SATURDAY ROUNDUP

Revelations that White House Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel may have maintained talks with the indicted Illinois governor causes conservative bloggers to pounce, while President-elect Obama’s choice to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development draws praise from liberals. Also, conservative bloggers remember the five-year anniversary of Saddam Hussein’s capture.

If reports that Emanuel spoke with troubled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) are true, then Obama’s assertions at a press conference this week about a lack of contact are untrue, Scared Monkeys offers. Pushes by the Illinois Attorney General to remove Blagojevich as soon as possible would offer convenient political cover to Obama and Emanuel, Gateway Pundit alleges. Citing a source who has allegedly listened to wiretap tapes, Emanuel could be in deep trouble, MacRanger claims.

Obama’s pick for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, worked diligently to make housing more affordable for 2 million Americans during the Clinton administration, Faiz Shakir notes at Think Progress. Donovan is unquestionably perfect for the job, Washington Monthly’s Steve Benen argues, citing his research on innovation in housing policy.

December 13 marks the five year anniversary of the capture of Saddam Hussein, conservative bloggers note. While the optimism at the time turned out to be unwarranted, the U.S. has achieved significant success for which Americans should be thankful, Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey blogs. When Hussein was pulled from his spider hole, Iraqis were offered a glimmer of hope for the first time in years, Gabe Ledeen asserts at The Corner.

FROM THE BLOGS:
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