Jeff Greenfield on CNN: Brown is larger indictment of Bush presidency

[Atman]

This is pretty good/serious stuff. The BushCo ass-kissing network is talking about the ramifications of Brown's resignation. Jeff Greenfield (whom I actually respect a little bit, as a decent newman) says this is much bigger than Brown. He points out that Time and Newsweek and other major publications are finally pointing out that "Bush doesn't like to get bad news," and how this may be a sign of larger problems with his governing style and his presidency.

Not exactly the golden ring. But, it was followed up by a report about Barack Obama calling for Brown's resignation a day or two ago, and now Brown resigns; pointing out how that is the worst thing a White House can do, allowing his opponents to set his agenda, or being seen as capitulating.

This could be getting good. But I must admit...I fear its just another get-our-hopes-up moment. They'll use the firing of Brown as proof that Bush is on top of everything, and all will be forgotten very soon.

[Bozita]

1. sounds like Jeff Greenfield

[AlCzervik]

2. Jack Cafferty now going off about a bunch of politcal hacks still at FEMA

"campaign flunkies working there"

[OneGrassRoot]

3. this was on tv? thanks ..... n/t

[longship]

4. And then,

They'll use the firing of Brown as proof that Bush is on top of everything, and all will be forgotten very soon.

Fitzgerald will hand down indictments (which have got to happen soon).

[underpants]

8. As noted elsewhere-Cheney goes to the Gulf Coast.....

Brown is first "reassigned" and then "allowed" to resign.

Dick runs the show everyone knows that or at least prays to some deity that it isn't W actually in charge.

[napi21]

10. So far that's not the case. Three different people have said

Brown quiting won't matter! Shrub still hired him and it's obvious he had no experience! The onssite reporter in Wash. was asked if there are any rumors about who his replacement would be, and she said they OBVIOUSLY want to look for someone with extensive experience in disaster recovery, and it's a little too soon to expect different names to surface.

I think it was Jeff Grreenfield who said it was obvious the WH was trying to "lance the boil" that is festering and forcing Shrubs #'s down. Shrub went to NO again today for the 3rd time, and might be going again.

[napi21]

5. Yea, they're doing a good job, BUT

when they were talking about the Roberts hearing, one of the damn talking heads was JOHN ASHCROFT!!!!!!!

I about choked! I HOPE he's not a permanent addition to CNN!!!!

[faithnotgreed]

6. obama wasnt the only one calling for resignation - werent many others

as well

he should have been fired days ago but to resign does signal weakness and capitulation
and for the media to report it as such is that much weirder

[bigbrother05]

7. Begala nails it

Argued that if Bush was strong, decisive leader, he would have fired Brown. Still looks like a weakling trying to play catch up.

[BlueJac]

15. GW is Gutless...

unless he is using troops! :kick:

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. what is CNN finally donig its job? Have the powers that be

have decided to get rid of Bush? We can only wonder, but true, politically they are hoping firing brown will staunch the bleeding, keep at it... we will not be done until the President is gone

[DearAbby]

11. My Understanding is that Brown was not Fired by *, but RESIGNED

Big difference.

[QuettaKid]

12. I have just one thing to say.....

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

( edit: make that 8 things )

[HereSince1628]

14. I disagree, resigned under pressure, or resigned when asked

is just as damning as being fired. Moreover, Brown is going to have to undergo some sort of rehabilitation to be able to move forward with his life.

I am NOT feeling sorry for him. I think it's important to note that this is really no better than being fired.

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. "Resigned" makes both him and Bush look weak, IMO

Had Bush fired him, the WH could spin it that it's something a leader does.

As it is, Brown resigns (haven't seen his statement so I'm guessing on this) saying his continued employment at FEMA is hurting the President. So, he wimped and Bush wimped. Brown should have been fired.

On the up side, at least he can't collection unemployment! LOL!

[HereSince1628]

30. I agree. Bush, because he is incompetent, tranfers his feelings

onto other incompetents just like himself. It is, unfortunately, the only aspect of his character that identifies with others.

[DearAbby]

33. Asking for Brownie's resignation is too damned close to admitting a

mistake and we all know that the chimp does not admit to making mistakes. It is reported that * had no idea that Brown resigned. I heard news report on radio that * claimed he would have to call Skeletor Chertoff (sp) to comfirm, Brown indeed had resigned.

[Brother Buzz]

20. Prove to me that Bush* didn't order Brown to resign.

Can you say damage control?

On edit: Nobody JUST quites the Bushco adminstration without permission.

[July]

29. That can't be proved.

We have no way of knowing what happened behind the scenes. I could just as easily say to you, "Prove to me that Bush DID order Brown to resign."

It's irrelevant, anyway. If the administration had said Bush had fired Brown, it might have made Bush look "decisive," but their track record also suggests that admitting a mistake (such as hiring an incompetent for an important job) is not within their abilities.

Resignation vs. firing is an attempt to keep the stench of Brown off of Bush, in my opinion, though I also believe, as I suggest above, that it's a misguided approach and firing -- or calling it firing, if you believe the resignation is a prettied-up firing -- would have helped Bush a (very) little more.

