Fire Dog Lake and Down With Tyanny discuss Lizza's column on Rahm today.

[madfloridian]

Jane Hamsher gets right to the point.

Things Rahm Left Out Of His Love Note To Himself

When Rahm Emanuel went looking for a loyal stenographer to dictate a canonical piece on himself, no surprise his gaze landed on Ryan Lizza, who did the honors for Chuck Schumer in the recent past (wherein Lizza called Russ Feingold "an ass" for proposing a censure resolution against George Bush). This week's New Yorker carries the 5200 word lap dance in which Rahm finds universal praise from sources carefully chosen to heap said praise upon him. Paul Krugman gets bashed by Rahm but sadly, there is no room for him to respond.

There are a few more things that mysteriously did not make their way into what purported to be a comprehensive piece on the President's Chief of staff:

..."• How Rahm as head of the DCCC infuriated immigration rights advocates by haranguing congressional candidates to "move right" on immigration, pushed Heath Shuler into putting forward the enforcement-only SAVE Act and then strong armed freshmen into co-sponsoring it, or how it triggered a revolt of the Hispanic caucus on the House floor that he's now trying to repair in the wake of Hispanic support for Obama in '08.

That part is quite true. Heath Shuler was prominently featured at Tom Tancredo's website with some of the most rigid right wing haters of immigrants. His picture was front paged there.

Here is more on Rahm's "training sessions" on the topic of immigration. He really did urge them to "move right to win".

From 2008:

Daily Kos, Down with Tyranny, Fire Dog Lake on Rahm's training sessions with DCCC candidates.

Two weeks ago he sent a DCCC-connected candidate training a video of himself haranguing congressional candidates to “move right” on immigration or risk defeat at the hands of Republicans. This is similar to the terrible advice he shoved down candidates’ throats last year, although then he was demanding they move to the right on Iraq, dooming the candidacies of Lois Murphy, Francine Busby, Ken Lucas, Tammy Duckworth, Diane Farrell and several others who went along with his demands.

..."It's got to be one or the other, because Rahm Emanuel is behind efforts to build Democratic support for the Shuler/Tancredo "enforcement-only" bill currently winding its way through the House.

Think about it -- our House leadership is strong-arming Democrats into backing a bill which is the central agenda of the biggest racist xenophobe Tom Tancredo.

Down With Tyranny presents the words of Stan Greenberg, whose home Rahm shared in DC.

Howie of DWT speaks of Lizza's puff piece today

It is surprising what Stan Greenberg says about him. He is the husband of Rosa DeLauro who is supposed one being considered for the HHS post.

Greenberg: "He doesn't mind bad publicity. It's part of his cachet, it's part of why he's able to be effective." Depends on who creates the bad publicity; he loves the kind he creates himself-- through naive shills like Lizza-- but when someone throws a little reality in his face, he is quick to lose control of his volatile temper, something that must be devastating for a control freak. In Lizza's only worthwhile moment of the entire drawn out piece, he portrays Emanuel's seething resentment towards someone who actually is an accomplished individual, Paul Krugman.

Howie goes into further detail about how Rahm may have caused us to lose a congressional seat here in Florida.

Now, Mahoney was a millionaire and an admitted Republican and Emanuel, with a little Insider information, persuaded him to switch party registration to run against a popular incumbent in a very Republican district. Once Emanuel forced the actual Democrat, Dave Lutrin, out of the race and Mahoney became the nominee, news broke that the incumbent, Mark Foley, had an ugly sex scandal on his hands. Mahoney-- purely a creature of Rahm Emanuel-- went on to win a convincing victory, the timing of Foley's scandal being so perfect that even though he resigned and withdrew, he couldn't get his name off the ballot. Congressman Mahoney then went on to vote, like Shuler, for the Republican principles and values in his heart. He also cultivated his own ugly little sex scandal and after just two short years was ignominiously defeated for re-election. I bet Lizza hasn't heard of either Shuler or Mahoney. In fact, reading his piece today made me wonder if his trip to visit Emanuel was the first time he'd ever been to Washington, DC.

