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Originally uploaded by johnvierdsen

During the Clinton administration, Vierdsen thought Rahm Emanuel was just another unchained attack dog unleashed to wreak havoc on the increasingly negative press corps and a “thumbs up their asses” Congressional GOP leadership.

It wouldn’t be the first time John underestimated a political operative.

Emanuel went on to become a representative from Chicago and lead the fight to win back the House for the Democrats. Not only did he do that, but he did even better this year, to the point where President-elect Barack Obama selected him to become the White House chief of staff.

If you’re a nerd like Vierdsen, you know that Josh Lyman’s character in “The West Wing” was based off of Emanuel. And, in what has to be an unimaginable first, his brother Ari is the basis for “Entourage” super-agent Ari Gold.

So, if you want to know how the Obama White House will be run, it would behoove you to start watching reruns (or, if you’re lucky, pop in the DVDs) of “The West Wing.”

Rahm Emanuel: Obama’s Chief of Staff [HuffPo]