Bush picks Paulison as acting FEMA head

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N12503695.htm

Bush picks Paulison as acting FEMA head
12 Sep 2005 20:56:42 GMT

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Monday named David Paulison, a top official in the Homeland Security Department, to replace Michael Brown on an acting basis as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Bush moved quickly to put Paulison in charge of FEMA after Brown resigned the position under fire for the slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina that killed hundreds and displace 1 million people.

Considering that Bush didn't even know that he quit...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/katrina_brown

The president ducked questions about Brown's resignation. "Maybe you know something I don't know. I've been working," the president said to reporters on an inspection tour of damage in Gulfport, Miss. Bush said he planned to talk with Brown's boss, Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff, from Air Force One on the flight back to Washington.

[Pirate Smile]

1. Bush picked him? He didn't even know Brownie quit. Who really

picked him? At least he sounds like a professional instead of their political hacks.

[Pirate Smile]

55. Well, now I know he is duct tape man so

:shrug:

[apollo56]

57. Chimp and Duck Tape

CNN just notified people that this is the guy that told people to buy duck tape and plastic wrap! - Stange that the Chimp can even find Washington, maybe that is the reason he stays in Texas were all things are bigger including lack of brains!

[Turbineguy]

2. here:

http://www.fema.gov/about/bios/paulison.shtm

[Linette]

39. FEMA's bio pages

Thanks for the link, but I'm not sure I trust the FEMA website to give us accurate information about anyone. Their website also makes Brownie sound almost acceptable ...

[damntexdem]

48. Well, I believe the part about his involvement in Hurrican Andrew.

Remember what a screw-up that recovery was?

[BR_Parkway]

3. Damn, he just said he didn't know Brownie was quitting - when he needs

to take a few moments to make a good, solid decision - he takes 30 seconds yet when lives are on the line, he takes 5 days to do anything, 3 days just to decide to cut his vacation short.

[Walt Starr]

4. Bush picks Paulison as acting FEMA head...

After being briefed he would do so by White House aides shortly after being informed of Brown's resignation by reporters

There, the headline is now repaired.

[Jack from Charlotte]

13. Pat Paulson?*

[henslee]

25. Theres one in every crowd. I never forgot when he ran for office

when I was a kid. I was totally fascinated by his droll comic personna.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

45. Well, picky picky picky.

(They should remember that old line for the next time FEMA screws up.)

[Up2Late]

42. That was my first reaction when I saw the headline

How many times did he end up running? I think he ran from 1968 to 1980?

[Brother Buzz]

43. He would have be a little overqualified...

but nevertheless, he was the master of double talk and would have fit right in with this misadminstration...

RIP, Pat....

Pat Paulsen was hired to do editorials on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" in 1967 and was approached by Tom and Dick with the idea of running for President in 1968. Inspired by the pension plan than came with the office, Paulsen agreed to run. Paulsen's campaign was based on double talk, outright lies, and unfounded attacks on his challengers, which simply proves that as a politicians Paulsen was ahead of his time.


The War On Poverty
April 16, 1967

In those deep valleys of decision where the giants of
government ponder the complex problem of the War
on Poverty, is the answer from the valley of the
giants, ho ... ho ... ho?

This is the richest nation in the world, and we'd be
richer if it weren't for the poor people. There are
people without clothes and shoes and socks and ties
and handkerchiefs and hats and underwear...some
of these are nudists...but, most of them are poor
people.

Poverty is necessary. Because without it, we
couldn't have a poverty program. And the poverty
program has the right answer. Good administration.
You can't just give poor people money. The poor
people will just go out and buy food and clothes and
pay rent and junk like that.

Poor people have to have jobs. But, the only jobs
open are in the administration offices of the poverty
program. Twelve clerks to every poor. Now, the
poverty program is running out of money. It only
proves that poverty is expensive. Poor people can't
afford it!

Thank you,

Patrick L. Paulsen, V.P.

[54anickel]

5. Huh, Brown resigned? I missed that. Then again, it's not MY job to

know. What's Shrub's sorry excuse?

[BuelahWitch]

16. He hadn't had his graham crackers and milk yet

[Enraged_Ape]

6. He didn't even know Brownie quit!! I don't believe this!!

Particularly since this new guy actually HAS some qualifications.

Bush HAS to be out of the loop on this too.

