Remember all of the fringe wingnut screeching about "czars?" We learned rather quickly that all recent presidents have special assistants -- nicknamed "czars" by the press, not the White House. Crazy wingnut meme debunked.
But now, the Republicans have resurrected this ridiculousness. This time as an actual budget amendment.
WASHINGTON -- House Republicans are ramping up efforts to hamstring the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. One key amendment to the GOP's 2011 budget plan seeks to strip federal salaries from President Barack Obama's so-called "czars," effectively removing them from their offices -- as well as Elizabeth Warren, the consumer watchdog tasked with setting up the CFPB -- while another would prevent the bureau from hiring any staff at all.
Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) has authored an amendment that would prevent Warren and 24 other top administration officials from drawing a salary.
Okay, I fully expect another amendment to de-fund teleprompters. That'll be followed by an amendment to de-fund the White House. The actual house.