The right’s sudden concern about black Democratic presidents appointing Presidential ‘Czars’ has been simmering in the wingosphere for a while — and now Eric Cantor gives it a Congressional imprimatur.
By appointing a virtual army of "czars" — each wholly unaccountable to Congress yet tasked with spearheading major policy efforts for the White House — in his first six months, the president has embarked on an end-run around the legislative branch of historic proportions.
To be sure, the appointment of a few special officers to play a constructive role in a given administration is nothing new. What is new is the elevation of so many czars, with so much authority on endless policy fronts. Vesting such broad authority in the hands of people not subjected to Senate confirmation and congressional oversight poses a grave threat to our system of checks and balances.
A grave threat!
Totally not like those benign Bush Czars, which included:
- Cyber Security Czar
- Regulatory Czar
- AIDS Czar
- Bird Flu Czar
- Intelligence Czar
- Health IT Czar
- Katrina Czar
- Manufacturing Czar
- Drug Czar
- Domestic Policy Czar
- War Czar
- Copywright Czar
- Abstinence Czar
- Mine Safety Czar
- Latin American Czar
- WTO Health Czar
- Corruption Czar
- Privacy Czar
- Health Czar
IOKIYAR, blah, blah…
Notes Amanda Terkel,
Ironically, Cantor’s link to the outrageous “TARP czar” goes to the bio of Herbert Allison — who was confirmed by the Senate. There’s also Cantor’s “technology czar” Aneesh Chopra and the “government performance czar” Jeff Zients. Both men have already been confirmed by the Senate; Chopra is the Associate Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Zients is OMB’s Deputy Director for Management. Zients is serving in two roles — in both the OMB and as Chief Performance Officer — but he was fully vetted by the Senate.
Historic end-around!
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As I look at Cantor’s photo I’m reminded of Jeff Spicoli’s famous line, “What a DICK!”
But how else would the Ruling Class maintain its position and status if they didn’t engage in “noble lies”?
/Leo Strauss
The Repubs truly think we’re either stupid or suffering from dementia.
How DARE Obama name individuals as “czars” and then have them be confirmed by the Senate. /s
AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Blue Texan and the firepup Freedom Fighters:
This shit is all the fascists have so if the Democrats don’t fuck themselves up on healthcare, there is nuthin’ between us now and a new politics and economy. Even with the entire corporate media cryin’ about impendin’ socialism and the missin’ Obama birth certificate, unless the fascists can demonize Obama enough to break his approval ratings and thus his majorities in Congress, the only thing that can stop Democrats is Democrats. Obama is gunna rue the day he put all the Clintonistas into the administration.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION AND REMEMBER NOT ALL FASCISTS CALL THEMSELVES REPUBLICANS.
Just uppity I guess.
Is that an actual quote? I’ve not read any of Strauss’s writings. Reading those of his advocates was bad enough.
The “czar” thing is beyond stupid, and while Cantor is a twit he’s right to call Obama out on this. It’s a really bad idea imported from the worst of corporate management autocracy and embraces an anti-democratic political word. The idea seems to be the “czar” has the final say, and nobody else’s opinion matters. Screw that.
By the way, the first “czar” was brought into our government by GOP president Richard Nixon, who created the first “drug czar” and also had an “energy czar”.
Citizen MNUSA:
No, all the fascists hafta do is create enough confusion and fear among a few lilly livered Democrats to stop the wheels of government and politics from solving problems. Gridlock and stalemate is what they’re all about and they can’t do it unless the Democrats kill each other off.
Go Gophers and Tim Brewster!!
Hey, Norske
Problem is the Dems are sooooo good at doing just that. The old Buccaneers under Culverhouse stole the “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory” meme from the Dems.
Citizen SouthernDragon:
As for the handle “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory” that is now the fight song of the Minnesota Vikings…even though Brett Farve tried ta save ‘em from themselves and backed out.
The “Drug Czars” have been about as effective as Czar Nicholas II was against the Germans. The “Drug Czars” have managed to encourage technological innovation on the part of smugglers, made a number of small time thugs rich beyond comprehension, and maintained job security for any number of drug enforcement personnel in numerous countries.
Not an actual quote, but after having watched “The American Ruling Class” a few nights ago (highly recommended, btw), it conveys teh evil he and his followers have unleashed.
Here’s a nice YouTube excerpt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDgFiW2xtf0
And “War Czar” Gen. Douglas Lute is still on staff. WTF!
Citizen Arbustro:
“WTF” is right on brother!
Hoo, shit, haven’t seen that. Gonna hafta see if I can watch it online for free.
Seconded. Charlie would have kicked these guys’ asses too. Haven’t learned a fuckin’ thing. Kill ‘em all, let God sort ‘em out doesn’t work, assholes.
Why don’t we just annoint Cantor as the asshole czar.
I think John Boehner already has that job.
Back to the cesspool.
Namaste
I think Cantor is both correct and a hypocrite.
It’s czar czar galore around here!
He’s correct that this is unprecedented? Because I think that’s objectively false. He’s correct that the “czars” he mentions were “end-arounds” Congress? Also wrong.
I think one could make an intellectually honest argument against such special presidential advisers, but Cantor didn’t do it. And he has no credibility to do so, in any case, since he remained silent during the Bush years.
I think this poor little fellar Cantor is still suffering from all the atomic wedgies he received in high school.