[ewagner]

That was quick

maybe too quick....

maybe Chertoff, Cheney, Rummy and Bush had plans to toss Brown under the bush and told Paulison he'd get the job..."Brownie" heard what they were planning and jumped before he was pushed and caught Bush* by surprise.....but the successor had already been named.

So what do you think of my theory?

[Enraged_Ape]

34. Sounds plausible to me

Meanwhile, the leader of the free world--the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces--continues to peddle his tricycle around the house with a basket full of Rold Gold pretzels and a fifth of Jack Daniels.

[jayfish]

7. "It is critical that fire and emergency departments...

across the country
remain in their jurisdictions until such time as the affected states
request assistance," said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison.
"State and local mutual aid agreements are in place as is the Emergency
Management Assistance Compact and those mechanisms will be used to
request and task resources needed in the affected areas."

http://homelandresponse.org/full_story.php?WID=13945

Hooray! Another idiot.

Jay

EDIT: Paulison is also responsible for the whole duct-tape fiasco. What a winning bunch

[UpInArms]

8. White House taps David Paulison (duct tape & plastic) as acting FEMA head

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/newsfinder/pulseone.asp?dateid=38607.7136308681-841979976&siteID=mktw&scid=0&doctype=806&property=symb&value=&categories=&

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- President Bush will name David Paulison to be acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the White House on Monday. Paulison, a native of Miami, is currently director of the Preparedness Division in FEMA, and the administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration. Before joining FEMA, Paulison was chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. Paulison would replace Michael Brown, who resigned earlier on Monday after the government's response to Hurricane Katrina was widely criticized as being too slow and inadequate.

4:57pm 09/12/05 WHITE HOUSE TO NAME DAVID PAULISON AS FEMA ACTING HEAD - AP

no link yet -

here's some background:

Duct tape sales rise amid terror fears

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Americans have apparently heeded the U.S. government's advice to prepare for terror attacks, emptying hardware store shelves of duct tape.

On Tuesday, less than 24 hours after U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison described a list of useful items, stores in the greater Washington, D.C. area reported a surge in sales of plastic sheeting, duct tape, and other emergency items.

These items, Paulison said, can be helpful after a biological, chemical or radiological attack.

A Lowe's hardware store in Alexandria, Virginia, said every roll of duct tape has been sold. Another Alexandria Home Depot store reported sales of duct tape tripled overnight.

...more...

As Isabel Looms, Plan Safety Strategies Now
Many people are 'seriously under-prepared,' experts warn

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 17 (HealthDayNews) -- As Hurricane Isabel takes aim at the East Coast, packing winds exceeding 100 mph, authorities urge residents to prepare for the worst.

"Any major storm, particularly one this size, is capable of causing widespread damage," said Ray Steen, a spokesman for the American Red Cross. "It's critically important that all potentially affected residents prepare now."

Still, despite a hurricane watch that stretches from Little River Inlet, S.C., to Chincoteague, Va., many people remain "seriously under-prepared," Ste

<snip>

"Hurricane winds can turn cars over, so they can obviously blow your lawn furniture away," said David Paulison, director of preparedness for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "Major injuries and deaths we have from hurricanes and tornadoes are from flying debris."

...more...

Watch out for "blowing lawn furniture"!

(added link and blurb on edit)

[displacedtexan]

9. OMG! They promoted Duct Tape & Plastic Guy?

They never cease to amaze me!

[buff2]

10. OMG!!!!! Geesus,I feel so much safer now

:rofl:

[SW FL Dem]

14. WTF- First they appoint a Horse's Ass - Now Mr. Duct (k)Tape Guy

The utter stupidity of this Administration never ceases to amaze me.

[graywarrior]

15. .

[UpInArms]

17. ..

:rofl:

:thumbsup:

Thanks for that pic!

[SW FL Dem]

19. LOL - I thought of you when I posted that!

I guess I should correct my spelling

[graywarrior]

21. Duct & cover

[54anickel]

29. SNARF!!! That one's great!

I thought the guys name was familiar, but didn't make the "duct tape fatwa" connection right away.

As a side note, whatever happened to DUer ductapefatwa, anyway?

[Hand]

53. ductapefatwa was a freeper troll, believe it or not!

He unmasked shortly after the 2004 election. Bummer.

[achtung_circus]

56. I believe it may be fairer to say disruption

rather than freeper.

[54anickel]

59. No way!!! Unfriggenbelievable! I loved that screen name. Didn't

follow all of his/her posts, but from what I read I never would have guessed it.

