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Obama begins assembling team

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Obama is appointing a bunch of foxes to look over the henhouse.

This is change we can believe in - if we're insane. Or did he say, "Chains we can believe in"? (good listening exercise for your next class).

He is currently assembling the same team that caused the crash.

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VOR - the mainstream media did NOTHING for these last two months to talk about Acorn, Freddi Mac, and those who were linked to Freddie Mac and who made millions but then were involved with OBama. The fact that the democrats and Obama were able to pin the whole economic meltdown on Bush, and escape from scrutiny shows both the incompetence of the GOP campaign and the media bias.

But, Emanuel's appointment should allay the fear of radical change in policy re Israel and the middle East. Like I said in another post, Obama's election is welcomed by Iran etc, but ... it won't be long before Obama faces the same criticism from the people who call for the destruction of Israel. And soon enough, Obama will realize that these people aren't just going to fall into line if you have nice warm conversations with them.

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turns out ol Rahm Emanuel has been serving on the board of directors for the scandal plagued Freddie Mac. Hearing pretty much nothing but good things about this man from the mainstream media. will they continue to gloss these type of affiliations over for the Obama administration or will they start living up to their journalistic responsibilities?

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Money says Colin Powell -- the ingrate of the Century -- gets some sort of post in Obama's 1st administration....

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Obama's team/cabinet will be made of various people from various backgrounds with various political views, as some of the latest rumor mills/speculation/news articles have surmised - ie: Colin Powell, the supercilious John Kerry, Chuck Hagel, Janet Napolitano, the senile John McCain, Robert Kennedy Jr, Richard Lugar, Bill Richardson and yes, even my choice for president, Ron Paul.

Rahm may be effective if he can harness is partisan nature. One thing for sure is there will be no leaks from the White House!!! Also, no backstabbing because with Rahm, it's in your face, not your back.

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seems rahm emmanuel, like so many in the clinton administration, has ties to freddie mac and fannie may that American voters deserve to know more about.

Emmanuel Was Director of Freddie Mac During Scandal

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=6201900&page=1

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will he be a uniter or a divider?

his pick for chief of staff can not be sitting well with the arabs.

american media is understandably silent. wouldn't want any obama missteps be taken to serious by the public.

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Question: What makes Obama and his supporters think he is qualified to be president of the United States?

Perhaps people responded to his articulate vision for a better America and world. Given the current context and his opponents, it was head and shoulders above the current and the alternative.

Being 'qualified' is entirely subjective. Having 'experience' is less important than having nouse, principles and a clear direction. Being reasonably pragmatic is necessary as well - Obama's cabinet and staff choices should confirm this.

KN

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nevermind the unimportant stuff of Obama's choice for chief of staff. The fact that he had breakfast with his daughters for the first time in a long time, that he got in a workout and is considering getting a dog is really what it is all about. Obama is awesome.

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BTW, does anyone know if there are any Muslims in Obama's team?

Yes, because it is very important to focus on the religion of the people, not their qualifications...not.

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Moderator,

The link to this page is: http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/obama-picks-emanuel-as-chief-of-staff

In fact the original title of the article was named the same as well.

Moderator: It is a small part of the story and readers are obsessing about it. We'd like you to move the discussion on and talk about the rest of the story.

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chief of staff emanuel.

rahm, buddy.

his middle name is israel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahm_Emanuel

i'm liking this obama a little more.

Moderator: Readers, please do not obsess over Obama's choice for chief of staff. It's only a small part of the whole story.

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BTW, does anyone know if there are any Muslims in Obama's team?

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"Jack",

You simply added that he was "rust-proofing brakes

No, I also added that he was a civilian noncombat volunteer. Sabiwabi was misleading in what he wrote.

BTW, don't you find it odd that someone would, after serving as national campaign director, and senior advisor and chief fundraiser for Richard M. Daley's victorious campaign for Mayor of Chicago, he would go rust-proofing brakes for the Israeli army. Hahahihihi...

No, I don't for as I mentioned before, this volunteer program has been around for more than twenty years and people from all walks of life and from all over the world (including Japan) have participated in it. One of the important aspects is the fact that the jobs are menial: rust proofing brakes, cleaning hospital sheets, chopping vegetables, etc. The idea is to free up valuable resources and time for the people in Israel. There are similar programs in Palestine, too. Would you begrudge Emanuel if he had volunteered there instead? I doubt you would. Why the double standard?

The man seems like a good choice as far as the job content goes. Nothing you have written changes this. Nothing except silly conspiracy theories, that is.

"sabiwabi",

So what? What if he worked for an Arab pac? Why is it that the only basis for any of your discussions seems to somehow come down to Israel or Jewish individuals? If someone says they support Israel, it does not neccessary mean they don't support the Palestinians as well. I haven't seen Emanuel say anything negative or racist about any group of people. That is certainly more than I can say for a few (fortunately the minority!) people posting on this thread.

