Political tidbits: Cantor to be GOP #2 in House, more reactions to Rahm

Capital J

By Eric Fingerhut · November 7, 2008

Roy Blunt is stepping down as House minority whip, and the only Jewish Republican in the House, Eric Cantor, is likely to replace him, reports Politico.
Newsweek looks at the "Cantor Brand," which it describes as "an emphasis on fiscal discipline, lowering taxes and government accountability."
Jason Zengerle of The New Republic engages in some "Sheldonfreude" at hearing of the financial problems suffered by top Jewish Republican Sheldon Adelson -- and wonders why the Adelson-backed Freedom's Watch was so quiet this election.
Jewish leaders praise Barack Obama's pick of Rahm Emanuel for chief of staff, in Haaretz.
Gary Rosenblatt worries about the "scars" in the Jewish community after the bitter campaign, and urges American Jews to "pull together in the best interests of the country and of our own self-preservation."
This election signals the end of the neoconservative movement, writes Jim Besser in The Jewish Week.
The Forward looks at how Jews lined up on both sides of the battle on the gay marriage initiative in California.
The Rahm Emanuel selection "makes the entire 'Does Obama secretly hate Israel?' conversation seem a bit ridiculous," writes Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic. He adds that Emanuel, "precisely because he's a lover of Israel, will not have much patience with Israeli excuse-making."
Noah Pollak at Commentary points out that liberal Rabbi Michael Lerner is already upset at Obama -- for the Emanuel pick.