White House rejects calls for firing of FEMA director

[Minstrel Boy]

White House rejects calls for firing of FEMA director

Sept 6

The White House is rejecting calls to fire the nation's top disaster chief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Critics are questioning whether Michael Brown is qualified to head up the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- which is being blamed for a slow federal response to the storm.

Brown served nine years as a commissioner with the Aurora (Colorado)-based International Arabian Horse Association, before leaving in February 2001.

...

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says "enormous progress" has been made since the storm hit eight days ago.
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3811189

[saigon68]

1. "BROWNIE'S DOING A FINE JOB", the Chimp.

He used to clean out horse stalls.

[LiberalFighter]

77. Is that the horse that gw*dipshit milked all the time?

[niceypoo]

97. Actually his credentials had nothing to do with horses.....

His credentials are that he was the college room mate of Bushes campaign manager. Third world level credentials if I ever saw them......

[Bernardo de La Paz]

110. Brownie mission accomplished

[MSgt213]

2. How about a medal ceremony instead?

[Seabiscuit]

119. Shrub needs another Supreme Court nominee - will it be Michael Brown???

[fooj]

3. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Keep it up, you assholes!

Peace.

[goforit]

86. Some how I feel that abused people of this WH will get the last laugh!

[xultar]

4. The only progress was made by Honore.

[meganmonkey]

5. Let's how deep a hole they dig for themselves? What is wrong with them?

He is the most obvious person to fire (or to have him 'step down'), he will be missed the least...

Did they forget how to scapegoat? What does this guy have on them?

:shrug:

[Frederik]

27. Well

The answer to that question is probably the same as the answer to the question, "how the hell did he get that job"? He's obviously nowhere near qualified. GOP cronyism at its best.

[Karenina]

58. Just now talked to a relative in D.C.

who said he heard on the radio that Mr. Brown(nose) has indeed been handed a pink slip with instructions on how to fall on his sword.

Unconfirmed report awaiting verification.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

65. i have a Japanese wetstone, if it will help. Makes a nice edge

somehow, I do NOT see that happening. That would be admitting fault. they don't do fault. They do negligence and worse.

[jjmalonejr]

95. That sounds about right

I wonder how hamfistedly they'll handle it.

[MadisonProgressive]

32. That would be an admission of a mistake by * - he doesn't do that!

[belle]

51. Bingo.

I'm glad he's being this stubborn. It's what's going to do him in. The more rigid they are, the harder they break.

[SledDriver]

6. Instead...

here's a nice shiny Presidential Medal of Freedom for yah!

[UpInArms]

10. thought you said "nice slimy Presidential Medal of Freedom"

:eyes:

[Don Claybrook]

7. Can we please call this "Exhibit A"?

In a just and fair world, the Administration's claim that "Brownie" is doing a good job, Exhibit A, would be the only evidence needed to remove the entire administration for utter incompetence. The remainder of the 437,000 pieces of evidence about the incompetence of the administration would be used for backup purposes.

[callous taoboy]

8. Shocking. Give the guy a golden bridle award. n/t

[RamboLiberal]

9. I think he's gone - but it will be after all this dies down

Brownie will suddenly have to spend more time with his family. No way in hell can he get a medal of freedom unless this WH is even stupider or more arrogant than I thought. But then I never underestimate them.

[northzax]

14. someone else will have to fire him

you know Bush is incapable of it.

[ClintonTyree]

18. No one ever went broke..........

betting on the stupidity and arrogance of the bush administration. Never, EVER misunderestimate how low these snakes can slither. I've grown to expect the absolute worst from them, and I'm never let down.

[Trevelyan]

101. After Downing Street.org had an unusual piece from the Herald quoting from

conspiracy site WHAT REALLY HAPPENED that US Naval Fleet is on it's way to attack Venezuela. Looked like it was posted by the owners of the site not a comment by poster. Some people objected that the writer Soocha has no creditials and I hope that it is wrong but has anyone heard from another sources that many US Navy ships are headed for Venezuela, remember the "rumor" that all military leaves had been cancelled after Sept. 7th?

