Earlier today, Representative Rahm Emanuel accepted Barack Obama’s offer to serve as chief of staff. Political watchers around the country have scrutinized his resume, trying to find out what this “a fierce and consummate navigator of the capital’s political terrain” will do in the White House.
GalleyCat readers should start with the 2006 book he co-wrote with Bruce Reed, a tome entitled The Plan: Big Ideas for America. Published by Public Affairs Books, the prologue has a folksy but firm tone, taking the current administration while looking ahead to the historic administration that will follow Bush. Here’s an excerpt:
“From the budget deficit to Iraq to Hurricane Katrina, the Bush administration did a heck of a job calling government’s competence into question … Although Washington has its share of screw-ups and incompetents, most politicians here are pretty good at what they’re doing. The trouble is, they’re not always sure why they’re doing it.”