Is Obama Screwing His Base with Rahm Emanuel Selection?

[Joanne98]

Obama has asked conservative Clinton vet Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff -- it's not a good sign for progressives.

I had really wanted to celebrate Barack Obama's remarkable victory for a day or so before becoming cynical again. I really did.

And yet, less than 24 hours after the first polls closed, the president-elect chose as his chief of staff -- perhaps the most powerful single position in any administration -- Rahm Emanuel, one of the most conservative Democratic members of Congress.

The chief of staff essentially acts as the president's gatekeeper, determining with whom he has access for advice and analysis. Obama is known as a good listener who has been open to hearing from and considering the perspectives of those on the Left as well as those with a more centrist to conservative perspective. How much access he will actually have as president to more progressive voices, however, is now seriously in question.

Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel is a member of the so-called New Democrat Coalition (NDC), of group of center-right pro-business Congressional Democrats affiliated with the Democratic Leadership Conference, which is dedicated to moving the Democratic Party away from its more liberal and progressive base. Numbering only 58 members out of 236 Democrats in the current House of Representatives, the NDC has worked closely with its Republican colleagues in pushing through and passing such legislation as those providing President Bush with "fast-track" trade authority in order to bypass efforts by labor, environmentalists and other public interest groups to promote fairer trade policy.

Emanuel began his political career as a senior adviser and chief fundraiser for the successful 1989 Chicago mayoral campaign of Richard M. Daley to seize back City Hall from reformists who had challenged the corrupt political machine of this father, Richard J. Daley. Emanuel later became a senior adviser to Bill Clinton at the White House from 1993 to 1998, serving as Assistant to the President for Political Affairs and then Senior Advisor to the President for Policy and Strategy, and was credited with playing a major role in shifting the Clinton administration's foreign and domestic policy agenda to the right. Emanuel was the single most important official involved in pushing through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the bill ending Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and Clinton's draconian crime bill, among other legislation.

Leaving the administration in 1998, Emanuel worked as an investment banker in Chicago, where he amassed an $18 million fortune in less than three years prior to being elected to Congress.

As head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since 2004, Emanuel has promoted pro-war and pro-business center-right candidates against anti-war and pro-labor candidates in the primaries, pouring millions of dollars of donations from Democrats across the country into the campaigns of his favored conservative minions to defeat more progressive challengers.

Emanuel was a major supporter of the Iraq War resolution that authorized the invasion of Iraq. Indeed, he was the only one of nine Democratic members of Congress from Illinois who backed granting Bush this unprecedented authority to invade a country on the far side of the world that was no threat to the United States at the time. Even more disturbingly, when asked by Tim Russert on "Meet the Press" whether he would have voted to authorize the invasion "knowing that there are no weapons of mass destruction," Emanuel answered that he indeed would have done so, effectively acknowledging that his support for the war was not about national security, but about oil and empire. Not surprisingly, he has also voted with the Republicans in support of unconditional funding to continue the Iraq War and has consistently opposed efforts by other Democrats to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. occupation forces from that country and related Congressional efforts to end the war.

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http://www.alternet.org/election08/106189/is_obama_screwing_his_base_with_rahm_emanuel_selection/

It's a good thing I'm a 55 year old woman who's been sold out by almost every Democrat I've ever voted for! Because if I wasn't a 55 year old woman who's been sold out by almost every Democrat I've ever voted for, I would be upset about this! But, thank God I'm a cynical old woman, at this point, so this doesn't surprise me at all! Almost anyway. The speed is a little surprising. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is just a homeboy Chicago thingy. But just in case it isn't the left needs to....

Double down on these issues...

WAR
THE EMPIRE
THE DEFENSE BUDGET
THE HOMELAND SECURITY BUDGET
THE POLICE STATE
THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
ENDING MILTON FRIEDMAN ECONOMICS
KILLING THE WASHINGTON CONSENSUS
KILLING SOCIALISM FOR INVESTMENT BANKERS
KILLING THE OIL COMPANIES

I thought I could forget about politics for a few weeks. Silly me!

[bluestateguy]

1. No

next.

[Demeter]

56. In Fact, He's Doing Us a Favor

By getting Rahm out of Congress, Obama is smoothing the way for change. Rahm will get to use his nastiness in the service of the White House, but NOT to advance his own limited and warped agenda.

