North Carolina
Related: About this forumMcCrory’s mean joke, a poet laureate who’s barely a poet
Who the hell is Valerie Macon?
Thats what poets in North Carolina are asking this week after Gov. Pat McCrory bypassed the established process for choosing the states poet laureate and appointed the unknown, inexperienced Macon to the post for the next two years.
Typically, the North Carolina Arts Council handles the selection of a new laureate. They solicit nominations, convene a selection committee to review the poets against the positions guidelines and recommend a finalist to the Governor, who announces the new laureate.
But McCrory couldnt bother with that. Ignoring the NCACs process, he simply issued a Friday-afternoon press release that Macon was in. The governor didn't even bother to thank outgoing laureate Joseph Bathanti, who has done exemplary education and outreach work around the state since 2012.
Well, at least McCrory didnt slash Bathantis tires.
Ignoring standard procedure and professional courtesy is one thing. Macons profound lack of qualifications is another. Bathantis resume is typical for a laureatemore than 10 books, decades of literary involvement, major awards and a teaching position at Appalachian State University.Macons got none of those chops. Shes self-published two short poetry books. She studied business, not literature. Shes never taught. Her poetry outreach work amounts to zero. Judging from the collective social media shrug from the Tarheel poetry world, Macons not involved in any literary community. Shes a bureaucrat, commuting to her Department of Health and Human Services job from her Fuquay-Varina homea hobbyist poet.
http://www.indyweek.com/artery/archives/2014/07/16/opinion-mccrorys-mean-joke-a-poet-laureate-whos-barely-a-poet
McCrory has got to be the pettiest human being alive.
littlemissmartypants
(22,797 posts)She must have something on him. Or they are bedroom buddies. I despise him.
Thanks for your post, octoberlib.
Love, Peace and Shelter.
Warpy
(111,339 posts)Honestly, the present government there is a study in ignorance, spite, and viciousness. I will be very surprised if they all get reelected. I hope Tarheels are finally fed up.
If not, I shudder to think what it would take.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Even moderate Republicans are showing up at protests.
Historic NY
(37,453 posts)make her try to do the job.
littlemissmartypants
(22,797 posts)Or she will disappear like a hot potato. . .
Who knows with the GOB network creeps. What I do know is that they can't be trusted.
Love, Peace and Shelter. Lmsp
armed_and_liberal
(246 posts)I have a neighbor here who worked with her. She said she isn't a right-winger unless something has changed in the last couple of years. She has gotten bashed pretty bad and perhaps more that she deserved personally.