"Axelrod even signed the ketubah at Emanuel's wedding."

Wow!  Now THAT'S a trivia nugget you won't find elsewhere.

I love Rahm and I love that this was the first pick floated - he's famously smart and a fierce partisan badass.  

Look (as Obama says), I'm all for this peace and unity stuff to a certain point, but the American people just shouted to the rafters a very clear message: that they want a *Democratic* governing philosophy and legislative agenda.  No need to hide from that anymore, its a fact - no more defensive crouch.  Those days are over.

Obama won by 8 million votes for chrissakes.  That's not just a mandate, that's a demand. I welcome any Republicans who are interested in helping Obama with this clear mandate, but if they think their dead, rejected ideology has a prominent place at the table, they may want to check out those election returns again.  They have no hand to play. None.

Obama's nature is to respect the opinions of his opponents and to respond with caution, which is great and will end up helping to craft better policies for our poor messed up country.  He's not the overreach type. But he has every mandate he needs to move forward with a Democratic agenda.  Soon.

Take the job Rahm, you'll be a superstar.

perhaps even more important is his five years of institutional knowledge as a senior presidential advisor.

Where's the left's bitch that the jews have hijacked obama's presidency???

Really, jwl?  That's all you have?   I'm sorry.  

To read your words a slightly different way, though- "where's the left's bitch?"  To the right, my friend, to the right.  

psycho bitter anyone?

Over at The Flak ("Take the Mandate II") jacksondyer's got a link to a European newspaper celebrating Obama's win as "the end of Jewish domination in Washington" (!)

I like Emmanuel as much as Wandrey, but he's a lot more pragmatic and a lot less of a left-ideological partisan than I believe she thinks he is. That's one of the things I like best about him.

I have a very strong sense that Obama means what he says about healing the partisan divide. In my view there's no more important priority.

Fair enough RP - I think I wasn't clear - he's not so much a partisan warrior as a guy who can get from A to B in an' efficient' manner, regardless of the obstacles.  But the fact is, Democrats will own the agenda.

so we get to trade one corrupt political machine for another, are you kidding me, putting someone who cut his teeth on the machine that is corrupt chicago politics in charge of the presidency is not my idea of progress. the daley's are the most corrupt political family in history. and yes, i was born and raised in chicago so i have seen it first hand.

"I have a very strong sense that Obama means what he says about healing the partisan divide. In my view there's no more important priority."

I further believe that the healing will be in line with the Democratic tradition - the *centrist* Democratic tradition - exemplified by FDR. I expect Obama will attempt to go a step farther, however, to instate a new internationalism in American FP. Filling in Obama's template of all-togetherness, he wants to reorient future foreign relations to a seeking for common ground for the good of all the world's peoples. He may not get very far with this, but the change in U.S. orientation will register outsized abroad by every modest step taken here.

Doubtful Emanuel will accept. He's got reasonable hopes of becoming Majority Whip, even Speaker eventually. Once off that track, he'd find it difficult to get back on. White House chief of staff is a step down, a job taken by members of Congress who already are reconciled to not becoming Speaker. And Emanuel is known to have a healthy ego.

The offer seems wonderfully calculated. The offer itself is intended to appease the pro-Israel crowd. But it won't be Obama, but more likely Emanuel, who decides that it won't happen. Obama hopes to get the credit, without actual cost. And as the news cycle turns, what is supposed to be remembered is that he had made the offer.

Resembles the promise that Jerusalem will not be divided made before AIPAC, and reversed soon after, in a quieter segment of the news cycle.

Also resembles the offer Ehud Barak is said to have made to Arafat at Camp David, in Robert Malley's version of events. Of course, that was a somewhat different situation.

I haven't followed Obama that closely, but no doubt he's made similarly ambiguous offers to other interest groups. It's how one gets elected.

We'll see if Obama really wants to please the pro-Israel crowd if he appoints Dennis Ross, Martin Indyk, or someone similar to a relevant cabinet post, or as national security advisor. Or even appoints Bill Clinton.

