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Another Perspective
Czars Along the Potomac
All along the Potomac, we now observe an array of potentates not seen since the days of imperial Europe. Were they to stand side by side, they would equal the width of a U.S. Navy destroyer. These government chieftains, now loosely known as czars, are so numerous as to almost constitute a shadow government. A visitor to our country might ask if the Russian empire has been resurrected and Constantinople is being threatened again.
These czars have been quietly and purposefully appointed while the American people were looking the other way -- at Afghanistan, health care, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, missile defenses in Europe, and outrage over bailouts and executive pay -- at things that matter. There are reportedly thirty-two and possibly more to come, with ten evidently reporting directly to President Obama, according to media sources. To be fair, there were numerous czars in the previous Administration, and some positions are holdovers. But these appointments present many questions, and the czars of President Obama seem to have come under more scrutiny than those of President Bush.
Because these czars are dedicated to many different things, we must wonder how the President can possibly manage, guide, and yes, mentor so many of them -- especially when his cabinet already comprises fifteen federal departments, and there are numerous federal agencies whose directors are appointed by the President. Even czars need nurturing.
There is also the disturbing question of why someone would now wish to serve in that cabinet, when an array of czars, festooned with the accoutrements of power, has the ability to countermand, intimidate, undercut and shadow -- furtively watching cabinet members do their work on both sides of the Potomac -- even as they sip Evian or French roast at Starbucks. And why would the President even bother to have a cabinet, when he can get a quick reading on a crisis from a czar?
In specific terms, we have the potential confusion over responsibilities that is an auditor's dream: there is a car czar and an auto recovery czar. One wonders how they decide who gets to read Car and Driver first -- or listen to Jan and Dean. There are separate czars for science and technology even though one can drive the other. Having an information czar further confuses information with information technology, making it hard to keep passwords straight. The possible appointment of a cyber czar will only add chaos to the mix. The existence of a faith-based czar suggests that agnostics and atheists are disenfranchised. A czar for the Great Lakes means that other freshwater sources, and algae, are being ignored.
The weapons czar must be tripping over the WMD czar, and California gets attention with a California water czar, while other western states must remain parched. Sudan is singled out for a czar, suggesting that all dysfunctional states should have one, including Somalia and Illinois. Interestingly, there is a green jobs czar but not an employment czar, implying that trendy, switched on workers will receive sponsorship, but not those toiling for decades in basic industries such as concrete, steel and glass. Further, a health insurance czar may reportedly be added, obscuring the control of the health czarina.
The fact that there are so few czarinas in the lineup tells us that much of our work force is not engaged and that we are an underperforming country -- with much GDP upside. There is also the disturbing question of whether the pay czar, like the policeman, is actually your friend. The existence of an urban affairs czar says that we have forgotten about the farmer and the need to eat. The government performance czar, a position bound to make some people smile, seems on a collision course with the economic czar, stimulus accountability czar, TARP czar, numerous cabinet members, advisers, and members of Congress.
Not all czars are equal of course, as some report to cabinet or other senior officials. But in view of the proliferation of czarist positions, it might be wise to appoint a czar of czars who will manage the affairs of other czars and critique their performance -- ideally 24/7, using cyclical 360 feedback, or 720 just to be sure. The number of questions raised by this pool of czarist talent might also suggest that a questions czar be appointed, whose principal qualifications would be inquisitiveness and the ability to poke around with a stick.
Sometimes we learn more about a country by the czars they do not have: there is no czar for combating narcissism and there is no stiff upper lip czar. Nor is there a czar to prevent grandstanding and empty posturing by Congress.
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jekyl| 11.10.09 @ 6:46AM
The perfect Leftist situation - have a Senate approved potentate in the proper position, but then bring in numerous other powerbenders and you endup with a quagmire of systems and duplication. It all equals power and money.
There must be some way to actively fight against these unelected power brokers. Maybe not with the current opposition organisation.
Jim O'Brien| 11.10.09 @ 7:54AM
The word czar is really inappropriate, since it calls to mind Nicholas II, etc. But putting that aside, it appears that Obama's Czars function in a manner not unlike political police in the former USSR. Their jobs are redundantly (and expensively) layered on top of the Cabinet appointees to ensure enforcement, and to do things which Obama wants hidden from public scrutiny.
