FEMA Dir. Mike Brown fired from prior job at Horse Assoc.

[editor's note, by Goldy at HorsesAss] Revised title

"An unmitigated, total fucking disaster."  That's not a quote from Mike Brown, but rather, a quote describing him.  And most disturbingly, it's not even a reference to his dismal performance as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  This blunt critique was emailed to me from a regular reader who was apparently attracted to HorsesAss.org by her passion for politics and her love of Arabian horses.

I think I've told you that I'm into Arab horses.  Well, for 3 years Michael Brown was hired and then fired by our IAHA, the International Arabian Horse Assoc.  He was an unmitigated, total fucking disaster.  I was shocked as hell when captain clueless put him in charge of FEMA a couple of years ago.

He or the WH lied on the WH presser announcing him to FEMA.  IAHA was never connected to the Olympic Comm, only the half Arab registry then and the governing body to the state and local Arabian horse clubs.  He ruined IAHA financially so badly that we had to change the name and combine it with the Purebred registry.

I am telling you this after watching the fucking shipwreck in the Gulf.  His incompetence is KILLING people.

Yes, that's right... the man responsible for directing federal relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, sharpened his emergency management skills as the "Judges and Stewards Commissioner" for the International Arabian Horses Association... a position from which he was forced to resign in the face of mounting litigation and financial disarray.

And what of that misleading White House press release?

From 1991 to 2001, Brown was the Commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association, an international subsidiary of the national governing organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

I can't even begin to fact check the dates or IAHA's alleged relationship to the US Olympic Committee, because of course, the IAHA doesn't exist anymore, so there's nothing to Google. But it begs the question... how the hell did his prior job experience prepare Brown to head FEMA?

Well, judging by his agency's performance over the past few days... it didn't.

[Cross-posted at HorsesAss.org]

•  A slam dunk...

  ...for a Medal of Freedom.

  by miholo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:58:15 AM PDT

  •  Goldy is 100% correct.

    I have been a member of AHA (Arabian Horse Association) for over 30 years.  The IAHA was a registry set up for horses that were part Arabian, rather than purebreds.  It, in fact, was larger than AHA.

    This man, in 3 years, decimated the finances of this organization.  Ask any Arabian breeder, of which there are many in this country.  No need to Google.  It cost us a fortune.  Dues and fees were dramatically increased because of it.

    Also, the IAHA and AHA have NEVER been associated with the Olympics.  In any capacity.  This is a bald-faced lie.

    by Miss Blue on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:44:47 AM PDT

    •  When the hell will Bush be held accountable

      for the results of his fucked up policies and his shoddy government?

      This is an outrage.  This is a total fucking outrage.  Bush put this incompetent, lying thief in charge of the agency charged with managing disasters-- disasters that threaten people's LIVES?  Disasters that KILL PEOPLE?  And Bush gave this guy the post purely for political reasons-- because he was one of the club?  What the FUCK sort of responsibility is anyone going to demand that this president take for his decisions?

      by concernedamerican on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:59:46 AM PDT

      •  PLEASE CIRCULATE

        The spin for today is that NAGIN IS NO GUILIANI.

        Please help counter the spin!

        Most important, please read below CRITICAL information I received from Rep. Arthur Morrell's staff:

        =======

        I learned from Jean-Paul Morrell (the son of New Orleans' City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge Morrell and State Representative Arthur Morrell, brother of NOPD Special force Sergeant Todd F. Morrell) that NOPD has not received food or even bullets from the federal government.

        They are down to about 10 bullets per officer.

        Looters have raided the armory (that was supposed to be protected by national guardsmen that weren't there) and police officers have been eating Peanut Butter sandwiches because the Feds won't even give them MREs.

        Jean-Paul also has learnt that the National Guard had not been deployed into New Orleans before Thursday. Most of the national guard troops, reported to be in the region, are in Baton Rouge awaiting orders.

        Jean-Paul also informed me that the Federal Government is requesting that the Mayor of New Orleans relinquish control of New Orleans.

        The Mayor has refused to do so, stating that he is the legally elected representative from New Orleans to represent the people's interest.

        Guilliani was not asked to relinquish control of New York.

        by MFL on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:11:34 AM PDT

        •  hmmm....

          I find this very interesting.  Are they refusing to deploy the troops until the mayor "abdicates"?

          Frankly at this point and time there is no New Orleans, it no longer exists.  There really is nothing to reliquish.  The mayor is now an advocate, but the city has essentially been wiped out.  he has no resources of his own to call upon. That is the difference between now and 9/11.

          by DawnG on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:42:00 AM PDT

        •  Giuliani is no Nagin

          From what I've seen, Giuliani is no Nagin. Things happened in a few hours in NY, so Giuliani didn't have much to do that was critical or that would have made the difference between life and death, his was mostly a PR job. Aterwards there were few injured and hardly any dead bodies to deal with, and except for a small part of downtown the whole city was still operational and able to support the displaced. (And there never was any accountability for major problems in preparedness, such as the lousy the police and fire dept. communications equipment, and the brilliant idea of placing the city's emergency command center at the site of a previous attack).

          Nagin has lost all his infrastructure and is seeing people die every day while the federal government sat on its ass for days, and is keeping his resolve admirably. He's shares part of the responsibility for the lack of preparation (though most of it seems to be FEMA's), but he has been very impressive since then, given what he has to work with.
          

          by miholo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:50:57 AM PDT

          •  good pts.

            --watching a mob die slowly vs. the immediate deaths of 9/11.
            do you remember all the blood donated and no injured to receive it because they were already dead?
            i'm sure you all will continue to uncover the "credentials" of bush appointments.  keep up the good work.

            by stagemom on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 08:27:22 AM PDT

            •  don't knock the blood drive

              I give blood regularly and the Red Cross needs more donors than they have - just for everyday, noncrisis needs.  Crises like Katrina and 9/11 bring people in to give blood who ordinarily wouldn't and the Red Cross hopes to convert these one time emergency donors into repeat donors.

              by Fabian on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:19:19 PM PDT

              •  not knocking!

                how could you think that i inferred that?  i meant there is no comparison of this with the bombings--  with katrina a blood drive would make sense, there will be survivors.

                by stagemom on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:25:25 PM PDT

                •  I know.

                  Apologies.
                  

                  by Fabian on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:53:06 PM PDT

          •  Giuliani is a punk.

