What Rahm's Selection Means

Emanuel and Obama met yesterday in Chicago, along with several other members of the Obama team, including Valerie Jarrett, Bill Daley, John Podesta, Peter Rouse and personell chief Jim Messina.

Obama plans to hire several other deputy chiefs of staff to fulfill policy, operations and strategic planning functions.

The selection of Emanuel will not be universally lauded.  Extremely confident, self-possessed and whip-smart, drama surrounds him whether he goes.  But he gets things done, and Obama has come to see him as an honest broker of information and talked with him almost every day during the election.

Emanuel can be a tough boss to work for. He's occasionally a yeller. He is also, as yelling boss can be, extraordinarily considerate and rewards competency.  His management style breeds loyalty, but it is hard-edged. He has children now, and he has mellowed.

As chief of staff, Emanuel could function as the information gatekeeper, deciding who gets to see Obama and for how long. He could micromanage the personnel process.  He could, like Andrew Card, step back and try to manage the White House staff like an orchestra.  But in all probability, Rahm will spend a lot of his time on the phone with senior Democrats in Congress, cajoling them,  pleading with them,  screaming at them.  He has juice. He also, at least until now, has relationships with many top Washington journalists. WIll he continue to be a background voice for them, steering the narrative? Will he go to ground?

What does Rahm's selection say about Obama?  Obama won't be afraid to step on toes. He's going to be very aggressive in pursuing his agenda. He won't shrink from confronting Congress.  And he will expect extreme competence from his staff, from the chief on down.