Rep. Rahm Emanuel has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be the chief of staff. Rahm Emanuel is known to be very “tough-minded.” But many wonder exactly who exactly is Rahm Emanuel?

Like Barack Obama, he is a Chicago, Illinois native. His experience ranges from the White House to Capitol Hill. He was formerly top aide to President Clinton.

When he left the Clinton White House, at age 48, he was an investment banker on Wall Street. Later, Emanuel was elected to the House of Representative from a Democratic Chicago District in 2002. Soon after, he became the forth-ranking Democrat in the House.

Rahm Emanuel has accepted the position in the new Obama administration on Thursday, November 6th.

“I announce this appointment first because the chief of staff is central to the ability of a president and administration to accomplish an agenda,” Obama said. “And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel.”

Emanuel will also be involved with congressional leaders for negotiating when major legislation is under consideration.

Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, called Emanuel: “An excellent choice.” “Rahm knows the Hill. And he knows the White House. He is a brilliant strategic thinker and someone who knows how to get things done,” Manley said. Manley also cleared away an allegations that Emanuel is a “true partisan,” and could not work with Republicans. “That’s ridiculous. Rahm understands politics is the art of compromise. He’s got a deeply held set of views but he also understands to get things done you have to compromise,” he said.

On the other side, Emanuel has the reputation in Washington to be one of the toughest partisan fighter on Capitol Hill, and many question the President-elect’s pick for the chief of staff position. Many republicans find it “ironic” for someone who claims to bring “change” to Washington.

According to a recent poll posted on the economist.com the presidential debates were analyzed from a very different angle. There’s no doubt that to run for Presidency you must be a qualified candidate with great public speaking skills, knowledge, immense vocabulary and extremely well at articulation. All these components can also be a negative quality to have if used incorrectly.

The poll shows that Obama used an average of 15-20 (closer to 20) words per sentence, and he had 381 sentences total in the final debate. In comparison to McCain, who used 10-15(closer to 15) and had 460 sentences. This research not only shows that Obama is capable of explaining himself in a much more efficient way, but it also shows that he has better lungs and healthy. The same comparison can be made with our vice-presidents. Palin said 15-20(closer to 20) words as well, but had 397 sentences. She even beat Obama! Is this just because she’s a woman and woman talk too much when it comes expressing how they really feel or does this mean that Biden’s a gentleman and he let her speak? Biden used an average of 15-20 words (closer to 15) and had 480 sentences. George Bush used the shortest sentences of any candidate in the last three elections. Words matter. We want our President to speak to the American people, but we don’t want them to ramble on until we’re restless.

http://www.economist.com/daily/chartgallery/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12451790&source=yahoo_buzz

What’s your view?

How does this show character with our candidates and what does this information tell us about them?

Colin Powell has told Tom Brokaw on Meet the Press that he will vote for Barack Obama for President.  Powell served as Secretary of State for George W. Bush during his first term. He presented the case to the UN to go to war in Iraq.

Powell criticized McCain’s negative campaign tactics in reference to bringing up William Ayers.  He told reporters after his interview, McCain’s negativity “troubled him.”

He was also concerned about the McCain campaign’s use of the word “socialist” in labeling Barack Obama.

John McCain’s poll numbers have declined as he goes negative. What does this endorsement mean for both campaigns?  Is it over for McCain, or does he still have a chance to make a comeback?

McCain clearly doesn’t approve of the garbage coming out of these peoples’ mouths.  Yet they go out of their way to go to a McCain/Palin rally. If these people are allowed to vote, then a 3 year old should be allowed as well.  Just give a kid a pen and tell him/her to fill in any bubble.

Should there be some sort of prerequisite to vote?