Ex-FEMA chief: Chertoff should be fired

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/02/katrina.brown/index.html

Ex-FEMA chief: Chertoff should be fired

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff should be fired for his handling of Hurricane Katrina, former federal emergency management chief Michael Brown said Thursday, accusing Chertoff of lacking disaster management knowledge.

Brown resigned from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in September amid intense criticism of his own performance after Katrina, the August 29 storm that left more than 1,300 dead in Louisiana and Mississippi.

"It appears to me that, you know, when Chertoff does things like tells me that I've got to go to Baton Rouge and plop my butt down on a seat in Baton Rouge and run a disaster from there, I think that shows naivete about how disasters are run," Brown told CNN. "And you've either have to get with it, or move on."

Asked whether Chertoff should be dismissed, Brown said, "Well, I think so." He said FEMA had been "marginalized" by Chertoff and his predecessor, Tom Ridge, and that he had expected the agency's performance to suffer.

[goclark]

1. Chertoff should have BEEN fired! nt

[tanyev]

3. Either that, or a Medal of Freedom.

That's how it goes, in Bushworld.

[Akoto]

2. I find it difficult to disagree with this sentiment.

I've taken three direct hits from hurricanes now, none of them as severe as Katrina. I lost my house during one of those storms, as well. It was hell on earth in the wake of each hit, and the response (in my opinion) seemed to be agonizingly slow. I can't imagine how it was for the people of Louisiana and New Orleans, specifically.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Well, well...Brownie The Bold

While I loathe Chertoff and agree he's an asswipe with no real ability to head FEMA, Brownie's recent national attention because of the tapes is giving him greater confidence to speak out.

Now the question is, will Brownie stop dropping his little his "in the limelight" opinions and tidbits of information, and give over to telling the truth about ALL that happened to allow the disaster of pre- and post-Katrina to happen?

Given a bit more attention from the press, Brownie may just unload his diapers on the FEMA gang.

[BOSSHOG]

5. I like the way brownie is on the offensive

and attempting to clean up his resume. Great idea but I'd like to see chertoff and bush and rumsfeld and brownie charged with negligent homicide.

"UNINTENTIONAL KILLINGS IN WHICH THE ACTOR(S) SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEY WERE CREATING SUBSTANTIAL AND UNJUSTIFIED RISKS OF DEATH BY CONDUCT THAT DEVIATED FROM ORDINARY CARE."

A whole bunch of legal mumbo jumbo, but you have to agree it sure does sound exactly what bush and his band of criminals did on 29-30 August 2005.

[spindrifter]

6. Bring on the pink slip and while you're at it

FEMA needs to be stripped out of DHS. Disaster planners around the country have discussed that until they are blue in the face. I'm not hearing any of them say leaving FEMA in DHS is good.

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. I was a little surprised he said that

I fully expected him to go more along the lines of "it's not my decision".

There's no love loss between Chertoff and Brownie.

[The Stranger]

8. Kicked and recommended.

[Tippy]

9. Chertoff upper level...Brown lower level...

I am wondering just how much of the information we learned about Brown came from the WH who wanted to protect Chertoff....

[rodeodance]

10. The WH follows the Peter Principle