Byrd: Obama in power grab

[CountAllVotes]

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 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.
Photo: AP

more here: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/19303.html

I have always had a lot of respect for Sen. Byrd. I'm kind of surprised to have found this article. What do others think about this?

[NYCGirl]

1. It's "The Battle of the Constitutional Scholars"! NT

[ananda]

2. Checks and balances ARE there actually.

Congress just chooses not to exert any power.

[Uzybone]

+1

[anonymous171]

21. Correct. Congress is getting lazy. nt

[grasswire]

3. the czars can't make law, can they?

I don't understand the conflict, if they are only advisory.

[Uzybone]

4. He has a point

but I have no faith in Congress, and a lot in the executive right now.

Congress ceded a lot to the executive during the Bush years, it'll take time to get some of that power back.

[bluestateguy]

5. He's a "constitutional scholar"?

Really? So where could I find a CV of all of his peer reviewed articles in academic journals?

[Occam Bandage]

6. It's nice to see Congress finally standing up for itself,

though it would have been nicer to see it do so when Bush was actually grabbing power, and not when Obama is creating policy advisory boards.

[MADem]

14. Poor Byrd was a lonely voice in the wilderness--he's always griped, and especially under Bush.

You could hardly turn on CSPAN without seeing that Constitutional codger waving his pocket sized Constitution on the floor of the Senate.

[CountAllVotes]

16. yes

and thank god for that! Sen. Byrd may have been considered by some to be a "lone voice in the wilderness" but I was listening very carefully and he gave me something called hope during some of America's darkest hours thanks to his constant defense of something called the Constitution of the United States.

[tekisui]

7. It depends on the functions of the czars.

If they are implementing the laws, they are operating within the executive, no problem.

If they are writing laws or making their own legislation, it could be a problem.

[babylonsister]

8. politico?

I think if Byrd expressed his concerns to President Obama, they will be heard and responded to.

[BuyingThyme]

9. I agree.

:applause:

[CountAllVotes]

13. I'm leaning that way myself

as much as I personally hate to admit it. Pres. Obama must answer to Sen. Byrd who enthusiastically endorsed him. Battle of the constitutional scholars some say? I don't quite think so - Byrd has very strong points that must be addressed I believe.

:dem:

[Beacool]

10. Interesting, considering who he ended up endorsing in the primaries.

But, he IS considered the Constitutional expert in the senate.

:shrug:

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. Makes sense -

he WAS in on the drafting of it, wasn't he?

[MADem]

11. I think Byrd has some valid points.

It's fine when our team does it, but I will say I found the 'Office of Faith Based Initiatives' PROFOUNDLY offensive and unconstitutional.

Remember, too, that Bush wanted HOMELAND SECURITY to be a White House money pit. Congress forced him to put all that spending out on the table and have Congress approve the head of the agency who would have so much power over so many federal agencies.

I have to say that, though I like what Obama has done so far, pretty much, I agree with Byrd on this issue. The Constitution is bigger than any President.

[Bread and Circus]

12. Right now a lot of our congress is corrupt and has been for a long time...

If they weren't so corrupt and had cleaned things up on their own, perhaps some of this wouldn't be done.

The problem I have the House and the Senate is that they are often beholden to narrow interests and often act in a way that is overall bad for the country.

[Aloha Spirit]

15. I read a similar argument recently... that he's reorganizing the White House and that

some people are losing influence. Podesta, apparently, was in charge of the reorganization.
"There are things that cut across agency lines that needed real powerful White House cohesion, direction, and leadership," Mr. Podesta said.

here is an article about the details of the reorganization
http://endlessknots.netage.com/endlessknots/2009/01/reorganizing-the-executive-office-of-the-president.html

here's a map of how the executive branch is laid out.
http://www.netage.com/economics/publish/USGov-wHouse-X.html

Rove is worried that all this oversight will make governing more difficult. We appreciate his concern.
Mr. Obama, Mr. Rove wrote, is likely to “create a more centralized and possibly incoherent policy process.”
Here is a NYT article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/weekinreview/01baker.html?_r=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Frankly, I just assume the outdated technology that Obama's team had to deal with is representative of the outdated organization that was in place.

[Egnever]

17. He has earned the right to say anything he wishes

I believe that currently there is a need for intense government oversight and planning and I honestly don't think congress is up to the task. I can see however Senator Byrds point. I don't believe obama is doing it in a grab for power but the potential for it to be used that way is certainly there.

I will be sorry to see this man retire. Nutty as a fruitcake at times but on point more often than not the last 8 years.

[jxnmsdemguy65]

18. interesting pic of Byrd...

does anyone else think that he sort of looks like a bald eagle?

[Thrill]

20. Typical Bullshit Politico Headline

I can understand Byrd's gripe. But the Headline from this piece of shit organization as usual shows their agenda. At no time does Byrd say Obama is in a Power grab.

Again, Please stop giving that website hits.

[jberryhill]

22. It is the structure of our system for the branches to keep an eye on each other

...and their prerogatives.

Senator Byrd is a national treasure, as is our fine President.

[mmonk]

23. I agree to some extent. But maybe Obama is doing it this way

to make the best case for his policies. But it comes at a time when our system is way off balance.