Rahm to be Chief of Staff? Oh boy..

[billy]

Wow, way to be a President of Change! Rahm was a Board Member of Freddie Mac and got a huge payoff from the bailout.

Rahm brings wayyy too much partisan baggage along to bring any change to Washington. I thought things were going to be different?

Israel First: Rahm
American Second: Rahm

Rahm wants to attack Iran. The more things change, the more they stay the same.


Like Obama said last night "You people may not like some of my decisions but I will listen to you."

Listen and not pay attention most likely.

Rahm Emmanuel is a horrible choice.

[HellYeahHokie]

Rahm was considered a moderate to liberals when in the Clinton administration, pushing for welfare reform and his strong support for Isreal.

In fact, his strong support for Israel is a decidedly conservative position. Most far right-wingers are pro-Zionist and would like nothing more than to attack Iran. (edited for clarity...though most could see past a typo)

So this is really a case of you hating the fact that Obama won, and therefore, anyone he chooses will be horrible in your opinion. Conservatives should be happy about this choice, given some of those positions, but they won't because they can't see past their own nose because "Obama is a Marxist anti-Christ"

I question Rahm as a Chief of Staff because of his volatile nature. He's can be a little off his rocker.

[JamesHowell]

Rahm is a good pick. We can't expect him to appoint conservative republicans.

He is a centrist democrat - not a conservative dem, but not a liberal either. He is liberal on social issues and is pro-abortion, but as a Jew, he is pro-Israel. That should subdue some of the Obama is a Muslim talk. He is pretty good on defense as well.

For the first pick - okay.

[Lincoln Tower]

Any chance he can pick McCain for anything or am I being to naive?

I have to believe that a President or Pres-elect has never picked his geneal election opponent for any kind of position. And offering him a lower level cabinet position would be a slap in the face.

[Jim]

Rahm was considered a moderate to liberals when in the Clinton administration, pushing for welfare reform and his strong support for Isreal.

In fact, his strong support for Israel is a decidedly conservative position. Most far right-wingers are pro-Zionist and would like nothing more than to attack Iraq.

So this is really a case of you hating the fact that Obama won, and therefore, anyone he chooses will be horrible in your opinion. Conservatives should be happy about this choice, given some of those positions, but they won't because they can't see past their own nose because "Obama is a Marxist anti-Christ"

I question Rahm as a Chief of Staff because of his volatile nature. He's can be a little off his rocker.

You're going to have to tell us a lot more and definitely provide a list of individuals where you get your information HYH ... "far right-wingers" and "... like nothing more ...". The tone of your response clearly shows that you are non-biased and certainly not popping any veins in your forehead.

And HYH, I think we've already bombed Iraq. Are you sure you don't mean "Iran". And as a followup, Iran has not hesitatetd to refer to Israel as pigs or monkie or some kind of non-human mammal as well as "wiping them off the face of the earth" and makes no bones about broadcasting the range of their missiles and his intent. So, please enlighten me on what constitutes a threat and define what would be an example of "extreme rhetoric" from Iran's government puppet.

And it is a "Conservative" position when speaking non-critically of Israel? There are some issues we have with them for sure so I'm not part of that "far right wing" comnspiracy that has been mumbled for years now. Question HYH? Is there a vast left wing conspiracy? I mean how would you recognize one unless you knew what to look for?

"Hating" - such a strong word. One that it appears can only be uttered by an enlightened liberal from back east or out on the left coast. So you think it is "hate" on any person who didn't favor an Obama presidency. Can we therefore consider it "hate" on the part of the liberal/left/socialist when its a non-Obama resident in the White House and they make a selection you disagree with? I'm not happy with the selection so perhaps I'm on everyone's hate list?

Keep watch on this president HYH. His rhetoric ought to make you take notice. If a republican said as much you'd be petrified and calling for an impeachment.

[Jim]

Any chance he can pick McCain for anything or am I being to naive?

I have to believe that a President or Pres-elect has never picked his geneal election opponent for any kind of position. And offering him a lower level cabinet position would be a slap in the face.

This guy is a product of the Chicago machine. They take few, if any, prisoners. Thats one old white dude he'll be very happy to see sent off into the sunset.

[Jim]

Rahm is a good pick. We can't expect him to appoint conservative republicans.

He is a centrist democrat - not a conservative dem, but not a liberal either. He is liberal on social issues and is pro-abortion, but as a Jew, he is pro-Israel. That should subdue some of the Obama is a Muslim talk. He is pretty good on defense as well.

For the first pick - okay.

... I sincerely hope Obama has an administration that proves to be good for the country. I am not hopeful that he runs it into the ground. I don't know if a McCain administation would receive the same well wishes from those whose candidate didn't win the election.

[HellYeahHokie]

What are you talking about?

Am I wrong is saying that Rahm's position on Israel is not supported by the far right?

[Jim]

What are you talking about?

Am I wrong is saying that Rahm's position on Israel is not supported by the far right?

... however, you also added "hate" and clearly stated that they'd like nothing better than to kill Iranians. I'm wondering if what qualifies him as being a "centrist" and "conservative" is his support of Israel alone. I always thought he was pretty much of a rabid attack dog for the left. Realizing that if the Israeli lobby doesn't approve of you it can be a hard climb to an office such as this (president). To expect success it requires you say the right things to the right groups. McCain went to the NAACP and they detest him as an organization even though it is certain that some support him (as a person at least) since they have a lot of veterans as well.

Obama has never been publicly a pro-Israel kind of person. Bringing on this Chief of Staff might take some of the tension off of him. Power requires some accommodation from other powers.