DWT is a little blunter than I would be. But here is more about how Mahoney was chosen and Lutrin was dumped.

What a mess in FL 16th

First a little background on the district and race. FL-16 wasn't exactly a district anyone was really targeting for a Democratic take over. It's a pretty Republican, rural district cutting right across the state from coast to coast, and it was represented by a fairly popular, well-entrenched incumbent, albeit a Bush rubber stamp. When school teacher and union member Dave Lutrin decided to run, it was because of his dismay with the occupation of Iraq and his dismay about how Bush had been running our country into the ground. He wanted something better for his young daughter and, as an idealistic and progressive Democrat, he decided Foley didn't merit a free ride to re-election. Not what you'd call a political insider, and severely un-financed, Dave vowed to give incumbent Mark Foley a grassroots race based on the day's burning issues, the kind of race that swept similar Democratic outsiders like Jerry McNerney, Carol Shea-Porter, John Yarmuth, Nancy Boyda, Chris Murphy, John Hall, Jason Altmire, Chris Carney, Patrick Murphy, Bruce Braley and Paul Hodes into office in November.

Early on in the process– in mid-2005– Dave contacted Democratic Party organizations throughout the district, as well as the state party and the DCCC in Washington. Everyone was enthusiastic and encouraging. Glen Rushing, the DCCC point person for the region, told Dave he was "just the type of candidate we're looking for." He offered to introduce him to Alabama Congressman Artur Davis, the DCCC-appointed mentor for Democratic candidates in the region, who following their first phone conversation offered to help him with his race. Rushing then promised to get him in touch with Florida DCCC chief, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Emanuel's lieutenant for the Southeast.

There is a lot more at the link.

David Lutrin, Democrat and school teacher, is not discouraged. He is planning to run again.

Kudos to him.

[Triana]

1. Thanks. As I said in the other post here (New Yorker), I'm not a big Rahm fan. He's a jackass . . .

. . . I'm not a mindreader so won't speak to his motives, but his behavior = jackass, at least.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Are we supposed to hate Rahm or something?

I'm pretty ambivalent about him.....long as he gets the job done,
and I see our lives improve. In otherwords, I won't be holding him up,
I won't be defending him, but I won't be smearing him either.

[madfloridian]

3. I am not smearing him.

I am pointing out some facts.

I am proud Obama is president. I am surprised he chose someone who is so against the grassroots.

I really don't care for him for many reasons. But we don't need to make him our hero to be a good Democrat and loyal.

There are many kind and good people who don't take pride in being a**holes and using f*** every other word.

He will do a good job getting Obama's back, if indeed that is what Obama wants.

[DaLittle Kitty]

73. Rahm IS A Freaking POS! Ask Some Other Candidates Like Russell, Bowman, Curtis etc.

This guy is a CORPORATIST through and through! Wasserman-Schultz was endorsing Ginny Brown-Waite for gawd sakes... and she was Rahm's hand picked bag lady for Florida! If you're not going to toe the line then you are FUC*ED!

[wyldwolf]

6. yes, Rahm, known as a very partisan and loyal Democrat, working for the President Barack Obama...

... long time friend of David Axelrod, defied Howard Dean once and the increasingly meaningless netroots hate him for it.

Yes, you must hate.

[FLAprogressive]

13. wylddlc spreading more propaganda I see.....

[wyldwolf]

14. Emanuel doesn't work for Obama? He's not a long time friend of Axelrod?

He isn't known as a loyal and partisan Democrat?

I'm missing what the propaganda is.

Oh, I get it. Yours is another example of nutgressive disconnect.

[FLAprogressive]

15. I guess I better remember that this is GD:DLC, where politics is a game and as long as the people in

the blue jerseys are winning....it doesn't really matter who they are or what they stand for. They have a "D" at the ends of their names so they must be good!

[wyldwolf]

16. ok, then have fun in a more enlightened forum on DU

One where the definition of politics isn't applicable

[blm]

21. 'nutgressive'....

wyld, you may think you're being funny, but, it's just plain wrong to call names at progressives the way you do.

