TAKING OVER

Choosing ‘Rahmbo’

Inside Obama's chief-of-staff selection.

By Richard Wolffe | NEWSWEEK
Published Nov 6, 2008

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  • Posted By: mountainaires @ 12/14/2008 9:45:45 AM

    How's Obama's choice of Rahmbo looking now, since the Blagojevich scandal and Rahm Emmauel's involvement in it? Chcago Trib reports that Rahmbo was in contact with Blago over the Senate seat. Did Rahmbo tip off the Feds after the Nov. 10 conference call? Or did Rahmbo tip off PEBO that Blago had lost it and was talking too much on the conference call? The next day, Jarrett's name was pulled from consideration, and she was tapped to be a Senior WH "Advisor" to Obama. It's all very curious, considering that DeLeo and Rahmbo are so close, and Blago made that statement about Rahmbo's district 5 seat in Congress still needing to be filled. Rahm Emmanuel is a Chicago pol who knows the Chicago Way [read corruption, graft, and cronyism] inside and out; that is, of course, why Obama picked him. And, remember, Obama moved the DNC headquarters to Chicago immediately after "clinching" the nomination for the Democratic Party. So, now, the entire Democratic Party is connected to The Chicago Way by association. What does that say about Obama's vaunted judgment?

  • Posted By: memo2 @ 11/21/2008 10:22:39 AM

    I don't think Mr:Obi Rhambo or Rahm Emanuel can be success on this one the shoes are too big.
    to fix this as on time line Manner...

  • Posted By: nickgr @ 11/16/2008 6:21:43 PM

    Long comments ruin the threads...

    2-3 sentences,please...

    Rhambo is a DLC Dem,with interesting ideas about taxation...

    At least he is not a hardcore socialist.

    His brother has an interesting plan for health care financing.

    Good choice by Obi,Rhambo will be succesful...

  • Posted By: blueskyatmidnite @ 11/08/2008 7:58:29 PM

    I bet a lot of energetic (and law abiding inclined) children are happy to learn that anyone -qualified- can win an election. I think it was the possibility of Palin that invited folks to believe knowledge, intelligence, character, associations, intentions, substance and demeanor were irrelevant. I don't believe those desperate for a handout made the difference in this election. It was my impression that ignorance, entitlement and irresponsibility - not to mention hate mongering and meanness, were the hallmark of the republican party.

    • Posted By: LibertarianForObama @ 11/09/2008 7:11:07 PM

      Don't forget incompetence....

      • Posted By: Paulj4422 @ 11/10/2008 4:52:45 PM

        Your comment sounds pretty mean and hatemongering to me. Are you a repbulican?

        • Posted By: blueskyatmidnite @ 11/11/2008 7:46:35 PM

          Maybe you should read Krohn's comment - mine was in response to that. And after this election, that was the impression I was left with of the republican party - rather than of the folks who voted the republicans out, as Krohn suggests. I've always been independent. It's the first time I've been left with a distasteful impression of the republicans. As they even admit now, they need to readjust how they operate.

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/08/2008 10:19:55 PM

      Well said.

  • Posted By: trogers @ 11/09/2008 11:01:13 PM

    Yes he is partisan. Yes he wants to win. Yes he is liberal. But yes he is now part of an effort to govern for all Americans instead of just one political party. 'Rahmbo' has an unfortunate nickname which talk radio will use to discredit his new role in the White House.. Lets call him 'Rahmbro' instead because he agrees with the President elect that the administration serves all Americans not just the blue staters or the red staters. Politics has always been a game of winners and losers. That has not changed and the new administration will struggle to overcome decades of conflict between the Republicans and the Democrats. Maybe a post- partisan environment is a myth. Maybe the fighting will intensify and the ideals will die out as they usually do. This time may be just like last time. It is up to people like 'Rahmbro' to try for change. I voted for Obama because I want my country to work together before we fall apart.

    • Posted By: Paulj4422 @ 11/10/2008 4:48:42 PM

      Thank you for one of the best posts I have seen this week. I too hope that post-partisanship can win out in the end and I hope the politicos and the pundits don't rush us into a lot of pseudo-conflict in the meantime that keeps us from getting there. There are, after all, 3.89 (or so) years till the next election. Can't we work together for at least a couple of them before we get in a mad rush to campaign and bicker and fight again
      ?

  • Posted By: Krohn @ 11/08/2008 6:39:37 PM

    November 5th, 2008 SP Editor Posted in American News | 159 Comments »

    Anything can happen in America???

    You can literally be ANYBODY and win an election, something that I bet a lot of lazy (and criminally inclined) children will be happy to learn. From now on, experience, knowledge, intelligence, character, associations, intentions, substance, and demeanor will be irrelevant, if you are fortunate enough to belong to an ethnic minority that the Media wishes to promote and that enough European Americans can feel guilty for.

