Russia Had Only 30 Czars -- Obama Has 45

Russia had only 30 czars -- Obama has 45
By: David Freddoso | 10/09/11 10:28 PM
Online Opinion Editor | Follow on Twitter @freddoso

From the time the Russian title of "Czar" (or Caesar) was first used in the 16th Century to describe the Emperors of Russia, through the communist revolution of 1917, Russia had only about thirty czars. President Obama's administration has 45, according to a new report from the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch.

President Obama was not the first to have "czars," nor have all the positions that go by that informal name fallen within the lines of this report. But Obama's use of policy advisors who "enjoy positions of power and authority in the administration and yet have not been subjected to vetting and confirmation by the U.S. Senate" is unprecedented in several ways, the report suggests.