 2015
#7
A Chicago thing. +big donor Penny Pritzker of Hilton (& Superior Bank), Wall St., Rubin et al.
appalachiablue
Mar 2015
#51
more of a ferret than an ordinary weasel, note the dark mask around the eyes
HereSince1628
Mar 2015
#14
ferrets don't brag about fucking over their own core voters after we elect them, so
whereisjustice
Mar 2015
#41
Feigning ignorance about conservatives running for office, I suppose that's a Third Way to do it.
whereisjustice
Mar 2015
#97
Hey, if it's not in your backyard, leave it for the people who can buy it, no?
AllyCat
Mar 2015
#100
Ah, that alerter wasn't offended by the word, but by criticism of a 3rd wayer.
Divernan
Mar 2015
#114
This thread is more to support Chicago residents in kicking him out of office.
RiverLover
Mar 2015
#13
I'll support that every day of the week, all year long, every year, and twice on Sunday.
LWolf
Mar 2015
#34
Centrists claim it's simply pragmatic to call torture a noble expression of patriotism, after all
whereisjustice
Mar 2015
#39
This is the Democratic Underground , We support Dem's Here What do you want Ted Cruz for Mayor?
bahrbearian
Mar 2015
#48
How about a thread supporting protection of the franchise. ...so the citizens of
msanthrope
Mar 2015
#50
How about a thread attacking elected Republicans for a change. Funny how the OP'er never does that.
KittyWampus
Mar 2015
#60
DLC - Third Way - Rahm Emanuel - Hillary Rodham Clinton - A Pox On Their Houses
cantbeserious
Mar 2015
#70
Currently the poll results are a dead heat, so naturally Rahm by a landslide.
AtheistCrusader
Mar 2015
#111
I don't believe Emanuel can be an effective mayor or other elected official........
RationalMan
Mar 2015
#132