Rahm Emanuel Preparing To Depart White House

[UNHWildCats]

Washington insiders say he will quit within six to eight months in frustration at their unwillingness to "bang heads together" to get policy pushed through.

Mr Emanuel, 50, enjoys a good working relationship with Mr Obama but they are understood to have reached an understanding that differences over style mean he will serve only half the full four-year term.

Friends say he is also worried about burnout and losing touch with his young family due to the pressure of one of most high profile jobs in US politics.

"I would bet he will go after the midterms," said a leading Democratic consultant in Washington. "Nobody thinks it's working but they can't get rid of him – that would look awful. He needs the right sort of job to go to but the consensus is he'll go."

An official from the Bill Clinton era said that "no one will be surprised" if Mr Emanuel left after the midterm elections in November, when the Democratic party will battle to save its majorities in the house of representatives and the senate.

It is well known in Washington that arguments have developed between pragmatic Mr Emanuel, a veteran in Congress where he was known for driving through compromises, and the idealistic inner circle who followed Mr Obama to the White House.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... House.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dbackjon]

Good. He needs to leave. Today.

[travelinman67]

Good. He needs to leave. Today.

Agreed. A Donk Rove. The White House and Hill need to move away from following "death match" demagogues.

[SuperHornet]

Isn't he more like a rogue donkey, Tman? I haven't heard about him taking (or attempting) to take a party leadership role as Rove has. And if he does, he's likely to have about as much influence on the grassroots Donkey party as Rove has had on the grassroots Elephant party: ZERO....

[mainejeff]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Rahm!

[UNHWildCats]

Isn't he more like a rogue donkey, Tman? I haven't heard about him taking (or attempting) to take a party leadership role as Rove has. And if he does, he's likely to have about as much influence on the grassroots Donkey party as Rove has had on the grassroots Elephant party: ZERO....

He was part of the party's leadership in the House before resigning to take the COS job. When he steps down he will likely return home and prepare to take back his house seat in 2012 and may set his sights on Obama's old Senate seat when its back up for election in 2016.

[houndawg]

He wants to be mayor of Chicago.

[ASUG8]

Not worthy of another thread, but another rat is jumping ship. Maybe they'll replace him with someone who knows the formula "Tax receipts>spending".

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/21/ ... tml?hpt=T2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(CNN) -- Peter Orszag has told President Obama that he plans to leave his position as White House budget director in July, an Obama administration official said Monday evening.

Orszag, 41, has been a key part of Obama's economic team, serving in his role as director of the Office of Management and Budget during the passage of the economic stimulus bill and this year's health care reform legislation.

As budget director, he crafted policy, but also was a prime negotiator with congressional Republicans.

[CID1990]

What they say is what they want people to think.

Rahm is leaving over internal disagreements over Israel. You can bank on that being a large factor.

[andy7171]

What they say is what they want people to think.

Rahm is leaving over internal disagreements over Israel. You can bank on that being a large factor.

This is exactly what I was thinking. It can't be too comfortable to say what they really want to with a Jew in the room.

[Appaholic]

It can't be too comfortable to say what they really want to with a Jew in the room.

"Hit the showers, Rahm".....

[SuperHornet]

Isn't he more like a rogue donkey, Tman? I haven't heard about him taking (or attempting) to take a party leadership role as Rove has. And if he does, he's likely to have about as much influence on the grassroots Donkey party as Rove has had on the grassroots Elephant party: ZERO....

He was part of the party's leadership in the House before resigning to take the COS job. When he steps down he will likely return home and prepare to take back his house seat in 2012 and may set his sights on Obama's old Senate seat when its back up for election in 2016.

Sure, he might have some influence at HIS OWN local level. I was merely harping on the comparison to Rove, who Donkeys see as speaking for Joe Republican in every state of the union. HE DOES NOT, by a long stretch. Many local GOPers don't even know who Rove is. I think that if Emanuel attempts the same thing, he's in for a rude awakening. Going after local Congressional/Senate seats or a mayoral race in one's own neck of the woods is NOT the same thing....

[UNHWildCats]

He wants to be mayor of Chicago.

ya I forgot about that

[native]

Rhambo is an arsehole, but he is at least marginally competent in his own corrupt and hyper-partisan way.

When Emmanuel departs the Whitehouse, only the completely inept looney leftwing losers will be left behind.

[kalm]

His departure and a subsequent move away from corporatism would be good for the country, and good for the Republicans in the short term election cycle. It's a win-win for you conks.

[native]

His departure and a subsequent move away from corporatism would be good for the country, and good for the Republicans in the short term election cycle. It's a win-win for you conks.

Interesting sentiment and keen observation, kalm. You might be right.

But might such a concentration of leftie ideologues also invite a party split at the 2012 Democratic Convention, with a subsequent primary challenge? If Hildebeast smells blood in the water but does not run in 2012, would she still have a shot in 2016?

[kalm]

His departure and a subsequent move away from corporatism would be good for the country, and good for the Republicans in the short term election cycle. It's a win-win for you conks.

Interesting sentiment and keen observation, kalm. You might be right.

But might such a concentration of leftie ideologues also invite a party split at the 2012 Democratic Convention, with a subsequent primary challenge? If Hildebeast smells blood in the water but does not run in 2012, would she still have a shot in 2016?

Again, a win for your side, although I'm not sure which leftie ideologues you are referring to. Economically, Paul Volcker and Elizabeth Warren, for example, are certainly to the left, but are not exactly the second coming of Karl Marx.

I agree though, a Hilary challenge in 2012 would be very interesting.