why does Obama have 34 czars?

[nageov3t]

just heard a blurb about this on CNN tonight... does that seem weird to anyone else to have 34 czars in like 6 months, completely unaccountable to congress, unlike cabinet members?

W only had like 10 after 8 years and I think they said Clinton only had 3.

 

[SammyJr]

They're part of the Executive branch and therefore accountable to Congress.

 

[JS80]

quid quo pro

what do they get paid?

 

[TruePaige]

Lots of money being dealt out by the government that needs strict oversight.

Some Czars seem less useful than other though.

 

[BoberFett]

Plausible deniability.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Plausible deniability.

that is a great plan. blame the czars who are accountable to Congress when shit hits the fan. brilliant political move by obama yet again.

 

[CycloWizard]

Because apparently he can appoint all of his friends to government positions with no oversight and they can collect paychecks. It's a good job if you can get it.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: SammyJr
They're part of the Executive branch and therefore accountable to Congress.

are they?

the congressman who was complaining about it on CNN was saying otherwise (something about how they don't go through a congressional appointment process and they can't be called before committees for questioning)

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: SammyJr
They're part of the Executive branch and therefore accountable to Congress.

1. They aren't confirmed by Congress
3. They aren't required by law to testify before Congress
2. They can and will claim executive privelage if Congress tries to hold them "accountable"

 

[manowar821]

Same reason why we keep getting fucked from all the other angles, too, most likely.

 

[rudder]

Here is a list from Jine 16th. I would like to be either the weapons czar or WMD czar.

1. Herb Allison-TARP Czar
2. Alan Bersin-Border Czar
3. Dennis Blair-Intelligence Czar
4. John Brennan-Terrorism Czar
5. Carol Browner-Energy Czar
6. Adolfo Carrion, Jr-Urban Affairs Czar
7. Ashton Carter-Weapons Czar
8. Aneesh Chopra-Technology Czar
9. Jeffrey Crowley-AIDS Czar
10. Cameron Davis-Great Lakes Czar
11. Nancy-Ann DeParle-Health Czar
12. Earl Devaney-Stimulus Accountability Czar
13. Joshua DuBois-Faith-based Czar
14. Kenneth Feinberg-Pay Czar
15. Danny Fried-Guantanamo Closure Czar
16. J. Scott Gration-Sudan Czar
17. Richard Holbrooke-Afghanistan Czar
18. John Holdren-Science Czar
19. Van Jones Green-Jobs Czar
20. Gil Kerlikowske-Drug Czar
21. Vivek Kundra-Information Czar
22. George Mitchell-Mideast Peace Czar
23. Ed Montgomery-Car Czar
24. Dennis Ross-Mideast Policy Czar
25. Gary Samore-WMD Czar
26. Todd Stern-Climate Czar
27. Cass Sunstein-Regulatory Czar
28. Paul Volcker-Economic Czar

 

[waggy]

yeah its a little insane.

 

[yllus]

Paul Volcker is back in power? Interesting.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Seems like a way of implimenting policy without going through the Cabinat level position and the oversight that Congress has.


I have stated that Congress abdicated that power and power abhors a vacum. Therefore the power shifted to the Executive branch.

Yet Congress is allowing it.

People complained when Bush was abusing / taking power from what Congress felt was theirs.

Where are the Democrats complaining when Obama is doing the same?
Setting up a structure to impliment his policies without Congressional oversight.

 

[brandonbull]

Until we kick all of those losers out of office and ban them from holding political office, we are allowing a noble class to form.

"I don't need no stinking checks and balances"

 

[Fox5]

Is czar really in their job titles? It's kind of strange that they would use a title of the long abandoned Russian royalty to describe an American political position. Also, it seems in bad taste, that'd be like Obama declaring himself Caesar, there's just a lot of bad ideas associated with that.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Fox5
Is czar really in their job titles? It's kind of strange that they would use a title of the long abandoned Russian royalty to describe an American political position. Also, it seems in bad taste, that'd be like Obama declaring himself Caesar, there's just a lot of bad ideas associated with that.

its not like Obama started it. he just ran with the idea. many other presidents have had Czars..just not as many,.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: SammyJr
They're part of the Executive branch and therefore accountable to Congress.

are they?

the congressman who was complaining about it on CNN was saying otherwise (something about how they don't go through a congressional appointment process and they can't be called before committees for questioning)

Congress doesn't approve all of the hiring and firing of Exec branch employees. Czars report to cabinet members or the VP, all of which I believe Congress can call before committee.

 

[Fingolfin269]

What the hell is #13? Faith based czar?

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: SammyJr
They're part of the Executive branch and therefore accountable to Congress.

are they?

the congressman who was complaining about it on CNN was saying otherwise (something about how they don't go through a congressional appointment process and they can't be called before committees for questioning)

Congress doesn't approve all of the hiring and firing of Exec branch employees. Czars report to cabinet members or the VP, all of which I believe Congress can call before committee.

Senator Bryd disagrees (and others) with you.

Link

Byrd, who carries a copy of the Constitution with him and often cites it in floor speeches, said the czars are not accountable to Congress or to Cabinet officials and rarely testify before congressional committees. He said they often "shield the information and decision-making process behind the assertion of executive privilege" and too often "have been allowed to inhibit openness and transparency, and reduce accountability."

Fern

 

[spidey07]

Why? So he can have all the power, that's why. Look at everything else that bastard is doing and the picture will become stunningly clear - control and power.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: SammyJr
They're part of the Executive branch and therefore accountable to Congress.

Really? Now you're blatantly making stuff up.

They are appointed by Obama at his leisure, without a vote of confirmation from Congress. They answer to...Obama? No one?

 

[Modelworks]

Czars are just a way of having your own officials without having to ask anyone else approval or opinion. Also gives you someone to blame if things go wrong , someone who doesn't have to explain to congress why.
People are starting to wake up . His popularity is falling.

 

[Moonbeam]

34 czars is bad poopoo but we have the king of bad poopoo as President so we can expect some really bad poopoo to happen. I am sure too that all the bad poopoo will be the poopoohead's fault to but like a poopoo head he will blame his czars for all the poopoo.

Also Obama is stupid so he is going to do some stupid stuff. He is a stupid head and now we have 34 stipid czars too. It's just stupid.

 

[Nebor]

As I recall, first come czars, then comes communism.