[54anickel]

11. They want FEMA dead, I believe that's what he was put there for whether

he knows it or not. The usefulness of the entire agency needs to be made questionable for them to kill it completely. I'd say things are "going very well", probably even better than they ever hoped for.

[ClintonTyree]

20. The problem isn't FEMA..........

it's who's administrating FEMA. FEMA was a rock solid department during the Clinton years, battle tested and efficient.

THEN the bush administration, through a coup no one could ever imagine, stole power and gutted Federal programs they detested because the WORKED, they HELPED people. God forbid the government should HELP people!

I truly hope the people of this country realize that this is BUSH'S fault, that HIS POLICIES are flawed and downright stupid. Blaming FEMA for this is ridiculous, it's the people that destroyed it that are to blame. WILL Americans come to their senses and see that BUSH is the problem, not FEMA? From what I've seen over the last 4+ years, I doubt it. Their more concerned with "American Idol" that government.

[bostonbabs]

107. but look at the FUNDS being cut n/t

[Bonhomme Richard]

12. NAZI 101 - Never, ever admit a mistake.

Although Goebbels himself admitted that the german population was beginning to see his propaganda for what it was in the 30's. Unfortunately for them it was too late.

[barb162]

13. Brown and Chertoff should both get out of town fast

[ClintonTyree]

15. Business as usual at the White House.....

massive coverups, bush wants to dictate who handles all investigations into their fuckups and coverups, and I KNOW someone's going to get the Medal of Freedom out of this! :eyes:

Yawn! Why aren't these people in jail yet? :shrug:

[gratuitous]

16. You fire someone who's not doing his job

And "Brownie" is performing beyond all expectations.

[alfredo]

17. they can't fire him. It would undermine their efforts to

blame their failures on the Governor and Mayor on NOLA. If it was the fault of Democratic politicians, why then are you firing Michael Brown?

[habitual]

22. nailed. they can never fire anyone

because it would be an admission of fault. for that reason alone, no one can go.

[demgrrrll]

24. You're right. They have painted themselves into a corner. eom.

.

[Julius Civitatus]

35. That's right. They are circling the wagons

They won't admit how much one of their own fucked up. Not even in the face of overwhelming disaster and mayhem.

[lancdem]

47. Excellent point

[peaches2003]

78. Good point

[defiant1]

19. Link to "Brownie's" resume...

http://pview.findlaw.com/view/2507976_1

Check out all the qualifications this guy had. He should definitely have been running FEMA.

:sarcasm:

Shit can this asshole and ship him back to his horses.

[SteppingRazor]

21. Fire Him?! Bah! How 'bout a Presidential Medal of Freedom?

What's good for folks like Tenet is surely good enough for Brown. After all is said and done in New Orleans, I'm sure Bush will hail Brown as a hero and give him a medal. Fire indeed. Puh-lease! :eyes:

[sakabatou]

23. We all know that they give awards for stupdity

[slor]

25. He dropped the ball on America's biggest disaster...

he has earned a medal, as far as this whitehouse is concerned.

[Roland99]

26. "So, you killed a few thousand people? Don't sweat it. Karl will fix it."

[elmerdem]

31. deeper faults

i think that it would draw attention to this administration's fault is true, but it also would have other implications concerning appointment of political cronies.

Look at the director of FEMA before Brown. He is now consulting. His consulting, it seems, has helped a Halliburton subsidiary score clean up work in NO. To admit that Brown wasn't suited for the job/did a horrid job, would indicate that people should look closer at how he got his job. If there is inquiry into how this administration makes appointments, well, that is much worse for this administration of thugs than admitting fault. It would also be an admission to policies/politics which caused the fault.

[calimary]

70. Welcome to DU!

They were both political hacks.

And btw - what sort of expertise did Chertoff bring to his job at Homeland Security? He was a Whitewater attorney.

We need you! Get busy!

Visualize IMPEACHMENT!!!!!!
And then go DO something about it.

