All Blog Posts from Political Hotsheet

Robert Byrd, the longest serving senator in history, criticized President Obama's appointment of numerous White House advisors, also called "czars," saying the presence of the czars gives the president too much power.

These czars report directly to Mr. Obama and have the power to shape national policy on their subject area. So far, Mr. Obama has recruited czars on health reform, urban affairs policy, and energy and climate change. Unlike Cabinet secretaries, they do not have to be approved by Congress.

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This story was written by CBS News correspondent Bob Orr

An intelligence source confirms to CBS News' Bob Orr that veteran CIA official John Brennan has been selected by President-Elect Obama to be the new Administration's top counterterrorism adviser.

Brennan's appointment is expected to be made public Friday.

Brennan, who has led Obama's intelligence-transition team, was originally a leading candidate to head the CIA, but withdrew his name from consideration after critics accused him of supporting the Bush Administration's harsh interrogation techniques.

Brennan also served as the first director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and will be part of Obama's National Security Council and will be the point man for all counterterrorism issues.

The Associated Press reports that Obama "is laying plans to dissolve a White House security panel created in the wake of 9/11 and restructure counterterrorism policy under intelligence veteran John Brennan. The White House Homeland Security Council will remain for a few weeks at least, until Obama finishes a review of its mission, an official close to the incoming administration said Thursday."

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