Rahm to be Obama Chief of Staff

[CatWoman]

just reported on MSNBC

[lapfog_1]

1. That's actually too bad. - n/t

[Mojambo]

10. Actually I think it's good.

His positions and voting record are unsatisfactory. Getting him in a largely administrative position might be a good idea.

[Unsane]

16. Rahm is a pitbull. CoS suits him well.

[Mojambo]

23. That's a good take.

Rahm wins political fights.

[Virginia Dare]

37. Totally agree, good choice...n/t

[napi21]

15. No it's not bad at all. You can like or dislike Emanuel, but he KNOWS how the House works.

He knows how to get things into a bill on the floor for a vote. Almost all bills originate in the House and Obama doesn't know anything about that. He NEEDS someone who knows how to get things moved through the tangle of the House and push Pelosi to get them passed.

[still_one]

30. Obama made it very clear that he would work with everyone. I think it is a good choice

[lapfog_1]

32. I think he should pick someone outside of Chicago politics for his CoS. - n/t

[napi21]

33. Obama's choice of campaign leaders, VP, and choices of

campaign strategy has been excellent. No matter who he picks for his COS or any other position I believe will be good as well. I also believe if any of his choices prove to be wrong, it won't take him long to kick them out on their BH! It doesn't really matter what WE think of who he picks for a specific position. It matters how well they perform.

[Swamp Rat]

2. CatWoman!

Yes we can, baby! :hug: :party:

[CatWoman]

8. YES WE DID!!

:hi:

:loveya:

[Swamp Rat]

11. What I wanna know is...

when will I stop crying. :D :cry: :D

[cliffordu]

18. I'm having the same damned problem....

:patriot:

[cynatnite]

3. I was kind of hoping for Daschle, but Rahm's good, too...

Oh, hell, I don't care. It's time to PARTY! :toast: :party:

[FrenchieCat]

21. Emmanuel is better than Dashle for that particular position.....

I think.

[napi21]

27. Daschel has great ideas, but he's a wimp! I can't remember ever hearing him

be really forceful! He's a lot like our Senate Leader. Good guy, great ideas, but too timid!

[kath]

4. EWWWWWW.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Howard Fineman says Josh Marshall says so...

BTW - helluva birthday gift, eh?:hi:

[CatWoman]

20. LOL

I'm telling YOU!!

:hi:

[That Is Quite Enough]

6. !

:wtf: :shrug: :hide:

[gateley]

7. Was it official? I heard them discussing it earlier and they were saying

that if he's offered the job, they know he'd take it, but it was just the buzz going around at this point. Did they issue a statement or something? Thanks.

[Sidney J Mussburger]

9. For Real?

[PresidentObama]

12. Oh, I'm so DAMN happy. The fact we're talking about President OBAMA makes me happy n/t

[Unsane]

13. yesssssssssss

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

14. let the wailing and the rending of garments begin

Me, I'm delighted.

[WA98296]

17. That is disgusting. I hope it is not true.

[bridgit]

19. Moving fast, I like that!!

:bounce:

[Raine]

22. I like him so I'm happy with the choice.

:-)

[Breeze54]

24. CBS expert says it's Former Senator Daschle.

:shrug:

[bridgit]

29. ewww...

x(

[Breeze54]

31. What's your beef with Daschle? He and Obama are very tight!

Perhaps you didn't know that? :shrug:

[bridgit]

34. Perhaps *you* didn't know...he couldn't even deliver SD for Obama...

Imo he's far to mealy, his time as leader was among the most rudder-less sailings in history; and his wife operated as an airline lobbyist garnering mountains of money in bailouts for carriers with the assist of her husband's senatorial vote & influence...yeah, that's worked really well, more like money down a rat hole if you've done any flying lately or stood at the terminal waiting for someone to depart/arrive

I'm "very tight" with several people, but let's be serious; even with some of them I don't just drop the keys to my car into their hands :rofl:

This is a time for being smarter, understanding the facets http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9F06EFD9113AF934A1575AC0A9679C8B63

[Breeze54]

38. Daschle served as national co-chairman of Obama's campaign and he "didn't deliver"!?!

:wtf: :eyes: :rofl:

And he didn't deliver Obama to the White House? :rofl:

You seem to have missed a lot of information and goings on!!! :P

------------------------------------------

Daschle says he'd consider job in new administration

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20081106/NEWS/811060308/1001

Faith Bremner • Argus Leader Washington Bureau • November 6, 2008

WASHINGTON -

One day after he helped engineer President-elect Barack Obama's victory, former South Dakota senator and Democratic Majority Leader Tom Daschle said he has no idea what he'll be doing after Inauguration Day.

