Legally, can the president invent new positions like "War Czar"

[Eric J in MN]

...without asking Congress to pass a law for the position to exist?

[MadMaddie]

1. This adminstrations has done this time and time again....

and I wonder if it is legal without Congressional approval.

[Rex]

2. At this point? He can do whatever he wants to.

They all serve :puke: at the pleasure of the POTUS. He even believes that about Congress AND the SCOTUS. They've invented a lot of shit in the past 7 years. I hope Congress or the SCOTUS stops him or he finally leaves office with his tail between his legs in shame.

[alfredo]

3. bush is shirking his responsibility.

[morningglory]

4. I believe he can visualize President Cheney imprisoned, impeached, or

joining his pal Falwell. If any of the above happen, he will need someone to tell him what to do, as war is his only "policy". He probably can see Rove dissappearing, too. Now that probably scares the little twit.

[alfredo]

7. All bush can visualize is his liquor cabinet.

[Fuzz]

15. The bastard is making me want to drink

[alfredo]

17. A good single barrel Bourbon I hope.

[Wisconsin Larry]

5. This administration has established the "strong executive" concept

to the extent that they are the law. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/05/02/mansfield/index.html
is the most recent treatise.

The bottom line is that the president is the law and shame on the complicit Congress(es) for letting them continue to get away with it.

[Old and In the Way]

6. Everyone sees this what it is.

Even the Bushbots have figured out that this is the pathetic endgame of a coward who can't bring it upon himself to end a ridiculous, illegal war initiated over manufactured evidence. So he now is looking for someone to take the blame for an ending we all can see coming. How small of the boy-king.

There were great dreams of "war hero" that played in this AWOL loser's mind in the summer of 2003...we caught a glimpse of it in his "Mission Accomplished" moment. Alas, he and the braintrust never understood that the active war was the easy part...occupation was something well beyond their abilities. Why would anyone think these greedy incompetents could run another country when they are incapable of running this one?

[JohnLocke]

8. Yes, it's a part of the EOP.

Executive Office of the President positions are not offices requiring Congressional creation, or for that matter Senate "advice and consent," under the Constitution.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/eop.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Office_of_the_President_of_the_United_States

Intrestingly, Nixon vetoed a bill to require Senate confirmation of the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget in 1973.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=3851

[Solo_in_MD]

9. And used by both parties when they are in the WH

[Kelly Rupert]

10. Of course.

Why wouldn't he? The cabinet is his.

[Eric J in MN]

12. Congress decides funding. If this is a paid position,

...has Congress allocated the funds?

[Bitwit1234]

11. I think we need a Peace CZAR more

Don't you all agree. I think we should have a Peace Czar who could go to the Middle East and other countries and try to spread peace. To talk to them and help decide how we can work together. How we can help people who are sick and needy. We don't need a damn War Czar, bush is doing enough of that by himself.

[Generator]

13. Could the dude get anymore obvious?

"See, har hee haw, it's the war czar's fault. Not mine." ALL this fucker does is pass the buck. It's astounding to me that all of these loser idiots are still around. I have to remain in a constant state of ironical hilarity over trivia and media nothingness to cope. You KNOW it's bad when even Howie Newsweek Fineman aka "I love sucking the power tit" is making analogies between the Bush admin and the Sopranos. (yesterday's Countdown-yes Gonzalez is a made man, we got that.)

[Patsy Stone]

14. He's the decider guy.

Besides, "scapegoat" sounded too Jewish.

[Canuckistanian]

16. He can appoint anyone he likes to whatever postition he wants

It's the actual power the person has that is prescribed by the Constitution.