[jsamuel]

11. "Bush Picks New FEMA Head Without Knowing Previous One Resigned"

that should be the title

[VegasWolf]

23. This could only be true in a Bush World!!!!

[cal04]

12. He didn't know, the aides didn't tell him, that's just two of the lies

they always tell.
I wouldn't believe anything they said if they stood on their heads

[lateo]

18. Bush picks a guy to head FEMA that he didn't know he picked.

Wow.

[wiley]

20. Some Testimony to Congress' Science Committee - Forum?

http://www.house.gov/science/hearings/research03/jul17/paulison.htm

"Fire and emergency responders to the three 9-11 incidents, when the motive is removed, confronted aircraft crashes. It was the sheer size and scope of these incidents that made them horrendous. While in many instances the normal equipment carried by fire-rescue departments may be sufficient to resolve a terrorist incident, the Federal government has a unique responsibility to ensure that terrorism-specialized equipment is available to departments, especially those at greatest risk of terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security is committed to addressing those needs.

Interoperability issues are also one of the most significant matters to be overcome. This not only includes communications, but equipment, operations, training, and other areas.

The current lack of national consensus standards for response to terrorist incidents is a critical challenge that DHS faces and we are working diligently to address them. Without these consensus standards, there can be no measurement or analysis of response to terrorist incidents in any quantifiable manner. These standards should be developed through a forum that supports a consensus-making standards process."

[FlemingsGhost]

22. So, how qualified is "Paulie?"

Owning kneepads, doesn't count.

[blue4barb]

24. Gotta love his comment, "I've been working" in response to not being

aware of Brownie's resignation.

Yes, it is hard, hard work to be president. We all know how hard
you work, mr. bush**.

[skooooo]

26. Excerpt from Miami Times; March 13, 1997 pg 4a

No link, found this article elsewhere. Excerpt:

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

"It is clear from the statements at the meeting last week of the Metro-Dade Commission's Public Safety and Health Care Committee that there is a gap as big as the Grand Canyon between the perceptions of Blacks in the County police and fire-rescue departments and the officials who head those two agencies.

On the one hand, leaders of Black police and firefighter groups insist that there is still racism, some of it overt, especially in the fire department, much of it covert, that sustains a racially hostile environment and prevents Blacks from a fair shot at being hired and promoted. On the other hand, both department heads maintain that not only have they done much to advance Blacks but that they may already have done too much in terms of their affirmative action goals.

It is time to clean up the mess. That can be done through a thorough review of the two departments, similar to what was undertaken when the City of Miami faced similar complaints. The Metro-Dade Commission must therefore act quickly to begin such an investigation to allay fears of the Black officers and firefighters and the community as a whole. Even though racism has been endemic in such services across the nation, there can be no room for it in this county which is already battling a widespread conviction among Blacks of unfair and racist treatment generally.

Some of the so-called pranks performed at the fire stations are particularly offensive, such as the ones brought to the attention of the committee. One was of a watermelon painted with a caricature of a Black face; the other was a derogatory Christmas tree. Fire Rescue Chief David Paulison seems to feel that such deeds can still be excused as harmless fun but he must know by now that Blacks are deeply offended by such actions and they should not be tolerated whatsoever."

[UpInArms]

28. I'm sure Lump Limpbag will love his pranks

and want to join his frat-house

Some of the so-called pranks performed at the fire stations are particularly offensive, such as the ones brought to the attention of the committee. One was of a watermelon painted with a caricature of a Black face; the other was a derogatory Christmas tree. Fire Rescue Chief David Paulison seems to feel that such deeds can still be excused as harmless fun but he must know by now that Blacks are deeply offended by such actions and they should not be tolerated whatsoever."

[VegasWolf]

30. Holy Shit!! Paulison thinks a watermelon painted with a black face

caricature at the firehouse is just harmless fun!??

:wtf:

[skooooo]

31. It might be worth investigating what actually happened....

...this is just one quote. I'd be curious though....

[VegasWolf]

37. No kidding. A public quote of this nature is dynamite especially

in an already racially charged situation.

[skooooo]

41. Miami Time March 13, 1997 pg. 1a

When Black Metro-Dade Fire Rescue workers took their complaints of racism and discrimination in their department to the March 3 meeting of the county commission's Public Protection and Health Care committee, they produced evidence to support what they were saying.

<snip>

Myles said there had been several racially motivated incidents in the department. "No one is being punished for these atrocities. The department is knowledgeable about it but nothing is being done," Myles declared. He said Black firefighters at the station took pictures of the display, copies of which he passed out to commissioners at the meeting.