[Boo Boo]

66. Yup. That's how I see it.

Rahm is out of Congress, and on a real short leash.

Great pick.

[alarimer]

76. Also Chiefs of Staff never last long.

Or so I've read. I am not sure I even remember the name of Clinton's chief of staff. I am sure there was more than one.

With any luck he won't last the whole term.

[tom_paine]

104. Pretty much my thoughts, too. This could be a smart move. Someone ELSE will head DCCC now.

Maybe it will be someone who is interested in helping Progressives win, not Blue Dog Half-Bushies.

[fascisthunter]

2. Rahm is Not Impartial Enough to Be a Gate Keeper

at least that's what I have gathered from reading about his policy positions, his dislike for liberals and their agendas and his actions. Intersting how politicians always feel the need to bend over backwards in compromising with "conservatives" yet never willing to meet liberals half-way. I have seen this with my own two eyes the last 8 years. And I'm talking about our Democratic Party. I better see more compromising with Progressives and Liberals, because I truly believe this country is much more Liberal/Progressive than DC wants to acknowledge.

[Joanne98]

12. I never really paid attention to Rahm I all remember about him is that strange scene

Where he took credit for the 06' victory. I thought that was wierd. I didn't see him having anything to do with it. It isn't just that he works with conservatives, he works with them on our most important issue. If all this stuff is true he's a nightmare. he doesn't just work with conservatives, he IS a conservative, for Christ's sake. The DLC is full of shit. Our issues are very popular with the public. I'm so sick of being at war with the DLC. They're a CURSE!

[TheWraith]

52. He took credit because he was the head of the D-Triple-C.

Which is the nationwide Democratic congressional campaign. Him, Howard Dean, and Chuck Schumer were the three guys calling the plays for the entire 2006 election.

[TheWraith]

13. You do know that Rahm specializes in stabbing Republicans in the neck, right?

The fact that a lot of them like him despite that is more a tribute to personal qualities than politics.

[Joanne98]

20. That's what I keep hearing.

[still_one]

23. Then give Obama a chance before assuming the worst. There will be plenty of time

to do that if it becomes obvious that he isn't doing what he promised

[Joanne98]

35. Will do.

[still_one]

46. Thanks, and I will be right up there jumping on not only Obama, but Congress

if they don't get us out of Iraq, get a national healthcare plan, preserve social security, medicare, create jobs here, work for a fair and just peace in the middle-east, which includes a two state solution, a Palestinian state, and an Israelli state, etc. etc. etc

[fascisthunter]

38. That's Not my Issue with Him....

what bothers me is that he will have the power to keep liberals/Progressives away from Obama if he choses. His actions, and statements regarding liberal/progressive policies as well as the people supporting them, make me concerned that he will do just that.

[TheWraith]

53. I dare say that Obama's going to make his own decisions.

And despite what a lot of people here act like, being a DLC member is not the same as being a Republican.

[fascisthunter]

69. no...being DLC is worse

and what has almost destroyed our political party in the 90's, which then gave us the ultra right wing and bush for eight long years. Those same DLCers didn't do a damn thing to reign in Bush's power. That's all fact, and I will not be blinded by promises for the future just because people say so. I base my opinions on the actions of these DLCers, not what they say or just because there is a (D) after each name. I thankfully am not beholden to any loyalty to any political party. I place my country, honesty and the People first... when a dem gets out of line, I will say something because it's proactive to do so.

[rcrush]

3. What?

[tyne]

4. Who

is Obama's "base"...for starters?

[JDwho]

5. IMHO, it was a smart move to select Emmanuel. Sorry, that you feel disappointed already.

[still_one]

10. I agree. He has tremendous experience in Congress to get things pushed through

Obama made it very clear that he would be working with a diverse group of people, including those who he doesn't always see eye to eye on every issue

[Joanne98]

18. He's good at pushing things through. That's great. Our things I hope!

[still_one]

27. We will know soon enough /nt

[Cronopio]

86. Like NAFTA. nt

[Joanne98]

14. I'm not just disappointed, I'm SHOCKED! I admit I didn't pay any attention to this.

GEE, I wish we would have had some warning.

[bowens43]

6. No, he is not.

BTW, if you expected Obama to be some far left liberal, you're going to be VERY disappointed. Obama has been very clear about this. He is going to lead from center left..