    In this first (and probably not last) AFFIRMATIVE ACTION election, we have discovered that if you promise enough nonsense to those who are desperate for a handout, you can be victorious. We have discovered that when you allow the spread of ignorance, entitlement, and irresponsibility throughout an entire population, you can reach very high (note to self when selling any product!).

    Yesterday was the beginning of the end for the United States of America. We are only left to see what we can create from the ashes of this entire mess. WE will have to get ready for the tornado that is about to hit us, and be ready to take over from the mindless hordes that now dominate our land.

    Will many of these same ???AmeriCONS???, as I will now call them, ever learn?

    Yesterday, people elected a clone of Mr. 2000 and 2004. An unprepared empty suit of a man, whom we shall forever call the Affirmative Action Bush (AA Bush for short).

    What will be our next step?

    • Posted By: C. MacLean @ 11/10/2008 7:56:02 AM

      To Krohn: Oh, grow up. Act like an adult instead of a petulant child, and stop the name calling. It serves no purpose except to divide - this is a time for us all to pull together.

      As far as being desperate for handouts, didn't we just give a number of banks, insurance companies, and other private companies a handout, at taxpayers' expense? Aren't we contemplating doing the same for the auto industry? The vast majority of Americans are not looking for a handout - they just want a chance to survive. Both Obama and McCain promised to help Americans do just that - they differed in their approach, but neither promised anything close to a handout.

      The original purpose of affirmative action was to allow groups of people a chance to compete for a given job, when they otherwise would not have an opportunity to do so. This does not apply to Obama - a Harvard grad has plenty of chances to compete for essentially any job they wish to compete for.

      As far as lazy or criminal people becoming president, well, there is certainly plenty of precedent in both parties, isn't there?

  • Posted By: Krohn @ 11/08/2008 6:37:57 PM

    November 5th, 2008 SP Editor Posted in American News | 159 Comments »

    Anything can happen in America???

    You can literally be ANYBODY and win an election, something that I bet a lot of lazy (and criminally inclined) children will be happy to learn. From now on, experience, knowledge, intelligence, character, associations, intentions, substance, and demeanor will be irrelevant, if you are fortunate enough to belong to an ethnic minority that the Media wishes to promote and that enough European Americans can feel guilty for.

    In this first (and probably not last) AFFIRMATIVE ACTION election, we have discovered that if you promise enough nonsense to those who are desperate for a handout, you can be victorious. We have discovered that when you allow the spread of ignorance, entitlement, and irresponsibility throughout an entire population, you can reach very high (note to self when selling any product!).

    Yesterday was the beginning of the end for the United States of America. We are only left to see what we can create from the ashes of this entire mess. WE will have to get ready for the tornado that is about to hit us, and be ready to take over from the mindless hordes that now dominate our land.

    Will many of these same ???AmeriCONS???, as I will now call them, ever learn?

    Yesterday, people elected a clone of Mr. 2000 and 2004. An unprepared empty suit of a man, whom we shall forever call the Affirmative Action Bush (AA Bush for short).

    What will be our next step?

    • Posted By: Duckster @ 11/09/2008 11:05:55 AM

      Go crawl back under the rock you came from. You are SO typical of the ignorant masses who blindly support a government who's essentially made America a pariah in the rest of the world. Obviously your mother never taught you tolerance, to love your fellow human being (which I believe is a fundamental tenent in the Bible), or to "judge not or let thee be judged". American is part of a global community, and I thank God that we have finally got someone who understands that and will do what he can to bring some pride back to our Country.

  • Posted By: MChieco @ 11/08/2008 12:49:22 AM

    Rahm Emanuel's previous job was to promote and build the Democratic party. His job was to be partisian . Now he has a new job . All indications are he is a no nonsense , get things done type of personality. Thats Radical. Goverment getting things done..

  • Posted By: Duck Soup @ 11/07/2008 10:07:17 PM

    Now, turning to the EPA head. How about RFK, Jr.?

    Bobby Kennedy Jr. would make an absolutely fantastic head of the Environmental Protection Agency. I can't think of anyone more qualified. Bobby has been fighting with the EPA for years. No one knows better how horrible they have become, and no one is better placed to correct it.

    Bobby is more than a knowledgeable and skillful advocate for the environment. He gets it. He is fair. He will correct his colleagues when they take cheap shots.

    He has a sense of political and historical perspective that extends far beyond just environmental matters.

    Bobby is not afraid to call it like he sees it. He's a visionary with guts.

    RFK Jr. would be an inspired choice for the EPA who would inspire others. The other folks under consideration, such as the Governor of Kansas (nothing against her) or local/state officials, pale in comparison.

