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FEMA packed with W's pals
NY Daily News ^ | 9/8/05 | Kenneth R. Bazinet

Posted on 09/08/2005 12:22:12 AM PDT by Crackingham

The three top jobs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Bush went to political cronies with no apparent experience coping with catastrophes, the Daily News has learned. Even if Bush were to fire embattled and suddenly invisible FEMA Director Michael Brown over his handling of Hurricane Katrina, the bureaucrat immediately below him is no disaster professional, either.

While Brown ran horse shows in his last private-sector job, FEMA's No. 2 man, deputy director and chief of staff Patrick Rhode, was an advance man for the Bush-Cheney campaign and White House. He also did short stints at the Commerce Department and Small Business Administration.

Rhode's biography posted on FEMA's Web site doesn't indicate he has any real experience in emergency response.

In addition, the agency's former third-ranking official, deputy chief of staff Scott Morris, was a PR expert who worked for Maverick Media, the Texas outfit that produced TV and radio spots for the Bush-Cheney campaign. In June, Morris moved to Florida to become FEMA's long-term recovery director.

"The Bush administration has apparently transformed FEMA from a professional, world-class emergency responder into a dumping ground for former campaign staff and political hacks," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan).

FEMA also is hampered by several midlevel and regional director's jobs currently held by acting directors.

"Just like our military, FEMA should be immune to this kind of political staffing. It should be run by career emergency response professionals," Maloney added.

Traditionally, the Commerce and Labor departments have long been Washington's dumping ground for presidential pals and campaign operatives - not the disaster relief agency.

Government sources blame Bush's first FEMA director, Joe Allbaugh, with turning FEMA into a patronage shop.

He was chief of staff when Bush was Texas' governor and later headed the 2000 Bush-Cheney campaign.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cary; fema; katrina
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1 posted on 09/08/2005 12:22:13 AM PDT by Crackingham
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To: Crackingham
"Just like our military, FEMA should be immune to this kind of political staffing. It should be run by career emergency response professionals," Maloney added.

So...one question for the NY Daily Spews crew: Who ran FEMA under Clinton? Were they "Clinton cronies" as well?

And cut out this "government sources" bullcrap. Everyone knows you mean congressional Democrats.

2 posted on 09/08/2005 12:25:26 AM PDT by Prime Choice (E=mc^3. Don't drink and derive.)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: Prime Choice

"Just like our military, FEMA should be immune to this kind of political staffing. It should be run by career emergency response professionals," Maloney added.


Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. At least on the surface.

But isn't it common knowledge that "government sources" means either Senate Democrats or falsified reports.


4 posted on 09/08/2005 12:30:38 AM PDT by BusiDad
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To: Crackingham
"disaster professional"
What the He** is a "disaster professional"

Career professionals like Plame? The last thing the Bush administration or any administration needs for that matter is a bunch of hangers on with a ax to grind to obstruct the administrations plans.
5 posted on 09/08/2005 12:32:39 AM PDT by kublia khan (absolute war brings total victory)
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To: rhetoricmeister
If he's so experienced, how come he couldn't keep his job?

And who did he replace, hmmmm?

6 posted on 09/08/2005 12:34:12 AM PDT by Prime Choice (E=mc^3. Don't drink and derive.)
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To: Crackingham
I dated one of the government accountants that worked at FIMA (Mt. Weather, VA) during the Clinton administration. She told me about writing checks every time there was a big rain in Arkansas. The would write a check and send it to be signed at the White House. Then it would be sent off to the FOBs.
7 posted on 09/08/2005 12:34:31 AM PDT by bmwcyle (We broke Pink's Code and found a terrorist message)
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To: kublia khan
What the He** is a "disaster professional

Hillary Clinton??

8 posted on 09/08/2005 12:34:43 AM PDT by msnimje (CNN - Constant Negative Nonsense)
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To: rhetoricmeister

You mean James Lee Witt from Little Rock Arkansas, right?

Just asking.


9 posted on 09/08/2005 12:35:33 AM PDT by HarryCaul
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To: HarryCaul
You mean James Lee Witt from Little Rock Arkansas, right? Just asking.

Doesn't look like you're gonna get an answer. Little DUmmie troll had a dinner date with a certain Viking Kitty.   ;o)

10 posted on 09/08/2005 12:40:32 AM PDT by Prime Choice (E=mc^3. Don't drink and derive.)
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To: msnimje

That's just a disaster looking for a place to happen that's not a disaster professional


11 posted on 09/08/2005 12:50:59 AM PDT by kublia khan (absolute war brings total victory)
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To: kublia khan
That's just a disaster looking for a place to happen that's not a disaster professional

I thought being married to B.J. Clinton for 30 years made her a disaster professional.

