Cass Sunstein Attacks Frustrate Conservative Fans

Washington Independent :

...The campaign against Sunstein has largely written itself. One of the most regularly cited legal scholars, the author, co-author, or editor of dozens of books -- two of them published since he was nominated to run OIRA -- Sunstein has left a trail of theoretical writings and speeches that have provided plenty of ammo for conservative opponents. StopSunstein.com, a Website launched in February by the American Conservative Union, is festooned with out-of-context quotes ("We ought to ban hunting") and fake newspaper headlines written as if Sunstein's opinions had become law -- "Guns Banned!" and "FCC Pulls Plug on Limbaugh!" Much of the damaging material comes from "Nudge," a thoughtful 2007 book Sunstein wrote with the University of Chicago's Richard Thaler, which investigates the possibilities for "libertarian paternalism," not government control, to encourage good behavior. This, for example, is where the conservative CNSNews.com drew its damaging allegation headlined "Obama Regulation Czar Advocated Removing People's Organs Without Explicit Consent."

All of this has proven confusing and frustrating to Sunstein's conservative and libertarian admirers -- some of whom were outspoken opponents of Jones, and opponents of the "czars" who, unlike Sunstein, do not need to be confirmed by the Senate.

Read the whole story: Washington Independent

Comments

[jalowe1957]

Funny how conservatives will go after one of their own just to satisfy their own lust for bloodsport.

[Kateyras]

I had thought I could not possible think any less of Republicans. I was wrong...............

[Neaguy]

Sunstein is a conservative, which just goes to show you two things:
Another conservative appointment by the faux progressive president.
The right wing is really wacko to oppose someone who is closer to their point of view than actual progressives.

[mendelcrosses]

The matra is say NO to Obama.
Obama could bring in Cheney ,Bush and Reagan and they will oppose

[talkitreal]

The Republicans do realize that their are actually NO Czars at all -- NO ONE in the administration actually has that Title of Czar. In fact the titles of Czar is a description MADE UP BY THE PRESS !!

HERE ARE THE FACTS:

* The so-called "Drug Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Director of the Office of national Drug Control Policy
* The so-called " Intelligence Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Director of national Intelligence
* The so-called " AIDS Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy
* The So-called "Border Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Department of homeland Security Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative of Border Affairs

* The so-called " Science Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Director of the White House Office and Science and Technology Policy
* The so-called Regulatory Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Administrator of Office Of information and Regulatory Affairs.


THE POINT IS, THERE ARE NO CZARS!!! And IN FACT many of the Jobs you see above, were created by Previous Administrations, including by Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, and George Bush . ALL THESE JOBS WERE CREATED BY, AND EXISTED IN, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS .


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#32747928

[CAHertzfe]

Exactly! Get a grip people. Shut down the rethug talking points of nonsense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._executive_branch_czars

See how many Bush himself had. Damn the truth has it's sticky points!

[KarateKid]

Nonsense is all they have left. They're losing their minds because of it.

[CAHertzfe]

Exactly! Get a grip people. Shut down the rethug talking points of nonsense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._executive_branch_czars

See how many Bush himself had. D@mn the truth has it's sticky points!

[alexdog]

Sure does.
Gathered from your source. Some served part years. Those I counted one per year (counting that as someone resigned and a new one was appointed.) I cannot prove or disprove that as there is not enough data listed.
Intelligence it appears there were 2 holding that position from 05-07 and both were counted.
In total Bush appointed 46 czars over 8 years.
Here is the breakdown per year:
01 = 11 Confirmed = 5
02 = 12 C = 5
03 = 12 C = 6
04 = 15 C = 7
05 = 23 C = 11
06 = 24 C = 13
07 = 21 C = 12
08 = 20 C = 9

[alexdog]

this was more what I was looking for:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,531363,00.html

VAN SUSTEREN: He had two czars, regulatory and Pentagon procurement czar, was Ronald Reagan's. He had two. Bush 41 had one. Clinton had 9. Bush 43 had 12. And to date, President Obama has more than 30.

or I have seen a list of 19 for Bush:
Bush Czars, which included:

* Cyber Security Czar
* Regulatory Czar
* AIDS Czar
* Bird Flu Czar
* Intelligence Czar
* Health IT Czar
* Katrina Czar
* Manufacturing Czar
* Drug Czar
* Domestic Policy Czar
* War Czar
* Copywright Czar
* Abstinence Czar
* Mine Safety Czar
* Latin American Czar
* WTO Health Czar
* Corruption Czar
* Privacy Czar
* Health Czar
Many of which were confirmed by Congress.

And yes I do realize that "czar" is just a term. I was able to deduce that all on my own.

[talkitreal]

The Republicans do realize that their are actually NO Czars at all -- NO ONE in the administration actually has that Title of Czar. In fact the titles of Czar is a description MADE UP BY THE PRESS !!

HERE ARE THE FACTS:

* The so-called "Drug Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Director of the Office of national Drug Control Policy
* The so-called " Intelligence Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Director of national Intelligence
* The so-called " AIDS Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy
* The So-called "Border Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Department of homeland Security Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative of Border Affairs

* The so-called " Science Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Director of the White House Office and Science and Technology Policy
* The so-called Regulatory Czar" -- REAL JOB TITLE: Administrator of Office Of information and Regulatory Affairs.


