Bubba Diplomacy

Although we’re delighted that Laura Ling and Euna Lee are now free, we can’t keep from wondering what the US gave away in order to obtain the release of the two American journalists held by North Korea. To the untrained eye, President Clinton just showed up for a friendly visit and Kim Jong Il suddenly agreed to let the young women go free.

But it’s certain that all was arranged ahead of time even though Obama’s spokesmen valiantly tried to play down any collaboration on his part.

However, the real danger, as former Ambassador Bolton pointed out, is that such diplomacy puts Americans at greater risks in the future. What promises will Tehran now extract from us to set the three American hikers free? Will future hostages require presidential rescue, complete with escalating demands and concessions? Will more Americans now be at risk?

But, putting aside such worries, their release provided an effective distraction from Obama’s sinking poll numbers, especially in the health care arena. In that respect, Bubba Diplomacy worked.

Government of, by, and for The Czars

Obama has named at least 21 czars that greatly increase the power of the Executive Branch of our government. None of these people face hearings or confirmations; their sole allegience is to the president. It is such a massive power grab that even Robert Byrd left his sick-bed long enough to pronounce the moves, which are outside of congressional oversight, violate the Constitution.

A president may have as many advisors as he wishes, however the Constitution does not provide for executive “czars” who directly dictate policy, such as Feinberg who will approve of executive pay for any business that receives government money.

After a two-hour search of the Internet I found the names and positions of 21, but I am not certain my list is complete. They are:

Af-Pak: Richard Holbrooke
Border: Alan Bersin
Cars: was Steve Rattner
Climate: Todd Stern
Cybersecurity: Rod A. Beckstrom
Drug: Gil Kerlikowske
Energy: Carol Browner
Executive Pay Rate: Kenneth Feinberg
Faith Based: Joshua DuBois
Guantamano Closure: Daniel Fried
Health Reform: Nancy Ann DeParle
Info Tech: Vivek Kundra
Mideast Peace: George Mitchell
Non proliferation: Gary Samore
Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia: Dennis Ross
Regulatory: Cass Sunstein
Science: John Holdren
Stimulus Accountability: Earl Devaney
Sudan: J. Scott Gration
TARP: Herb Allison
Terrorism: John Brennan
Urban: Adolfo Carrion, Jr.

Little is known about their backgrounds, about their direction from the President, or about the exact scope of their power. For example, few people know that John Holdren has co-authored a book praising forced abortions and mass sterilization, that his Cyber Security Czar claims to know nothing about IT, or that his energy czar is a member of the Socialist International who believes in one world government.

Next time, let's test the candidates for President on their understanding of basic civics and the Constitution. And maybe we need to re-read the Tenth Amendment ourselves.

Sometimes Obama Does Meddle

Many were distressed to see Obama waffle during the uprising in Iran because the leader of the free world did not support people who merely yearned for more freedom in a country oppressed by religious tyrants. But these same people are flummoxed that a week later he vociferously supports a leader who was removed from office in response to a Honduran Court arrest warrant.

He says he doesn’t want to meddle, yet he repeatedly meddles in Honduran affairs.

Of course, he is not alone. Both the OAS and the UN have denounced Zelaya’s legal removal office. Has rational thought about the rule of law and national sovereignty ceased to exist?