[rcrush]

7. No kidding

Its weird people think he's Dennis Kucinich or something.

[Pirate Smile]

8. It is a great pick for a President who intends to get sh#$ done.

We've already gone through all this over the past couple of days. Even people who were upset at first realize it was a brilliant pick.

[Joanne98]

22. I haven't been paying attention. I hope you're right.

[Pirate Smile]

25. I'll try to find some of the links with details.

[librechik]

9. Obama's a confident guy. He appointed himself a devil's advocate

So he could know for sure whether his own way is the correct way. Obama's the progressive--he needs to test his frames out against an opposing view. And Rahm is loyal, he'll do what Obama tells him. He's not in it for himself, that's obvious.

And besides, Boehner and other RW a-holes hate him, and I can't wait to see Rahm twist arms.

[Hugin]

61. You echoed my thoughts precisely.

President Obama has just begun to assemble the jigsaw puzzle which will yield his Administration.

It may be good that he's chosen a more confrontational mode of operation than we've seen over the
last eight years and more.

It only makes sense to have a 'right-hand-man' who's literally to the right of the President.

I'm of the opinion that good things can emerge from such a forge.

In another area, I've been looking at who's in President Obama's mind to lead in the all important
and seriously atrophied Consumer Protections arena... I must say, I'm delighted so far.

[JPettus]

64. On top of that

the Devil's Advocate will help punch some holes in original ideas and show where the weaknesses that need to be addressed are. Not a naysayer per se but someone who can show that there is more than one way to accomplish the goals, and help find the best way.

[greenman3610]

11. Please don't start this shit

the guy has not taken office yet, and
he's already changed the world for the better, in
a way very few would have thought possible
a few years ago.

If he starts a needless war, begins torturing people,
rips up the constitution, or continues to ignore
climate change, then,
6 months from now, I'll be with you.

Till then, just take a few days to enjoy life.
We won.

[still_one]

This is the same crap that bohner is throwning at us. Obama hasn't even started his term

and people are assuming the worst

His chief of staff knows Congress, and can work with them to get needed legislation through

[rcrush]

15. The fact that the republicans are shitting themselves right now

Must be a good sign. They seriously hate this guy so much.

[Joanne98]

29. I noticed that.

[still_one]

16. He isn't screwing anybody. Can you wait and see what happens when he takes office

and see what the results are instead of jumping up and down how bad it is like many of the right wingers in Congress already critisizing this decision

It is Obama who makes the decision, not his chief of staff. His chief of staff trys to help push what Obama wants through Congress

Just wait and see what happens before you start assuming the worst

[Joanne98]

34. Wait and see is good.

[ingac70]

17. What is the fucking problem?

The Chief of Staff oversees the actions of the White House staff, manages the president's schedule, and decides who is allowed to meet with the president.

He's practically his secretary/office manager, so how does that sell you out?

[Joanne98]

26. Did you read the article? This is Alternet by the way!

[ingac70]

41. I read it.

These are the duties of the Chief of Staff....

Managerial

* Select key White House staff and supervise them
* Structure the White House staff system
* Control the flow of people into the Oval Office
* Manage the flow of information

Advisory

* Advise the President on issues of politics, policy and management issues
* Protect the interests of the President
* Negotiate with Congress, other members of the executive branch, and extragovernmental political groups to implement the President's agenda


He works for the President, not the other way around. Can Obama at least be sworn in before the bellyaching begins?

[Smarmie Doofus]

19. Rec. He's a big "more blood and gore in the ME" buff.

>>>>>As head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since 2004, Emanuel has promoted pro-war and pro-business center-right candidates against anti-war and pro-labor candidates in the primaries, pouring millions of dollars of donations from Democrats across the country into the campaigns of his favored conservative minions to defeat more progressive challengers.

