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* I’ve been extremely reticent to post anything on this topic because people get all kwazy when it comes to national politics. But Bill Daley is a local guy and he just got a very big job, so away we go. From the Sun-Times…
“I am proud to announce the appointment of an experienced public servant, a devoted patriot, my friend, fellow Chicagoan Bill Daley, to serve as my chief of staff,” Obama said in the same White House East Room where in October then chief of staff Rahm Emanuel got a big send-off to run for mayor of Chicago.
“Few Americans can boast the breadth of experience that Bill brings to this job,” Obama said, noting his service in the administration of former President Bill Clinton.
“. . . He’s led major corporations. He possesses a deep understanding of how jobs are created and how to grow our economy. And, needless to say, Bill also has a smidgen of awareness of how our system of government and politics works. You might say it is a genetic trait.’’
Obama added, “But most of all, I know Bill to be somebody who cares deeply about this country, believes in its promise, and considers no calling higher and more important than serving the American people. He will bring his tremendous experience, his strong values and forward-looking vision, to this White House. ”
I’d like to hear your thoughts on this. I don’t, however, want to see an over the top discussion about your eccentric views on national politics. Keep it civil, please, and keep the bumper sticker slogans and DC talking points out of this. Commenters have been getting a bit weird on me this week. Try taking a deep breath before posting, whether you like this appointment or not.
Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:49 pm
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A great choice. Bill Daley has a record of performing well in tough jobs.
Comment by Tom Joad Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:51 pm
He’s a good choice to help the President. Wish him well.
Comment by greg b. Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:56 pm
I think; at this juncture in his life, Bill Daley is out of his mind for accepting this position. He must be desperate to regain the access to the levers of power; and be gambling on the prospects for re-election.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:57 pm
So Emanuel gets Daleys brothers job and Daley gets Emanuels job.
Nothing to see here folks. There was not any dealmaking of any kind to pull this off. Sheer coincidence. Honest.
No on else in the whole US could do this and no one in the whole City could do this either. Honest.
Why do you keep looking at us like that?
What are you people? Cynics?
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:57 pm
I too am surprised that BD took that job. It is quite a meatgrinder of a position.
That said, I hope this means a more centrist course from Washington.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:03 pm
I think it’s a pretty good choice. He’s a centrist Democrat and an effective administrator who brings credibility to the position. I’m very interested to see if he’s in policy implementation or mainly in administration.
Comment by Ahoy Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:03 pm
I am trying not to laugh. Not at Bill Daley, but at Barack Obama’s hyperbole. I get it that Daley has been a banker and formerly served as the Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton Administration. If the conventional wisdom is correct, he is also the person who advised Albert Gore, Jr., that he could win the presidency by demanding a recount in Florida. All together, that is impressive.
But what did Obama mean by calling Daley a “devoted patriot”? Is Daley a decorated veteran or a statesman? I do not recall if he was ever elected to any position — my memory is that he held a series of appointed posts.
I think that the president may have been laying it on a little thick.
Comment by Honest Abe Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:04 pm
I think it is a good decision. He can be effective if he can keep both sides of extremists at bay.
Comment by Nuance Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:09 pm
VanillaMan, I usually respect your opinions. But you are way off here.
Rahm is not the Mayor yet. He still needs to partake in one, maybe two elections. I still have doubts that he will pull it off. But even if he does, there is just no way to link him running for Mayor to Bill Daley getting this position.
First, Bill Daley is supremely QUALIFIED for this position. Maybe we could snicker if it was a lowly Daley nephew, but this guy has the gravitas for this job– maybe even more than Rahm.
Second, Do you think Rich Daley calls Obama and cuts some deal for that job for Bill Daley if he agrees to step down? When have you known Rich Daley to beg anyone for anything? And do you think Bill Daley was hard up for a job?
The President is a Chicagoan who knows and respects a lot of political thinkers in this town. That’s why a lot of them are working at the White House, not because “Rich said so.”
This is pure coincidence. And it’s a coincidence that will continue to benefit Chicago. Roll with it.
Comment by KGB Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:09 pm
I think the president called BD a “devoted patriot” exactly because the job is a meat grinder AND he doesn’t need it. But the president needs him and he answered the call. Good for him.
Comment by KGB Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:11 pm
Steady. I like the pick. Remember Daley single handedly turned around the Gore campaign when it was struggling to gain any traction. His work with Commerce was also solid (Business’ loves NAFTA).
He is also a Chicago Democrat, which means business friendly in order to further the administrations social agenda by first and foremost funding it - very pragmatic.
Comment by GetOverIt Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:11 pm
As a follow-up to Rich’s request to keep the comments civil and for those who post questions directly to Rich, I would like to offer some perspective on how decent it is of Rich to keep the posts updated, given what is going on in Springfield. For those of you there, you will know what I am talking about.
For the past few days, I have watched Rich calmly and cooly run around like a mad-man tracking down any type of news, gossip, innuendo, etc., so he can continue to produce the most effective Illinois political publication. I couldn’t possible keep up with him as he runs up and down the stairs in the Capitol (ok, maybe the elevator from time to time) and into any/all nooks and crannies necessary to track down leads.
How he is able to do this and manage this site is admirable and a testament to both him and modern technology. That being said, please refrain from asking him direct questions and/or posting inappropriate comments.
It only makes his life harder and is really unnecessary. Keep up the good work Rich!!
Comment by Helm Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:12 pm
When I heard this morning he was going to get the job my first question was: Why would Bill Daley want that job at 62 years old?
I’ve heard that the Josh Lyman character on the West Wing was based on Rahm Emmanual when he worked for Clinton, does Daley want to be Leo McGarry?
Comment by Jaded Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:12 pm
Patriotic? You betcha. Bill Daley just walked away from a seven, maybe eight figure salary to serve his country. That is not ordinary, it deserves the word extra-ordinary.
I worked under Bill’s direction many years ago. He is smart, thoughtful and decisive. He listens. He thinks. Then he acts. He rarely looks back. I think those are exactly the qualities needed in the office of Chief of Staff to the President.
And yeah, darn right, he’s from Chicago. Who here has a problem with that?
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:15 pm
–Nothing to see here folks. There was not any dealmaking of any kind to pull this off. Sheer coincidence. Honest.–
What was the deal? Who got what? Don’t leave us in the dark.
Actually, Kass knows. He wrote the other day that now Rich Daley will be running both the United States and the City of Chicago more directly then he was before. Why RMD will be so powerful when he leaves office and has no direct say in contracts and jobs was left unsaid.
Funny, if that’s the case, you would think Chicago could get some defense contracts or other federal swag, and not have to sell off assets to make ends meet year to year. But I don’t have Kass’ or VMan’s long-term vision.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:16 pm
Helm,
It’s simple. Rich is a political junkie and is happiest (even if he denies it) when he is doing all that stuff you just described.
Comment by Jaded Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:16 pm
He helped Clinton pass NAFTA, so he knows how to work with legislators, which may be a skill set that needed replacing after Rahm’s departure.
Comment by Rudy Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:20 pm
Bill is neither his father nor his brother. So regardless of what one might think of them, one shouldn’t judge Bill Daley except on his own record (and he was probably right about Florida, too). I can’t think of a better choice at this point in time. Of course, Rush will continue to hope and pray that the Obama Administration fails (and thus the country)… The deeper question is “why” would WD take this job? I’m thinkin’ “patriot” might just fit.
Comment by wordonthestreet Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:21 pm
My friend? Reports on MSNBC this a.m. were that the reason Obama hadn’t named Daley sooner was that he needed to get to know Daley and barely knew him.
I don’t know whether Daley will or won’t be a good Chief of Staff.
I do know that picking the brother of the Mayor of Chicago opens Obama up to renewed attacks from Rightwingers about his Chicago ties, which I fully expect to hear.
But if Daley’s connections boost Obama’s corporate fundraising and get the U.S. Chamber of Commerce off his back politically, its probably a wash.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:21 pm
–He helped Clinton pass NAFTA–
Thanks a lot. That’s been just swell for American workers.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:25 pm
To Wit:
The selection of Daley, currently a banking
executive for JPMorgan Chase, earned the president early praise from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a group with which the president is trying to mend fences after a rocky two years….