            Regardless of anything he might deserve during the 9/11 disaster, he has turned it into a financial windfall and disgusting marketing scam. For those that might forget, on his watch "America's finest police force" sodomized an inmate, shot unarmed, innocent victims, and other pravesties that seem to be forgotten. He was also having an affair while mayor, and if I'm not mistaken, adutery is not high on the Catholic morality list.
            Granted, the man has accomplished more than I have and possibly ever will in my lifetime, but I don't pretend I'm something I'm not.
            Nagin seems to be a ddecent person and possibly competent mayor. This was not something he could deal with without federal and national assistance. Time will be the judge, but to compare him with Giuliani ain't comparing apples and apples.
            

            by wardeo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:02:10 PM PDT

            •  you mean the Giuliani who...

              ...tried to justify the police shooting of an unarmed 30 year old black security guard by trying to sully the man's character before his body was even cold?  

              ...or the one who told the media he wanted a divorce before discussing the issue with his wife?

              Neither one is the type of person who, IMO, deserves to wield power.

              by Big River Bandido on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 01:15:55 PM PDT

              •  he said that the victim was

                "no altar boy", while, in fact, he was.

                It was pretty disgusting.  In any case, the idea that it is OK for an undercover policeman to get into a physical altecation and then avenge a punch in the face with a fatal shot, provided that the victim is merely a FORMER altar boy... requires no comments.

                by Piotr on Sun Sep 04, 2005 at 12:56:54 PM PDT

          •  And Nagin is effected

            Nagin and his staff have all been effected by this hurricane in ways Guiliani's staff couldn't have been in 2001. They've lost their homes, their loved ones and they are unable to attend to their personal affairs. On top of that, they're not able to improve the situation for their citizens because of the federal government's incompetence.

            Nagin isn't just a PR mouthpiece for his city.

            by HootiHoo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:48:51 PM PDT

        •  Another poor comparison from the right

          just like comparing WWII to Iraq.  

          by Dr Van Nostrand on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 08:09:30 AM PDT

      •  PLEASE CIRCULATE

        The spin for today is that NAGIN IS NO GUILIANI.

        Please help counter the spin!

        Most important, please read below CRITICAL information I received from Rep. Arthur Morrell's staff:

        =======

        I learned from Jean-Paul Morrell (the son of New Orleans' City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge Morrell and State Representative Arthur Morrell, brother of NOPD Special force Sergeant Todd F. Morrell) that NOPD has not received food or even bullets from the federal government.

        They are down to about 10 bullets per officer.

        Looters have raided the armory (that was supposed to be protected by national guardsmen that weren't there) and police officers have been eating Peanut Butter sandwiches because the Feds won't even give them MREs.

        Jean-Paul also has learnt that the National Guard had not been deployed into New Orleans before Thursday. Most of the national guard troops, reported to be in the region, are in Baton Rouge awaiting orders.

        Jean-Paul also informed me that the Federal Government is requesting that the Mayor of New Orleans relinquish control of New Orleans.

        The Mayor has refused to do so, stating that he is the legally elected representative from New Orleans to represent the people's interest.

        Guilliani was not asked to relinquish control of New York.

        by MFL on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:12:28 AM PDT

        •  BushCo wouldnt play deadly politics, would they.

          Lets see, Florida has multiple hurricanes and
          gets immediate, and I mean immediate, response for
          republiCo family member Jeb.

          Louisiana has a Democratic governor who narrowly beat her republican opponent to become the first women governor of Louisiana in 130 years, New Orleans has a tough talking mayor in Ray Nagin who turned democrat in 2002 and won his election by beating 14 opponents(a) including the the Dem police chief Richard Pennington who came in second and was the favorite of "GOP heavyweights" who no doubt were behind the anonymous  "smear" phone(b) calls about Nagin targeting white new orleanians

          (a)-http://robwalker.net/html_docs/nodiarist.html
          (b)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Nagin

          by Jay on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 08:50:36 AM PDT

•  You should revise the title to reflect the content

  this is worthy of looking into. really.

  by potato on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:03:57 AM PDT

  •  should be sent to Olbermann, networks

    this is huge. HUGE. Please send your info to NYTimes and WaPo.

    by seesdifferent on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:53:41 AM PDT

    •  Just sent entire story to Jack Cafferty

      by nyceve on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:36:28 AM PDT

      •  Sent to Tim Russert

        by nyceve on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:03:48 AM PDT

        •  Tim Russert

          I sure he will get right on it.

          by RickDFL on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:24:57 AM PDT

          •  Tim was on one of the AM news shows

            this morning.

            And he was pretty damn unmerciful toward the administration.  

            by Sylvester McMonkey Mcbean on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 08:31:47 AM PDT

            •  Michael Brown's Campaign Contributions

              This also confirms his link to the Horse Association because the contributions listed that organization as his place of employment.

              http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Michael_D_Brown.php

              Michael D Brown (bio)
              head of FEMA 2003-present $1,250   Republican

              Contributor Candidate or PAC  Amount  Date  
              Brown, Michael D.
              Alexandria, VA 22304
              COLORADO REPUBLICAN FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (R) $250
              primary 01/08/04
              Brown, Michael D. Mr.
              Lyons, CO 80540
              Int'l Arabian Horse Assoc./Commissi BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
              President
              BUSH FOR PRESIDENT INC. $500
              primary 06/15/00
              BROWN, MICHAEL D
              LYONS, CO 80540
              INT'L ARABIAN HORSE ASSOC BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
              President
              BUSH FOR PRESIDENT INC. $500
              primary 04/29/99
              Data Provided by the Federal Election Commission as of 8/29/05 -- 11,882,838 records
              

              by nyceve on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:20:25 PM PDT

              •  I don't quite understand

                why the International Arabian Horse Association would need to make donations to a presidential campaign. But apparently Mike Brown did.

                by grimc on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:22:10 PM PDT

•  Your appraisal.

  From what I have seen so far you are flattering his performance.

  by humphrey on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:16:21 AM PDT

•  money

  He must have been a true Bush Pioneer.  Shouldn't be too hard to find out through public records.

  Go!

  by freelixir on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:17:17 AM PDT

  •  Buddy of Bush's political fixer

    From Josh Marshall:

    Much was made at the time and since about the fact that James Lee Witt was the first head of FEMA who had a professional background in emergency and disaster management.

    No one seems to dispute the fact that prior to 1993, the agency was a dumping ground for patronage hires. (The change was also furthered by a devastating 1992 GAO report.)

    President Bush replaced Witt with Joe Allbaugh, whose main qualification was that he was one of the president's main political fixers from Texas.

