Czar Issued

This is what I have so far of Czar-level authorities in the Obama administration (I compiled this information from a few different web-pages). Please let me know if you see any addition or corrections to this list. There are links below some of the names with news stories related to that the czar or publications written by the czar. This is a work in progress. I have not researched all the czars yet (not even all the ones listed here). There are so many and I keep having to add more. I am approaching this with a critical view. This may seem negative, but the purpose of this entry is to give information that people may not know about the czars. I think this is important czars are not held accountable to anyone other than the president. I welcome everyone to research the czars themselves. There is more to these individuals than what I have posted here and some of the people listed have served under other presidents as well. Obama is not the first president to have czars. What is shocking is the number of czars he has. Most have not been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. There have been accusations that this is an Obama Administration scheme to create new pseudo-cabinet posts and bypass congressional oversight.



The above video is from June 15, 2009 from U.S. Congressman John Carter's official YouTube page.

Allison, Herb - TARP Czar
Forbes March 16, 2009 - Herb Allison: Tapped For TARP?
"With the national unemployment rate for March soaring to 8.5%, many Americans are worried about losing their jobs. One person not losing sleep over it is current Fannie Mae CEO Herb Allison, who reportedly will soon be asked by President Obama to manage TARP, the $700.0 billion bank rescue effort, as the assistant secretary for the Office of Financial Stability."

Bersin, Alan - Border Czar
Time April 16, 2009 - Alan Bersin: Obama's 'Border Czar'
"Has been known to take jobs for which he has little experience. Served as U.S. Attorney in San Diego despite not being a criminal lawyer. Became San Diego School Superintendent despite not having sent any of his children to public institutions."

Blair, Dennis - Intelligence Czar (Director of National Intelligence)
USA Today January 8, 2009 - Obama's choice of Blair as intelligence czar covers bases
"In 2003, Blair became president of the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federally backed national security research group. The Pentagon inspector general reported in 2006 that Blair violated conflict-of-interest standards by not disqualifying himself from studies on the F-22 fighter while on boards of two contractors with ties to the program. The report also found, though, he had "no impact" on the studies' results."

Brennan, John - Homeland Security/Terrorism Czar
Washington Times March 21, 2008 - Passport breach being investigated
"The State Department last night said one of the persons responsible for the inappropriate behavior was employed by an information technology firm headed by one of Mr. Obamas foreign intelligence advisors."
"The State Department this evening had not yet released the names of the persons responsible for the unauthorized searches but said two were employed by Stanley Inc. and the third was an employee of The Analysis Corp. (TAC). Stanley Inc., a 3,500-person firm, is an Arlington-based information technology firm that this week won a $570 million contract to continue providing passport services to the State Department, which the company has done since 1992, according to Stanley Inc.s Web site. TAC is a McLean-based information firm that has helped the State Department automate the Terrorist Watchlist over the last several years, the companys Web site said. TACs Chief Executive Officer John O. Brennan is a former CIA agent who is an adviser to Mr. Obamas presidential campaign."

Browner, Carol - Energy and Environment/Global Warming/Climate Czar
The Washington Times - Obama climate czar has socialist ties

Carrion, Adolfo Jr. - Urban Affairs Czar
NY Daily News March 12, 2009 - Adolfo, the urban legend: House tale of Obama city czar Carrion demands probe

Davis, Cameron - Great Lakes Czar
ABC NEWS June 4, 2009 - Cameron Davis Appointed as Great Lakes Czar

DeParle, Nancy-Ann - Health/Health reform Czar
MSNBC July 2, 2009 - Obama health czar directed firms in trouble DeParle made millions from companies under federal investigation
"Nancy-Ann DeParle, President Barack Obama’s health policy czar, served as a director of corporations that faced scores of federal investigations, whistleblower lawsuits and other regulatory actions, according to government records reviewed by the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University.
Several of the companies were investigated for alleged kickbacks or engaging in other illegal billing schemes, while others were accused of serious violations of federal quality standards, including one company that failed to warn patients of deadly problems with an implanted heart defibrillator. Several of the cases ended with substantial fines paid to the federal government, even though the companies admitted no wrongdoing.
Since leaving her government job running Medicare for the Clinton administration, DeParle built a lucrative private-sector career. Records show she earned more than $6.6 million since early 2001, according to a tally by the Investigative Reporting Workshop.
Much of that corporate career was built at companies that have frequently had to defend themselves against federal investigations. After leaving government, DeParle accepted director positions at half a dozen companies suspected of violating the very laws and regulations she had enforced for Medicare. Those companies got into further trouble on her watch as a director."

Devaney, Earl - Stimulus accountability Czar
TIME Feb. 24, 2009 - Stimulus Watchdog Earl Devaney

DuBois, Joshua - Faith-based Czar

Feinberg, Kenneth R. - Pay Czar / Compensation Czar

Fox, J. Charles (Chuck) - Chesapeake Bay Czar

Fried, Daniel - Guantanamo Base closure Czar

Gration, J. Scott - Sudan Special Envoy

Hathaway, Melissa - Cybersecurity Czar

Holdren, John - Science Czar
John Holdren, Ideological Environmentalist
The No-growth society
Population and Panaceas A Technological Perspective, by Paul R. Ehrlich and John P. Holdren

Jones, Van - Green Jobs Czar
Fox News - Land of the "Czars"
"Meet Van Jones, the man selected by President Barack Obama to serve as his green jobs "czar." Before arriving in Washington, Jones had a long and distinguished record as a radical environmental activist.
But he also has another lengthy record under his belt: a criminal record.
Jones was arrested on at least two occasions, once during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles and then again several years later during protests in Seattle.
Now with a record like that, it's good that Jones didn't need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Oh, and by the way, to top it all off, in a 2005 newspaper article, Jones openly acknowledged that he was once a communist."

