Pat Dollard | Young Americans

So now, oh Dollard Reader, after Pat’s take-no-prisoners quick take on what he thought of the “slime, barely passing for human” troop killer Rahm Emmanuel, as well his brother Ari based in part on his personal dealings with them, let us know what you might like to add about this slimeball.

Please keep your repsonses limited to under 10,000 words.

With nearly two years of campaigning for the White House now behind him, President-elect Barack Obama has only 11 weeks to build an administration that will be ready to govern when he is sworn in on January 20.

It’s an arduous task that will define Obama’s presidency, and it will require a smooth transition with the Bush administration.

Obama took his first step in building his team on Wednesday when he offered Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel the job of White House Chief of Staff, a role that Emanuel accepted, sources tell FOX News.

Among the challenges Obama’s team will confront are the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and the $1.5 trillion budget deficit he will inherit from the current administration. For this reason, his nominee for Treasury Secretary will be viewed with greater scrutiny than usual, and will likely require a person with wide name recognition and credibility in business.

Former Deputy Treasury Secretary and president of Harvard University Larry Summers has been mentioned as a possible contender for the Treasury job.

But first, Obama must create the transition team that will help him build his administration. Former Bill Clinton chief of staff John D. Podesta, Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett and Obama’s Senate chief of staff, Pete Rouse were named as his team’s leaders Wednesday.

In a brief statement outside the White House on Wednesday, President Bush said he would work to ensure a smooth and welcoming transition for Obama — one that some say did not happen when Bush succeeded Bill Clinton in 2001.

“I told the president-elect he can count on complete cooperation from my administration as he makes the transition to the White House,” Bush told reporters.

“There’s important work to do in the months ahead, and I will continue to conduct the people’s business as long as this office remains in my trust. During this time of transition, I will keep the President-elect fully informed on important decisions,” he said.

Obama must also build foreign policy and defense teams that will be seen as strong and stable, yet not divisive to the rest of the world.

For the Pentagon, the transition effort begins with a “senior steering group” led by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and all the undersecretaries of defense, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. James Cartwright, and the service secretaries from Army, Navy, Marines, and the Coast Guard.

Obama will begin receiving highly classified briefings from top intelligence officials on Thursday.

The briefings typically last 45 minutes to an hour, but Obama’s initial one is expected to be longer. A U.S. intelligence official speaking on condition of anonymity said Joe Biden, the vice president-elect, also will begin receiving briefings this week.

CIA Director Mike Hayden also has pledged to provide an easy transition for the Obama administration.

“CIA will play a central part in the Intelligence Community’s outreach to the President-elect. The Agency leadership will meet this morning to discuss the transition. We have already prepared a great deal of information about CIA for the Obama team. The goal today is to review what has been done and to ensure that every part of the Agency is well-placed to contribute in the weeks ahead,” Hayden said.

But in the days leading up to Inauguration Day, perhaps the most difficult challenge for Obama will be striking a fine balance in working effectively with Republicans and Democrats.

Obama’s pledge to work with Republican leaders on issues like the Iraq war and global terrorism and also maintain the support of his liberal base may prove more difficult that he once anticipated.

“President-elect Obama is under no illusions about the nature of the challenges facing him,” said Obama senior adviser Anita Dunn, who emphasized Obama’s promise to overcome the “partisan gridlock of the past.”

(Fox)