Now I'm sure some may think the above comments are off the map, but just think what Obama would be doing if he didn't have to bother with the rule of law, an elected Congress, or the Supreme Court. We would have a "dictatorship of the proletariat". We would have a Ministry of Auto Production which establishes the profit plan of GM, for example. How about GE too?
Timothy L. Pennell| 11.10.09 @ 8:42AM
Ever hear of Accums' Razor? It's a theory, of sorts, that says: 'When confronting a problem where you can't decide on the proper way to deal with it, because of all the different variables that are involved, usually the SIMPLEST answer is the Correct one'.
Why so many CZARS? Czars are RUSSIAN. RUSSIA was COMMUNIST. RUSSIA became the SOVIET UNION. The STATE became GOD. The people lived, to PROVIDE FOR THE STATE. The STATE was SUPREME.
Is anyone else NOT SURPRISED by the fact that this 'THING', in the White House' ISN'T going to Germany for the celebration of the BERLIN WALLS' destruction? He "doesn't have time", he says. He HAD time, to fly to Copenhagen, for the Olympics vote. But not for a celebration of FREEDOM. That's because, to him, the fall of the Berlin Wall meant that the 'GOOD GUYS' lost. It was the WEST that was CORRUPT. It was the WEST that was the PROBLEM. The SOVIETS were the SOLUTION. The PEOPLE are STUPID and in need of CONTROL. 'TO EACH, according to their needs. FROM EACH, according to his ability'. That is what Obama believes, That is what he's trying to achieve, HERE. So why would he go to a PARTY that's celebrating the destruction of his lifes' desire?
This isn't rocket science, people. This guy is an OPEN BOOK.
Pingback| 11.10.09 @ 8:52AM
Czars Along the Potomac | Republican Party of Door County links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.10.09 @ 9:37AM
"apparatchik" (I had to go to my thesaurus to spell that one. heh)
Faceless bureaucrat with enormous power is my best definition. We got 'em now, and they can only be minimized by a courageous and alert congress which we don't got now. (smile)
Each of you, please e-mail me and forward the names of potentially excellent candidates for congress and Senate that you know about, and where they are from.
kbjudgeroybean06@gmail.com
We will contact them and get behind them.
Al Adab| 11.10.09 @ 11:30AM
Czar, alternativly Tsar, an autocrat. Derives from Ceasar as in Julius, dictator (imperator, emperor) of Rome. Also Kaiser.
To quote Patrick Henry, "Ceasar had his Brutus, and Charles I his Cromwell, ...George the III may profit by their example."
Does it have to come to that before our Constitution is defended and restored? Those holding elected office are sworn to defend it. Do they?
John K| 11.10.09 @ 12:38PM
The word they are looking for is "commissar".
Marc Jeric| 11.10.09 @ 4:01PM
As a former refugee from a communist hell I can easily recognize the Washington power structure - I am reminded of that hell. We just need an appropriate translation of terms. Thus those czars are really komissars appointed by the Party to supervise and direct the activities on the ground, and to ensure that the Party directives are faithfully executed. Community organizations (ACORN, SEIU, teacher unions) are system of local soviets in charge of protesting, intimidating, voting fraud, extortion, threats, and finally of execution of the Party orders.
Al Adab| 11.10.09 @ 6:25PM
Thank you Marc,
How far we have fallen.
Pingback| 11.11.09 @ 12:02AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Czars Along the Potomac [spectator.o links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Jim Hlavac| 11.11.09 @ 12:30AM
Don't worry about what the word is - Czar, from whatever derivation, is just a word that English has adopted to mean an "Unelected wacko having nothing else better to do but live off the public purse while being an incorrigible busybody" - no, they could call them cumquats, they could call them cupcakes, they could call them Patriots for all that matters -- it is what they do and how they got into the position that is offensive, not the word they are called. And yes, it would seem they are convolutedly against each other and there are many czars/cumquats who are "Missing in Action" leaving vast swaths of Americans and our lives czarless/cumquatless -- and it seems too that they are unconstitutional. And that is the multi-pronged tack against them that should be taken.
Destroy them by pointing to the Obamaphiliacs how they are losing out on their very own czar or cumquat.
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Zac in Virginia| 11.12.09 @ 11:34AM
Hm.
This article started out as a sincere critique of this situation, and then suddenly dissolved into cracking jokes. What happened, author?
Also - Obama is not a leftist or a communist; he is a business conservative who is out-warring the Bush Administration. I wish that he were red, but he isn't.
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