Feingold To Hold Hearings On Obama's 'Czars'

[SpartanDem]

Bush had just as many czars did your ass bother having any hearings then? No, because that wouldn't allow you to prove how "tough and principled" you are by going after the guy from the other party. No, instead you thought it better to reaffirm GOP talking points you self righteous prick.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), chairman of a Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, will hold a hearing next week on President Obama's use of "czars."

Feingold has joined several Republicans and conservative talking heads in criticizing Obama over how many czars he's appointed. The term, although in no official title, applies to positions in the executive branch that don't need the approval of Congress. But several of the "czars" mentioned by Glenn Beck and the like actually have been approved by lawmakers.

Feingold is running for re-election next year.

The attack of these czars, at town halls and right-wing events, has been a conservative crowd-pleaser. For example, a speaker at the Take Back America Conference last week, attended by Mike Huckabee and other luminaries, called "diversity czar" Mark Lloyd the new Joseph Goebbels. Lloyd is the chief diversity officer at the Federal

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/feingold-to-hold-hearings-on-obamas-czars.php?ref=fpb

[bluestateguy]

1. Thank you for wasting everybody's time

I tried to tell everyone that Russy Finegold is a sanctimonious, bloviating twit, but nooooooooooo. He's St. Russell the Perfect Who Can Do No Wrong.

[WCGreen]

2. Never gebetween a camera and Russ no muss...

[karynnj]

6. Not true - Russ Feingold is rarely on TV

There are many people that idiotic criticism if fairer for - starting with McCain. I could name at least 20 Senators I have seen on TV news shows more than Feingold. McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Lieberman seem to be everywhere.

[WCGreen]

9. I see him a lot more than any of the five who voted no today...

[iceman66]

19. Agreed.

By doing this he is only lending credence to right-wing nonsense.

No one ever held hearings on Bush's 'czars'.

[boppers]

3. Lets have the sessions, then.

Hundreds of them, if needed.

Meanwhile, as Faux is doing wall-to-wall coverage of (often unpaid) advisory positions, lets pass some laws.

Let them have their circus, their sideshow.

[Trocadero]

4. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING IN WASHINGTON DC? HAVE THEY ALL LOST THEIR FUCKING MINDS?

[Eric J in MN]

5. Congress has the power to decide which White House officials require Senate approval.

Congress gets that power from the Constitution.

If Russ Feingold wants to examine whether specific jobs which don't currently require Senate approval should, that's fine.

I just don't want a broad anti-czar bill. That would be stupid.

[Fridays Child]

7. Five Americans die every hour because they have no health insurance...

...and this is what Feingold thinks is important enough to focus on???

[firedupdem]

8. Amen...dumbest shit ever. n/t

[Thrill]

10. Giving credence to bullshit for them to bash Obama on.

He's an idiot for going along with this right now. Dumbass Democrats

[ShortnFiery]

11. Yes, with all the problems we have, it's no time to grandstand.

:thumbsdown:

[Cali_Democrat]

12. I've come to the conclusion that Dems don't like power!

They want to give it back to the rethugs every chance they get!

I thought Feingold was one of the good guys.

I feel so disillusioned.

[ShortnFiery]

13. No, our Dems value THEIR CAREERS (Kerry, Finegold and Obama included) over the welfare of the

average American worker. Sure, they posture, but when it comes down to action, every damn thing they do seemingly helps continue the redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the super wealthy. :grr: :nuke:

[ikojo]

14. Which party won in November 2008?

That's right, the Republicans did or so it would seem with the influence they have in setting the agenda.

Democrats find your spines and balls or there will most likely be a repeat of 1994 in 2010. Seems some right wing "Democrats" could care less.

[CakeGrrl]

15. What a tool.

Another Dem who only has the stones to look tough at the expense of his own party's President.

[lamp_shade]

16. I'm with Feingold... he's no dummy. He has learned that more often than not the best

way to put such assisine issues to bed is to bring them to the forefront, have them debated publicly on the floor, and watch the right make fools of themselves with their groundless arguments. In this instance, it would be an opportunity for the left to say "until you folks stop holding back the Presidents nominations, he has no choice but to make such appointments". I think it's smart.

[annabanana]

17. +1. . . I haven't seen Feinfold misstep yet. This will work out

to our advantage.

[ErinBerin84]

18. eh

I'm not with the "He is doing this so the issue can be debated and put to bed" crowd. Hasn't Feingold publically criticized Obama for the czar issue before? I'm pretty sure he has...I'm not with him on this.

[Phx_Dem]

20. What a dick. Maybe he'll hold a "birth certificate" hearing as well.

Asshole.

[Vidar]

21. Good for Feingold.