Is Rahm Emmanuel at the heart of Obama's appointee problems?

[Honeycombe8]

During the campaign, Obama's camp's strong advantage (and I mean VERY strong advantage) was the ability to pick the right person for the right job. Obama put together one of the smoothest, sharpest, efficient, smart campaign teams in history (per the results, and per the pundits).

But now, he can't seem to find someone without tax evasion problems to fill key posts.

So what's the big change, since he won the election? Did he all of a sudden lose his mojo? Did Axelrod suddenly become an idiot, who couldn't pick out the guy in the striped prison outfit in a lineup? I doubt it. More than likely, I'm thinkin, is that his one HUGE change was when he picked Emmanuel as Chief of Staff. Rahm Emmanuel,who now is advising on cabinet and key post appointments?

I'm thinking yes, that's the crux of the problem. That's the big change. Obama made a slipup when he chose Emmanuel, and the rest of the mistakes fall in line like dominos, because Emmanuel (the first wrong pick) is helping to pick other wrong picks.

Emmanuel goes for those he's comfortable with. Those from the Clinton administration. Not anyone he has personal vendettas against (and there are more than a few of those, I gather?) He goes with those he likes, despite their flaws, like having tax problems (Daschle, Gehren or however you spell his name).

I thought Rahm Emmanuel might be a problem,when the pick was announced. I thought so. And now I think we see that it was, and is, and will continue to be, a big problem. A Republican for Sec'y of Commerce? Two key cabinet posts to be filled by people with tax evasion issues? (despite the fact that I don't think one of those instances is serious...still, technically it's a tax evasion problem.) The person named to be the watchdog over the billions being given out...withdraws because of...surprise....payroll tax evasion problems.

I don't think Obama suddenly lost his ability to select good people. I think he suddenly began relying on someone new, who picks cronies. Sound familiar? No change there.

[Clio the Leo]

1. No. The appointees are.

Are they LITERALLY expected to review the tax code with these people, line by line?

[PBS Poll-435]

4. Are CPAs illegal in DC?

:scared:

[Golden Raisin]

24. Since there is a long recent history

in the Beltway of cabinet-level nominees (of BOTH parties) running into the exact same sort of tax problems: nannys, household workers (legal or non-legal), drivers, etc. one would assume that at least THAT particular question would be prominently asked during the vetting process. If in fact it was (the Obama people are TOO smart not to have asked), and truthful answers were given, and the Obama vetting committee still voted to proceed, they took an educated chance/bet that the nominations might have to be withdrawn or go down in flames.

[FrenchieCat]

2. The IRS dropping a dime is who is responsible.....

That and a corporate media who wants its tax cuts, or else!

[xchrom]

3. i don't have particular probs with people the clinton admin --

but i have HUGE fuckin probs with rahm.

he's a terrible manager -- split loyalties -- not a believer in the fifty state strategy.

he is the very definition of modern center right. -- now i'm not talking regressive right wingers.

seriously -- the guy is a problem.

[defendandprotect]

5. Obama didn't pick Emmanuel --? Obama doesn't know picks suck--???

Didn't Obama just say "I screwed up!" re Daschle ...???

Either Obama is comatose or he's aware ...

[Why Syzygy]

14. Daschle allegedly 'sponsored'

Obama early on, giving him Daschle's custom crafted get 'er done machine. Now I guess we know a little bit about how Daschle got 'er done.

[razors edge]

6. Credit where credit is due.

Obama better figure this one out quick.

Repig appointments, Blaggo, tax cheats and retreads from hell, if he ain't trying to derail the Admin, he sure as hell could have fooled me.

[Occam Bandage]

7. With Karl Rove departing, the liberal blogosphere has found a new improbably powerful boogeyman.

Cower before the wheel-within-wheel machinations of the unchained, almighty Rahmbo!

