Against the advice of Karl Rove, Rahm Emanuel has accepted the chief of staff position in the Obama administration, according to CNN.
I have to admit I'm surprised - with Emanuel's rapid rise in the House leadership, I figured he had his mind set on the Speakership. But maybe he figures Pelosi isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I haven't always agreed with him, but there's no question Emanuel is the kind of guy you want on your side in a fight, as Ezra Klein says:
He's the type of guy who makes enemies, then makes lists of his enemies, then makes lists of his enemies' friends, then makes lists of how they'll pay.
His experience in the White House under Clinton means he knows how things work. Since Obama's not going to have much time to get up to speed, that seems especially valuable.