THE POINT IS, THERE ARE NO CZARS!!! And IN FACT many of the Jobs you see above, were created by Previous Adminisrtrations, including by Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, and George Bush . ALL THESE JOBS WERE CREATED BY, AND EXISTED IN, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS .

[alexdog]

I think you should take your research a little further and and let us know how many were in in past administrations and how many are new positions.

[LaurenMarie984]

Bush had 35

[jordan327]

Can he get my dog a good lawyer?

[alexdog]

As long as your dog has not harmed any other animals and does not own a gun.

[Travis76008]

got a question
If a lawyer can sue a home owner on the behalf of a rat that suffered during its extermination
The cant the same lawyer sue a mother, who aborted a fetus, on the behalf of the fetus that suffered during its extermination

[BarackMan]

HUH?

[Nancy84]

Okay Republicans. If you don't like what's going on in your party, it's time to speak up. At this point, you are all being painted with the same brush and elections are coming up in no time. Once your seniors realize you're advocating getting rid of medicare, it's all over.... you'll lose 1/3 of your base.

[Rhymenoceros]

More and more this country is becoming divided between two types of people: those who respect people who are bright and intellectually honest and those who feel threatened by anyone who arrives at their views through independent thought rather than mindless adherence to dogma. Guess which party tends to attract which type of person.

[talkitreal]

More and more this country is being divided between people who are smart, and those who are uneducated idiots, and like being uneducated idiots!

[StillweRise]

nice name... (funny as heck)

Yeah I'm the..... HiphopOpotamus...... yo, my rhymes are bottomless......... um.....

(that's a great show).

[Newbie71]

Republicans and Democrats are the latter and those who respect people who are bright and intelectually honest are independents or 3rd parties.

[amber15]

This anti Sunstein rage is being fueled by Martosko is one of the most deceitful and evil of his kind.

You can read about their front groups and here:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Davi...
They are notorious for tricking people with their subversive practices.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/p...

Anything written by this group is a ploy to trick people and brand their big business agenda, especially ANYTHING having to do with animals since their funding comes from using animals for profit.
CCF has received funding from the Altria Group (formerly Philip Morris), Tyson Foods, Coca Cola and Monsanto. Tyson is also a major supplier of restaurant chains, including Kentucky Fried Chicken [3] and McDonalds. [4] Monsanto contracts product toxicity testing on animals out to Huntingdon Life Sciences. [5] All of these corporations, as well as Phillip Morris contract laboratory Covance Laboratories; have been the subject of PETA and/or other animal rights campaigns over animal testing and welfare issues. Over 40% of the group's 2005 expenditure was paid to Rick Berman's PR company, Berman & Co. for management services.

Are you surprised Martosko is anti Cass Sunstein - his lively hood depends on Sunstein's failure!

[Rhymenoceros]

It doesn't matter that some of his views may be appealing to some conservatives. He is too much of an independent thinker for the Beck types, and his thoughts are arrived at through actual cerebration (imagine that!). He's a dangerous man, just like Obama, regardless of how progressive he actually is.

And publicly declaring yourself against mindless killing of animals is tantamount to suicide in national politics. You've got to be strongly against animals to be considered "one of us."

[truthartbeauty]

Hunting should be banned. It is the act of a depraved coward,nothing else.

[Mike169]

Try saying that to a conservative audience!

[PartisanLove]

So its ok to buy your meat in a nice neatly packaged styrofoam container, but actually hunting and appreciating what it took to earn your meal is wrong?? please explain, unless your a veggie or vegan.

[huck555]

Well, aren't you the moral authority?

[FessorFrink]

Like it has been said before "czars" have been in the Federal Government since Nixon in 1973. They usually do not have much real power since sepnding is done by Congress. TRMS pointed out last night that most "czars" are just called that because their true title is too long for reporters to write, like The Director on National Policy For Regulation and Tapestries. Its just more of the same crying by the wingnuts that they were absolutely silent on when GWB wass President. Do they all own Kimberly-Clark stock (Kleenex)?

[BeauRadley]

They've got Glenn-I'm-Dememted-Beck to thank for that.

[oxymoroniac]

Libertarian paternalism is an oxymoron.

[BeauRadley]

Indeed lol

[MrWampler]

As is compassionate conservatism.

[Rhymenoceros]

He's clearly too much of an independent thinker for them. His positions are nuanced and arrived at through actual cerebration (imagine that!). You're not going to be able to agree with him on everything (I don't). Thinking is the most dangerous thing to these Beck types, regardless of whether some of his views are actually appealing to some conservatives.

Oh, and he also has views concerning animal rights--even more dangerous. Not being gung-ho about shooting down harmless wild animals = poison for a career in national politics.

[Newbie71]

This is an interesting statement, considering it's in defense of a guy who advocates influencing how people think in order to make the choices he thinks they should make. I don't want this guy touching anything that might impact my life.