[bejammin075]

100. Another way to say it...

If the Bush admin hires people like this who are totally unqualified, and therefore don't have benefits in the traditional sense (like, you know, being able to protect the homeland?), then what benefits does Bush perceive they provide?

Reporters should ask Bush: Why, in this post-9-11 mindset, did Bush think it was OK to hire unqualified people for such important positions that oversee our safety and security? "Mr. President, sir, if Mike Brown was unqualified, how did you see him as an asset to our emergency response?"

Brownie's first instinct was to quietly slide under the door, hours after the hurricane passed, a respectful note requesting that 1,000 troops liesurely meander there way to the disaster scene, getting some brand new training done along the way,...

Cherty-poo sips a latee and snaps open a fresh Tuesday morning ??? Gazette, gazing at the front page headline "N.O. Dodged a Bullet." Whew! Wiping the condensation off his forehead. Thank goodness that's over. Better tell Brownie to wave off all of the support pouring in.

Bush had given aid and comfort to the enemy. He has so mismanaged things, surly the terrorists can see how vulnerable we are now. Remember when he said "bring 'em on" ? What an idiotic, arrogant, corrupt power-hungry dumbass.

[Botany]

28. No Need

So far very few Arabian Show Horses have been found among the
corpses.

People got left to die ....... "Brownie is doing a fine job."

[Truth__Seeker]

29. Failing Upwards.

This performance should put him in line for a huge promotion.

[calimary]

72. I wouldn't be surprised. Welcome to DU!

Get busy.

We've got an IMPEACHMENT to push forward.

[Orion The Hunter]

30. Laundry list of FEMA screw-ups

If Brown and his bunch are doing such a fine job, then why all of this crap:

http://constructiveinterference.blogspot.com/2005/09/local-failure-caused-by-fema.html

[saigon68]

40. Disgusting

[psychopomp]

88. That link is an excellent resource

Thanks!

[Initech]

33. Bullshit! Someone HAS to be fired for New Orleans.

Really, only in W's backwards America do they NOT fire anybody for fucking up. And New Orleans, not only was it a HUGE disaster, but FEMA certainly isnt doing their job.

[Julius Civitatus]

34. I can see a MEDAL coming up...

Bush will have the gall to give this ineffectual prick a medal.

"Brownie, you're doin' a heck of a job."

[90-percent]

38. FIRING?

Brownie may have a public outburst of truth telling some time in the future.

That is the only grounds for dismissal that is ever used in the Bush Administration.

He'll probably continue to do a wonderful job until 2008, which means he's obliged to three and a half more lying years, to properly serve his CIC.

-85%

[mpendragon]

36. you know what happens when you ignore. . .

terrorism?
A terrorists attack happens and you aren't prepared.

pre-war planning?
The streets are overrun with insurgents.

disaster response?
A disaster happens and you aren't prepared.

He's not responsible for the hurricane. He's responsible for the head of FEMA because that's who he appointed and he's responsible for the post disaster response. I can't think of a job that has more responsibility than being the president of the United States. It is an awesome responsibility and he just isn't up to the job.

[jjmalonejr]

96. VERY well said

That sums it up, doesn't it?

[Walt Starr]

37. Well, that leaves only two possibilites for Brown

1) Promotion
2) Medal of Freedom

IMO, a screwup of this monumental proportion can only have one consequence. Associate Supreme court Justice.

[puerco-bellies]

39. Caligulia installed a horse to the Roman Senate. * installs a Horse's Ass

To protect American lives. I would take Caligulia over this asshole.

[Rainscents]

41. I heard on MSNBC last night, Brown was fired from his (Horse) last job!!!

[Julius Civitatus]

43. Yes. That's been out there for a few days - n/t

[ComerPerro]

42. this is your proof to FReepers that this is Bush's fault

despite what they say or how they try to shift blame.

Whenever they try to pass the buck past Bush, just remind them of this:

Bush thinks this guy is doing a great job. So, if they say that Brown fucked up, but Bush thinks things are great, what does that tell you about Bush?