"...even Bill Clinton" indeed. It would be a tremendous waste of talent if this uniquely capable guy is left on the bench. Would add that I'm hoping Gates is left right where he is at DoD. Agree with tomeg on "a new internationalism", which will be a lot easier to do with a steady hand at Defense.

Also agree with FBC on the realistic chances of Rahm getting off the Speaker track, where I think he's an extremely good fit. I am not at all concerned about "corruption" where he's concerned, but am very positive about the fact that he's one of those rare Dems (Clinton is another one) who really understands how to get results in the political system--which is to say he's a non-ideological pragmatist who understands the voters, with a strong killer instinct.

Rahm has the distinction of being the only elected official in American history who has fought for a foreign country (Israel) but not his own. He also holds dual citizenship.

Can someone explain why this doesn't automatically disqualify him from being Chief of Staff?

"The offer seems wonderfully calculated. The offer itself is intended to appease the pro-Israel crowd. But it won't be Obama, but more likely Emanuel, who decides that it won't happen. Obama hopes to get the credit, without actual cost. And as the news cycle turns, what is supposed to be remembered is that he had made the offer."

A similar thought fleeted through my mind. Another possibility was to keep him close and  away from that coveted spot, the speaker. Maybe Obama feels he needs someone so strongly affiliated with Israel to be under his direct presidential control. If Obama intends to detonate the relationship with Israel, it seems prudent to start neutralizing ahead of time those who  would be most effective in their opposition to it.

Can dear sweet Obama be really so Machiavelian?

Oybama.

Breay13 :

Ari Fleiscer also has dual citizenship, or had, when he was serving as  press secretary for  President George W. Bush. It used to drive Edward Said crazy with rage. He could not find words harsh enough to vilify the rather easy-going and very congenial Ari.

I would lke Emanuel to take up that offer, if for no other reason than to see Rashid Khalidi follow in his master's footsteps when he tries to discredit his old pal's policies by pointing to the nefarious influence of the Joo (sorry, Zionist).

Breay13 writes, "Rahm has the distinction of being the only elected official in American history who has fought for a foreign country (Israel) but not his own. He also holds dual citizenship.

"Can someone explain why this doesn't automatically disqualify him from being Chief of Staff?"

Well, as far as I know all three statements are factually false. They resemble similar stories circulated about Dov Zakheim, who also has a funny first name. Emanuel was a civilian volunteer in Israel during Gulf War I. The actress Debra Winger did something similar.

Plenty of Americans served in foreign armies at one time or another. Even some Civil War generals, Americans joined the Lincoln Brigade in Spain and the Flying Tigers in China. Col. Mickey Marcus served in the IDF in 1948. He's buried at West Point, his alma mater.

The problem is when they serve against the US, e.g., Walker Lindh, Padilla.

When Bush Sr. accepted a British knighthood it was somewhat shocking. Would have outraged most 19th-century Americans.

Neither Emanuel nor Winger hold dual citizenship, AFIK. If Breay13 has any information otherwise, let him cite it. Nor do Zakheim nor Mukasey. Nor Jackie Mason nor Sarah Silverman.

James Madison had trouble appointing Albert Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury, due to Gallatin's Swiss birth. Haven't heard whether Gallatin retained his Swiss citizenship after he became a US citizen. But this was due more to Senate bias against anyone of foreign birth serving in the Cabinet, rather than any legal barrier.

Since White House chief of staff isn't a Cabinet position, the constraints are much less.

nogal suggests Obama might be maneuvering Emanuel away from a position of influence by offering him the job of chief of staff. Interesting thought. Certainly chief of staff, a job usually obscure and brief, would be a considerable step down for Emanuel.

The Congress now is heavily Democratic. But this sort of weight often changes at the mid-term elections. It would seem Obama would do better to have a pal like Emanuel in the House at that point, rather than having him as chief of staff.  

RP, you are dead on, as usual.  I can't figure out why Emanuel would want the job, given his standing in the House - I thought it would be Tom Daschle, whose ambitions at the other end of PA Ave. are over.

Further, given what we know about the returns, it seems that the people voted for Obama, not Dems, and certainly not a "Democratic governing philosophy,"  however defined.  The new man will have a very full plate and deserves a chance to sort things out.  This from a nat'l security R.

