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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Rahm Leads List of DC Power Hitters

Gates No. 2 in poll of the capital's most powerful people, from pols to stylists

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(Newser) – Scratch the names Obama and Biden from the list and it's Rahm Emanuel who carries the most clout in a city packed with power-brokers, according to a GQ poll of Washington insiders. The "ruthlessly pragmatic" White House chief of staff is a lot more than just a gatekeeper to the president, GQ notes. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates—"the one person that Obama can least afford to push around," according to one analyst—comes in second.

Fed chief Ben Bernanke, Senate Finance Committe Chairman Max Baucus, and budget chief Peter Orszag also made the top 5. Nancy Pelosi comes in at No. 8, and Dick Cheney at No. 9, despite being out of office, while Hillary Clinton ranks 18th. Ikram Goldman, Michelle Obama's unofficial stylist, and restaurateur Ashok Bajaj, the "maestro of downtown power dining," managed to make it into the top 50. Click the link below for the full list.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus "controls the fate of every bill to affect all 300 million Americans," GQ notes.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel tops the GQ list of Washington's most powerful players.
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel tops the GQ list of Washington's most powerful players.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks at a memorial service for 1970 Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas. An arrangement of corn, wheat and grains are on the stage to represent Borlaug's work to eliminate hunger...
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks at a memorial service for 1970 Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas. An arrangement...   (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1,2009, before the House Financial Services Committee hearing on financial regulators.
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1,2009, before the House Financial Services Committee hearing on financial regulators.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
FILE- In this Oct. 5, 2009 file photo, Budget Director Peter Orszag is interviewed by The Associated Press in Washington.
FILE- In this Oct. 5, 2009 file photo, Budget Director Peter Orszag is interviewed by The Associated Press in Washington.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, FILE)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was ranked the 8th most powerful person in DC thanks to her ability to corral House Democrats.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was ranked the 8th most powerful person in DC thanks to her ability to corral House Democrats.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
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3 comments
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NovThird2010
Oct 16, 09 7:33 AM CDT
Yet another class act in the bho white house. "Once, when a pollster made him angry, Emanuel sent him a dead fish." http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1856965,00.html Reply
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Jes
Oct 16, 09 9:10 AM CDT
And G-Dub called people Turd Blossom. So? Pick some bad behavior from another Dem, and I'll find childish misbehavior for another Rep. I bet we could get the thread count to 50, at least.
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cognitivefilter
Oct 17, 09 9:08 PM CDT
rahm emmanuel just looks like a skeezy dude. no offense i'm sure he's a great guy. but lose the gordon gekko oiliness, maybe a different haircut? Reply
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