Why Rahm: A Message To -- And From -- The Center

Why Rahm, really?

Advisers say that Obama has sent a not-so-subtle message to Congress: President-Elect Obama will not cede much agenda-setting ground to liberals. While outside Democrats are interpreting Emanuel's selection as an institutional message for Nancy Pelosi, Obama advisers concede that Emanuel's ties to key party centrists and blue dog Democrats will be criticial to smoother relationships between the executive and legislative branches.  (Emanuel is more liberal than these centrists, but he's not nearly the ideologue that people seem to think he is.)

Behind the scenes, Obama himself and many key aides have been making overtures to conservative Democrats.  These Democrats want budget off-sets included with every expensive piece of legislation that Obama sends to the Hill; at the very least, they want the White House to incorporate centrists in decision-making. 

Obama is keenly aware of how President Clinton's relationship with Congress was fraught with tension and mistrust; how Clinton allowed Congress to temper some of the Arkansan's more pragmatic, less ideological instincts early on.

That said, Obama and Pelosi get along well. And back in 2006 Harry Reid was one of those quietly urging Obama to run. 

Importantly, Barack Obama doesn't seem to be too interested in everyone else's opinion of how he's supposed to run his White House. This can only be a good thing (unless you're a Republican praying for Obama to make a fool of himself). It seems that, much like with the campaign, he has some long term goals and isn't worried about engaging in small fights over things like his West Wing staffing choices.

Other nuggets:

Ron Klain and Mark Gitenstein are said to be top candidates to be Vice President-elect Biden's chief of staff.  Klain served as Al Gore's chief of staff  and is familiar to Americans for his role in the 2000 Florida recount.  Gitenstein is a long-time Biden adviser.