Again I'd state that I don't know whether the Rahm pick is a great disaster or a possible opening. This stuff is complex. I believe Obama is a great leader/player, capable of being sphinxlike even to the lobby. You sense that sphinxlike greatness in the "60 Minutes" interview with Obama's four aides last night. The Obama that came thru was distant, hard to know, noble, godlike, impersonal. Not one frikkin anecdote. You don't get a window on Obama. But here is Jack Ross, saying Why he's optimistic:
"I think Juan Cole basically has it right – and frankly, I prefer benign
neglect to "engagement", partly the isolationist in me, and partly
because it gives the lie to the scam Henry Siegman so aptly describes.
And if Dennis Ross does end up with some kind of envoy position – which
I still doubt but at least they've given up the ghost of an official
position in the administration – it will be about as meaningful as that
which was given to Tony Blair when he stepped down as Prime Minister."
