What is the deal w/all these Czars?

[Butterbean]

Appointed by the president
Do NOT answer to congress
No vetting process
Can claim executive power if questioned by congress
American people have no say in who gets the job
Only the President can remove them
Oversee billions of US Tax Dollars



Is there a limit of the number of Czars that can be appointed?

What is the main purpose behind having Czars?

[Straw Man]

Appointed by the president
Do NOT answer to congress
No vetting process
Can claim executive power if questioned by congress
American people have no say in who gets the job
Only the President can remove them
Oversee billions of US Tax Dollars

Is there a limit of the number of Czars that can be appointed?

What is the main purpose behind having Czars?

a few actually had congressional confirmation hearings

also, none actually have the title of czar

[Butterbean]

a few actually had congressional confirmation hearings

also, none actually have the title of czar

I didn't know that.  So the media just calls them that?  Do they have "czar powers?" 

Do you know how many had the congressional confirmation hearings?

[Straw Man]

I didn't know that.  So the media just calls them that?  Do they have "czar powers?" 

Do you know how many had the congressional confirmation hearings?

there are 3 listed in this article and I'm sure there are others because I can find stories of a few who's confirmation is stll held up in confirmation hearings.    I don't know what you mean by "czar powers"

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/30/cantor-32-czars/

[Soul Crusher]

there are 3 listed in this article and I'm sure there are others because I can find stories of a few who's confirmation is stll held up in confirmation hearings.    I don't know what you mean by "czar powers"

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/30/cantor-32-czars/

Van Jones
Holdren
Sunstein
Lloyd


HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING!   

[Butterbean]

there are 3 listed in this article and I'm sure there are others because I can find stories of a few who's confirmation is stll held up in confirmation hearings.    I don't know what you mean by "czar powers"

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/30/cantor-32-czars/

Thanks for the link.


By "czar powers" I mean the power to make decisions and direct money regarding whatever their "czar" appointment concerns.

For instance, the "car czar" that ordered GM into bankruptcy and directed that some people get paid and some didn't and decided where the stock went.


Also, I had no idea these people aren't called czars.  What is the Obama admin. calling them?

[Skip8282]

I didn't know that.  So the media just calls them that?  Do they have "czar powers?"  

Do you know how many had the congressional confirmation hearings?

Supposedly it's an "inside the beltway" and media term that we probably shouldn't get too hung up on, though some appointments are creepy.

The Constitution only requires that "high government officials" require Senate approval and confirmation.  Because it's nonspecific, those positions requiring approval are specified by statute, for example the WMD czar (technically titled:  Special Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation, and Terrorism).

Others, such as the Car czar (technically titled:  Director of Recovery for Auto Workers and Communities) do not require approval of the Senate.

The amount of czars is really only limited by the number of positions the President wishes to fill and create.

[Skip8282]

By "czar powers" I mean the power to make decisions and direct money regarding whatever their "czar" appointment concerns.

It depends on the position.  Some are analytical by nature.  Some have real power.

[Butterbean]

Supposedly it's an "inside the beltway" and media term that we probably shouldn't get too hung up on, though some appointments are creepy.

The Constitution only requires that "high government officials" require Senate approval and confirmation.  Because it's nonspecific, those positions requiring approval are specified by statute, for example the WMD czar (technically titled:  Special Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation, and Terrorism).

Others, such as the Car czar (technically titled:  Director of Recovery for Auto Workers and Communities) do not require approval of the Senate.

The amount of czars is really only limited by the number of positions the President wishes to fill and create.

Thank you Skip, very informative!


Do you know how far their powers reach?  Or what are the limitations on their powers?

[Skip8282]

Thank you Skip, very informative!


Do you know how far their powers reach?  Or what are the limitations on their powers?

Again, it just depends on the position.  The Sudan czar (technically:  Special Envoy to Sudan) isn't going to carry much weight.  But, the Weapons czar (technically:  Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics) have a far greater impact. 

I don't know of any specific statutes that limit their power, however, most Federal jobs have an indepth description of the duties required.

[shootfighter1]

I'd like to know the specifics as well.

