Given the heterodoxy of my political views, I am typically the last to cry out about creeping fascism. Nonetheless, I find this latest from the White House to be disturbing:

“WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 — President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.

“In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.”

More at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30rules.html?_r=1&oref=slogin