…Tom Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, released a statement Thursday calling Daley “an accomplished manager and strong leader.”
“This is a strong appointment,” said Donohue, who has frequently been at odds with the White House over the past two years. Obama plans to address the Chamber of Commerce next month.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:26 pm
Sounds like Rahm and Bill were in Cahoots. You take my job and I’ll take your bro’s…
Comment by Bring Back Boone's Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:28 pm
word, those jobs were already leaving. That can’t really be stopped if all the companies care about is super-cheap labor. What NAFTA did was provide extra benefits including training for laid off workers and open up Mexican markets. Yeah, not a lot, but it’s something. Without it, those jobs would’ve been lost anyway and those unemployed American workers would’ve been left out in the cold.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:29 pm
And I LOVE this quote from Kass:
Clearly, Bill needs another vocation, and I’m all for him running the White House. I’m almost as excited as I was a few years ago, when Obama selected another Daley machine guy, Rahm Emanuel, to become his first chief of staff.
Before the Rahmfather was tapped by Obama, there was far too much emotional oozing from the media. The media was so enraptured about Obama’s promise to “transcend the broken politics of the past,” that they forgot he was a Chicago politician. Instead, they wiggled like excited puppies and left many wet spots on the carpet.
Hilarious.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:30 pm
From a political standpoint, he should have found someone from outside of Illinois. Yes, he’s very capable. Yes, he’s got a tremendous resume. Yes, he’s a moderate Dem. But there are a lot of folks out there that won’t take those things into consideration. Could have found another capable person that wouldn’t have fed into the Chicago stereotype argument.
Comment by Rubbernecker Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:31 pm
YDD, does the U.S. Chamber’s support for Daley mean Obama is going to cut back on his administration’s record number of deportations of illegal aliens? The chamber loves that undocumented, cheap labor.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:32 pm
==Could have found another capable person that wouldn’t have fed into the Chicago stereotype argument.==
Who? The WH COS job isn’t exactly the same as working at McDonalds. Even highly intelligent, accomplished people can’t handle it.
It’s not like no one could have anticipated the response Obama was going to get for picking the Mayor of Chicago’s brother. I think it says a lot about both Bill Daley, and the COS job that Obama still thought he was the best person to pick.
Comment by chuddery Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:41 pm
Agree with Rubbernecker. Obama is doubling and tripling down on his connections with Chicago. The move of his campaign HQ’s away from DC for 2012 is unusual and now to pick Daley’s brother to replace Rahm (who will probably be mayor) just cements the perception of Obama being tied to Chicago.
The problem for him is Chicago is a budget mess (as is the state). Why not diversify yourself and get someone from the outside?
This is a very bad move for Obama.
Comment by Logical Thinker Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:41 pm
I hope Mr. Daley does for Obama what he did for Al Gore. However, with 9% plus unemployment and a stagnate economy extending as far as the eye can see, the head winds for Obama may be even too strong for a Chicago fixer. Bottom-Line, Obama is doubling down on his “Bankers Know Best” bet
Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:42 pm
Part of Obama’s failures in interacting with national politicians come from the fact his closest advisors are all from Chicago. I’m not criticizing Daley here, but Obama needs to hear from people outside of the local political environment.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:48 pm
All I needed to know about Bill Daley I learned during the SBC lobbying effort that paid him millions and attempted to short-change Joe Public.
He sold out and from what I hear he is twice as fiesty as Richie and John.
Comment by Worth It Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:51 pm
Rich, it’s off topic, but I don’t buy the free-trade at all costs argument anymore. Too many good jobs gone overseas, too many imports manufactured under uncivilized conditions coming in.
Unfettered free trade was always more of an anti-Soviet strategy (bring them on to our side, build up their economies) than an economic one.
The American worker is getting pounded by cheap, abused labor. Western Europe doesn’t put up with it; Japan doesn’t; American farmers sure don’t, not with their tariffs and price supports.