12 posted on 09/08/2005 12:53:38 AM PDT by msnimje (CNN - Constant Negative Nonsense)
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To: msnimje
She didn't manage disasters like Kathleen Willey and Paula Jones she just denied they ever happened..... on second thought maybe your right when it comes to Blanco and Nagin it's obvious that a lot of denial was going on when the disaster was upon them.
13 posted on 09/08/2005 12:57:59 AM PDT by kublia khan (absolute war brings total victory)
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To: Crackingham
I'm so fed up with listening to the rats and the press spin this giant lie about FEMA, i.e. are the first responders in an emergency- No one thought this was FEMA's roll until the rats decided they could capitalize on the misery, death, and destruction of hurricane Katrina, by dividing the nation, and blaming president Bush for the storm.

Aren't FEMA the people who show up AFTER the disaster with funding for rebuilding and arrangements for continued shelter exc,?- That's what they did in California, during/after the fires, a couple of years ago.

I hope and pray that the Republican's are NOT going to be chumps, and let the rats contimue with these lies. I hope they(pubbies) aren't going to assist them (rats) in covering up for their own neglect, and incompetence, by keeping silent, and not defending themselves, in the face of rat attacks. . Why would the republican's even think of doing that?

It is not fair to the people who went through all that misery, to cover up for those responsible. They need to know the truth- even if it means they find out that they elected the people who let them down.

14 posted on 09/08/2005 1:01:51 AM PDT by Pajamajan (The Fox news team saved more lives than the elected officials of New Orleans,& Louisiana.)
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To: Crackingham
" President Bush went to political cronies with no apparent experience coping with catastrophes"

And Sandy Burger, a millionaire lawyer appointed by Bill Clinton to be National Security Advisor had experience dealing with national security issues?

Why didn't they question Clinton's Cabinet, full of political cronies as they were allowing the first WTC attack, the USS Cole to be hit, our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania to be blown up, Flight 800, the Khobar Towers attack?

15 posted on 09/08/2005 1:04:29 AM PDT by TheCrusader ("The frenzy of the Mohammedans has devastated the churches of God" -Pope Urban II, 1097AD)
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To: Crackingham
I think we need a new law that Presidents can only appoint their enemies to government posts.
16 posted on 09/08/2005 1:08:12 AM PDT by msnimje (CNN - Constant Negative Nonsense)
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To: Pajamajan
I hope and pray that the Republican's are NOT going to be chumps, and let the rats contimue with these lies. I hope they(pubbies) aren't going to assist them (rats) in covering up for their own neglect, and incompetence, by keeping silent, and not defending themselves, in the face of rat attacks.

That's going to be up to us.

These newer Moveon.org rats are as different from the Washington establishment rats as the pre-68 rats were from the post-68 rats.

The establishment types are trying to "ride the tiger" right now, but it will eventually consume them.

Our job is to make sure the rats implode rather than explode.

17 posted on 09/08/2005 1:09:03 AM PDT by papertyger
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To: msnimje

lol


18 posted on 09/08/2005 1:11:00 AM PDT by vbmoneyspender (this is great! the only people I can offend are people who can't read my offensive comment)
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To: Crackingham

Kenneth Bazinet, a White House correspondent for the New York Daily News, penned a front-page piece on family members of dead GIs who were enraged by Bush's routine.


Team Bush spins the crisis
New York Daily News, NY - Sep 4, 2005
By KENNETH R. BAZINET


Bush's truth decay
New York Daily News, NY - Aug 6, 2005
By KENNETH R. BAZINET


911 Panelist May Quit Over Bush Secrecy
By James Gordon Meek and Kenneth R. Bazinet New York Daily News 2-28-4


January 3rd, 2005 9:29 pm
Bush 2 off to shaky start; 'Worst I've seen it' - official
By Kenneth R. Bazinet / Daily News


19 posted on 09/08/2005 1:11:33 AM PDT by kcvl
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To: Pajamajan

Do you sometimes wonder why newbees post negative items
regarding Bush late at night so they don't get much flack
and hoping FR folks read the items and turn to DU for
their knowledge.
FR folks are not that stupid.


20 posted on 09/08/2005 1:15:46 AM PDT by SoCalPol (More Died At Chappaquiddic than Guantanamo)
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