Top FEMA officials have scant experience in disaster management

[sabra]

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/politics/12575672.htm

Top FEMA officials have scant experience in disaster management

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - Top officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency have strong political connections to President Bush, but they also share at least one other trait: they had little or no experience in disaster management before landing in top FEMA posts.

...

Before joining FEMA in 2001, Brown, a protege of longtime Bush aide Joseph Allbaugh, was commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association and had virtually no experience in disaster management.

An official biography of Brown's top aide, acting deputy director Patrick Rhode, doesn't list any disaster relief experience.

The department's No. 3 official, acting deputy chief of staff Brooks Altshuler, also does not have emergency management experience, according to FEMA spokeswoman Natalie Rule.

Scott Morris, who had been the agency's third in command until May, also lacked a background in disaster preparedness, according to his official FEMA biography.

[RobertSeattle]

1. We needed a newspaper to tell us that?

:evilgrin:

[tabasco]

2. We have 50 states with emergency management bureaus.

In a rational government, the top performers from those bureaus would be elevated to the national positions, as well as the top performers from within FEMA.

But Bush showed his utter disregard for the safety of the American People by placing a horse show manager in the top spot, along with other contributors in top jobs. Patronage at its very worst. Utterly inexcusable.

[krkaufman]

3. What about Chertoff? Does he, at least, have some disaster mgmt creds?

[roseBudd]

4. it's called white male Affirmative Action n/t

[krkaufman]

6. Cronyism, at its worst.

Personally, I wouldn't have so much of a problem w/ cronyism, if the cronies were competent. However, as has been demonstrated time and again over the last 4 1/2 years, Bush's cronies are political hacks w/ no penchant for effective governing.

[Mabus]

5. Interestingly enough #3 is also from Oklahoma

His dad was a GOP bigwig.

[struggle4progress]

7. But they aren't going to do anything in a disaster anyway, so ..

.. it doesn't matter ...

[wakeme2008]

8. Boy oh Boy ---- Photo Op Experts as numbers 2/3 in FEMA

Rhode and Altshuler both worked in the White House's Office of National Advance Operations, which arranges the president's travel and scripts his appearances.

[Kool Kitty]

9. No skills? No experience? Have we got the job for you!!!!

Head a big important bureau of the federal government!!!! Don't know shit from Shineola? No problem!!! You too can underachieve AND maybe get a Medal of Freedom or a BIG promotion.

I always think that I don't have any skills or experience, that all I can hope for is a minimum-wage job. I have obviously been applying in the wrong places. I will call the White House as soon as I get up tomorrow.

[Mabus]

10. Guess all those jobs for cronies in Iraq got filled

or was it the other way around?

Wish Bush had a more knowledgeable group of friends. :scared:

[Spinzonner]

11. Brown brought to FEMA what Feith brought to DOD

Stupidity and incompetence.

The triumph of politics over policy.

[kma3346]

12. Kick

Kick

[norml]

13. Recommended

Great stuff!

[all.of.me]

14. wow, i couldn't tell.