A Historic Pick for Secretary of the Interior
December 17, 2020 3:00 PM   Subscribe

 
Yeah, whatever, this makes me cry so much.
posted by Quonab at 3:58 PM on December 17, 2020 [7 favorites]


About damn time.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:16 PM on December 17, 2020 [4 favorites]


"Indian Country Today" has posted the first coverage I've seen of Haaland's own response to the news, and the response from North America's broader indigenous community.
posted by Ipsifendus at 4:17 PM on December 17, 2020 [8 favorites]


Happy dance
posted by azpenguin at 4:26 PM on December 17, 2020 [1 favorite]


In addition to being the first Native American cabinet appointment, Haaland is probably the most progressive member of Biden's team at this point. She was one of the first co-sponsors of the Green New Deal, supports Medicare for All, was endorsed by Warren and Sanders and supported by AOC, and endorsed and was a co-chair for Warren. That probably played some contributory role in the pushback from some anonymous members of Biden's staff saying she was too inexperienced, and the pushback from Pelosi and Hoyer over losing her from the House, which they are now trying to smooth over. It seems to have taken a lot of work by a lot of factions to get this pushed through, so it's a great win all round.
posted by chortly at 4:28 PM on December 17, 2020 [24 favorites]


This is fantastic! I'm tearing up.
posted by medusa at 5:22 PM on December 17, 2020 [2 favorites]


From Ipsifendus' first link, about Haaland's response:
Julian Brave Noisecat, a vocal advocate who is a member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq'escen and a descendant of the Lil'Wat Nation of Mount Currie, highlighted Haaland's unique position, saying: "The next Secretary of Interior will be a Laguna Pueblo woman who went to Standing Rock in 2016 and cooked for the people."
Ok now I'm bawling.
posted by medusa at 5:24 PM on December 17, 2020 [10 favorites]


It will take decades to recover the damage to our country’s lands, water, and wildlife that have been inflicted in these last 4 years. Some places will never be the same.

Deb Haaland is the right person to start us down the path to recovery.
posted by rockindata at 6:38 PM on December 17, 2020 [3 favorites]


I love this! It is about time Native People had more of a voice in Government, especially about the environment.
posted by mermayd at 7:09 PM on December 17, 2020 [2 favorites]


[Haaland] previously worked as head of New Mexico’s Democratic Party, as tribal administrator and as an administrator for an organization providing services for adults with developmental disabilities.

It's kind of ridiculous, but I'm relieved that Haaland apparently has extensive administrative experience as well as her political background. She's going to be running a department with 70,000 employees. I just can't imagine what that would be like; I wouldn't be able to cope. Thank goodness people like her are available; thank goodness you're going to have a President who picks people for reasons other than "plays golf" or "will own the libs".
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:11 PM on December 17, 2020 [4 favorites]


Julian Brave Noisecat seems to have done an awesome job of lobbying for this win.
posted by happyinmotion at 7:16 PM on December 17, 2020 [1 favorite]


Is this the first time someone actually from the Interior is appointed to the Interior?
posted by eustatic at 7:55 PM on December 17, 2020 [7 favorites]


represents a win for "liberal members of Congress, climate activists, Hollywood celebrities and tribal groups,"

I like the Washington Post well enough but this is such weird framing. THIS IS A WIN FOR AMERICA, WE ARE ALL SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER.
posted by kate blank at 4:10 AM on December 18, 2020 [6 favorites]


She's going to be running a department with 70,000 employees.

Is the Interior Department only 70k? Seems like it should three times that size. But then again I am overall in favor of massive hiring throughout the Federal Government, barring the military.
posted by Ipsifendus at 5:17 AM on December 18, 2020 [4 favorites]


Is anyone concerned that cabinet picks have to be confirmed by the Senate? I'm feeling jaded enough by McConnell's obstruction habits to wonder if he's going to block these offices from being filled.

Someone pls tell me he (and the GOP senate majority) is not allowed to do this.
posted by ananci at 12:17 PM on December 18, 2020


They are, and will certainly reject some to demonstrate that have the upper hand, would not be surprised if they go full on rejectionism. They definitely will do that for judges.
posted by tavella at 12:39 PM on December 18, 2020 [1 favorite]


One very excited New Mexico resident here. We're so proud of her!
posted by WalkerWestridge at 3:20 PM on December 18, 2020 [3 favorites]


In that event Biden should simply pull a page from the Trump playbook and make a bunch of recess appointments.
posted by Ipsifendus at 3:21 PM on December 18, 2020 [2 favorites]


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