Remaking Rahm: Even Republicans concede Emanuel's tactics are working

[wyldwolf]

*** Your Rahm outrage of the day... :) ***

As the House and Senate debated the budget earlier this month, Rahm Emanuel's spacious West Wing office took on the feel of a legislative bazaar.

Wavering Democrats filed in individually and in groups seeking audiences with President Obama's pugnacious chief of staff, all bearing concerns about the 2010 fiscal blueprint. For some, the issue was farm payments. For others, veterans benefits. Fiscal conservatives balked at the $1.2 trillion deficit. One House member wanted to discuss a new federal building in his district. Another sought an appointment with the commerce secretary.

Forty-six lawmakers beat a path to the White House, and, on April 2, Emanuel's hospitality paid off. All but three of his visitors voted in the House or Senate for a $3.5 trillion blueprint that preserved Obama's ambitious domestic policy goals. The 233 to 196 House margin represented the largest budget victory for either party in a decade.

Emanuel's theatrical style, ballet training and "Rahmbo" nickname, along with the well-worn story about a dead fish he sent to a rival, are duly noted on his Wikipedia page. But in his new job, Emanuel is overhauling his image, becoming more valet than hit man, and his formula for moving Obama's agenda through Congress is beginning to resonate. Even Republicans concede that given Obama's early victories, thornier tasks such as landmark health-care, energy and education bills may not be out of reach.

One admirer is Rep. Peter T. King, a New York Republican who got to know Emanuel during his House days. "There's a consensus among Republicans who can be objective that the president did a good thing in picking Rahm," King said. "He's tough, and he's really not that partisan. He doesn't think he's morally superior to Republicans, and that alone will get you far in this environment."

King added: "If he can knock me off in the next election, he will, and I totally accept that."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/12/AR2009041202629.html?hpid=topnews

[saltpoint]

1. Rahm gets stuff done.

He's effective.

It must pain a lot of Republicans to have to make nice to Rahm, given that Rahm is loyal to the new president.

[NJmaverick]

3. That's why Obama picked him

Good ideas and intentions are not enough. We saw that with President Carter. You need to make things happen, and that's why Rahm was such a good choice.

[saltpoint]

8. Agree. Rahm seems to me to be more effective than he is "controversial,"

and Obama is likely grateful to have him in his current role.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Yep. He's Getting Trillions For The Folks Who Paid Him Millions.

That's great for his bank account and for bankers.

Sucks for us little people.

[wyldwolf]

4. he "RAPED"* us! Waaaa waaa waaaa

* Actual Manny Goldstein term.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Yes, He and The Clinton Crew Commited Economic Rape on the Middle Class

What would you call economy-shattering wholesale financial deregulation followed by job-obliterating almost-free-trade with China? Clinton's term created historical inequalities of incomes between rich and middle class, and the continuation by Obama of "give everything to the rich" trickle-down economics is further fucking us.

[wyldwolf]

7. OMG! By lifting the middle class, he "RAPED"* us!

*Actual Manny Goldstein term.

[PBS Poll-435]

9. God, DU (GD-P), I hope you never change.

:rofl:

[MannyGoldstein]

18. Very Silly

But I grow weary of your clumsy evasions.

[wyldwolf]

19. yes it is. One wonders why you say it.

[Occam Bandage]

17. You must have a strange definition of "rape."

The middle class did well under Clinton.

[Jennicut]

6. I don't care about Rahm's past. I am impressed that he is able to

get Obama's agenda moving through the minefield that is congress. He has been doing a good job imo.

[apr09]

10. Is this a beet-sweetener?

Beet-sweeteners are favorable profiles of political figures that writers often use as a means to gain easy access to White House sources.

[camera obscura]

14. Greenwald did a good article about the last Rahm profile in the New Yorker.

It's pretty clear to tell when an article is sucking up to its source, & I say that as someone who admires some of the "sources" I've seen it happen to.

[wyldwolf]

15. It's also pretty clear when an article is trashing it's source

[polmaven]

11. Great post.

Now, if we can only get some "Democrats" to concede that. (I use the word Democrats for them only because that's what they call themselves).

[SpartanDem]

12. Since when

is raising taxes on the rich and cutting them from the middle class trickle down economics?

[annabanana]

13. "If he can knock me off in the next election, he will, and I totally accept that."

That is possibly the ONLY thing that man has EVER said that I agree with 100%

[Spazito]

16. LOL! You are SO in trouble now.....

A different perspective on Rahm is NOT allowed, only those that reflect the opinion of some that he is evil incarnate are to be posted!

Interesting read, thanks for posting it.