0 Here a Czar, There a Czar, everywhere a Czar...

I've always viewed with great skepticism the appointment of "Czars." For one thing, the position isn't set forth in the Constitution. For another, it's unclear what, if any, authority they have. At best they are political window dressing. At worst, they are in a position to make much mischief and no one is charged with keeping an eye on them.

President Obama has taken the appointment of "Czars," to a previously unattained level of absurdity. It's hard to get a good handle on just who they are, because the administration really doesn't like the term, "Czar." They use it when it serves them to do so, however, so I consider it fair game for me as well.

The following list is compiled from generally reliable sources. I wouldn't argue with you about any given one of them, but on the whole I think it's a pretty fair accounting. Those noted with an asterisk were positions that existed under a previous administration.

Afghanistan Czar - Richard Holbrooke
AIDS Czar* - Jeffrey Crowley
Auto Recovery Czar - Ed Montgomery
Border Czar* - Alan Bersin
California Water Czar - David J. Hayes
Central Region Czar - Dennis Ross
Climate Czar - Todd Stern
Car Czar - Ron Bloom
Domestic Violence Czar - Lynn Rosenthal
Drug Czar* - Gil Kerlikowske
Economic Czar* - Paul Volcker
Energy and Environment Czar - Carol Browner
Faith-Based Czar* - Joshua DuBois
Government Performance Czar - Jeffrey Zients
Green Jobs Czar - Van Jones
Guantanamo Czar - Daniel Fried
Health Czar* - Nancy-Ann DeParle
Information Czar - Viveck Kundra
Intelligence Czar*- Dennis Blair
Mideast Peace Czar - George Mitchell
Pay Czar - Kenneth R. Feinberg
Regulatory Czar* - Cass R. Sustein
Science Czar - John Holdren
Stimulus Accountability Czar - Devaney
Sudan Czar - J. Scott Gration
TARP Czar - Herb Allison
Technology Czar - Annesh Chopra
Terrorism Czar - John Brennan
Urban Affairs Czar - Adolfo Carrion Jr.
Weapons Czar - Ashton Carter
WMD Policy Czar - Gary Samore

Have I left any of you out? If so, please don't take offense. I have a research staff only one, and he's old and cranky.

What the bloody hell are all you guys doing? When can the taxpayers expect a progress report from each of you? Who do you call in to when you have to call in sick? It seems to me like some of you have got some explaining to do...