A letter to the editor appeared in my hometown paper expressing "concern" over the large numbers of "Czars" appointed by President Obama.
A quick check of the net shows that this has been going down since July - from Glenn Dreck to right wing bloggers everywhere. They all parrot the claim that positions created by executive order constitute a "shadow government" that is "unaccountable to Congress".
I did a little research and then composed a reply to the newspaper. The short version is: Obama has appointed 31 "Czars", George W. Bush appointed 34. Bush needed lots of help to govern. Obama needs lots of help to clean up the mess Bush left behind.
To be fair, Senator Robert Bryd is concerned about this too - on constitutional grounds - just as he was concerned about the previous occupant's excessive powers.
Here's my letter to the editor:
Concern over President Obama's "Czars" is making the rounds of right-wing talk radio and websites... complete with scary accusations of "unconstitutional appointments" and "shadow governments". It's another tempest in a teacup.
"Czar" is an INFORMAL term, created by the press during WWII to describe directors of "task force" groups, created by executive order, to study urgent problems and recommend solutions for the President to carry out. President Nixon revived the term by appointing a Drug Czar and an Energy Czar, neither of whom required Congressional approval.
President Obama has created some new "Czars" and kept others from the previous administration. Paul Volker is the chairman of the new Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Joshua DuBois is the director of the old Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, created by George W. Bush. Neither required Congressional confirmation.
Some of the current positions were created by legislation which enacts a commission with a budget provided by Congress rather than the White House. These "Czars" are appointed by the President and require Congressional approval. Science advisor John Holdren heads the Office of Science and Technology Policy. He was confirmed by the Senate.
Congress itself sometimes creates commissions headed by "Czars", such as Elizabeth Warren, chair of the TARP commission.
There are approximately 1,000 presidential appointments that require Senate confirmation including:
-- Over 350 positions in 15 executive departments
-- 120 positions in independent executive agencies.
-- 150 ambassadors.
-- Approximately 200 U.S. attorneys and marshals.
-- 130 positions in regulatory agencies.
-- 160 presidential appointees to part-time positions.
So far, President Obama has appointed 31 "Czars" to study problems from climate change, to Mideast peace, to compensation of Wall Street CEO's.
Does that sound like a lot? Well, President George W. Bush had 34 "Czars" to help him figure out issues ranging from faith based social programs, to birth control to cyber-security. He even created a Czar to promote reading and another to figure out "strategic policy".
Bill Clinton had 6 "Czars", Bush41 had 2.
So, it appears that the current "Czar explosion" has occurred because President Bush43 needed a lot of help. He left a lot of problems behind, so President Obama has appointed a lot of people to help him clean up the mess.
Hopefully, future Presidents will have an easier time of it, and require the assistance of fewer "Czars". Right-wing concern over this is - as always - overblown and politically motivated.
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List of past presidents and their "Czars"here at Wikipedia.
Senator Byrd criticized Obama back in February for continuing the practices of the previous administration in this regard.
Harry DMI addressed this subject back on August 21.