Using mockery against liberals and progressives is exactly the same tactic the GOP has used for decades to divide this country.

[wyldwolf]

23. yep

wyld, you may think you're being funny, but, it's just plain wrong to call names at progressives the way you do.

I used to feel that way, until one too many people (like the person I was replying to) started namecalling first - perhaps you missed his "wylddlc" usage?

The mockery - the constant "he's not a real Democrat" and "republican lite" bullshit that comes from the left - you missed it?

[Mithreal]

35. Good point, but

Calling you wylddlc was an attack against you singularly, and yet you chose to attack progressives in general with "nutgressive"?

Do you have evidence that Rahm did not recruit Republicans to run as Democrats? Do you have evidence to suggest that Rahm did not advocate running to the right, wrt the example of immigration? If not, then what words would be appropriately descriptive of Rahm? You call him the partisan and loyal Democrat?

I would like to understand.

[wyldwolf]

38. actually, no

1. The person I was replying to is one of the chief offenders with "Republican-lite" and DINO BS.

2. Always in response to his BS, I've called him Flanutgressive

Do you have evidence that Rahm did not recruit Republicans to run as Democrats? Do you have evidence to suggest that Rahm did not advocate running to the right, wrt the example of immigration? If not, then what words would be appropriately descriptive of Rahm? You call him the partisan and loyal Democrat?

All that is pretty irrelevant considering the left of the party in no way shape or form defines what the Democratic position on any given issue should be or what a Democrat should be.

Emanuel recruited conservative Dems and at least one confirmed former Republican to run in conservative districts. One thing some people never seem to get is Dennis Kucinich will not win in red districts.

[Mithreal]

48. You may want to reread the forum rules

3. Civility: Treat other members with respect. Do not post personal attacks against other members of this discussion forum.

Calling DU members "Flanutgressive" and "nutgressives" is not criticism. If you perceive BS, provide facts, sources, reasoned arguments. Calling people names contributes less than nothing to this community and angers some like me.

Isn't it funny that the Republicans seem to be ruled by their activists? Our party buys what Republicans have sold about the activists within our own party, right? Liberals and activists are smeared. Why shouldn't the people who care most about the party have a say in what constitutes the party. And I disagree, I say they do define what the Democratic party is. Didn't your state create a platform for Democrats there? Didn't you speak out when the President asked for contributions to his platform?

You bring up Dennis Kucinich, why not Howard Dean, or any other hero of our community? You are right though, the average American listen to what the Republicans say about Democrats because the Republicans control corporate media. There are flaws in your argument about red districts. Those folks said the same about Barack Obama but he did win in red states, didn't he.

[wyldwolf]

50. I know them well

:shrug:

I always find it funny how attacks on centrists on this board are glossed over as "the truth" but when the tables are turned there's all manner of whining.

It's like the kid on the playground who walks around hitting other kids until one day he hits the wrong kid and gets tagged back. Then he claims innocence.

[Mithreal]

52. It's a Progressive forum, who knew? nt

[wyldwolf]

53. no, it's a Democratic forum

[Mithreal]

54. No it is not a Democratic Party forum

"Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates."

[wyldwolf]

55. right, and I didn't say it was. I said it was a Democratic forum

[Mithreal]

57. Big D Democratic means the party. nt

[wyldwolf]

58. And it's big "D" in the forum's description

[Mithreal]

59. It looks like I am gonna need a lawyer.

Fun chatting with you, take care.

[madfloridian]

24. SO right, blm. It is not funny. The ridicule becomes cruel at times.

It harms everyone.

[roguevalley]

45. given that his advice defeats good candidates who take it, no, he's

not effective. he's a jackass.

[wyldwolf]

46. for example?

[saracat]

68. So the ends justify the means? Rahm is okay if politics is only a "game"

and doesn't have to mean anything.Rahm doesn't have to be "smeared" his record and actions speak for themselves.

