Posted on 08/28/2007 6:26:38 AM PDT by presidio9
Former Sen. John Edwards said at a Hurricane Katrina conference he would propose what he called "Brownie's Law" requiring that qualified people, not political hacks, lead key federal agencies.
Edwards, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, drew laughter when he spoke on Monday of the proposal at the "Hope and Recovery Summit" ahead of the two-year anniversary of the storm on Wednesday.
"It's an absolute travesty to have people who are essentially political hacks in a very responsible position," he told the audience at the University of New Orleans.
"Brownie" refers to Michael Brown, who was head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency when Katrina struck the United States on August 29, 2005. He was criticized as being a political appointee unprepared to lead FEMA when a floundering government effort stranded thousands for days in flooded New Orleans.
He resigned shortly after President George W. Bush, who appointed him to the post, told him publicly, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" as chaos reigned in the devastated city.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee and Duncan Hunter also spoke at Monday's summit. All candidates for the two major parties were invited, but only these four could attend, a summit spokeswoman said.
Clinton, Edward's Democratic rival, blasted the Bush administration's response to Katrina, saying the government has not done enough to help New Orleans recover from the storm that killed more than 1,400 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
"We act like we're not a rich country. I don't understand that," Clinton said.
Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor whose finished second in a recent Iowa Republican presidential straw poll, gave the government a "mixed review" on Katrina and said he would make sure federal aid money was well spent.
After Katrina, "there was a lot of guilt and so the guilt resulted in just putting (in) money, not necessarily strategic money," he said.
Hunter, a U.S. representative from California, said Katrina had proven that "government is inept."
He praised the efforts of average citizens to help storm victims, saying: "I see rising from the destruction of Katrina a new and profound appreciation for freedom."
I agree: such a law would have prevented him from becoming a Senator or being Vice-President.
” Edwards wants law against “Brownies” “
Brownies???
What’s next?? Cupcakes?? Ho-Ho’s?? TWINKIES??????????
No - wait... I see now — he’s talking about Blanco and Nagin...
OOPS — my bad — it’s only Republican hacks and incompetents he doesn’t like...
Never mind........
I remember when he proposed this as a bill during his Senate term. Oh wait. . . he didn’t.
Big difference in the mentality of sucking on the government "Gimme, Gimme teat" and "Well, that's over. Let's get busy and rebuild."
“It’s an absolute travesty to have people who are essentially political hacks in a very responsible position,”
::::::
As Edwards said, as he looked at himself in the mirror. If there was ever a text-book example of a LIMOSINE LIBERAL, here it is. A total USELESS parasite on our country.
Strange how none of the dims visit the Mississippi Coast, where Katrina actually made landfall. Maybe it is because we have competent leadership and are making vastly more progress in our recovery efforts. You get what you vote for!
New Orleans is a case study in democrat policy failure.
Is America’s first black hurricane ever going to be finished? Will this storm system ever end?
I guess not.
Of course, the stupidity of this whole deal is that the response would have been just as slow(or fast) if a Democrat had been in The White House.
I am constantly astounded at how many people there are who cannot see their own reflection in a mirror.
Imagine the hue and cry that would have gone up if Bush had appointed an ex Hallibruton exec to FEMA.
Just some thoughts
” If they outlawed Twinkies, half the Democrats in the U.S. would be behind bars “
Hey — not all dweebs grew up to be Democrats!!!
;~)
(And I, for one, appreciate your self-restraint... ;~))
Isn’t the Breck girl a political hack?
>>...Edwards, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, drew laughter ...
That’s the prevalent reaction to his speeches.
Sounds nice, but we all know that Politics is driven by favors, money, and delivering votes. And such appointments are often based upon returning favors. Both Parties operate this way.
“New Orleans is a case study in democrat policy failure.”
Post of the year!
I thought it was against little Girl Scouts...
I am SO sick of Hurricane Katrina!
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