Chief of Staff Guessing game.

[Perky]

Ok these are thought in no no particular order.

I honestly hope he picks some one out side the White House, just because it creates better optics. But you have to look at the long view too. It might be the easiest transition for an incredible important job.

An old hand like Panetta of Daschle or Ed Rendell would make sense because you can't have a big ego in there that is too big to serve the President. That is also why Bloomberg would not make sense

If Bill Richardson had not hosed himself during the transition he would be a good choice.

Colin Powell would not take it, but I don't think he would be good at it either.

Someone from the business world is sure to have baggage (see Rubin -- Though Wall Street would love it) that would piss off the professional left :sarcasm: but it would make great optics.

How about Paul Volcker? :hide:

The name I have not heard but would make a lot of sense is Napolitano. She is well-respected, she is not from Chicago, and she has the right resume.

[tularetom]

1. Rep. Alan Grayson

Put an end to this "bipartisan" BS right now. He wouldn't let Obama try to pacify the republicans and I'm guessing Rahm Emanuel hates his guts.

In any event I'm not ready to believe that we're going to be so fortunate as to have Emanuel leave. I'll believe it when I see it.

Do you know something I don't?

[Rowdyboy]

2. From your lips to God's ear....

Any more "reaching out in the spirit of bipartisanship" will finish off what little shell of a Democratic party Obama has left. Perhaps he might want to stay with-in the party for once?

At this stage nothing would surprise me. Apparently he is a very slow learner.

[Perky]

5. To replace Gibbs for sure but he would not make a good COS,

He does not have the Resume or the patience.

[zipplewrath]

3. Dean

Think about it. That would practically seal off his left flank. All their complaining about the left, could be fixed in one fell swoop. Since I've been lectured at length that Rahm just does what the president wants him to do, no one should complain if Dean is appointed, right?

[Perky]

4. I think you have to do something to excite the swing voter

A pick of Dean or Grayson simply feeds the notion that "the administration doesn't get it" And likewise a COS pick is not something that the Left is going to rally to and turn the tide in the election.

[zipplewrath]

6. I'd suspect the converse

The independents are probably beyond reach about now. The time to impress them was last winter, early spring. About the only folks that would be impressed by a COS appointment at this point would be those who have felt "left out" of this administration.

[KoKo]

25. Agree...

good point.

[w4rma]

7. He works extremely hard and would do well in this position. (nt)

[Hawkowl]

10. It would shut me up

I'd do a backflip if Obama put Dean in any power role. Instead of Rahm's failed centrist policies, Obama would be returning to the 50 state strategy that actually got him elected.

It'd be a no brainer.

[denimgirly]

8. Howard Dean -- because we all know how much Obama LOVES Progressives

:rofl:

[KoKo]

20. Howard Dean ...because he knows the pulse of the Dems who want Change they Can Believe in.

How about Ed Rendel...as savvy old DLC'er who is closer to Rahm in personality, but not as abrasive and more attuned to the "world outside the bubble."

[CanonRay]

9. Howard Dean!!

[Perky]

11. Oh good grief Dean would be a very foolish choice and the President is way smarter than that.

The COS does not speak for the President.
The COS serves the President.
THE COS is a consummate insider capable of delivering votes by alternately screaming and bargaining, but always behind closed doors.
THE COS controls access to the President and that means the President has to trust him implicitly.
The COS is not a position that can be given away to satisfy the appetite of sa single constituency that is what Cabinet Secretaries are for.

You have to go into this job prepared to stay off camera and to execute the president's agenda. That does not mean you do not have a role in policy, but once the President calls the play you have to deliver.

Dean has too much of ego to do the job.
Fols who want Dean in the role would expect hiome to be in front of the camera all the time and they would quickly be disappointed and bitter once again. Who needs that?

[TwilightGardener]

27. Yep--anyone who ran for President is pretty much a no-go, for the reasons

you mention. Personally, I hope Obama picks someone who's a bit more diplomatic and tone-sensitive, this time around.

[craigmatic]

12. Daschle would be the best choice. He's got enough connections to get things done in the senate.

The house can take care of itself.

[Perky]

15. Unfortunately he's been tagged as a Lobbyist and that's a label that is hard to live down

[craigmatic]

19. Doesn't matter. Chief of staff isn't a post that has to be approved by the senate.

[KoKo]

21. Daschle is a Lobbyist...and Obama ran on getting Lobbyists out !

:shrug:

[craigmatic]

26. So what? Going back on campaign promises never stopped him before. Just look

at the promise he made to Gore about cap and trade.

[David Zephyr]

13. General Wesely Clark.

And if not, Howard Dean.

[KoKo]

22. Wes Clark...Military......

Would that be appropriate for COS?

[Robbins]

14. My Unpopular choice

Daschle would be the good choice.He would not be as stupid as Emmanuel at being recorded as attacking Obama's base.He can help
Obama with less Democrats in Congress.I believe we will keep congress but have losses In both.Daschle would be loyal to Obama.
He endorsed Obama In 2007 after deciding not to run himself.Emmanuel I think only Is loyal to himself.

Obama will need a loyal COS who will be advisor to Obama,and run the White House staff and can work on Obama's reelection.

I want Dean outside the White House because he needs to be able to be out there so he can bash Republican Presidential Candiates.
Once romney wins the Republican nomination we need someone like Dean to go all over the airways to beguin the attacks on Flipflopper
Mitt.

[KoKo]

23. Why should Dean do that? He has no position in the Obama Administration now

and is no longer involved in the top of the Dem Party in any official role. Why should he work for Obama out there? What's in it for him to do that. Our party didn't reward Dean for his service as head of DNC...Obama never gave him any position in Administration. Why should Howard be a "Gofer" to help get out the vote now?

[tledford]

16. I love how we butcher the language (English, that is)...

"Optics?" So if Obama picks a Chief of Staff from "out side" (sic) the White House, that somehow creates high-quality lenses?

Sorry, I'm cranky today. :-)

[Metric System]

17. Hillary Clinton!

Just kidding...her name seems to get thrown around for a different job every other week.

[Perky]

18. Well if you want the tea Party off the Front Page...that would do it...LOL

[saltpoint]

24. A political choreographer might propose a staff shift

and suggest that Joe Biden take the job, giving Biden a stronger grip on the administrative levers while maintaining at least as much influence over events, if not more, and giving the president an opportunity to nominate a new vice president in the weeks before the mid-terms.