Tonight, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM) as Secretary of the Interior Department. An impressive woman in her own right, Haaland embodies the determination of the new administration to use the government for the good of all Americans, rather than for special interests. This makes her a threat to business-as-usual on issues of both race and the economy. Her confirmation vote was 50-41; only four Republicans voted in favor of her appointment.
The irony of this history is that our nation's natural resources have been plundered and pillaged through corrupt practices by public agencies and private interests, depriving all Americans of the benefits of these resources from the very beginning of European exploration and US existence. Native Americans have been blamed for being in the way, distracting white working Americans from the real political obstacles to American prosperity, health and well being. The current irony and travesty is that Republicans are still clinging to old talking points and technologies, as old as their Confederate sympathies while Wall Street and international corporations are transitioning rapidly without Republican support to Electric Vehicles. Wall Street, GM, VW, Tesla, China and thousands of auto, transportation and technology companies are racing to keep up with this transition which will happen as quickly as computers took over our lives. Republicans are lagging behind, holding our nation back, spending our Federal, public, private and taxpayer dollars on dying industries. What these politicians imposed on Native Americans has been and is being imposed on all of all. Deb Haaland and Native Americans are more advanced in mind and spirit than their opponents.
Senate Republicans have no sense of irony. Not long ago they cheerfully confirmed an anti-environment man to head the EPA, an anti public education woman to head the Dept of Education, an open racist to head the Dept of Justice, and so on for most of failed45’s wrecking crew. Now they object because Secretly Haaland will be an “untraditional” person to head Interior. .. and my day starts with a big smile!
Thank you for the historical background of the Interior Department. Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM) as Secretary of the Interior Department has a huge responsibility, and I am impressed with her erudite response to Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She neither maligned him nor acquiesced to his billion dollar bank roll for his rich constituents; I especially cheered her polite in his face pointing out her primary interest in serving the paycheck to paycheck folks. Another reason to feel so much better about America.
I volunteered for Deb Haaland's first campaign for Congress in 2018, and I totally agree that she is an impressive woman! Although she is very accomplished, there is no sense of ego about her. The first time I met her was during her service as chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. What made me take notice of her was a small kindness she did for me at a party meet-and-greet. It was a tiny, simple gesture, but it showed her character and it stuck in my mind.
The only sad thing about her ascent to this cabinet position is that we likely won't be seeing her much around NM for the next few years. I've missed seeing her in person during the pandemic year.
Both of Colorado's Democratic Senators "Not Voting" because their flights back to DC were cancelled due to the blizzard. Really? That they both went home despite the forecasted severe weather is irresponsible and disappointing.
Deep gratitude to all who voted for Secretary Haaland, most especially the four Republican Senators who voted to confirm her. They voted for the people.
This is some of the best news I’ve heard since Joe Biden won the election. The desecration and destruction of our land by the previous regime has bothered me greatly. Knowing there is an Indigenous person now in charge of DOI gives me hope. Thank you, Heather, for the background information for both Rep Haaland and the DOI. I know a little bit about the history of our country’s treatment of our Indigenous peoples and am slowly reading your book on Wounded Knee but this puts it in context to Rep Haaland and is helpful to understand how monumental this appointment is. I am reading the book slowly because it is just too painful and heartbreaking to take in big chunks - I have to step away and process the horrors I have read before I can go on and read more. Maybe we really can “build back better”. Maybe it really will be “all of us” this time. Hoping, for the first time in a while.
HCR posts perhaps just before midnight, USA time: it’s about 7 p. m. here in Portugal. I read it, go to sleep on it, and read it for the commentary about 9:30 a.m. It is so valuable to me to hear everyone’s views, because it’s richer and truer than any news casts and reflects a group I thought had vanished when i retired here 30 years ago. Thank you, Heather, for your kind and thoughtful offerings and for giving your readers a voice.
I look forward to these letters. Today’s was no exception. In my past I was given a job as a change agent in a company that was stuck in its inefficient ways. The interesting thing about organizations are that they act like a organism. Organisms don’t appreciate change and tend to consider change agents like a virus and quickly develop antibodies to kill it. This occurs even when the organism really needs the help. Haaland is a change agent, and the vested interests within the Dept. Of Interior will work hard to resist that change. She will need top cover from the Administration to protect her from vested interests in congress and also within the Dept. Of Interior. These vested interests (antibodies) will try their hardest to either neutralize or remove her. The vested interests have the advantage of time and knowledge. They are there from administration to administration and understand the organism that is the Dept of Interior better than she will.