The administration themselves are calling their appointed leaders czars so it's not just the media.
These czars have real power granted by the administration with seemingly little vetting and backround checks.  A few of Obama's appointed czars should never, ever be in any leadership position.
I know other presidents have had similar appointees.

[Skip8282]

The specifics of what?  Who is required to undergo Senate approval?  Those positions are laid out by statute and published in what's called the, "Plumb Book".

[Hedgehog]

I think the whole "Czar" thing caught on with the first appointed cleric.

Orzagh, wasn't that his name?


According to Glenn Beck's "brain room" there are 32 czars.
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/29391/

Now, that could be considered a little alarming.

But looking at the list...

Richard Holbrooke, serving as a official dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan?
What's wrong with appointing a seasoned diplomat who's been serving under a former president for such a mission?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Holbrooke


Other "czars" are officials that are similar or the same as in previous administrations. Like the "AIDS czar", Jeff Cowley. Coordinates AIDS/HIV policy nationally. What, USA unlike other modern civilizations shouldn't have a coordinated policy for AIDS/HIV?
Or what is Glenn Beck's problem with that "czar"?

"California water czar" - just bullshit. This is the Interior deputy Secretary. In Bush's administration her name was Lynn Scarlett.

And the position has to be confirmed by the Senate as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Deputy_Secretary_of_the_Interior

My point is, it's not some "new" kind of lemmings that Obama suddenly has working for him.

The problem is that this type of spin propaganda tries to portray him as this either:

1. Totalitarian Communist leader

or

2. Weak ass Tree hugger who is selling out USA so bad people won't fear USA anymore.


Anti-intellectual bullshit like this is borderline dangerous. Because it is not only true.

But instead of pointing to the real flaws with Obama, like perhaps questioning him on how he's gonna fix urban social problems, gang problems and fix the unemployment, it's instead about how Obama is "portrayed".

Too much is about how and what he is.

Too little is about what he is doing.

Typical lazy ass "journalists".

[Skip8282]

I doubt it's spin propaganda, Hedge.  Even the POTUS has slipped up and used the term.  It's not really that important.  What's important is WHO is being put in these positions.

Realistically speaking, there's just too many high ranking political jobs for the senate to confirm everyone (Big, Big government).  But, hopefully, the media (all of them) has the resources to catch a lot of the bad ones.  Of course, there's bound to be some that slip through.

[Soul Crusher]

I doubt it's spin propaganda, Hedge.  Even the POTUS has slipped up and used the term.  It's not really that important.  What's important is WHO is being put in these positions.

Realistically speaking, there's just too many high ranking political jobs for the senate to confirm everyone (Big, Big government).  But, hopefully, the media (all of them) has the resources to catch a lot of the bad ones.  Of course, there's bound to be some that slip through.

Just because past presidents did it does not make it ok for Obama to do it. 

Additionally, the issue is making hweadlines because of who he has appointed to these positions.  Marxists, Maoists, Statists, Radicals, etc have no business in these positions when they themselves never had a chance of making it through a real Senate confirmation process.   

[Skip8282]

Just because past presidents did it does not make it ok for Obama to do it. 

Never said otherwise.  Kindly reread.

Additionally, the issue is making hweadlines because of who he has appointed to these positions.  Marxists, Maoists, Statists, Radicals, etc have no business in these positions when they themselves never had a chance of making it through a real Senate confirmation process.   

I believe we are saying the same thing.  The title isn't really important, but WHO goes into those positions is important.  But, as a practical matter, the Senate cannot be expected to approve the thousands and thousands of appointees to high level government positions.

[Soul Crusher]

Never said otherwise.  Kindly reread.



I believe we are saying the same thing.  The title isn't really important, but WHO goes into those positions is important.  But, as a practical matter, the Senate cannot be expected to approve the thousands and thousands of appointees to high level government positions.

I was not arguing with you, but the poster who tried to make an equivalence. 

My problem with these Czars is that they are not accountable to the taxpayer or election process, have control over a lot of $$$ and employees, etc.   

