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You are here: Home / Books / Open Thread: The Ignerntz Coalition Foiled

Open Thread: The Ignerntz Coalition Foiled

by Anne Laurie|  July 14, 201612:21 am| 64 Comments

This post is in: Books, Excellent Links, Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Daydream Believers

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Carla Hayden became the first woman & AA Librarian of Congress today. Leaving the Nays here for anyone voting in Nov pic.twitter.com/BYyzfoZiFh

— Carrie Freely (@Carrie4free) July 13, 2016

Earnest congratulations to Carla Hayden, now our fourteenth Librarian of Congress — first woman, first African-American, and (according to Robinson Meyer, in the Atlantic), “the first Librarian of Congress appointed during the internet age”…

… Carla Hayden, a former Chicago children’s librarian who rose to preside over the American Library Association and oversee Baltimore’s enormous free library system, was confirmed by the Senate Wednesday to lead the Library of Congress, the nation’s largest library and its oldest federal institution…

Hayden replaces James Billington, an academic historian appointed by President Ronald Reagan who spent almost three decades at the institution’s helm. Billington renovated the Library’s main building and doubled the size of some of its collections (while also enlarging its pocketbook), but he neglected networked technology near the end of his tenure. He retired last year.

As I wrote then, Billington’s lengthy tenure means that Hayden will be the first Librarian of Congress appointed during the internet age— and the first librarian who seems to understand its power…

She inherits a library that desperately requires an update. A report from the Government Accountability Office last year found that the Library, once a leader in adapting to the internet, had fallen behind the times and needed to update its aging computer systems.

Hayden was confirmed 74-18 by the Senate. All of the dissenting senators were Republicans, including Senators Mark Kirk, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Tom Cotton. And though she was unanimously endorsed by the G.O.P-controlled Senate Rules Committee, an anonymous Republican senator blocked the vote to confirm Hayden’s appointment for more than five weeks…

Of course the Talibangelicals in Congress object to a professional knowledge-distributor, especially one with a history of encouraging children and other people of color to step beyond the boundaries of home and neighborhood, as decreed by the councils of the Talibangelical…

I posted this next video back in February, when Hayden was originally nominated. The one below it is C-SPAN’s coverage of her opening statement when confirmation hearings opened back in April.

@AlGiordano Looked into it. "radical librarian" ie, supports privacy / opposes surveillance, seems to be objection.

— Susan A. Kitchens (@susankitchens) July 13, 2016

They ought to be thrilled then. That means she won't tell their dumb ass supporters that they were seen in a library https://t.co/STggX3OEM1

— Al Giordano (@AlGiordano) July 13, 2016

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Previous Post: « Open Thread: Florida Woman, New NRA Poster Child
Next Post: Late Night WTF Open Thread: The GOP’s Goombah Problem »

Reader Interactions

64Comments

  1. 1.

    burnspbesq

    July 14, 2016 at 12:25 am

    Has there ever been a Federal agency that didn’t have “aging computer systems?”

  2. 2.

    Adam L Silverman

    July 14, 2016 at 12:25 am

    AL: would you please take a look at the comment in moderation? I’m not quite sure what to do with it. Thanks!

  3. 3.

    burnspbesq

    July 14, 2016 at 12:27 am

    “What can I do,
    My dear,
    To carch
    Your ear?”

  4. 4.

    Joel

    July 14, 2016 at 12:27 am

    So, another disturbing video of a police killing surfaced today.

    This time in Fresno.

  5. 5.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    July 14, 2016 at 12:29 am

    Why would Tim Scott vote no esp. when Graham voted yes? And why Isaakson,Perdue and Rubio in states with sizeable black populations? I don’t even get it. I am guessing Lee is the one who put the anonymous hold.

  6. 6.

    eclare

    July 14, 2016 at 12:31 am

    Kirk is the surprise to me.

  7. 7.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 14, 2016 at 12:32 am

    Of the Georgia Senators, both of whom (natch) voted “Nay,” only Isakson is up for reelection. I’ll vote against him in November, but dislodging a Republican incumbent in this state is well-nigh impossible.

    @Mai.naem.mobile:

    I am guessing Lee is the one who put the anonymous hold.

    I thought I saw somewhere it was Tom Cotton.

  8. 8.

    Emma

    July 14, 2016 at 12:33 am

    @Mai.naem.mobile: Rubio simply because he’s a dipshyt. The man embarrasses himself every time he opens his mouth. He has no adroitness or political savvy.

  9. 9.

    NotMax

    July 14, 2016 at 12:36 am

    Thomas was a boon for quite some time.

    The National Jukebox is a fun stop to while away some spare time.

  10. 10.