    When Allbaugh left FEMA in 2003 to cash in on the Iraqi contracts bonanza, he was replaced by Michael Brown. Allbaugh originally brought Brown to FEMA as General Counsel. His qualification was that they were college buddies.

    When Allbaugh bailed, he apparently gave the top job to Brown.

    FEMA is another Republican patronage mill.

    by hoipolloi on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:15:06 AM PDT

    •  Demand Brown be replaced

        Contact Information
      Web Site: www.whitehouse.gov
      E-mail: [e-mail]

      Washington Office:
      1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
      Washington, D.C. 20500
      Phone: [phone]
      Fax: [phone]

      Call your senators and congressman also [http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/here]

      by mickey on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:31:02 AM PDT

      •  YES! Demand Brown be replaced!

        Go to Congress.org to write the President and Congress with the request...

        We have failed our duty as Americans

        by Diana Rowe Pauls on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:36:46 PM PDT

    •  college buddies

      great.

      for drinking, yes.

      for government, no.

      by freelixir on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 10:58:05 AM PDT

    •  FEMA - a patronage mill

      "FEMA is another Republican patronage mill."

      Of all the agencies which should be taken seriously in this age of terrorism...

      Is there no bottom?

      Are they just the most incompetent people to ever hold this sort of power, or are they evil?

      by joel3000 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 11:32:37 AM PDT

      •  both

        a dangerous combination. They are totally disinterested in governing, only in raping the public.

        by Groper on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 02:28:52 PM PDT

•  I agree with the poster above

  MORE people would be reading this diary if they knew, from the title, the shocking revelation that your diary contains.

  him being a total fucking disaster may be true, but the meat of your revelation (that this guy was a repping for a horse breeders association, and was so incomptetent he nearly killed it) is more eye catching than the non-specific to the story title you have.

  by LeftHandedMan on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:17:31 AM PDT

  •  Good diary, by the way

    not trying to put your hard work down. I just believe this bit of info is too good to miss.

    by LeftHandedMan on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:20:41 AM PDT

  •  I've changed the title

    ... but if anybody has a better idea for the title, please let me know.  (Soon.  I need to go to bed.)

    Thanks for the constructive criticism.

    by Goldy at HorsesAss on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:29:26 AM PDT

    •  simplify a bit

      how about:
      FEMA Director fired for incompetence at prior job

      by miholo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:52:05 AM PDT

    •  We linked to this

      ...at our blog Martini Republic.  I think it's solid information not a lot of people know and many would like to.  I saw Michael Brown on CNN today and he was looking like a confused man.  Also, we see that a Rep. in Florida advised that he be fired earlier this year:

      U.S. Rep.  Robert Wexler (D-Fla) has urged President Bush to fire Michael Brown as undersecretary of the Homeland Security Department in charge of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

      Wexler cited reports in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that FEMA under Brown's management inappropriately gave away $30 million in disaster relief funds to people in the Miami, Florida, area even though they were not affected by Hurricane Frances, which made landfall more than 100 miles away.

      by joseph on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:03:54 AM PDT

      •  So many dots

        to connect its no wonder our soundbite only media doesnt even try. Thank you for sharing.

        by Thirsty on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:10:01 AM PDT

      •  Wasn't that money

        poured into Miami before the 2004 election?

        But I am sure the $ and the election had nothing to do with each other.

        by Sylvester McMonkey Mcbean on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:07:13 AM PDT

        •  But in true Republican fashion

          What they appear to give away with one hand, they Take Back with the other:
          

          
          FORT MYERS - (AP) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has asked thousands of Floridians whose homes were damaged by last summer's four hurricanes to give back more than $27 million in aid overpayments, a newspaper reported.

          FEMA earlier this year began mailing letters to residents in efforts to recoup the overpayments from people who received federal aid after Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne hit Florida last August and September.

          According to data supplied to The News-Press of Fort Myers through a Freedom of Information Act request, the agency detailed 6,579 cases in which they say people owe $27,220,234.24.
          

          In other words they gave them the Cash, upfront to make them feel good and vote Republican, and after the election they want it back, now with penalties and interest.  Nice folks eh?

           

          by Magorn on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:05:47 AM PDT

    •  You are on an important story...

      ... stick with it and wade into the background on Michael D. Brown, "crisis leader"... not.

      This lack of leadership in our institutions created by Bush cronyism is continuing to cost American lives.  Mike Brown has just the latest example.

      From the Sun Sentinel "Audit scolds FEMA over payments - Waste, loss of control cited at all levels of hurricane aid" back in May 2005:

      Miami-Dade County residents collected Hurricane Frances aid for belongings they didn't own, temporary housing they never requested and cars worth far less than the government paid, according to a federal audit that questions millions in storm payouts.

      The review found waste and poor controls in every level of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's assistance program and challenges the designation of Miami-Dade as a disaster area when the county "did not incur any hurricane force winds, tornados or other adverse weather conditions that would cause widespread damage."
      

      The 60-page report, obtained by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Friday, confirms a number of the findings in an ongoing investigation by the newspaper into FEMA's disaster aid program. The newspaper first reported in October that FEMA was awarding millions of dollars to Miami-Dade residents even though the Labor Day weekend storm made landfall more than 100 miles to the north and local officials knew of no serious damage.
      

      Michael D. Brown, FEMA's director, said Friday that although some fraud and abuse is evident in all disasters he was pleased with the audit's findings of "nothing widespread."

      "The residents of Florida, and people across the nation, can feel assured that they will always be our first priority in responding to devastating disasters," he said in a written statement to the newspaper.

      The audit is scheduled for official release Wednesday, when the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing into whether the FEMA program was mismanaged.

      "We want to get answers," said U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Palm Beach Gardens.

      [emphasis added]

      Some experts called for Brown's resignation back then.  We might get it now, after this mess is run its course.

      Tough guy to find stuff on since he has so little public service or background, but stick at it.  The story of the mismangement of past hurricane assistance will bubble up here shortly.

      by Hector Solon on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:40:31 AM PDT

      •  AND Don't miss this article

        a a Scathing 5 page article on FEMA From the August 22nd Miami Herald Tribune:

        
        FEMA is used to critics moaning about waste or lethargy after a disaster. But it has been unusually haunted by news reports and complaints from state, local and congressional leaders with diverse and damning allegations about last year.
        ....
        The Homeland Security inspector general issued a scathing report backing up those complaints. FEMA replied that some gripes were overblown, and it's fighting legislative crackdowns led by members of the Florida delegation
        

        It includes this -don't know whether to laugh or scream_ quote from Mike Brown:

        
        Dan Brown, head of FEMA and under secretary for emergency preparedness and response at Homeland Security, said in a statement this month that some lawmakers "think a solution lies in adding more process to the process.

