FRC Forums Highlighted Posts of the week

Here are three articles and a responce about the new political czars, that are not really new, but seem to have a lot more unaccountabilty and power then in the past. There power borders on secercy, at least as far as the comman man is concerned. The genisis of this post came from one of our chats on skype and then we all looked to it a little more.
Congressman wants all 'czars' to testify
By Jordan Fabian - 09/09/09 10:11 AM ET
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) on Wednesday called for President Obama's "czars," or appointed high-level advisers, to testify before Congress about their "authority and responsibilities" in the executive branch.
The president's "czars" have become a point of controversy among his opponents because they do not have to be confirmed by the Senate as cabinet-level officials do. McHenry wrote to committee chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) and ranking member Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) asking the appointed officials to testify.

"If the czars have high-level, decision-making authority as their titles would indicate, then it is my concern that their appointment without Senate approval represents a circumvention of our Constitutionally-mandated confirmation process," McHenry, who is a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said in his letter.Czars were in the spotlight again after "green jobs" czar Van Jones' resigned this weekend. It was revealed that Jones made harsh comments about Republicans and signed a "truther" petition alleging that the government played a role in the 9/11 attacks. "His ability to slip into a position of power without due Congressional diligence only further underscores the necessity for a confirmation process," the third-term Republican said of Jones.
However, the actual number of czars in the administration is a disputed matter. McHenry requests that all of President Obama's 44 czars testify before Congress. But other reports put the number at around 30.
The North Carolina Republican did not provide a list of the 44 czars he wants to testify.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/57849-congressman-wants-all-czars-to-testify

Got this from a Glen Beck email
September 9, 2009 On Today?s Program
The most dangerous Czar

Unfortunately for Van Jones, there is one less Czar to deal with. Unfortunately for
the rest of us there are still over 30 Czars left to worry about. The one Glenn
feels is most dangerous is Cass Sunstein -- who isn't really a Czar, he actually has
to pass Senate confirmation. Glenn encourages you to flood the switchboards
(202-224-3121) and tell Washington to say 'no' to Sunstein. That is, unless, you
want the 'regulatory Czar' to have beliefs such as humans hurting animals is the
same as slavery or ?mass extermination of human beings? or ?A system of limitless
individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the
interest of citizenship and self-government.? Enjoy Glenn, Rush and other
conservative voices now, because if guys like Sunstein have their way talk radio
will be under full-fledged attack. Glenn talks more about Sunstein on radio today (
Transcript , Insider
http://www.premiereinteractive.com/cgi-bin/members.cgi?site=glennbeck&stream=clips/09/09/090909czar.wma&type=windows_od
Audio ) and you can check out more quotes from Sunstein at THIS site
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/30255/ .
http://www.stopsunstein.com/

Another email from a friend

President Obama's czar system concerns some

He has 'super aides' for healthcare, the economy, energy and urban issues,
with more to come -- prompting some lawmakers and groups to worry that he
may be concentrating power and bypassing Congress.

By Tom Hamburger and Christi Parsons
March 05, 2009

Reporting from Washington - As President Obama names more policy czars to
his White House team -- high-level staff members who will help oversee the
administration's top initiatives -- some lawmakers and Washington interest
groups are raising concerns that he may be subverting the authority of
Congress and concentrating too much power in the presidency.

The idea of these "super aides," who will work across agency lines to push
the president's agenda, is not a new one. President Nixon may have named the
first "czar" with his appointment of William E. Simon to handle the 1970s
energy crisis. Other presidents have followed suit.

But none has embraced the concept, presidential scholars say, to the extent
that Obama has.

He has appointed special advisors who will work from inside the White House
on healthcare, the economy, energy and urban issues, with more to come.

"The challenges coming at us are bigger than anything we've seen since the
Depression," said Jim Messina, deputy White House chief of staff. "It's
crucial to have people in these positions who can help us meet them
head-on."