Daschle said in a telephone interview Wednesday he's been too busy helping Obama with his transition to the White House and hasn't had time to think about what role he might play in the new administration. Daschle said he's advising Obama on the transition and talking with members of Congress on behalf of the Obama organization.

"I have been so preoccupied that I haven't really spent much attention (on) my own agenda," Daschle said. "That will come in the future. I'm not suggesting that I'm expecting a role in the administration. I don't have any views on that one way or the other, but I would certainly look forward to what possibilities exist down the road."

Daschle served as national co-chairman of Obama's campaign. Pundits had mentioned him as a possible chief of staff or secretary of Health and Human Services. But chief of staff might be off the table with reports Wednesday that Obama asked Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel to fill the position.

It's also possible he might go back to private life, Daschle said. After losing four years ago to Republican John Thune, Daschle became an adviser on policy issues such as climate change, energy, health care and trade to the Washington law firm of Alston and Bird. He also is a visiting professor at Georgetown University and last year joined former Majority Leaders George Mitchell, a Democrat, and Bob Dole and Howard Baker, both Republicans, to create the Bipartisan Policy Center, a group dedicated to finding common ground on big public policy issues.

In February, he published a book about reforming America's health care system, "Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis."

"I kind of like my private life and things I've been able to do these last four years and all the freedom that I've had," Daschle said. "I'm not necessarily excited about giving it up, but I would consider that possibility if the right role came along."

Former South Dakota Sen. George McGovern said if he were Barack Obama, he would call Daschle and ask him what he wants to do in the new administration and then go from there.

"Tom Daschle is a superb public servant," said McGovern, who lost the 1972 presidential race to Republican Richard Nixon. "He was a great senator, he worked tirelessly for South Dakota and he was a good majority leader. He would be an asset almost any place in the administration where he felt comfortable."

Democratic National Committeeman Nick Nemec of Holabird said he'd be surprised if Daschle doesn't take a key job in the administration.

"He lost a Senate race here in South Dakota, but he still has a lot of stature nationwide," Nemec said. "People genuinely like Tom Daschle. Talking to staff people for the different senators in Washington, D.C., after hours at the bar, they'll (complain) about certain senators in less-than-flattering terms. But I never heard anything like that about Senator Daschle."

When he lost his Senate seat, Daschle said, he had no idea he would play a major role in electing Obama to the White House. Obama came to the Senate as Daschle was leaving and hired a handful of Daschle's former aides, including Pete Rouse, Anita Dunn and Steve Hildebrand.

"I wrote a friend the other day, it's an old saying, but I think it's probably true, that in every defeat can be found the seeds of victory," Daschle said. "That's probably as true in my life now as (at) any time that I've ever experienced."

[ErinBerin84]

25. per Talking points memo, per a tip, according to Howard Fineman

So, not confirmed yet, but Fineman seems to believe it...though he's been wrong before (though he is trusting Josh on this)

[Born_A_Truman]

26. Fineman said he got it from TPM

Josh's character on West Wing was patterned after Rahm.

[Zodiak]

28. This is a good strategy

Rahm is a vociferous in-your-face guy.....perfect for Chief of Staff, which is really not that powerful of a position...certainly not a policy-making decision. He'll be taking orders from Obama.

This means he is gone from Congress....one less DLC type to put a wrench in the gear of Obama's agenda. And Rahm was a very BIG DLC-type.

[Virginia Dare]

36. He seems like he's a good task master...

which is basically what the COS does. Keeps everybody in line and doing what they're supposed to do, including the POTUS.

[Virginia Dare]

35. He should be an excellent gatekeeper...

great choice, talk about pitbulls!