Posted on 09/04/2005 8:38:30 AM PDT by wildwood
MEMO TO BUSH: FIRE MICHAEL BROWN
By Michelle Malkin · September 04, 2005 08:17 AM During his visit to Mobile, Ala., on Friday, President Bush singled out Michael D. Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for praise:
"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."
Really? "Brownie's" job is to direct the federal response to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. Let's review his public statements during the past week:
- He admitted that he didn't act more aggressively because as late as last Sunday he expected Katrina to be a "standard hurricane" even though the National Weather Service in New Orleans was already predicting "human suffering incredible by modern standards."
- He proved himself utterly clueless about the disaster unfolding in New Orleans. He claimed that the federal relief effort was "going relatively well" and that the security situation in New Orleans was "pretty darn good."
- He blamed the flood victims in New Orleans for failing to evacuate on time, even though local authorities failed to make municipal vehicles available to residents who could not drive or did not own their own cars.
READ MORE!!
(Excerpt) Read more at michellemalkin.com ...
Ah, because it's the truth?
You do realize, don't you, that after the hurricane passed, if the levee hadn't breached, there would have been LESS problems in NO than anywhere else, right?
Plenty of places have been hit with storms that big and didn't decend into hell on earth.
He wasn't ignorant at all; what do you think he should have done, put his assets in there BEFORE the storm so they ALL would have been stuck?
It's obvious you haven't a clue what is involved with a relief effort of ANY hurricane, much less one where the state and local authorities are simpletons.
I live in NC; we don't sit around and wait for FEMA or the President of the United States to come save our butts.
And if you'll stop your ranting for a few minutes, you'll notice that Mississippi and Alabama aren't in the mess that ONE CITY is in -- and that's because they got up, dusted themselves off, and GOT TO WORK.
#180 is for you as well.
That said, what makes you think for a second Ms Malkin has a clue anyway?
No offense, but I'd trust her clues more than yours. For one thing, she backed up her position with facts, which is more than I can say for you. We're getting close to 200 posts on this thread, and still not a single one of her detractors has yet to address any of the facts she laid down. It's quite telling.
Weasel words.
You're always looking for ANYTHING to trash Bush with; that accounts for your presence on any thread where you feel you might gleem anything to harm him with.
Here's how FEMA could be ignorant. False reporting from New Orleans, or none at all. Remember, the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans didn't want to evacuate at all. They thought (or were willing to gamble) that it would either miss or lose a lot of steam before it hit. FEMA has to rely on what the locals tell them about their situation.
And, despite everyone's wishes here, FEMA cannot move in without permission of the state and local authorities. Bush had signed off on all sorts of aid, but first the locals have to give the go ahead before they can move. That wasn't done until sometime after Monday, as near as I can tell from the reports. (If someone has a timeline, please correct me if I'm wrong.)
"But, unless he had someplace outside of New Orleans to take those buses, I can't fault him for that."
That, again, would fall to the plan that should have been in place and executed by Mayor Nagin. Even without a plan, people on the road in a bus could have been gotten to just by driving up next to them, instead of trying to figure out how to get to them in a giant toilet bowl.
I think you'll find that Michelle has jumped the gun. Where is her evidence this operation has turned into the keystone cops. All she's basing her points on are what might be best described as mis-statements from those I submit are doing their best in a very tough set of circumstances.
I truly believe she'll have to eat crow before it's all over.
FGS
Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding. Lieberals want it both ways, as usual.
Beware those that will use the cluster<expletive deleted> of Louisiana to run FEMA/DHS/et al roughshod over the states.
I think Malkin has been swept up into the media hysteria. The rational folks are the ones getting the most done.
And you imply that others are overreacting? :)
Hmmmmmmm. The word 'if' would indicate the possibility of exoneration. Don't let that interrupt you from your gallows construction, however.
What a difference between Haley Barbour (for instance) and Gov. Blanco. Just compare who's cleaning up and putting it back together with who's whining and looking for someone to blame (besides herself).
Here is an excerpt from GOVERNOR BLANCO STATEMENT on JLWA's web site -
I want to introduce you to James Lee Witt. Mr. Witt ran the Federal Emergency Management Agency for eight years from 1993 to 2001. He has more than 25 years of disaster management experience.I have asked Mr. Witt to advise and assist me and Gen. Landreneau on the recovery effort.
As FEMA director, Mr. Witt turned was credited with turning that agency around. His leadership is proven, his experience is extensive and he is an asset to this recovery effort.
But wait...
IEM Team to Develop Catastrophic Hurricane Disaster Plan for New Orleans & SE Louisiana
IEM press release ^ | June 3, 2004 | IEM
Posted on 09/04/2005 1:56:42 AM EDT by XHogPilot
IEM Team to Develop Catastrophic Hurricane Disaster Plan for New Orleans & Southeast Louisiana June 3, 2004
IEM, Inc., the Baton Rouge-based emergency management and homeland security consultant, will lead the development of a catastrophic hurricane disaster plan for Southeast Louisiana and the City of New Orleans under a more than half a million dollar contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In making the announcement today on behalf of teaming partners Dewberry, URS Corporation and James Lee Witt Associates, IEM Director of Homeland Security Wayne Thomas explained that the development of a base catastrophic hurricane disaster plan has urgency due to the recent start of the annual hurricane season which runs through November. National weather experts are predicting an above normal Atlantic hurricane season with six to eight hurricanes, of which three could be categorized as major.
You could try something completely novel for a change. You could actually try to respond to the points being raised, as I invited you to do at #117. But, I suppose you find it more emotionally satisfying to rant and rant and rant, so carry on if that's what pleases you.
Exactly.
Actually Michelle is off base on this one. She doesn't seem to realize that Blanco has refused to allow Louisiana to be declared a national disaster area, clearing the way for federal aide. The feds can't do much if the state won't let them.
come on, howlin, everybody knew that levee could go at any minute. studies had been done on it for years.
there's no need to insult me. no one is talking about FEMA being the primary resource here. but this guy was clueless....CLUELESS...
Kristol is a known RINO. He's the reason I don't subscribe to his "magazine."
Good grief!
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