Showing posts with label Rahm Emanuel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rahm Emanuel. Show all posts
Change Watch: Why Greg Craig had to go
Pres. Obama turned to Craig to roll back Bush-era policies in the war on terrorism. But by September, Craig had been sidelined by "pragmatists."
The rest of the story: The Fall of Greg Craig by Massimo Calabresi and Michael Weisskopf (Time 2009-11-19)
Obama Is Playing Politics With Gitmo by Nick Baumann (Mother Jones Online/AlterNet 2009-11-23)
The rest of the story: The Fall of Greg Craig by Massimo Calabresi and Michael Weisskopf (Time 2009-11-19)
Obama Is Playing Politics With Gitmo by Nick Baumann (Mother Jones Online/AlterNet 2009-11-23)
The White House: Politics vs Policy
When the inevitable moment comes and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is booted up to senior adviser status, Obama should bring on Howard Dean. Dean has 
extensive administrative experience, having been both a six-term state governor and the successful manager of a national party. Plus, he's been right about everything and Emanuel's been wrong. Emanuel has reinforced the president's innate conservatism so forcefully that the incumbent Democratic administration is barely distinguishable from its Republican predecessor. Dean pushed for the 50 state strategy at the time Emanuel was touting the "realism" of concentrating on swing districts, in the process knocking progressives out of primaries to make room for Blue Dogs who "could win" (how's that working out, Rahm?). 
More recently, Emanuel's "realism" has led him to counsel limiting health care insurance reform while Dean has been the primary champion of the public option. Barack Obama needs to shed Rahm Emanuel, whose habit of putting politics over policy is undermining his presidency. And he should recruit someone like Howard Dean to reignite the passion and idealism that got him elected.
extensive administrative experience, having been both a six-term state governor and the successful manager of a national party. Plus, he's been right about everything and Emanuel's been wrong. Emanuel has reinforced the president's innate conservatism so forcefully that the incumbent Democratic administration is barely distinguishable from its Republican predecessor. Dean pushed for the 50 state strategy at the time Emanuel was touting the "realism" of concentrating on swing districts, in the process knocking progressives out of primaries to make room for Blue Dogs who "could win" (how's that working out, Rahm?). More recently, Emanuel's "realism" has led him to counsel limiting health care insurance reform while Dean has been the primary champion of the public option. Barack Obama needs to shed Rahm Emanuel, whose habit of putting politics over policy is undermining his presidency. And he should recruit someone like Howard Dean to reignite the passion and idealism that got him elected.
Torture: Democracy cannot survive without accountablity
Attorney General Eric Holder is considering appointing a special prosecutor to investigate whether crimes were committed by Americans who tortured prisoners in the wake of 9/11. It goes without saying that torture is contrary to American values. It is also against the law. In the aftermath of World War Two, at the war crimes trials at Nuremberg, we held the 
architects and engineers of Nazism responsible for Germany's actions in violation of international law and civilized behavior. Today, justice will not be served equally if only low-level soldiers and security personnel are held accountable for crimes that were planned and executed at the highest levels of government. Holder is getting resistance from within the Obama White House and will need public support if he is to proceed. But it is important that, if he does go ahead, no compromise be struck that allows the appointment of a prosecutor who is prohibited from following the evidence up the chain of command.
Working Assets' CREDO Action has ginned up a petition to help the A.G. stick to his guns:
See, also: Clamor grows over CIA secrets.
Follow up: International Justice Group Takes Aim at Bush Officials (Washington Independent 2009-11-17)
architects and engineers of Nazism responsible for Germany's actions in violation of international law and civilized behavior. Today, justice will not be served equally if only low-level soldiers and security personnel are held accountable for crimes that were planned and executed at the highest levels of government. Holder is getting resistance from within the Obama White House and will need public support if he is to proceed. But it is important that, if he does go ahead, no compromise be struck that allows the appointment of a prosecutor who is prohibited from following the evidence up the chain of command.Working Assets' CREDO Action has ginned up a petition to help the A.G. stick to his guns:
"Attorney General Holder, it is your duty to uphold the constitution and protect the rule of law. The evidence before you demands that you launch an investigation into possible crimes committed under the Bush administration and to prosecute if warranted. This investigation must not be limited to low-level foot soldiers, but should seek justice at the highest levels. Assign a prosecutor to investigate torture and do not rule out as targets architects of the Bush administration's torture program including former Vice President Dick Cheney and his legal adviser David Addington."You can sign the petition here.
See, also: Clamor grows over CIA secrets.
Follow up: International Justice Group Takes Aim at Bush Officials (Washington Independent 2009-11-17)
Democrat Wins Hastert's District in Illinois
It's not worth more than any other seat in the House, but still, it was satisfying to watch Saturday as Illinois 14, the roost of former House speaker Denny_Hastert, fell to the Democrats. Despite gerrymandering in the 90s designed to protect the seat for the conservatives, wealthy Democratic scientist and businessman Bill Foster captured 53% of the vote to beat wealthy Republican businessman Jim Oberweis, a richer-than-smart perennial political wannabe who has previously lost two primaries for senator and one for governor.
According to the AP, "Republicans had been hoping to hold on to the district that President Bush easily carried in 2004 with 55 percent of the vote."
Although enjoyable, the victory could be short-lived. The special election was held now because Hastert abandoned the position early in order to avoid new lobbying regulations that would have limited his ability to cash in on his Service to the People. Both candidates are already back on the trail in what promises to be a hard-fought rematch in November.
Even if he wins, though, Foster won't threaten the conservative majority in Congress. In a repeat of 2006, Democratic kingmaker Rep. Rahm Emanuel is working overtime to assure that the Democrats who are added to the majority in the fall are reliable supporters of the status quo. For the GOP, on the other hand, Foster's win isn't good news. If they can't hold a "safe" district that has been receiving millions of dollars in pork and earmarks for decades from the longest serving Republican speaker in history, what can they hang on to?
Karl Rove was right that he and George Bush would leave behind a permanent political majority in Washington. He just got the party wrong.
According to the AP, "Republicans had been hoping to hold on to the district that President Bush easily carried in 2004 with 55 percent of the vote."
Although enjoyable, the victory could be short-lived. The special election was held now because Hastert abandoned the position early in order to avoid new lobbying regulations that would have limited his ability to cash in on his Service to the People. Both candidates are already back on the trail in what promises to be a hard-fought rematch in November.
Even if he wins, though, Foster won't threaten the conservative majority in Congress. In a repeat of 2006, Democratic kingmaker Rep. Rahm Emanuel is working overtime to assure that the Democrats who are added to the majority in the fall are reliable supporters of the status quo. For the GOP, on the other hand, Foster's win isn't good news. If they can't hold a "safe" district that has been receiving millions of dollars in pork and earmarks for decades from the longest serving Republican speaker in history, what can they hang on to?
Karl Rove was right that he and George Bush would leave behind a permanent political majority in Washington. He just got the party wrong.
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