Obama's Attack Dog

Rahm Emanuel has been named to be White House Chief of Staff for President Elect Obama. Emanuel is described as a fierce warrior in the Democratic tribe with a take no prisoners attitude. Democrats think he'll be a great taskmaster to keep things on track and to whip everyone in to line. Some R's think the addition of Emanuel means a return to business as usual in terms of partisan politics. There's most probably a lot of truth to both sides there. What interests me is something that no one in the media seems to think is a big deal. That, Emanuel, a lifelong political hack who never had a real job takes a sabbatical after leaving the Clinton administration to join the investment firm of Dresdner Kleinwort and leaves two years later with 18 million dolares. Sort of the old wink-wink treatment from his fellow travellers in the media who think that's just jiffy, as long as a Dem is doing it--sort of like our gal Hillary and the water to wine miracle she had with investments. So, Rahm, just what in the hell did you do at Dresdner to be rewarded with that big ass pile-o-cash?

Essentially, it's the way these guys set things up. You're a star politician with no obvious means of support. So, here's what we're going to do, Rahm old boy. You go over to Dresdner and close the door to your office to read all those back issues of Rolling Stone and the New York Times Sunday edition that you've been saving and otherwise be a good chap. Then, like a beautiful butterfly emerging from its coccoon, you'll soar back into the political landscape and won't have to worry about those silly money things that bother people in the red states.

Sheeesh.