Reason to Like Rahm Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff

Mr. Obama is coordinating with Congressional Democrats behind thescenes on the stimulus plans, which would include more joblessbenefits, food stamps, aid to financially strapped states and cities,and spending for infrastructure projects that keep people at work. His chief liaison has been Mr. Emanuel.

"Youdon't ever want a crisis to go to waste; it's an opportunity to doimportant things that you would otherwise avoid," Mr. Emanuel said inan interview. "In 1974 and 1978 we never dealt with it, and ourdependence on foreign oil never changed."