Thank you for putting into context Debra Haaland's appointment to the Department of Interior. The Republican from Wyoming, when questioning Haaland, made quite a point that 80% of oil production is used for non-propulsion purposes. He was attempting to make a case that modernity requires oil to function. What he ignored is how much of "non-propulsion" oil is used to create single use plastics! If we can do one simple but difficult thing, we must stop using single use straws. Try it. You might find it a humbling experience.
It really feels like a new day dawning! As usual, Heather, you teach me something I either didn’t know or only had a gliding acquaintance w/in American history. I “knew” the Teapot Dome Scandal was during the Harding administration and that it involved oil. Now I know a lot more AND have a connection as to why it matters and how it’s relevant. I’m so grateful that Deb Haaland was confirmed. Maybe we have a chance at making this country a fit place for all of us to live after all. Thanks for your commitment to sharing your knowledge w/us—and thank you for renewing my thirst for knowledge and love of American history❣️
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! So pleased with Deb Haaland being confirmed to be our next Interior Secretary. 35th generation "New Mexicaner," yikes!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viBLTbdwjks
I was so excited when I heard that Rep. Haaland was given the nod as Interior Secretary and I cheered (silently: I was teaching an online class) when I got the email alert that she had been confirmed (shame on all the people who voted against her--including both MO senators and one of the KS ones--Marshall was mysteriously absent). While I was silently cheering, the tornado sirens went off and--because climate change has made late winter and spring completely unpredictable in my part of the USA, even though such storms usually wind up staying well south of the city--I had to tell my students, some of whom live in the path the storm was taking, to take cover. Thus endeth the lesson about the Fourth Lateran Council and the Doctrine of Papal Supremacy. Sigh.
What got me upset yesterday was the papal pronouncement about LGBTQ people and same-sex marriage. I admit I did not expect this pope to walk back the homophobia of a church that has consistently protected its male members when they have abused boys and young men with impunity for centuries. I did not expect this pope to walk back the misogyny of the church that has classified women as sub-human (unless they are capable of virgin births or submit to sacrificing themselves in excruciatingly sadistic ways). But I did not expect the encyclical to be so cynically self-serving, labeling gay sex a "sin" and kowtowing to the most radically backward-facing of the church leadership. This supposedly reformist pope has slammed the door on women gaining full citizenship in the Catholic Church; now they are claiming some kind of bizarre moral and sexual purity when the world knows how mendacious that claim is.
The irony of this history is that our nation's natural resources have been plundered and pillaged through corrupt practices by public agencies and private interests, depriving all Americans of the benefits of these resources from the very beginning of European exploration and US existence. Native Americans have been blamed for being in the way, distracting white working Americans from the real political obstacles to American prosperity, health and well being. The current irony and travesty is that Republicans are still clinging to old talking points and technologies, as old as their Confederate sympathies while Wall Street and international corporations are transitioning rapidly without Republican support to Electric Vehicles. Wall Street, GM, VW, Tesla, China and thousands of auto, transportation and technology companies are racing to keep up with this transition which will happen as quickly as computers took over our lives. Republicans are lagging behind, holding our nation back, spending our Federal, public, private and taxpayer dollars on dying industries. What these politicians imposed on Native Americans has been and is being imposed on all of all. Deb Haaland and Native Americans are more advanced in mind and spirit than their opponents.
Senate Republicans have no sense of irony. Not long ago they cheerfully confirmed an anti-environment man to head the EPA, an anti public education woman to head the Dept of Education, an open racist to head the Dept of Justice, and so on for most of failed45’s wrecking crew. Now they object because Secretly Haaland will be an “untraditional” person to head Interior. .. and my day starts with a big smile!
Thank you for the historical background of the Interior Department. Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM) as Secretary of the Interior Department has a huge responsibility, and I am impressed with her erudite response to Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She neither maligned him nor acquiesced to his billion dollar bank roll for his rich constituents; I especially cheered her polite in his face pointing out her primary interest in serving the paycheck to paycheck folks. Another reason to feel so much better about America.
I volunteered for Deb Haaland's first campaign for Congress in 2018, and I totally agree that she is an impressive woman! Although she is very accomplished, there is no sense of ego about her. The first time I met her was during her service as chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. What made me take notice of her was a small kindness she did for me at a party meet-and-greet. It was a tiny, simple gesture, but it showed her character and it stuck in my mind.
The only sad thing about her ascent to this cabinet position is that we likely won't be seeing her much around NM for the next few years. I've missed seeing her in person during the pandemic year.
Both of Colorado's Democratic Senators "Not Voting" because their flights back to DC were cancelled due to the blizzard. Really? That they both went home despite the forecasted severe weather is irresponsible and disappointing.
Deep gratitude to all who voted for Secretary Haaland, most especially the four Republican Senators who voted to confirm her. They voted for the people.