Citizen SouthernDragon:
“Kill ‘em all, let God sort ‘em out” does work to create a lotta angry, confused and very fucked up young veterans though…and as long as the general public is not gettin a look at the coffins and the nero-surgical and psych wards in the vets hospitals, the killin’ will go on and on and…(where have I heard that before).
hey, lets stop this mysterious conversation between these old war horses nobody understands! over
I’ve always been a little disturbed by the use of the word “czar” to describe any official in a democratic government.
from Wikipdeia
But that doesn’t make Cantor any less of an ass.
Facts are a little over-rated aren’t they? No? You mean we should be governed by people equipped with the facts? That’s a quant notion isn’t it?
Citizen Eureka Springs:
Where the fuck are you comin’ from Citizen ES??!! Are you so “dazed and confused” that ya can’t tell the good guys from the bad ones?
totally agree sufilizard, I also think it’s not acceptable giving any official in the united sates a title that includes “czar”, I don’t care what party appointed them
just like I think it’s UNACCEPTABLE this president continues referring to national security with the fascist title of “homeland security
Citizen Raven:
And since when is it not right to remind folks that every political faggot hassle has dead soldiers and innocent civilians layin behind it? Where are YOU comin’ from there Brother Freebird?
Ha, scoldin the Springer now too!
I knw waht a wedgie is. How does an atomic wedgie differ from the standard variety?
Surely Cantor (the singer) would have been a likely and worthy recipient of such humiliation.
As one of the most disgusting, smarmy hypocrites of the Party, he is certainly now getting even with all those kids from school days.
Aw motherfucker lighten up, don’t get so serious you can’t tell a joke from a critique
Nixon? That figures.
Citizen Raven:
I must confess that you are always a few levels up from where my few remainin’ brain cells operate, Brother Raven…in the words of the old Zen master: “your thoughts are too prostronuvious for me to reflamigate upon”.
Peace out Trooper.
Citizen Raven:
My appologies, I’m a bit jumpy ‘cuz I just pulled an allnighter with my eldest daughter who is ready ta bag up the inner-city teachin’ ‘cuz she’s convinced that the “system” won’t let her or her students succeed (and she’s right, of course).
I always welcome yer “in-comin’”, you know that, Bro.
I think we need a Nap Czar. I need a nap.
Ya know I’m not all together certain myself, having never witnessed or been a participant in this particular form of humiliation, but I hear they tie the waistband of your drawers to your ears.
Hey BT!
Photos of Eric Cantor always make me want to go take a shower. He’s got that very significant creep factor going on. Take a look at his insipid, yet leering expression the next time Boner (excuse me, Boehner) is speaking. He’s usually hovering somewhere in the backgroud.
Shower time. Where’s the industrial-grade bleach?
You forgot the WTF Czar
OT (apologies, BT)
From the WaPo:
“Political adviser Karl Rove and other high-ranking figures in the Bush White House played a greater role than previously understood in the firing of federal prosecutors almost three years ago, according to e-mails obtained by The Washington Post, in a scandal that led to mass Justice Department resignations and an ongoing criminal probe.
The e-mails and new interviews with key participants reflect contacts among Rove, aides in the Bush political affairs office and White House lawyers about the dismissal of three of the nine U.S. attorneys fired in 2006…”
Marcy, of course, already has a post up about this.
I was thinking the vague resemblance to Gonzo is more than a little off-putting, as well.
And let’s not forget that he who tossed out “old war horses’ is no longer a spring chicken, his own self.
Duh. and duh.
(that’s a joke, son/some forgotten cartoon character)
Hot shit.
Now I’m wondering if industrial-grade bleach in the shower will be too mild. Maybe I should go straight to the Perchloric acid. Yeah…that just might work.
Where’s the WTF Czar when you really need one?
“Political adviser Karl Rove and other high-ranking figures in the Bush White House played a greater role than previously understood in the firing of federal prosecutors almost three years ago, according to e-mails obtained by The Washington Post, in a scandal that led to mass Justice Department resignations and an ongoing criminal probe.
I’m shocked, Shocked, I tell you!
False Flag Ops Czar Darth Cheney
Nice to give it such a gentle and even handed name too. Caesar, Czar. And the cantor may be concerned because cheney’s ‘czars” were empowered to act politically before law, science or logic might otherwise demand.
I wonder when we are going to change the name to “Hitler” We can have a secret police investigating Hitler. A insurance industry protection Hitler. A “feed them rotten carcasses Hitler” Everyone must have forgotten how bloodthirsty the czar or ceasar were. We are so damn stupid a people that you have to wonder if we are worth saving?
Foghorn Leghorn: That’s a joke son
czar, what a laughably pretentious title
Thanks, dakine– as usual, I remembered after I’d posted and popped over to Marcy’s place (I knew that voice in my head was familiar…)
Cantor is just another of the gop hate machine talking heads…. he ususally has nothing to say that didn’t come from Rush and isn’t seen in public without his nose up Boehner’s rear…in other words: Cantor is a joke.
Don’t forget that Bush also had the ultimate self-appointed czar,Dick Czaney. Czaney was a regular Czar of Czars, a Czar Czar Bings, the Big Czigar, who on his own ran the Fourth Branch…controlled Energy policy, held veto power over Intelligence that would presented to Congress, and ran black ops military teams domestically and internationally.
I’m sure Cantor loved him some Dick Czeney, Shadow Emperor.
In your face Shooting Czar.