Emanuel was a major supporter of the Iraq War resolution that authorized the invasion of Iraq. Indeed, he was the only one of nine Democratic members of Congress from Illinois who backed granting Bush this unprecedented authority to invade a country on the far side of the world that was no threat to the United States at the time. Even more disturbingly, when asked by Tim Russert on "Meet the Press" whether he would have voted to authorize the invasion "knowing that there are no weapons of mass destruction," Emanuel answered that he indeed would have done so, effectively acknowledging that his support for the war was not about national security, but about oil and empire. Not surprisingly, he has also voted with the Republicans in support of unconditional funding to continue the Iraq War and has consistently opposed efforts by other Democrats to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. occupation forces from that country and related Congressional efforts to end the war.>>>>

Plus some of his personal "antics" make one wonder if he's completely well. ( e.g. the "Dead! Dead! Dead!" knife in the table dealie; it's in the wiki bio.
and elsewhere.)

And I could have written this:

>>>>It's a good thing I'm a 55 year old woman who's been sold out by almost every Democrat I've ever voted for! Because if I wasn't a 55 year old woman who's been sold out by almost every Democrat I've ever voted for, I would be upset about this! But, thank God I'm a cynical old woman, at this point, so this doesn't surprise me at all! Almost anyway. The speed is a little surprising. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is just a homeboy Chicago thingy. But just in case it isn't the left needs to....>>>>

'Cept I'm only 54 and 1/2 and not a woman. And not "old". ( Why, I oughta....)

Otherwise, are you sure you're not me?

Merrily we roll along.

[Trajan]

21. Rahm's strengths are his dogged determination and his tenacity ...

I think it is a good choice, but I expect the Obama administration to implement worker friendly policies that boosts income for workers, whilst tamping down energy costs that robs families to enrich Texan energy moguls .... That is the bottom line with me ...

[Joanne98]

36. Sounds good

[iamjoy]

24. I Already Saw Obama As Pragmatic

For a long time now I've seen Obama as pragmatic, it's one of the things I liked about him. Truth be told, I figured anyone who didn't see it in him (either on the left or right) wasn't really paying attention or thinking beyond his words.

[Joanne98]

40. I saw him as pragmatic too. That's not what bothers me.

Did he have to pick the person that pushed NAFTA thru? I was hoping we could get rid of that trade agreement!

[John Q. Citizen]

48. He chose the guy that Clinton assigned the job of pushing NAFTA through.

Too bad Clinton didn't give him the job of pushing through Hillary's "managed care" plan, maybe.

I don't particularly like Rahm but I think he's a good choice in some ways. I think he will do what Obama asks him to.

[blue97keet]

100. NAFTA

Is he trying to send some sort of message by picking the guy who helped push NAFTA through? Better hope not.

[Lint Head]

28. I have a few years on you and right now this nation needs a heavy hand to

clean this nation of the criminals that have destroyed our Constitutional freedoms and endorsed torture. The rot is deep and we need to apply 'political bleach' to get rid of it. Transformation should not include transforming the perception that Bush and his thugs did not commit criminals acts in office. :dem:

[Joanne98]

30. Hey I'm with you. I want them in jail too.

[Nite Owl]

31. We all knew this was going

to be an administration that takes many different views. Some will be progressive and some will not. I don't mind that just so long as the progressive wing of the party isn't ignored, progressives must be included and not considered to be fringe types because we aren't. Rahm sets this up as a good cop/bad cop or at least that's the way I see it. There are other appointments that will show us more like the Treasury appointment, Labor, Health. And is there any talk of the Attorney General?
In other words no one is going to totally happy with everything but but thinking that we would get everything and everyone we want is not realistic. We have lived through eight years of nothing, we fought for this win, let's enjoy it and trust a little.

[Critters2]

32. I predicted this during the primaries. I was drowned out by all the

chanting and worshiping. Of course, my candidate would've imploded. Did implode. So, this is what we get.

[Joanne98]

37. I missed your prediction. I expect this stuff, but I don't think I'm going to like Rahm at all.

But I'm going to give it a chance. I'm hoping it's just a homeboy thing.

[kikiek]

33. This type of talk is no different to me than hearing the religious far right wing lay claim to

the Republican party. Same stuff, different beliefs. So the man hasn't even taken office, and the circular firing squad is getting into position. Frankly I will be disappointed if Obama isn't centrist. This country is in big trouble, and we need everyone to stop its free fall. Picking on his choice of of Rahm is petty. Obama has a large "base". That is why he won. Any group claiming sole responsibility needs a reality check. And he has a right to choose whoever he believes will help him do the work he has to do.

[Cattledog]

39. 5 days and everyone is complaining already.

