Blog cafe : ‘Rahmbo’ rock

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: I hear a lot of people on the right saying that Obama contradicted his message of change and bipartisanship when he selected Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff. I can see why their gut reaction would cause them to be concerned, but I think there is more to the pick than meets the eye. The 1997 New York Times story on Rahm and his two brothers makes him sound like a psychopath, someone who worked for the mafia rather than a US President, but that was more than 15 years ago, so it doesn’t tell us that “Rahmbo” has grown up and learned how to work with others. While some Conservatives have said picking Emanuel sent the wrong message, South Carolina Senator and one one of John McCain’s biggest supporters Linsey Graham called Obama’s pick for COS “a wise choice” and praised Emmanuel’s efforts to reach across the aisle during his four terms in the House.

During the Clinton years the guy was aggressive as all hell, but he was viewed as a centrist. What I like about the pick is that Obama will have a right hand man who he trusts, who knows policy inside and out, and who knows how the beltway works. His architecture of the Democrats takeover of the House in 2006 proved that the Democrats had an answer to Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove, and showed how Emanuel could bridge the divide between the liberal and conservative members of Congress. I like the guy because he is the type that you love to have on your team because he is a winner, and because you know you would hate to have him as an opponent. He kind of reminds me of those hockey players who are good at getting under the skin of their opponents. Maybe he will be the Barnaby of the Obama administration? Bottom line—he will get sh!t done and he will have Obama’s back.