    Okay, I admit it. For all these reasons, I am salivating over the possibility of RFK Jr. heading the EPA. I have similar feelings about Bobby as those I felt before the mid-term elections in '06 when I was frantically blogging for Barack to run for President.

    What do you think?

  • Posted By: ariziowa @ 11/07/2008 6:30:42 PM

    We will see! As you know, words and deeds are different.

  • Posted By: rosychick123 @ 11/06/2008 6:48:00 PM

    Obama's PRESIDENCY has been praised by the entire world hoping that being a just, fair and decent human being, the way he has portrayed himself, he will bring respect for America and he will established America as the kinder, gentle, peace loving, fair and just Super power.
    But within 24-hours he is losing the respect from some of the world Nations including the oppressed Palestinians by appointing the harsh and right wing Israel leaning Jew as his Chief Of Staff. IF HE WILL CONTINUE SUCH APPOINTMENTS, PEOPLE WILL FIND OUT VERY SOON, WHETHER HE IS CAPABLE OF MAKING ANY POITIVE CHANGES IN THE AMERICAN POLICIES OR WILL USE THE SAME OLD CARDS? AND LIKE BUSH, HE WILL ALSO LOSE HIS AND AMERICA'S IMAGE WITHIN FEW DAYS OR MONTHS.

    • Posted By: forte88 @ 11/06/2008 7:24:25 PM

      Actually his choice should silence the "Joe the Plumbers" out there that think it will be the "death of isreal" when he takes office. However, I don't think the Jewish agenda has anything to do with his decision. I believe he picked Rhambo to keep his own party in line.

      • Posted By: TheVigil @ 11/07/2008 8:43:57 AM

        This post strikes me as pretty insightful. Keeping his own party in line may indeed be the biggest reason he chose Rahm, and it is needed. I trust Obama more than I trust the Democratic Party as a whole, by large measure.

        • Posted By: busby @ 11/07/2008 5:39:55 PM

          You know, I agree with you. I think my problem is with the leftward bent of my party, not Mr. Obama. So far, he has been very measured and insightful and his demeanor on election night showed that he really did have an understanding of the mess we are in and the almost impossible job that he has. While I'm still disgusted with the democrats, i find that Mr. Obama is starting to eleviate (sp) my fears.

      • Posted By: Vypurr @ 11/06/2008 9:32:50 PM

        forte88, You're exactly right. Obama chose his COS for exactly that reason. Due to their weakened position, the republicans will be mostly easy to handle for the immediate future. The extreme left is what Obama needs protection from. They will be hammering him to make good with massive handouts that will surely break the bank... Rhambo will keep them at bay.

        Smart boy, Obama.

    • Posted By: Amma @ 11/07/2008 7:19:55 AM

      Obama cannot make the change. Only "we" can make the change. We all have to work hard at it. Look upon ourselves and ask, how can we be a better citizen and serve the country we are all proud of. Lets cut the crap and get crackin.

    • Posted By: busby @ 11/06/2008 8:34:38 PM

      So nice to hear from one of our inclusive "liberals". Did it ever occur to you that he felt Emanuel was the right one for the job. Thank God, Mr. Obama didn't make his choice based on religion, color, height, weight or anything else other than competency. Go drink some more bile dearie.

  • Posted By: marley07 @ 11/06/2008 10:31:44 PM

    Obama is going to be our president and I now have to except that and adjust the way I live because of it most likely. So for me and my family's sake and our country's sake, I hope he can come towards the middle like Clinton did and not stay on the extreme left like our congress. With that said, I can't not wait to see the response of the blinded puppets who bought into all the empty rhetoric that came from his written speeches when the promises made are not delivered. He is another politician walking into the worst economy we have seen in our lifetime. Make no mistake about it, the markets the last 2 days since he was elected have had the worst 2-day drop since the crash of 1987.

    • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 11/07/2008 2:30:00 AM


      Now you are just making stuff up. The markets feel below 1987 levels weeks ago, and as you know, Obama is not president yet, he is president-elect, he cannot make any decisions until January 20th. And those fears you have about him being a radical leftist; they were fed to you by Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, the same people who are now lambasting Palin after treating her like the best thing that happened to the Conservative movement. He will go to the middle left and won't be as extreme as Bush was favoring his base at the expense of the rest of us.

      • Posted By: marley07 @ 11/07/2008 9:04:06 AM

        I am not making things up. It is a fact that we have the largest two consecutive day drop since 1987. Not levels in the market. The markets anticiapte and trade well ahead of what is to come. The markets are looking ahead to how bad this economy is going to get and with a liberal pres and congress, it scares the markets.

        • Posted By: TalkSoup @ 11/07/2008 2:54:19 PM

          Look at Ford and Chev's 3rd qtr postings. They were released this week and affected the markets, but how can tehy have anything to do wiht Obama. Besides, what about the radical drop a couple weeks ago? Largest single day drop on the Dow since teh 1930's. Obviously not an Obama thing.


