AP: Brown: Politics Played Role in Katrina-federalize just Louisiana instead of entire disaster area

[Pirate Smile]

Brown: Politics Played Role in Katrina

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 19, 2007
Filed at 11:53 p.m. ET

NEW YORK (AP) -- Party politics played a role in decisions over whether to take federal control of Louisiana and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, former FEMA director Michael Brown said Friday.

Some in the White House suggested only Louisiana should be federalized because it was run by a Democrat, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Brown told a group of graduate students at a lecture on politics and emergency management at Metropolitan College of New York.

Brown said he had recommended to President Bush that all 90,000 square miles along the Gulf Coast affected by the hurricane be federalized, making the federal government in charge of all agencies responding to the disaster.

''Unbeknownst to me, certain people in the White House were thinking 'We had to federalize Louisiana because she's a white, female Democratic governor and we have a chance to rub her nose in it,'' he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Katrina-Brown.html

Hey, Joementum, are you still going to refuse to investigate?

:nuke:

[UrbScotty]

1. No surprise here (nt)

[pacalo]

7. So true, but I'm thrilled that it's being said out loud.

I'm making a copy of this article & sending it to my representatives via snailmail. I need to know their thoughts about Joementum's decision not to hold investigations.

[MidwestTransplant]

20. May as well send one to Jomentum's office as well if you are

already addressing envelopes. I would highlight the most important sections.

[pacalo]

45. Thanks for the great suggestions -- I will do just that. :)

[Pirate Smile]

26. Adding another article with more info (NOLA.com) near the top of the thread:

Former FEMA head in NYC: party politics played role in Katrina response

1/20/2007, 8:58 a.m. CT
By NAHAL TOOSI
The Associated Press

-snip-
"Unbeknownst to me, certain people in the White House were thinking, 'We had to federalize Louisiana because she's a white, female Democratic governor, and we have a chance to rub her nose in it,'" he said, without naming names. "'We can't do it to Haley (Barbour) because Haley's a white male Republican governor. And we can't do a thing to him. So we're just gonna federalize Louisiana.'"

Brown, 52, declined to say who in the White House had argued for federalizing the response only in Louisiana. He said that he'd later learned of the machinations through Blanco's office and from federal officials.

Blanco reacted sharply to Brown's remarks.
"This is exactly what we were living but could not bring ourselves to believe. Karl Rove was playing politics while our people were dying," Blanco said through a spokeswoman, referring to Bush's top political strategist. "The federal effort was delayed, and now the public knows why. It's disgusting."

-snip-
The question of federal control became a source of contention after Katrina. Bush asked to put military relief efforts in Louisiana under federal oversight, but Louisiana officials rejected that idea, keeping state control over National Guard troops. They worked together with federal forces.

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-29/1169305758250600.xml&storylist=louisiana

[DURHAM D]

2. Finally the shit head speaks the truth. n/t

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Just like so many things which were denied

while they were in the public's attention span, yet another "wild" rumor turns out to be true.

[DURHAM D]

4. No prior President -

including the one's I really hate, would have allowed that sort of political conversation to go on in the White House when deciding how to respond to a national disaster.

[BattyDem]

5. Can we impeach him yet?

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[Lord Balto]

43. Just as Soon as New Mexico Takes a Vote

http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/663/81

Maybe just maybe somebody in this pathetic little country still isn't a sissy.

[struggle4progress]

6. Be sure and read some of Brownie's Katrina emails if you haven't:

"... I ama fashion god ..."
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1103051fema1.html

[rudy23]

21. I bet the "embarassing emails" from "certain members of the White House" put Brownie's to shame nt

[rocktivity]

8. We may already have a winner for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" award

Duh--SOME of us managed to figure out that something was going on, and did so RIGHT AFTER Katrina left town!

(...and I don't think a win by the Saints Sunday is going to help...)

