Comments on: It’s The Pause That Refreshes In The Corridors Of Power http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/brennanreallypowerful/ Just another Firedoglake weblog Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:10:38 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: southpaw http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/brennanreallypowerful/comment-page-1/#comment-5820 southpaw Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:22:21 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/brennanreallypowerful/#comment-5820 <p>There can be no doubt of Brennan’s continued influence, but (unless Rahm is radically changing things) this is incorrect:</p> <blockquote><p>“Assistant to the President” is the highest rank that any White House staffer can hold. Anyone with that rank has the right to walk into the Oval Office and get a sit-down with the president.</p></blockquote> <p>Assistants to the President generally have distribution rights; they get to review documents going out in the President’s name before they are signed. They obviously have an easier time than lower ranking staff getting a meeting, plus other perks. But they do not have walk-in privileges.</p> <p>The number of principals with walk-in privileges can generally be counted on one hand with room to spare; something like: the Chief of Staff, the First Lady, and (a unique case) Dick Cheney. It is not all ~70 Assistants to the President.</p> There can be no doubt of Brennan’s continued influence, but (unless Rahm is radically changing things) this is incorrect:

“Assistant to the President” is the highest rank that any White House staffer can hold. Anyone with that rank has the right to walk into the Oval Office and get a sit-down with the president.

Assistants to the President generally have distribution rights; they get to review documents going out in the President’s name before they are signed. They obviously have an easier time than lower ranking staff getting a meeting, plus other perks. But they do not have walk-in privileges.

The number of principals with walk-in privileges can generally be counted on one hand with room to spare; something like: the Chief of Staff, the First Lady, and (a unique case) Dick Cheney. It is not all ~70 Assistants to the President.

]]> By: sghiteinfla http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/brennanreallypowerful/comment-page-1/#comment-5815 sghiteinfla Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:32:15 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/brennanreallypowerful/#comment-5815 <p>I don’t know if Greenwald will be upset about this announcement. When you think about it this post is a lot better place to put Brennan inspite of his justifications of some of the funny business at the CIA. Nobody ever said he wasn’t smart or didn’t know his business. The concerns were always that as head of the CIA he could always do an end run around on Obama if he felt so inclined. And or it might have sent the wrong message (torture/rendition). As an Advisor to Obama yes he will have the President Elect’s ear but he won’t be able to effect or affect policy. And Obama always has the option of rejecting Brennan’s advice. Hell I think Obama has some foreign policy souljas around him anyway so I don’t see Brennan being able to lead him far off course. And to reiterate he DOES know his shit from what I understand. That damn Obama is a chess master of the highest order.</p> I don’t know if Greenwald will be upset about this announcement. When you think about it this post is a lot better place to put Brennan inspite of his justifications of some of the funny business at the CIA. Nobody ever said he wasn’t smart or didn’t know his business. The concerns were always that as head of the CIA he could always do an end run around on Obama if he felt so inclined. And or it might have sent the wrong message (torture/rendition). As an Advisor to Obama yes he will have the President Elect’s ear but he won’t be able to effect or affect policy. And Obama always has the option of rejecting Brennan’s advice. Hell I think Obama has some foreign policy souljas around him anyway so I don’t see Brennan being able to lead him far off course. And to reiterate he DOES know his shit from what I understand. That damn Obama is a chess master of the highest order.

]]> By: Teddy Partridge http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/brennanreallypowerful/comment-page-1/#comment-5810 Teddy Partridge Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:53:56 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/brennanreallypowerful/#comment-5810 <p>Team of Fucking Rivals Indeed.</p> Team of Fucking Rivals Indeed.

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