[HellYeahHokie]

I used the word "hate" to describe people's reaction to the idea of Obama being President. If that is too much hyperbole for you to ignore my point, then I will retract that word, and say conservatives really, really, really, really, really dislike the idea of Obama as President?

Now, that we aren't quibbling over semantics, perhaps you can address my point.

Rahm position on Israel: Supported strongly by the far right. Yes or no?

And I also mentioned that he pushed through welfare reform while in the Clinton administration. So, as a matter of fact, it wasn't his support of Israel alone that qualifies him as a centrist.

As for appealing to the pro-Israel lobby to get elected, Obama appointed Rahm after being elected, not before. McCain tried to appeal to the NAACP (and ACORN, for the record), in an attempt to get elected.

Look at JamesHowell's response to my post. He shares your conservative viewpoint, but he at least has some perspective. You and Billy will find fault with Obama, even when he makes choices that should appeal to conservatives.

[ZOOMBAG]

Wow, way to be a President of Change! Rahm was a Board Member of Freddie Mac and got a huge payoff from the bailout.

Rahm brings wayyy too much partisan baggage along to bring any change to Washington. I thought things were going to be different?

Israel First: Rahm
American Second: Rahm

Rahm wants to attack Iran. The more things change, the more they stay the same.


Like Obama said last night "You people may not like some of my decisions but I will listen to you."

Listen and not pay attention most likely.

Rahm Emmanuel is a horrible choice.

Cool! I want to attack Iran, too!!!!

[ZOOMBAG]

Chuck Hagel, the very conservative Republican from Nebraska who still opposed the Iraq war vehemently may be the Secretary of Defense.....

[Jim]

I used the word "hate" to describe people's reaction to the idea of Obama being President. If that is too much hyperbole for you to ignore my point, then I will retract that word, and say conservatives really, really, really, really, really dislike the idea of Obama as President?

Now, that we aren't quibbling over semantics, perhaps you can address my point.

Rahm position on Israel: Supported strongly by the far right. Yes or no?

And I also mentioned that he pushed through welfare reform while in the Clinton administration. So, as a matter of fact, it wasn't his support of Israel alone that qualifies him as a centrist.

As for appealing to the pro-Israel lobby to get elected, Obama appointed Rahm after being elected, not before. McCain tried to appeal to the NAACP (and ACORN, for the record), in an attempt to get elected.

Look at JamesHowell's response to my post. He shares your conservative viewpoint, but he at least has some perspective. You and Billy will find fault with Obama, even when he makes choices that should appeal to conservatives.

He is pro-Israel. Now define "conservative" for me. Also, please define "centrist". And like I said before, I hope that Obama can deliver on what is best for this nation as I don't want anything to happen to it. Now can you get that through your head? Please elaborate on my "hate" (I'll stick with your term) of Obama. Can you tell me where I'm totally out of touch on my assertions spread over many posts in these last few weeks? Oh, you never responded on my Odinga comments from a few days ago.

You made a comment about 2:1 in Oklahoma and how that really appealed to me. Since you're an expert on politics in Oklahoma perhaps you can provide me with your assessment of New England and how its elimination of Shays and Sununu is bdtter off? How many of those (presumably nasty)conservatives are still there to be eliminated?

[ZOOMBAG]

He is pro-Israel. Now define "conservative" for me. Also, please define "centrist". And like I said before, I hope that Obama can deliver on what is best for this nation as I don't want anything to happen to it. Now can you get that through your head? Please elaborate on my "hate" (I'll stick with your term) of Obama. Can you tell me where I'm totally out of touch on my assertions spread over many posts in these last few weeks? Oh, you never responded on my Odinga comments from a few days ago.

You made a comment about 2:1 in Oklahoma and how that really appealed to me. Since you're an expert on politics in Oklahoma perhaps you can provide me with your assessment of New England and how its elimination of Shays and Sununu is bdtter off? How many of those (presumably nasty)conservatives are still there to be eliminated?

People like me are "centrists". I'm pro-choice, detest the religious right's attempts to bring religion back into schools, believe in unlimited stem-cell research, believe strongly in assisted suicide, alternative energy, and being responsible in terms of pollution and taking care of the environment.

At the same time I detest all affirmative action, believe in mostly unrestricted free markets, a very strong military, the war on terror, unilateral action if needed, unlimited drilling, coal, and nuclear power.

So both hard lefties and the religious right hate people like me.....

[billy]

Rahm was considered a moderate to liberals when in the Clinton administration, pushing for welfare reform and his strong support for Isreal.

In fact, his strong support for Israel is a decidedly conservative position. Most far right-wingers are pro-Zionist and would like nothing more than to attack Iran. (edited for clarity...though most could see past a typo)

So this is really a case of you hating the fact that Obama won, and therefore, anyone he chooses will be horrible in your opinion. Conservatives should be happy about this choice, given some of those positions, but they won't because they can't see past their own nose because "Obama is a Marxist anti-Christ"

I question Rahm as a Chief of Staff because of his volatile nature. He's can be a little off his rocker.


I said Rahm was a bad pick for the simple reason is he's not "Change".

I'm sure he'll do fine.

I'm willing to bet Obama takes a few of the Clinton people and puts them around him. I don't think Obama has a clue to what actually works as a leader (seeing as he's never been one). So I'm sure putting Clinton people around him was an idea he's had from the beginning. He won't have to know how to do anything because he'll have people around him that will.

I guess it's smart to do that as far as getting Clinton people. I don't see the Change he was talking about though.