Feingold To Hold Hearings On Obama's 'Czars'

I'd be very curious to hear what folks in Wisconsin have to say about this.

I'm a native Wisconsinite (temporarily transplanted to Vermont). I love our Russ but I'm not sure what his thinking is on this. As Rachel points out it's election season for him but he's not usually one to pander unnecessarily and as the most popular Senator from Wisconsin he's not exactly in danger of getting bounced.

I'm looking forward to his next newsletter.

This is for his own benefit. This is rather pathetic. I admire him for voting against the patriot act, but when he's stating that he's against the climate change bill, voted against closing gitmo, and now this? I have to wonder if this is about him? or Anti-Obama?

How are advisers to the President different from advisers to our Congressional Delegates? I notice that the panel title strictly refers to "Executive Branch" czars. What gives? Perhaps the President should hold veto-power over advisers members of other branches get to select.

No one should have a problem with this. Obama and the rest of our elected officials have enough to deal with that they can't do it all alone. Having a group of trusted individuals with area-specific expertise to distill down important issues is of critical value to getting things done.

Top CEOs appoint Directors and ancillary advisers all the time--because they're busy people. Why shouldn't America's Chief Executive get to do the same?

sounds like someone didn't get picked for the team and is having a temper tantrum. follow the lobby money. that's what usually motivates politicians

He's a man of principle but sometimes is about half a bubble off. This is just throwing another log or two on a bonfire built by Republicans.

Those of you who sing his praises are off base here. As far as I'm concerned he's as dead as the blue dogs. What I mean by that is this. Those who cowtow to the idiot Republicans and Glen Beck are as good as dead when it comes to real legislation. There will be those progressive and liberal Dems who will vote against any bill that Feingold and other Dems put forward as payback for their ignorance and duplicity. This is a non issue and I hope it costs this clown. He's now one of them AN IDIOT. And any of you who vote for him are equally STUPID! You got that? You're all as stupid as he is. You got that? If you vote for him you're a MORON!

Ii suppport Obama (and his use of "Czars") but this is an important item to discuss and understand.

I nominate Feingold for an entry in Dickapedia.

Well I think Feingold is right is pursuing the 'czar' issue...and it also proves, just like broken clocks, that wingers can be right twice a day.

The 'czar' position was a Bush Administration favorite, a point that is completely lost on the wingers (they weren't bitching when W abused his power were they?). It was used so they could get extremist ideologues into positions they would have never been confirmed for. Just like signing statements, torture and indefinite dententions this practice should be stopped...

I am as progressive as they come, but I realized after the election that I could not remain a democrat. I am now an Independent. In the past few months, I have come to realize that none of these people care about "the party," or there fellow senators or the country. They care only about re-election, fundraising, and what lucrative job they will be able to secure or money they can hoard should they lose. That, combined with the over the top racist and frightening rhetoric has made me start to look elsewhere for another residential options. They threw ACORN under the bus, and they have no problem bringing down this president if it suits their election needs. Nauseating. Gross. Spiteful. No morality, just self serving calculations.

Russ (too often Russ alone) tried to do his job during the Bush years and hasn't given up just because his party is in power. Good for him. We can't claim to be a nation of laws is law enforcement becomes a partisan exercise.