Does Rahm's personal ideology even matter? The Role of COS is a policy enforcer, not a policy maker

[JohnnyBoots]

If he says no to enforcing certain policy or puts his own DLC spin on the Obama Administration's policy then wouldn't he be fired? You think Barack would tolerate that? Don't you think that during the interview process that he was told this is what it is, this is your job description - don't deviate from it? Maybe that is why he didn't immediately take it. Also, it serves to bring the party closer. It is also quite a Machiavellian move by Obama. Also, Rahm has the balls and experience to get things done and I am no fan of the DLC. He also has a ton of favors to call in from his days with the DCCC. I think it was a good pick, providing he puts the Administration and the country ahead of his personal ideology. If he doesn't, than he can be replaced by someone who does. Until then....I want to see what he can do. The fact the GOP hates him makes me happy.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

1. I think it is a great pick.

He's no nonsense, brilliant, and has extensive experience in the Clinton White House as well as in Congress. All the naysayers and second-guessers here need to ask themselves if they are smarter than Barack Obama. I dare anyone here to stand up and make that claim!

[thunder rising]

8. Agreed. Rahm Emanuel is a pitbull in a jockstrap (politically speaking). Barack can take the muzzle

off and let the fur fly; and, Rahm will do his job.

[Demobrat]

2. The families are close and Obama knows and trusts him.

And Obama is the BOSS! I think we can trust Obama to use his talents in the right way.

[HereSince1628]

3. The COS also control access to the president

that doesn't mean just people, but also ideas and what the reports look like reach the president. As we have seen with Cheney, controlling the information flow to the president can effectively manipulate the president.

But, Obama has made the choice. His judgement is better than most of ours and I've got no reason to believe he made a bad one.

[JohnnyBoots]

4. True, but I think Obama would request more and varried points of

view than Bush did. He just took whatever Cheney said as Gospel. Barack is a lot more on the ball than that.

[HereSince1628]

7. Not my point, my point was to present an alternative role for the COS

As I said, I have no reason to doubt Obama's judgement in his selection.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

9. Agree with that, for sure - Obama is no Bush! nt

[Romulox]

13. On economics: Larry Summer, Robert Rubin, Jason Furman, Austan Goolsbee. Diversity??? nt

[Metta]

5. He seems like a heartless, control freak. He's cost members of congress their jobs.

by insisting they go to the right, where he is, on immigration.

[ROakes1019]

6. reasons

Rahn didn't immediately commit to taking the post because he would be giving up his long-time dreams of being Speaker of the House. After Obama's eight years in the Oval Office, he couldn't go back to the House and take up where he left off. It wasn't that Obama put him in a strait-jacket about the job that caused his hesitation.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. NO Chief of Staff has held the job more than two years or so .....

The job is GRINDING. It is higher pressure than POTUS, in many way.

No matter who takes the job, it will be a new person just before or after the midterms.

[tom_paine]

10. Exactly. Because of this, it's the PERFECT place for a guy like him.

I like the strategic thought behind this.

Get Emmanuel OUT of the DCCC, where his 'blue dog courting' strategy has backfired a bit, and INTO a place where his talents and abilities are maximized.

Obama seems to be getting off to a hell of a great start. I like his strategic thinking.

[Romulox]

12. If ideology doesn't matter, then why are the majority of Obama's inner circle DLC???

Just a coincidence? :shrug:

[JohnnyBoots]

14. Like who?

[Romulox]

15. Rubin, Goolsbee, Summers, Emanuel, Sebellius, Richardson, Furman et al.

Not all officially members, but all of a single ideological cohort.

[Orsino]

16. This is my hope. n/t