Walk the Line
I’m not going to try to pretend to have detailed opinions about all the Democratic heavyweights who’ll be getting jobs in an Obama administration. But now that it’s official, I do think the Rahm Emanuel selection illustrates the kind of line Obama needs to talk to assemble a successful team. On the one hand, he’s promised change and campaigned — at some points very explicitly — on an agenda of offering something more than a third term of the Clinton administration. On the other hand, he’s wisely taken from the missteps of the early Carter and Clinton years the idea that he needs a team that’s not just smart and well-meaning, but that actually knows what it’s doing. And since Carter left office 28 years ago that means, in practice, a heavy reliance on people who served in senior-level posts in the Clinton administration.
But one thing Emanuel has going for him is that though he certainly was a high-level Clinton aid, he hasn’t just been cooling his heels in the private sector or in some sinecure somewhere since leaving. He ran for congress and won. Then he secured a leadership position at the DCCC and helped guide the Democrats to wins in 2006. Then he moved up in the House leadership while keeping a toe in the DCCC side of things. He’s built an independent identity and reputation and achieved success that transcends the fact that Clinton liked him enough to give him an important job. I think that’s similar to what you see if you consider the record of CAP/CAPAF bossman and now transition bigwig John Podesta — he followed his act as chief of staff by building a new important institution from scratch. Along with people like that, Obama seems inclined to avail himself of the expertise of veteran non-Clintonite legislators like Ted Kennedy and Tom Daschle to help with congressional relations.
And I think that’s the right lens through which to look at many of these choices — we’re seeing a search for people who are experienced and accomplished, not just graybeard time-servers. People like to pay a lot of attention to left-right ideological tensions, but the reality is that these gaps aren’t especially big and any realistic configuration of the Obama administration is going to leave it to the left of the views of pivotal legislators like the Blue Dog caucus, Max Baucus, Olympia Snowe, etc. The interesting issue is whether the team will be smart and capable enough to get stuff done, not how much hypothetical stuff would they do were they able to operate without constraint.
54 Responses to “Walk the Line”
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November 6th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I hope he walks the line …
November 6th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Can someone explain to me why Lindsey Graham is breaking with Republican leadership to endorse Rahm?
November 6th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Yeah, congratulations to Podesta. I remember reading that he was picked but it really didn’t hit me until after Obama was declared the winner. Emanuel is also friends with Axelrod.
November 6th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Yes. Appointing a centrist bruiser like Rahm Emanuel could of course be an indicator that Obama intends like Clinton to govern from the centre, i.e. as little as possible. But if he was going to do that, why appoint a bruiser instead of a nice guy with few enemies? I agree with you: the bruiser is the whole point. Obama intends to govern as he campaigned, to win battles. And if he expects battles, it’s to carry out the progressive agenda he campaigned on.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Would someone please recommend Matt’s post on this topic to Josh Marshall, at TPM? Josh seems unable to recognize that anyone who got a start in the Clinton administration could have had a subsequent life that brings a separate, distinct, and important skillset to an Obama administration. What’s Josh’s problem, anyway?
November 6th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Plus Rahm Emmanuel’s father served in the Israeli terrorist group Irgun — and Rahm himself served as a volunteer for Israeli Defense Forces in the 1991 Gulf War (in vehicle maintenance, not as a soldier.)
Which, hopefully, means he can whip the shit out of William Kristol. While wearing a ballet tutu.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I’ve just heard that former NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer will not be facing prosecution for the prostitution charges. I think this means he won’t be disbarred (not sure on that, but…)
He was a Democratic Star, and an effective prosecutor. His message that the Bush Admin. allowed the Mortgage crash to happen, indeed, kept him and other state officials from acting, is important.
Why not put him in as a Special Prosecutor for the Wall Street mess? He has the background, know the lay of the land, and is in need of some rehabilitation.
The Republicans have let Newt Gingrich back, and he’s stinking up the airwaves with shocking regularity. Is Spitzer so radioactive?
November 6th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I agree totally, Matt. I worked on the Hill during the Clinton admin. and Rahm was a very familiar figure in our office. The fact that he has achieved so much in the intervening years is a great boost to his credibility, skills and knowledge base. Obama and his team are very smart and incredibly impressive. I’m sure Tony deserves a lot of credit for this pick too. Rahm will do a great job for Obama because he not only knows how the WH and Capitol works, but he is a strategic thinker, aggressive and cunning.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Anyone else think he looks like Nathan Patrelli? Maybe he can fly.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Re MR Bill’s question “Is Spitzer so radioactive? ”
—————
Nah. If it was me, I would put Eliot in charge of dealing with Billionaire Herb Greenberg on that AIG matter.
Especially since I have a hunch re who put a tail on that prostitute. hee hee
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7994428/
November 6th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I like the choice of Emanuel, and like it more each time some DC figure nit-picks it. One thing that pleases me greatly about Obama is that welded to his character and temperament is an understanding of power and how to wield it. In case anyone hasn’t noticed, he has amassed an enormous amount of power, and someone like Emanuel is perfect to help him wield against the body that most needs him to dictate their actions; Congress. Pelosi and Reid have shown a willingness to do a great deal of what an adversarial and deeply unpopular Executive has asked them to do, now they really need to be responding with “How high, sir?”
