MICHAEL BROWN should be prosecuted and jailed

[BOSSHOG]

The bush crony who was given a high paying federal job even though he lacked any expertise in the assignment (another bush legacy) was a total and miserable failure as Katrina swept through New Orleans. Read the following:

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_10_20.html#088670

and tell me if you don't think brown should be arrested NOW!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. The FEMA man in the N.O. Superdome on the day, exposed Brownies Perjury.

[texpatriot2004]

2. And Michael Chertoff right along with him. n.t

[mrcheerful]

3. Oh come on now,

Brown did a good job running the horsie show in Texass. How much skill or experince should the head of FEMA have anyhow? Besides he made GW smile and clap his hands. You damn liberals just don't get it, hurrican destroy your town? Smile, the guy from the horsie show will keep you safe and secure, and you might even get to pet his pony. Just don't ask for anything or help paying for your loss, thats just welfare and welfare is just wrong.

[adwon]

4. On what charge?

Incompetence isn't a crime.

[BOSSHOG]

5. Negligent Homicide

Malfeasance in Office

[cassiepriam]

6. yes I wondered the same thing. Or civil lawsuit???

[adwon]

7. Negligent homicide?

Now my interest is really piqued. Under which jurisdiction and how would you meet the elements?

As for malfeasance, I'm sure there's some provision in the USC for specific violations of law, but that's a fairly broad term. Anything particular in mind?

[BOSSHOG]

9. As director of FEMA

his job was to Manage Emergencies. He failed negligently in that endeavor and his failure led to the deaths of citizens of New Orleans where a godawful emergency was being played out. He chose to finish dinner and ignore the calls for assistance. And, apparently, while being on the federal payroll he chose not to have his agency in a the state of preparedness necessary to do its job. In fact, I believe he is still on the federal payroll as a "consultant." That too is a criminal act against taxpayers. Chertoff testified this week that it was his agency, not the local authorities who were most responsible for the disastrous outcome. This person should be held accountable for his actions and nonactions. Instead, he will fade into the sunset awaiting another handout. Meanwhile New Orleanians continue to bury their dead and somewhere today a junior member of the armed forces is having his career ruined because he failed to make a credit card payment. Michael Brown should be held accountable for his actions/nonactions commensurate with the punishment of that young soldier.

[adwon]

10. So, federal jurisdiction, I'm guessing

Did he directly cause the deaths? Can an agency head be held criminally liable for failure to carry out its mission?

I ask these questions for a simple reason. I see a broadly applicable proposal here to make federal appointees (and presumably employees) criminally liable for incompetence. I have serious doubts as to whether that's a wise policy or not. I don't think every case of incompetence deserves criminal sanctions.

[BOSSHOG]

12. I agree with you, however

I believe this case deserves a closer look. On the flip side of your argument, I'd hate to see incompetence used as a rock solid defense. If that were the case, then lets try whomever appointed him. I think evidence would easily prove that brown conscientiously did nothing while Katrina was destroying parts of New Orleans and killing its citizens; and it was his job to do something. A skipper of a Navy vessel could be asleep in his bunkroom at 3:00 in the morning when the ship runs aground. He better have his dress blues ready to face the court of inquiry and make plans for a career in another field. He wasn't at the helm but he was responsible for that ship's operation and he knew it when he got his Skipper's pin. It just pains me to think an arrogant prick like "brownie", who bush said was doing a heckuva job will just stroll away with nary a penalty except a reputation. I saw him testify; the people of New Orleans or those in Mississippi who lost their homes mean nothing to him. He is a typical arrogant, pompous ass. I'm not a lawyer, but in my heart michael brown is a criminal; so throw me out of the jury pool.

At the very least, malfeasance in office.

[adwon]

14. It's not a defense

I just don't see a crime...well, not a legal crime, anyway. Political crimes are a whole different ballgame.

As for trying W for appointing Brown, that's a nonstarter. He's completely immune from legal action regarding the legitimate use of his authority. Assuming that Brown was lawfully appointed, W is not liable for his incompetence. The process of appointment is what matters, not the result.

Malfeasance has to be defined. It provides a great reason for firing or removal, but it's a bit too loose for court (unless there's some section of the code that defines it).

[BOSSHOG]

16. I checked out

"negligent homicide" on google. "The killing of another person through gross negligence or without malice." And "unintentional killing(s)in which the actors should have known they were creating substantial and unjustified risks of death by conduct that grossly deviated from ordinary care" - Alot of legalize but I think that second definition sums up what brown did very nicely. I'd hate for his lawyer to say my client is incompetent therefore there is no way he "should" have known what he was supposed to do. Case dismissed.

This will go nowhere but off my chest and that in itself is good.
But, I sincerely believe it has merit.

[adwon]

17. Heh

If he were my client, I'd ask the govt to show that his actions were the direct cause of death. That would be a morass of the first order because of all the variables that were inherent in the situation. I figure that without a showing that his actions were a direct cause, I could get a directed verdict and bypass the jury altogether.

I understand how you feel. It irritates me to no end that FEMA was a damn joke in 1992 with Hurricane Andrew but was perhaps the most effective federal agency at the end of the Clinton admin. All that hard work to make up for the failures of the past has been pissed away by a pack of amateurs and idiots. While I disagree with criminal liability, I do hope this follows Brown around for the rest of his life.

[BOSSHOG]

18. I'd take that chance

I doubt all the "variables" would go the defendants way especially since mother nature has given us (and will give us in the next few days) examples of how FEMA is supposed to work. Things were better during Rita and FEMA promises just a fantastic job of taking care of those struck by Wilma. Under the leadership of brown, FEMA was, as he might say "dysfunctional", some might call their actions negligent. No doubt Katrina will follow brown but he won't care. He is confident he won't be held accountable for anything; unless noisy knuckleheads like me make enough noise.

[Pam-Moby]

8. This man is a joke.

He should get neglect charges.

[malaise]

11. Both Chertoff and Brown

should be charged with negligent homicide. Brown merely confirmed our suspicions that he is an incompetent self absorbed moron, but his model resides in the WH.

[Pam-Moby]

13. I agree. This just makes me sick.

We as a nation are all washed up if we the people do not hold them accountable.

[melissinha]

15. Congresswoman Cynthia A. McKinney of Atlanta agrees

Heard a statement she made to Chertoff that equated him to the owners of that nursing home.....


Mike Malloy played it and said SHE's MINE, MINE... it was slightly diabolical, but very dramatic.....