Czars...or Special Advisors?

According to online dictionaries Czar is defined as:
1. an emperor or king
2. the former emperor of Russia
3. an autocratic ruler or leader
4. a person with great authority or power in a particular industry

Synonyms include: autocrat, despote, baron

A new definition may be in order: Special White House Advisors to President Obama

There are those, both democrats and republicans, that think that the special advisors being appointed by Obama could be dangerous to our system of checks and balances in our government.

See article: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/25/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4828759.shtml

According to Politico and CBS News article (link above):

“Robert Byrd, the longest serving senator in history, criticized President Obama's appointment of numerous White House advisors, also called "czars," saying the presence of the czars gives the president too much power.

These czars report directly to Mr. Obama and have the power to shape national policy on their subject area. So far, Mr. Obama has recruited czars on health reform, urban affairs policy, and energy and climate change. Unlike Cabinet secretaries, they do not have to be approved by Congress.

In a letter to Obama on Wednesday, Byrd, a Democrat, said that the czar system "can threaten the Constitutional system of checks and balances," Politico reported. Byrd added that oversight of federal agencies is the responsibility of officials approved by the Senate.”

To read Sen. Byrd’s letter to Obama go to:

http://www.eenews.net/public/25/9865/features/documents/2009/02/25/document_gw_02.pdf

Of course, Obama is not the first President to appoint Czars. We’ve had drug czars, health czars, and homeland security czars. There is just some concern that Obama is going further with the appointments than past presidents. Which is not surprising to me.