Did you know that he has increased the number of czars for an administration by 400%, just 100 days into office. Do you know what these officials, appointed directly by the President, do? These are just a few of the questions that came to mind when I learned of the most recent Czar appointed by President Obama. The Transparency Czar. His job description reads "to clarify the actions and policies of President Obama and members of his administration." The President is already coming through on his promise of transparency! He appointed someone, who answers to no one but him, to tell us what is really going on! Doesn't that sound great? I didn't think so. Don't worry, there really is no such thing as a "Transparency Czar," at least not yet. There isn't really a need for one anyway. No one questions anything coming from President Obama's or his administration anyway. If they do, other sources attempt to marginalize them with accusations of racism, fear-mongering, partisanship, inciting hate, being bitter, or being a right-wing nut.
So I will take it upon myself to do the extra digging, fact checking, and simple research required to provide the real "transparency" promised by President Obama. I now appoint my self the unofficial Transparency Czar of this administration.
First order of business, find out about the actual Czars of the Obama administration. I hope to answer questions like who are they, what do they do, what did they do before their appointment as czar, what is their purpose, who do they answer to, and how do they influence policy. Below is the list of Czars as of a week ago. I have seen list with a few more, but haven't been able to confirm an exact number. Because I can't provide a little "transparency" about all of them at once, because I have a life and do this as a hobby, I will try and do a "Czar of the day" post. This will include a "Top 10 Facts" theme that will hopefully answer the questions I mentioned above.
Drug Czar - Gil Kerlikowske
Energy and Environment Czar - Carol Browner
Homeland Security Czar - John Brennan
Health Czar - Nancy-Ann DeParle
Urban Affairs Czar - Adolfo Carrion, Jr.
Economic Czar - Paul A. Volcker
Regulatory Czar - Cass R. Sunstein
Technology Czar - Vivek Kundra
Government Performance Czar - Jeffrey Zients
Border Czar - Alan Bersin
WMD Policy Czar - Gary Samore
Intelligence Czar - Dennis Blair
Car Czar - Steven Rattner
Pay Czar - Kenneth R. Feinberg
Great Lakes Czar - Cameron Davis
Cyber Czar - TBA
So I will take it upon myself to do the extra digging, fact checking, and simple research required to provide the real "transparency" promised by President Obama. I now appoint my self the unofficial Transparency Czar of this administration.
First order of business, find out about the actual Czars of the Obama administration. I hope to answer questions like who are they, what do they do, what did they do before their appointment as czar, what is their purpose, who do they answer to, and how do they influence policy. Below is the list of Czars as of a week ago. I have seen list with a few more, but haven't been able to confirm an exact number. Because I can't provide a little "transparency" about all of them at once, because I have a life and do this as a hobby, I will try and do a "Czar of the day" post. This will include a "Top 10 Facts" theme that will hopefully answer the questions I mentioned above.
Drug Czar - Gil Kerlikowske
Energy and Environment Czar - Carol Browner
Homeland Security Czar - John Brennan
Health Czar - Nancy-Ann DeParle
Urban Affairs Czar - Adolfo Carrion, Jr.
Economic Czar - Paul A. Volcker
Regulatory Czar - Cass R. Sunstein
Technology Czar - Vivek Kundra
Government Performance Czar - Jeffrey Zients
Border Czar - Alan Bersin
WMD Policy Czar - Gary Samore
Intelligence Czar - Dennis Blair
Car Czar - Steven Rattner
Pay Czar - Kenneth R. Feinberg
Great Lakes Czar - Cameron Davis
Cyber Czar - TBA
In fairness to POTUS, I'm sure past Presidents had more than their fair share of Czars too. Nixon started the trend with 1 Energy Czar. Ok, fair enough, trends have to start somewhere. On to Reagan, 1 Drug Czar. H.W. Bush 1 Drug Czar. Clinton a Health, Drug, and Aids Czar. G.W. Bush an Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Aids, and Drug Czar. He's already increased the number for an administration 400% and it is only going up.
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