Some disturbing information on FEMA and Mike Brown

[Barad Simith]

(I went looking for information on Brown and on how FEMA operates in order to try to determine the name of the authority to whom Brown ultimately answers. My search was the result of a conversation with a Bush supporter who was, for some odd reason, trying to defend Brown's incompetence in the aftermath of Katrina. The Bush supporter claimed that Brown "has to answer to someone lower down the chain of command than the President," implying, I guess, that this takes some of the pressure off Bush. Who knows. I was under the impression that Brown answers directly to Bush, and went to Google in search of the answer. Instead, I found the following.)

Michael D. Brown (b. 1954 in Guymon, Oklahoma) is the Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response (a division of the Department of Homeland Security), the cabinet-level position that replaced the Federal Emergency Management Agency directorate, and generally referred to as the "head" of FEMA. He was nominated by President George W. Bush in January 2003.

-snip-

While attending law school Brown was appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee of the Oklahoma Legislature as the Finance Committee Staff Director, where he oversaw state fiscal issues. His background in state and local government also includes serving as an assistant city manager with emergency services oversight and as a city councilman, although most of his career was spent in private practice. Before joining DHS/FEMA, Brown was Judges and Stewards Commissioner for the International Arabian Horse Association from 1999-2001, a position from which he resigned under duress after an onslaught of lawsuits. Brown started his own legal defense fund before resigning, a move he said was necessary to protect his family's assets.

The above bold text was posted at DU yesterday. It's an important factor in the whole FEMA-incompetence equation, but I wasn't surprised because I had read it here yesterday.

This is the part that was news to me:

In January 2005, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler publically urged President Bush to fire Brown, citing reports that FEMA disbursed $30 million in disaster relief funds for Hurricane Frances to residents of Miami, Florida, a city which was not affected by the hurricane. Brown admitted to $12 million in overpayments, but denied any serious mistakes, blaming a computer glitch. Wexler repeated his call in April to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, citing new reports that FEMA sent inspectors with criminal records of robbery and embezzlement to do damage assessments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Brown_%28FEMA%29

[BlueEyedSon]

1. WOW, sounds like criminal by intent or criminal negligence.

[Barad Simith]

2. It's why he's been dragging his feet on the Katrina aid

Can't rush in there and start giving "his" money away to just anyone. Has to get his people on the ground first, so he'll have the proper names through which he can launder the money.

[Don Claybrook]

3. $$$ to people in Miami-Dade for snow and ice damage

I read an article on this a day or two ago. The reason given on the FEMA forms for the disbursement of some of the money was "ice and snow damage". In sunny Miami-Dade County--which was apparently 100 miles south of where the hurricane hit.

Also, the article I read said that Wexler never got an answer from FEMA; his requests were ignored.

[BlueEyedSon]

4. Jesus H Christ, just how criminal is the Bush admin?

[Barad Simith]

10. This is a big story, right now, while the whole world is watching and

while Brown's handling of the situation is being questioned every day.

A lot of conservatives' attitudes toward Bush now range from disappointed to furious, judging from the posts at FR, the calls to hate radio and the guests on FOX News.

I other words, true conservatives (as opposed to neocons) and the corporate media aren't giving Bush a complete pass anymore, and might now be interested in the details of Wexler's charges against Brown.

[mapleboard]

5. Bush Appoints Businessmen Instead Of Qualified People

Bush appointed businessmen to important posts, instead of qualified leaders, as favors. New Orleans is what happens, when there's a disaster, and a businessman is the head of FEMA.

Bush also appointed all PNAC members to his cabinet. Cheney and the PNAC are unqualified to run this country.

9/11: Unprepared

Iraq Insurgency: Unprepared

Hurricane Katrina: Unprepared

Both parties let this happen, I fault the Democrats, too.

[Barad Simith]

17. I'm confused at an apparent contradiction

While I accept that there are also a few Democrats to blame for the mess, you stated that "both parties let this happen" after pointing out that Bush appointed businessmen instead of qualified leaders to important posts, and appointed PNAC members to his cabinet.

How are both parties responsible for that?

[NJCher]

26. rewrite! rewrite!

Excuse me...English teacher here... May I?

Bush Appoints Businessmen Instead Of Qualified People

Bush Appoints Crooks Masquerading as Businessmen Instead Of Qualified People




Cher

[suegeo]

36. Well Bush nominated Judge Roberts for Supreme Court

And it appears the Dems won't put up much of a fight on yet another nomination.

Surely, that Roberts dude can't be as fatally flawed as all the other maroons that our dear leader has offered up. Nope, we should all just try to get along. Because roberts is only going to be on the court for years to come. And how much damage can one of Bush's pals do over a lifetime. /sarcasm

[rasputin1952]

29. Welcome to DU...

:hi:

While I can agree that some of the fault lies with the fact that some D's have been neglect in their duties, I should like to point out that the R's have had control of the Gov't for quite some time. Their irresponsible handling of virtually the entire national/international
scenarios that have come come forward has plunged this nation into the worst possible light and they have succeeded only in screwing up everything they have touched.

All in all, this stuff has happened on bush's watch. He has allowed the theives and traitors to run rampant, and has shown the most inept leadership capabilities this nation has ever seen. The blame, quite rightly falls at his feet. If this were a D administration, the R's would be howling for heads to roll.

Businessmen runs businesses, not governments. Civil servants run the inner workings of the government; but when the 'leadership' or the heads of the various agencies are corrupt beyond comprehension, the results will be nothing less than disastrous.

[newyawker99]

37. Hi mapleboard!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KharmaTrain]

6. That Wexler Speech Is Damning

If you didn't see or read it, check it out on C-SPAN.org.