[Truth2Tell]

4. Love note to self? Moi?

[diane in sf]

5. Rahm also opposed Dean's 50 state strategy--he's way too DLC for me

[wyldwolf]

7. netroot myth

[Baikonour]

8. Really?

Because I have an article here from the Chicago Tribune that says they did argue over the 50-state strategy.

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2006/nov/12/nation/chi-0611120215nov12

It's a long article, so press ctrl+f and type dean.

I'm ambivalent towards Dean, but it was certainly not a "netroot myth."

[wyldwolf]

11. yes, really, the discussion was over allocation of funds

The article is a summary of a full book by the same author.

In that book, it's clear Emanuel couldn't care less what Dean did as long as he didn't abandon the Dems short term chances in '06.

[madfloridian]

25. Here is an article about The Thumpin that goes into more detail.

Rahm mocked Dean as a political lightweight from a small state

Emanuel, the Daley protégé, is a regular who believes money and a disciplined organization win elections. He seemed to see Dean as a goo-goo, a good-government reformer with a base of liberal idealists who are more educated and individualistic than your average Democratic machine foot soldier, but less reliable when you need someone to hand out palm cards on Election Day. The machine has been paving over goo-goos since the 19th century. As a beery alderman once put it, "Chicago ain't ready for reform."

When Emanuel and Sen. Charles Schumer of New York met with Dean to ask him to shift money to congressional races, Emanuel mocked the former Vermont governor as a political lightweight from a tiny, rural, homogenous state. "No disrespect, but some of us are arrogant enough, we come from Chicago, we think we know what it means to knock on a door," Bendavid quotes Emanuel as telling Dean. Emanuel "slammed his hand on the table," then continued his tirade: "Look, Chuck comes from Brooklyn. I come from Chicago. It ain't Burlington, Vermont. Now, we understand that Burlington knows a lot about grassroots politics and we know nothing. I know your field plan -- it doesn't exist. I've gone around the country with these races. I've seen your people. There's no plan, Howard."

According to Bendavid, Emanuel left the room vowing not to be seen with Dean if the Democrats lost on Election Day. When Dean eventually offered $20,000 a race, Emanuel told him to fuck off. (Not literally -- although it's plausible.) Eventually, Dean ponied up a $12 million nationwide get-out-the-vote drive.

Here is the entire article from Salon called The Legend of Rahm

[wyldwolf]

26. Eventually, Dean ponied up a $12 million nationwide get-out-the-vote drive.

Thank you, Dean, for doing the right thing - even though you had to be berated for it to happen.

[madfloridian]

27. You really do have contempt, don't you?

Contempt for all of us who don't toe the DLC line of post partisanship.

You show your contempt every time I post, everytime Dean's name is mentioned.

Your contempt is showing.

[wyldwolf]

28. You really do have contempt, don't you?

Contempt for all of us who don't toe the Howard Dean line.

You show your contempt every time you post.

Your contempt is showing.

[EFerrari]

10. Yes, he did and in his best, most gracious signature language.

Gracias, Rahm. Yet another reason to dislike you.

[democracy1st]

9. thanks for posting mad

[depakid]

12. "quick to lose control of his volatile temper"

and this along with hubris is going to get the administration into trouble not far down the line.

[Senator]

17. UPDATE: From FDL

Update: I'm reminded that Lizza is writing a book http://www.observer.com/2008/media/remaking-ryan-lizza-s-big-campaign-book-2008">on Obama's first year in office, which no doubt depends on...access.

So Lizza and Emmanuel are trading New Yorker puff-pages for the raw materials of a can't-miss insider book.

Suppose Rahm also gets a sales-based fee for blurbing it onto the bestseller list?

--

[blm]

31. This is how Woodward operated in 2001. Wrote flattering portrayals of Bush in his first book so he

could maintain that access when more facts were accessible AFTER media successfully helped keep Bush in office for another term.

But...seems to me Obama wouldn't need the protection and coddling that Bush and Cheney needed during their illegal and unethical reign in the WH. So....Lizza should have the opportunity to show REAL journalistic skill instead of the 'tactic' based flattering of creeps like Rahm.

