Author Topic: Byrd: Obama in power grab  (Read 1491 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Wretched Excess

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15284
  • Reputation: +485/-84
  • Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happy Hour
Byrd: Obama in power grab
« on: February 25, 2009, 10:21:49 AM »
constitutional scholar, my a$$.  byrd is having a temper tantrum because the legion of ad hoc "czars" that BHO is creating are invading his turf.  this is a matter of egos and influence.


Quote
Byrd: Obama in power grab

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the longest serving Democratic senator, is criticizing President Obama’s appointment of White House “czars” to oversee federal policy, saying these executive positions amount to a power grab by the executive branch.

In a letter to Obama on Wednesday, Byrd complained about Obama’s decision to create White House offices on health reform, urban affairs policy, and energy and climate change. Byrd said such positions “can threaten the Constitutional system of checks and balances. At the worst, White House staff have taken direction and control of programmatic areas that are the statutory responsibility of Senate-confirmed officials.”

While it's rare for Byrd to criticize a president in his own party, Byrd is a stern constitutional scholar who has always stood up for the legislative branch in its role in checking the power of the White House. Byrd no longer holds the powerful Appropriations chairmanship, so his criticism does not carry as much weight these days. Byrd repeatedly clashed with the Bush administration over executive power, and it appears that he's not limiting his criticism to Republican administrations/.

Byrd also wants Obama to limit claims of executive privilege while also ensuring that thes White House czars don’t have authority over Cabinet officers confirmed by the Senate.

“As presidential assistants and advisers, these White House staffers are not accountable for their actions to the Congress, to cabinet officials, and to virtually anyone but the president,” Byrd wrote. “They rarely testify before congressional committees, and often shield the information and decision-making process behind the assertion of executive privilege. In too many instances, White House staff have been allowed to inhibit openness and transparency, and reduce accountability.”

More

Offline Eupher

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24894
  • Reputation: +2828/-1828
  • U.S. Army, Retired
Re: Byrd: Obama in power grab
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2009, 10:36:41 AM »
Somebody please help me understand why a 90-year old man is so consumed with power?

Where he's going to wind up, the only person in charge is Lucifer. You'd think he'd begin the process of winding down and accepting his fate.
Adams E2 Euphonium, built in 2017
Boosey & Co. Imperial Euphonium, built in 1941
Edwards B454 bass trombone, built 2012
Bach Stradivarius 42OG tenor trombone, built 1992
Kanstul 33-T BBb tuba, built 2011
Fender Precision Bass Guitar, built ?
Mouthpiece data provided on request.

Offline Wretched Excess

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15284
  • Reputation: +485/-84
  • Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happy Hour
Re: Byrd: Obama in power grab
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2009, 10:46:46 AM »
there is a natural tension between the legislative and executive branches over which wields the most influence.  just because they are controlled by the same party isn't really going to change that.  I predicted a falling out between reid/pelosi and the white house over who controls the dem agenda, or, more importantly, who gets credit in the press for controlling the agenda, about 10 minutes after they called virginia for obama on election night.