        "Some of their suggestions are right in line with our own thoughts. Some other ideas I will never put into practice because they will endanger the victims, making aid so slow we will find ourselves back in the days of Hurricane Andrew."

        AIIGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!! Okay screaming wins. Any other day, and it would be snarky cynicism,  but there are too many dead bodies today.  Screaming wins.

        One more before I totally lose it, because the record has to be made:

        
         The next big question for FEMA -- posed by the State emergency managers, however, are worried a plan to remove preparedness functions from FEMA and put them in a new preparedness directorate would erode the agency's mission and abilities.

        ..{they} are expected to meet with Michael Chertoff, secretary of homeland security, and other federal officials today and Tuesday to discuss the department's reorganization. A fight over FEMA is possible.

        ...

        Emergency managers said it would be a mistake to disconnect disaster planning staff, grants and programs from the state, local and federal agencies that are supposed to respond.
        ...
        "Losing this natural hazards emphasis for FEMA is getting to be quite a concern," he said.

        Natalie Rule, spokeswoman for FEMA, said the move would allow the agency to focus on response and recovery.

        "The shifting over of preparedness really assists FEMA in just really being able to focus on that core competency, and if you will," she said, "a FEMA on steroids."
        

        And when it comes time to call the account for this utter destruction of a city they can't say they weren't warned:

        
        "Any unnecessary separation of these functions will result in a disjointed response and adversely impact the effectiveness of departmental operations," wrote David Liebersbach, president of the National Emergency Management Association and director of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

        "Another hurricane season like last year, and we're not going to be prepared to respond to it," Liebersbach said. "That's our fear."
        

        
        

        by Magorn on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:23:02 AM PDT

    •  They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

      And Now Have a Shoot-to-Kill Order in NOLA, Too.

      Nope, keep your title.  It got this to the top of the recommended list.

      I just couldn't keep the title of that movie out of my mind, reading this.

      If horses deserved better, people do.  We do.

      by Cream City on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:03:56 AM PDT

•  Wouldnt it be nice

  to see someone grill this guy in one of his many many damage control interviews. A CNN anchor raised her voice today in shock asking him to repeat his statement of not knowing people were dying at the convention center. He seemed about to snap but carried on with his talking points. A good one on one with followups involving his qualifications and work history would be very interesting.

  Yet another bit of the story to feed to the corporate media and hope they will bite.

  by Thirsty on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:54:42 AM PDT

  •  again this morning

    CNN's Soledad O'Brien (sp?) interviewed him at about 7:10 AM ET.  Right out of the gate, she hit him with a question about how could FEMA not know about the Morial Convention Center disaster-in-progress when CNN had live camera pictures.  He dodged and weaved and tried to talk about how they were "feeding people."  Normally Ms. O'Brien is no one's pit bull, but in this case she wouldn't let go.  She asked him about how there was food and water in Banda Aceh within two days, but still nothing in most of New Orleans.  More hemming and hawing in response, but by now she was gnawing his legs off at the knees.  I think she asked him five times how FEMA could've failed so badly.  When Brown kept replying about how they were "feeding people," she finally blew up and said, "fine, but it's been five days!  It's Friday!"

    Miles O'Brien is, at this moment, delivering repeated body-blows to Governor Blanco about yet another "unknown" pocket of people dying awaiting rescue.

    Man, what did they put in the coffee at CNN?

    by BaconGreaseKid on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:39:03 AM PDT

    •  nothing like adminstering a severe beating

      on national television. If he survives, he has a chance to become a better person.

      by seesdifferent on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:56:16 AM PDT

    •  CNN has a new president.

      He's the guy who cancelled Crossfire, chucking Tucker Carlson out, and he's also the guy who a few weeks ago publicaly criticized Fox News for covering missing white girls while troops were dying. Can't say whether or not the guy has put anything into the coffee.

      by Heartpine on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 10:31:08 AM PDT

  •  They heard you and Brown has been skewered

    this morning by Soledad O'Brien (CNN) and Charlie Gibson (ABC) (!)...

    I hope to find the transcript.  Mike Brown said the most incredible thing.  

    Mike Brown said:

    MIKE: "My job is to deal with the individuals."

    Well it seems nice in a touchy-feely "everybody is doing a great job America", but frankly my response was:

    ME: "No you fucking moron.  You still don't get it.  You have to deal with an entire CITY!! HELLO!!  No wait!  Make that CITIES FULL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING BECAUSE YOU STILL DON'T GET IT!"

    He offered up a whole lot mre "I, me, me, my" and blame the victims for being "tired and hungry" (MIke that is YOUR fault dude) and more attempts to deflect the obvious about the situation.

    Then I saw this diary.  No surprize.  They just drag these idiots off golf courses, out of cocktail parties, away from horse shows and give them really important jobs they know nothing about how to manage.  

    Why doesn't President Bush just admit there is no FEMA?

    by inclusiveheart on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:46:30 AM PDT

    •  I worked for the government

      on a very small scale under George and let me tell you nobody gets fired.

      I saw major incompetence daily.

      It was bizarro, like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. A NEST of regulations which had evolved into OATMEAL.

      Creativity was not only discouraged but punished with 0 promotions.

      ..so I'm no longer surprised by rewarded incompetence.

      by Little Red Hen on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:04:44 AM PDT

      •  At this point the hiring and firing practices

        of this administration are probably not very important in the grand scheme of things.

        BushCo has an angry mob on its hands now.  Job performance reviews are no longer being done internally.  The public is finally aware of the complete incompetence and soon they will realize their power in the hiring and firing process.

        It is out of BushCo's hands...

        by inclusiveheart on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:13:18 AM PDT

        •  God, I hope so.

          by Little Red Hen on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:30:38 AM PDT

      •  Christine Todd Whitman

        Wasn't it Christine Todd Whitman who resigned her post at the EPA because of the mind-numbing incompetence she witnessed firsthand in the Bush Administration?

        by HootiHoo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:07:49 PM PDT

  •  HE LIED. ON NATIONAL TV. IT IS CLEAR

    and incontrivertible.

    I think you're talking about the interview with Paula Zahn, where he said it was the first time he had heard about the people at the NOLA Convention Center.

    But he told Ted Koppel yesterday, too, in an interview aired last night, that it was the first time -- repeat, the first time -- he had heard of it.  (Koppel also gave him hell; try to find the interview -- it's worth seeing.)