Metro Fire-Rescue Chief David Paulison said the incident was not racially motivated but was a practical joke among the firefighters at the station. He accused Myles of knowing that to be so. "We investigated and dealt with it. It was not racially motivated at all," Paulison said.

<snip>

(Myles) said in another incident a Christmas tree was put up at station No. 11 at 6460 N.W. 27th St., decked out with Schultz 49 and Colt beer cans, crime scene tape and toilet paper, to be representative of Christmas in the Black community.

The tree remained up throughout the Christmas season and no one was disciplined, Myles said. Photos of the display were also handed to commissioners at the meeting.

[skooooo]

44. Same issue of newspaper, different article excerpt:

"Fire Lt. Eddie Laden, former president of the Progressive Firefighter's Association, criticized Fire Chief David Paulison for promoting only three Blacks in the last five years. Ten times as many Whites and Latinos were moved up in that time, he stated.

"One firefighter was passed over twice for division chief for a less experienced Hispanic male. Another was passed over for the rank of division chief and, between 1993 and 1995, he promoted only two African Americans but 13-non-Blacks," Laden said of Paulison. "That's two for 13 in three years. Come on chief, let's be real. We're not stupid."

Laden charged that "Blacks are hired in fewer numbers, disciplined the most and demoted and terminated quicker than any other ethnic group in the department.""

[VegasWolf]

46. Why does Bush hate Black people? "Metro Fire-Rescue Chief David Paulison

said the incident was not racially motivated but was a practical joke ..." Holy Shit! He must have been appointed by Rush Limbaugh!

[JoFerret]

32. What? ....Harmless what?

....from the text: <<Chief David Paulison seems to feel that such deeds can still be excused as harmless fun but he must know by now that Blacks are deeply offended by such actions and they should not be tolerated whatsoever.">>

[wiley]

33. Get This...

http://www.libertythink.com/

... the country remain in their jurisdictions until such time as the affected
states request assistance," said US Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. ...


Check this website out. Did Bush actually declare everywhere in LA a disaster area BUT NO?

[VegasWolf]

49. Paulison idea of diversity - adding a white Methodist to his dept!! nt

[VegasWolf]

27. "I'm the President! I'm working! How should I know what's going on?" nt

:wtf:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

35. jahahahahah

oh boy.

wow. just. wow.

[onenote]

36. here's an interesting story of how paulison handles dissent and race

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2002-05-16/metro2.html

onenote

[54anickel]

50. Oh, that's great. Just great.

This guy is gonna fit right in there with Shrubby's gang of idiots. Between this, the duct tape, and the pranks story, we've got ourselves yet another loser. So who picked him?

[toey]

38. anyone check his bio?

or know where to find it?

[triguy46]

40. Which horse association did he lead???

Better to have been the AMERICAN Quarter Horse Association, not the Bin Laden Arabian's like Brownie. We need a real 'murrican at femur.

[damntexdem]

47. What type of horses did Paulson used to play with?

No matter, anyone Dubya appoints obviously specialized only in the hind end of the horses, anyway.

[symbolman]

51. Here's a flash I did to honor the Duct Tape remarks back then

it's called, "Duct Tape Theater"..

I used the actual "Symbol" cards the govt created for disasters, of course they are very nearly incomprehensible by the average person :)

http://66.230.230.110/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20040602184656622


Brought to you by Takebackthemedia.com

[noonriser]

52. The most ridiculous statement in this posting is this:

"I've been working,"

LMFAO. Yeah right, working at takin' photo ops. It's harrrrd work!!

[sakabatou]

54. Is Paulison better?

At least he's not a greenhorn.

[apollo56]

58. The Chimp is still lost - what country did he view today-Duckville

CNN just notified people that this is the guy that told people to buy duck tape and plastic wrap! - Stange that the Chimp can even find Washington, maybe that is the reason he stays in Texas were all things are bigger including lack of brains!

[Bravo411]

60. Bush fixes FEMA. All it needed was...

some duct tape and plastic.

I'm sure Bush had nothing to do with all of this. The real people in charge did it. But they foolishly gave him credit for having taken the action so it looks like he's on top of things. I guess they just forgot to not let him talk to reporters.

Posted by Bravo411
http://bravo411.blogspot.com

[WhiteTara]

61. and it's hard hard werk n/t

[rodeodance]

62. cables barely interrupted Roberts hearings to make this announcement.