[Senator]

63. Oh, the coddling is needed for the cowering.

Someone must be enlisted to explain (at least to the beltway) why being an accessory after-the-fact to torture is not really, really the war criminality and human rights atrocity that it is on any other plane of existence.

Such is what passes for a REAL journalistic skill these days.

===

[mmonk]

18. Recommended.

[madrchsod]

19. rahm and the Illinois 6th election

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2006/03/duckworth_faces_challenge_to_u.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2538776

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1594558.html

and there`s a lot more posts on du from that time


duckworth lost.

[wyldwolf]

20. Cegelis lost the nomination

By the way, David Axelrod (yes, THAT David Axelrod) was much more involved in Duckworth's campaign than Emanuel.

In fact, Axelrod was the strategist behind Duckworth, Mayor Daley, AND Emanuel.

[madfloridian]

30. The Chicago machine picked Duckworth and forced Cegelis out.

Actually Durbin and Obama were deeply involved as well. Durbin was the first to endorse her I believe.

Here is so much more on the way the DCCC got rid of candidates and put their own in the race.

http://www.truthout.org/article/special-report-democratic-house-officials-recruited-wealthy-conservatives

"But pressure coming from the national Democratic Party was too great. The Democrats had found a challenger for Cegelis, an Iraq veteran named Tammy Duckworth. Contributions were pouring into the opposing campaign and Duckworth was shuttled into the national media spotlight. Cegelis began receiving calls from Democratic members of Congress informing her that they were planning to support Duckworth.

Some of Cegelis's own paid campaign staff implored her to drop out; and she had every reason to listen. She had only $40,000 in the bank, her campaign manager had given up on the campaign and given her office staff two weeks' paid vacation without Cegelis' permission, and her media coordinator had recently quit. Rumor had it that Illinois Senator Barack Obama was going to star in television commercials for Duckworth - star power the Cegelis campaign could never match."

The pressure to get out of the race was overwhelming.

In May 2004, a former candidate for the New York State Legislature named Cynthia Pooler founded November Victories and Democrat Unity, online forums for new candidates who were running for Congress as Democrats.

"Before you knew it, candidates started talking about the difficulties they were having with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic leadership," Pooler said.

According to Democratic candidates who ran for House of Representative seats in 2006, Rahm Emanuel, then head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, took sides during the Democratic primary elections, favoring conservative candidates, including former Republicans, and sidelining candidates who were running in favor of withdrawal from Iraq.

Appointed as head of the DCCC by then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Emanuel spearheaded the Democratic Party effort to regain control of the House of Representatives during the 2006 election cycle. Emanuel claimed credit for the Democratic takeover and was promoted to chairman of the Democratic Caucus, the fourth-highest ranking position in the House. But his election tactics have been criticized by progressive activists and former Congressional candidates.

According to his critics, Emanuel played kingmaker by financially supporting his favored candidates during primary contests with other Democrats. His critics say that this interference was in direct contradiction of a DCCC policy to "remain neutral" in party primaries.

Tim Bagwell, a grassroots activist and Cegelis campaigner, said that Duckworth was "hot-wired" into the national media and fund-raising circuit by the DCCC. George Stephanopoulos, who served in the Clinton administration with Emanuel, interviewed Duckworth on his Sunday morning ABC News program, elevating her to national prominence.

According to Spidel, the Cegelis campaign was prevented from accessing Democratic fund-raising and Political Action Committee lists held by the DCCC. Cegelis said that many of the potential donors she contacted had been instructed by the DCCC not to give her campaign money. She felt that she was locked out.

"To tell you I didn't take it personally is wrong," Cegelis said, adding, "this was the wrong way to choose a representative. It is wrong of parties to exclude people from the primary elections. The primary is the time for the people to choose who is on the ballot; those decisions should not be made in back rooms."

Now in the same way, our former chairman appears to be shut out by party machinery.

And we are not supposed to notice.