    BUT NEITHER KOPPEL NOR ZAHN HAD SEEN EACH OTHER'S INTERVIEW YESTERDAY, so they didn't call him on saying that each time was the "first time" he had heard of it.

    Let's all send this to Olbermann and to the Daily Show, where they do the great edits to show such lies.  Heck, let's send it to CNN and ABC, too, to Zahn and Koppel -- they're listening now.

    by Cream City on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:07:41 AM PDT

    •  Crooks and Liars

      Koppel also gave him hell; try to find the interview -- it's worth seeing.

      Crooks and Liars has been documenting much of this idiocy. Small vids, because they are getting hit hard.
      

      by gmhowell on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 11:50:02 AM PDT

•  Separation agreement

  Commissioner Michael Brown Leaves IAHA from the Google cache:
  

  From Tom Connelly to the Board of Directors:

  As the Board directed during our recent conference call, negotiations have been ongoing with Mike Brown in relation to his resignation.

  Attached is the final agreed upon separation agreement which Mike has executed and presented to us. He realized that this matter was going to
  go to the Board and he wanted to have signed it before it was actually presented.

  I plan to sign the agreement Monday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, but in the meantime, if you wish to make any comments, please forward them to Joleen White and she will make sure we all see them.
  

  There's a lot more legalese in the document but it basically looks VERY VERY bad.

  by joejoejoe on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:54:49 AM PDT

  •  More juicy bits

    C. Mr. Brown desires to resign from his employment with IAHA, and IAHA desires to accept Mr. Brown's resignation. However, in an attempt to accomplish an orderly transition for IAHA, the parties desire a gradual disengagement of the relationship so that Mr. Brown can complete his pending work and continue to assist in the defense of the pending litigation.

    I. By October 1, 2000, Mr. Brown will cause to be contributed from the Michael D. Brown Legal Defense Fund Trust to the IAHA Legal Defense Fund the sum of $25,000.

    L. This Separation Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by either party of any acts of wrongdoing whatsoever.
    The parties recognize that, due to the nature of Mr. Brown's duties as Judges and Stewards Commissioner, he has been the subject of numerous personal attacks, and that there have been numerous allegations made during the course of his employment that Mr. Brown engaged in conduct that would constitute cause for the termination of Brown's contract with IAHA. IAHA specifically acknowledges, however, that no cause exists to terminate Brown's contract with IAHA.

    Brad and Jen ended cleaner than this...

    by joejoejoe on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:00:39 AM PDT

    •  Dam

       And here I was going to email him as to who was going to be the next winner of the Kentucky Derby <snark>

      by humphrey on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:08:23 AM PDT

      •  He wouldn't know...

        Arabians don't run in the Derby, Thoroughbreds do.. LOL Of course, he probably doesn't know that either..sigh

        by Demfem on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:15:59 AM PDT

    •  uh, well

      that last paragraph actually means he wasn't fired, technically. He resigned under great pressure, and paid out to their lawyers--but part of the agreement for his departure was that IAHA had to admit there was no cause to fire him.

      The MSM could try the mismanagement angle, but they're never going to say he was fired from his old job, because it looks like he wasn't.

      by torridjoe on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 11:07:20 AM PDT

  •  send this stuff to editors, networks PLEASE

    it's so important. This is the heart of the problem.

    by seesdifferent on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:57:41 AM PDT

•  No shots at chopper

  Laura Brown, a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman in Washington, said she had no such report.

  "We're controlling every single aircraft in that airspace and none of them reported being fired on," she said, adding that the FAA was in contact with the military as well as civilian aircraft.

  http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1087205

  This was diaried earlier but I thought more need to see what is happening. It looks to me, like a Swiftboat campaign against the victims to make shrub and FEMA response appear reasonable.

  Please pass on this information and and some fact to this rumor.

  by czawadzki on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:55:11 AM PDT

  •  I am sure

    you are correct. This is classic meme change.  And is supposed to reduce the sympathy for the Bush Disaster Victims.

    by grasshopper on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:06:36 AM PDT

    •  ...and soon, it'll be...

      ...the "so-called" victims of the hurricane.
      ShrubCo is going to start/has already begun attacking the victims, just as they did Cindy Sheehan, John Kerry, Valerie Plame, Joe Wilson, Richard Clarke, Paul O'Neill, Gen. Eric Shineski, Larry Lindsey, Mike Parker, former director of the Army Corps of Engineers, former U.S. Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers, ad nauseum.
      And in those attacks (see others' previous diaries about how Freepers "feel" about all this), it is becoming the neo-cons' existential moment, when we see them stripped of all artifice, revealing the true evil they have become.

      by Newton Snookers on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 09:27:53 AM PDT

      •  Mike Brown did this yesterday.

        He blamed the victims. I wrote a diary about it:

        Fema Director Brown: Fucking Piece of Shit
        

        by Heartpine on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 10:39:17 AM PDT

        •  Sorry I missed it...

          ...It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes I hate being right.

          by Newton Snookers on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 06:32:20 AM PDT

  •  Whatever you do,

    do not question the nonstop reporting of rape gangs that have been substituted in place of this particular dehumanizing fable.

    by Thirsty on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:23:38 AM PDT

    •  No kidding!

      I suppose next we'll hear that babies are being thrown from incubators. Jeebus.

      by sheba on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:18:22 AM PDT

      •  by Saddam Hussein himself

        no less. Quick, where's an evil villain when you really need one?

        by elmo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:38:03 AM PDT

  •  So

    The head of FEMA "Swift-boated" the Swift Boats?

    What a jaw dropper. Oh, the deaths of all those poor people. I can't bear it.

    by mrblifil on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:40:29 AM PDT

•  I would describe him.....

  ....as a failed horses ass. leader, just like his new boss.....

  by roxtar on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:57:49 AM PDT

•  Brown's past hurricane f*** ups

  A quick Google search revealed some another ugly skeleton in FEMA director Michael Brown's closet.  

  Seems that after Hurricane Frances blew through Florida in 2004, Jeb Bush requested federal disaster relief for Miami-Dade county.  Trouble is, the county didn't even request funding, only received minor damage akin to a strong thunderstorm, and didn't meet federal guidelines to get aid.  Still, Brown okayed millions of dollars for "disaster relief" including paying for over 300 funerals (only 123 people were killed by the storm).

