And this from Democracy Now interviews recently on Emanuel:

not just the appointment of Emanuel, but the greater context here, which is that from the days we knew Barack Obama as a small-time politician in Illinois, I won’t tell you, and I’ve never said that he was incredibly progressive on Israel-Palestine, but he was certainly more open-minded than he is now....So the signal he’s sending here is that that is not going to change, that people who could give him more balanced, more objective, more realistic advice that could change the course from the disastrous Palestine-Israel policies of[b]...

And this from Democracy Now interviews recently on Emanuel:

not just the appointment of Emanuel, but the greater context here, which is that from the days we knew Barack Obama as a small-time politician in Illinois, I won’t tell you, and I’ve never said that he was incredibly progressive on Israel-Palestine, but he was certainly more open-minded than he is now....So the signal he’s sending here is that that is not going to change, that people who could give him more balanced, more objective, more realistic advice that could change the course from the disastrous Palestine-Israel policies of the Bush and Clinton administrations, that that’s not going to happen.

According to this interview, Obama has already changed himself.

@blueridge You want to "burst the bubble of belief by Obama cheerleaders."

You don't like bubbles? (Sniff..)

ANYHOW - This IS an interesting issue. I've thought about it before.

For those who live in the USA and might have "bubble busting questions," consider this:

Obama is an NFL coach.

He has hundreds of folks in the stands and on the sidelines telling him what he should do.

What's he gonna do? Who should the coach listen to?

Well, Coach Obama will listen to lots of folks -- unfortunately he can't listen to every individual coast to coast and no time for 100,000 emails a day.

But he listens to a broad range of ideas (some probably the same as those in the emails)

Then he makes his...

@blueridge You want to "burst the bubble of belief by Obama cheerleaders."

You don't like bubbles? (Sniff..)

ANYHOW - This IS an interesting issue. I've thought about it before.

For those who live in the USA and might have "bubble busting questions," consider this:

Obama is an NFL coach.

He has hundreds of folks in the stands and on the sidelines telling him what he should do.

What's he gonna do? Who should the coach listen to?

Well, Coach Obama will listen to lots of folks -- unfortunately he can't listen to every individual coast to coast and no time for 100,000 emails a day.

But he listens to a broad range of ideas (some probably the same as those in the emails)

Then he makes his own decisions!

I see two trends thus far:
1. He wants experienced people.
2. He wants the best people to do specific jobs.

Is his Chief of Staff going to tell Obama to kill all Arabs and Muslims (like Israel seems to want)

OR

Is Obama going to tell his Chief of Staff to do the job he was hired for: Get the American Congress to do what Obama wants.

On the Economy he may hire someone who's not "politically correct," someguy who said a bad thing about woman (i.e. woman can't do math).

BooHoo...thousands of strong protesters don't want this guy; but this guy has experience in dealing with economic issues - he's a brain from Harvard - Obama knows him: Obama will hire him to deal with the raging fire that is burning our economy down (while the Bush firefighters steal all the furniture and assets from the burning building)

Obama does want to hear this guys opinions about woman doing math.

Possible Sec. of State (Bill Richardson).
I know Bill...I even called him a cardboard phony a few times; BUT -- Bill has an awesome resume.

Bill's been the Sec. of Energy, UN Ambassador, Congressman, Governor, and been around the world 50 times. (& he's Latino - speaks Spanish)

These folks are reliable - 2start.

They won't make stupid mistakes.

They have contacts.

& will obey orders.

@blueridge, your rabid and ceaseless campaign against Obama is all hot air and noxious gas.

You do know that he was the overwhelming choice of a substantial majority of people (Bush only got 50.002% of the popular vote; Obama got 52% an McCain only 46%)

A six percent victory is a Landslide victory in the popular vote.

Plus, Obama got twice as many electoral votes than McCain. While Bush barely won in his first election, with only a one state margin: Florida, which he claimed to win by about 534 votes.

At least, thus, let it be know that you are in the minority about this. No one cares. Everybody else is celebrating. Even Republicans who voted for McCain realize the great triumph that has...

@blueridge, your rabid and ceaseless campaign against Obama is all hot air and noxious gas.