[KittyWampus]

8. Someone please stop the stupid.

[Occam Bandage]

9. I'm afraid the stupid has stopped.

That is to say, it's stopped by to visit, and it's starting to look like it's taking up permanent residence.

[NutmegYankee]

13. You cannot stop the Stupid. Resistance is futile.

You will be assimilated!

[firedupdem]

10. People seem to forget that loads of people have been chosen

without issue. Let's not keep focusing on those who did. Rahm doesn't run Obama. He runs his own show. Nothing is going to be perfect. Other President's have appointed people who had to back out for various reasons. It was only the rethugs that said "fuck everybody" and pushed criminals through. The media didn't make a stink about any of those folks.

[Jennicut]

12. The Dems and the media let that happen.

But God forbid a Dem has any issues/problems. They did the same thing to Clinton. Be prepared folks. Dems are held to a higher standard, maybe because some are not actually criminals.

[firedupdem]

15. Exactly. I see now why people including myself have been really

"sour" regarding politics.

[Jennicut]

16. Politics is not too blame. The framing of ideas and parties in the MSM is.

The Rethugs had outrageous criminal behavior for years and no one in the MSM batted an eye because...yawn...they knew they were, Rethugs always are. But Obama is cleaner then most and seems so fresh and new. The MSM, being driven mainly by boredom will pick a story and harp on it over and over until the real issues/problems become lost in the ruckus. Its utter crap and the failure of the media. Obama made some mistakes, he admitted them, why the hand wringing here or in the MSM? He is human after all.

[firedupdem]

21. The MSM is shit but I say I get sour on politics based on the

way these guys vote in lockstep....like every last rethug voting against the stimulus package. That kind of shit is irritating! They can't think for themselves. They get a leader and follow along in order to just try and bring down the other side. It reminds me of that special I watched on Atwater. His motto was just "bring the other guy down."

Driving me to drink! LOL!

[defendandprotect]

17. "Perfect" ... ?????

Selecting the right-wing and DLC to run an administration for change is far

from perfect ... it's largely inane--!!!

[firedupdem]

20. Well in 4 yrs you can vote for who you want. I'm not giving up so fast. n/t

[defendandprotect]

25. Thanks ...

Obama has been making executive decisions for three months ..

We've seen the picks and they suck --

Obama will be one term w/o liberals/progressives and doubt voters will give

another $800 million+ for this kind of change --

Corporations/wealthy will, however, but they make sure they have leverage on candidate ---

[TeamJordan23]

11. While I may not agree with your full assessment, I would say they have gotten careless. nm

[defendandprotect]

18. "Careless" is when you lose your umbrella ....

not when you appoint right wing to create change ...!!!

[Mudoria]

19. Rahm isn't making the picks nor is he the one vetting them..

So I'm hard pressed to see where he's responsible. The people responsible are the ones being selected and not being forthcoming on their records. The vetting people aren't doing a very good job either.

[defendandprotect]

26. How about influence ...? Or do you think Obama picked Rahm cause he ...

doesn't respect his opinions and plans to ignore him--???

[laugle]

22. Most polls give him very high marks for his picks. A few

bad apples doesn't spoil the whole bunch!

Don't blame others, the buck stops with Barack, he is the President!

[defendandprotect]

27. Obama said: "I screwed up!" re Daschle .... I agree.

[Bread and Circus]

23. The bigger question I have is why are there so many dickheads in the Democratic

"Establishment"? And how did it get that way?

[defendandprotect]

28. As they overtuned New Deal regulations. they amassed great wealth again ...

monopoly power ..

and money is power ...

and as progressive organizations have been telling us for more than 3 decades ...

CORPORSTIONS/ELITE HAVE BOUGHT GOVERNMENT AND OUR LEGISLATORS ... IN BOTH PARTIES.

However the only way that GOP/fascists can come to power is via political violence --

and we've had that for more than 40 years+ --

and stolen elections which didn't begin in 2000 ...

been going on since at least mid-60's ...

http://www.constitution.org/vote/votescam__.htm