  Not surprisingly for a BushCo official, Brown refused to accept any responsibility or acknowledge any wrongdoing.  Instead, Brown praised his own agency's handling of the "unprecedented" hurricane season.  Sound familiar?

  by bktzoo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:06:37 AM PDT

•  pardon the typos n/t

  by bktzoo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:07:03 AM PDT

•  FEMA Fuck-ups

  Nothing but incompetence can explain how people were still being sent to Houston when the Astrodome was declared full. No excuse. Can't say the floods did it. Can't say the media did it.

  It is Mr. Brown not even knowing that his main shelter was full.

  This guy is so incompetent Bush should give him one of those medals.

  by Kudos on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:21:43 AM PDT

•  The Air Force can drop supplies

  If Bush can command a jet in South Dakota to fly to Iraq, drop a bomb or two, and fly back to South Dakota without landing...

  why can't Brown command a helicopter to fly from the Armstrong Airport to the Superdome and drop water and food and fly back to the Airport without landing?

  by Kudos on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:26:13 AM PDT

  •  Yeah

    I once heard - and it was probably a myth from some anti-American liberal - that we supplied an entire city in Europe from the air for a whole year!  

    I think it was called the Berlin Airlift?  

    /snark

    We could have started doing that on Monday. Dropping food and water from planes.  Dropping insulin.  Lowering pallets of antibiotics, pain meds, clean linens to hospitals.  Even if we were so disorganized we could not get National Guards into the city we could have done this.
    

    by AndyT on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:35:09 AM PDT

•  Brown, Michael D.

  OpenSecrets is your friend.

  BROWN, MICHAEL D
  LYONS,CO 80540

  INT'L ARABIAN HORSE ASSOC

  4/29/1999

  $500

  Bush, George W

  ----------------------

  BROWN, MICHAEL D MR
  LYONS,CO 80540

  INT'L ARABIAN HORSE ASSOC./COMMISSI

  6/15/2000

  $500

  Bush, George W

  ----------------------

  NewsMeat is interesting as well...

  Brown, Michael D.
  Alexandria, VA 22304   
  COLORADO REPUBLICAN FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (R)    $250
  primary    01/08/04

  ------------

  I am sure there is more...

  by RedDan on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:42:49 AM PDT

  •  OMG!

    This fucker lived in the next town from me?  

    by johne on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:12:52 AM PDT

    •  They're everywhere

      I know a fine man who lives a hundred yards from with two sons--9 & 5--with a daughter, too, 15.  He voted for Bush twice.

      He's screwed his kid's futures and the lives of his sons--hasn't this Texas felon put us in this incredible position that we're in a war that never ends?

      Jesus, when some idiot is balthering about war that never ends as being the answer, christ, get rid of him and get a real leader in there.

      I know tons of people all around me who voted for this war felon.  It gives me the creeps and fundamentally makes me uncomfortable.

      by paradox on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:40:45 AM PDT

  •  Indeed, Open Secrets reveals

    The corruption/incompetence is ubiquitous through and through this disaster:

    Candidate: Bush, George W

    Contributor: NAGIN, C RAY NEW ORLEANS,LA 70122

    Occupation: COX COMMUNICATIONS

    Date: 3/30/1999

    Amount: $1,000

    by Roadbed Guy on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:00:57 AM PDT

•  Did this position

  require Senate confirmation?

  by Marie on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:45:03 AM PDT

  •  Yes.

    And from a cursory glance at Senate votes in 2003, I don't think they even did a roll call vote for him.

    by fpc on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:28:37 AM PDT

    •  Then call every Dem Senator on it

      and let them get on it -- or we will get on them for continuing to give this administration easy passes on its appointments for far too long.

      by Cream City on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:11:21 AM PDT

•  Mike Brown lying ass off on FOX right now 6AM EDT

  1) The Mayor has not been using the communtion equipment that we gave him to communicate with FEMA

  2) We (FEMA) are now giving that commmuncation equipment to the State so it can be used

  3) we have been feeding and evacuating the people at the convention center for several days now.

  Does anyone TV fox by any chance? this was about 6:08 AM Eastern Time, I am still stunned he was saying this crap... total deflection while saying how hard he is working.

  by Random Excess on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 03:11:45 AM PDT

  •  goddamned liar

    Brown said several times yesterday that FEMA hadn't known about the convention center until yesterday.  Total fuckin' lunatic.

    by fivesideagon on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:16:09 AM PDT

  •  I would think Brown

    would be too busy for all these TV appearances.  Let his flunky do them, someone needs to be running this operation.

    On second thought, maybe this is ALL the man is qualified to do.

    In which case, expect W to promote him to a Cabinet level position.

    by PAprogressive on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:56:01 AM PDT

•  His Appointment Makes Bolton Look Well...

  qualified and competent. If they stick with this guy  while the crisis continues, they will be fucked. This is such an obvious hack appointment. His performance is what you would expect out of someone with such a limited bio.

  The GOP rallies behind the Boltons and Wolfowitz appointments because they see it a matter of philosophy rather than competence. There is not a question of philosophy here. He is the epitomy of an empty suit.

  Sed him back to Edmond, Oklahoma now!
   

  by HL Mungo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 03:21:23 AM PDT

  •  Bolton actually seems to be a bright,

    energetic guy who will do anything to get a job done. He's just not very diplomatic or very capable of separating belief from reality.

    My opinion is that, if he were in charge of FEMA, he would actually be doing a pretty good job.

    If he were sent to New Orleans right now, he probably would make a serious effort to crack heads, control the anarchy and get food out to people.

    Also: why not bring Colin Powell in? I think he's someone who would have some clue about what to do.

    by sclminc on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:54:36 AM PDT

    •  I don't agree

      Given everything in Bolton's background, he'd be more likely to fuck everything up, and to crack the heads of people who wanted to actually get things done. He's not an undiplomatic go-getter, he's a self-righteous dipshit.

      by Field Marshall Stack on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:15:18 PM PDT

•  Brown's Connection

  Obviously, Brown is a contributor to the GOP.

  But his primary qualificationfor the job seems to be that he's a college buddy of Joe Allbaugh's.

  A Disaster in the Making

  See? Networking pays.

  by JadeGold on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:03:48 AM PDT

  •  Yeah.

    And apparently, networking kills, too.

    by mmacdDE on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:08:01 AM PDT

  •  Hmmmm....

    DISASTER IN THE MAKING

    message     message board

    By Jon Elliston
    Published 10/21/04

    Fridays don't get much busier than this. It's the morning of Sept. 3, and Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., is running at a full clip, having mobilized a cadre of disaster-response specialists in its National Emergency Operations Center the day before. "This is our 'war room,'" a FEMA employee explains.

