Do you really think Rahm Emanuel is pulling the strings?

[cali]

Sure seems a lot of DUers believe that. I think it's a ridiculous assumption. Emanuel follows the President's cues. It's that simple. He was chosen by the President. He's on board on the President's agenda. Don't like Emanuel's politics? Can't say I do either, but he isn't the President. He just serves him. And his position is much more about logistics and politics than policy.

[Jennicut]

1. Thank you! I have only been saying this in every thread about him.

I can't say I like Rahm much either but he serves Obama, if someone does not like him then blame Obama!

[Warpy]

2. He thinks he's pulling the strings

which is why he's putting out all those right wing wet dreams about a scuttled health insurance reform.

Unfortunately, the pool of experienced help Obama had to draw from were DLC types, all from Clinton's presidency. The ones who were around for Johnson and Carter are just too long in the tooth, if they're still alive.

I sincerely hope he calls Emanuel on the carpet soon and tells the guy to get on message, his message, not the DLC/Blue Dog/conservative message.

Vacation is over, the boss is back, and Emanuel needs to be reminded of just where he is on the White House organization chart.

[cali]

4. wow. so you know what Emanuel is thinking. clever trick

And I'm sure you don't mind providing some evidence for your claims that he's spreading a right wing message. Look, he's representing Obama. Don't like it? Blame Obama.

[supernova]

3. CoS is more about WH logistics

who gets to see the POTUS, what committees/groups meet and when.

CoS certainly has a lot of influence and pull, but the President is the boss at the end of the day.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

13. I agree

but one area I believe Rahm controls is whose letters/emails the President gets. If I'm right this could be a hindrance to Obama's words, I will always listen to you.

In another vein, this could also keep important and urgent info (to the person writing or requesting) from reaching the Oval Office.
Rahm shouldn't be the judge of what may or may not be of interest to the President.

[sufrommich]

5. I've always thought it is insulting to Obama to imply

that he is being lead around by the nose, like a cute puppy with no bite. I don't know why anyone would believe such a thing.

[marshall]

24. Because in reality, this is essentially an entry level position for the President

It is his first executive position, other than running his own campaign. He is doing a great job, but he needs seasoned politicians to advise him and work the system.

[Romulox]

6. Rahm is a lackey. Corporate $$$ are calling this tune. nt

[lamp_shade]

7. Hell no, and I'm totally bewildered by the handful of posters who jump all over

a thread every time his name appears. I don't get it. I love and admire the guy.

[still_one]

8. Even if he was, he still isn't the president, and the president makes the decisions /nt

[Frustratedlady]

9. No, but I do think he runs defense...or is it offense?

With Rahm, it's probably offensive. He doesn't mince words.

Obama needs someone like Rahm to do his evil eye/mouth for him so it doesn't tarnish his image, but keeps people in their place. You sure couldn't use a "marshmallow-type" in that position.

A Cheney, he is not.

[peacetalksforall]

10. Why not get to the core of it all. There is a faction of Democrats who

support the Republican agenda on war and profit and some other issues related to corporate profit. They are organized. It is the DLC. Clintons, Emanuel, Leiberman, and many, many more show their stuff. Who knows it all? Most likely Leiberman can't be DLC now, You could say that part of the Hillary Clinton withdrawal would be that DLC would have an influence whether Obama was active in it prior or not.

There is more to observe and conclude about what is happening in the Democratic Party than picking out one person and playing in like/don't like sessions.

Emanual is probably the ace of aces in organization and staying on top of things.

Emanuel, Negroponte (adviser to Clinton on Honduras), Leitner, Burnanke, - I would like to see Obama cleansed.

Pulling strings? All I can say is I hope not. And it doesn't look like anyone can pull the strings on Obama unless by agreement, but I would guess Emanuel tries - he has an agenda, he is on fire with his agenda and it ain't the citizen friendly.

Just my observations and conclusions.

