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LuvLoogie

(8,826 posts)

153. President Obama called Rahm to be his COS, an offer Rahm couldn't refuse.

Fri Dec 11, 2015, 01:43 AM

Dec 2015

I remember a quote from years ago after a pretty good night electorally for Democrats across the country. A reporter had asked Rahm if he had any Presidential ambitions, and he demured saying "No. My carreer is in the House." I think the young Congressman was thinking Speaker.

Years later, Barack got elected. It was the perfect time for Rahm to begin coalescing his powerbase while Barack's agenda was being advanced with Dems in control of both the House and Senate. Barack had other ideas.

The President saw Nancy Pelosi as his ally and Rahm as potentially setting up roadblocks or conditions to passing the Presidents's agenda. He wanted Nancy to be able to work without a potential rival in the House. As a result, I think the Progressive caucus are a stronger group than the Blue Dogs. Had Rahm still been in the House, I think the Blue Dogs would have had a bigger influence on the legislative agenda during President Obama's administration. I think it would have been harder to get the ARRA and the ACA passed with Rahm still in the House.

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Rahm Emanuel is in Deep, Deep Trouble [View all] fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 OP

"...a series of misteps..."? They were not "misteps". nt ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2015 #1

Agreed. eom fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #6

I am shocked the GOP isn't using this situation to advance their nastiness yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #29

They're holding off until after the nomination. jeff47 Dec 2015 #173

Must be the new word for crimes. nt valerief Dec 2015 #32

Rahm is having trouble: but it will blow over: The Police did the Killing lewebley3 Dec 2015 #40

But the rampage he has done on the school system is a gaping bloody wound he can't fix now. Dont call me Shirley Dec 2015 #99

The School system is a different issue: Police crime is another issue lewebley3 Dec 2015 #188

They are different issues yes, but the privatization of all of it is the same issue. Dont call me Shirley Dec 2015 #210

And in the end he will be riding into the sunset... BeanMusical Dec 2015 #112

Anyone who is that much of a sheer asshole hifiguy Dec 2015 #116

NO:, but the police with be held accountable: and lewebley3 Dec 2015 #184

...And he covered up the killing for over a year, to help his re-election. jeff47 Dec 2015 #174

You have no evidence of a cover up: You just are attacking Rahm lewebley3 Dec 2015 #181

You think Rahm gives a shit about anything being illegal? Pfffft! nt ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2015 #183

You don't know Rahm: I don't know what he thinks: but Facts matter lewebley3 Dec 2015 #185

Yes, he does. That's why he has at least 3 cover-ups right now WhaTHellsgoingonhere Dec 2015 #198

Emails Suggest Mayor�s Staff Knew About Laquan McDonald Video During His Re-Election Campaign jeff47 Dec 2015 #187

"Suggest" and this information may or may not be reliable lewebley3 Dec 2015 #190

We have facts. You've chosen to pretend each of those facts lives in an isolated bubble. jeff47 Dec 2015 #192

No, facts; your word is "payoff": We need an investigation lewebley3 Dec 2015 #193

What would you prefer to call $5M paid to the family without even filing a lawsuit? jeff47 Dec 2015 #194

Those pay (off) are happening in every city in American: Nothing Special lewebley3 Dec 2015 #200

No, they are only happening after a lawsuit was filed. jeff47 Dec 2015 #202

He signs: but he is not legally able to inter-fer: The Police lied to him too! lewebley3 Dec 2015 #208

Rahm blocked McCarthy's efforts to reform CPD in 2013 WhaTHellsgoingonhere Dec 2015 #195

Rahm's hand picked pro-tobacco, pro-pulluter lawyer ChairmanAgnostic Dec 2015 #201

A lot of people giving the ultra micro-manager Emanuel a pass WhaTHellsgoingonhere Dec 2015 #209

Well put. ChairmanAgnostic Dec 2015 #211

Precisely. Enthusiast Dec 2015 #83

In the sense of "Ooops! I didn't expect to get in Dutch!", they are. WinkyDink Dec 2015 #177

I hope this puts him out of commission forever montanacowboy Dec 2015 #2

I've always wondered why Obama put him on his staff . . . fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #10

Post removed Post removed Dec 2015 #12

Nice swipe at POTUS .... sunnystarr Dec 2015 #19

Hmmm... murielm99 Dec 2015 #21

Yup Plucketeer Dec 2015 #77

I never liked him from the start. Enthusiast Dec 2015 #85

Alas, yes? <EM> Treant Dec 2015 #104

What does it say that he was on PBO's staff? Instead of hurling AllyCat Dec 2015 #165

oh please. anyone who questions another persons loyalty to their party is a repiblican roguevalley Dec 2015 #23

Looks like you didn't follow the thread ... sunnystarr Dec 2015 #47

i voted for the President twice. hifiguy Dec 2015 #30

I agree with you. I have never been a fan club member Tipperary Dec 2015 #68

But I still really like him Ned_Devine Dec 2015 #140

as would i hopemountain Dec 2015 #157

I agree with you... Thespian2 Dec 2015 #142

Good catch, while I despise Rahm, I am sick and tired of these attacks on Obama randys1 Dec 2015 #31

Why would Obama appoint a despicable chief of staff, with center-right policies? villager Dec 2015 #37

Go somewhere else and bash President Obama, please. randys1 Dec 2015 #46

It's still a good question, despite your refusal to answer it. And in democracies, questions are ok. villager Dec 2015 #55

You have no answer, I see, to a perfectly valid question. hifiguy Dec 2015 #57

I dont spend my time bashing Obama, sorry. randys1 Dec 2015 #69

Ahh, now I understand hifiguy Dec 2015 #73

Right was Yoda. hifiguy Dec 2015 #109

"I am a voter, not a fan-club member" malokvale77 Dec 2015 #129

No, you're cluelessly, rudely trying to broadbrush with ignorant cheap pot shots.. and Cha Dec 2015 #212

I didn't see any "bashing" here. cwydro Dec 2015 #97

It's our DUTY to question. n/t cui bono Dec 2015 #127

So I take it you're okay... gregcrawford Dec 2015 #117

You've got an odd idea of what bashing is... cui bono Dec 2015 #126

I think Obama owed a lot of favors to a lot of people. I think it is only the last LiberalArkie Dec 2015 #62

This is my belief, too. dmr Dec 2015 #100

You could be right Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #101

I have thought for a long time that becoming a politician has to be a lot like LiberalArkie Dec 2015 #102

That's one think I like about Bernie Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #103

Yea, he started almost the bottom and worked his way up. That is the way it used to be done. LiberalArkie Dec 2015 #107

The 1980 election against Frank White may have been a turning point Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #108

I think at some point he got some big money from the Stephens and the Tysons, I LiberalArkie Dec 2015 #111

He got Stephens and Tyson money for his 1992 presidential bid Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #114

Try this guy out.. I know he has part of Systematics down, just not all of it. LiberalArkie Dec 2015 #115

It's a VERY good question. People are judged by the company they keep, which is not at all kath Dec 2015 #94

What you mean is that we don't act like republicans Scootaloo Dec 2015 #48

Excellent. Well said. hifiguy Dec 2015 #60

Huge +1! Enthusiast Dec 2015 #88

Actually, the problem is non-Bernie supporters not acting like Dems. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2015 #66

All of this. hifiguy Dec 2015 #71

I'm getting pretty grumpy. nt Enthusiast Dec 2015 #89

^ Dis right here. AzDar Dec 2015 #82

Oooh, please tell me what makes a good Dem? Jackilope Dec 2015 #78

One must be an unquestioning Belieber hifiguy Dec 2015 #91

So we must kiss every nominally conservative democrat's hairy ass Trajan Dec 2015 #79

An honest progressive will take swipes at who ever deserves it. It's on the conservatives that rhett o rick Dec 2015 #123

+1 k&r n/t bobthedrummer Dec 2015 #203

Emanuel was his chief of staff. Sorry, but that says something. Marr Dec 2015 #124

So what do you think it says? I think it says that he owed Rahm for helping him get elected. nm rhett o rick Dec 2015 #138

and Bernie supporters sure don't act like Dems. AlbertCat Dec 2015 #139

Close but not quite right. I don't like DINO's. Anyone can call themselves a Democrat. rhett o rick Dec 2015 #207

You are always attacking Dem party members: You need to attack the GOP lewebley3 Dec 2015 #42

Don't you just hate it when that happens. ornotna Dec 2015 #119

Oopsie, nice catch. malokvale77 Dec 2015 #132

The Dem's are the only ones standing between us and GOP lewebley3 Dec 2015 #186

Not true ornotna Dec 2015 #196

Yes, and I am a Dem supporting a very strong leader Hillary lewebley3 Dec 2015 #199

I really like Obama (except for his excessive use of drones and a few other things) fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #50

I was more excited about voting for him in '08 hifiguy Dec 2015 #67

Royally chumped is right. kath Dec 2015 #154

me too. redwitch Dec 2015 #110

^^^this^^^ ViseGrip Dec 2015 #72

Obama put Emanuel on his staff sulphurdunn Dec 2015 #26

Penny brought Obama to the dance Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #33

Yep sulphurdunn Dec 2015 #39

Didn't know about Penny's role. So Obama had his own billionaire backing him. AZ Progressive Dec 2015 #51

Dirty Chicago shit Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #215

That depends on the Food being offered.. Volaris Dec 2015 #54

I have always assumed it was Chicago-Illinois politics. We jwirr Dec 2015 #136

President Obama called Rahm to be his COS, an offer Rahm couldn't refuse. LuvLoogie Dec 2015 #153

Rahm was Obama's PERFECT Consigliori. bvar22 Dec 2015 #197

I don't see him as savvy, smart of a chess player. I see him as a short man syndrome, big mouth roguevalley Dec 2015 #22

Right. Beause that always works. eggplant Dec 2015 #53

Yeah, some of our greatest serial murderers were beaten to a pulp fasttense Dec 2015 #162

He also told us to STFU. cui bono Dec 2015 #125

Wish this would have put him out of commission BEFORE the election. AllyCat Dec 2015 #146

He called us FUCKING retards Pastiche423 Dec 2015 #147

Good. Someone should throw this smarmy mfer an anchor. hifiguy Dec 2015 #3

Gee, hifiguy. What's obstruction of justice between friends? Octafish Dec 2015 #4

There is a reason why I voted twice against his Joe Pesci character wannabe crooked ass. Fuck Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2015 #5

A man on MSNBC before said he should resign and go work somwhere else. I agree, he... ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2015 #9

The eternal cynic in me tells me he'll be able to ride this out. But I've Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2015 #11

He'd fit in perfectly at Eaglevale hedge fund. Divernan Dec 2015 #86

The Mob can always use a good crooked chiseler. hifiguy Dec 2015 #14

Come on. The Mob knows better than to embrace Rahm merrily Dec 2015 #38

Well, there IS that. hifiguy Dec 2015 #49

Kick Liberal_in_LA Dec 2015 #7

He will be an aid in the New Clinton WH bahrbearian Dec 2015 #8

Yes. He is part of the Clinton/Obama in-crowd. He epitomizes the Democratic Party's in-crowd. JDPriestly Dec 2015 #45

If we have that misfortune, he will turn up in HRH's administration hifiguy Dec 2015 #52

Man has been an intregal part of two administrations that started with large congressional rpannier Dec 2015 #106

...! n/t KoKo Dec 2015 #180

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Dec 2015 #13

Yeah, that's kinda weird Warren DeMontague Dec 2015 #35

There are daily protests downtown often in front of the mayor's office mucifer Dec 2015 #134

They're here, and have been for some time... there must be a lack of media coverage. MerryBlooms Dec 2015 #58

There is no lack of media coverage in Chicago. mucifer Dec 2015 #135

Yes, I meant nationally. MerryBlooms Dec 2015 #158

he knee capped black voters by closing nearby schools ChairmanAgnostic Dec 2015 #15

career shitbag. KG Dec 2015 #16

His problem lies in his tough politial operative abilities. MohRokTah Dec 2015 #17

he has no soul and he has no character. That is the root of his problems. No one with roguevalley Dec 2015 #24

You know that video of Hillary in your signature line. JDPriestly Dec 2015 #56

Yo need to take this to GDP and keep it out of GD. eom MohRokTah Dec 2015 #63

Wow. Why do you think you can tell others what to do? Rhetorical. nm rhett o rick Dec 2015 #149

GD SOP. MohRokTah Dec 2015 #163

That condescending little gif has irritated the hell out of me, too. hifiguy Dec 2015 #74

Also, she's imitating Obama wiping off the shit she threw at him in 2008. jeff47 Dec 2015 #176

There's no IL legal mechanism for a mayoral recall... MerryBlooms Dec 2015 #76

"...IL legal..." Iggo Dec 2015 #171

heh, I didn't even notice until you pointed it out. MerryBlooms Dec 2015 #213

IL doesn't have a recall mechanism. jeff47 Dec 2015 #175

Restoring faith in goverment? Baitball Blogger Dec 2015 #18

Did Chicagoans really have faith in their government before this? hughee99 Dec 2015 #20

It isn't like everyone else isn't corrupt as hell either. AngryAmish Dec 2015 #113

Our last mayor covered up police torture link below. mucifer Dec 2015 #152

He's a POS, simple as that. Phlem Dec 2015 #25

Is he fucking retarded? deutsey Dec 2015 #27

I would pay good money to see someone ask him this at a presser. n/t reflection Dec 2015 #65

he was on Farrakhan's TV show: he feels justified no matter how many braincases his cops empty out MisterP Dec 2015 #98