A monumental appointment and very courageous. America's genocide is another unforgiveable stain, along with slavery, on its history.
This is some of the best news I’ve heard since Joe Biden won the election. The desecration and destruction of our land by the previous regime has bothered me greatly. Knowing there is an Indigenous person now in charge of DOI gives me hope. Thank you, Heather, for the background information for both Rep Haaland and the DOI. I know a little bit about the history of our country’s treatment of our Indigenous peoples and am slowly reading your book on Wounded Knee but this puts it in context to Rep Haaland and is helpful to understand how monumental this appointment is. I am reading the book slowly because it is just too painful and heartbreaking to take in big chunks - I have to step away and process the horrors I have read before I can go on and read more. Maybe we really can “build back better”. Maybe it really will be “all of us” this time. Hoping, for the first time in a while.
HCR posts perhaps just before midnight, USA time: it’s about 7 p. m. here in Portugal. I read it, go to sleep on it, and read it for the commentary about 9:30 a.m. It is so valuable to me to hear everyone’s views, because it’s richer and truer than any news casts and reflects a group I thought had vanished when i retired here 30 years ago. Thank you, Heather, for your kind and thoughtful offerings and for giving your readers a voice.
Wonderful Letter, Professor - simply wonderful the way you weave the stories of generations so seamlessly. Thank you.
I look forward to these letters. Today’s was no exception. In my past I was given a job as a change agent in a company that was stuck in its inefficient ways. The interesting thing about organizations are that they act like a organism. Organisms don’t appreciate change and tend to consider change agents like a virus and quickly develop antibodies to kill it. This occurs even when the organism really needs the help. Haaland is a change agent, and the vested interests within the Dept. Of Interior will work hard to resist that change. She will need top cover from the Administration to protect her from vested interests in congress and also within the Dept. Of Interior. These vested interests (antibodies) will try their hardest to either neutralize or remove her. The vested interests have the advantage of time and knowledge. They are there from administration to administration and understand the organism that is the Dept of Interior better than she will.
Thank you for putting into context Debra Haaland's appointment to the Department of Interior. The Republican from Wyoming, when questioning Haaland, made quite a point that 80% of oil production is used for non-propulsion purposes. He was attempting to make a case that modernity requires oil to function. What he ignored is how much of "non-propulsion" oil is used to create single use plastics! If we can do one simple but difficult thing, we must stop using single use straws. Try it. You might find it a humbling experience.
It really feels like a new day dawning! As usual, Heather, you teach me something I either didn’t know or only had a gliding acquaintance w/in American history. I “knew” the Teapot Dome Scandal was during the Harding administration and that it involved oil. Now I know a lot more AND have a connection as to why it matters and how it’s relevant. I’m so grateful that Deb Haaland was confirmed. Maybe we have a chance at making this country a fit place for all of us to live after all. Thanks for your commitment to sharing your knowledge w/us—and thank you for renewing my thirst for knowledge and love of American history❣️
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! So pleased with Deb Haaland being confirmed to be our next Interior Secretary. 35th generation "New Mexicaner," yikes!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viBLTbdwjks
I was so excited when I heard that Rep. Haaland was given the nod as Interior Secretary and I cheered (silently: I was teaching an online class) when I got the email alert that she had been confirmed (shame on all the people who voted against her--including both MO senators and one of the KS ones--Marshall was mysteriously absent). While I was silently cheering, the tornado sirens went off and--because climate change has made late winter and spring completely unpredictable in my part of the USA, even though such storms usually wind up staying well south of the city--I had to tell my students, some of whom live in the path the storm was taking, to take cover. Thus endeth the lesson about the Fourth Lateran Council and the Doctrine of Papal Supremacy. Sigh.
What got me upset yesterday was the papal pronouncement about LGBTQ people and same-sex marriage. I admit I did not expect this pope to walk back the homophobia of a church that has consistently protected its male members when they have abused boys and young men with impunity for centuries. I did not expect this pope to walk back the misogyny of the church that has classified women as sub-human (unless they are capable of virgin births or submit to sacrificing themselves in excruciatingly sadistic ways). But I did not expect the encyclical to be so cynically self-serving, labeling gay sex a "sin" and kowtowing to the most radically backward-facing of the church leadership. This supposedly reformist pope has slammed the door on women gaining full citizenship in the Catholic Church; now they are claiming some kind of bizarre moral and sexual purity when the world knows how mendacious that claim is.
Biden could have nominated Mother Theresa for the post and 41 Republicans would still have voted against her...........
Dear Heather, I wish I could give this letter 10 hearts.
I will share it with everyone I know.
FINALLY, a strong, appropriate voice for our lands.
Hope springs eternal.
Thank you!