Maybe that HES A FUCKUP????

[RedRocco]

45. has anyone thought

that they may not throw him to the wolves for fear he will talk?

[calimary]

71. As in "keep your enemies closer"?

Well, he'd probably get himself a literary agent and a book deal...

Welcome to DU, BTW.

Get busy. We need you!

Visualize IMPEACHMENT!!!
Then go DO something about it.

[baal]

44. Fire the SOB

and while you're at it fire the NO mayor, he's corrupt, too. And Impeach Bush!!!!

[calimary]

73. Welcome to DU! Keep those last two words on your lips 24/7!

We need you to roll up your sleeves and get busy!

[dorktv]

46. So what is he going to be promoted to?

Condi was promoted to Sec. of State.

[baron j]

48. I do believe you idiots work for us,

though we never wanted you in the first place. If we want you fired, you need to go. It was never meant to be an aristocracy.

[lonestarnot]

49. And he was fired from the Arabian Horse deal because of law

suits over his alleged supervision failures. He was the college roommate of Joseph Allbaugh, who ran FEMA for bushitler initially, but left to run bushitler's reelection campaign... so the job went to this stupid horseshit BROWN, (APPROPRIATELY NAMED) THAT HAD NO BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER TO DEAL WITH A MONUMENTAL CATASTROPHY LIKE WE'RE FACING!

[Mr_Scarecrow]

50. Gotta wonder if Mr. Giuliani is still saying

"Thank God George Bush was president" after this fiasco.

[belle]

53. Bloomberg's sure not. almost makes me warm to the guy.

[oneold1-4u]

52. Presidential Appointees

To all * appointees: "I have given you great paying jobs with lifetime pensions for all you have done for me. You must first understand, though, that I am the BOSS and NEVER take any important actions for ANY REASON without my guidance. It may take me a few days or weeks to get back to you, as I never know for sure where Rove and Chaney are are, or even Gannon! Also I may be out cutting brush on the ranch, reading to a child, or more importantly, golfing. There is nothing less than total destruction of WA,DC that is important enough that I even be called for a couple of days and never in the night! The people of this country can always take care of themselves and carry on without immediate help from ME or the government and they shouldn't expect important people in high national offices to just respond to their needs in hours if at all!"

[ima_sinnic]

74. correction: only removal of a feeding tube from a brain-dead

living corpse is important enough for me to be called into the office at inconvenient hours!

[AbbyR]

54. Now, now ---

you know we can't have an employee who's more competent than his boss... :sarcasm:

[calimary]

75. Welcome to DU!

They can ALL get the heave-ho for all I care. Never wanted ANY of 'em to begin with.

But let's start with IMPEACHMENT...

Do NOT feel hesitant about calling your reps. Even if they're republi-CON. If they're in Congress, and they know they're up for reelection and they want to keep their jobs, they have no choice but to pay attention. And Dems need the calcium supplement for their backbones. This is INSANE!!!! What more proof do we need that we can't risk another three years of this negligence and incompetence!!!

[sunnystarr]

55. Bush only fires those who question him and don't agree with

his policies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A51566-2002Mar6¬Found=true

Michael Parker, the recently appointed leader of the Army Corps of Engineers, was abruptly forced to resign yesterday for failing to defend President Bush's proposed budget cuts.

Parker, a former House member from Mississippi who was confirmed as assistant Army secretary for civil works five months ago, was the first major administration official ousted since Bush took office. He had made no secret of his disdain for the Office of Management and Budget's efforts to rein in the Corps, and recently told a sympathetic House committee that he had requested $2 billion more than the OMB proposed in the president's budget. At a Senate hearing, he questioned the administration's decision to fund no new Corps projects, adding that he did not have a "warm and fuzzy feeling" for OMB officials.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

56. Press Corps. needs to ask Scotty:

"What prior experience of Michael Brown qualified him for a position wherein he would be making life-and-death decisions directly affecting the health and safety of millions of people?"