This is reality. If you want utopia please step off this mortal coil.

[Joanne98]

42. I'm not complaining. But I better not hear "Colombia Free Trade Agreement"

Then I'll be complaining!

[kikiek]

43. No kidding. Not in office for over 70 days yet, but we have issues. Good God.

[John Q. Citizen]

44. I'm not buying the "screwing his base" on this frame.

I think he's covering his ass.

He's got a potential rival out of the congress and on his team working for him. Somehow that seems better to me than leaving Rahm in congress.

Rahm is loyal. He's also diplomatic. He just survived a primary presidential campaign and is still on good terms with both winner and loser even though he was close to both winner and loser before the election. He has previous White House experience. He can be the bad cop to Obama's good cop as needed. We shouldn't assume Rahm will push our agenda. We are responsible for doing that.


I strongly suggest that people continue to do issue politics because the better organized we are the more likely we are to get what we need.

[HuckleB]

45. No.

[Joanne98]

47. Okay. I'm taking you guys advice. A wait and see attitude. Now I'm going to go get some wine!

I'll just drink my shock away! I'll be better tommorrow!

:hangover:

[yellowcanine]

49. No and I think it is time to "move on", Obama has a government to form. This sniping from the

sidelines is not helping.

[gtar100]

50. No.

If you're concerned, give him the benefit of the doubt since he just got elected. Maybe this time will be different - he is not like most politicians that we've had for the past 50 years. I personally think Rahm will be good with Obama. He's definitely a fighter and won't be an easy pushover. I think your characterization of him is a little slanted. I'll trust Obama on this.

But I wholeheartedly agree with you on doubling down on those issues. If the Progressive community stays involved, we can ensure our issues are addressed and our solutions implemented. Because the neo-cons and the religious right are already working on their angle - which is to figure out how to get what they want and to hell with the rest of us. Be prepared for the double-speak express from them. We've already heard their first big shot - their "this is a center-right country" nonsense talking point.

Our big win in this last election is that the Progressive community is alive and well and we now know that we can succeed in building a better life for ourselves - everyone. But future success is still up to us, not just President Obama and his staff. He said he was listening to us. We need to keep the dialog going. I'm with you on that.

[Two Americas]

51. yes

Of course.

[creeksneakers2]

54. Obama deserves 100% freedom to choose his own inner circle

How can Obama accomplish anything if he can't even control who he's working with?

[kristopher]

55. The power of the gatekeeper is inversely proportional to the IQ of the Pres.

A slug like bush just does what he's told. Obama has both the intellect to evaluate the performance of the CoS and the stones to set him/her straight if he/she is serving a master other than the Presidency.

[Rydz777]

57. If you consider yourself an old woman at 55, you are clearly

a very bright 55 year old woman. This is a very lucid and well supported analysis. I too am concerned about the points you raised. I want us out of both Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush's trillion dollar sinkholes, now - without delays or excuses. I don't want any double-talk about NAFTA and its spawn. If energy and "sharp elbows" are the ticket, there are plenty of people who could be COS. I don't considered this a promising start, but I'll be patient - and prepared to be disappointed. But I'm very tired of being disappointed.

[bemildred]

58. I just think anybody that thinks Rahm is going to control Obama is not paying attention.

But I respect your concerns.

[natrat]

59. look at how corrupt the party is

a new whore shows himself every week. Look at barney frank, he just gave billions crooks, absolute scumbag. The clintons, no different. So i fear the worst, but hopefully better than a republican administration.

[many a good man]

60. Blue dogs owe him their hides

Those hideous conservative Dems he promoted as DCCC chair owe him big time. When Obama needs some leftish legislation passed Emanuel will come along to collect. All politicians know on which side the bread is buttered and who buttered it. Rahmbo will not be shy in reminding them.

Obama's objective is to move the center from center-right to center-left. Rahmbo likes power and he will follow it. By all accounts Rahmbo is fiercely loyal and Obama is the one giving him his doggie treats.

[kath]

75. Hmm, that's a very, very interesting point.

perhaps there's a silver lining to the Emanuel pick after all.

All the repulsive DINOs in Congress owe him, Big Time. Maybe the Dems will actually have some party-line votes, FINALLY.

