I agree with you on this, Bob... both about Emanuel not being our favorite candidate and also Obama picking one of the toughest SOB's in the party to head up the daily goings-on. He surrounds himself with people who get the job done... purely spectacular!

I've always liked Emanuel specificly because of his tough stance. Hes like Robert Deniro with a fountain pen.

In non-related news: Why is the media still claiminig that Palin was "real" and talked about things that "everyone talks about at home?"

Families sit down to dinner together to talk about Ayers and Wright? Who knew.

At this point JM, who cares? Her career is over... if she thinks the Republicans won't crucify her in the primaries for 2012, she's stupider than I thought... which is quite stupid.

Emanuel seems very no nonsense. I think it's an especially good choice because it balance the boss's good nature.

One of Obama's chief assets is his ability to pick his battles carefully - Rahm can help him win those battles.

What I like about this is Obama knows that he needs someone who can throw weight while he sounds the pretty notes. I don't have anything against Rahmbo - 'specially if he's on Obama's side. :)

Here's a question. Where will Hillary land? Still the Junior Senator from NY, or in the adminstration?

QT

One thing I was telling my wife, who reluctantly voted for Obama instead of throwing her vote away on some independent, is that you have to look at it tis way; Obama managed to go from impossible longshot to even win the party nomination to landslide victory over the dirty-fighting GOP in 21 months. Think about it for a while, he's done something that's essentially impossible.

That's what gives me faith in him being able to do the essentially impossible and turn the US around from the path of destruction it's currently on. It seems like an almost impossible task, so why not go with someone who has a track record of pulling rabbits out of hats that definitely weren't there when you checked?

Even me, Mr Cynical, is beginning to have some serious hope now.

According to the infallible wikipedia, Rahm Emanuel is the inspiration for JOSH LYMAN!
Considering that Matt Santos was inspired by Barack Obama, this is gonna be a White House run by Aaron Sorkin.

If Obama runs a truly transparent government then I can't wait for the first 20,000 "you're a fucking idiot" to hurl from Rahmbo's mouth. I like him for his blunt style. It will work best with Obama.

HC: she's going to bide her time to be on the Supremes. That's my guess.

I'm hoping for Robert F. Kennedy Jr for AG. He too is no nonsense and he doesn't need to lift a finger against the Bushies. He just has to be appointed and merely call up the former administration officials and let them choose their poison. Delicious thoughts abound, particularly in how Bush the elder gets extremely uncomfortable regarding the 60's and the Bush fortunes wiped out in Cuba. Rich. Yummy. RFK Jr for AG. Might as well make Caroline Assistant AG. That's nepotism anybody would be in awe of.

FrictionSoul, the current hubbub is RFK Jr for head of the EPA.

I'd have liked to see John Edwards as AG, but fat chance of it happening now.

What do you all think about the rumor of Kerry being on the short-list for Sec. of State? I like Kerry, but not sure it would fit his plan of diversity, bipartisanship and youth. Also, is it true about Oprah being considered for an Ambassadorship?