    Kropadope

    July 14, 2016 at 12:38 am

    Library of Congress, the nation’s largest library and its oldest federal institution…

    Fascinating, I didn’t know that. As if we needed more proof that the founding fathers had their priorities in order to a greater degree than Republican “originalists” who claim to be the only ones who understand the intent of the FFs and thus must eliminate all federal institutions except our standing army.

    Incidentally, wasn’t a standing army something we didn’t develop until about 1900 and anathema to many of the FFs? I’m going off an old memory, so I could be wrong here.

  11. 11.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    July 14, 2016 at 12:40 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: I have no idea. I was guessing since Lee and Cruz had taken over being the Kings of Anonymous holds since Coburn resigned. I consider Cotton as dangerous as Cruz and he doesn’t have that off putting stink that Cruz has. I bet he’ll be running for POTUS in 2020.

  12. 12.

    David ?▶️Hillary/Harley Quinn 2016▶️? Koch

    July 14, 2016 at 12:43 am

    Sanders didn’t vote for her.

    He was the only “Democrat” not to vote for her.

    First woman, first black and he couldn’t be bothered to cast a vote for her. (link)

    Revolution!

  13. 13.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    July 14, 2016 at 12:45 am

    Did Evan Bayh actually announce or did I miss it?

  14. 14.

    father pussbucket

    July 14, 2016 at 12:48 am

    @eclare:

    Kirk is the surprise to me.

    Me, too. In his TV ads, he’s all anti-Trump and bi-partisany and you’d hardly know he’s a Republican. Maybe he felt he’s throwing the party and/or the wingers a small bone.

  15. 15.

    Anne Laurie

    July 14, 2016 at 12:50 am

    @eclare:

    Kirk is the surprise to me.

    I’m guessing he was trying to reassure his RWNJ constituents he was one of them — not a pointy-headed innalectural, like that Tammy Duckworth lady.

  16. 16.

    eclare

    July 14, 2016 at 12:50 am

    @father pussbucket: And maybe he figures he’s lost AA’s and women….

  17. 17.

    dr. bloor

    July 14, 2016 at 12:51 am

    @Mai.naem.mobile:

    I consider Cotton as dangerous as Cruz and he doesn’t have that off putting stink that Cruz has.

    Yeah, just wait a little bit.

    Looks like Sasse has decided that he’s going to advance his career the old-fashioned way–appealing to white voters over the side of the cliff. Can’t spell “asshole” without Sasse.

  18. 18.

    Anne Laurie

    July 14, 2016 at 12:53 am

    @Mai.naem.mobile:

    I consider Cotton as dangerous as Cruz and he doesn’t have that off putting stink that Cruz has. I bet he’ll be running for POTUS in 2020.

    Hell, Cotton’s running for 2020 in all but name right now. He’s got big plans for the RNC convention next week; my sincere hope as a Democrat and an American is that he & Ted Cruz get in a literal fist-fight on camera, during prime time.

  19. 19.

    Prescott Cactus

    July 14, 2016 at 12:59 am

    @David ?▶️Hillary/Harley Quinn 2016▶️? Koch:

    Sanders didn’t vote for her.

    Sanders. . . Sanders, God that name is familiar. . . I think he might have been campaigning for the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate.

  20. 20.

    BR

    July 14, 2016 at 1:07 am

    Your PSA for the night: now that Bernie has endorsed Hillary, I can finally put bumper stickers of both of them on my car. So can you. Unity.

  21. 21.

    David ?▶️Hillary/Harley Quinn 2016▶️? Koch

    July 14, 2016 at 1:10 am

    @Prescott Cactus: Not today. He cast a bunch of other votes on dumb unrelated procedural matters. The votes are time stamped and he cast one 35 minutes before her nomination came up. The entire Democratic caucus showed up to vote for her, but not him. No siree. I’m sure he would have showed up if it was some white guy who had been nominated.

  22. 22.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 1:12 am

    I swear they keep moving the elevator banks in this hotel.

  23. 23.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 1:15 am

    There’s not a librarian alive that isn’t mega-concerned about government surveillance.

  24. 24.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 1:16 am

    @Prescott Cactus: Did you get my email?

  25. 25.

    Kathleen Smith

    July 14, 2016 at 1:17 am

    NetRoots Nation 2016: 2 registrations available for $135.00 apiece. Paypal only.
    July 14-17, 2016 St. Louis, MO.
    A late scheduled business meeting takes precedence.
    We paid almost double for these tickets. Our loss is your gain.
    Current registration for “activists” is $370.00 + $3.40.
    One day registration pass for locals is $99.00 + $3.40
    One day registration pass for others is $175.00 + $3.40.
    I’ve bought and sold Netroots Nation registrations in the past online seamlessly.
    (Second post on Balloon Juice…references from another political site can be supplied upon request :))

  26. 26.

    hellslittlestangel

    July 14, 2016 at 1:24 am

    Tim Tebow has been announced as a speaker at the Republican convention. Not clear whether he’s the keynoter.

