Hotline After Dark -- Building Or Burning Bridges?

In addition to analysis of how Pres.-elect Obama won the election, much of last night's TV coverage focused on the new admin. and Obama inviting Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) to be his CoS.

Washington Post's Gerson: "[Obama's] immediate focus will be and has to be the economy. The discussion will be a stimulus. The approach will be about jobs. That will dominate the initial period. It absolutely has to. ... His biggest obstacle in that is not the Republicans. It is actually his own Democratic leadership, his own party that had eight years of pent-up liberal demand. If they pick fights on cultural war issues, trying to get fairness doctrine, other things, it could quickly unravel this sense of common purpose. He needs to focus on things like energy, on things like health care, real legacies" ("1600," MSNBC, 11/5).

Brandeis Univ. prof. Peniel Joseph: "In terms of managing expectations, I think it's going to be difficult ... but based on the campaign and the discipline of his campaign, I think he'll be able to manage it" ("NewsHour," PBS, 11/5).

NPR's Williams: "The reason Rahm Emanuel was picked is because Rahm Emanuel is the guy you bring in to make sure all the clocks and trains are running on time. And what's the reality? We're dealing with a guy who's been in the Senate for two years, who doesn't know how to make the deals in Washington, and he needs somebody like this who can come in and whip everybody into shape. Rahm Emanuel is very close to Nancy Pelosi. So what you've got here is an instant bridge to Democrats on Capitol Hill. ... And so here is his opportunity now to build bridges to the left and maybe give him some slack so he can do some of the bipartisan work. Now that's putting the kindest light on this, but that's the hope" ("Special Report," FNC, 11/5).

Dem strategist Paul Begala: "Change requires actually moving Washington, getting things done, and Rahm is very much rooted in Chicago. I mean, he is Chicago through and through. So, I don't worry about that. The tone of the administration will be set by the president. And I think what Rahm would convey, should he be the choice, is effectiveness, strength, toughness, clarity. I just think it would be a terrific choice" ("AC 360," CNN, 11/5).

After the jump, more Obama and what's next for Sarah Palin?

(KATHERINE LEHR)

Dick Morris, on Emanuel: "It's a horrible choice. First of all, he is the sharpest, most aggressive partisan in the Democratic party. He is more partisan than Rove is a Republican. He's absolutely like a Tom Delay in a sense. ... Secondly, he's always been far more interested in Rahm Emanuel than in the fate of the president he serves. ... I think Obama's going to find that he has a chief of staff far more loyal to Washington and to his journalistic sources than to the president. ... Former ballet dancer. Did you know that?" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 11/5).

MSNBC's Scarborough: "Ronald Reagan went 90 miles an hour, he never looked back, he never slowed down, he never apologized for his ideology. And he very quickly consolidated his grip on Washington, D.C. He said this is what I believe in. And he ruled with a very strong, very firm hand. I think Barack Obama needs to do the same thing. ... He does need to be bold and needs to come out very quickly. I would suggest with an energy independence plan, and give the United States of America their first forward-looking energy policy in half a century" ("1600," 11/5).

LAUGHING IT OFF

CNN's Bash caught up with Palin 11/5 a.m. in Phoenix.

Palin, congratulating Obama: "God bless Barack Obama and his beautiful family and the new administration coming in. It is time that we all pull together and work together, and America is going to reach her destiny."

Palin, on reported tension between her and the John McCain camp: "It is absolutely false that there's been any tension, certainly from my part or my family's part. ... There is absolutely no diva in me. In fact, we laugh about that criticism" ("No Bias, No Bull," CNN, 11/5).

Palin, on people saying she may have cost McCain the election: "Well, you know, I don't think anybody should give Sarah Palin that much credit, that I would trump an economic woeful time in this nation that occurred about two months ago, that my presence on the ticket would trump the economic crisis that America found itself in a couple of months ago and attribute John McCain's loss to me."

More Palin: "But now, having said that, if I cost John McCain even one vote, I am sorry about that, because John McCain, I believe, is the American hero. I had believed that it was his time, he being so full of courage and wisdom and experience, that valor that he just embodies. I believe he would have been the best pick. But that is not the Americans' choice at this time" ("AC 360," CNN, 11/5).

NBC pol. dir. Chuck Todd: "She has six months I think to fix this thing. She has some opportunities. A Senate seat could open up that she could end up running for, a crazy special election. There are opportunities for her, but she has to do it. She's got to sit down and she's got to start doing this herself. She blames all the people that handled her. ... She can't let it fester if she really does want to be a player" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 11/5).