You do know that he was the overwhelming choice of a substantial majority of people (Bush only got 50.002% of the popular vote; Obama got 52% an McCain only 46%)

A six percent victory is a Landslide victory in the popular vote.

Plus, Obama got twice as many electoral votes than McCain. While Bush barely won in his first election, with only a one state margin: Florida, which he claimed to win by about 534 votes.

At least, thus, let it be know that you are in the minority about this. No one cares. Everybody else is celebrating. Even Republicans who voted for McCain realize the great triumph that has happened here in American history.

You're just a sore loser, I guess.

you are in the minority about this. No one cares. Everybody else is celebrating

Hogwash on all counts!

That is a juvenile and irrational playground argument.
Since when has the majority ever been right? And would you argue that you have not been disappointed in past majorities? Does might, numerically, make right? It would be foolish to believe such. I am proud to be in any minority that dissents from the majority's errors.

"Everyone else is celebrating?" Gross exaggeration and a lie. The margin shows how split and divided the country is. A larger percentage of the potential voting population did not even vote, which is a form of dissent or disgust. It only...

you are in the minority about this. No one cares. Everybody else is celebrating

Hogwash on all counts!

That is a juvenile and irrational playground argument.
Since when has the majority ever been right? And would you argue that you have not been disappointed in past majorities? Does might, numerically, make right? It would be foolish to believe such. I am proud to be in any minority that dissents from the majority's errors.

"Everyone else is celebrating?" Gross exaggeration and a lie. The margin shows how split and divided the country is. A larger percentage of the potential voting population did not even vote, which is a form of dissent or disgust. It only shows who jammed the polls the most.

You will certainly not scold me into changing my position which is based upon principle (and as no fan of McCain either).

The problem is some people cannot look reality into the face, based upon evidence, and see that unjust wars WILL be continued by Obama the Deceiver and Council on Foreign Relations Member. Mark it: no change on war policy! Rahm as Chief of Staff is hard proof.

Why not protest this to your great infallible Leader about it, instead of attacking the messenger, unless you prefer the war policy? Deal with it.

some people cannot look reality into the face

Great infallible Leader?

Once again you're wigged out frame of reference eludes me. We don't seem to be playing in the same ballpark.

Nobody in America thinks of their political leaders as infallible (or objects of cult worship or whatever trip this is you're on).

Think of it as a sports game. You pick the best team possible. You hope for the best.

Obama was the best choice possible who had a chance of winning and actually getting into the game.

Now we hope for the best. Too bad if it doesn't suit your high standards of how Everything Has to Change All at Once, Exactly the Way I Want It...it doesn't happen that way....

some people cannot look reality into the face

Great infallible Leader?

Once again you're wigged out frame of reference eludes me. We don't seem to be playing in the same ballpark.

Nobody in America thinks of their political leaders as infallible (or objects of cult worship or whatever trip this is you're on).

Think of it as a sports game. You pick the best team possible. You hope for the best.

Obama was the best choice possible who had a chance of winning and actually getting into the game.

Now we hope for the best. Too bad if it doesn't suit your high standards of how Everything Has to Change All at Once, Exactly the Way I Want It...it doesn't happen that way.

We remain extraordinarly pleased, thus far, btw.

He's definitely picking people with real-world experience.

My governor (of my state, Arizona) was just picked to be in charge of Homeland Security.

Lots of people are saying: Who is she? What experience does she have? She sure isn't that good looking?

But the fact is the greatest threat to someone sneaking a bomb into the USA or sneaking terrorist cells into the country is across our border into our country (into the state where I live).

Folks who don't live here almost never believe the statistic but an estimated 4,000 ILLEGAL ALIENS CROSS INTO MY STATE EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY -- 4,000
(approx 1,000 a day caught)

All this goes on every day while airport security is having citizens take their shoes off and telling mothers they can't bring baby bottles onboard airplanes...to protect the security of the nation.

Obama picking my governor, though, shows he sees where the real worst problem is and it's her job to actually do something about this -- and she has 7-years of though real-world experience in dealing with these issues

(She the only governor to order state national guard troops to the border).

But..I know this will probably not make you happy. You see no good in nothing. Nobody can please you. You're a defeatist and