Dual citizenship is a non-issue. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the door opened for Ahnald, and others like him who will surely come our way in the future. It wasn't long ago that people traveled, studied, worked, fought in, and sometimes ruled all over the world without passports.

No question that Obama won big because he consistently rejected defining components of the "Democratic governing philosophy" when pressed for details. I wouldn't wish Tom Daschle on my worst enemy, and can see enormous practical advantages for having Emmanuel as CoS. But in the long run, I'm still campaigning for him to replace Pelosi and Hillary replace Reid in a major statement of a new direction for the government.

Congratulations on a great season so far Butchie. Now, if we can just ambush 'Bama this weekend...

FBC,

Excellent information. Well done.

Honest people can disagree as to whether or not Rahm's dual citizenship or volunteering for the IDF is an issue. But the information should be out there  for consideration. Agree or disagree with his unusual relationship with Israel, it stands out as entirely unique for a potential Chief of Staff and warrants legitimate scrutiny. This would be true if he had an equivalent relationship with Italy, Germany, Kuwait or any other foreign country.

According to the Rahm Emmanuel Wikipedia entry:

1. His father, the Jerusalem-born Benjamin M. Emanuel, is a pediatrician and was a member of the Irgun, an underground jewish resistance movement in British-Mandated Palestine that was seen as a terrorist organization by governing authorities.

2. At the start of then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton's presidential primary campaign Emanuel was appointed to direct the campaign's finance committee. Emanuel left to volunteer as a civilian volunteer in the Israel Defense Forces during the 1991 Gulf War, serving in one of Israel's northern bases, rust-proofing brakes.

The entry states that accusations of Rahm Emmanuel's dual citizenship are false.

I have dual citizenship, Canadian and Israeli. On one discussion board, in the past, there was a Canadian (de souche) poster who accused me of only pretending to be a Canadian. The reason? Because she could not believe a "real" Canadian would support Bush's war in Iraq. I was not instinctively anti-American. That was suspect.

I suppose that by the same token, Rahm Emanuel is suspect, for understanding too well Israel's situation and limited range of choices.

In Israel, there are many Russian and American immigrants who hold  dual citizenships and get to be elected and serve in the government, the armed forces, anywhere their talents can be put to goos use. I have yet to  hear of anyone in Israel objecting to this by citing the dual citizenship argument (codeword, I suppose, for dual loyalties).

Come to think of it, isn't your new president burdened by the same kind of duality?

Rahm Emmanuel receives entirely too much credit for Democratic gains in 2006.  It was Howard Dean's 50 state strategy, consistent with Obama's community organizing training, which was most responsible for the 2006 results and even deserves some back patting for Tuesday's triumph.

In 2006, Rahm would have concentrated resources in safe districts.  It is only a slight over-simplfication to observe that Emmanuel's loyalties attach to the party while Dean's attach to "the people."  This might explain why both Dean and, say, Russ Feingold, are unlikely ever to win a party popularity contest, but offer Dem regulars the gift of conscience.

After weeks of speculation about where he might fit into an Obama administration, it looks like David

I like Rahm. I like that he's smart, says what's on his mind (a quality Obama seems to prefer to sycophancy), isn't afraid to argue passionately. Most of all I like that he's a street fighter, a good street fighter no less. I'm no good in a knife fight, and I suspect neither is Obama; but Obama is smart enough to know he needs somebody he can trust to watch his back and step in when it's time.

Emanuel may not be a perfect fit and could be an obstacle sometimes, but I would feel a hell of a lot safer - and do - that he's Obama's go to guy.

Rahm Emmanuel will be a great Chief of Staff. The Chief of staff enforces discipline, keeps the schedule, undertands policy/politics/possibilities, twists arms and acts as a counterweight to the instincts of the president. Rahm and Barack may be ideologically similar but the former is a street fighte/tactician...the latter is the big picture guy. I think the mix is a good one. Barack also can be a bit of a conciliator....who better than a tough guy to keep him honest. And I also think that having someone who is so close to the Jewish community will help remind Barack about what is at stake over there...namely the existence of the only true democracy in the Middle East (although Turkey is making strides).

Great choice.

