DO THEY KNOW WHAT A CHIEF OF STAFF DOES?:

Rahm Emanuel enjoys being the bad guy: The Illinois congressman, Obama's pick to be White House chief of staff, is best known as something of a Democratic political assassin. (Naftali Bendavid, November 6, 2008, LA Times)

Perhaps precisely because Obama seems likely to adopt a unifying posture as president, he may need someone practiced in the art of political hardball.

Republican strategist John Feehery -- who worked for former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and former House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel as well as former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay -- said Emanuel could help prevent House Democrats from overreaching.

"He understands that if Obama goes too far to the left, it's not going to be good for the Democrats," Feehery said. "I think he's the kind of guy who can knock some heads and help Obama guide the Congress toward the middle. . . . You will need a bad cop to Obama's good cop, and Rahm will fill that role quite nicely."

Emanuel's policies, unlike his politics, have always been centrist, in the Bill Clinton mold. In addition, a different Emanuel has emerged in recent years, one who has forged friendships with Republicans and shown an ability to work with them on occasion.

That's an argument to make Mr. Emmanuel your House whip, not your chief.

Mr. Obama's initial governing choices--Joe Biden and Rahm Emmanuel--don't inspire confidence that he'll be a good executive.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 6, 2008 8:18 AM