    "Right now we're in 24-hours-a-day activation," he says. "It's a double whammy." Indeed, the agency is still busy helping Florida recover from Hurricane Charley's punishing winds and rain when satellite images show that an even greater storm, Hurricane Frances, will soon make landfall. It appears so threatening that most of FEMA's personnel on the ground, along with 2.5 million Floridians, have evacuated from the storm's projected path.

    Inside the op center, scores of personnel from FEMA and a host of other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Health and Human Services, buzz around in what appears to be a state of controlled chaos. They work the phones, hover over computer screens and trade the latest weather forecasts. Using a time-tested system of disaster management, they've split their tasks into 12 "emergency support functions" designed to bring in food, water, medical care, electricity, housing, transportation and other desperately needed resources as soon as Frances moves on.

    John Crowe, a Department of Homeland Security geospatial mapping expert detailed to FEMA to help track such outbreaks of rough weather, steps outside the building for a quick cigarette. "Everybody's really running into gear here," he says between puffs. "FEMA's ready, about as ready as they've ever been."

    FEMA's relatively quick response to the hurricanes has thus far won mostly high marks from Florida officials, who remember well a time when the disaster agency seemed the last party to show up after catastrophes. In addition, President Bush has paid multiple visits to assure storm victims they will get whatever help is needed, and he promptly secured more than $2 billion from Congress to fund Florida's recovery.

    As storms continue to batter the Panhandle, no one would call Florida lucky. But with national elections around the corner, the hurricanes could scarcely have hit at a better time or place for obtaining federal disaster assistance. "They're doing a good job," one former FEMA executive says of the response efforts. "And the reason why they're doing that job is because it's so close to the election, and they can't fuck it up, otherwise they lose Florida - and if they lose Florida, they might lose the election."

    Who would have thought?

    by Sylvester McMonkey Mcbean on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:52:35 AM PDT

    •  Wow

      I really screwed up the formatting on that post.

      by Sylvester McMonkey Mcbean on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:53:19 AM PDT

•  Soledad O'brien Interview

  on CNN with Brown. She almost broke down trying to explain to Brown that he is clueless.

  She said "Thank You, Mr. Brown" at the end of the interview, but her tone and eyes were saying "Whatever, you stupid motherfucker!"

  by Kudos on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:15:23 AM PDT

  •  Katie Couric

    unloaded on him as well this morning.  The righteous indignation of the press is amazing to experience and it's about fucking time.

    by mlk on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:51:32 AM PDT

•  I wish I could hear the Republcian buzz

  Because I think the impeachment movement is going to have a ton more people jumping on board.  If Cindy Sheehan garnered support from the part of the country that is pissed about the war, then this stellar lack of leadership is a poster child for removing the current administration.

  And no one is going to be talking about changing leaders during the war because it is clear that we don't freaking have any leaders!

  by Fabian on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 04:53:47 AM PDT

  •  My husband

    makes a hobby out of monitoring the "right-wing pundints" - I could never do this, I start getting a stomachache within seconds - and according to him, this was Insanity's line yesterday:

    "I'm not going to get political about this, because this isn't the time to get political, but for example" followed by a 10-minute rant about how the left is trying to turn this into a political issue (dailyKos was specifically mentioned, I'm proud to report) and an opportunity to cast blame on Bush.

    He went through this routine several times.

    by sidnora on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:15:20 AM PDT

    •  gotta admire his unswerving dedication

      can we draft him?

      Yeah, somebody had some choice words from Limbaugh yesterday.  It's good to know that even in the midst of tragedy, Limbaugh is there comforting the public that 'those people' deserved it and not to worry about the spectacle of fellow human beings being abandoned.  Here we are in a national crisis and the talking heads aren't talking community, compassion or sacrifice.  "What, us worry?"

      by Fabian on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:25:34 AM PDT

      •  talking'bout drafting Hannity

        not yer hubby!

        Those paid wingers really are something!

        by Fabian on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:18:16 AM PDT

        •  You can't draft my husband

          first of all, he already served ('65-'67). Second, as you can tell by the dates of service, he's a little long in the tooth for soldiering, even by today's desperate standards.

          But maybe not by tomorrow's.

          But Hannity looks like a strong, healthy young buck to me. Yeah - draft his ass!

          by sidnora on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:42:27 PM PDT

  •  Here's some good reading

    The Absentee
    

    Regrettably for that dwindling band among us who feel the Republic is strengthened by every inactive, hands-off officeholder, modern democracy demands that an elected representative involve himself in the great events of the day. At a bare minimum, he must appear informed and active, lest the perception of leaderlessness engender its own reality.

    President Bush is failing to meet this minimum.

    But, of course, this is balanced with:

    We need a loyal opposition---Now!

    with the gem:
    

    But today I am issuing a warning:  Unless the Democrats don't start lining up in support of the president within the next 48 hours, I will dedicate my every remaining breath to making sure that no Democrat ever gets elected -- anywhere -- ever again.

    by Sylvester McMonkey Mcbean on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:58:54 AM PDT

    •  WTF???

      What in the hell does this mean?  

      We all should get behind this fucking jackass, who has done his best to destroy the entire country, in every possible way?  That's what we should do?  Support him?

      They are truly insane.  There is no other explanation.

      by Miss Blue on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:07:00 AM PDT

      •  I'll respect the OFFICE of the president

        But our so-called prez deserves all the respect he EARNS!  Which is to say - diddly squat.

        Just impeach him so we can have a real leader.

        by Fabian on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:17:04 AM PDT

        •  I will always support...

          ...America before any leader.  This president is bad for America.  

          by DawnG on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:54:00 AM PDT

    •  Yeah right

      Like this guy was ever likely to vote for a Democrat.
      

      by NYC Sophia on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:10:39 AM PDT

      •  Watch out!

        He's warning us here!

