Hotline After Dark -- They Call Me Mellow Yellow

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) accepting Pres.-elect Obama's invitation to be WH CoS dominated TV coverage last night.

Newsweek's Fineman: "The Republicans don't like it. They don't like it because Rahm can be tough. But the real reason the Republicans don't like it is because Rahm is incredibly effective. ... The guy gets things done. ... And he's not afraid to say no. And when you're chief of staff, probably the most important thing you have to do is jealously, preciously guard the president's time because ... Obama is a guy who likes to listen. Those big ears have a use" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 11/6).

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN): "He's certainly a colorful figure and you can be grateful for that in an era of homogenized politics and politicians. ... Just as I think we should have a spirit of forgiveness with regard to Joe Lieberman and reconcile and move forward, why don't we have that same spirit with regard to Rahm Emanuel and give him a chance? He said some things that perhaps he regrets in the past. Let's move beyond that. ... In all my personal dealings with Rahm, he has been sensible, very honorable, very straightforward" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 11/6).

American Enterprise Institute's Norm Ornstein: "A president needs somebody who can make things happen. Harry Truman said, when Dwight Eisenhower got elected, 'Poor Ike, he comes out of the military where you give an order and it happens. He's going to get here in the Oval Office and say, 'Do this, do that,' and nothing will happen.' You need somebody tough enough to put the fear of God into the people in your own government so that the president's orders get carried out. And that's a quality Rahm has" ("NewsHour," PBS, 11/6).

CNN's Yellin: "He has mellowed. I will tell you, his nickname now, instead of Rahmbo is Rahmy, because his staff thinks he's kind of a softie in the middle" ("No Bias, No Bull," 11/6).

After the jump, more Emanuel, Lieberman's future, Palin on the press and Jackson Jr. on Obama's Senate seat.

(KATHERINE LEHR)

Dick Morris: "Obama is making a huge mistake in picking this guy because whenever he does something this guy doesn't like, he's going to read about it on the front page of the newspaper. ... You can't have as your chief of staff someone whose primary loyalty is not to you" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 11/6).

Dem strategist Paul Begala, on Fortune saying he described Emanuel's political approach as a "cross between a hemorrhoid and a toothache": "I said it. I meant it. I stand by it. Here is what I was talking about, though. I was talking about his persistence. He is really one of the best friends I have on this earth. There's nobody I'm closer to than Rahm. And he comes at you when he wants something, and he never stops. ... That kind of determination, that kind of persistence, that kind of pain-in-the-neck, shall we say, approach is going to be very effective. ... I think it's exactly what the new president needs" ("AC 360," CNN, 11/6).

Newsweek's Wolffe, on the Obamas and Emanuels being friendly: "That's a very important piece of this job because the chief of staff is velcroed to the president" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 11/6).

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

There was also a lot of discussion concerning Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid's meeting with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT).

CNN's Henry: "What I'm told is a pretty rough meeting. ... I'm told that the majority leader basically made it clear that Democrats want to strip Joe Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. One option they're giving him as a face-saving measure, I'm told, is to basically he can get a subcommittee. ... There are dozens of subcommittees. That means a one-way ticket to Siberia. This means Democrats, the fissure is real. They're trying to ship Joe Lieberman off" ("No Bias, No Bull," 11/6).

Newsweek's Alter, on whether there's any incentive to keep Lieberman in the Dem caucus: "Sure. You want as many votes as you can, because sometimes these big key votes just do come down to one. So, they don't want to throw him out of the caucus. But they have to punish him somehow. ... They might figure out some compromise where they take his committee chairmanship away from him, but let him stay in the caucus, maybe have some minor subcommittee that he gets to continue to chair" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 11/6).

Bayh: "I don't think there should be retribution. We have an opportunity to make a fresh start in this country. And I think reconciliation is in order, not revenge or retribution. ... Joe did say some things. Not his support of John McCain. I think everybody understands that supporting your friend is perfectly legitimate. He said some things that perhaps crossed the line in terms of questioning Senator Obama's, you know, patriotism or things like that. And I think if Joe came before the caucus and said look, if I said some things that came as offensive, I'm sorry."

More Bayh: "I think we had to just let bygones be bygones. We're going to need him on healthcare and energy independence and education and a whole lot of other things. So to answer your question directly, no, I don't think retribution or revenge is in the best interests of anyone" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 11/6).

SHE LOVES ME, SHE LOVES ME NOT

CNN's Tuchman spoke with Sarah Palin in AK 11/5 p.m. Portions of the interview aired last night on "Situation Room."

Tuchman: "Would it have been helpful for you and Senator McCain to have had more face time with each other before he selected you?"

Palin: "I think that American voters have spoken regarding who it is that they want to lead, regardless of how much time face time Senator McCain and I had together. We have a great relationship. I have nothing but admiration for him. I love him."

Tuchman: "Would it have been easier, though, for your relationship if you knew each other better?"

Palin: "We've got a great relationship and I talked to him on the phone on the airplane when we were in Seattle. And we have nothing but good things to say about each other. And it's not just political, it's sincere admiration that I have for him and I honor him."

Palin: "I have come away, unfortunately, with a little bit of disappointment in the world of the media. And don't anybody take it personally, please. You guys thick skin, too. Please. Build your skin thick."

Tuchman: "We don't."

Palin: "Yes. Hmmm, sorry. Because, you know, so many things that were reported that could have easily been corrected in terms of what my record is and what we do up here in Alaska and how our government works, too many of the media folks decided not to correct something on the record when they could have easily done it. That left me with a little bit of disappointment in the whole vocation here" (CNN, 11/6).

THE SOONER, THE BETTER

And Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was in the "Situation Room" last night, where he was asked about Obama's Senate seat.

Jackson, on whether he wants the job: "If the governor offered me the opportunity to serve in the enormous shoes of Barack Obama, I'd be honored. I'd be humbled. ... It would be a tremendous opportunity for me, a tremendous opportunity to advance Barack Obama's agenda on the floor of the United States Senate."

CNN's Blitzer: "How quickly do you think that decision ought to be made? Because the earlier someone replaces Barack Obama, the more seniority that junior senator from Illinois will have."

Jackson: "Well, that is certainly part of the consideration I would hope that the governor would calculate. Also, there's an economic stimulus that the Congress of the United States is presently thinking about. Illinois deserves representation on the floor of the Senate on that occasion."

Blitzer: "In the current Senate there are no other African-American [besides Obama]. How important do you believe it is that this Senate seat being vacated by Barack Obama should be filled by an African-American, whether you or someone else?"

Jackson: "It should be a factor. It doesn't have to be the factor. Barack Obama, as senator from the state of Illinois, was an American first. He ran his Senate campaign as someone who wanted to do something for all of Illinois. Of course, Illinois has a historic divide between upstate and downstate. And so in the final analysis, the governor has to make a decision for someone who can keep our state united. And so African-American, that may be a criteria, but it can't be the sole criteria" (CNN, 11/6).

Jackson also spoke with CNBC's Deutsch.

Jackson, asked if he would take the seat: "Yes, I would. ... I have 13 years of service in the Congress, I have only missed two votes -- no Democrat or Republican can say that -- I have a perfect voting record in Congress and I think I am up to the task" ("The Big Idea," CNBC, 11/6).