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[peacetalksforall]

27. I agree totally that we knew that something was going on - something

was being negotiated or delayed because of background 'noise' that wasn't the usual getting organized noise. In puttin gpieces together, it appears that politization started before Katrina hit.

I think enough clues are there to believe Brown. Makes me want to reaccess my opinions of the Mayor.

I just wonder why he hasn't been suicided. Because sooner or later Katrina truths when all put together are going to be disastrous for this administration.

[fooj]

9. F*ck Joe. Waxman appointed Kucinich to head the House Committee...

Shit WILL hit the fan...

[salin]

12. I missed that news (Kucinich's appointment) - Go Dennis!

No fear of stepping on GOP toes.

[Joanne98]

16. Kucinich needs to have hearings. Put Brown under oath.

[Richard Steele]

37. Damn right. Put him under oath and make him name names.

B*shCabal™ has a thousand counts of negligent homocide
they need to answer for.

[mzmolly]

31. Indeed it shall.

:popcorn:

[jus_the_facts]

10. Politics Played Role in Katrina

NEW YORK (AP) -- Party politics played a role in decisions over whether to take federal control of Louisiana and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, former FEMA director Michael Brown said Friday.

Some in the White House suggested only Louisiana should be federalized because it was run by a Democrat, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Brown told a group of graduate students at a lecture on politics and emergency management at Metropolitan College of New York.

Brown said he had recommended to President Bush that all 90,000 square miles along the Gulf Coast affected by the hurricane be federalized, making the federal government in charge of all agencies responding to the disaster.

''Unbeknownst to me, certain people in the White House were thinking 'We had to federalize Louisiana because she's a white, female Democratic governor and we have a chance to rub her nose in it,'' he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Katrina-Brown.html

[salin]

13. Guess Brown is showing again that he is tired of being the

Admin scapegoat. Going public with that tidbit - quite a reality-based smackdown of bushco. Meanwhile - the coast is still in disaster. :-(

[tanyev]

11. There it is.

IMPEACH.

[liberal N proud]

14. Your doing a heck of a job Brownie

Who would have thought that politics had a role in the lack of response from the regime? DUH! Everything is politically motivated in the bu$h regime, Everything!

[PinkyisBlue]

19. "You're doing a heck of a job, Brownie!"

Glad to know Brownie was only unqualified and incompetent to carry out his job and NOT a liar as well. Put him under oath and get this on record.

It's also comforting to know that the Bush administration is prejudiced against women, too, and not just blacks, Democrats and the poor.

[Spiffarino]

38. He was hung out to dry by the Bushies

The perfect scapegoat.

Look at Dubya's hiring practices and you'll see nearly every one of his appointees is a pure political loyalist and a compleat unqualified dipshit. When things go horribly wrong, as they inevitably do, he throws them under the bus when its politically expedient.

Rumsfeld? An unqualified dipshit and as loyal to Bush as Barney the dog. As soon as things got too hot for Bush (i.e., the 2006 election) he was out of there. The right wing whispering attacks started even before Rummy left office. Same held for Brown as the Katrina debacle spiraled out of control. The press held him up as an idiot and he was eased out.

George W. Bush and ONLY George W. Bush is responsible for his administration's successes and failures. Kings may be allowed to blame their failings on underlings, but U.S. Presidents do not. He works for us!

[Joanne98]

15. This is exactly what happened. Bush murdered his own people.

And he did it ON PURPOSE! LIHOP....

I'm glad somebody finally said it out loud. I hope more Bush insiders take Brownie's path. Turn them in...for everything.

[SutaUvaca]

17. Notice this quote

"The only consideration made by the administration at the time of this tragedy and since are those in the best interests of the citizens of the Gulf region.''

Uh huh. And if you believe that, let me show you this bridge I have for sale.

[deutsey]

18. Heckuva job, Brownie...but you better watch your back

The Busheviks don't take kindly to those who reveal family secrets.

[ClintonTyree]

22. Everything is political to Rove.....

every action, every word is meant to play out for maximum political advantage. It's all Rove has done in his entire disgusting life, take advantage of other people's misery whether it's accidental or intentionally created by him. He's the most vile human being on the face of the earth with his protege, Bush, a close second.

I'd like to see a Congressional investigation give Mr. Rove the one and only thing he truly deserves: a 10'X 12'room for the duration of his ugly, disgusting life. Then, on to Bush and Cheney. In fact, I'd like to see them share the same 10' X 12' room, since they've been so close together in life, let them be close, REAL CLOSE, in their remaining time on earth. :mad:

I know it'll never come true, but a guy has to have a dream, you know? ;)

[NashVegas]

23. I Think Even the "Silent Majority" Was Onto This

And that's what sent *'s numbers spiraling downward for good.

[Spiffarino]

39. Yep, that's precisely when Bush "jumped the shark"

There's nothing like a home-grown disaster to bring a leader's real abilities into sharp relief. Before Katrina Bush seemed somewhat decisive, if disengaged, to a small majority of Americans. The disaster changed all that. His shortcomings were on full display for a week or more. His record of continual failure began to make more sense and his reputation never recovered.

Shame it took so long and required so many to suffer and die as a result. Bastard.

[intheflow]

24. Thank you for posting this!

We here in the disaster zone know that Mississippi continues to be fucked over by politics--particularly by that white, male Repblican Haley Barbour. Any news that reminds people that Katrina was a political clusterfuck which equals Katrina's natural destruction is really appreciated.

:kick:

[aggiesal]

25. Or how about not declaring a federal emergency in ...

the southern parishes, after Gov. Blanco requested federal emergency status
for every parish in the state.

Here is the "Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana"
from the White House website. Notice that parishes where the most damage
occurred (New Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles,... basically all the southern
parishes), are not even listed. Why?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

I think Brown's statement tells alot.

[IWantAChange]

28. KKKarl and ex-Nixonite Cheney together - who could expect less?

The Bushco Administration was from day one and still is to this day not interested in the people of America - only certain people in America.

[compote_tom]

29. several thoughts

I have several thoughts on this, I'll try not to be to wordy.

1) This is the party, even the wing of the party, that is supposed to be Christian. I'll leave it to other's to provide the evidence, but I don't believe Jesus restricted his grace or even healing to those of his political/religious beliefs.

2) Had this been a group of the Republican base, the federal government would have been there before the wind stopped blowing. It's sadly ironic that lower income Americans get treated this way, but are expected to gracefully "sacrifice" in Iraq.

3) I hope out of this, Iraq and similar actions, that a pledge can develop from the Democratic/liberal/progressive movement, that if a Democratic president makes such political decisions that the cry for his removal will come from within the Democratic party. I know many Republicans, while I don't agree w/them on many topics I usually respect their beliefs, I can't believe the silence within the Republican party. Sure a few voices are now being heard, but somehow I can't help believe the sound we hear is an echo of the election.

[applegrove]

30. And rub her nose in it they did. They refused to take some of her phone calls.

Where is that investigation?

[mzmolly]

32. There is NO DOUBT that this is murder, and it's obviously an impeachable offense.

Blanco reacted sharply to Brown's remarks.

"This is exactly what we were living but could not bring ourselves to believe. Karl Rove was playing politics while our people were dying," Blanco said through a spokeswoman, referring to Bush's top political strategist. "The federal effort was delayed, and now the public knows why. It's disgusting."

How many lives could have been saved?

[Maccagirl]

41. Governor Blanco-"disgusting" doesn't come close

How about "involuntery manslaughter", "voluntery manslaughter" or outright "murder."

[mtnester]

57. Michael Brown should NOT be off the hook for this either

Standing by and watching someone murder another or deliberately do nothing while someone is being killed or their life is being snuffed out is a crime, if not in the eyes of the courts, certainly in the eyes of humanity. Fear? Bah...a man who fears Karl Rove more than he cares for the well being and lives of his fellow human being should go to jail at a MINIMUM. His "inaction" and inability to have any kind of human spine at all make him culpable for the deaths that occurred AFTER the initial storm. He cannot simply point a finger NOW and say "I am a good guy, I swear, I was just a cowardly wuss, that is why everyone died...not my fault, it was KARL, KARL said we should use this opportunity to screw a white, Democratic Governor, damn the consequences"...did he think Karl was going to kill him? That would be the ONLY defense he has...and I DOUBT he will admit to that. And who the fuck was Karl Rove to be telling this joker ANYTHING?

After-the-fact absolving of one's own self by one's self does NOT negate his crimes.

I have no place to speak on Blanco because she is not my governor...the folks of LA are the experts here.

Michael Brown, no matter how sad his face looks, ought to go to jail for life.

Everyone in this country ought to still be steaming mad about what happened to everyone on the Gulf Coast during Katrina...especially those in New Orleans and the Pontchartrain flood plain area.

This is what happens when you put a bunch of narcissistic, unqualified, unprepared, unconcerned, self-centered, maladroit, megalomaniac autocratic suck ups in charge. People DIE.

[mzmolly]

59. Absolutely!

He's an accomplice.

[tlsmith1963]

33. Not Surprised, But...

That's *disgusting*! I want the Republicans to be out of power for *years*! I'm tired of their mean-spirited crap. They have ruined America for me.

[Cass]

34. Knowing this now speaks volumes about Lieberman's refusal to investigate

Katrina and certainly exposes his loyalties in this matter. He is not to be trusted one iota. In fact, I have concerns about him attending dem strategy meetings and such.

Anyway, the allegations by Brown and Blanco need to be investigated thoroughly and if it can be proven that the federal response in anyway shape or form was delayed for political reasons, criminal charges need to be brought against the individuals responsible for that delay. This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated in a civilized society and must be punished to the full extent of the law.

[KansDem]

35. I watched "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" by Spike Lee

...this past week. Very informative and sobering account. And now after reading Brown's remarks, I wonder why a torch and pitchfork mob hasn't descending on the White House. More people need to see Lee's documentary.

Parts 1 and 2 cover the lead up to Katrina and the chaos and confusion during. A lot of information presented. Parts 3 and 4, while also informative, are more directed to the to why things happened as they did, focusing on the aftermath, and presents messages of hope as New Orleans rebuilds (as one observer put it: New Orleans has its own music, its own cuisine, its own culture. Many of the people living there at the time of Katrina have roots in New Orleans that go back for generations. It is destined to come back--it has to. And no force, whether political or economical, will change that).

I recommend its viewing. And have a box of tissues handy.

There's a Part 5--an addendum--which I haven't seen yet. Maybe this weekend...

[TankLV]

49. And who was the person the whore media were all over when he dared say that bush wanted to kill

black people - that he didn't care about black people - they owe him a BIG apology!!!

Let's see, the repukes scream at nancy for an IMAGINED slight to that bitch whore gorgonzola rice, and the dems are SILENT when an apology is DEMANDED by this CRIME!...

And yet no-one can bring themselves to even at a mininum call bush* a "liar"...

[AnnieBW]

36. Sing Like A Canary!

Heckuva Job Brownie's gonna start singing like a canary!

[ToeBot]

40. "Federalized" what does that mean exactly, in human-speak? n/t

[KamaAina]

60. It means that Rove, er, "certain people", wanted to *occupy* Louisiana!

"for the duration" only, of course :sarcasm:

Historical perspective: When the U.S. flag was first raised in the Place d'Armes (today's Jackson Square) after the Louisiana Purchase, many in the populace cried. And not for joy, either.

[prole_for_peace]

42. if only brownie would have mentioned this sooner...

say WHEN IT HAPPENED!!

all these people come out of the woodwork talking about things that happened and were said years ago but they didn't have the guts to blow the whistle when it was happening.

heck of a job brownie is still as asshole.

[McCamy Taylor]

44. No one would have responded if he had. Dem Congress is only chance for justice.

If Brownie had made his accusations when the GOP controlled Congress, they would have pretended to investigate and they would have concluded there was not enough evidence. Then, the Dems would not be able to bring it back up without looking partisan.

He saved it for when he had someone in power who would actually do something.

[TankLV]

50. it would have gone NOWHERE with the REPUKE congress...

never, ever forget that the repukes' first loyalty it to their fucking party, the COUNTRY comes LAST.

[pitohui]

46. "unbeknownst to me" oh you beknownst it all right, brownie

you coulda shoulda spoke out a long time ago

[DianaForRussFeingold]

47. K&R But Thank God, It Wasn't Population Control

Another Day in Paradise Music video:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x13417

[Contrite]

48. That ain't all that Brownie knows

http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=4246

The Israeli, Dubai, Chertoff connection --

its just the tip of the Russian-Israeli mafia and "Al Qaeda" iceberg. Michael Brown, the former head of FEMA, deserves credit for blowing the whistle on the "agenda" of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. For years, a handful of prosecutors, FBI agents, and investigative journalists have stressed the connections between Russian-Israeli mafia tycoons, weapons and diamond smugglers, and terrorist networks associated with "Al Qaeda" and affiliated organizations. Yet, it is the much-maligned Brown, a one-time GOP operative and "golden boy," who has taken the initiative to call for Chertoff's firing and a complete overhaul of the Homeland Security Department. Even in these strange times, this is an amazing turn of events and begs the question of what Brown knows about Chertoff and his connections to Dubai and covering up terrorist investigations. Brown is in the unique position of being aware of Dubai's major role in horse racing (and possibly money laundering) and being briefed on various maritime and other terrorist threats as head of FEMA. Which means that Brown may have enough information to be very dangerous to the Bush crime family.

(snip)

Other than the Homeland Security Secretary's complete incompetence during Hurricane Katrina, why would someone like Michael Brown have special animosity towards Chertoff? Perhaps Brown's past job as Commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association (IAHA) had something to do with his sudden call for Chertoff's firing in the wake of the Homeland Security chief's approval of the Dubai Ports World deal to take over operations at 21 U.S. ports.

(more)

[Doctor_J]

51. Yup. Katrina truned LA from blue to red

if you think that was an accident, you need to stop listening to Limpballs.

[erpowers]

52. Worst President Ever

No matter what it is Bush seems to just find a way to mess things up. In addition, he bases so much on party politics. No matter what anyone says Bush has the be the most devisive president we have ever had. When Clinton was in office he seemed to care about people no matter what their politics were. I just cannot believe that someone could play party politics so much, especially when people lives are in danger.

[Jennicut]

53. Brownie does not seem like a bad guy

I think he was truly afraid of Bush and Rove for a while and for good reason. He's a lackey, not a politician. I think he really was thrown under the bus for Bush. Incompetant yes, but Bushie hired him in the first place. Good for him for speaking up as we all now if you speak out against Georgie thena Karl and is dogs will come after you and make your life a living hell.

[nikto]

54. More proof...

...that Conservatives and GOPers are lying, immoral, untrustworthy
un-American, Satanic SCUM.

As if more proof were needed.

Oh yeah, and water is wet, 2+2=4, and
drinking sulfuric acid is bad for your health.

Some truths don't really need anymore explaining.

[myrna minx]

55. Is there any decision that the Bushies make that *isn't* political?!

:nuke:

[leesa]

56. And there are still those who think the Crime Family wouldn't do 9-11 for their

chance to rule the world...

[Doctor_J]

58. Wouldn't this classify as impeachable?

if not, what would (besides extramarital sex, of course).