And either choice doesn't eliminate the question of whether qualifications come into play at all for someone working at a high level in the Bush administration.

[Brother Buzz]

34. Its all a conundrum, really...

and it's all damage control at this point. Bush* blew it by not firing Brown a week ago Friday when he first visited the Gulf coast region. Odd, he was praising Brown and was still thinking he could pull his bacon out of the fire with his scam power play with Blanco. Blanco didn't blink and Bush* has been playing catch up and damage control ever since.


Your question about qualifications is valid, and the nation needs to demand answers.

[Imagevision]

26. sort of like Tenet wanting to spend more time with his family

[Pithy Cherub]

13. October too may define the remainder of *'s presidency.

Fitzgerald has a Grand Jury that either needs an extension or wraps up. There may potentially be another SCOTUS nominee. It remains to be seen if Roberts runs into serious opposition before the SCOTUS term starts. There will be clarion calls to unravel what happened to FEMA, local and state governments during Katrina and her aftermath. There will be a meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus during September which will result in additional comments regarding socio-economic concerns and race across America. There will be a strong focus on the Iraq War from the peace activists and those opposed to this pre-emptive action. The budget priorities need to be discussed.

It is really hard to be the "leader of the republican wolf pack" when nobody likes you or your friends. And it doesn't help that the bush family is just plain tone deaf and unable to admit mistakes. Katrina will be in every bush biography complete with Brownie as a trivial pursit question.

And August & September have been laden with historical disasters of epic proportions!

Coming Soon in October - Must see politics, The Newest Reality show...
:popcorn::beer:

[KharmaTrain]

16. This Shouldn't Be The End...It Should Be The Start...

of the investigation.

There's a lot of question about the recently departed Mr. Pony.

How did someone with so few qualifications become the head of such an important government agency and allowed to remain in charge? Why did he chose his exit?

There must be an investigation into Mr. Brown's fraudulent resume...to see if perjury was committed in his confirmation testimony...and who was responsible for his vetting (including Democrats!).

There's a lot more below the surface here as FEMA appears to be one of several dumping grounds of Repugnican patronage hacks...and the entire regime should be looked into to see how many other frauds are in positions of responsibility or able to get their hands on our tax money.

Again...we must demand ACCOUNTABILITY...enough if fucking enough!!!

[Imagevision]

25. Now we need Fitzgerald to drop the hammer bigtime!

[stevietheman]

17. The MSM is lurching closer and closer to calling for Bush's head. n/t

n/t

[faithnotgreed]

19. i dont know about that but did you see froomkin wp online article

there is a thread on it something like the emperor starting to have no clothes

anyway
accompanying that online article froomkin or wp also includes many links to articles from corporate media regarding bush and his sinking poll #s and his lack of response in times of crisis among other encouraging signs from the cm

[stevietheman]

22. Well, at a minimum, the press will probably be hounding Bush until...

the end of his Presidency, whether he leaves office early or not. Brian Williams of NBC News has said recently that basically the gloves are off now.

[faithnotgreed]

27. see the problem is that

1) why now are the gloves off (i understand for those like anderson cooper and shep smith because they have been down there and have seen this for the tragedy and travesty that it is)

2) we have heard this talk before

so many are addicted to their comfortable and insular media life that only now when poll #s are reflecting anger towards bush then they decide the gloves are off (because they are safe if they report pieces of truth)

so glad that the iraq war/wmds and the war on those in poverty among dozens of other heinous examples have made any impact on the "press"

they have propped him up for so long that only now are they starting to tell some truth
thanks so much media

but i do agree that its interesting to see this come from several sources and all at the same time
i believe good will triumph and that bush will be expelled somehow but i dont have any appreciation for the media
they are the ones who enabled and allowed it all these years
and many many have suffered because of their propaganda

[Dhalgren]

24. If Bush's numbers stay low or go lower, the corporations will have

to make the decision as to whether Bush is any longer marketable. If they decide to cut their losses and repackage their product, it may mean Bush is done. The corporations learned long ago that you can't force a product on the consumers if that product has been too damaged by bad publicity or product failure, it is sometimes best to scrap the product and re-tool (think Corvair). We will just have to wait to see what our corporate masters decide...

[pinto]

18. Any CEO, anywhere, has responsibility if his/her appointee is incompetent.

Bush appointed Brown.
I hope this rather obvious point gets some mention among the TV talking heads.

[Imagevision]

23. Obama yesterday said he was surprised that Brown hasn't already resigned

perhaps he'll be rethinking this in the weeks to come.

[Bonhomme Richard]

28. "Bush is on top of everything" LOL shrub said.........

he didn't know anything about it.
God, I wish I had the imagination to make this stuff up.

[Imagevision]

31. BUSH: payback is going to be a super-bitch...!

[tjdee]

32. Did he mention that Bush didn't even know about the resignation?

Hehehehehe.

Oh, it's just funnier and funnier.