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Rahm Emmanuel
07 Nov 2008 10:41 am
I've heard two superficially plausible and, I think, completely contradictory narratives of what the Rahm Emmanuel appointment means. One: that Barack Obama is taking his administration in a more pragmatic, less ideological direction. Two: that Barack Obama is looking for a hatchet man to beat the snot out of the Republicans. Which is true? I'm not enough of an insider to even hazard a guess. But it's interesting how the same piece of information can plausibly tell two utterly different stories.
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» Obama, Emanuel, and Israel from Liberal Values
There have been a variety of attempts to determine the direction of an Obama administration from the limited information we have so far. While we wait for the naming of the next First Puppy (and its confirmation by the Senate?) the key appointment so f... [Read More]
My sense was the pick meant "Obama really wants to get his legislative agenda passed," which is pragmatic in that it will focus on results rather than media-cycle points-scoring, but will inevitably involve beating teh snot out of some people to achive those goals. Does that make any sense?
And, there's the more likely possibility that he's there to knock Democrat heads.
Seems that the more likely explanation is one you don't mention: to beat back the left wing of the Democrats. Obama is looking to be re-elected in 2012 and is smart enough to realize that tacking hard core left will grant Palin the Presidency.
The left wing of Congress, not operating under the same set of incentives, of course, wants to cajole Obama into embracing the socialism that the conservatives fear.
Rahm Emanuel's bulldog personality is the perfect feint for Obama to hide behind when he tries to muddle (somewhat) toward the center.
At least, that is my hope.
To even question the motives of Lord Obama is suspect.
Simply observe, with respect, and do not question or discuss.
Time for some re-education Megan.
And why can't both be true?
I don't think the Rahm pick demonstrates one way or another whether he's going to be ideological or not. What I do think it means is that he's committed to getting passed whatever it is he wants to get passed. Rahm's primary skill set as I understand it is herding cats and bulldozing through legislation. And yelling at people. But mostly getting things done.
I love all the "this isn't change!!!" reactions though from the right. As though he were supposed to pick someone without experience with this kind of thing for a very crucial role.
Rahm is an Evil Troll who will serve as the gatekeeper to Obama.
He is a nasty partisan. But as John Kass wrote in the Chicago Tribune, many reporters are candy coating their reviews of Rahm, because they want future access.
If you take this speech to the Brookings Institute at face value, then it's about addressing partisanship.
April, 2007: http://fora.tv/2007/04/25/Representative_Rahm_Emanuel
Is it possible that Obama believed that Emmanuel was the most qualified and skilled person for the job?
He wants brutal efficiency, and he's going to get it. And he is reaching deep into the Clinton machine, plucking out the talent, and offering them meal tickets. The Clintons' party is going to become his - remember, as Stalin said, "the first battle is for the cadres." Trust our first narcissist-Leninist president to understand power, if nothing else.
The great World War II general Lucian Truscott observed to his son, "Let me tell you something, and don't ever forget it. You play games to win, not lose. And you fight wars to win. That's spelled W-I-N ! And every good player in a game and every good commander in a war...has to have some son of a bitch in him. If he doesn't, he isn't a good player or commander.... It's as simple as that. No son of a bitch, no commander."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucian_Truscott
Obama is a conciliator by nature and doesn't do the SOB well, though I'm quite sure he's got plenty in him. While I don't suppose Obama's read Truscott's dictum or even heard of Truscott, he seems to understands the need for it. Rahmbo has plenty of SOB for two. He's also much more able to fall on his sword for the boss, unlike Dick Cheney who was sitting in a constitutional office.
More broadly, Obama seems to be willing to bring in people who cover for his personal deficiencies and also willing to dismiss them when they need to go. This is rather different than the outgoing president.
Rahmbo is overrated. He's the anti-Howard Dean in that he's anti-50 State Strategy. He thinks we need Republican-esque DLC types like that joker in Florida who replaced Pedi-Foley instead of the likes of Donna Edwards.
One wonders if this was a nod to the Clinton wing of the party, done out of pragmatic necessity.
My Guess is it is both.
He want to get things done and that requires cracking heads(Dems and Rep), something that Obama is not good at.
