Coalition of the willing

I. There is a scene in Driving Miss Daisy, in which the old Jewish lady and her black chauffeur have stopped by the side of the road, to have a picnic. Two policemen arrive and tell them to move on. They drive off in somewhat of an anxious hurry. One of the Alabama troopers squints after them and drawls: An old nigger and an old Jew woman takin' off down the road together... that is one sorry sight!

II. The New Republic's Marty Peretz, a besotted Obamist, and Commentary's Noah Pollak, a determined Obama sceptic, are in perfect agreement about two subjects: Rahm Emanuel, and Rabbi Michael Lerner.

Says Marty, with barely restrained jubilation:

No one wants to play with "Rabbi" Michael Lerner, the editor of Tikkun. And one wants to sing his songs either. At least that's what he's written in a slightly hysterical "news alert" announcing that "Rahm Emanuel is No Reason for Hope or Celebration."... as soon as the appointment of Congressman Emanuel as White House chief-of-staff was announced Lerner began to sulk. And no one would sing such songs in the White House.

Noah Pollak, wryly:

" Leftist alienation with Obama is already setting in, and it is hilarious. Here is “Rabbi” Michael Lerner...

You get the sense that Lerner wants to be shut out. Complaining about being shut out or silenced or marginalized or othered comprises approximately three quarters of Lerner’s day; how would he fill his time if it was otherwise?...

For some of us, reading missives from jilted progressives is a healing experience"

Looks like Rahm Emanuel's new appointment set off a furor on the blogosphere. My usually more sedate sitemeter registered nearly a 100 hits today on this post I wrote about Rahm's name. And the day is not over yet. That's quite a lot, for my little blog.

III. On Pajama Media someone was saying:

"Since Emanuel is a hard-core pro-Israel supporter does this mean that the next President of the US will be under control of the Zionists running the white house and the world?

Wasn’t “Neo-con Zionists running the White House” the main reason why the Progressive Left and their Buchananite allies Hated President George W Bush?"

I have to admit, the same thought crossed my mind. Is this the harbinger of the coming together of the neo-cons and the liberal hawks, which I have been predicting for three years now? Has Obama signed on to the Euston Manifesto? And how does this fit into the Mearsheimer & Walt doctrine? Does it refute, or confirm it?

IV: Interesting times, ahead. Here is a taste:

America, now you've done it. You just elected an African-American from Chicago President, and traveling with him to the White House will be his good friend Rahm Emanuel. Congressman Emanuel will probably be the new Chief of Staff, which is quietly the most important job in most administrations. Emanuel is the powerful young former head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and his reputation is that of a political bruiser. The Emanuel selection demonstrates that unlike Clinton in 1992, Obama is not fucking around.