[notesdev]

11. The alternative

is to assume Obama himself is leading a policy agenda which in most respects in indistinguishable from the Bush regime's.

[Laelth]

12. Frankly, I hope so.

You ask a very important question. If Emanuel is not pulling the strings, I will have to face the fact that my President is a corporate whore who cares more about "winning" than actually doing something good for the American people. I don't want to face that possibility. For the moment, I am happy to blame Emanuel.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Octafish]

14. + 1

What Laelth said.

[cali]

16. why is one better than the other? If Rahm is pulling the strings, Obama

is nothing but a puppet. Personally, I reject your theory. i think it's all a great deal more complex than that.

[laughingliberal]

15. I think, ultimately, the President is responsible

That said, I think Rahm leaks like a sieve and I am of the opinion that not all of it has been sanctioned by President Obama. I believe leaky advisers can sabotage an administration's agenda and try to pull a debate their way. Emanuel is offensive and a corporate hack. My anger does go mostly to President Obama and I regularly mention in emails that I will believe he is on the side of the American working class when I hear Rahm has decided it's time to spend more time with his family.

[KharmaTrain]

17. Rahm Covers The Legislative...

As COS and his background in House leadership, Rahm was brought in to handle things with the House and to get things passed. It's not easy, it's not pretty, but he's there cause he knows how this byzantine system works and how to get things done. Yes, it is logistics, but also when policy is decided, logistics have to be taken into consideration.

Some here want a lock-step party where whatever their pet agenda is sails through. I find that ironic since so many of us despised that trait in rushpublicans. Emanuel has to herd the cats.

[laughingliberal]

19. Rahm does herd the cats

But I would like to see him, just once, go to the minority of Blue Dogs and tell them to play nice with the progressives. Obviously, there are more citizens represented by progressives but those reps are treated like the fringe. And I frequently write the president about how much I hate that attitude and how I am sick of being insulted by his CoS.

[KharmaTrain]

20. We Don't Know What Really Goes On Behind The Closed Doors

The disadvantage of being a majority party...and a broad-based one is that it means you're not going to have everyone on your side all the time. I prefer it that way as opposed to a monolithic party (like the rushpublicans) that have little room for debate or free thinking.

I'm sure the Blue Dogs are getting an earful, but its coming from two ends of the spectrum. Many of these people represent purple and red areas where faux noise and right wing talking points predominate. Their interests are vastly different than a progressive liberal from an inner city or member of the CBC. While I find Blud Dogs iritating, they still are Democrats. If their record or attitude is creating a problem, that's what primaries and helping fun challengers are for. We may see a few of these Blue Dogs pay for their water carrying for the insurance company, but most will use their stand to get re-elected. The trade off is that you can get some or most of these people to vote the right way 50% of the time...that's better than the 0% of a rushpublican.

Rahm can't play favorites or alienate that bloc, but I'm sure he counts votes very closely and will let them make their noise when he knows in the end they'll lose. So it goes...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. "The buck stops here." Obama is the boss and Rahm is his stooge.

Rahm floats the trial balloons and takes the flak for Obama's policies. It's ridiculous to think that Obama is unaware of, or doesn't decide, what Rahm says or does.

[leeroysphitz]

21. Pull the string! Pull the string!

[tularetom]

22. You can either think Emanuel is pulling the strings

Or believe that Obama lied to the voters during the campaign and is responsible for all this sucking up to corporations and blue dogs and jumping all over real Democrats.

Was Emanuel part of a Faustian bargain Obama made with the DLC in return for their support in the election? I have no idea, but Howard Dean isn't particularly enamored of him. That's enough for me.

[daa]

23. Yes but not the way WE want nt

[BlooInBloo]

25. It's part of the "obambi" thing from back in the good 'ol days. They just like saying that...

Obama is just a puppet. They don't even necessarily believe it, they do it just because it pisses us off. Again, hard to distinguish them from the right-wing - they'll just say whatever random shit sound like it would annoy us, and run with it.