Robert Byrd Criticizes Obama for Power Grab

My biggest fear so far has been the quick and brazen seizing of power by the Obama administration. Everything controlled for our own good - and enacted quickly. Turns out that Sheets Byrd tends to agree with me. (Notice, it's not the other way around).

...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.”

...

Byrd also wants Obama to limit claims of executive privilege while also ensuring that the White House czars don’t have authority over Cabinet officers confirmed by the Senate.

“As presidential assistants and advisers, these White House staffers are not accountable for their actions to the Congress, to cabinet officials, and to virtually anyone but the president,” Byrd wrote. “They rarely testify before congressional committees, and often shield the information and decision-making process behind the assertion of executive privilege. In too many instances, White House staff have been allowed to inhibit openness and transparency, and reduce accountability.”

There's more. I'm glad that someone that Dems "might" listen to, is bringing it up.

They're words and they don't fix the problem. But I'm glad someone on the other side of the fence, noticed.