        Next time he won't be so generous.....

        by Sylvester McMonkey Mcbean on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:12:56 AM PDT

•  Ah well then, Bush is off the hook

  clearly he can blame everything on Brown.
  That's how it works with him.

  by NYFM on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:23:03 AM PDT

  •  He will

    This dumb fucker is doing everything he can to make sure he doesn't blame Bush's gutting of FEMA for this fucking travesty and he'll be the sacrificial lamb. Just like they shitcanned the CIA on WMD.

    by punkmonk on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:27:01 AM PDT

  •  I heard on the radio

    a bit ago that Bush is now saying that the response has been inadequate.

    by TracieLynn on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:08:43 AM PDT

    •  I heard that replayed. I am sure Bush was

      blaiming the mayor and governor of Louisana for the inadequate response.  I am absolutely positive that he does not believe that ANYONE could have expected him to do more.  That lazy-ass should be stuck in some kind of disaster in which he had to fend for himself.  I am sure he would curl up in a fetal position and suck his thumb.  He is the worst president in the last century.

      by macmcd on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:36:41 PM PDT

  •  That would be the first time

    anyone in the Bush administration got blamed for something. Doesn't he usually just give out promotions, raises and medals?

    by elmo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:41:49 AM PDT

    •  yep, it looks like Brown and Chertof are

      Medal of Honor winners.

      by macmcd on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:37:56 PM PDT

•  CALL your SENATORS and CONGRESSMAN

  I called both Senators and my Congressman (I posted on another thread but want to get this out!)

  I asked PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get some help in there NOW for those people.

  I SUGGESTED:  get James Lee Witt Associates in as a subcontractor, get Michael Brown to sit down and get outa the way.  Witt has shown that he can do the job.  THERE HAS TO BE LEADERSHIP DOWN THERE NOW.

  I begged again to PLEASE help these people.  It's going to get worse.

  I also wrote Wesley Clark, Scanlon and the general email address -  all with James Lee Witt Associates and ask they contact Mayor Nagin directly to see if they can get subcontracted to go in and organize .... I really feel sure Michael Brown will be happy to sit down and take orders.  He obviously don't know shit from shinola.

  by Southern Mouth on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:26:54 AM PDT

  •  Contact your reps!

    Write Congress.org

    by Diana Rowe Pauls on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:03:48 PM PDT

•  Goldy

  IAHA is now Arabian Horse Association.

  Mike Brown is an ass, couldn't 'place' him, but recognized him, now I know.

  He pretty well drove IAHA into the ground with numerous lawsuits and questionable accounting of money if I'm not mistaken.

  AHA is currently cutting back our only 'payback' program due to the lawsuits.

  As to them being part of the Olympic Committee, that's not right.

  The Arabian Horse Association is a breed organization and a 'stand' alone.

  USEF is our secondary governing body and would have something to do with the Olympic folks, but not AHA.

  by Barbara on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:31:53 AM PDT

•  "An unmitigated, total . . . "

  
   You fooled me.  Thought that was a quote about Bush.  

   BenGoshi
  ___________________

  by BenGoshi on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:32:52 AM PDT

•  As bad as Mike Brown is, the one...

  responsible for his fuck-ups at FEMA is, of course, George Bush.

  (Yes, I do blame Bush for everything...but only because he deserves it).

  by Seemabes on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:14:23 AM PDT

  •  I think you're like me on that ...

    If Bush walked on water, I'd bitch that he couldn't swim!

    I just heard him saying all the things that were done and that "the results are not acceptable" .... well good!!!!!   But he's on the way, to save the day.

    At this point, I really don't care if HE DOES save those peoples lives, although I don't think he's capable of tying his shoes!

    by Southern Mouth on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:18:45 AM PDT

    •  I'm concerned

      I'm concerned of the possibility that, again, someone else (Chertoff and/or Brown) will take the fall for Bush's actions here.

      Bush had better recieve the proper dose of blame here.  Even if Chertoff and Brown were responsible for ALL of it, who put them into place?  Knowing their history and lack of experience with this kind of work?

      Clinton is the only President in recent memory that actually put experienced and capable people at the helm at FEMA.

      And to listen and hear that they just LAST YEAR did an exercise (tabletop, they said) where NO was hit by a Cat 3 hurricane, and such things were discussed as how to evacuate, where to house people on a temporary basis, basically how to mitigate the damage and STILL fall down so flat on the job when something bad happened here...it's OUTRAGEOUS.  Brown actually even tried to say that they knew what to do but Bush didn't give them the funding.  Well, it doesn't cost a lot of money to at least tell people what's going on...it's called PLANNING.  It's called COMMMUNICATION.  Even people in the unaffected areas are, in a word, baffled at the response, or lack thereof.

      It would be criminal if the blame for this were placed with only Chertoff, Brown and FEMA, with them (possibly only Brown and FEMA) as the only casualties.

      I'm beginning to think there's an ulterior motive to Bush putting incompitent people in many positions of power -- people to push the blame onto if something happens.  People that are, if they screw up as they are likely to do, are expendable.  Bush strikes me as someone who will use and sacrifice his friends if it profits him to do so.  And somehow those friends and other placed officials go down in his place...it just mystifies me.

      Yes, I'm furious.

      by Stymnus on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:59:13 AM PDT

      •  Agree on the furious ... one point

        My husband was a manager in the Gov't for many many years.  The hallmark of any good manager is the ability to choose and KEEP good people working for him in "lower management" (I prefer something other than lower, like maybe "closer" management) to keep him informed, to bring him problems only if they can also offer a solution at the same time, to never let him be blindsided.

        I've ALSO seen other "managers" who were NOT managers.  There are all kinds of names coming to mind, but for now..... They did NOT want people working for them that knew what to do and when to do what.  They did NOT want experienced people.  I got the impression that they wanted people they could push around and yes, blame, and maybe it was people who were Yes Men.  Terribly ineffective organizations.  Cause the people who wanted to DO the job that they saw needed doing and came up with suggestions and wanted to charge forth, became so frustrated and digusted that they finally retired or transferred out.

        by Southern Mouth on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:16:44 AM PDT

        •  The government doesn't have a corner

          on this phenomenon.

          You've just described corporate America too. There are managers that understand that having good people around gets the job done and then there are managers that are threatened by good performance and deliberately hire down.

          by HootiHoo on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:23:45 PM PDT

•  and lets not forget the skill of FEMA...

  at writing analysis reports after a disaster.

  Please take a look at a chapter from a FEMA report that explains why the WTC building #7 - the one that didn't get hit by an aeroplane - collapsed on 11 Sep 2001 at 17:20.

  Anonymously enhanced to help you see through the BS that FEMA are capable of producing.

  by swarf on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:19:17 AM PDT

•  More info on Brown's "qualifications"

  here

  Lets see:
  

  • Estate Planning
    
  • Family Law
    
  • Real Estate Law
    
  • Employment Law -- Employee
    
  • Employment Law -- Employer
    
  • Labor Law
    
  • Legislative Practice
    
  • Sports

  by shumard on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 06:23:25 AM PDT

  •  You forgot three.</