46 Comments
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Pat Kinney's avatar

ANY politician IN Iowa now who is not FROM Iowa IS running for president. They’re building alliances with statehouse candidates and will make endorsements in exchange for boots-on-the-ground support during caucus season in early 2028

Dartanyan L. Brown's avatar

Way to ‘smoke ‘em out Bob. A triangulatin’ relic of a bygone era. Between this guy and Arne (no child left behind) Duncan……(shakes head, walks away…)

Alex Wilken's avatar

It's rich for the former Chicago mayor to call out Dems for betraying the working class when he waged a savage war on the Chicago Teachers Union when he was in office.

Donors and dinosaurs. That's what Rahm likes. Certainly not working people.

Robert Leonard's avatar

Thanks, Alex. I had forgotten about that…

Alex Wilken's avatar

Also, I really wish you could've interviewed him! That would've made for entertaining reading. Although, this piece was entertaining nonetheless. Thank you!

Phoebe Wall Howard's avatar

Loved this column. Photo at the top belongs in an archive for national press use. Beautiful from every measure. THANK YOU for your field reporting and great writing.

Dianne M Wood's avatar

I was never impressed with Rahm as I followed his career.

Rebecca Schweitzer's avatar

Using the word "woke" as a criticism of your own party is just borrowing Republican framing and handing it back to them gift wrapped. Democrats do not have a values problem. We have a messaging problem. And the answer to that is not to start abandoning the people who have always shown up for us. Iowa Democrats I talk to are not asking for the party to move right. They are asking for leaders who will actually fight. — Rebecca Schweitzer, Des Moines, Iowa

Robert Leonard's avatar

Spot on Rebecca!

Scott's avatar

Read a similar report on a Mitch Landrieu event several months ago. I have a physical reaction to hearing the pontificating by James Carvel.

The stale experts of MSM who for some reason have all the answers but no actual paths is life sucking. The pundit industry is a circular firing squad aimed solely at click bait reactions.

And we wonder why people prefer ignoring politics and the taint it leaves in its trail.

Marshall Grabau's avatar

You don't like Rahm. Dems need working folks back in the fold. There were times WOKE didn't help. The Party needs a deep examination and younger leadership.

Robert Leonard's avatar

For sure. But to be clear, even though some of my words about him were strong, I don’t know Rahm, so don’t like or dislike him personally. I just want the next generation of leadership that looks forward, not backward. Thanks.

Virginia Traxler's avatar

Rang Emanuel sounds pretty full of himself. I just don’t think that’s going to fly. Thanks, Bob, for listening to him and giving us your rendition.

Blue Thoughts From a Red State's avatar

Dr. Leonard you nailed it. The only other question I might have asked is Why ? he wants to be president. Really believe he’d have been stumped.

Blue Thoughts From a Red State's avatar

Some believe the spotlight is the same as sunshine.

Robert Leonard's avatar

Ego, and a hunger for power, I suspect.

Barbara Cole's avatar

Impressive way you were able to contemplate the person and the focus, express your thoughts and convey them so elegantly despite not having an interview. Clever and well done.

Dave Busiek's avatar

Thanks for this perspective. I’ve heard interviews with him in the past where I thought he sounded smart and realistic. It’s good to have a differing view.

thomas scherer's avatar

My wife and I both attended Sean's fish fry last summer. I listened to Emanuel, and like you, found him to be redundant. His message is not charismatic nor actually, current enough, to resonate with younger voters. Dems will need to resonate with a totally diverse electorate. If we want real change, move a bit more toward the center. Leave behind the hot button issues that the progressive left insists upon. Appeal to real people in this nation who want to speak and act like the human beings that we love.

Jan Rose's avatar

I wouldn’t vote for him if he was the only candidate in the race.

Jim Tripp's avatar

Delightful. I was totally ignorant of all and ever part of this whole post. Now I feel educated enough to steer clear of Mr. uh...I already forgot his name, just that he's 66, was Obama's Chief of Staff, and Dr. Bob seems to think this guy likes himself more than most other folks do. Onward! Upward! And Outward!

Ed (Iowa)'s avatar

My first thought when I read the title was "What's that creep up to?" Definitely a dinosaur, like Schumer.