by Mark Silva
President Obama is dancing with the czars, the way some of his critics would have it.
And those critics have grown louder and louder lately, complaining about not only the president's alleged "socialist'' health-care plans, but also his alleged "communist'' adviser - Van Jones (pictured below), the environmental adviser whom FOX News Channel's Glenn Beck is calling "the green czar.''
(That's one of the nicer things Beck calls Jones, who, like a few others who have arrived in Washington with a zeal for public service, possessed somewhat more radical views about politics in his college days. Beck should know about radicals.)
As for those czars...
Obama has "more of them than the Romanovs,'' Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona joked today at his "town hall'' meeting in Sun City, Arizona, repeating a laugh line that he has played again and again. (But the audience wasn't laughing about something which some see as a threat to their very Constitution -- that is the threat of advisers to the president whom people lightly call "czars.")
This czar-struck administration is raising the hackles of the anti-czar crowd, for sure.
Beck calls it "The new Republic... apparently the old one wasn't good enough,'' Beck says. "One area I have a lot of questions on is the czars... There are nearly three dozen of these czars. They don't answer to anybody. They are advisers to the president.''
Actually, they answer to the president - and Obama hardly is the first president to have an array of senior assistants who have a say in White House policy.
And Beck really has it out for the "green czar,'' Jones, whose actual title has more to do with being a special advisor for Green Jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Some "czar'' Jones is, on this White House CEQ roster:
Chair: Nancy Sutley, Chief of Staff: Jon Carson; Deputy Chief of Staff: Nikki Buffa; General Counsel: Ted Boling....
Associate Directors: Land and Water Ecosystems: Mike Boots; Climate Change: Jason Bordoff; NEPA Oversight: Horst Greczmiel; Communications: Christine Glunz; Green Jobs: Van Jones; Legislative Affairs: Jessica Maher;Policy Outreach: Amy Salzman.
This czar-business, like the car-business, has gotten out of control. The title itself has become a "clunker'' with little cache, considering how many there may be.
When the administration dropped the word "toxic" from its talk of financial markets' woes, the press secretary was asked in March: "Do you have some marketing czar now who decided that "legacy loans" is more attractive to private investors than the word "toxic"?
"If there's a marketing czar,'' Press Secretary Robert Gibbs replied, "I've failed to get his or her memo.''
(The illustration above of three of history's greatest henchmen - Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest, left), Al Capone (Jon Bernthal) and Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat) demarks a scene from the film, "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" by James Dittiger. The photo of Van Jones above is just a wire photo -- Ethan Miller / Getty Images.)
The president himself has helped fuel the fervor for the word, czar.
"Will immigration reform be part of this whole process?'' Obama was asked during an interview by Juan Carlos Lopez, president of CNN EN ESPAÑOL , in April. "And also you've named a border czar. Was this consulted with Mexico, and what is he going to do?
"Well, the goal of the border czar is to help coordinate all the various agencies that fall under the Department of Homeland Security, and so that we are confident that the border patrols are working effectively with ICE, working effectively with our law enforcement agencies,'' Obama replied. "So he's really a coordinator that can be directly responsible to Secretary Napolitano and ultimately directly accountable to me.''
But the power of the czars may be overrated.
Kenneth Feinberg, one of the Obama administration officials whom the news media have anointed as a "czar," hardly has the powers that would impress an Ivan the Terrible or Peter the Great, or former colleague Mike Dorning has noted.
"Feinberg, widely described as the White House's "pay czar," will have real control over compensation of executives at exactly seven companies that have been large recipients of government bailout money,'' Dorning wrote a while back for the Chicago Tribune. "And he has discretion over only the top five executives and 20 most highly paid employees in those companies. At most, that's 175 people.
"But czars are proliferating in Washington with a White House that has demonstrated a clear inclination to concentrate broad authority in its top officials by crossing traditional bureaucratic boundaries and a 24-hour cable news culture that has discovered that the appointment of a czar is more exciting than, say, an adviser on urban issues.