Kerlikowske, Gil - Drug Czar

Kundra, Vivek Kundra - Technology/Infotech Czar

Lute, Douglas - War Czar

Mitchell, George - Mideast Peace Enovy

Rattner, Steven - Car Czar (Lead Advisor to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry
President Obama's car czar Steven Rattner drives off under cloud

Ross, Dennis - Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia Advisor

Samore, Gary - WMD Policy/Nonproliferation Czar

Stern, Todd - Climate Special Evnoy

Sunstein, Cass R. - Regulatory Czar
New York Post - GAG THE INTERNET! AN OBAMA OFFICIAL'S FRIGHTENING BOOK ABOUT CURBING FREE SPEECH ONLINE
Wall Street Journal - Obama's Regulatory Czar Likely to Set a New Tone
Amazon - On Rumors: How Falsehoods Spread, Why We Believe Them, What Can Be Done (Hardcover) by Cass R. Sunstein(Author)

Volcker, Paul A. - Economic Czar

Zients, Jeffrey - Government Performance Czar

I will be updating list as more information becomes available.

SOURCES:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/07/14/2009-07-14_president_obamas_car_czar_steven_rattner_drives_off_under_cloud.html#ixzz0LJIEIQQQ&C
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/12/obama-climate-czar-has-socialist-ties/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533144,00.html
http://www.amazon.com/Rumors-Falsehoods-Spread-Believe-Them/dp/0809094738
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07112009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/gag_the_internet__178749.htm
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123138051682263203.html
http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/03/holdren-obama-science-opinions-contributors_0203_ronald_bailey.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=7jjp9bv0qNYC&dq=The+No-Growth+Society&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=toR1ibnFhn&sig=4VVFOK8nj3IYsoIGtIisIl_q-KI&hl=en&ei=M6BdSrOADpGaMPvTsa4C&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1294858
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/mar/21/passport-breach-being-investigated/
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/16/allison-tarp-fannie-face-markets-america.html
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1891573,00.html?iid=fb_share
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/03/12/2009-03-12_adolfo_the_urban_legend_house_tale_of_ob.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-01-08-blair_N.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=7761131
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31566399/ns/health-health_care/
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1881351,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlEiu0bXRLQ

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Thomas Jefferson Issued

When we feel frustrated and begin looking for answers for the future of our country we often look for answers from our founding fathers. Their words ring as true even now. They were just men with faults of their own, but they were exceptional men in the way that they understood the concept of having a republic and freedom.

I am inspired to focus today's blog on Thomas Jefferson because I hear his words being quoted now more than I ever have before.

Michele Bachmann, a Republican Congresswoman from Minnesota, was quoted in the New York Times repeating the words of Thomas Jefferson.

I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us, “Having a revolution every now and then is a good thing,” and the people – we the people – are going to have to fight back hard if we’re not going to lose our country. And I think this has the potential of changing the dynamic of freedom forever in the United States.

These words stirred up a political media firestorm. Were these words a call to vigilence or a call to violence? Personally, I think she is calling for vigilence. I think she wanted to remind that people that we are the ones who have the power. This isn't the first time her comments have drawn scrutiny. This reminded me of another qoute by Thomas Jefferson, "When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, an hundred." A lot of people are angry (and maybe even scared right now) & rightfully so, but we must choose our words and actions carefully. There is a time for angry phone calls and letters, there is a time for massive nonviolent noncompliance and then there is a time for revolution. Let's be vigilent, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Thomas Jefferson has shared some of the same concerns that we have when he made this statement, "I, however, place economy among the first and most important republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared."

There was a video I watched on you Tube today that focuses on our current economic crisis and yearns for Mr. Jefferson.


We may not have Jefferson, but he left us his words. Jefferson even understood the importance of this when he said, "It is the duty of every good citizen to use all the opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country." I've reminded a friend that was losing hope for the future of our country that the words of our founding fathers are immortalized in stone and monument in our nation's capitol. We can always return.

An exceptional man is still a man, no different than any of us.

"Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights."
- Thomas Jefferson

If we truly believe the words of Jefferson, then we should have no problem believing that we are the ones that can set things right.

Related Link and Sources:
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/michele-bachmann-seeks-armed-and-dangerous-opposition-to-cap-and-trade/
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/19/pub-michele-bachmann/
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/mtjquote.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUBIJCXz9M8
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson/

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Organizing for America Isssued

Organizing for America or O.F.A. as they call it, just launched 3/21/2009.

I'm a bit confused as to what the point of having Americans sign a pledge saying that they support the president's plan. People who sign this pledge will then have their names and contact information (address, email address and phone number) entered into a special webpage.

Anyway, the Obama official You Tube page has posted a couple videos. Notice the very young children in the training video, especially the one being prompted at the end who says, "Education is good for your brain." Maybe that's all they are after - BRAAIINSSS! Sounds familiar?

Bob Hope on Zombies and Democrats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a6YdNmK77k

Anyway, here's the videos.

Pledge Project Canvass Training Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4NKllI3AfM

Mitch Stewart's Organizing Update - March 9, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xImpUMQuPUA

Has anyone came to your door yet?

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