    That should lend the event some gravitas.

  27. 27.

    Mike J

    July 14, 2016 at 1:26 am

    @hellslittlestangel: How long will it take to print up some “Matthew 6:5” signs?

  28. 28.

    Miss Bianca

    July 14, 2016 at 1:33 am

    My God, it’s only taken 5 months for her to be confirmed? Amazeballs! What’s this Congress coming to??

  29. 29.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 1:34 am

    @Miss Bianca: Good evening, Miss B!

  30. 30.

    JGabriel

    July 14, 2016 at 1:37 am

    I strongly doubt that Dr. Carla Hayden ever reads Balloon Juice, but on the off chance that she does:

    Congratulations, Dr. Hayden!

    (Or, now that you’ll be dealing with Republicans on the hill, are condolences more in order?)

  31. 31.

    JGabriel

    July 14, 2016 at 1:39 am

    @Mai.naem.mobile:

    Why would Tim Scott vote no esp. when Graham voted yes? And why Isaakson,Perdue and Rubio in states with sizeable black populations?

    I don’t know either, but I suspect it was just a cheap low-impact way (since Hayden was obviously going to be confirmed anyhow) to keep up their Conservative Voting Scores.

    Also? Most of them are assholes.

    Okay, all of them are assholes.

  32. 32.

    Miss Bianca

    July 14, 2016 at 1:40 am

    @Major Major Major Major: Good evening! About to call it a night, actually…got some reading to catch up on, your story among ’em!

  33. 33.

    ET

    July 14, 2016 at 1:41 am

    What is sad is that while I did expect her to be confirmed based on the hearings, I also expected more no votes because she is an Obama appointee and Republicans are just so lame.

  34. 34.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 1:43 am

    @Miss Bianca: Ha! Well, I’d say that’s too bad, but since it’s for a good cause… :)

    @ET: I was expecting either a long drawn-out fight over something completely unrelated or a unanimous consent thing under the cover of darkness, not… whatever this was.

  35. 35.

    Prescott Cactus

    July 14, 2016 at 1:49 am

    @Major Major Major Major: I’ll check. It went to my double secret e-mail addy instead of triple secure. . . Hey, your a Balloon Juicer. . . I’ll check !

    THANKS ! ! !

  36. 36.

    Mary G

    July 14, 2016 at 1:52 am

    I don’t get out of my neighborhood much, but today I had to go up the freeway to a bigger hospital and I was curious to see if there were any Trump signs or stickers, but all I saw was Hillz and one Ben Carson bumper sticker put on by a blind person.

  37. 37.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 1:56 am

    @Prescott Cactus: Well, now you’ve got my mother’s maiden name and social watermarked all over the pages, so I’ll definitely not tell anybody your email address.

  38. 38.

    inventor

    July 14, 2016 at 1:58 am

    @Mary G:

    and one Ben Carson bumper sticker put on by a blind person.

    Probably just really sleepy.

  39. 39.

    Prescott Cactus

    July 14, 2016 at 1:58 am

    @shomi: Sanders.

    I’ve taken a step back on this one. If he would have play nice with Hill 15 minutes after the nomination was won, his Bernie bots would be outraged and voting for Dumbster.

    Remember the PUMA’s. This has been a long drawn out affair that has had the Washington elite and a few of us here all pissed at Bernie (me included) for his not towing the Democratic line. This crap about his getting what he wanted on the platform was perhaps all part of the final show to bring his folks back from the ledge.

    Kumbaya ma lord, Kumbaya ohhhh lord Kumbaya, Everybody this time. . .

    Only Shakespeare wrote them better then this ending (Act 1) mind you

  40. 40.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 2:03 am

    @Prescott Cactus: In the end it turns out it was the Clintons colluding with Trump on a big con, the whole time. The audience knows, and the smart characters suspect it, but the courtiers and the sheriff totally get played.

    On the first pass at that I had accidentally written ‘courtesans’ and was like, well, that’s not the word I mean. OR IS IT, ha ha ahhh I kill me.

  41. 41.

    hellslittlestangel

    July 14, 2016 at 2:05 am

    Tebow will speak on the 4th night, the same night as Trump. This has been reported by the New York Times and confirmed by fucking Sports Illustrated.

  42. 42.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 2:08 am

    @hellslittlestangel: Sad!

  43. 43.

    Prescott Cactus

    July 14, 2016 at 2:08 am

    @Major Major Major Major: If you Square the odd numbers in the address, you get my DNA analysis. Cool fact. . .

  44. 44.

    Prescott Cactus

    July 14, 2016 at 2:09 am

    @hellslittlestangel:

    Tebow will speak on the 4th night

    Johnny Manziel, was obviously committed. . .