November 6th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
your mention of carter is exactly on point, my.
the history of the carter presidency was that he was so eager to “not be from washington” that he never figured out how to work with capitol hill.
and that spelled the end of his ability to get stuff done.
i don’t entirely trust or like rahm emmanuel. but he can be very effective, and he sure as hell knows how to work the hill. if obama can keep him in line, and assure himself of r.e.’s complete loyalty, then he’ll be a very effective liaison.
on the whole, i like it, and for the reasons that my says: it suggests that obama plans to get shit done.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
A few highlights of Obama’s “progressive” agenda:
Non-universal, profit-driven health care.
Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts!
NAFTA, free trade, globalization.
Keep U.S. military forces in Iraq to fight terrorism.
Increased military spending. More soldiers.
Lots of new spending on roads, highways, cars.
New domestic drilling for oil. Nuclear power.
Tougher penalties for drug crimes.
Legal immunity for companies involved in illegal wiretaps.
Believes states should be permitted to execute child rapists.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Bullshit, Emmanuel didn’t win in 2006. We won. His candidates were shit. 2006 was blogosphere’s victory. We donated, we created the 50 State Strategy, we found candidates, we helped Dean. We turned stayed the course into an albatross around GOP necks.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
A few highlights of Mixner’s career:
.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
The contents of DMonteith’s brain:
.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I very much agree with James Wimberley. Emanuel isn’t useful to an administration with modest aims and a conciliatory attitude. He is, as is said, a blunt object, and I suspect he’s been hired specifically for that, so that he might then be applied to recalcitrant Blue Dogs and the limited number of remaining moderate Rs.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I agree with you on that point. But at the same time, Emmanuel is good at getting legislation passed, and so this is a solid move. Plus, Emmanuel cares about health care (dad and brother are doctors), and unions, so I expect to see that pushed high in the agenda.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Although he wonders aloud why Obama would want to go load up on Clinton re-treads, Josh’s problem seems to be more specifically with Larry Summers, and I think he has a point there.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Sub-Naderite concern trolling! That’s the way to go!
November 6th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
D, it’s time for your daily electroshock session.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I see Rahm is a signal that Obama is looking to fight a democratic congress, and win. Obama intends to make big policies and he intends to get those policies enacted. Rahm is an arm twister.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Honey, the special ed teacher called, and you’re going to be in 10th grade again if you don’t stop pooping on your homework.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
That’s it. Lie back. This won’t hurt. Much.
……BZZZT!
November 6th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Rahm is a bruiser and he’s in a non-policy position, I believe. I likey.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I really do have no life.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
My patient is clinically insane.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I have a hunch Obama thinks that one very good use for Emanuel’s powers of persuasion is with the blue dogs. They, as much or perhaps even more than the Republicans are key to the adminsitration’s programs
November 6th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Someone said that Emanuel had “institutional memory”. Obama respects this, the most ancient institution is the Constitution, something Obama has spent a lot of time “memorizing”.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
MNPundit, can the arrogant portion of the netroots please get over themselves now? This “they” and “we” stuff about the past is unseemly at this point. Let it go.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
“Barbara Says:
November 6th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Would someone please recommend Matt’s post on this topic to Josh Marshall, at TPM? Josh seems unable to recognize that anyone who got a start in the Clinton administration could have had a subsequent life that brings a separate, distinct, and important skillset to an Obama administration. What’s Josh’s problem, anyway?”
Josh is a hack. Who has friends on Harvard faculty that hates Summers. Quite simple.
Obama’s administration will be filled with Bill Clinton administration members. Why?
To quote Obama, “remember when we had a great president”, as he pointed to Bill Clinton.
November 6th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
The game of mentioning possible cabinet members is just that, a game. If Summers actually gets a job in the Obama administration it will signal loud and clear that we just elected the wrong person.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Well, Obama has already put Summers on his transition economic advisory board. And Obama’s chief campaign economic advisor was Jason Furman–another economist reviled by many on the left, for his strong approval of Wal-Mart. Obama is apparently considering Furman for the position of OMB Director.
November 7th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I’m usually a big fan of Podesta, but I just read that he’s a big UFO and X-files fan. Here’s a link, and a really funny picture of him:
http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/2008/11/06/john-podesta-is-a-real-life-mulder-in-search-of-ufos-and-cabinet-officers/
November 7th, 2008 at 1:18 am
PROCEED TO LEVEL 5 KNEE JERK CONCERN TROLLING. INCREASINGLY, WE ARE BEING IGNORED.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:41 am
hope that you keep reporting and following up on this issue. I signed the petition because I can’t think of anything that is more important to the long-term health of our country, our environment, and our economy than a smart transportation policy, and especially
November 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Exactly right. Its not like people in a Presidential administration are free to go off on their own agendas. They serve at the pleasure of the President.
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