There are three things about Emanuel that gave me pause at first. I'll be honest here.
First, I was a little concerned that he'd be in a position to tilt the delicate Israel-Palestine balance too far in the direction of Israel. I don't claim to have all the answers about the ongoing conflict but recognize that one false move on the part of the Obama administration could further destabilize the region at a time when an unpopular occupation of Iraq is still in play.
Second, it bothered me that Obama would consider the unofficial Democratic attack dog and Bill Clinton-holdover for that post. I kept questioning myself if the Dems would be best served by a Democratic version of Karl Rove in a real position of power. Both Rove and Emanuel are as cunning as the dickens. GOP Chief of Staffs prior to Dubya wielded a boatload of power. Folks in that slot also tend of have a short shelf life due to the demands.
Finally, it bothered me that to date no woman has been named Chief of Staff to a President. That position is referred to as the 'Gatekeeper' in political circles. It has been held by the likes of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and James Baker amongst others prior to becoming fixtures in other cabinet positions.
Then it occurred to me that I was overreacting probably due to my unacknowledged prejudices. The Chief of Staff position is not for a shrinking violet. Emanuel fits the bill in every way imaginable. What sealed the deal for me was when I witnessed Dick Morris starting his smear campaign against Emanuel last night on Bill O'Reilly's show.
Morris painted Emanuel as a self-indulgent opportunist extraordinaire. What's amazing about Morris' assessment of Emanuel is that toe-sucking troll Morris himself is branded the same way by folks on both sides of the aisle. As naive as this may seem, wherever Dick Morris goes the Dems need to take the opposite tack.
Both Morris and Joe Lieberman should disappear under the cover of night, hint, hint.
Rahm Emanuel is just what the doctor ordered!
#FactsMatter...your feelings not so much.