[Hugo Chavez]

Appointed by the president
Do NOT answer to congress
No vetting process
Can claim executive power if questioned by congress
American people have no say in who gets the job
Only the President can remove them
Oversee billions of US Tax Dollars



Is there a limit of the number of Czars that can be appointed?

What is the main purpose behind having Czars?

just curious, did the Czars issue bug you when Bush was setting the standard for their common use?  I mean people that turned an eye then, enambled the next guy.  I know one thing, the left called Bush on it, but the right was silent on it.  Now maybe the story would be different today if ya all hadn't given it a green light then.

[Skip8282]

I was not arguing with you, but the poster who tried to make an equivalence. 

My problem with these Czars is that they are not accountable to the taxpayer or election process, have control over a lot of $$$ and employees, etc.   

Some are accountable, some aren't.  All are accountable to the POTUS.  Under Secretaries, career SES and the like, are typically career Federal employees who have worked their way up.  In other cases, such as the Car czar you have strictly political appointees and their experience means little.  In fact, they may have no experience.  But, I'm not sure we can lump them all together.

[Signifying Monkey]

Appointed by the president
Do NOT answer to congress
No vetting process
Can claim executive power if questioned by congress
American people have no say in who gets the job
Only the President can remove them
Oversee billions of US Tax Dollars



Is there a limit of the number of Czars that can be appointed?

What is the main purpose behind having Czars?

to show Russia that we're better than them - they could only afford one, here they're a dime a dozen. 30 Rock explained the role of the czars in their last episode.  it has something to do with gay vendetta against jack donaghy and being besties with sasha and malia

PS All these other posters are just trying to show off, but I have the actual scoop

[Mons Venus]

Appointed by the president
Do NOT answer to congress
No vetting process
Can claim executive power if questioned by congress
American people have no say in who gets the job
Only the President can remove them
Oversee billions of US Tax Dollars



Is there a limit of the number of Czars that can be appointed?

What is the main purpose behind having Czars?

Ask George "the grim reaper" Bush. He loved Czars !!!


List of George Bush’s Czars from January 2001 to January 2009:

Abstinence Czar (Randal Tobias)

AIDS Czar (4 Czars: Scott Evertz, Joe O’Neill, Carol Thompson, Jeffrey Crowley)

Bank Bailout Czar (Neel Kashkari)

Bioethics Czar ( Leon Kass)

Bird flu Czar (Stewart Simonson)

Birth control Czar (Erik Keroack)

Budget Czar (3 Czars: Mitchell Daniels, Joshua Bolton, Rob Portman)

Clean Up Czar (2 Czars: Jessie Roberson & James Rispoli)

Communications Czar (Dan Bartlett)

Cyber Security Czar, Cyber Czar (2 Czars: Richard Clarke, Rod Beckstrom)

Democracy Czar (Elliott Abrams)

Domestic Policy Czar (Karl Rove)

Drug Czar (John P. Walters)

Faith-Based Czar, Faith Czar (4 Czars: Don Willett, John Dilulio, Jim Towey, Jay Hein)

Food Safety Czar (David W.K. Acheson)

Global AIDS Czar (2 Czars: Randall Tobias, Mark Dybul)

Health Czar for WTC, World Trade Center Health Czar (John Howard)

Health IT Czar (David Brailer)

Homeland Security Czar (Michael Chertoff)

Homeless Czar, Homelessness Czar (Phil Mangano)

Gulf Coast Reconstruction Czar, Hurricane Katrina Recovery Czar (Donald E. Powell)

Intelligence Czar (2 Czars: John Negroponte & John Michael McConnell)

Manufacturing Czar (2 Czars: Albert Frink & William G. Sutton)

Policy Czar (Micahel Gerson)

Public Diplomacy Czar (2 Czars: Karen Hughes & James Glassman)

Reading Czar (G. Reid Lyon)

Regulatory Czar (2 Czars: John D. Graham & Susan Dudley)

Science Czar (John Marburger)

Terrorism Czar (3 Czars: Richard A. Clarke, Wayne Downing, John O. Brennan)

War Czar (Douglas Lute)

[The Showstoppa]

Mike Fratello was known as the "czar of the telestrator."