Good luck this weekend, RP.  Yes, this whole born here stuff has been overtaken by 21st century reality.  We should (gasp!) amend the Constitution and get rid of it.  Maybe raise the age at which one can become President to 55. :-)

Geaux Gators!

mcommod - Turkey is NOT the Middle East.  At least the Turks don't think so, begging as they do to get into the EU, and being a founding member (I think) of NATO.

I'm not crazy about him, but he's probably the right guy for the job.

Latest news seems to be Emanuel has accepted.

Difficult to see why Emanuel would want the job. Same with Barney Frank or Henry Waxman. Both hope to continue to have a major role in the House.

If Obama is looking for a Jewish member of the House, there are Robert Wexler of Florida, who actively campaigned for him, and Shelley Berkley of Nevada. Even Jared Polis of Colorado, just elected this year. For these, the CoS job might be a step up.

There are several post-career pols who might be considered. Daschle, as mentioned above. Mario Cuomo, or even his son, Andrew Cuomo. Howard Dean. Has John Edwards cooled off yet? I've always liked Dick Gephardt's positions.

Apart from Howard Baker, the CoS job usually goes to career behind-the-scenes people. Reagan's were influential -- Don Regan, Jim Baker -- as was Eisenhower's CoS, Sherman Adams. Mostly, though, they're little-known and of limited influence. Consider the people who served in the role under Clinton and W: Mack McLarty, Andrew Card, Joshua Bolten. Under a hands-off president like Reagan, CoS has influence. (Was Reagan even present?) That's not what's expected of Obama.

What's interesting is how this went down. Obama "named" Emanuel as CoS. But Emanuel responded with understandable havering. Isn't more usual to "float" a name and see what the reaction of the person and of the public is? For example, NJ governor Corzine's name's been "floated" for Secretary of the Treasury. Corzine has publicly demurred. Lawrence Summers's name also mentioned. Interesting, since Clinton's other Treasury Secretary, Robert Rubin, is too close to Wall Street for this climate, perhaps, while Summers is a professor. Yet Corzine was a Wall Street guy too.

But isn't the Chief of Staff supposed to be a buddy, a trusted confidant? If so, it's very surprising no one on the Obama team troubled to phone Emanuel himself before the announcement. Surprisng Obama himself didn't make that phone call, prior to announcing.

It does look a lot like Obama is trying to publicly pressure a reluctant Emanuel into the job. Which would not bode well for Emanuel's longevity on the job or influence. Or, at best, just looks like Obama is inept. But that's not that consistent with the slickness of his campaign.

If Emanuel's accepted, sounds like it took some cajoling, or pressure.

Incidentally, many Americans fought in the British and the Canadian armed forces in WWII. They joined up after the war began in 1939, not wanting to wait till the US abandoned neutrality in 1941. No doubt many of them went on to political careers in the US after the war. Emanuel wasn't in Israel during wartime, nor was he a member of any other military, nor did he carry a weapon. He was less involved than those Americans who drove ambulances on the British side in WWI. Emanuel's conduct seems unremarkable, and a non-issue.

Also incidentally, I strongly doubt Ari Fleischer has dual citizenship, either. He also simply has a funny first name.

US-born Jews who emigrate to Israel often hang on to their US citizenship, for the benefits it provides. And Israeli-born Jews who become naturalized citizens of the US hang on to their Israeli citizenship for similar reasons. But there's no motivation for a Jewish-American who lives in the US to acquire Israeli citizenship. The stories circulating about Emanuel, Fleischer, Zakheim having dual citizenship all sound imaginary. Maybe they originate on Stormfront.

While I agree it's fun to tweak Rashid Khalidi, that seems an unimportant activity. His mentor Edward Said lied often and profoundly, making things up out of whole cloth; Khalidi is more likely to simply twist things massively. The difference between an English professor and a historian, I think. But that doesn't mean Khalidi isn't simply wrong a whole lot. If he says Fleischer has dual citizenship, that doesn't actually mean it's true.

The shape of wine bottles can communicate a great deal about the taste of the wine inside. In Europe, many wine producing areas developed unique wine bottle shapes that became the traditional bottle for wines of that region.