  • Posted By: it's about the future @ 11/07/2008 1:38:45 PM


    The republican party performed so very dishonorably and with so little foresight in the presidential election,
    that it is time for its representatives
    to act for the good of the whole country,
    take a deep breath
    and be for something, instead of against everything.
    Time to grow up and be big people, Republicans!

  • Posted By: 40YearR @ 11/07/2008 1:07:33 PM

    There obviously is the potential for big emotional swings. My impression is that I saw more of it from the right wing. This election demonstrates to me that there are more moderates in the middle who are going to view what he does practically. I think any backlash he will feel from whoever might be disappointed will be far less than the hysteria that already has been directed at him.

  • Posted By: marley07 @ 11/07/2008 12:52:47 PM

    The problem is however, Obama does not have to do a single thing or make one change to raise taxes on 100% of American taxpayers, small businesses, corporations, dividends, or even dead people (death tax). All Bush tax cuts expire after 2010. He may not double cap gains like he promised but if he does at the very least let the top 2 brackets expire, small business will get hammered.

  • Posted By: Ordermonger @ 11/07/2008 11:24:39 AM

    The Republicans/conservatives were gonna throw a fit no matter who Obama put in chief of staff, unless of course it was a republican. But this is probably the one spot where this would not make sense at all; a president needs a chief of staff he can trust, can work very closely with, and share a similar mindset. The fact that some Republicans are praising this pick such as Lindsey Graham and others that have worked with Emmanuel is in my mind proof that Obama has made a smart choice. Emmanuel may not be the most bipartisan but he is smart, driven, and direct from most descriptions, having admirers even among Republicans. Also if you read highly liberal columnists they are unhappy with this pick as well, as Emmanuel is largely considered centrist in their opinions.

  • Posted By: marley07 @ 11/07/2008 11:21:26 AM

    I predict that after Obama meets with people actually working in the economy and actually know something about it, all this talk of his raising tax on capital gains, businesses, rich people etc, is now going to be off the table and all those who were just so excited about going after big companies and rich people are going to be very disapponted. Why do i predict this, because unless he wants to make things even worse, he can't do it and he will figure that out talking to the people who actually get it. Obama to this point has not been pro-business and for a gorwth economy driven by business. But guess what, that is the only possible way to get the economy truned around. So where would that leave us? Right back where we were before he became pres-elect. All the promises he made to everyone, won't happen becuase they are not realistic. He is going to find that out fast. The big talk on on his campaign is one thing, but once in reality a whole different ball game. The flow of money is driven by tax policy and he is now going to understand that tax increases on businesses and wealthier people, who are the ones who create the jobs, is foolish. The monster he created in support of him is going to turn on him quickly when he does not deliver all the things he said. I am very happy this will happen becuase it means he actually may do the right things which would be the opposite of what we heard on his campaign. He will tone down expectations which are very high and that in turn will piss off all those that supported him.

  • Posted By: Catbuns1978 @ 11/07/2008 9:21:38 AM

    I'm have really considered, that people like the taste of the crap that has been shovled down their throats for 8 yrs. So much now they like the taste. I think we need a administration that takes none. Every Rep will gripe about every pick. i got no problem with someone who will tell it like it is. I'd rather have that than the BS express we've gotten. If Rahm works with both sides how is that not bi-partisan?

    • Posted By: Rocky2001 @ 11/07/2008 9:23:20 AM

      If??

      • Posted By: Catbuns1978 @ 11/07/2008 10:36:49 AM

        If what? Did you read who he hangs with? No you always manage to leave that part out. Keep picking and choosing, because no matter what you'll never be happy. If you like being lied to then this administration has been for you. Sorry I don't. Our country has too many problems, why add to them? Who has been hurt out of the last 8, I pretty sure it hit your wallet tooo!

        • Posted By: Rocky2001 @ 11/07/2008 10:59:19 AM

          I'm good, but thanks for the thought....LOL!!

  • Posted By: nickpr53 @ 11/07/2008 10:03:06 AM

    rahmbo hahaha... let's hope he's a good choice..
    http://www.spinwhip.com/obama

  • Posted By: jmousseau @ 11/06/2008 7:35:15 PM

    I would support the idea of higher taxes, but only after the Administration has convinced me they have done all they can do to rationalize current spendingincluding entitlements and defense which are key components of the overall budget. What about means testing of Social Security to begin with?

    Jeff

    • Posted By: TheVigil @ 11/07/2008 8:41:58 AM

      Social Security needs a vast overhaul.

    • Posted By: rexymeteorite @ 11/07/2008 1:23:44 AM

      agreed X 1000

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