Reagan fired a shot across the bow of Japan back in the 80s by basically banning big-CC motorcycles and demanding domestic content on car imports. The result was Harley was saved and is flourishing and Japanese car factories dot the South.
There’s no risk of a trade war when you’re already getting beat. We’re still the world’s biggest market; slap some tariffs on imports and give our workers a chance (our “American” corporations will fall in line).
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:52 pm
@wordslinger:
The U.S. has gone from a $1.3 billion trade surplus with Mexico before NAFTA to a $56 billion trade deficit.
The trade war is long over.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:58 pm
YDD, was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? You can always think anew.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:01 pm
LH:
You mean winning the popular vote? Me too.
But I agree with you that the administrations extension of the “Wall Street in the drivers seat” policy is, at best, unfortunate.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:05 pm
Didn’t Kass also say George McGovern was dead recently?
Seriously, I don’t know why Kass even has a job.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:09 pm
Wordslinger has the right idea. Economic policies like “Free Trade” are defended with religious zeal precisely because they exist in the “Other Worldly” minds of theoretical economists.
Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:10 pm
Obama just traded one guy for the other- no major difference. After criticizing and demonizing those “fat cat” bankers for the past two years he just hired one to run his WH. Maybe he is finally making good on the promise to focus “like a laser” on jobs and the economy for the past 2 years-this could be step one to getting serious.
Comment by Paisley Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:11 pm
Mr.JM….Actually, my Al Gore comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. I gave up on Obama months ago. Obama’s “Change we can believe in” turned out to be no change at all, as Daley’s selection for COS demonstrates.
Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:18 pm
Bill Daley brings a pile of baggage per above comments plus Daley’s stint at SBC (google Crucial Communications+SBC+Rezko). He must really offer something important to overcome all of that. I would have thought there was some capable, moderate, and probably southern Dem who could have brought the same talents to the President without all of this Chicago stuff in tow.
Comment by Bill Baar Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:21 pm
Any bets on whether he rents out his house?
Comment by Ken in Aurora Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:22 pm
When people write about the shady connection between Chicago politics and Obama, I haven’t seen anyone mention the connection between the Iraq war, Cheney and Halliburton, or the Bush family, Saudis and what might be a multitude of big-business interests.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:30 pm
Being from Chicago is irrelevant. I suspect Daley will be unsuccessful in the same way as the last high-finance/cabinet secretary who took on WH CoS–Don Regan. Regan was used to being the boss and he did not create consensus among big-ego players in the White House.
Regan’s my-way-or-the-highway approach earned him enemies who doomed his tenure to failure. (These people conveniently used Nancy Reagan to push him out the door.)
The book on Bill Daley at Commerce and at JPMC is that he likes being the big boss, he likes the lifestyle and he leaves the detail work to underlings. This is the opposite of the profile for a successful Chief of Staff.
Not saying he’s not smart. Not saying he’s not a good human being. Just saying he doesn’t have a staffer mentality. A good Chief of Staff is first and foremost-STAFF.
Comment by Adam Smith Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:33 pm
–After criticizing and demonizing those “fat cat” bankers for the past two years he just hired one to run his WH.–
Like the great John Mitchell said, “Watch what we do, not what we say.” W, Obama, the Fed and bipartisan Congressional leadership all said bad things about the Masters of the Universe, but all made sure they were made whole on their losses.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:54 pm
this is very interesting. Bill is a smart man, really smart, friendly, and hard charging. anyone see him on Chicago Tonight a few weeks ago talking about the Mayor’s race? he said that Gery Chico
was closest to the Mayor of any candidate and extolled his virtues. not saying that it translates into anything, just interesting. Why not Chicago, just like Texas and Boston as others have said.
And, congratulations to Tina Tchen for her appointment as Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama. Tina is whip smart, super nice, and always cordial. Here’s hoping she does not get too stung by the ringer that seems to be that office cause there are lots of people who just love Tina and would take her side in any argument!
Comment by amalia Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:58 pm
Grandson of Man…What is your point? Is the Bush/Cheney legacy something to emulate? Stick to the issue at hand…will Bill Daley be an asset to Obama politically and/or administratively? I personally think he is too strong a personality and will be a lightning rod to the “Chicago Way” crowd, but I like the fact that he may be a pro-business voice in the administration.
