Emmanuel indeed

Rahm Emmanuel is rumored to be speaking with/for Wesley Clark this week. For those in the know, this is huge!

<snip> http://abcnews.go.com/onair/nightline/clintonyears/clinton/interviews/emmanuel.html

"After raising a record $70 million as finance director for Clinton's 1992 campaign, he planned the inauguration and went on to serve as political director, then senior advisor, at the White House."


Holy mother of God! $70 million dollars? We need this guy!

speaking for Clark.

Also, Jamie Rubin, former Undersecretary of State (or was it Assistant Secretary?) was on Paula Zahn as Clark's foreign policy adviser.

Some nice big-shots for clark!

Rumor put to rest! Thanks for the info!

An investment banker in Chicago since early 1999, Emanuel is well remembered in Washington as a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton — and as an occasional practitioner of hardball politics in that role.

Intense and confident, Emanuel developed a reputation during his nearly six years in the West Wing as a sharp-elbowed political tactician. Nicknamed "Rahmbo" after the take-no-prisoners action hero, Emanuel once sent a dead fish to a pollster.

During a visit to Chicago in February for his former aide, Clinton said Emanuel will enter Congress as "a breath of fresh air, blowing at gale-force speed." Emanuel helped direct successful efforts in the Clinton White House to pass the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement and the 1996 overhaul of welfare laws.

Emanuel raised eyebrows even before his election, which he clinched with a primary victory over former state Rep. Nancy Kaszak. He gave cash from his bountiful campaign treasury to Democratic House candidates and was mentioned as a potential chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Illinois Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez even ended his longtime bid to serve on the Ways and Means Committee and recommended Emanuel for the plum spot.

as George Stephonopolous was Sam and DeeDee Myers was (what's her name?, the press secretary

He was my representative for a few months last year before my wife and I moved to the suburbs.

Admittedly, I did not want him to get the nomination and supported one of his opponents in the primary, which anybody familar with Chicago politics will know is the REAL election. I was suspicious of his ties to the party "establishment".

When it comes to local politics in Chicago, it all happens in the primary. The only real opposition that can ever be mounted against Daley, for instance, must come in the Democratic Primary.

There will never be aRepublican mayor of Chicago. The Democratic Party is just too strong.

I did better as the Democratic Candidate for Clerk of the District Court of Laramie County Wyoming (Cheyenne) on a $10 campaign than I have ever seen a Republican do in any general election race in Chicago.

This is the ONE BIG thing that worries me and makes me really hesitant about Clark. I can VERY easily live with a whole bunch of things about him. He's a strong second choice after Dean, for me. But the fact that he's accepted matching funds lowers the ceiling for him as far as campaign funding - he has to stop at 45 mill if I'm not mistaken. And HOW IN HELL can he compete against the maybe-200 million dollar bush war chest? Those schmucks would be able to outspend him about 4 to 1. How can we fight back, hamstrung like that?

Or is there another way? Anybody know?

The cap is only during the primaries. After that, if Clark gets the big nod, he can forgo matching funds for the race to the big house.

Again, in the interest of full disclosure (as they say in the Dem-CA groups) I'm a Dean supporter. But if Clark's the one, I'd be behind him 1,000,000,000 percent. But one thing's clear. We CANNOT RISK LIMITING OURSELVES ON FUNDING!!!! We've gotta be able to buy tons and tons of airtime, EVERYWHERE. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

We ran the numbers on this a while back, and while it is true to a small extent, it's really a rather insignificant percentage. Plenty of money for the primary, and post-convention there will be plenty of deep pockets.

I'm hoping to go to the rally, if I can talk someone into going (and driving).

Yuck - the billionaire behind the neo-liberals? This guy is a DLC nighmare? Back when some Clark fans were floating the idea of a Clark/Feinstein ticket, I asked: "Will Clark now associate himself with the biggest corporate whores of the Democratic Party".

I guess I have to ask it again?

Ugh - Clark is starting to make Kerry look like a good choice. At least there is still Gep and Edwards...

For one - I don't recall Clark asking for MM's endorsement, so I hardly think he can be faulted for it.

For two - we've been getting the "Clark is a republican" thing for months, but now that a leftie endorses him, we get slammed for that too?

I am so confused. Welcome to politics?

Welcome to the right wing media recognizing your candidate as a real contender.

I expect Kerry and Edwards to suffer most for this, though. Clark has been coming on for a while, Kerry and Edwards are turning Iowa into a four way race so they'll be getting the sharks circling on them over the weekend, which sucks for them because that's right before Monday.

How the media treats the candidates over the next few days could have a profound effect on things this year. It is unfortunate, but true. Since Clark is not in the running on Monday, I expect there to be a bit of a lull in the attacks on him from the media over the next few days. Enjoy it while you can, because the sharks will be circling again come Tuesday.

So true, and thank you for that post.

I witnessed an appalling right-wing media piece today. Canvassing in Iowa. Two candidates were represented. Tell me if you see a problem here.

Dean - cut to clip of three kids (and I do mean kids) buying junk food at a gas station before canvasing. Kid #1 knocks on door. Older lady answers. He introduces himself and why he's there (and fumbles so badly, as would any kid being followed by major media) and she does the "why are you bothering me glare." She tells him she's the babysitter and has a sick kid and does the whole "foot in the doorway" stance. Kid walks toward the camera and says, "She's just the babysitter."

Gephart - cut to clip of two middle aged men canvasing. Show clip of them pulling up in fairly nice car, and engaging in a real political discussion with an interested Iowa voter. Cut to clip of Gephart supporters being very personable and cracking jokes with each other and the reporter.

Total air time for Dean - maybe 3 minutes.
Total air time for Gephart - dunno, 'cause I was in the student union and the receptionist got mad and turned the tv off.

It was biased, and unfairly portrayed the vast number of Dean supporters.

Looks like I might need to stock up on valium, if this is what is headed our way.

We shouldn't have to worry about winning California

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He used to work for Bill Clinton's administration and was hand picked for this district after redistricting.

He used to represent me until I moved to the Illinois 13th Congressional District (and Repub Judy Biggert whom I despise).