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kiniku, What was factually incorrect about Sabiwaibi's comments:

"Rahm Emanuel served in the Israeli army during the 1991 gulf war." "He volunteered to serve in the army of another country!!!"

You simply added that he was "rust-proofing brakes"!

BTW, don't you find it odd that someone would, after serving as national campaign director, and senior advisor and chief fundraiser for Richard M. Daley's victorious campaign for Mayor of Chicago, he would go rust-proofing brakes for the Israeli army. Hahahihihi...

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i don't think its a particulary bad choice. this guy appears well qualified to manage the day to day affairs of the oval office.

obama came in to power as "the unifier". his new chief of staff is fiercely partisan so there is a strong possibility the Obama administration and democratic congress will browbeat the minority and the 56 million people that voted for McCain. There is also a strong possibility that the Arab world will have a major problem with a Jew in such a powerful position.

Expectations are very high for the new American president around the world. I hope he is able to live up to his rhetoric.

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This should improve relations with the Arab world.

According to some Obama is Muslim, in fact I remember how certain posters here were talking about how Iran, Syria, etc. where cheering because Obama got elected and how Obama was going to be weak in dealing with the middle-east and now the flip-flop. Perhaps Obama appointed Emanuel as a slap to the face of everyone who said he is Muslim because he knows how much they would appriacate an Israeli of the Jewish faith being given power instead of someone of the Islamic faith.

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VOR,

Again, no specific comments on the new Chief of Staff himself. It seems that most people have absolutely nothing negative to say specifically about the man who is Obama's choice. This leads me to believe Obama has chosen well.

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Obama's new chief of staff is the son of the leader of the Israeli underground group credited with the creation of the Israeli state. This should improve relations with the Arab world.

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Sorry, that should have been: ""you", "sabiwabi" nor "hello kitty" have not made one policy comment or one actual statment about the man. You purely rely on innuendo. Rather unsuccessful and unconvincing way to argue frankly.

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"Jack",

Yes, I read the comments to which you refer and commented specifically on their factual incorrecness. It seems to me you have nothing specific to add. By the way, on one hand you seem to be worried about Emanuel's loyalty to the US, yet in the same comments, you also worry about his stance on the Palestinians. So, it seems you really could not care any less about Americans and it is Palestinians that are your true concern in voicing comments. If it is okay for you to be concern about Palestinians, why is it not okay for other people to be concerned about other countries' citizens. It is a strange double standard.

"you", "sabiwabi" nor "hello kitty" have made one policy comment or one actual statment about the man. You purely rely on innuendo. Rather unsuccessful and unconvincing way to argue frankly.

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He's learning Hebrew, too.

After appearing before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee yesterday, the Washington Post called his performance "the full monty".

Iran has more to fear now than ever before.

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Cleo, you did not answer the question. "He got more votes" doesn't say why he's qualified to be president. It just says those people want him to be president. Tell me, what makes Obama qualified? Being a community agonizer and spending three years in the Senate does not qualify a person to be the commander in chief of the most powerful military in the world.

AHHHH!!! but your question was What makes Obama THINK that he's qualified...

If he has the support of the houses, and other leaders of the world, of course he thinks that. As to your "real" question... What would make anyone a good president? Your ideas of a good president are biased towards the republican ideals, but the U.S. proved to have more simpathies for the democrats this time, so the U.S. people wanted a president that would listen to more liberal ideals than conservative ones.

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What makes Obama and his supporters think he is qualified to be president of the United States? It's a simple question. The fact that his ideals were supported by more than 50% of the people of the U.S., and the fact that he also has the support of other countries from Europe and Latin America

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How in the world did Rahm-bo make $18 million in only 2-1/2 years as an investment banker? It is miraculous. Don't suppose he used his political connections.

Anyway, he's Obama's puppetmaster ala Bush's Cheney. Say goodbye to bipartisanship. How can we trust this man who fought for a foreign army and whose father blew up buildings and killed hundreds of innocent people?

Rumor has it GATES and CHERTOFF will be asked to stay on.

There's some change we can believe in.

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Sarge, yes it does if the majority of American voters voted for him.

You can ask the same of mccain - how does sitting isolated in a plane cockpit, dropping bits of metal on foreigners and rotting for 5 years in a POW camp qualify mccain to be president??

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kinniku, Did you bother reading Sabiwabi's comments? If you did, I can't see how you would find my conclusions odd. Americans, and the world for that matter, should be worried at Obama's comments, policies, and the people in his administration.

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Cleo, you did not answer the question. "He got more votes" doesn't say why he's qualified to be president. It just says those people want him to be president. Tell me, what makes Obama qualified? Being a community agonizer and spending three years in the Senate does not qualify a person to be the commander in chief of the most powerful military in the world.

Moderator: Please stop going around in circles and move the discussion along.

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Sarge, I did answer your question. You just didn't like the answer.

He got more votes than the other guy. That's all it takes. That's the way the system works. Get over it.

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Jack,

However, the problem you have is that you have absolutely no factual basis for coming to this conclusion when it come to the man.