"There's a health reform czar, a drug czar, a border czar, a regulatory czar, an info-tech czar -- everything, it sometimes seems, but a Russian czar.''
McCain likes, and often uses, his line about "more czars than the Romanovs.''
It's not a job title that you'll find on anyone's federal paycheck, however.
It's more of an informal thing. The magazine, Foreign Policy, counted 18 under its definition, back in April. Reuters counted 21. At town hall meetings these days, people are complaining about "30 or 40'' of them.
Beck has found "nearly three dozen.''
And he has one, Jones, in his cross-hairs.
Comments
Czar--a Bush word. No respect for Obama while he continues to use the Bush/Cheney and GOP words "czar" and "Homeland" (Security). The words mock all that America stands for. When will Obama stop sucking up to the GOP? It seems they hate him and they want him to fail--very slowly. They want him to take the heat for their out of control "war" spending and their deficits from all the credit card "emergency war" funding. They want him to take the heat for the trillions in debt from Bush and Drama Queen Paulson's banking/recession con job on the American people. They want Obama to take the heat for the Bush deficit-producing eight years of tax cuts for the wealthy. No surprise that the GOP "allowed" Obama to "win" this past election. They needed a scapegoat and four years to regroup. Obama's numbers are going down, in part, because he in his immaturity, does not know how to be loyal to those who worked so hard to elect him into office. Immaturity, and dare I say hubris? Obama is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome--and it is pathetic. He needs to grow up and grow some. Keeping ones enemies closer is not always the answer. Leading from a 'Godfather' mentality is so passe.
Posted by: Vivian | August 25, 2009 4:43 PM
I'm willing to bet that most of the Repug teabagger dipsticks have no idea what a "czar" is and they couldn't spell it if their life depended on it.
These guys are just leaders of whatever category they've been put in charge of, period, end of story.
Of course whackjobs like Crazy Glenn Beck and PillHead Rush realize that "czar" is one of those funny sounding scary foreign words, so everytime Obama uses it it's easy for them to light a fire under the dumber than a brick teabaggers who make up what's left of the Repug base.
Posted by: I'mAnemicRoyalty | August 25, 2009 4:55 PM
Hey FOX Rubes, should I be afraid of Obama's Death Czar??? What scary buzzword is Frank Luntz having you Teabaggers vomit this weak? You sheeple will parrot anything.
Posted by: devin | August 25, 2009 5:25 PM
What you have to know -- regardless of the source -- is that many of Obama's czars have ties to radical left organizations, including the violent Weather Underground of the 60s. These so-called czars were appointed without Congressional approval or review. Don't you at least wonder why?
Posted by: Daryl | August 25, 2009 5:26 PM
What most do not understand is that these Czars, like Mr Obama himself all hold to the same political/religious doctrine. That is the same political/religious doctrine which is the very foundation for Socialism, Communism, and Progressivism. These Czars are in place to shift the populace of the United States over to this political/religious doctrine. This is a giant step toward globalization with which was planned with the Party of European Socialists as well as Socialists International. Find out all you can on the political/religious doctrine of GWf Hegel. Marx and Engles the authors of the communist manifesto, were both young Hegelians and based their system of communism on Hegel's doctrine. Barack Obama himself assigns himself completely to this political/religious doctrine. Mr Obama claims to be Christian but this is completely false, as he believes in the doctrine of James Cone which is founded in this political/religious doctrine of Hegel. The true name of Mr. Obama's religion is Liberation Theology, or better black theology of liberation. These Czars are alined with Mr. Obama's beliefs both political and religious. They are forming movements to eliminate Christianity and replace it with Hegelian Doctrine.
Posted by: Bobby k Hawk | August 25, 2009 5:38 PM
Actually, according to yesterday's NYT, fewer than half of O's top advisors are in place:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/us/politics/24confirm.html?scp=1&sq=appointees&st=cse
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 25, 2009 5:39 PM
Ever feel like you cannot understand the bizarre, deliciously wingnutty things that come out of the mouths of the Glenn Becks and David Vitters of the world?
