Few Answered a FEMA Call for its Top Job

[Maddy McCall]

By ERIC LIPTON
Published: April 2, 2006

WASHINGTON, April 1 — The calls went out across the nation, as Bush administration officials asked the country's most seasoned disaster response experts to consider the job of a lifetime: FEMA director. But again and again, the response over the past several months was the same: "No thanks."

Unconvinced that the administration is serious about fixing the Federal Emergency Management Agency or that there is enough time actually to get it done before President Bush's second term ends, seven of these candidates for director or another top FEMA job said in interviews that they had pulled themselves out of the running.

"You don't take the fire chief job after someone has burned down the city unless you are going to be able to do it in the right fashion," said Ellis M. Stanley, general manager of emergency planning in Los Angeles, who said he was one of those called.

Now, with the next hurricane season only two months away, the Bush administration has finally come up with a convenient but somewhat embarrassing solution. Mr. Bush, several former and current FEMA officials said, intends to nominate R. David Paulison, a former fire official who has been filling in for the past seven months, to take on the job permanently.

"To a lot of people that would be an insult," said Craig Fugate, the top emergency management official in Florida, who said he also had been interviewed but then withdrew his name. "They have been publicly out looking at how many different names and everyone turned it down and they come back and ask you?"

MUCH MORE: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/washington/02fema.html?hp&ex=1143954000&en=a24e0ee1ce0de796&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[KoKo]

1. Well....the Bushbots aren't humble. Paulson will happily take the job

and suck up and take the flak. And, if his incompetence is overwhelming he need not fear the Bushies will find another job for him in this "musical chairs" administration.

I fear for those of us who live in hurricane areas this coming year, though. There's no money left to fix anything. We will be left on our own to sleep out under the stars. Might be a good idea for us to order our own tents and sleeping bags ahead of time and try to store them on high ground...:-(

[Maddy McCall]

5. Hi!

I saved about 15 MRE boxes at my house...they were at the fire station, but one of the firemen who owns a construction company was looting our MREs and water for his workers--he's a big Republican, AND he hires illegals to work for him (wish I could exploit him for that!).

So I shut his ass down. My brother (also a firefighter) and I loaded up all of the MREs and water, brought them to my storage room, which is climate controlled, and have them all safe for the next big emergency.

At any rate, as the emergency workers in my area are answering calls this season, if another big one hits, we'll have food and water.

Yes, I have a tent, loads of propane, a propane stove, and other camping gear that works well for hurricane supplies. I keep it all in big rubber tubs, so that it's easy to move around.

:hi:

[NanceGreggs]

2. Hey, if I'd known they were hiring ...

... I would have thrown my name out there.

I would have no problem meeting their 'Brownie' criteria, to whit:

I have absolutely NO experience in this area. My past education and training is completely unrelated to the tasks to be performed. My resume is accurate (but I could always 'pad' it, if necessary).

I am well-groomed and care about how I am dressed in all situations, even in the midst of life-threatening disasters. I expect to have my dinner at a reasonable hour, and would not allow ANYTHING to interfere with my meal schedules.

I care about people, and would insist that supplies be sent immediately where needed, and would also insist that funding was used in an appropriate manner to ...

Oh, oh. I guess I wouldn't fit in after all.

Sorry. I'm withdrawing my name from consideration.

[Maddy McCall]

6. But do you drink Margaritas???

YOu must drink margaritas, if you want to fill this position! :D

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. I'll take the job for the ravaged gulf states & to usher in true democracy

I wish!
Think my Education B.S. degrees will get me the post?


Wouldn't it be amazing to actually have someone take that position who's not a BushBot?

[EST]

4. Change that to a BS degree and they might be interested.

[Name removed]

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