[Doctor_J]

62. Anyone who tries to screw with the new president is going to end up

in tiny pieces on the floor. Rahm is very partisan and a close friend of Obama. This pick couldn't be better

[Doctor_J]

63. I bet Rahm had a hand in Harry finally standing up to Holy Joe

This is going to be HUGH fun

[Dj13Francis]

65. Obama is no progressive.

Obama has never been a progressive. He takes the progressives for granted, as he can. Who the hell else are we going to vote for, McKinney? He always has been a centrist. I can't see how this is surprising to anyone who pays attention. I'm not the least bit surprised about it. He signed on to the FISA "compromise" a few months ago - totally betraying every progressive, and in my mind every american. I still voted for him. He is not a purist, he is a politician, interested in compromise more than principles. In the end I believe that he'll get more done this way, but we need to keep the pressure on him. He's already shown willingness to compromise on the offshore drilling ban... What else will he compromise on?

[italiangirl]

67. Rahm Emanuel

Please, please do not start this shit all over again. We have worked hard and traveled a long and winding road to reach this conclusion and miracle. I was wondering how long it was going to take before the DUers were going to start laying down ground rules. Here we go again. Knock it off and quit your whining or would you have liked to wake up Tuesday morning with an enemy in the WH AGAIN!!!!
Let Obama go, shut your damn mouth. You guys feel as if he owes you a debt now. Let him govern and stay out of his way. This kind of bullshit pisses me off. I have a heart condition and volunteered until I couldn’t push my body another minute and when I reached that point, I took a deep breath and said, Yes I can and I don't feel as if he owes me anything. I am older than you, I am 77 years old. I have children older than you and 8 grandchildren. I am old enough to wipe your shit diapers, so knock it off.
Italian girl

[bemildred]

68. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[wroberts189]

70. Nobody knows.. but I trust Obama. We all need to WAIT. eom

[TankLV]

71. N.O.

next question...

that was easy!

[The Backlash Cometh]

72. The right-wing hate him, the left wing doesn't trust him.

But he has a calm temperament and, they say, he goes for the balls.

I don't know what to make of him either.

[PinkoDonkey]

73. Rahm=passing legislation=CHANGE

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Having Rahmbo firmly inside the Obama team, and not as a congressman with his own power base, is good. Also, remember all the time and effort Obama puts in to making sure he is not seen as an "angry black man"? He needs someone who can have free reign to, LBJ-style, get up in people's faces to make sure we pass legislation. He is the bad cop to Obama's good cop. The designated asshole. He knows how to get things done. I wouldn't want him as an enemy.

[Faryn Balyncd]

74. no

[truedelphi]

77. My answer - it's too soon to tell if we are being screwed

But it's quite alright to be UPSET.

I'll add to your list -

Ending NAFTA. And no expansion of similar progarams.

Creating jobs for us here at home involving the infrastructure.

The Health care thing - it better be a progressive, non corporate plan. More about We the People and NOT about Rahm's ties to Big Corporations.

[az chela]

78. Ending the war and bringing the troops home should be

OUR 1ST priority.So many of our troops have been killed and butchered and all for an illegal war.Millions of innocent Iraqis have been killed,have lost everything and for what??
Bush's EGO\bush's greed\
power and money.
Barack needs to end this war now.It worries me that rahm is a war monger.I cant see him wanted to end the war and it is a MUST

[Turn CO Blue]

79. How can DUers be so ignorant about the role of Chief of Staff

and what qualifications are needed?

[happydreams]

80. What were his investments? I'd like to know what his vested interests

are.

[democracy1st]

81. freakin far left BS

[Freddie Stubbs]

82. Emmanuel votes with House Democrats 98.5% of the time:

He is a far more loyal Democrat than most Democrats in the House.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

83. I wonder if agreeing to put DLC types in high positions was the price

Obama had to pay for getting support from the bigwigs.

[Freddie Stubbs]

84. You don't have to bribe someone to do something they would have done willingly

[Lydia Leftcoast]

85. And that's why both H. Clinton and Obama were my last choices for the nomination

However, I wonder if a candidate who declared his intention, even privately, not to have any DLC types in high positions, would find himself sabotaged from within the party.

[Freddie Stubbs]

87. And yet they earned the most and second most number of votes from Democratic voters

Yes, it must be some secret, unprovable conspiracy which keeps candidates like Dennis Kucinich from getting many votes.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

88. Since the MSM acted as if H.Clinton and Obama were the only candidates,

yes, I do say that. How many people even knew about the other candidates? I'm not talking about Kucinich this time, though.

