MEMO TO BUSH: FIRE MICHAEL BROWN

MichelleMalkin.com ^ | September 4, 2005 | Michelle Malkin

[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!!

[Rokke]

Bob Beckel (Foxnews' liberal talking head guest) just said he believes the Bush administration is being unfairly targeted for its response to New Orleans. He added, "And that is coming from a Democrat". It would appear that at least some democrats occasionally have more sense than some Freepers.

[steveegg]

The point was that lacking a plan, people would have been better off moved to safe dry land. Would it not be possible for a bus full of people to contact authorities and let them know where they are at? Most likely in that case, it would be a convoy of buses anyway, highly noticable to the authorities. Just because the Superdome is easy to locate doesn't make it a better alternative to evacuating at all. That has been proven.

Let's take a look at how long it took the authorities to get up to the mob of refugees on I-10 right next to the Superdome. Despite the fact that it was right next to an official "refuge of last resort" site, despite the fact that Fox got their cameras there early, and despite the fact that (unlike the Superdome), ANY type of vehicle could have gotten there at any point after the hurricane went through, how long did it take the supplies to get up there?

[inquest]

She has snipped some quotes from a few people under a lot of stress in an attempt

Now this is interesting. Are quotes from people "under stress" to be dismissed as having no evidentiary value at all? Call me old-fashioned, but when someone admits to flubbing his job, as Brown did when he admitted that he had underestimated the force of the hurricane when the National Weather Service was predicting something much more serious, that's an admission against interest to be taken very seriously. I can bet some sweet money that you'd be taking it seriously if this was an official in a Democrat administration making that statement.

[M1911A1]

CNN has certainly latched on to the statements made by Chertoff and Brown as a cudgel to bash the administration with.

There is certainly room for reasonable people to disagree on how the vital the PR end of things is, and if making bonehead statements merits dismissal.

If the response of the feds is shown to be as timely as I think it will be, perhaps the PR blunders may be forgiven, but they certainly need to be learned from.

Who says that opinions can't be changed on FR? I freely admit that my first reaction after reading some of Brown's statements was that he should be let go, but after digesting what has been posted here I'm not so sure. I still think he needs to be sent to Public Relations 101 at the least. I know that if there was an equally qualified person who was less prone to foot in mouth syndrome, I would prefer that they have the job.

[George W. Bush]

This does not take blame away from Ray "leave the buses in the yard" Nagin and Kathleen "deer in headlights" Blanco.

We need to find a way to defeat or remove them as soon as possible and put competent people in there. These money-grubbing incompetents will turn the long-term recovery into a circus if they're left in office.

But Bush really needs to get rid of both Brown and Chertoff.

The sooner, the better.

[ScreamingFist]

Like I said, you have no grasp of what it takes to get storm relief in place.

Yea, you're right. I'm didn't build my house in a hurricane zone, nor do I ever plan to. Here in tornado country we get smashed, you people on the coasts go "Ow wow, 25 died in Oklahoma again" and get back to re-building your house that was flooded from the last hurricane. FEMA is a bureaucratic welfare fest instituted for those that enjoy living in hurricane zones. Defend them all you wish Howlin, it simply makes you look silly.

[Right Brother]

On a 1 to 10 scale, how would you rate your hatred of George W. Bush? We can use this info to measure the underlying agenda to your posts and respond accordingly.

[ForGod'sSake]

Bush and the Feds screwed up big time here...

Is that you Michelle? Back it up with something.

FGS

[ScreamingFist]

Where was the United States military's search and rescue taking place........what day did it start?

You think some po-dunk in Baton Rouge is telling those pilots where to fly? Quit digging Howlin, you're the one defending FEMA so you tell me how these efforts are executed...

[raybbr]

"Saturday and Sunday, we thought it was a typical hurricane situation -- not to say it wasn't going to be bad, but that the water would drain away fairly quickly," Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Brown said today. "Then the levees broke and (we had) this lawlessness. That almost stopped our efforts." ...

I am willing to cut some slack for faux pas but this?

[Siena Dreaming]

Personally, I can forgive someone under stress in a high-pressure situation to make a few "PR" speaking errors. They are not movie stars. And really, I even don't see a huge deal in the very few stumbles he made. They are extremely trivial, to my mind.

It's what they guy does that counts. And if he's hamstrung because the locals won't give him authority, he may not be able to do as much as he wants.

Malkin is whipping up a hurricane (no pun intended) where there should only be a tiny dust cloud.

[Howlin]

Here in tornado country we get smashed, you people on the coasts go "Ow wow, 25 died in Oklahoma again" and get back to re-building your house that was flooded from the last hurricane.

What an assinie thing to say to a forum that gives money for every single natural disaster that happens in this country.

You're all over the place just looking for somebody to blame.

FEMA is a bureaucratic welfare fest instituted for those that enjoy living in hurricane zones.

President Orders Disaster Aid For Wyoming Tornado Victims

FEMA Aid For Hurricane Katrina Won't Affect Tornado Victims

Hundreds of tornado victims file claims with FEMA

Federal government prepares financial aid for tornado victims

ASSISTANCE STILL AVAILABLE FOR HAMPTON TORNADO VICTIMS

On April 21, 2001, a category F-4 tornado struck the small central Kansas town of Hoisington at 9:15 p.m., leaving one dead, dozens injured, and millions of dollars in damage. Based primarily on a questionnaire survey of the tornado victims of Hoisington, this study examined respondent overall satisfaction and satisfaction with each of the four major sources of support selected in this study. Respondents satisfaction with each source and overall satisfaction were investigated using a Likert Scale. Analysis of the survey data shows that the emergency assistance received was rated satisfactorily by the respondents. However, respondents offered suggestions for improvements in handling disaster aid distribution efforts.

[World'sGoneInsane]

What if this had been a terrorist attack?

Wouldn't that be a different circumstance? Instead of waiting for an inept governor to declare a state of emergency, the federal government would consider it an attack? I hope.

[Howlin]

You think some po-dunk in Baton Rouge is telling those pilots where to fly?

That's who is suppose to be doing it.

And those are LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD helicopters and the NG that the governor FINALLY asked for on Wednesday.

I'll answer my own question: the United States military got there FRIDAY because George W. Bush sent them there.

[inquest]

We can use this info to measure the underlying agenda to your posts and respond accordingly.

All you'd have to do is respond to the facts presented. It's not that complicated. Doing otherwise shows an agenda.

[WOSG]

She should direct her fire toward La Governor Blanco.

FEMA has worked effectively with MS on a huge huge disaster, and we are seeing far fewer recriminations there.
There is a reason, even thos Mississippi is more devastated than Louisiana by Katrina: They are working together and not scapegoating.

[ScreamingFist]

What an assinie thing to say to a forum that gives money for every single natural disaster that happens in this country.

Never seen a dime Howlin. When the 110MPH straight line winds destroyed my home 2 years ago I didn't hear a peep from FR nor a dime from FEMA. Spin your balogna to someone else Howlin.

[WOSG]

Dittos on that.

[Howlin]

Never seen a dime Howlin. When the 110MPH straight line winds destroyed my home 2 years ago I didn't hear a peep from FR nor a dime from FEMA. Spin your balogna to someone else Howlin.

Ah, just as I thought: the government is suppose to coming looking FOR you.

I posted plenty of links to available aid from FEMA, including in Oklahoma; if you needed it, it was there for you.

[ScreamingFist]

I'll answer my own question: the United States military got there FRIDAY because George W. Bush sent them there.

Wow, Howlin finally catches up to the thread....yes Howlin..they got there FRIDAY. You have, indeed answered your own B.S.