How many obama czars are there now

Although some Members have asked serious questions around the makeup of the White House staff, the bulk of the noise you hear began first with partisan commentators, suggesting that this is somehow a new and sinister development that threatens our democracy. This is, of course, ridiculous. Many of the officials cited by conservative commentators have been confirmed by the Senate. Many hold policy jobs that have existed in previous Administrations.

Many of these members who now decry the practice have called on Presidents in the past to appoint "czars" to coordinate activities within the government to address immediate challenges. Just some folks willing to act in good faith. John Koskinen, the Clinton Administration adviser responsible for overseeing Y2K preparation, was cited by the National Journal for his successful use of the role.

At one meeting, agency heads who had been dragging their feet on preparing their computer systems were called to the carpet by Vice President Gore and asked to get with the program.

Contact us at letters time. By Randy James. Related Stories. While we hold our collective breath for that, there are other key questions we can consider: What would an Ebola Czar do?

Who might President Obama choose for such a task? Related Books. Justin S. Related Topics Executive Branch U. More on U. Play Audio. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Gil Kerlikowske, who first came to the office in , stepped down last spring after a tumultuous tenure, and Michael Botticelli, a recovering alcoholic who's received service awards for promoting recovery addiction, was tapped to fill the position.

Bill Piper, director of national affairs for Drug Policy Alliance, a pro-reform group in Washington, told National Journal that Kerlikowske's record was mixed. Kerlikowske's tenure instead signaled a turning point. The appointment of Botticelli as acting director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy underscored a shift in the administration's approach to drug policy from emphasizing law enforcement to emphasizing treatment and recovery services.

To put it bluntly: Kerlikowske came to the office fresh off a gig as police chief in Seattle, while Botticelli has been open about his struggles with addiction. In , Obama named an Asian carp czar to combat the influx of the invasive fish in the Great Lakes. John Goss, the director of Asian carp for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, spearheads the effort to eradicate the species. Steven Rattner, who was appointed as as the Obama administration's car czar in February , lasted only six months on the job.