Comment by Worth It Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:58 pm
–but I like the fact that he may be a pro-business voice in the administration.–
LOL. How many hundreds of billions do you have to throw at these guys to be considered “pro-business?”
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:10 pm
“LOL. How many hundreds of billions do you have to throw at these guys to be considered ‘pro-business?’”
Touché
Comment by Worth It Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:15 pm
With many Clinton White House people coming back for the second half of this President’s first term, it seems that Obama is ready to make the next two years count, should he only get one term.
I’m not saying that progress wasn’t made during the first two years, but the messaging was bungled at times, putting the Administration on defense. The crew he had wasn’t up to the task of governing. Daley and other Clinton people bring governing experience, something this White House really needs. And now, Axelrod and Gibbs and others can focus on being Obama for America and gear up for a difficult re-election campaign.
Comment by BloomingtonDemocrat Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:17 pm
I think this will be good for Chicago and Illinois.
I can understand why he would give up a good salary to take this job. One reason is he is it locks in his place in history. He was an important person before, but this takes him to to the next level. Years from now, he won’t simply be Richie’s little brother who did some important things; he will be Bill Daley, cabinet secretary and chief of staff. The second reason is he is running the US government which is the ultimate job for many, second only to the President. Third, this locks in the rest of his career. He can lobby, serve on corporate boards, and rake in the cash.
Comment by Objective Dem Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:26 pm
I wanted to explain a bit more why I think it will be good for Chicago and Illinois.
Politically, I think Bill will look out for the City and State. I don’t see him trying to screw Illinois to make Arizona or some other state happy.
Business wise, he knows and understands Illinois businesses. So again, I think his decisions will be favorable to our businesses.
Comment by Objective Dem Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:29 pm
I worked at the welfare dept during the Reagan administration when many factories were closing up and moving to Arizona and Mexico. I would love to see jobs stay here. I try to buy made in America products. But, it’s a world economy.
I’m very happy w/ President Obama’s selection of Bill Daley.
Comment by Emily Booth Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 6:26 pm
He’s been President for 2 years now: if you’re liberal and continue to believe Barack Obama stands behind all your principles and is the savior of the progressive movement, or conservative and are still clinging to the caricature of him as a “Socialist Marxist anti-American terrorist sympathizer”…it’s about time both sides of the aisle grow up:
After 2 years: The REAL Obama Can Now Stand Up
Comment by Ryan Colpaart Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 6:32 pm
Hey Bill!
Don’t rent your house and make sure you still buy your city stickers. You never know what the future holds
Comment by Bill Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 6:34 pm
I am open-minded and will give him a chance.
But only someone as clueless about Business as Obama would consider BD’s background a real business background. His specialty in business is of the politically-correct favor trading roles. Also being a Corporate Board member in this day and age means you are a politically-correct lapdog. The boards of Fannie Mae, banks, Enron, Hewlett Packard all totally failed. Hope I am wrong but you can bet he has no clue about actual job creation. Just more Obama shinola
Comment by Bill3 Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 6:58 pm
I t always bothers me when some one is said to be business friendly,does that mean that they are anti union ? and by the way what does Bill Daley think of the trade unions, teamsters etc?
Comment by Ols School Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 8:37 pm
I must be out of touch. I equated patriotism with those who served in the military and defended our nation. Simply being a bureaucrat did not make the grade for me.
I will leave the NAFTA debate to others, but Bill Daley’s role in pushing the SBC telephone deal through costs Chicagoans every month. Roger Sullivan would be proud.
Comment by Honest Abe Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 9:05 pm
Hey I think this is a great appointment! This may even salvage the rest of Obama’s term and help the white house craft some real policy not just coin phrases or worry about obesity.
Comment by waitress practicing politics. . Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 11:13 pm
Honest Abe - Since when has the word “patriot” morphed into meaning “served in the military”? That’s not old fashioned, that’s wrong. Civilians can and do serve and love America. To say that only people who have served in the military are patriots is jingoism.
Comment by Way Northsider Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 11:14 pm