"Though the 58-year-old financier lasted only six months, with his sudden resignation sparking speculation that a pay-for-play scandal at his old private equity firm was becoming an unhealthy distraction, Rattner has plenty of tales to tell.
And Rattner's account is sure to attract interest within the Beltway, as one of the first books penned by an Obama administration insider.
Rattner depicts White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel as a force to be reckoned with who disparaged unions -- once quipping "Fuck the UAW" -- and who effectively supervised Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner during his first rocky months on the job by dictating his public appearances and staff picks."
* * * * *
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/02/steven-rattners-overhaul-_n_703070.htmlNot for the first time, certainly not here, Rahm's name pops up as the source of problems for democrats, labor, progressives, liberals - in other words, us.
I had great misgivings when Obama picked Rahm. (Rahm was my congresscritter, and let me tell you, the word "arrogance" simply doesn't do him justice.) I thought it was a major mistake, but like many others, I hoped that Obama would use him as a tool for good. Even a gun serves good purposes at times, after all. But I never set aside my bad feelings about him. Well, those fears now appear to be completely justified. Not only is Rahm the point man on this administration's patent dislike of Labor, we here, and in other corners of the liberal blogosphere are his targets.
Given the tone, the conservative compromises, Alan Simpson, and so many other behavior patterns of this presidency, it is a mistake to think that Rahm acts this way without orders from his boss. What is amusing, in a wry, sarcastic manner, is how this president is viewed, regardless of the bald facts staring us in the face.
Clearly, he is no friend of labor or liberal ideas or ideals. Yet, some here defend his every move, claiming that his 127 dimensional chess board is simply too advanced and complex for us mere mortals to understand. As we see the faces of dejected and demoralized D voters around the country, I wonder when that group of blind Obama supporters will wake up. Perhaps after november. At the same time, a good percentage of GOPers hold Obama in absolute disregard, if not hatred. Rarely, have I witnessed such vile emotions directed at a man, who by deeds and words, continues to be the GOP's best friend in politics. He constantly reaches out to them, he repeatedly makes compromises, even when those actions are in America's worst interests. Yet their hatred continued unabated. Without any facts, they call him the most socialistic president since Hitler (I swear, I got a chain email like that).
If only Obama had earned the hatred of the right by being a real progressive. If that were the case, we'd be far less demoralized and far more energized. But he wasn't and shows no chance of ever being one or pursuing decent liberal policies. Amusing, yes, but at the same time, very, very sad.
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