Fear not: a new Wingnut Translation Machine has been created to assist you.
.
http://dscc.org/decoder.sjs?petition_KEY=176
.
Posted by: Lucy | August 25, 2009 5:41 PM
Czar--a Bush word. No respect for Obama while he continues to use the Bush/Cheney and GOP words "czar" and "Homeland" (Security). The words mock all that America stands for. When will Obama stop sucking up to the GOP? It seems they hate him and they want him to fail--very slowly. They want him to take the heat for their out of control "war" spending and their deficits from all the credit card "emergency war" funding. They want him to take the heat for the trillions in debt from Bush and Drama Queen Paulson's banking/recession con job on the American people. They want Obama to take the heat for the Bush deficit-producing eight years of tax cuts for the wealthy. No surprise that the GOP "allowed" Obama to "win" this past election. They needed a scapegoat and four years to regroup. Obama's numbers are going down, in part, because he in his immaturity, does not know how to be loyal to those who worked so hard to elect him into office. Immaturity, and dare I say hubris? Obama is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome--and it is pathetic. He needs to grow up and grow some. Keeping ones enemies closer is not always the answer. Leading from a 'Godfather' mentality is so passe.
Posted by: Vivian | August 25, 2009 4:43 PM
Vivian- every president since at least Nixon has appointed Czars.. Obama has nominated the most.
Posted by: heartburn | August 25, 2009 5:58 PM
Daryl,
Done lying about healthcare so soon?
Back up your claim -- give us a name.
No? I didn't think so...
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 25, 2009 6:00 PM
How can you people not be interested in who these so-called czars are?
Obama himself told us that if we wanted to know what he believes to look at the people he surrounds himself with. Well, Jeff Jones who co-founded the Weather Underground and the Apollo Alliance wrote the stimulus as per Harry Reid. Van Jones is a self professed communist. He is connected to Apollo Alliance. Carl Davidson, Carl Rope etc all radicals. If you are a radical yourself this won't matter to you but it does matter to most of us.
Why is Denis Hughes (AFL/CIO) chairman of the Ny Federal Reserve? Why is Jeffery Immelt (GE) on the NY Fed Board of Directers?
All good questions and there are many many more.
Posted by: Peggy Howard | August 25, 2009 6:34 PM
" I'mAnemicRoyalty" has quite a post. He is trying to tell us the Tsars (or Csars or Tzars) are "just leaders". Not so. Obama is using them to avoid having to go through Senate confirmation.
I wonder if " I'mAnemicRoyalty" realizes that Obama has only filled 43% of his positions that require confirmation. The problem is not the Senate. It is Obama is having trouble finding people who are not tax cheats, I guess.
Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird | August 25, 2009 7:06 PM
Caird,
No. Who needs the public reaming for less salary except the already wealthy and egotistical?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 25, 2009 7:33 PM
There is a President, Barrack.
Of chutzpah he hasn't a lack.
He has trolled many bars
To round up his Czars.
To the dismay of many a hack.
Posted by: Jack Atherton | August 25, 2009 8:02 PM
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Posted by: I'mAnemicRoyalty | August 25, 2009 4:55 PM
.
I guess we know that “I'mAnemicRoyalty” doesn’t know the meaning of the word “czar,” or where it comes from, if he thinks it means a “leader.” The word czar (or more properly “tsar”) comes from the Russian form of the title “Caesar” (Царь), given to Russian emperors. (The Germans did the same in calling their emperor the “Kaiser.”) It implies an autocratic and authoritarian ruler with no legal or moral restraint on his or her actions. Somehow, it seems quite an appropriate title for big government regulators and administrators who answer to no one but the Obamessiah.
Posted by: John W. | August 25, 2009 8:05 PM
It is Obama is having trouble finding people who are not tax cheats, I guess.Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird | August 25, 2009 7:06 PM
*******************************
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Gee Ricky, then maybe Obama should hire some of the war criminals that Bush hired?
