Rahm's Out and Rouse Is In: Reactions

(Oct. 1) -- It's Rahm time.

In a move that surprised no one, President Barack Obama announced today that the White House chief of staff for the past two years, Rahm Emanuel, would be stepping down, effective immediately, to pursue his longtime dream of running for mayor of Chicago.

The parting of ways was "bittersweet," as the president put it in a midmorning press conference, flanked by a visibly emotional Emanuel.



"It's fair to say that we could not have accomplished what we've accomplished without Rahm's leadership," Obama said "From preventing a second Depression to passing historic health care and financial reform legislation, to restoring America's leadership in the world."

Following the president, the notoriously aggressive and colorful political operative praised his boss's leadership. "I want to thank you for being the toughest leader any country can ask for in the toughest times any country has ever faced," Emanuel said, later tearing up when describing how his family's struggles as immigrants led him to a life of public service.

To fill the gap left by Emanuel's departure, the president has called upon his senior adviser Pete Rouse, an unassuming but subtly powerful 64-year-old official who oversaw Obama's transition into the White House. Rouse is so knowledgeable and connected to Capitol Hill that he's known as "the 101st senator." Though only in an interim position for now, his appointment is widely expected to become permanent.

What to make of the shuffle? Surge Desk scoured the Web for the prominent reactions:

Blogosphere:

"We'll miss you man. We had so many great times together --  at that party that one time, when we called liberals (#&@(&@ retarded, when we disagreed with Obama but supported him anyway ... Sigh. It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" -- Ernie Smith, ShortFormBlog.

"In sharp contrast to the relative stability of the Bush White House, President Barack Obama has started to burn through his senior staff at a rate fast enough to be interesting." -- Peter Roff, U.S. News & World Report

"In American politics, the direct executive clout enjoyed by a big-city mayor is the closest you can get to being a dictator. So Emanuel may be giving up a big title. But if he wins the mayoral campaign, he may soon wield much more power." -- Josh Burek, The Christian Science Monitor

"The same president who chose Emanuel and made the decisions that Emanuel carried out will also choose his successor and make the calls that he or she implements. The Cossack may change, but he still works for the Czar." -- Ezra Klein, The Washington Post

Twitter: