President Obama has recalled John Podesta to work at the White House as a “counselor.” Podesta is the Clinton hand who founded the far-left Center for American Progress (home of the clownish Think Progress blog).

Podesta’s appointment, which needs no congressional approval, comes at a time when Obama is already making moves to do without Congress. He has used executive actions to re-write Obamacare, and to recalibrate immigration law, both in ways that just happen to favor either himself or the Democrats.

The New York Times reports that Podesta will work on executive actions when he returns to the White House.

Mr. Podesta will help Mr. McDonough on matters related to the health care law, administration organization and executive actions, said a person familiar with the plans, and will focus in particular on climate change issues, a personal priority of Mr. Podesta’s.

“Climate change” suggests that Obama intends to ramp up his war on coal in the remaining years of his presidency, via the EPA and perhaps executive actions similar to those he has used with regard to Obamacare and immigration. Obama came into office threatening to bankrupt the coal industry, wanting to impose a cap and trade regime, but could not get one passed by Congress even when Democrats controlled both houses. Obama is aware that his actions will force energy prices skyward. His actions come at a time when evidence for global warming has disappeared. That has not changed his intention to impose cap and trade.

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Read more:http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/12/10/oba...tside-congress/