ATTENTION SWAMP RATS!
Rick Caird is a paid Republican troll. He works for the RNC.
.
http://www.topix.com/forum/who/barack-obama/TFKJMBN98VJNCRBBG/p431
Posted by: I'mAnemicRoyalty | August 25, 2009 8:07 PM
It implies an autocratic and authoritarian ruler with no legal or moral restraint on his or her actions. Somehow, it seems quite an appropriate title for big government regulators and administrators who answer to no one but the Obamessiah.
Posted by: John W. | August 25, 2009 8:05 PM
*********************************
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Yeah Johnny W Bircher,
It's funny how Obama contiuned calling these people THE SAME THING THAT BUSH DID FOR EIGHT YEARS!
Aren't you supposed to be out chasing gov't black helicopters today, W.?
Posted by: unemployed lawyer | August 25, 2009 8:54 PM
* * * * *
Posted by: unemployed lawyer | August 25, 2009 8:54 PM
.
JohnEEE-Boy,
.
1. Bush wasn’t the first or only President to employ a “czar” to head an independent administration office tasked to oversee some policy. It was first used to William Simon’s job as head of the Federal Energy Administration under Nixon. The person holding the job of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is commonly known as the “Drug Czar.” Barry McCaffrey, a retired army general, held that job under President Bill Clinton from 1996 to 2001.
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2. But now that you mention it, it is rather ominous that Obamessiah would use the same terminology that Bush did for eight years. Without question, Bush was a tyrant. Sending us into foolish wars, resisting and violating civil rights, and pretending to have the power to enforce only those parts of the law he chose - made him an autocrat, a despot and a tyrant. It could very well be that Obamessiah wants to be a tyrant too, inasmuch as he has many more “czars” than Bush or other Presidents have ever had. Now we have an energy czar, an urban czar, an infotech czar, a faith-based czar, a health reform czar, a TARP czar, a stimulus accountability czar, a non-proliferation czar, a terrorism czar (which is strange because I didn’t think they used the “T” word any more), a regulatory czar, a drug czar (who wants to end the war on drugs), a Guantanamo closure czar, and a compensation czar (to insure that corporate executives aren’t getting too much pay). I’m not even sure the list is complete. What all of these “czars” hold in common is that they are answerable only to Obamessiah, and they are neither elected nor subject to congressional oversight. Concentrating power in the hands of the executive in the federal government sounds like the makings of a lot of tyranny to me.
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Frankly, I don’t know why he uses the word “czar” to describe these positions. I think it would be better to use the term “commissar.” That would be more in line with his political persuasions. “Czar” sounds way too imperialistic.
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3. What makes you think I have any interest in black helicopters, much less an interest in chasing them, you nit-wit? I am not a “black-helicopter/ Men in Black” conspiracy type. Even the John Birch Society (of which I am NOT a member) doesn’t believe in such things. (BTW - go stuff yourself for suggesting that I’m a Bircher.)
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4. Furthermore, I don’t have to subscribe to such crazy conspiracy theories. I KNOW our government is currently controlled by foolish, irresponsible children - i.e. Pelosi, Reid, Obama, Geithner, and so on. Their foolishness and irresponsibility are proclaimed in the news every single day. The election last November didn’t change the fact that we had no adult leadership in Washington. So, if we have brain-dead, irresponsible children running the government now, I wouldn’t fear black helicopter conspirators. Oh, no. I would welcome them if they existed. Their level of alleged organization would be a vast improvement over the nonsense given to us by the pseudo-liberal, knuckle-draggers and mouth breathers that you support.
Posted by: John W. | August 25, 2009 9:55 PM
heartburn--thank you! for submitting my czar comment a second time. It's important not to allow emperors of any sort to prevail in America. Well done.
Posted by: Vivian | August 25, 2009 10:22 PM
I'm glad Glenn Beck has thrown some light into this secretive group Obama has created. After seeing Van Jones' history, it's little wonder why the President gave him a Czar position instead of running him thru the hearing process than most senior White House officials go through.