[wyldwolf]

34. she still lost the primary in '06 and proved she couldn't win by losing the general in 2004

her name was on the ballot in '06 primaries, right?

[madfloridian]

36. Duckworth was given all of it on a platter. She lost the general.

Duckworth had it all...ads by Obama, money, national media exposure, and the party leaders refused to allow Cegelis access to major party donors...Sound familiar? Happens often.

Duckworth lost. Cegelis first time out with no experience in 2004...got 44% of the vote against Henry Hyde. An amazing feat.

[wyldwolf]

37. but Christine Cegelis' name was still on the ballot

:shrug:

She'd been running since she lost in 2004 - she did not shut down her campaign. She campaigned for two years - had all the name recognition - but still couldn't win the primary.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3696916.html

She also had a reputation for being a very poor fund raiser.

[madfloridian]

39. Cegelis was shut out by Durbin, Obama, Rahm, and others

in the Chicago party leadership.

She was deprived of funds and told that major donors had been asked not to donate to her.

She was right, you can't ever stop compaigning if you want to win.

Now she is working with others, having been screwed by the Chicago bunch and put in her place properly.

If she had been given the quarter to half million Rahm spent running against her...she would have a great chance at winning.

Rahm spent money to get many Dems out of races.

You can stay in denial, you can mock me, you can keep repeating words....bottom line Cegelis was shoved out by Democrats in Chicago.

[wyldwolf]

40. her name was on the ballot, she'd been running for two years, she was a poor fundraiser

[madfloridian]

41. That's the spin. It's not the truth. Truth: Cegelis was screwed...

by her own party leaders.

[wyldwolf]

42. that's funny, because her name WAS on the official 2006 primary ballot and she herself said ...

...she'd been running her campaign since 2004 and she had trouble fundraising. But that's just spin in your world. :)

According to her Jan. 2006 FEC report, she only had $48,972, while having debts of $39,179. She'd been running for three years! You can't win a congressional election like that.

[madfloridian]

43. The party leaders hurt her fundraising.

Read the articles I posted. They did the same to Dave Lutrin and Jan Schneider in Florida.

It's a pattern.

[wyldwolf]

44. First you said it was spin, now you're saying the party hurt her fundraising. Which is it?

[madfloridian]

49. You take pride in false arguments and spin.

And when it gets to that point it is time to say good bye before stuff happens.

You can talk about me behind my back now.

[wyldwolf]

51. it's either spin or it's not. It can't be both.

[saracat]

70. Actually it can. The Party dries up your funding and then "spins" it that

you are a "poor fundraiser". it is done all the time.

[madrchsod]

33. i know all to well what deals were cut during the 2006 election

here in illinois. the 6th was`t the only deal cut...the 14th was a deal the democrats did with the republicans to keep fat denny in office...

[glitch]

22. That was a puff piece? I thought it made him look shallow and snippy.

Oh dear.

[camera obscura]

32. In DC, shallow and snippy can be a compliment.

[glitch]

47. Lol, I guess so! nt

[camera obscura]

29. Thanks for posting these.

[ooglymoogly]

56. Herr * had his turdblossom who brought disgrace on his

boss....O has his dino turdblossom, who will in time bring disgrace on him. The realization of just who Rahm is, is just beginning to dawn on Democrats outside the beltway who will not take kindly to being shafted.

[Canuckistanian]

60. Nice post , MaFL

I've only heard snips about Rahm before, but I instinctively knew he couldn't be trusted.

He may be many things, but a Liberal, he ain't.

K&R

[bertman]

61. Recommend. Madflo, keep this burner turned up to HIGH. The only way we will change

the DLC and muscle Rahmbo out of the way is to keep the pressure on. The time is right. We need Progressive ideas and Progressive candidates--Democrats who are Democrats, not Republicans turned Democrat for convenience sake.

Don't let us forget.

Thanks for your dedication to this.