I tweeted the other day that his political career should be over, permanently randys1 Dec 2015 #28

Excellent news. nt bemildred Dec 2015 #34

That 5 million in hush money leaves a rather inconvenient paper trail. Warren DeMontague Dec 2015 #36

Caught up in his own political maneuvering. blackspade Dec 2015 #41

"Already, an Illinois state lawmaker is starting the process to recall him." KamaAina Dec 2015 #43

no, it doesnt. this is a misstatement. mopinko Dec 2015 #144

So you're stuck with both of them?! KamaAina Dec 2015 #148

actually, thanks to bloggo mopinko Dec 2015 #179

rahm had seen the tape before the 5 million buck payout questionseverything Dec 2015 #206

Couldn't happen to a nice guy! highprincipleswork Dec 2015 #44

Couldn't happen to a more deserving person!! Doitnow Dec 2015 #59

I agree with this. About the only way he can get out of this mess is with support from some MADem Dec 2015 #61

Hopefully this has ruined it for him- if had any Presidential aspirations notadmblnd Dec 2015 #64

Missteps? He purposely hid the video until he could no longer. ViseGrip Dec 2015 #70

I would not piss on Rahm FlatBaroque Dec 2015 #75

Well. most of us knew what he was about so I am not surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. nt silvershadow Dec 2015 #80

Shaedenfreude DonCoquixote Dec 2015 #81

He just needs to go Truprogressive85 Dec 2015 #84

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2015 #87

He richly deserves every single bit of the "trouble" he is in. Should be prosecuted for obstruction kath Dec 2015 #90

End of his Boss Tweed ambitions marmar Dec 2015 #92

Anyone counting on him to resign in disgrace or be recalled are probably spinning their wheels. RichVRichV Dec 2015 #93

His arrogance is stunning. Time to go. Dont call me Shirley Dec 2015 #95

if h was republican he would not be in trouble because all those certainot Dec 2015 #96

The Chicago Tribune will be very upset rpannier Dec 2015 #105

Good. nt truebluegreen Dec 2015 #118

I can picture this egomaniac telling Hillary he's available to be her running mate..... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2015 #120

Rahm Emanuel is performing a new emotion: sadness Nevernose Dec 2015 #121

Pssst...everybody alcibiades_mystery Dec 2015 #122

maybe but DonCoquixote Dec 2015 #128

She won't put him in the VP slot, but there's plenty of positions filled after an election. jeff47 Dec 2015 #178

He knows where the "bodies" are buried...she's on his leash. libdem4life Dec 2015 #214

Hey Rahm! Karma is not just a b*tch: Betty Karlson Dec 2015 #130

I expect that Hillary will choose him as VP before it comes to the matter of re-election or recall. JVS Dec 2015 #131

That made me vomit a little. She still supports him. morningfog Dec 2015 #151

Birds of a feather. They are well matched. Divernan Dec 2015 #160

A VP slot beltanefauve Dec 2015 #156

Ambassadorships for politicians are pretty much dead-ends for a national career HereSince1628 Dec 2015 #166

I would hope to god she is not that stupid DonCoquixote Dec 2015 #205

Good cop, bad cop. ...... Hotler Dec 2015 #133

O Rahm O Rahm Emaneul... Blue Owl Dec 2015 #137

He covered up. zentrum Dec 2015 #141

He's got a reputation awoke_in_2003 Dec 2015 #143

no, the lawmaker is not starting the process to recall him. no such mopinko Dec 2015 #145

I notice all the smug "Rahm won because he was inherently superior to his opponent" posts Ken Burch Dec 2015 #150

When he left th White House, Rahm saltpoint Dec 2015 #155

Raging egomaniacs are incapable of admitting error, let alone resigning Divernan Dec 2015 #159

/\_/\_This_/\_/\ Scuba Dec 2015 #161

Bingo. He's got the same narcissistic personality disorder thing going on bullwinkle428 Dec 2015 #167

Looks like it's a bad season to be a Third-Way DLC New Dem. NorthCarolina Dec 2015 #164

Never liked him. appal_jack Dec 2015 #168

Barack won't let this happen...mark my word. ileus Dec 2015 #169

I'm not defending Rahm, here, but... SpankMe Dec 2015 #170

Nothing's gonna happen to Rahm d_legendary1 Dec 2015 #172

"No one could have imagined (this happening to him)" Roland99 Dec 2015 #182

Remember how Obama's DOJ went after Wall Street WhaTHellsgoingonhere Dec 2015 #189

Good. That city needs someone who will serve the people arthritisR_US Dec 2015 #191

Good riddance ibegurpard Dec 2015 #204

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2015 #216