Even this Congress wouldn't approve a self-described communist.
Posted by: Utah Laser Hair Removal | August 26, 2009 3:38 AM
Good Grief, Obama! Another affirmative action sociology major. You know what I'm saying?
Posted by: Charley Brown | August 26, 2009 7:29 AM
I'mAnemicRoyalty, your thinking is as anemic as everything else about you. Demos, Jean, GOP, and I have been debating on Topix for years. Until the Sentinel dropped Topix, all the threads were started off the LTE at the Sentinel. If you followed that thread a little further you would have seen we also touched on the markets.
Anyway, try following this link:
http://cairdconsulting.com/resume.htm
Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird | August 26, 2009 8:08 AM
heartburn--thank you! for submitting my czar comment a second time. It's important not to allow emperors of any sort to prevail in America. Well done.
Posted by: Vivian | August 25, 2009 10:22 PM
So it doesn't matter if you are wrong or right- as long as you keep repeating the lies?
Posted by: heartburn | August 26, 2009 8:26 AM
Breaking: Is Glenn Beck Working For The Obama Administration? - http://sandboxreport.com/?p=331
Posted by: Sandbox Report | August 26, 2009 10:45 AM
Caird,
I find it ironic that with your computer tech background with expertise in security, that you would post your personal info online.
May we have your soc sec # too please? (Just kidding to make a point).
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 26, 2009 10:49 AM
Obama has the power to refuse to use/to change the terms 'czar' and 'homeland'. To date, he has not done so. Obama continues in the same Bush/Cheney imperialistic--and very funny--mold. I mean, hell, only God is above--or anoints a czar. Hubris. Most Americans today don't like the idea of czars due to no oversight. It seems the term 'homeland' was promoted so that Bush could defer to and hold hands with his trade agreement friends. He seemed to have put all other nations above America. The federal department responsible for American security should be called AMERICAN SECURITY.
Posted by: Vivian | August 26, 2009 12:43 PM
The federal department responsible for American security should be called AMERICAN SECURITY.
Posted by: Vivian | August 26, 2009 12:43 PM
Would that cover both continents Viv?
Posted by: Mel | August 26, 2009 4:45 PM
"Kenny Bunkport", I control the domain and can send nasty email right to the bit bucket without ever seeing it. The domain is hosted by Hosting Matters, not me. I have no inbound traffic to any of my personal systems. Besides that, there is no reference to my IP address, only the hosted domain.
I thought about the security first.
Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird | August 26, 2009 5:34 PM
Caird,
That's good. Allegheny College just sent me a copy of your transcript and wants to know where your annual fund gift is, by the way.
;-)
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 26, 2009 8:26 PM
Funny. I am looking at the school alumni magazine now. If I actually went back to Meadville, there would only be a couple of buildings I would recognize. Lots of changes since I was last there, lo those many moons ago.
Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird | August 27, 2009 6:54 AM
Sandbox report, your link to the story on glenn beck working for obama remains sourceless, will you be finding a scource for that article to lend truth to the claim soon as a lot of folks would love to have a source to refer to for this type of statement. I am sure you understand why unsourced claims are not taken seriously.
Posted by: chris | August 28, 2009 1:24 AM
Sandbox report, your link to the story on glenn beck working for obama remains sourceless, will you be finding a scource for that article to lend truth to the claim soon as a lot of folks would love to have a source to refer to for this type of statement. I am sure you understand why unsourced claims are not taken seriously.
Posted by: chris | August 28, 2009 1:39 AM
The lack of curiosity on the left for Obama's background and qualifications was stunning on its own. However, Obama himself invited us to evaluate him based on the people he surrounds himself with. Well, some of us did. If what is publically available about these joker czars is any measure, I shudder to think of what Obama's got sealed off about his past. The lack of curiosity on the left is anti-intellectual. Obama sure knows his base!
Posted by: Mary | September 7, 2009 6:48 AM