[Freddie Stubbs]

89. Google news has over 15,000 hits about john Edwards in Janauary 2008:

http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=john+edwards&btnG=Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&um=1&as_user_ldate=01%2F01%2F2008&as_user_hdate=01%2F31%2F2008

[Lydia Leftcoast]

90. Yeah, as compared to how many for Clinton and Obama, and how many

of those mentions of Edwards were in blogs that few people read?

But have it your way. I know you're DLC through and through, so you don't see anything wrong with having Rahm Emanuel in a top position.

I see a lot wrong with it, but I'm not as surprised as some people are.

[Freddie Stubbs]

91. Randy Crow didn't get much press coverage. Did he deserve as much coverage as Obama or Clinton?

http://www.randycrow.com

[Lydia Leftcoast]

92. Oh, now you're just getting snide

a nasty habit that DLCers tend to have when faced with facts.

Randy Crow is a Republican, for heaven's sake.

[Freddie Stubbs]

94. Crow ran as a Democrat in 2008:

http://www.2008-presidential-election.net/dc/randycrow.html

Did this Democrat deserve as much media coverage as Obama and Clinton.

And in the future, you may want to make sure that you have your facts straight before accusing someone of being snide.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

95. Then shame on him for switching parties or for being a stealth Republican

Bye.

[Freddie Stubbs]

96. Cindy Sheehan and Cynthia McKinney are two other party switchers who deserve shame

[Lydia Leftcoast]

97. Shame? Not at all. At least they didn't go all right wing

and that is the greater shame than any.

Going Republican? That is beyond disgusting.

[Freddie Stubbs]

98. They both ran trying to steal votes away from Democrats, causing the remote possibility of

of Republicans winning. Fortunately the voters were smart enough to have learned the lesson of the 2000 election and ignore these fools.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

101. Cynthia McKinney had no chance of winning or even being a spoiler

since she got no publicity whatsoever, far less than Nader did. I saw no mention of her in the mass media. Hard to get any votes that way. (For the record, I voted for Obama.)

Cindy Sheehan got more votes than the Republican in the race. If she had won, no harm done. She would have caucused with the Democrats, as Bernie Sanders does. Someone with spine (yes, I know it wouldn't have been Cindy) would have gotten the Speaker's position. Pelosi has refused to stand up to Bush on too many important occasions.

You're so "my party right or wrong" that you seem to have lost sight of principles. I don't look at party labels so much as principles. I'm lucky here in Minnesota because the Dems here are quite progressive.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

93. I'm disappointed, but not really surprised

Everyone thought Obama was this huge progressive, but he's quite centrist. Better than McCain, of course, but all I ever expected was that the country would stop heading over a cliff at 60mph and slow down to 40mph. (What we need is to make a sharp turn, but that won't happen as long as the MSM marginalize and ridicule the truly progressive candidates.)

Still, Rahm Emmanuel?

[mwb970]

99. I think we're over-analyzing the transition.

Let the man set up his administration and start to govern, for God's sake. Then crawl out of the woodwork and start complaining about everything and everyone. These "Obama concern" threads are starting to sound just like the ones on FR, minus the gun talk. Is there nothing else to post about?

:eyes:

[TankLV]

102. Look: Obama is NOT a stupid person. He has studied Lincoln, FDR, LBJ and Kennedy CLOSELY...

Everything - I repeat - everything he has done during the campaign meet and exceeded expectations - for the BETTER!

I trust his judgement, and I was a fervent Clinton supporter AGAINST Obama.

He's doing just fine.

He will do just fine in the future.

[Oldenuff]

103. Double down on these issues...

WAR
THE EMPIRE
THE DEFENSE BUDGET
THE HOMELAND SECURITY BUDGET
THE POLICE STATE
THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
ENDING MILTON FRIEDMAN ECONOMICS
KILLING THE WASHINGTON CONSENSUS
KILLING SOCIALISM FOR INVESTMENT BANKERS
KILLING THE OIL COMPANIES


Rid us of:
The Patriot Act
The Real ID Act
The War on Drugs

Good grief..there is seemingly no end to it.