Ivan the Terrible (Oprichnina Ivan Grozny IV), = pictured right = was the first Russian Grand Prince to crown himself Tsar. With his reign, Russia became an autocratic state. He used the Oprichniki, a militia loyal only to him to terrorize the country.TODAY
Obama has fashioned a government of many czars (Reuters) There are over thirty czars in the federal government today in the old Soviet Union they were called Commisars:
(Do you know who these people are and qualifications they have to hold these positions?)
- Drug Czar - Gil Kerlikowske
- Sudan Czar - Scott Gration
- US Border Czar - Alan Bersin
- Faith-Based Czar - Joshua DuBois
- Information Technology Czar - Vivek Kundra
- Domestic Violence Czar - Lynn Rosenthal
- Guantanamo Closure Czar - Daniel Fried
- Green Jobs Czar - Van Jones
- Pay Czar - Kenneth Feinberg
- Great Lakes Czar - Cameron Davis
- Energy Czar - Carol Browner
- Climate Czar - Todd Stern
- AIDS Czar - Jeffrey Crowley
- Urban Affairs Czar - Adolfo Carrion Jr.
- Terrorism Czar - John Brennan
- Regulatory Czar - Cass Sunstein
- Stimulus Accountability Czar - Early Devaney
- Mortgage Czar - not yet appointed
- Car Czar - Ed Montgomery
- Copyright Czar - not yet appointed
- Technology Czar - Aneesh Chopra
- Iran Czar - not yet appointed
- Non-Proliferation Czar - Gary Samore
- Intelligence Czar - Admiral Dennis Blair
- Science Czar - John Holdren
- TARP Czar - Herb Allison
- Healthcare Reform Czar - Nancy Ann DeParle
- Middle East Policy Czar - Dennis Ross
- Middle East Peace Czar- George Mitchell
- Afghanistan & Pakistan Czar- Richard Holbrooke
- Cyber Security Czar - Ron Beckstrom (quit May 6)
The Czars occupy a place in government as part of the executive branch, but not of any agency. They have cabinet level power but are not confirmed by the Senate. They rule by direction of the president outside the oversight confirmation of the Congress.
8 comments:
Have no idea who most, if not all of these people are. Like the commiczar point - seems similar to "bloated government" - surely not?
LSP
LSP - I'm not sure what to think. The president has secretaries of State, Energy, Education, etc. Why does he need additional czars operating exclusive of those departments?
It confuses me too; two possibilities spring to mind: old fashioned croneyism & jobbery or, more more darkly, the development of a shadow government to bypass the current process.
Coming from the U.K. I'm inclined towards the first - but... what powers do these czars actually have?
LSP
I assume that qualification include owing tax money to the government.
This is scary...they must all be fellow commies and "community organizers" schooled in the same cesspools as dear leader! This is just wrong and should be outlawed.
LSP - I don't think it's cronyism. I rather think it's an attempt to bypass their own cabinets and Congress. An imperial presidency of sorts.
Yes, other presidents have had one or two "czars" Obama has taken it to an absurd level.
LL - 'bypass' has a certain ring of truth.
Obama's so-called "Czars" are not tsars at all, rather, they are Commissars. Mat Rodina had an interesting post on the distinction last month that I re-posted on my blog here:
http://libertarianadvocate.blogspot.com/2009/07/silly-americans-you-dont-have-czars-you.html
I think we should call 'em what they really are.
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