[bassman79]

57. FEMA Deliberately Sabotaging Hurricane Relief Efforts

Numerous credible sources have come forward with examples of how the Federal Emergency Management Agency is deliberately sabotaging Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans.

Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard appeared on Meet the Press Sunday and broke down in tears as he described FEMA's criminal activities.

"We had Wal-Mart deliver three trucks of water, trailer trucks of water. FEMA turned them back. They said we didn't need them. This was a week ago. FEMA--we had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on a Coast Guard vessel docked in my parish. The Coast Guard said, "Come get the fuel right away." When we got there with our trucks, they got a word. "FEMA says don't give you the fuel." Yesterday--yesterday--FEMA comes in and cuts all of our emergency communication lines. They cut them without notice. Our sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in, he reconnects the line. He posts armed guards on our line and says, "No one is getting near these lines."

Why would FEMA, an organization supposedly tasked with helping in a time of crisis, deliberately cut police communication lines? This is a blatant example of sabotage and a sick push to make the disaster worse. In carrying out these actions, FEMA are no better than the animals who shot at rescue workers and helicopters.

We now have multiple reports of police being ordered to guard key infrastructures in order to defend them from FEMA federal agents. Sheriffs in numerous different counties are guarding highways to keep FEMA out. FEMA is being treated as the enemy because they are sabotaging key facilities in an effort to intentionally worsen the already desperate scenes of horror in New Orleans.

[Trevelyan]

104. The FEMA sabatoge is important to talk about. I don't know what we can do

but write Congress and the media but even AOL Mainpage usually has AP feed talked about the need for sherrifs to protect important sites from FEMA.

Wayne Madsen.com has a number of good articles and one is on the communications jamming.

After Downing Street just posted an article that sounded like it was from a conspiracy site, it was What Really Happened and apparently Soocha was quoted by the Herald that US Naval Warships were on their way to Venezuela and Chavez reiterated that if attacked America would be burned up and that they would do everything to defend themselves.

Was Venezuela one of the countries invited to participate in the publicized joint war games manuevers of Russia and China.

I don't want to add to panic and several people objected saying the after downing street always had credible articles and quoting from Soocha who is not a reliable source and may be disinformation, might hurt their credibility. Has anyone heard from another source about the US warships?

[calimary]

113. Got a link to "Meet the Press"?

Transcript?

Thanks in advance.

Seems to me they could be trying to build a demonstrable case for the complete dismantling of yet another federal agency - MORE terrific cutbacks, folks! Let's trim that government spending! Smaller government! That can drown in the bathtub (of New Orleans)! Yay! See how we're saving you taxpayers money? See? We didn't need that dumb ol' FEMA anyway, look what a useless organization THAT turned out to be? Why do we even have such a government agency? Another level of useless bureaucracy, 'eh? We're better off without it. Besides, the private sector can handle this much better. We just proved it to you.

So you appoint a certified nincompoop to head an agency you think is excessive and unnecessary, so you can point to its lack of competence later and say - "SEE? Wasteful government spending! Another boondoggle! Let's get rid of it! So what if people die? Think of the money we'll save! Besides, as ol' Bar Bush has already made clear - those dumb ol' hurricane victims, so thoughtless to go situate themselves in an area that they all knew might flood over, well, they were already disadvantaged anyway. It's their own fault. Why should we care about them anyway?

GOD, I HATE THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!!! Hell itself is even too good a place for them. Hell is too nice a place. I can't believe it's come to that, but at least for me, it has.

...But think of the MONEY we'll save!!!

[42q]

59. Firing FEMA incompetent would be a smoke screen

Sure, this immoral administration could make brownie fall on the sword for them, but the admin would then consider the matter over. That's far too easy. Focusing on brownie keeps the eyes off the prize.

I say: keep brownie, ignore his very existence. Don't waste energy putting heat or attention on brownie.

Go directly to where the buck is supposed to stop. Let this bunch of crooks topple from the top down.

My wager says there might be a glimmer of perspiration on dudya's forehead if we do that.

[calimary]

79. Welcome to DU!

Glad you're here so you can...