[madfloridian]

62. Glenn Greenwald adds his views on the article.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/02/23/lizza/index.html

"Instead -- like a writer from People Magazine wanting to ensure continued access -- he confines himself to quoting only Rahm's best-est friends: David Axelrod ("one of Emanuel’s best friends"); Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen ("a friend of Emanuel’s"); and Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg ("an old friend" whose DC house Emanuel lives in). Other than Lizza's inclusion of some light mockery by Fidel Castro of Emanuel's name, those are the only people who are allowed to speak about Emanuel in Lizza's piece (other than Emanuel himself).

"Rahm, you see, is -- as his good friend Stan put it -- "not an ideological Democrat. He’s not ideologically liberal. He comes out of Chicago politics, which is more transactional." He gets things done. Every political slogan of the Obama White House -- pragmatism over ideology; we're problem-solvers not partisans -- magically weaves its way into Lizza's narrative paean to Rahm. The only thing missing is Rahm's favorite color and recipes (though we do learn one of his winter get-away spots: Park City, Utah).

Lizza even allows Emanuel several paragraphs to attack and mock Paul Krugman, who had been critical of the concessions the administration made as part of the stimulus package. Yet Lizza didn't include (and, apparently, didn't seek) any reaction from Krugman (or from anyone else critical of the White House's negotiating tactics), and as a result, Emanuel was permitted to glorify himself and rail against Krugman's critique without having even to describe the criticism accurately.

Obtaining reaction from Krugman to Emanuel's attack was left to Jane Hamsher, who emailed Krugman yesterday and immediately received a reply making clear that Krugman's principal criticism -- that by foolishly trying to accommodate the GOP from the start, Obama's initial proposal was too small and thus guaranteed an ultimate package that would be even smaller -- was one that Emanuel never bothered to address. He didn't have to address it. Instead, Lizza just let Emanuel speak without any real challenge. He wasn't on a mission of examining claims from powerful government officials in order to allow their truth to be assessed (i.e., journalism), but instead devoted himself to transmitting and endorsing those government claims without scrutiny (i.e., stenography and propaganda)."

[madfloridian]

66. Greenwald...more from him.

"White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel -- who The New York Times described as "arguably the second most powerful man in the country" -- is certainly one of the most controversial figures in Washington. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Emanuel -- in the Clinton administration and then as a high-ranking member in the House Democratic caucus -- was at the center of countless political and personal controversies. Emanuel has played the central role in much of the Blue Dog dominance in the House and many (if not most) of the worst Democratic capitulations to the Bush agenda. Even in the four weeks that he's been in his current job, Emanuel has been the target of severe criticisms of his management skills from many precincts for his role in the Judd Gregg and Rod Blagojevich fiascoes and the Obama administration's questionable negotiating tactics in the stimulus package. Both Jane Hamsher and Howie Klein yesterday identified just some of the current and past controversies that Emanuel has triggered.

Despite all of that, The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza has written a very lengthy profile of Emanuel -- almost 5,300 words -- that is so reverent, one-sided, and glorifying that it is hard to believe it wasn't written by Emanuel himself. In fact, much of the piece consists of Emanuel praising himself and Lizza writing it all down uncritically. It's almost impossible to walk on the streets of Washington, DC, without bumping into a vehement critic of Emanuel, but Lizza doesn't manage to include any comments from any of them."

[slinkerwink]

64. thank you for this post!

[madfloridian]

65. Most welcome

:hi:

[saracat]

67. Thank you madflo. Rahm is a person of very questionable ethics and

defines the word "Chicago pol" and NOT in a good way. Cegelis was not only forced out, and she was one among many and she was actively "prevented"' from raising money . The party does that. Some of the down thread comments are interesting because they seem to think that fund raising is actually controlled by the candidate. Rahm also "forced prochoice candidates out of several other races even though polling indicated they were in just as good a position to win as the pro-lifers he reached out to. Now those folks vote with the GOP and no one seems to care.

[AtomicKitten]

69. What they did to Cegelis was a travesty. Worse, it backfired. n/t

[slinkerwink]

72. to the tune of $8 million on Duckworth who lost.

[paulk]

71. LOL

:cry: