Ex-FEMA chief admits 'specific mistakes'(blames state and local officials)

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9496474/

Ex-FEMA chief admits 'specific mistakes'
But Brown also blames state and local officials for Katrina response failures

WASHINGTON - Former FEMA director Michael Brown told Congress on Tuesday he made “specific mistakes” in leading the initial federal government response to Hurricane Katrina.

But Brown also blamed state and local officials for government failures.

Brown told a special congressional panel that Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin were not coordinating their efforts and that he should have done more to persuade them to.

He suggested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had gotten a bum rap because many people incorrectly believe it serves as something of a federal rapid-response force.

[bettyellen]

1. so the Emergency part of FEMA means- no hurry, whenever you get here?

the MSM better roast this pig tonight. he has blood on his hands, america knows it.

[Ravenseye]

9. And the Management part means - hey you guys sort it out

FEMA has hundreds of thousands of troops, millions of tons of materiel and equipment, and essentially the power to command and coordinate EVERYTHING in this country during states of emergency.

The whole point is that during an emergency people need to be coordinated. Hence the management word. MANAGEMENT.

Katrina was NOT managed.

Brown should be tried and convicted for manslaughter.

[bettyellen]

13. and the federal part means, hey we work for the govt, not citizens....

go away you fucking looters.

[etherealtruth]

2. Watching on CNN

blah blah blah ... Blanco and Nagins fault ... blah blah blah ... failure at local level ...

Unbelievable.

[iconoclastic cat]

3. FEMA is not a "federal rapid-response force"?

Uh, Brownie, what exactly is your definition of "emergency"?

[opihimoimoi]

4. He coulda, woulda, shoulda been the rapid deployment force

needed.

But for him to say on Thursday that he did not find out peeps were in the Con Cen for 4 days w/o food water toilet paper....was asinine.

The gross misjudgment of not being the John Wayne of the Hour revealed the cronyism of the BushCo regime....

In way over his Head...just like the Appointer Bush....

He can't even pick um right

[shilohtd]

5. wow aint that great!

THis is something a conservative friend sent me . For goodness sakes how much dumber do they get. This is unedited

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S.
PRESIDENT,DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE
THE FOLLOWING SPEECH? My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the
defeat
of the Iraq regime has been
completed. We are currently in the bloody process of reconstruction
and
the institution of
democracy and freedom. It is now to begin the reckoning. Before me,
I
have two lists. One list
contains the names of countrieswhich have stood by our side during
the
TheIraq conflict. This list
is short.The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland
are
some ofthe countries
listed there. The other list contains everyone not on the first
list.
Most of theworld's nations
are on that list. My press secretary will be distributingcopies of
both
lists later this
evening. Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign
aid
tothose nations on List
2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The moneysaved during the
first
year alone will pretty
much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. The American people are no
longer going to pour money
into thirdworld Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow
fat
oncorruption. Need help
with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Either clean up your act
or...
call France. In the
future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect thismoney
toward
solving the vexing
social problems we still have at home and fixing Iraq. Onthat note,
a
word to terrorist
organizations. Screw with us and we willhunt you down and eliminate
you
and all your friends
from the face of theearth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to
terrorize?
Try France, or maybe Germany. I am ordering the
immediate severing of diplomatic relations withFrance,Germany, and
Russia. Thanks for all your
help, comrades. We areretiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes
amis.
I have instructed the
Mayor of New York City to begin towing the manyUN diplomatic
vehicles
located in Manhattan with
more than two unpaidparking tickets to sites where those vehicles
will
be
stripped, shredded
andcrushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this.
Youcreeps have tens of
thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrowor watch
your
precious Benzes, Beamers
and limos be turned over to someof the finest chop shops in the
world.
I
love New York . A
special note toour neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are
likely
to be seeing alot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us offfor a change. Mexico is also on
List 2. President Fox and his entire corruptgovernment really need
an
attitude adjustment.
There's a reason why Mexicans are migrating northward. Oh, and we
don't
mind having your people
work for us either.So start doing something with your oil. Oh, by
the
way, the United States is
abrogating the NAFTA treaty
-Starting now. We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately,
we'll
be
drillingfor oil in
Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs
fordecades
to
come. If you're an
environmentalist who opposes this
decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move
there.
They care. It is time for
America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens.Some will
accuse
us of isolationism. I
answer them by saying, "darntootin." Nearly a century of trying to
help
folks live a decent life
aroundthe world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about
everyone onthe planet. It is
time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time toeliminate
homelessness
in America. It is time
to eliminate World Cup Soccerfrom America. To the nations on List
1, a
final thought. Thanks
guys. Weowe you and we won't forget. To the nations on List 2, a
final
thought: You might want
to learn to speak Arabic. God bless America. Thank you and good
night.
If
you can read this,
thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.
Please forward this to at
least ten friends and see what happens! Let's get this to every
>> >> >> USA
>> >> >> computer!

[Bridget Burke]

7. Why is this stuff always so badly formatted?

Glurge or Spam? I'm not sure, but here's the result of a preliminary Google:

www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22folks+live+a+decent+life%22+

And what does this have to do with the current topic?

[shilohtd]

10. beg your pardon

i am new to this whole thing.

[Kablooie]

12. Well there ya go ...

The perfect way to a happier and healthier life for your children and children's children.

Simply make yourself everyone's hated enemy and life will be sweet!

[Arkansas Granny]

43. I received this as an email. Couldn't even read the whole thing.

[ellie]

54. Hilarious!

So these flat earthers think that the oil in Alaska will "take care of this country's oil needs fordecades (sic) to come"?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I wonder what it is like to be so far removed from reality like this?

[sando]

6. Well let's hope that Browns theory is put to the test one day

and the state or states his family resides is has half their infrastrucure wiped. I am of course not wishing that on the rest of the people who reside in those states. But it would be interesting to see if he'd be singing a different tune at that point. You can bet your last Roosevelt dime Brownie would be scremaing loudest the Feds are to be the responders when state and locals are completely overwhelmed as they were in LA and MI in Katrina's wake.

[Massachusetts]

8. Brownie missed the Mission Statement .... Don't worry be happy.

FEMA Mission
DISASTER. It strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms -- a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences.

On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.


http://www.fema.gov/about/index.shtm

[2Design]

11. this is a sham - Carter made this a good agency - * using it for

getting money to his friends but not to the people who need it

this is so wrong - and shows how 'fly crap in the face' this admin is

[onenote]

14. FEMA not a "rapid response" team -- how do you explain this then?

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3942

Press Releases
Department of Homeland Security Prepares Response to Hurricane Charley
FEMA Public Affairs
Contact: 202-646-4600
August 13, 2004

With Hurricane Charley's 145 mile-per-hour winds impacting the Florida coast, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pre-positioned personnel and supplies for rapid response to areas that will need emergency assistance from this Category 4 strength storm.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating activities along with other federal departments and respective state agencies. FEMA met its goal to have necessary emergency response teams and disaster relief supplies positioned throughout the southeast region earlier today in preparation for the anticipated response operations. More equipment and resources are being deployed from stockpiles nationwide.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and FEMA Director Michael Brown are maximizing readiness and response efforts for Hurricane Charley and have been in contact with Florida Governor Jeb Bush and other governors in southeast states that could be impacted by this dangerous storm.

FEMA's Mobile Emergency Response Services’ communication units from as far away as FEMA’s Denver, CO, regional office were mobilized to be in place prior to Hurricane Charley's landfall. These units are able to provide telephone, radio and video links in support of response and recovery efforts.

[shilohtd]

15. FEMA IS A RAPID RESPONSE AGENCY

BROWN IS JUST A LIAR AND FULL OF CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!

[superconnected]

16. His level of not taking responsibility could rival Bush's.

Figures DumbDumb would put him in charge of Federal Emergencies.

[moondust]

45. Same church, different pew.

The buck stops anywhere but here.

[trogdor]

17. Brown Blames 'Dysfunctional' Louisiana

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former FEMA director Michael Brown aggressively defended his role in responding to Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday and put much of the blame for coordination failures on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

"My biggest mistake was not recognizing by Saturday that Louisiana was dysfunctional," two days before the storm hit, Brown told a special congressional panel set up by House Republican leaders to investigate the catastrophe.

--clip--

"I find it absolutely stunning that this hearing would start out with you, Mr. Brown, laying the blame for FEMA's failings at the feet of the governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans."

Brown, who for many became a symbol of government failures in the natural disaster that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, rejected accusations that he was too inexperienced for the job.

More at: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050927/D8CSMA500.html

[OKthatsIT]

18. This is all a ploy to oust the Democrat Govenor

Her election is this fall, right? All the Dems from those southern counties are displaced, away from their precincts, even outside of the state.

[trogdor]

19. It goes beyond that.

It's an attempt to say, "Democrats are fucked up, Republicans are the model of efficiency and competence."

[high density]

29. bingo, that's exactly what it is (NM)

[sandnsea]

50. Govt is fucked up, corporations and churches should rule

That's the message. That's why Walmart got into Miss when Greyhound couldn't get into New Orleans.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

21. It's a ploy to save Shrub's miserable arse.

And it isn't working.

[fairfaxvadem]

22. I thought she was just recently elected...

As far as I know, there are only 2 Gov races this fall, NJ and VA.

But, I may be mistaken.

[woodsprite]

25. She was elected in 2004. n/t

[Julius Civitatus]

26. Rove's chubby hands all over this

You can bet on this. They have decided to go for Blanco. They even hired that ineffectual twit Brownie back!

[DemoTex]

20. Best defense is good offense school of thought.

Pitiful, pitiful blame-game Brownie.

[vajraroshana]

23. "When were you aware a disaster was looming?"

Brown was asked this, his answer: "we were aware of that by Thursday or Friday"........

Which was it Brown, you dumbfuck, Thursday or Friday?!!! You know those are two whole different days; people died because of your incomptence and you don't even know the difference between Thursday and Friday in a catastrophe where even minutes count??!!

Sheesh, if I watch much more of this I may have a stroke.

[Old and In the Way]

28. If he knew there was a disaster looming on Thursday or Friday....

why was it a week later before real relief started to impact on the problem in New Orleans?

[trogdor]

33. There it is.

You see, putting all those people in the Superdome would have been perfectly OK if FEMA was ready to do what they were supposed to do in a timely manner. It only sucked because there wasn't anyone coming to help them. No Red Cross, no FEMA, nobody.

Of course, we now know that 99% of the horror stories associated with the Superdome are bullshit anyway.

[superconnected]

24. The man has NO SPINE. HE will blame everyone but himself.

For a guy who was in charge of the Emergency Response this is really pathetic. Every time he opens his mouth he looks more pathetic.

I bet this is exactly how Bush would act if the world finanlly tried to hold him accountable.

[Quetzal]

27. .

The muthafucker needs to be fired - his ass needs to be out of there right now!!!

[Efilroft Sul]

30. This guy gives cocksuckers a bad name. N/T

[saigon68]

35. THIS IS WAHT IDIOTS LIKE HIM, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

[savemefromdumbya]

31. just look at his past - always been in trouble

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0927brown27.html#

[shrike]

32. What the f*ck does FEMA do?

I had a repuke tell me that this very weekend. They don't do this, they don't do that? what the f*ck are my tax dollars used for, save for Brownie's photo ops?

[etherealtruth]

34. Unfortunately for us all ...

IMO, the answer to your quaestion is: NOTHING

[Bridget Burke]

44. FEMA did OK before they were put under "Homeland Security"

Feel secure?

[GeorgeGist]

36. Family values GOP style...

the kids are in danger, they're confused, don't bother to help until they ask. That'll teach 'em ... Personal Responsibility.

[sakabatou]

37. Isn't FEMA supposed to be a federal RR force?

[redqueen]

38. I don't know... could he have a point?

No doubt his agency's actions were a colossal failure, but in the bigger picture, might he have a bit of a point?

Nagin was a republican until 2000 at least... took calls from Rove in 2004... didn't endorse Kerry until AFTER the convention... and who did he endorse in the Gov race? Blanco or the republican?

I really don't know that they did all they could... maybe they did... but I know I don't trust Nagin at all. Not at all.

[DoYouEverWonder]

48. And what does any of that have to do with anything?

Nagin did his best and the Federal Government withheld resources on purpose. Why is this Nagin's problem and not Bush's?

[redqueen]

51. A lot - he very well may share some of the blame.

How do we really know that he did his best?

It's Nagin's problem, too, because he's the one on the scene. If nothing else he should be handling the response to the questions better.

We should have actual info readily available, questions like mine shouldn't have to be answered with vague claims that "he did his best"

[DoYouEverWonder]

52. Read the reports from the Times Picyune & WDSU

if you want to know what Nagin did and didn't do during the storm. I followed the storm from before it even hit NOLA. I know a lot about what happened when and Nagin did an outstanding job. Keep in mind that he did evacuate 80% of NO without Federal assistance. What is wrong with that?

[redqueen]

53. Nothing's wrong...

I heard the 80% figure and have defended him as well... however once I found out that he was taking calls from Rove as recently as last year... well I really do wonder who he backed for Gov, and where his real loyalties lie.

[DoYouEverWonder]

55. Where did you hear about the calls?

this is the first I've heard about it. Got a link? Didn't seem to do him much good if it's true, BushCo screwed him royally anyway.

edit: if only I could speel.

[redqueen]

56. Daily Howler

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh090605.shtml

We don't know if they screwed him. Sometimes fall guys make out pretty well, financially speaking.

[DoYouEverWonder]

58. I don't see anything about Rove's phone calls

in that article and it seems like the writer's got a grudge against local DEM officials?

[The_Casual_Observer]

39. He struck a real frat boy pose about this today.

offered smart ass bastard answers. No wonder hey kicked his ass out of the horse show business, somebody probably threatened to beat his brains in after a performance like that in the past.

[Canuckistanian]

40. Chutzpa is an understatement for this guy

A totally incompetent official is fired (pushed or jumped, he WAS fired), then is hired back to blame others.

Of what possible use is there in hiring him back???? Oh, right, I forgot who hired him.

[lebkuchen]

41. This man needs sheltered housing.

Did his six figure income off the public's teat not buy him at least that?

[Roland99]

42. Doesn't FEMA's own website say it acts as such?

[Up2Late]

46. Did anyone watch this? Did anyone call BullSh*t on this guy?

Oh wait, this is that BS, ReThuglicans only, House "select" panel, of course they didn't. :banghead: :mad:

[DFWJock]

47. When

is the Medal of Freedom ceremony?

[CecilP]

49. More buck passing

no surprise.

[melody]

57. FEMA - Forever Evading Mistakes Admission

That's what it stands for.

[lateo]

59. Blame the victim!

This is typical republican spin.

[confludemocrat]

60. Great idea House Repubs, insert pistol in mouth, pull trigger (by having

this dickwad make incredibly lying, lame blameshifting at your behest. The Democrats should be all over this, and this time I believe they will be.