Visualize IMPEACHMENT!!!
And then go DO something about it.

[Catchawave]

60. Dial-up challenged here:

Slow, but responsive...oy....and this may not get through either.

But if it does, firing peckerheads isn't my priority now, we still have American citizens suffering right now. My fellow American citizens, and yeah, their pets too. Sucks being a lowlife right now, doesn't it? No offense to the middle class caught up in the broad brush of poverty, with hopes we'll hear those stories soon enough.

And yes, I'll add my "Mayor Nagin did the best he could with the resources he had to evacuate" rant...like Rummy told the troops last year...the failure of the feds should support Nagin soon.

[izzybeans]

61. Scotty scotty scotty. "Taking a leak in a functioning toilet might

be considered enormous progress" Thanks for the progress scotty.

[ClickClack]

67. "Yes, significant progress has been made...

...as we in the White House have successfully removed our thumbs from our asses."

[calimary]

114. Welcome to DU!

We need you! PLEASE add your voice in. Help us get RID of these awful people!!!!

IMPEACHMENT NOW!!!!!!!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. hmm I give him a week

bush usually surrenders after enoiugh pressure is put on him... we should start putting presure on the kid to RESIGN, effective NOW

[katinmn]

63. Well, a half million people and half of Congress wanted Rummy

fired -- nothing happened.

[WinkyDink]

64. Maybe Brown's the supplier

of some nice Arabian stallions for Bush's milking. Heh.

[amb123]

66. Michael Brown for the Supreme Court!

The way the Bushies reward total incompetence, I wouldn't be surprised if Bush appoints Brown to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.

:sarcasm: :rofl:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

85. PLEASE- don't give them any ideas!

At least, as one of nine, no horses or humans would be at immediate risk anymore.
that is funny, though. I needed a smile after watching cable gnus.

[calimary]

115. Hey, with the way this asshole does business, I wouldn't be surprised.

In fact, he DOES have another Supreme Court opening to fill now, doesn't he?

Welcome to DU!

HELP US GET RID OF THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!

CALL, WRITE, FAX, YOUR REPS AND THE MEDIA!!!!

IMPEACHMENT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[peacetalksforall]

68. Think about it - the disgrace of Chertoff and Brown and the fame of De

Witt.

Though Clinton steps in the limelight with Bush, SR - the Clinton pick for FEMA comes to the rescue.

Chertoff and Brown - useless and impeders. They are killing people.

[Career Prole]

69. Impeach the chimp. Let the *new* president fire Brown. n/t

[Hekate]

76. White House Special Olympics continues: medals awarded soon

I apologize to the people of the real Special Olympics -- I know any comparison with Bush's WH is flattering to Bush and insulting to the SO. I couldn't help myself.

Hekate

#Why won't the Chickenhawk cross the road?#
#Why won't the Chickenhawk be waitin' on the levee?#

[Miss Chybil]

80. Brown and Cherthoff must be fired. This is not an option. nt

[majortom52k]

81. FEMA

Bush does not do firings of loyal minions. When the dust
settles Brown will announce he will be leaving to pursue
interests in the private sector. My guess will be with KBR
after Cheney hooks him up. This will serve two purposes, a
reward for the type of service Bush wanted and to rub it in
taxpayers noses. He will be still getting taxpayer $ through
Govt. contract for cleanup he helped perpetuate. I can see
them all chuckling and snorting at the irony of this entire
sorry mess. 

[Renew Deal]

82. He's learning on the job. Give him a Medal of Freedom for that.

:eyes:

[Wordie]

83. Nancy Pelosi called for heads to roll today. (Go Nancy!) n/t

[taxpayer2000]

84. Mucking the easy stuff

Today's news included numerous stories about people unable to get through to FEMA's 1-800#'s because they were all busy. FEMA asked businesses for assistance in setting up a new call center on Friday with a goal of "going live" on Monday 9/5. Shouldn't this have been the easy part? It is both simple and affordable to redirect inbound calls from one call center to another, or others, anywhere in the country. Companies do this all the time (i.e. sales rush, holiday rush, etc.). Even if FEMA did not have the manpower to staff the phones, volunteers could have been easily and quickly trained to respond to first calls. Or they could have gotten a voice recording telling them what to do next. Why tell people to call a 1-800# and only offer busy signals?