What is it that he has done (save going to a country that was not at war with the US and volunteering to scrap rust for a couple of weeks) that would lead you to this conclusion? It certainly is not his record vis-a-vis the Palestinians as Emanual helped arrange the famous handshake between Rabin and Arafat.

To jump to such odd conclusions without even giving the man a chance is rather unfair.

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zurc / Cleo - Neither of you answered my question: What makes Obama and his supporters think he is qualified to be president of the United States? It's a simple question.

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Question: What makes Obama and his supporters think he is qualified to be president of the United States?

Answer: He got more votes than the other guy.

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Sarge,

election is over. Your people lost. Just keep on digging yourself a deeper hole if you want. Eventually you will just fall in and not be heard from again.

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Question: What makes Obama and his supporters think he is qualified to be president of the United States?

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Everton2 said:

The audacity of hope!! The audaciousness of being black and wanting to be president. hhahahahah hurah! for President Obama

Heck yeah!

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Perhaps a good choice, I think the first thing Obama should do is sit on the dems that didn't support him and put his foot down on the house dems who are likely to try and pass every crazy pork barrel idea that crosses their minds.

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not even sworn in and he is wrecking the economy.

the dow today set a record for post-election drop in points.

change!

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Correction: Sorry, only one "m" in Emanuel. (formerly "Auerbach" by the way)

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Please be careful Obama. I do not want to see scandals. After 3 years it's ok!!!! But not the first year !!! Please pick good people.

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The audacity of hope!! The audaciousness of being black and wanting to be president. hhahahahah hurah! for President Obama

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dennis,

That is his brother you are thinking of.

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for a moment i thought of Emannuel from the movies :p

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Sabawabi,

The more you talk about Emanuel, the more I like him. Keep going.

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Obama has realized for a long time that he has got to placate the Israel lobby. I'd say good choice if that's what you have to do! He's our man!

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Regardless of what you assume he meant. He was not a member of the Israeli military and you cannot prove factually that he was. As to his loyalty, prove that as well please.

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So we can see Rahm Emanuel on TV agreeing to: "You have a long record as a strong friend of Israel, you were in the Israeli army, you have a lifelong commitment, this comes from your family, from your background,..." And we have kinniku stating that he wasn't. "That is a fact and that is that." Gee, I wonder who we should believe!

Anyway, I have seen other videos of Rahm Emanuel, and I doubt he feels more loyalty towards the US than Israel.

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Sniff...sniff...sorry, no regrets here as I still smell the smoke. Emanuel was not ever a member of the Israel military. That is a fact and that is that.

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If anyone was under the illusion that America was going to cease its position as a friend of Israel any time soon, they were fooling themselves. Being pro-Israel is a non-issue. It's a given and there's no point in fighting about it. The only question is how that support will manifest itself. That remains to be seen.

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Kinniku, long time no see. So came back to try to defend your friends again. I see you managed to find a piece of text in Wikipedia (!) that looked innocent enough. Anyway, if you don't believe me, you might want to check out this video, it contains a clip of when he appeared on a major news channel. Rahm was knoding in agreement when the journalist was telling him "You have a long record as a strong friend of Israel, you were in the Israeli army, you have a lifelong commitment, this comes from your family, from your background,...

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkm-RJx_OHg&eurl=http://www.rys2sense.com/anti-neocons/

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He never served in the Israeli army

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Rahm Emanuel served in the Israeli army during the 1991 gulf war.

Ah, I see someone's pants are on fire again...

"During the 1991 Gulf War, Emanuel was a civilian volunteer in Israel, rust-proofing brakes on an army base in northern Israel.[6]"

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Sabiwabi

His father was a member

Shouldn't we judge on the basis of his own words and actions, and not on those of his father?

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Just because he was in the army doesn't necessarilly mean he is a 100% supporter...

He volunteered to serve in the army of another country!!!

His father was a member of the terrorists behind the creation of that country.

Is there anybody else in the US that you would expect to be any more of a supporter of Israel than Rahm Emanuel?

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sabi, so you are not willing to give it a chance? Just because he was in the army doesn't necessarilly mean he is a 100% supporter...

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...and something tells me Obama's first move won't be to placate Palestine...

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A sensible pick who can keep Congress in line. I don't think he was chosen to beat off the GOP, I think he was chosen to beat back Pelosi, et al.

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This is terrible news. Rahm Emanuel served in the Israeli army during the 1991 gulf war. He is the son of an Irgun terrorist. I am not making this stuff up, look it up. I guess we can forget about the next US adm being fair in the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

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Yes I agree with Wolfpack American politics need a good clean out and bye bye to the lobbyist's a very polite word for Pimps!

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Obama selects a left-wing partisan raised in dirty Chicago machine politics. He has just declared war on the half of America that voted against him. Get ready for a nasty four years.

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Rep Rahm Emanuel would make a very good Chief of Staff. Blunt is almost an understatement. He is credited for much of the success of the '06 election gains of the Democrats.

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