But some lawmakers and outside experts fear that Obama is setting up a
system that is not subject to congressional oversight and creates the
potential for conflict among his many advisors.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) became concerned enough to send a cautionary
letter to Obama last week. At times, he said, past White House staffers have
assumed duties that should be the responsibility of officials cleared
through the Senate confirmation process. He cited President Bush's naming of
homeland security czar Tom Ridge as an example.

"They rarely testify before congressional committees and often shield the
information and decision-making process behind the assertion of executive
privilege," Byrd wrote of past czars and White House staffers in similar
positions. At times, he said, one outcome has been to "inhibit openness and
transparency, and reduce accountability."

"The rapid and easy accumulation of power by White House staff can threaten
the constitutional system of checks and balances," Byrd said.

It's far too early to tell whether Obama's quest for efficiency will lead to
overstepping the bounds of presidential authority, but the latest
appointment announcement could offer a few clues.

This week, he named two women to lead his effort to overhaul the nation's
healthcare system. One of them, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, was tapped
to be Health and Human Services secretary. At her confirmation hearings,
senators will be able to probe her views on health policy and demand
detailed documentation of her credentials.

But the other, Nancy-Ann DeParle, who was named health czar, can begin work
right away, without outside review of her abilities or opinions. And whereas
lawmakers can ask Sebelius for testimony in the future and control her
budget, DeParle may remain largely outside the ga Paul Light of New York
University, an expert on the presidency, said Byrd has a valid
constitutional concern about Obama's use of czars. Light too is worried
about Obama's expansion of the czar system, but his apprehension is focused
on more-practical concerns.

He points out that previous presidential czars became frustrated because
they had no permanent staff, and their power was diffuse and unclear.
Besides, he said, "there are so many czars in this White House, they'll be
constantly bumping in to each other."

In addition to naming DeParle to coordinate healthcare policy, Obama has
tapped Carol Browner to be White House energy czar, a post that could
overlap with the functions of the Environmental Protection Agency, the
Energy Department and other agencies. Adolfo Carrion Jr., a former Bronx
borough president, is urban affairs czar, a job that may dovetail with the
functions of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. And Paul A.
Volcker, Obama's big-picture economic czar, must coordinate with the
Treasury Department and other agencies.

The confusion about competing roles played by czars and their Cabinet
counterparts was on display Monday as White House Press Secretary Robert
Gibbs tried to explain how authority would be divided between DeParle and
Sebelius as they steer health reform through Congress.

At first, he declared that DeParle "will be in charge." Then he acknowledged
a role for Sebelius and others.

"I think obviously this is something that spans across many platforms, not
unlike, say, something like energy independence, that a lot of people that
work in this building and in different agencies will be involved in," he
said, pledging to get back to reporters with details about how the health
policy team will work.

Before Inauguration Day, transition director John Podesta said in an
interview that Obama deliberately was building a strong, centralized White
House organization, one that grew naturally out of his disciplined
presidential campaign.

For example, Podesta said, a coherent White House energy policy "needs input
not just from the Energy Department," but also from the EPA and the
Interior, Commerce and Agriculture departments. Thus, an energy czar made
sense.

Podesta saw little potential for the czars to undermine the authority of
Cabinet agencies. "As long as the White House staff is respectful of the
power and authority of the people in the Cabinet, as I know they will be, I
think it will be a very workable model," he said in January.

Now that the White House is launching the system, aides are refining the
description a bit. Messina emphasized that the czar positions rank below
Cabinet positions.

He said the confirmation-free appointments do not violate the Constitution
because the czars are aides to the president and his team. "They're
super-staffers and report to the president and to Rahm," he said, referring
to Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. "I meet with them. I don't meet with Cabinet
secretaries; they're above me." Czars mainly will do their coordination work
behind the scenes, and secretaries will serve more as what Messina calls the
"public faces" of the administration.

That description does not allay Byrd's concerns, said his spokesman, Jesse
Jacobs.

"If the czars are working behind the scenes and the secretaries will be the
mouthpieces of the administration, it calls into question who is actually
making the policy decision," he said. "Whoever is making the policy
decisions needs to be accountable and available to Congress and the American
public."

It's still very early in the Obama presidency, but others also question the
czar setup.

