From scapegoat to savior? (Brownie)

[funkybutt]

St. Bernard (parish) may turn to former FEMA chief

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1144479061309480.xml

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, officials in St. Bernard Parish couldn't criticize FEMA harshly enough for the agency's bungled response to the devastation in south Louisiana.

Newspaper, television, radio, the Internet -- no medium went unused as officials, particularly Parish President Henry "Junior" Rodriguez, took aim at the federal agency.

Now, in a twist dripping with irony, St. Bernard might turn to the man who was in charge of FEMA when Katrina raked across the parish to help it navigate the murky waters of federal disaster aid.

-uhm...WTF!?-

[charlyvi]

1. I don't think he's a saviour.

I don't think he was solely responsible for NOLA, but calling him a saviour is way too far in the other direction.

[Frustratedlady]

2. In the end, Brown will probably end up being known as

the FEMA Scapegoat. By that time, I think he'll have a lot of company from this administration.

[Eugene]

3. Ack! Brownie stands to profit from the mess he helped to create.

He wasn't alone, but he did his part to make FEMA a tangled mess
and let New Orleans drown. He was no scapegoat and he is no savior.
He his just cashing in like a good Bushbot.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[NYC]

4. I can't understand how this is happening.

He was part of the problem. He couldn't handle it then, and he can't handle it now. He has a track record re New Orleans. Why don't they look at it?

[IndianaGreen]

7. The problem was putting FEMA under Homeland Security Dept.

One of the dumb recommendations from the many dumb recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, a commission that included people like Joe Lieberman.

Let's take FEMA out of Homeland Security Department, fire Chertoff, and abolish that useless Gestapo-like and pedophile infested department.

[NYC]

8. I agree that Homeland Security should be abolished.

Among other things, it has rendered FEMA useless.

[Rose Siding]

5. We need a new word for profiteer.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. I think they'd be better off with any firefighter or fire medic

whose part time job is insurance agent or adjuster.

[rainbow4321]

9. Update: Ex-FEMA director turns down job in St. Bernard Parish

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/041306dntexbrown.17744881.html

Under mounting criticism, former FEMA chief Michael Brown said Wednesday that he will not serve as a paid consultant to St. Bernard Parish, a New Orleans suburb hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.

Brown, whose name became synonymous with government ineptitude after Hurricane Katrina, had planned to meet with officials in the parish Thursday to help them navigate the recovery process. He canceled his trip after residents protested.

Brown made the decision after meeting in Orlando, Fla., with parish President Henry "Junior" Rodriguez, where both were attending a national hurricane preparedness conference.

<snip>

Federal rules prohibit Brown from lobbying his former agency directly for another five months, but he could have told parish officials how to deal with the agency. He had said he hoped to help St. Bernard get publicity for its plight.

[struggle4progress]

10. Keepin lookin, Brownie! Somebody somewhere will wanna hire ya ..

.. for a backup fall guy just in case the con they're runnin goes south ...