I'm open minded on Daley, like I was with Gates when Bush appointed him SOD

[Tom Rinaldo]

Daley is not the choice I would hope a progressive President would make, but I don't consider Obama to be a progressive President (I consider him a softly liberal centrist). I remember getting a little heat here when I backed Bush picking Gates for SOD after Rumsfield, but I thought Gates was about as good a nominee as Bush would make or could work well with. The last part is crucial. In Gate's case I thought Bush might trust him enough for Gates to have some influence in keeping us out of war with Iran. Daley might be able to tell Obama when the banking community is bluffing in a showdown assuming Obama will fold under pressure. Like the classic Nixon to China metaphor, Daley may be the one best able to strengthen Obama, not only with the business community, but AGAINST it also when the going gets tough.

Or maybe not. Like I said, I'm keeping an open mind. If Daley is a relatively honest broker, loyal capitalist though he may be, it will be a step forward from the where things last stood before he got the nod.

[xchrom]

1. as long as we set the bar really, really low -- people like daley are good picks. nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. Yep, in the cold harsh light of current political reality. n/t

[rug]

2. How did you feel when Obama reappointed Gates?

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. Not as good as when Bush picked him

When Bush picked Gates I was convinced we could not get a better choice from that Administration than Gates - I saw Gates as the man pushed forward by the Bush the Elder camp to counter the all out NeoComs and Cheney. I think it worked out as well as possible under the circumstances.

I understood why Obama kept Gates on, but after his resounding 2008 victory I would have rather Obama picked his own man rather than keep on the previous SOD. I think it was an early indicater of Obama trying to signal to the Right that we can all find common ground - when the Right was gearing up to destroy Obama. Having said that, Gates has been fairly loyal to Obama, and I appreciate his relative ongoing support for ending DADT. I can live with Gates and I tend not to be critical of him as a person. He is light years better than someone like Lieberman in thqt role.

[Arkana]

7. A little surprised, but Gates has been a good soldier.

Why?

[rox63]

5. The chief of staff needs to be the president's enforcer

And the Daley family are not known to be shrinking violets. That's why Obama originally chose Rahm Emmanuel, because he was good at arm-twisting. I didn't agree with Emmanuel on policy, and I probably disagree with Daley on quite a few things. But the Chief of Staff is there to make sure the president's agenda gets done, not to promote his own agenda.

[Arkana]

6. Gates has surprised me--I think he's the only semi-competent appointment

Bush ever made to anything.

Which, of course, is proof that it was not his idea.

[phleshdef]

8. I think the choice of Daley is the President's response to the aftermath of Citzens United ruling...

...and the way it effected the last election.

Until Congress passes some kind of law thats written in a way that the current Supreme Court won't override it, then there is no way around combatting all that corporate election money being indirectly poured into the coffers of the RNC. I think this has caused the President to believe he needed an insider who is widely respected to get some of these big corporations on his side. Otherwise, the Republicans truly have unlimited resources at their disposal.

[JoePhilly]

9. Very interesting assessment. Hope you are right.

[BlueJac]

10. This is total corporate bullshit!!