Emmanuel can be the tough guy and Obama can remain above it all talking in abstract which is what he is good at.
I agree with Adam. If I were in a command position, I'd want my XO to be someone who could "get things done."
All I keep reading from female politicos is how hot he is, and once again I feel like I have no clue as to what constitutes being physically attractive in the eyes of women. I mean, the obvious ones are obvious. I can understand why girls find, like, Brad Pitt attractive. But I read about this crush so many women have on MSNBC's Chuck Todd, and it's just like... for real?
Rahm Emmanuel back in White House - change it ain't.
Also, Larry Summers back at Treasury would mean that Obama's blaming the financial crisis on 'deregulation' was a lie - Summers was at least as responsible as Phil Gramm for 'deregulating' the industry.
But it's interesting how the same piece of information can plausibly tell two utterly different stories
Probably because at this point virtually no one actually knows anything about Obama's plans but virtually everyone has a pre-conceived story they want to sell. So they seize on any fact as confirming their story. LSort of like drawing a regressionline when there's only one data point: you can make the slope whatever fits your theory.
The stock market is displaying schizophrenic swings, but if I were pres-elect Obama the first thing that I would rescommend take a week off for a brief rest and rebooting would be the commentariat, which is over-heating beyond its usual level of scalding self-absorption.
One: that Barack Obama is taking his administration in a more pragmatic, less ideological direction. Two: that Barack Obama is looking for a hatchet man to beat the snot out of the Republicans.
Reason one is correct, I think: Rahm is a very pragmatic pick. The reason he's going to be so effective is that reason two is also partially correct. He is indeed a hatchet man, and a great one at that. But I see him being wielded more against the Democratic caucus than against the Republicans. Obama wants to keep his own party in line.
Obama is trying to appeal to both Jews (Rahm having very close ties to Israel) and Catholics (by making an Emmanuel Selection.)
Mike, excellent pun.
I also don't understand the contradiction.
Why can't Obama beat the snot out of Republicans in a pragmatic, non-ideological way?
If the Republicans have an ideology, it has completely escaped me by now.
Obama is smart enough to know that he won a booby prize. He is most likely going to surround himself with a BOMB SQUAD smart enough and bold enough to deactivate his "prize" without Americans getting burned, bruised or battered. God speed Obama. Hillary is waiting.
My guess is that Emmanuel is there to beat the snot out of Democrats who get out of line, so that a whipped congressional party can be leveraged to beat the snot out of Republicans. If successful, that would enable Obama to ram through his own agenda at a safe degree of remove while racking up points for non-partisanship. Remains to see if it can be pulled off, but that seems to me to be the interpretation most consistent with the background evidence, and it's pretty brilliant, whatever you think of the normative status of Obama's ends or means.
(If the Republicans convince themselves they've got another Jimmy Carter on their hands, it'll very likely work.)
As other commenters above have said, my impression is that Emmanuel's no-nonsense for both parties, and his temperament is ideal for just getting things done while Obama stays at arm's length. Rahmbo's the cleaner, if you will.
Getting things done may be the job of a Chief of Staff, but I don't think you want him to be too combative, either...
I lean to the war-between-the-SF-and-Chicago-Democrats theory myself, but we'll see. Or maybe Rahm will turn out to be the 'cruel commander' Machievelli advises putting in control of a conquered city, then replacing with dismay after (much to your surprise!) he brutally puts down all meaningful opposition.
On the other hand, if he actually appoints Kerry Sec. State I'll have to assume he's just clueless.
"And, there's the more likely possibility that he's there to knock Democrat heads."
The WSJ editors agree with Anon.Y.Mous. See, "Obama's Real Opposition".
I think neither of those suppositions is accurate. True that Rahm is a natural-born political fighter and he was selected on the base of those skills. But why on earth would Obama want to beat the snot out of Republicans? What's the point? There's no point -- everywhere you look the GOP is out of power. Republicans (and I am one) who think this pick is about them need to step away from the narcissism. There are simply no Republicans in DC worth fighting right now.
No, Rahm was selected because Obama anticipates having some knock-down, drag-outs with Congressional Democrats. The only question is, among Obama and Pelosi/Reid, who's going to be the leftist and who's going to be the centrist? My guess is that Obama is going to be the centrist because Pelosi and Reid have caucuses they need to answer to.
GOGATORS wrote: Obama is smart enough to know that he won a booby prize. Hillary is waiting.
The air in the PUMA bunker must be getting pretty damn stale these days....
Thanks Rob. That fora.tv thing is reassuring (1st ten minutes anyway). If Rahm sticks to those guns (and does not go "ah, my turn") things could go well.
Freddie, I don't understand crushes on Chuck Todd either. Emanuel's appeal, however, should be obvious to anyone. For one thing, he's got a great name. (I believe Jon Hamm opined on the importance of a man's name during his SNL appearance.) Second: he's clearly a fit guy, being a former ballet dancer, and is extremely energetic. Just watching interviews with him, it seems as if he's always about to pop out of his seat.
Beyond that, he's whip-smart (+), speaks extremely well (+), is great at his job (+), holds a powerful position (+), is always sharply dressed (+), intense (+), a family man with cute kids (+), Jewish (+), politically progressive (+), is apparently extremely loyal (+), can tell a joke (+), and is kind of an asshole, for reasons and in ways that are totally excusable, and even charming at a distance (+). Really, he's a perfect storm of pleasing qualities, ones I hope would be apparent even to straight men. (He also has great cheekbones and is quite attractive around the eyes, facts I'd certainly forgive you for missing.)
I think it's because the guy's first name is Rahm. Obama really liked the sound of BarackObamaRahma.
So much for thinking that an Obama presidency would change a damn thing about our disgusting relationship with Israel...
CoS is the most personal pick a new president can make -- the guy who controls access and who carries out the agenda. Obama and Emmanuel are old friends, and Emanuel has a can-do reputation. Obama is betting he can set the agenda, and that his close buddy Emmanuel will carry it out. It's not primarily Congress, it's the cabinet. The CoS is mostly an internal administrator, but his job is ultimately defined by the prez. Obama will have other people specializing in Congressional liaisons, that will not be the top priority of Emmanuel. His will be to ride herd on the White House staff and the cabinet prima donnas. Emmanuel's appointment may please the Israeli lobby, but Emmanuel's loyalty will be exclusively to Obama, and he'll sell his mother, his faith, his friends, and all his children down the river to protect his boss. That's what a CoS does.
Rachel writes:
"Jewish (+)... he's a perfect storm of pleasing qualities"
Do you consider his service in the Israeli army ( as opposed to, say, _our_ army) to be a pleasing quality?
Change? Sounds like more of the same to me, at least where our foreign policy is concerned.
callejohn writes:
"Emmanuel's appointment may please the Israeli lobby, but Emmanuel's loyalty will be exclusively to Obama, and he'll sell his mother, his faith, his friends, and all his children down the river to protect his boss."
Really? How do you know this?
Rather than Republicans, RE will be asked to beat the snot out of and close the door on Democrats and favor-seekers. It's bad cop all the way - and he'll be good at it.
To this (straight) man women's physical attraction to Emmanuel is obvious.
Not so much Chuck Todd.
"Do you consider his service in the Israeli army ( as opposed to, say, _our_ army) to be a pleasing quality?"
Staash, do your research. This was a smear made up by Emmanuel's opponent during one of his congressional races. It never happened.
BTW, baselessly questioning Jewish Americans' loyalty to the nation and suggesting they are "not like us" is one of the oldest anti-Semitic tactics in the book. Tread carefully.
Emmanuel is vastly overrated. He is a nasty partisan, and that kind of partisan is simply ineffective with both allies and adversaries in a democratic republic. I predict he doesn't last out the first term.
It may well be that Mr. Rahm is a vicious partisan attacker.
However.
President-Designate Obama's choices are limited. He needs someone effective, someone experienced at Washington politics, and someone skilled whom he can trust to get things done. Oh, yes, and a Democrat.
I would suggest that anyone meeting those criteria could be described — and probably would be a vicious partisan attacker. The point is to get things done; to do that, one needs persons with a track record of doing exactly that for such a critical post.
"Staash, do your research. This was a smear made up by Emmanuel's opponent during one of his congressional races. It never happened.
BTW, baselessly questioning Jewish Americans' loyalty to the nation and suggesting they are "not like us" is one of the oldest anti-Semitic tactics in the book. Tread carefully."
I'm not questioning "Jewish Americans' loyalty to the nation". I'm questioning this asshole's.
"Congressman Rahm Emanuel, who has served in the Israel Defense Forces and even speaks a little Hebrew, could be appointed the White House's next chief of staff." [1]
[1] http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3616306,00.html
Looks to me like the heart of his "change" is going back to people that were associated with the last Clinton Administration........but if we'd wanted THAT, we would've voted for Billary, would we not?
My guess is both. The more centrist the agenda, the more partisan President Obama will have to be in order to keep the base happy.
If you boil it down, the question actually is whether Emanuel is being employed primarily for his capabilities or his ideology. I happen to think it's the former because I cannot imagine that anyone but Obama will set the tone for this administration, but I understand a perception based on a campaign could likely be inaccurate.
I don't understand what isn't clear about this appointment. Obama chose Emmanuel to bust heads (he's also from Chicago and is close to Axelrod). He was at the center of Clinton's "permanent campaign." Emmanuel isn't there to moderate Obama's agenda, he's there to strong arm people into supporting it. While it seems inescapable that presidential appointments will necesarily include members of the party with previous government experience, this shows that Obama's claims of being a post-partisan "uniter" were nonsense.
"Looks to me like the heart of his "change" is going back to people that were associated with the last Clinton Administration........but if we'd wanted THAT, we would've voted for Billary, would we not?"
From the Politico:
"[When] Hillary Rodham Clinton and then-White House chief of staff Mack McLarty unsuccessfully tried to ease him out of the West Wing during Clinton’s turbulent first year in 1993, Emanuel skillfully fought for his position. He told McLarty that he was not leaving unless Bill Clinton told him to his face, knowing that the conflict-averse president would not do it."
In other words: yes, electing the man who hires Emanuel is exactly like electing the woman who tried to get Emanuel fired. *rolls eyes*
Nasty vindictiveness is probably irrelevant against your political enemies- your enemies expect it and are you enemies regardless (I think bipartisanship is highly overrated and a rare bird to boot). Where nasty political operatives fail is in the treatment of natural allies. You can be sure Emmanuel is going to alienate some of these in the Congressional caucus. With such a large majority to work with, Obama would have been more wise to select a less vicious operative.
Go Rahm! !
But it's interesting how the same piece of information can plausibly tell two utterly different stories.
Utterly different? Hiring someone to brust Republican heads strikes me as a completely pragmatic consideration in the face of a 58-Dem-seat Senate.
So Rahm's a real ball-breaker. Sounds like just the kind of guy required.
I think there is a post in Volokh Conspiracy about Rahm's father being part of the Irgun, M. Begin's Jewish militia group preIsrael (he seems a little young for that). Achmadinejad said there 'was only a little time for friendship between nations' or something similalry antiDale Carnegie like hailing Obama's election. The chances of Rahm, the 'attack dog,' rolling over for this charmer are, as they say, 'slim and none.' The overall military budget may not go down much. Not related to Rahm, but I bet there will be more black participation in the combat arms.
Rahm Emmanuel is the first promise Obama breaks. So much for bipartisanship. Whats next. Grab your grippers Obama supporters the fun has just begun. By the way if you saw the press conference there was only one straight question asked "do you still plan to tax the upper 5% of wealth" and we waltzed and waltzed around the question and never got the answer. Slick Willie has nothing on this President Elect.
One: that Barack Obama is taking his administration in a more pragmatic, less ideological direction.
Er, what? How on earth does somebody associate "less ideological" with of Rahm Emmanuel? Am I missing something here?
Rahm is partisan, but he also likes his job and he knows that if he fails to secure the President's priorities he will be out of a job. This position forces Rahm into an unnatural compromise, he can either do it or he can't, Rahm is the employee Obama is the employer.
"I think there is a post in Volokh Conspiracy about Rahm's father being part of the Irgun, M. Begin's Jewish militia group preIsrael (he seems a little young for that)."
According to this NY Times article from 1997, Emanuel's uncle fought in the Irgun:
Why can't anyone spell the guy's last name correctly?
Next Obama will appoint a christian. Then a gay. Then a woman. Then a republican. Then an open atheist. Then an american.
No.. not an atheist of course - but all else is feasible and probable and might even make sense.
How about: He picked Rahm because he is effective, energetic, and Obama trusts him. "New politics" doesn't mean Obama will be a pushover, ala Jimmy Carter. "New politics" doesn't mean an entirely new crew unfamiliar with how to get things done, ala Clinton's first 2 years.
Obama has an enormous task in front of him. I like what I am seeing so far. Obama needs to be able to wield power effectively to bring about "Change". I doubt he will worry about chasing news cycles or people sniping his every move. He is extremely disciplined and strategic in his maneuvers.
I just can't wait until Rahm starts swearing on national television.. I think that will greatly aid bipartisanship. Both conservatives and liberal illuminati will be covering their children's ears.
What he wants is a hatchet man to beat the crap out of Democrats.
This is another case where an aggrieved group needs to be told that "it isn't always about them".
Obama has to work with a Democratic Congress that is dysfunctional and has low approval ratings. If he can't get them to operate reasonably, he has no chance.
To Staash, re: nasty comments about our support for Israel:
Don't know how old you were on 9/11/01, when the Arabs crashed into the Pentagon and WTC -- maybe you were still in diapers or, worse, clueless:
On that fateful day and afterward, it was the Israelis who lowered their flags to half-staff as we did, and it was the Arabs who celebrated.
Now, who would you rather have as a friend??
Also, just another reminder that Israel is the only democratically-elected country in the Middle East.
Another reminder: remember it's the Arabs who are screwing us left and right, in the prices of oil they charge.
So, I say, Thank God for Israel!! You should, too.
As many others have noted, Emmanuel's primary responsibility is to cut the throats of inconvienient or troublesome Democrats.
He is an outstanding throat-cutter. The blood will flow ankle-deep in the gutters for a period of time, and then Democratistan will be as peaceful as Mulberry Street during the height of Carlo Gambino's reign.
Why not both?
He can be a ruthlessly partisan moderate. It can be an effective tactic for keeping the left wing in line-- the fact that he hates the Republicans so much and is so aggressive against them mollifies the left wing about the fact that the policies adopted aren't very leftish.
The group that is least happy with this appointment, are the Islamists, and in particular, the so called Palestinians. So,this less than enthusiastic McCain voter ( go Sarah), whose principle fear was for the safety of Israel,finds reason for hope."Best Wishes", Rahm. Never forget.
"Also, just another reminder that Israel is the only democratically-elected country in the Middle East."
Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan... I seem to remember all of them having elections.
Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan... I seem to remember all of them having elections.
Depends on your definition of "Middle East".
It's Emanuel NOT Emmanuel.
"So,this less than enthusiastic McCain voter ( go Sarah), whose principle fear was for the safety of Israel..."
The cognitive dissonance that this statement implies is simply breath taking.
Rahm lasts until just after the negative (for the Dems) results in 2010.
Then Barack hires some kinder, gentler version to pave the way into the re-election cycle.
The right's underestimation of Obama's skills on one hand and whiney overestimation of his so called radical schemes to turn the US into the USSR on the other notwithstanding, how about: White House staff experience, self-discipline, powerful work ethic, and track record of getting things done, along with some working history together. Sorry Republicans, he chose someone that was not Winnie the Pooh, nor Karl Marx.
Comment from Rahm Emmanuels' father 2 days ago.
"Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."
Why hasn't the media picked up this racial slur??
Many reasons for the Emanuel appointment, one of which surely is: after having defeated the DLC's candidate, then snubbed the DLC's annual meeting, Obama is driving in the final nail: he's subjugating them, making them his.
This is similar to putting campaign ressources (and providing coattails) in states which Obama didn't really need: I don't know how many Blue Dogs are now indebted to him, but it seems like a pretty smart move.
Or taking the bullet progressives aimed at Nancy Pelosi for the House Fisa bill.
One strategy that won't work against Obama, is divide and conquer. He's got that all sown up even before taking office. Now I just hope that what he really wants is also what I want.