DALEY WILL HELP OBAMA

The selection of Bill Daley as President Obama’s Chief of Staff is a good choice.  Many in the “professional left” say the exact opposite but it is time for a reality check.  The progressive community must ask themselves: what progressive legislation is going to be passed by the House of Representatives?  If the answer is anything but “none”, then the left is delusional.  Since the progressive agenda is in a legislative timeout for the next two years, the President needs the skills that Daley brings to the job to help him move the country forward through executive action.

Daley will never be mistaken for a progressive as Howard Dean said to Keith Olbermann on Countdown recently.  He has held positions in the private sector with the big banks and corporations.  Those jobs should not disqualify him for this position.  In fact, if the economy is going to improve it will take cooperation from the business community.  The fact that the business community likes Bill Daley will be invaluable in convincing businesses to get off the sidelines and start creating jobs.

The primary role of Chief of Staff, however, is to organize the White House and the executive branch.  Yes, he will advise Obama on all of the important issues but the President seems more than capable of listening to divergent ideas and making his own decisions.  Remember, the former Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, was not in favor of tackling the health care issue in one large piece of legislation and yet that is what Obama decided to do.  Bill Daley will express his opinions but, as a loyal Democrat, he will support whatever decision the President makes.  And if he can help organize the Cabinet to be more visible and vocal on promoting the President’s agenda, then he will have served the President well. 

The next two years will be about keeping the economy headed in the right direction and defending the gains of the last two years from Republican attempts to repeal everything.  The President’s reelection chances depend upon economic improvement and a more robust defense of his accomplishments.  Bill Daley will help him achieve these objectives.