What the Hell is wrong with this country picking czars and crap? Is this pre-Revolutionary Russia?
Posted on 04/14/2009 6:52:55 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
A former Justice Department official has been picked to be the Southwest border czar-a new position created by the Obama administration to handle illegal immigration and border issues, according to an administration official.
The new Homeland Security post will be responsible for issues related to drug-cartel violence along the U.S.-Mexico border and the estimated 1 million people who try to enter the U.S. illegally each year.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is expected to name Alan Bersin to the position on Wednesday during a visit to the Southwest border, the official said. The official would speak only on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.
Napolitano, who is making her second border trip in two weeks, will be discussing the agency's efforts to curb the flow of illegal immigrants, guns and drugs along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Obama administration has promised to crack down on border violence and work with Mexican authorities against drug cartels. Hundreds of federal agents, along with high-tech surveillance gear and drug-sniffing dogs are being deployed to the Southwest.
In his new capacity, Bersin will work with international officials and their counterparts in the U.S. and border states.
Bersin held a similar position at the Justice Department during the Clinton administration when he was responsible for coordinating law enforcement on the U.S.-Mexico border. During his time as "border czar," he oversaw anti-drug and human trafficking problems.
The Justice Department would not respond to an inquiry about when and why its border czar position was eliminated. The Immigration and Naturalization Service, once part of the Justice Department, was dismantled and rolled into new agencies in the Homeland Security Department. The 2001 terrorist attacks spurred the creation of the new department, which was launched in 2003.
From 1993 to 1998, Bersin was the federal prosecutor who led the government's crackdown on illegal immigrants at the California-Mexico border. Bersin and Napolitano were both U.S. attorneys during the Clinton administration.
Most recently, Bersin was chairman of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. He also served under California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as the secretary of education.
Earlier, Bersin was the superintendent of San Diego public schools. When Bersin was named superintendent, some Hispanic groups decried his role in a border enforcement program called Operation Gatekeeper. They say the crackdown caused a steep increase in deaths by forcing immigrants to attempt treacherous mountain and desert crossings into the United States.
What the Hell is wrong with this country picking czars and crap? Is this pre-Revolutionary Russia?
Actually, I think we’re in the period where the Bolsheviks are taking power.
Another department fully staffed with taxpayer funded liberals.
When I can agree with Sen. Robert Byrd (WV), you know that the Twilight Zone must be near, but even he is raising the point that this use of non-elected and non-Senate Approved Executive Poohbahs is anti-Constitutional. It is hard to keep track of all of these Tsar/Czar/Caesar types. Surely there must be some way of challenging this through the Judiciary as unConstitutional anyhow.
Out of curiosity, I just googled the phrase “Obama Czar” and came up with this:
“Results 1 - 10 of about 1,690,000 for Obama Czar. (0.45 seconds)”
Ping!
Is anyone else, besides me, concerned about the number of “czars” Obama, the marxist, is appointing?
With all of his “czars”, can we still call ourselves a free country? With his use of the DHS to threaten or intimidate his political opponents, is liberty and the Bill of Rights in danger of being suborned by this ineligible marxist?
Food for thought on Tea Party Day, my FRiends.
Another recycled Clintonista bureaucrat. Bizarre!
Thanks for the ping, HiJinx.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.