Brown should be hung from a New Orleans lamppost just for his lies about not knowing about people at the convention center and how all the hospitals had been evacuated when they hadn't.

I expect we'll soon hear Mr. Brown has resigned to accept a K Street job for a lobbyist.

This goon, like others in this regime, will never be held accountable for their greed that resulted in so many deaths.

[RandiFan1290]

20. Can you help me?

I can't find the link.

Thanks

[KharmaTrain]

25. Here's The Transcript...

http://www.wexler.house.gov/news.php?ID=116

One year ago we had the opportunity to learn from the disasters in Florida. Floridians experienced the consequences of FEMA’s failure to deliver aid to communities who needed it the most. We saw the most vulnerable in our society – the elderly and the poor – being left out or overlooked. Last year we had the opportunity to prevent this from happening again. At that time, I called for the resignation of FEMA head, Michael Brown because of his grievous mismanagement. The President did not heed that call, nor did he see fit to make any substantial changes in FEMA.

Last year, when the President’s election was in question, his response to the hurricanes in the swing state of Florida was tremendously fast -- even passing out ice in the immediate aftermath. Where was he in the immediate aftermath for Gulf coast? Where were the trucks of food? Where were the water buffalo? Where were the tents of aid that are just now being established? The President and Congress dropped everything and flew back to Washington on Palm Sunday to intervene on behalf of Terri Schiavo. Why did the President delay so long for an entire American city in crisis? These are desperate people who need food, water, shelter and safety, not a photo op – which even itself comes 5 days late. Every asset of the American military in this hemisphere should have been devoted to America’s humanitarian crisis starting on Monday at 5 PM.



Welcome To DU!

:wave:

[RandiFan1290]

28. Thank you very much

I was searching CSPAN for the video link. I could not find anything about it.

[Emit]

7. WOW. Doing some FEMA research myself

it's all too unreal....

I just posted a link to your thread on mine---hope that was ok?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4602266&mesg_id=4602266

[Barad Simith]

14. of course! (nt)

[mod mom]

8. Let's get this info to the media. Why should we tolerate this blatant

incompetence and corruption? Great Post. Nominated.

[RandiFan1290]

9. 2 interviews expose FEMA and Jeb incompetence from 04 hurricanes

http://lovedocs.com/sound.html

First two links.

[converted_democrat]

11. Many of our neighbors had trouble with FEMA .......

They did have damage from the storms,(2 storms in 3 weeks) and FEMA gave them money. In the beginning they were told that as long as they put the money back in their home, they could keep the money. Then FEMA came back and said they gave them too much. These people were on the hook for $5,000 to 10,000, and have to pay it back, even though they had no idea that they were over paid. Plus, taxes were due the next year on the money. Two people we know had to sell their home to pay the money back.

[RandiFan1290]

15. People here are still living in FEMA trailers

and waiting for help to rebuild. Please listen to those interviews. That radio station did a heroic job of helping people through the 2 storms that his us last year.

[Barad Simith]

27. Listening now

Thanks for the links

[xultar]

12. PLEASE EMAIL THIS TO CNN USING THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES

"Anderson Cooper 360" at 1-866-NY-AC360 call

write
[e-mail]

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1f.html


Michael D. Brown

In January 2005, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler publically urged President Bush to fire Brown, citing reports that FEMA disbursed $30 million in disaster relief funds for Hurricane Frances to residents of Miami, Florida, a city which was not affected by the hurricane. Brown admitted to $12 million in overpayments, but denied any serious mistakes, blaming a computer glitch. Wexler repeated his call in April to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, citing new reports that FEMA sent inspectors with criminal records of robbery and embezzlement to do damage assessments.

While attending law school Brown was appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee of the Oklahoma Legislature as the Finance Committee Staff Director, where he oversaw state fiscal issues. His background in state and local government also includes serving as an assistant city manager with emergency services oversight and as a city councilman, although most of his career was spent in private practice. Before joining DHS/FEMA, Brown was Judges and Stewards Commissioner for the International Arabian Horse Association from 1999-2001, a position from which he resigned under duress after an onslaught of lawsuits. Brown started his own legal defense fund before resigning, a move he said was necessary to protect his family's assets.

[mod mom]

21. Just finished. We need to bombard them with this info! nt

[xultar]

32. I've used all my email addys all 10 of them.

[Mutley]

23. Done.

They're probably tired of my emails by now. Oh well!

[xultar]

33. I have 10 email addies and I've used all of them.

[LynneSin]

13. Come on, George W. Bush sez he's doing a great job so shut yer yappers

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[bklyncowgirl]

16. Any of my fellow equestrian DUers got any ties in the Arabian world

A little gossip might be interesting.

The guy is surely a political hack fuckup.

[spanone]

18. Sounds very typical of Bush* appointees to me.

The RAPING of America.

[indepat]

19. Brown fits right in: meets all the litmus tests

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

22. My God! This Country's being run by the Mafia...

[lostnfound]

34. That conclusion was basically confirmed by Sibel Edmonds, wasn't it?!

The difference is that the mafia doesn't go after peoples' wives or children.

[mondo joe]

24. I'm not much for capital punishment, but this guy ought to fry. n/t

[RedEarth]

30. This is beyond belief......... Brown, Chetoff should be fired immediately

and impeachment hearing started......which tragically will never happen due to DeLay and company.

[katinmn]

31. Has * ever appointed anyone but thugs? No!

That's why we have to clean out the whole damn administration.

They are only there to rape and pillage what is left of America.

[blitzen]

35. anyone notice how Brown always says "I"

when referring to FEMA...such as "I'm doing everything I can to get my resources in there."

an arrogant prick who thibks he has a fiefdom