From New America Media: Native appointees Take High Profiles in D.C.
It's pretty self-explanatory from the headlines what that article is about, but it also discusses the campaign promise Obama made to appoint a Native senior policy advisor.
Sharon Clahchischilliage, director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, has taken note of the Native Americans being nominated to high governmental positions, a change from the Bush administration.
"We've had Natives in different positions (in government) but it hasn't been as vocal as now," Clahchischilliage said. "The White House is doing a good job of advertising the picks for all the positions."
She added that the next step is for those confirmed to advocate on behalf of Native Americans...
...But despite these high-profile Native appointments, a key advisory position Obama promised during his campaign is still unfilled. Obama promised to appoint a Native American as a senior policy advisor, who would consult with him on Native issues. It was a key component of his Native American platform during his campaign.
"We were hoping that position would have been filled by now," Clahchischilliage said. "I'm sure there is a lot of politics to navigate through before they make a pick for that position."
I know I have zero idea of the politics involved in this, but I do hope this gets remedied fairly quickly. So far, there have been some great decisions from Obama regarding Native issues, and some that I think could have been handled better had there been someone who not only knew the issues, but really, REALLY had the ear of the President.
5 comments:
I read recently that if you want the Ear of the President to write a nice letter to Michelle or Ophra and send it in a Greeting Card. That People would rather get a greeting card than a letter.
It is amazing that so many people live in America yet know so little about how our government works. There is no magic wand involved when the president makes an appointment that must be confirmed by the Senate. The Founding Fathers set it up so that these appointments require confirmation by members of the Senate by a 2/3vote. Some people comment. but ignore this fact, and it irks me to no end. If the president could appoint whomever he chose to a position without Senate confirmation, the process would/could definitely be expedited, but he has to work according to the process established by the Constitution, and no, greeting cards to Michelle or Oprah do not qualify in getting appointees in offices more quickly. I'm going to assume that some citizens have little or no patience when it comes to knowing and following the Constitution.
Sorry if'n I irked you off so early in the morning. [looking around] "Some people comment"? I'm going to assume that you're addressing me here, being the only commenter who's just passing along a friendly bit of gossip I heard recently about "getting the ear of the president", not necessarily for this particular issue...there are other issues!
I try to understand the 2/3 vote, I try to learn... like maybe thats why it took so long for Alaska to become an State...waiting for enough non-natives to move there to get that 2/3 vote?
And:
"No date of origin for this document has been confirmed by historians, although it is believed to be at least a thousand years old. Both the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitution of the United States of America are founded on the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Great Law of Peace."
"...With endless patience they shall carry out their duty and their firmness shall be tempered with a tenderness for their people. Neither anger nor fury shall find lodgement in their minds and all their words and actions shall be marked by calm deliberation."...
Constitution of the Iroquois Nations
http://www.constitution.org/cons/iroquois.htm
To my understanding when we borrowed this constitution we left out the part that the Women Title Holders are the Legislation, for one.
I try to learn and I have empathy for those others that don't know either and are also trying to learn.
"In practice, the constitution has been an utter fraud from the beginning. Professing to have been 'ordained and established' by we, the people of the United States, it has never been submitted to them, as individuals, for their voluntary acceptance... very few of them have ever read, or even seen it; or ever will read or see it. Of its legal meaning (if it can be said to have any) they really know nothing; and never did. Nor ever will know anything."-Spooner, In a letter to Thomas F. Bayard
"We were hoping that position would have been filled by now," Clahchischilliage said. "I'm sure there is a lot of politics to navigate through before they make a pick for that position."
I doubt that the reference to politics is to the US Congress or Senate. There are a lot of eminently qualified people for this position, each of whom is also enrolled in a major (or minor) intergovernmental player. I wonder, though, if unlike the positions at IHS or BIA, this position will likely be seen as a prominent (tribal) political position rather than an administrative position. Which part of the continent the advisor comes from is apt to be significant to those from elsewhere.
I'm going to assume that some citizens have little or no patience when it comes to knowing and following the Constitution. viagra, cialis
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