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This passage from excellent @washingtonpost reporting on the WH Coronavirus Task Force should cause us to ask some questions about Scott Atlas
Who is he & how is it that he can have any authority whatsoever to implement or block policy?
He is not elected or Senate confirmed
This passage from excellent @washingtonpost reporting on the WH Coronavirus Task Force should cause us to ask some questions about Scott Atlas
Who is he & how is it that he can have any authority whatsoever to implement or block policy?
He is not elected or Senate confirmed
https://twitter.com/saletan/status/1318174325711785988
Atlas staff position in the White House carries the title "Special Advisor to the President"
Such positions date to Reorganization Act of 1939 which created the Executive Office of the President (aka The West Wing) giving the prez new powers to staff
budgetcounsel.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/summar…
Such positions date to Reorganization Act of 1939 which created the Executive Office of the President (aka The West Wing) giving the prez new powers to staff
budgetcounsel.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/summar…
Such positions have been off-and-on called "czars" dating to the administration of FDR
loc.gov/item/201667847…
loc.gov/item/201667847…
In 1978 the US Congressional Research Service characterized such positions as "an extension of the Presidency itself"
Thus, whatever role Scott Atlas is playing (definitely not "anonymous servant"), constitutionally it is (and can only be) as a proxy for Donald Trump
Thus, whatever role Scott Atlas is playing (definitely not "anonymous servant"), constitutionally it is (and can only be) as a proxy for Donald Trump
Flanigan (1995) argued that czars typically fail, and cause confusion, disruption and compromise accountability, discipline (sounds familiar, eh?)
jstor.org/stable/pdf/275…
jstor.org/stable/pdf/275…
In 1971 Sen Ernest Hollings (D-SC) complained that White House policy czars were usurping cabinet officials
google.com/books/edition/…
google.com/books/edition/…
More recently here in 2009 is Sen John Cornyn (R-TX) complaining about the accountability of policy czars under president Obama (quoted in fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R…)
And here is Susan Collins (R-ME) in 2009 also complaining about Obama policy czars
(quoted in fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R…)
(quoted in fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R…)
So who is Scott Atlas?
Functionally he is Donald Trump
If Trump is delegating his thinking/deciding to Atlas that is his right
If Trump has staffed the EOP with individuals who can't get along, that is his right
But no one should expect effective policy from such a sh*tshow
Functionally he is Donald Trump
If Trump is delegating his thinking/deciding to Atlas that is his right
If Trump has staffed the EOP with individuals who can't get along, that is his right
But no one should expect effective policy from such a sh*tshow
To wrap up
Atlas is a "special advisor" but he is not a science advisor, he is not independent, he is not Senate confirmed or subject to Congressional oversight
Whether you agree/disagree with his pandemic politics, he is a manifestation of comprehensive governance failure
/END
Atlas is a "special advisor" but he is not a science advisor, he is not independent, he is not Senate confirmed or subject to Congressional oversight
Whether you agree/disagree with his pandemic politics, he is a manifestation of comprehensive governance failure
/END
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