Browner, whose title is special advisor to Obama on climate change and
energy, told reporters two weeks ago that the administration soon would
propose new rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from a variety of
industries. Obama's EPA administrator had hinted at such a possibility, but
had not made it clear how things would unfold.

Browner's statement set off a nervous response among a few Washington
interest groups that objected to the executive branch unilaterally taking
the lead on regulating a substance as ubiquitous as carbon.

"The issues are important enough that you have to have the give and the take
of the congressional process -- and do this in the open," said former
Michigan Gov. John Engler, who heads the National Assn. of Manufacturers.

At least one senator wanted to ask Browner about exactly that in a
confirmation hearing. As a czar and not a Cabinet secretary, however, she
did not have to answer questions on Capitol Hill.

"The overall concern is, Carol Browner has been appointed to coordinate all
this energy policy," said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). "What's her role
going to be? She's not going to be going through a confirmation process.
While [agency directors] had to come to Congress and answer questions, she
didn't."
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/05/nation/na-obama-czars5
http://frc4u.org/portal/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?1097


From the home Remedies fron't here is one 230 posted
Black walnut hulls are very effective in treating skin conditions caused by fungus, such as yeast infections and athlete’s foot. Black walnut hulls have natural anti-fungal properties that rival tea tree essential oil. Black walnut hulls are also readily available in most areas of the US. One of the drawbacks of black walnut hulls for use on skin, however, is its ability to turn skin dark brown wherever it is applied. Black walnut hulls were traditionally used for staining wood and making ink also. Before applying black walnut hull treatments to the skin be advised that it will temporarily stain your skin. 230gr

Dr. Christopher Cures Jungle Rot during WW II.

Black walnut hull tincture is one of the greatest herbs herbal fungus cures, according to Dr. Christopher. He told the story of the time he enlisted in the army in World War II
A man had been hospitalized at one of the largest hospitals in the Northwest, in fact, in the largest Army hospital in the West. He had been hospitalized nine times in all, treated with ammoniated lead and mercury and such things. The disease would subside somewhat in thirty to thirty-six days, but never completely clear. Dr. Christopher finally was given permission to try an herbal treatment.
A big sack of husks was sent up to Fort Lewis by plane overnight. He made up a gallon of tincture of Black Walnut using rubbing alcohol and let it soak for two days. The usual time to make a tincture is fourteen days but he was under a lot of pressure there, so all he had was two days and credited the Lord for giving the tincture its potency that soon.
At the crosses where the tape didn't cover the gauze pad, there was room to insert a syringe filled with the tincture into the gauze to keep it wet. The soldier spent four days with the fomentation on. The men had all gasped when I took the bandages off. Major Shumate used a few words Christopher wouldn't repeat, but then he said, 'I have been a dermatologist for years and I have never seen a case as horrible as this--and never have I seen anything heal as rapidly as what you've used.' There was a quarters of an inch of horrible-looking scar tissue and scab. But his skin was clean as a baby's. There was no sign of fungus or infection. After that, men from all over Fort Lewis, even generals, came over because I had the only formula, Black Walnut tincture that would heal jungle rot. The only one! And so we were very busy herbalists.
http://frc4u.org/portal/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?1134.last

Sweden outlaws home schooling
Pete Chagnon - OneNewsNow - 8/19/2009 4:30:00 AM
The founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association says home schooling in Sweden will soon be banned altogether, with a few minor exceptions.

Mike Farris says that Sweden will ban all home schooling except for children with medical exemptions and foreign workers with the appropriate work visas.

"That's it. People who have religious convictions or are home schooling for religious reasons will not be given one of these very rare exemptions," he points out. "And so for all intents and purposes, home schooling is going to be banned in Sweden. They're following the German statute, following the German model."

In Germany, parents face stiff penalties if they are caught illegally home schooling their children. The Romeike family recently left Germany and is seeking asylum in the U.S. after facing stiff fines and the potential loss of custody rights for home schooling their children. The Home School Legal Defense Association is offering them legal help.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=648486