  45. 45.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 2:13 am

    @Prescott Cactus: Huh?

  46. 46.

    Prescott Cactus

    July 14, 2016 at 2:14 am

    @Major Major Major Major:

    ha ha ahhh I kill me.

    You always bring a smile to my face. I’m easy to please though. I hit the long ball today! Pulled 14% positive response out of an old Dem donor list from the land Red, and grey hair.

  47. 47.

    Prescott Cactus

    July 14, 2016 at 2:18 am

    @Major Major Major Major:

    mother’s maiden name and social watermarked

    My bad: I thought you had my Ma’s info. If you square the numbers in my e-mail address you see what is, in essence my DNA profile. It shows quite clearly the missing Balloon Juice sequence, which I imagine we all share.

    P.S. I’m going to love your musings !

  48. 48.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 2:33 am

    @Prescott Cactus: That’s the idea! Hope so.

  49. 49.

    Fair Economist

    July 14, 2016 at 2:34 am

    @hellslittlestangel:

    Tebow will speak on the 4th night, the same night as Trump. This has been reported by the New York Times and confirmed by fucking Sports Illustrated.

    They must be desperate to tap a failed NFL quarterback with no particular speaking skills for *Trump’s acceptance night*. Tebow vs. people like Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton – holy cow what a mismatch.

  50. 50.

    Arclite

    July 14, 2016 at 2:47 am

    I don’t know why the Repubs didn’t block this nomination until the next president was elected. The voters didn’t get a chance to speak on the Librarian of Congress.

  51. 51.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 2:48 am

    @Arclite: And those appointments are practically for life!

  52. 52.

    NotMax

    July 14, 2016 at 2:58 am

    @Major Major Major Major

    Staying at the Name of the Rose Inn?

    @Mary G

    Egyptian grain merchant?

  53. 53.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 14, 2016 at 3:07 am

    @hellslittlestangel: Is Tebow bringing a chair?

  54. 54.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 14, 2016 at 3:08 am

    @NotMax: San Francisco Hilton. Yes, I’m staying down the street from my apartment for a conference for work. It’s… weird.

    There are three towers here and about five ways to get to each of them, and they seem to close various ones off depending on the time of day and logistical needs of the hotel at the moment.

  55. 55.

    hamletta

    July 14, 2016 at 3:08 am

    A woman in my church choir works at the LoC, and she and her coworkers were overjoyed when the old guy retired. He’d really let things fall behind. Haven’t asked her about Dr. Hayden yet, but I’m sure she’s pleased, being a Maryland girl and all.

  56. 56.

    Anne Laurie

    July 14, 2016 at 3:21 am

    @Major Major Major Major:

    And those appointments are practically for life!

    Not any more; if you read Meyer’s article, the Repubs changed the rules last fall so that the Head Librarian gets no more than a ten-year term in office.

    While I’m not a big fan of term limits, I can see how the argument would be that information technology is moving so fast that younger heads with up-to-the-minute skills might be useful.

    (Although IME, whether an individual is open to new ideas and new technology is less age-related than temperamental.)

  57. 57.

    Arclite

    July 14, 2016 at 3:47 am

    Will the Librarian of Congress tweet? Inquiring minds want to know!

  58. 58.

    NotMax

    July 14, 2016 at 3:57 am

    @Major Major Major Major

    Dunno if you’ve ever read or seen The Name of the Rose. Good enough movie. Much, much better book.

    Still sounds reminiscent of the Escher-like library at the monastery in that tale. :)

  59. 59.

    GregB

    July 14, 2016 at 5:59 am

    Newt Gingrich for VP and Library of Congress. Callista Gingrich, Head Librarian.

    He’s such an intellectual.

  60. 60.

    Aimai

    July 14, 2016 at 7:06 am

    @BR: you always could. you did not have to wait for Sanders to do the right thing.

  61. 61.

    stinger

    July 14, 2016 at 7:51 am

    @Mai.naem.mobile: Joni Ernst? Joni Freaking Ernst voted no? Ernst, the first woman Iowa has ever elected to a national office? Can’t vote for another woman? Even Grassley isn’t on that list.

  62. 62.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 14, 2016 at 8:45 am

    @Fair Economist: I have every expectation that Tim Tebow will be a Senator one day.

  63. 63.

    Mnemosyne

    July 14, 2016 at 9:45 am

    @hamletta:

    I’m guessing they’re even more overjoyed that Dr. Hayden has been appointed, because she’s an actual professional librarian, not a historian like the last guy. Her PhD (and MA) is in library science.

  64. 64.

    WaterGirl

    July 14, 2016 at 9:46 am

    @father pussbucket: You didn’t actually believe his ads, did you? I looked right away for Kirk’s name, expecting to find it on the list of 18.

    God help us if he lying ads get him reelected!

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