The Plan: Big Ideas for America

by Rahm Emanuel

The Plan offers a bold vision of what America can be. It shows the way for both parties to move beyond the old political arguments and make progress for the American people. And it offers an innovative agenda for America - with ideas that address the nation's most pressing challenges by doing more for Americans and asking Americans to do more for their country in return. Each of these ideas offers a clean break with the status quo, yet all are positive, practical, and can be put into action right away. Built on the authors' firm beliefs that politicians owe the people real answers, that citizenship is a responsibility, not an entitlement program, and that the Democratic Party succeeds when America succeeds, the highly anticipated Plan delivers, challenges, and inspires.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and the former White House Chief of Staff.

No stranger to the White House, Emanuel served as director of the finance committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign, and later as an adviser to President Clinton from 1993-1998. Emanuel worked in the private sector, mainly as an investment banker, before serving on the Board of Directors for Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. He returned to politics in 2002, when he ran for congress. From 2003 to 2009, Emanuel represented Illinois' 5th congressional district as a Democrat in the United States House of Representatives.

Emanuel coauthored The Plan: Big Ideas for Change in America with Bruce Reed, the president of the Democratic Leadership Council.

Reviews

[Tim Null]

This is basically a list of all the cool stuff Obama wanted to accomplish, and why he failed to accomplish many of them. In other words, it's what Obama could have done if he'd had a Democratic Congress throughout his presidency. (So, in other words, this book is a heart-breaker.)

I give Obama a 5, the book a 4, and the Republican party a 0.

[Russell]

So first let me say the Rahm Emanuel looks like every coniving henchman in every political/espionage thriller ever made. He was clearly forged from the molten rock of pure evil. I find the man fascinating. He has a reputation for being unflinchingly partisan and cutthroat and profane and has twice landed himself positions in the whitehouse because of it. So when I saw this book I figured I'd drop the $14 and see what pure unadulterated evil has to say about how to cure what ails our country.

It turns out that he has some interesting ideas. Some of which are obvious in hindsight (modernizing our country's broadband offerings), many of which are desperately needed (modernizing the healthcare system, modernizing the education system, balancing the budget) and a few of which are absolutely awful (requiring Israeli-like military service, I went back and forth on this originally, and I think it has its merits, but introducing it now would be disastrous and I believe that increasing the incentive to serve our country/communities is a much better option than trying to force patriotism on the population).

The books is INCREDIBLY partisan and should be rewritten without all of the overt haymakers at Republicans. I have no problem taking jabs at a failed President and his failing failure of a cabinet or the minions who surrounded him, but Republicans are not inherently wrong about everything and in fact many of the ideas in this book could be mistaken for being Republican.

Anyway, my obsession with policy-thinking and how it impacts the country continues...

[Luke Sharon]

Perhaps it’s just the fact that I waited so long to finish this, but what an interesting read to begin as a new president is coming in. I can imagine this was a compelling novel in the lead-up to President Obama… Now, it reads as a set of promises that were never fully realized.

[Dianne Sagan]

Good resource

This book has a good grasp on the political landscape going into the Obama years. ! Much can still be applied to current issues and races in 2018, but you have to be mindful of where changes have been made already and what new challenges we face since January 20, 2017.

[Sara Goldenberg]

It was probably good when it was written.

[Phil]

"What I learned from this book" was that it is quite disingenious. Emanuel tried to give it that "best for both parties" spin but kept kicking Repubs in the nuts the entire time. A lot of blame-gaming with policies.

I liked some of the ideas but as realpolitik, most would never see the light of day. Washington would eat these alive.

My purpose in reading it had more to do with my fascination with Rahm and what kinds of ideas he had in 2006, which many say provided the foundation for what ideas he continues to push from within the Obama Admin.

[Ryan]

This book is an excellant guide to progressive policy in America. Rahm Emmanuel wrote this book (with Bruce Reed) on how to bring liberal ideas and ideals to the political forefront in 2006 - now he is Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama. Seems like he had a good grip on what was going on in the country. The book is wise and inspiring, and full of hard figures and strong ideas on how to improve this country.

[Ben]

If you cared to know what Rahm Emanuel really thinks about Socialized Medicine and Re-education camps, read this. But if you like Glenn Beck, Michele Bachmann, and Sarah Palin, you probably don't care what Rahm Emanuel really thinks. So don't read it and keep calling them Socialized Medicine and Re-education camps. Idiots.

[Shawn]

It was short enough, but just so dry that I did not get through it. Kind of bitchy; I was hoping for more solution than blame. It is probably there, but Obama's plan is unfolding in front of us daily, and it will not conform Emanuel's ideas because the circumstances have radically changed.

[Claire S]

Interesting comments in this NYT review: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/boo...


Author is President Obama's Chief of Staff.

Seemed very sound-bite-y. Am waiting on optimal moment to see the present as the hopeful future..

[Jerry Landry]

I could not finish this book. It didn't present any "big ideas" in my humble opinion, just constant reiteration of the theme of "Democrats=Good, Republicans=Bad," which, if you reverse it, you have the rhetoric of those they were arguing against. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[Bob Miller]

Merde!

A Manifesto from the current crop of deep, fuzzy thinkers. Greetings from Cloud Cuckoo Land.

OK, the chapters on health care and tax policy chapters are worth reading. And hack v. wonk is amusing.

[Dano]

Rahm spends the entire book criticizing partisan politics and then goes on to criticize the other party the whole time. Grow up and work together. You have some good ideas but they have to be worked TOGETHER ... across the isles of politics.

[Khalfani Myrick]

Interesting perspective on how to change the nation from Rahm Emanuel. I enjoyed the ideas and vision for the future of this country. But, it read like a marketing piece. If you can get past that, it is a good read.

[John Julitz]

A little dated now, but generally speaking the ideas could still be put into practice.