Rahm’s Thesaurus

Who says the Internet is transforming politics? Just take a look at Rahm’s new campaign video. There it is on the desk, a paper reference book, Roget’s II,  just like the one your grandfather used to use. And I think that’s a Merriam Webster dictionary. [Insert searching-for-the-right-profanity joke here.] And then there is Rahm, who [...]

The Pressures On Rahm

As Adam notes, I have a Time.com piece up saying that the White House is preparing for Rahm Emanuel’s departure as chief of staff as soon as early October. There is no doubt that Emanuel now finds himself in a tight spot: Many of the class of 2006 that he helped get elected to Congress [...]

Faced With The Blagojevich Scandal, Did Barack Obama Tell The Whole Truth?

Just weeks after President Obama won the 2008 election, the governor of Illinois was charged with trying to sell Obama’s old Senate seat. It was an early challenge for the then president-elect, and he responded in a grand gesture of transparency. He asked Greg Craig, his future White House Counsel, to investigate “any staff contacts [...]

The White House Still Dealing With Rod Blagojevich Baggage

As expected, the trial of former Gov. Big Hair is proving a nuisance for the administration of Barack Obama, which has plenty of other things to worry about far more pressing than what political favors were and were not traded, discussed or rejected years ago in the shadowy underworld known as Chicago politics. Issue #1 [...]

Inside Obama’s Party

It’s 8:30pm CDT in Chicago and Obama’s victory party at the Hyatt in downtown Chicago is just starting to fill up. Most of the select attendees are long time volunteers or donors. After a messy South Carolina victory party where hundreds of people, including many press, were locked out by the fire marshal, the campaign [...]