Emanuel, Eyeing Chicago Run, Could Leave the White House in October

[sabra]

Source: TIME

White House aides are preparing for the possibility that Rahm Emanuel may step down as chief of staff as soon as early October if he decides to run for mayor of Chicago, according to a person familiar with deliberations in the West Wing.

One issue hastening the timing of Emanuel's departure is concern over whether he can build a campaign operation while holding down the second most powerful job in the Federal Government. If he chooses to go forward with the mayoral race, Emanuel intends to be sensitive to the fact that his dual role could create the appearance of using his government office to his personal advantage, say two people familiar with internal deliberations.

Like other White House staff, Emanuel has been briefed by the counsel's office about the importance of not using government resources for personal endeavors. In recent days, he has been working the phones of Chicago political and community leaders; he has fielded a poll testing his chances; and he has met with Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., a potential rival in the crowded field. "His consideration of the mayoral race does not interfere with his official obligations, and he is fully aware of all the applicable requirements for conducting these deliberations," says an aide close to Emanuel.

The aide says Emanuel will not make a decision about whether or not to run this week, but was otherwise vague about when the decision would be made — or exactly when he might step down. Congress is scheduled to enter recess on Oct. 8, in advance of the Nov. 2 midterm elections.


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2020705,00.html

[mistertrickster]

1. Run, Rahm, Run. Howard Dean for chief of staff. nt.

[chimpymustgo]

6. Yes. Rahm is gone. Common knowledge here. Dean would be wonderful.

[spartan61]

7. I so agree with your statement!!!!

[Warpy]

12. I doubt it will happen

but Emanuel has been far too effective as DLC propagandist and gatekeeper in the White House. He really needs to go, at least in favor of someone less competent at shielding Obama from non DLC points of view.

[madrchsod]

16. not in a thousand years...

i have a feeling neither man is on the same page

[LibDemAlways]

2. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Rahm. Good riddance.

[begin_within]

3. Run for the border.

[travelingtypist]

4. Oh, please. Oh please.

Run. Rahm, run.

Go the fuck away, asshole.

[CanonRay]

5. Tomorrow is too late

and watch him get his ass kicked by Carol Mosely Brown.

[quakerboy]

8. Why wait?

I mean, why October? Why not now. got some groundwork to lay, some stuff to do if he wants that.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. Obama's gain is our loss I guess. nt

[mikelgb]

10. Well that would be a Happy Halloween indeed!

[flyarm]

11. Hey Rahm..don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out..

you will not be missed..not one iota!

[democrank]

13. Why wait?

[madrchsod]

14. good..he can come back to illinois and get his ass kicked,..

then find himself a fancy corporate job...

he has no clout...illinois just lost another federal program.

[SoapBox]

15. Go away as quickly as possible...Me thinks you turned out to be a LEMON.

Go away and don't come back.

[No Elephants]

17. Are the poll results in? If so, what are they? Anyone know about these men:

"Names that have been floated as possible replacements for Emanuel include Deputy National Security Adviser Tom Donilon; White House legislative strategist Philip Schiliro; White House counsel Bob Bauer; and Ron Klain, the chief of staff for Vice President Joe Biden."

[fadedrose]

18. Biden is Vice President

and he should stay in his job, no matter who thinks somebody else should be Veep....

[Jennicut]

20. Ron Klain worked for Gore as well. He would be a big improvement in my opinion.

Klain was Gore's chief of staff as VP and also advised Kerry before the debates with Bush. He is a very intelligent guy. Tom Donilon worked for Biden for a few years and advised Obama before his debates with McCain but once worked for Fannie Mae. Schiliro and Bauer I don't know much about.

[MetaTrope]

19. This would explain the FBI targeting anti-war activists in Chicago, hm?