TP2K

[calimary]

116. Welcome to DU!

Get busy! We NEED your help!

Help us get RID of these people!!!!

Add your voice. Boost the numbers of people calling for

IMPEACHMENT!!!

NOW!!!!

[Joey Liberal]

87. Fire Bush AND Brown

Fire the bastards.

[liberal N proud]

89. Instead the bu$h co will promote him

that is how it works in this regime, fuck up and get promoted.

[Eurobabe]

93. to Chief Justice!

[sattahipdeep]

90. They haven't turned off the gas mains n/t

[JAbuchan08]

91. Enormous progress certainly I agree

from a starting point of complete FUCKING incompetence!

[batmansmom]

92. This is all you need to know

http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/000246.htm

It's not incompetence. It's willful negligence.

The same head of the same FEMA performed quite well just one year ago.

This should be hammered on incessantly.

[calimary]

117. Welcome to DU - thanks for the link.

All these resources are MOST useful.

Help us get RID of these people!

IMPEACHMENT NOW!!!!!!

[connecticut yankee]

94. Even Michelle Malkin

said to get rid of him.

[Pacifist Patriot]

98. That would be admitting a mistake and Bush never makes those. Remember?

[savemefromdumbya]

99. they won't fire a member of their junta?

fire?

[truthisfreedom]

102. there's absolutely no explanation except skull and bones. find out if

this clown is skull and bones.

[Tight_rope]

103. Well the Chimp never fires anyone who doesn't do their job...only

those who stand in his way for more power and more money.

[Featheriver]

105. Criminal Prosecution of President Bush, Secretary Chertoff, Brown

I have sent the following letter to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas Sun, Pahrump Valley Times and several blogs:

Editor

Dear Sir or Madam:

I, like many others, have watched in stunning disbelief at the utter failure of the federal, state and local governments in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Expected deaths are up to 40,000 according to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette.

I am a retired California lawyer having practiced criminal law for 27 years as Assistant District Attorney in Butte County, Deputy District Attorney in Ventura County, and criminal law in private practice.

From the evidentiary information from media reports, President George W. Bush, Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Michael Brown, Undersecretary and head of FEMA are guilty of either murder in the second degree or manslaughter, felonies, at least under California law. The District Attorneys in the affected Parishes in Louisiana can, and should, file criminal homicide charges against all three of those individuals, secure arrest warrants, initiate arrests, and jail each.

I have, personally and successfully prosecuted individuals for homicide on less evidence than exists against Bush, Chertoff and Brown.

Each owed legal obligations for the safety of persons that died from drowning while the federal, state and local agencies delayed rescue four or more days. Their dilatory failure to discharge the duties of their offices and rescue of those individuals constituted gross negligence which proximately resulted in their deaths.

President of Jefferson Parish, Aaron Broussard, Sunday, on NBC’s Meet the Press, illustrates the wanton disregard for the life of an elderly woman. Mr. Broussard informed Tim Russert that FEMA stopped delivery of truckloads of water by Wal-Mart. Further, that a Coast Guard vessel at the port in Jefferson Parish informed officials they had thousands of gallons of diesel fuel available. When Parish officials rushed trucks to the port docks to secure the badly needed fuel they were informed FEMA had ordered the Coast Guard not to deliver the fuel. Additionally, Broussard stated FEMA cut emergency communication lines in Jefferson Parish requiring Parish Sheriff, Henry Lee, restore the lines and place guards to prevent further tampering with them.

Mr. Broussard also stated an elderly woman, trapped in a flooded Jefferson Parish nursing home, called seeking rescue on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday being assured on each call she would be rescued. No one ever came. She drowned Friday night.

The willful and wanton disregard of pleas for help by people in clear danger of imminent death warrants criminal prosecution, not just administrative or political accountability.

