Obama begins assembling team

Thursday 06th November, 11:16 AM JST

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JackBerstein at 10:11 AM JST - 7th November

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...
kinniku at 01:19 PM JST - 7th November

"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.
sabiwabi at 02:13 PM JST - 7th November

BTW, does anyone know if there are any Muslims in Obama's team?
ImperiumMundi at 02:29 PM JST - 7th November

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.
kinniku at 03:31 PM JST - 7th November

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.
kinniku at 03:32 PM JST - 7th November

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.
VOR at 08:11 AM JST - 8th November

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.
KumaNiku at 10:20 AM JST - 8th November

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
VOR at 03:47 PM JST - 8th November

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.
ImperiumMundi at 04:01 PM JST - 8th November

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
helloklitty at 05:50 PM JST - 8th November

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.
Blue_Tiger at 10:57 PM JST - 8th November

Money says Colin Powell -- the ingrate of the Century -- gets some sort of post in Obama's 1st administration....
VOR at 05:55 AM JST - 9th November

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?
yasukuni at 08:19 PM JST - 9th November

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.
helloklitty at 03:59 PM JST - 10th November

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.