FEMA's Brown faces destruction, criticism

[sabra]

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/base/politics-2/1125773943171770.xml&storylist=mi_katrina

FEMA's Brown faces destruction, criticism

WASHINGTON (AP) — In President Bush's other Gulf war, Michael Brown is his field commander, struggling with the reality of Hurricane Katrina relief and the apocalyptic images from the South.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency — once a lone agency, now part of the Homeland Security Department — has been slow to answer the crisis in the Gulf Coast states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

City and state officials, Republicans and Democrats have assailed FEMA in an unrelenting barrage. Brown, 50, a soft-spoken Oklahoma lawyer, has tried to oversee the hurricane damage repair as well as manage the political damage control — with limited success.

On Friday, shortly after Brown contended that "people are getting the help they need," President Bush offered a different assessment, saying the level of relief was unacceptable. Later, the president praised Brown during a tour of Alabama, telling him, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."

[lebkuchen]

1. Did anyone call their senators or congressperson about Brown?

I did. All aides let me complain uninterrupted. It was very cathartic.

[Gelliebeans]

11. I did.

I left a rant on her message machine yesterday. She is a repuke but I felt better for ranting. It is so hard to sit by on the other side of the US and not be able to help other than monetarily or making phone calls and sending letters.

[novak goes postal]

2. "BROWNIE, YOU'RE DOING A HECK OF A JOB" ?

PEOPLE ARE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED? are these people mad. While death lays all around them they can do nothing but schedule press photo ops. They have spread their lies so thick this time I believe only the Morans, of which there are many, will believe this swill.... What planet are these freaks from?

[BiggJawn]

18. They didn't give the WHOLE quote...

"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job totally fucking things up."

Naw....One could hope, though....

I would not mind seeing "Brownie" hung in an iron cage somewhere in the Bayou and forgotten about.

[liberal N proud]

3. The director and deputy director of FEMA should be CANNED

along with the director of Homeland Security.

If bu$h wants to save his presidency and the republic he needs to fire every one involved including FEMA HS directors, his entire staff including Sec. State and KKKarl Rove and Dickless Cheney.

That is the only way I see bu$h getting any reprieve from the public on this.
The ONLY WAY!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. Change "with limited success" to "unmitigated failure" and

it'll be a wee bit more accurate.

[Rose Siding]

5. He's doing a fine job- for an *estate lawyer with ZERO disaster experince*

[JoFerret]

9. A party hack lawyer and Bush crony

.

[Buns_of_Fire]

6. Brownie's doing a heck of a job

absorbing some of the disgust people are feeling about this pathetic administration. If he weren't there, boosh* might be on the receiving end of even MORE criticism. THAT'S how he's doing "a heck of a job" -- he's "taking one for the team."

Heck, I bet there'll be a presidential commendation in this for him when it's over. :puke:

[krkaufman]

7. Those who can, do.

from the article...

FEMA took a battering for its sluggish response to Hurricanes Andrew (1992) and Hugo (1989). After President Clinton took office in 1993 he revamped the agency, placing James Lee Witt, the former Arkansas emergency service chief, in charge.

The agency later won praise for its vigorous reaction to Midwest floods and the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles.

... sigh ...

[jbnow]

10. It is impossible to criticize Brown,

homeland security or bush administration too severely, even severely enough.

This has been a horror.

They had to know how it was, how it looked, even if they didn't care about the people. Or could they think we'd actually accept what they said and did. "The lazy people didn't evacuate, then they loot and someone is shooting , we owe them nothing. They'd better behave first."

What could have made them do such a horrible job? I almost feel if the press wasn't part of it many, many more people would die.

[Carla in Ca]

16. And thank God Witt is back!

n/t

[kamtsa]

8. I wouldn't be surprised if he will get the Medal of Freedom

[Julius Civitatus]

12. Fuck him, and those who appointed his incompetent ass!

He should be prosecuted for criminal negligence. And that includes the slimy, ass-covering Michael Chertoff as well. And let's not forget:

"Brownie, you're doin' a heck of a job!"

Yeah, right!

:cry:

[deerhead]

13. "Brownie" is in line for that Medal of Freedom

...following in illustrious footsteps...Bremer, Franks and Tenet.

[Corgigal]

14. Brown faces destruction

Oh he will if the Hurricane victims can find him.

[struggle4progress]

17. Yeah, I'd vote for him facing destruction. Criticism hasn't worked. eom

[stlsaxman]

15. Complete Quote- "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job

keepin' them darkies in line!"