The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Rahm Swan Song?

Posted on | June 20, 2010 | 15 Comments

by Smitty (via Lucianne)

“Democrats have not stood behind the president in the way Republicans did for George W Bush, and that was meant to be Rahm’s job.”

There were sharp differences over health care reform, with Mr Emanuel arguing that public hostility about cost should have forced them into producing a scaled down package. Mr Obama and advisers including David Axelrod, the chief strategist, and Valerie Jarrett, a businesswoman and mentor from Chicago, decided to push through with grander legislation anyway.

Mr Emanuel has reportedly told friends that his role as White House chief of staff was “only an eighteen month job” because of its intensity.

Regarded as the most demanding after president, it involves controlling the president’s agenda, enforcing White House message discipline as well as liaising with Congress.

His departure would regarded as another sign of how Mr Obama’s presidency has been far more troubled than expected.

So it sounds to me that the realpolitik of Chicago is losing out to the Ivory Tower buffoonery.

Let’s face it: running banana republic-style regime in a country where people are armed and can still speak out is hahrd.

The wikipedia article on ‘Swan Song‘ is mildly interesting.

More at The Sundries Shack.

Finally, November is Coming.

Update: via Vadum, it sounds like ol’ Hates Wasted Crises wants to have Dems paint the GOP in BP oil in time for the elections. Makes sense.

On Twitter, StoryBalloon asks what will be Rahm’s departure theme for leaving the White House. I contend that the proper combination of Israeli reference, attitude, cow bell and potty mouth can only be found in one song:

Update II: Memeorandum thread.

Category: Democrats

Comments

15 Responses to “Rahm Swan Song?”

  1. Late Nite at the PB Pub Presents: Guns and F’ing Roses | Political Byline
    June 20th, 2010 @ 10:44 pm

    […] PB Pub Presents: Guns and F’ing Roses By Patrick, on June 20th, 2010 Kinda Sorta based on this posting here… It’s rock okay? Fuck ya if you don’t like […]

  2. American Glob » Blog Archive » Rahm Emanuel Stepping Down?
    June 20th, 2010 @ 11:08 pm

    […] Smitty at The Other McCain pontificates… So it sounds to me that the realpolitik of Chicago is losing out to the Ivory Tower […]

  3. Estragon
    June 21st, 2010 @ 6:23 am

    Rahm is a Chicago political operative, which means he is mainly concerned with policies which reward friends and cronies and penalize enemies. He didn’t realize he was almost alone in a nest of True Believers who hate capitalism and want to “truly reform the US economy” – meaning make it more socialist.

    Who replaces him? Another unqualified Obama toady? At least Rahm had been in DC long enough to know how things work – the Chief of Staff is the guy who in large part runs things day-to-day. If you think Rahm sucks at it – and he does – just wait until another True Believer gets the post.

    Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

  4. Estragon
    June 21st, 2010 @ 2:23 am

    Rahm is a Chicago political operative, which means he is mainly concerned with policies which reward friends and cronies and penalize enemies. He didn’t realize he was almost alone in a nest of True Believers who hate capitalism and want to “truly reform the US economy” – meaning make it more socialist.

    Who replaces him? Another unqualified Obama toady? At least Rahm had been in DC long enough to know how things work – the Chief of Staff is the guy who in large part runs things day-to-day. If you think Rahm sucks at it – and he does – just wait until another True Believer gets the post.

    Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

  5. Rob Birch
    June 21st, 2010 @ 8:13 am

    I think there is a need to do a satire column about Obama’s new book. “How to Lose a mid-Term Election for Dummies”.

  6. Rob Birch
    June 21st, 2010 @ 4:13 am

    I think there is a need to do a satire column about Obama’s new book. “How to Lose a mid-Term Election for Dummies”.

  7. Bob Belvedere
    June 21st, 2010 @ 11:30 am

    Well put, Estragon. I take comfort in knowing what happened to The True Believers in Russia.

  8. Bob Belvedere
    June 21st, 2010 @ 7:30 am

    Well put, Estragon. I take comfort in knowing what happened to The True Believers in Russia.

  9. Cassy Fiano » Rahm Emanuel to leave the White House?
    June 21st, 2010 @ 9:55 am

    […] Stacy McCain points out, So it sounds to me that the realpolitik of Chicago is losing out to the Ivory Tower […]

  10. Jules Crittenden » Battered Rahm
    June 21st, 2010 @ 10:20 am

    […] The Other McCain, hurtfully, sounds like “the realpolitik of Chicago is losing out to the Ivory Tower buffoonery.” […]

  11. Is This The End Of Rahmo? « The Camp Of The Saints
    June 21st, 2010 @ 11:01 am

    […] and that has burned him out [like John Wilkes Booth in the barn?].  If this is the truth, then, as Smitty writes: So it sounds to me that the realpolitik of Chicago is losing out to the Ivory Tower […]

  12. Right Pundits
    June 21st, 2010 @ 12:38 pm

    Rahm Emanuel Quitting White House?…

    Is Rahm Emanuel quitting the White House? While its not all that unusual for a Chief of Staff to not stay on throughout a presidency, the departure of Rahm Emanuel could be a sign of how troubled Obama’s administration has become. Read about it b…

  13. UK Telegraph: Rahm Gone by Year’s End; Me: 2012 Just Got A Lot More Interesting
    June 21st, 2010 @ 12:53 pm

    […] to pick up some interesting commentary from elsewhere in the blogosphere. I recommend visiting The Other McCain and Bob Belvedere to start, then swing by Scared Monkeys. /**/ Tags: 2012 Election, Democrats, Rahm […]

  14. Orszag Yaz Moment? : The Other McCain
    June 21st, 2010 @ 11:28 pm

    […] Arthur KoestlerOrszag Yaz Moment?Posted on | June 21, 2010 | No Commentsby SmittyHearing that Rahm is pondering greener pastures, Peter Orszag is apparently unwilling to hold down the fort solo. Or is it more than just Rahm? Is […]

  15. Interesting – Rahm Emanuel On His Way Out? – Updated and Bumped :: The Lonely Conservative
    July 7th, 2010 @ 7:48 pm

    […] The Other McCain Share this post Hide Sites $$('div.d21646').each( function(e) { […]