Sincerely,

JACK D. WOOD
Attorney at Law, Retired.
Pahrump, NV 89048

[calimary]

118. Gorgeous letter! Certainly seems reasonable to me. WELCOME to DU!

Grateful to have you here, with the kind of commitment, background and credibility that it takes to write such a letter.

THANK YOU!!!

Keep up the good work! We need OODLES of LTTEs like these!

IMPEACHMENT, NOW!!!!!!!!!

[LaBanty]

106. Pelosi Recommended Firing Brown, Too

Pelosi Suggests Bush Fire Brown

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi told Bush to his face at the White House that he should fire the agency's director, Michael Brown.

"The president thanked me for my suggestion," the California Democrat said afterward.

'Thanked' her? Sure. Yeah. I'm sure he's going to sleep on that and consider it very carefully.

Consider that round-filed, Nancy.

[calimary]

120. Yeah, I'm sure he thanked her sincerely. And took the appropriate

steps for a letter like hers - prompt disposal.

All the more reason why bush, too, should be FIRED. ANY self-respecting CEO - like some of those in Japan, would offer his resignation for being at the helm of such a trainwreck.

But our divinely-anointed one doesn't make mistakes.

Welcome to DU! We sure need your help!

Visualize IMPEACHMENT!!!!!
Then go DO something about it.

[tom_paine]

108. Accountability and responsibility are for Free Nations only

It was always a 100% given that the Busheviks wouldn't fire one of their Party Toadies.

WWFMD?

What Would Ferdinand Marcos Do?

I miss living in Free America. I miss being free.

[bostonbabs]

109. BUSH'S deconstruction of social services

is all too evident to us now. Look at what Bush did to the Center for Disease Control and the EPA with regards to the BIRD FLU EPIDEMIC...he is DISREGARDING...science( again) and professionals(again). FEMA has jurisdiction!!!!! Bush signed a "quarantine" policy for BIRD FLU !!! WE need PREVENTION not quarantine orders. Just as the people of New Orleans needed PREVENTION instead they had important levee monies CUT.....

[napi21]

111. GOOD! I hope he does stick with this idiot!

That will HELP prove Shrub's incompetence! More people will finally recognize that his entire administration is comprised of imcomtetent people!!!

[redqueen]

112. Well duh... he'll give this jackass the Medal of Freedom, too!

:patriot:

[Joe Chi Minh]

121. In its derivation, the word "civilisation",

I believe, actually refers to urbanisation, the building of hamlets, villages, towns, cities, etc. In earlier Old Testament times, The Philistines and the Egyptians, for example, were civilised, when Israel was more or less nomadic.

However, it seems that with Bush's (and incidentally, Blair's) model of government by croneys, you have the worst of both worlds. You have a form of government by patronage, associated with pre-industrial societies, while exhibiting the cold brutality and immorality of civilised societies (in the original sense).

In the most under-developed countries, a system of patronage, whereby gifts are given to the chief and vice-versa, are not seen as corruption; they are simply the historical way in which things are done and the country is run. In some emasure, it has always been present in the government of our respective countries, too. But in Washington and Westminster, it seems to have regressed to its most primitive form. The veneer of civilisation has gone. The same thing occurred, of course, in German and Italy during the thirties, as well as Russia. It has certainly been a feature of British Socialism, as well, in local government.

The stripping down of FEMA to a skeleton remnant is just an extension of Bush's cronyisation of government, marginalising even "outsiders" in the Republican party, while simply riding roughshod over the Democratic opposition; and pursuing covert aims, squarely conflicting with even the modestly-developed form of democratic government we had hitherto become familiar with in both our countries.

[JABBS]

122. Another take on this story (Gregory vs. McClellan)

Go to this article.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

123. Must be all the coke Chimpy did

There's a lesson to be learned here. Tell your kids not to do drugs or they'll end up like GWB.

[kineneb]

124. where is ol' Vlad the Impaler when we need him?

Sounds like Mr. Brown needs to pay Vlad a visit