FEMA Chief Brown Resigns Monday, September 12, 2005 WASHINGTON"Federal Emergency Management Agency (search) director Mike Brown said Monday he has resigned "in the best interest of the agency and best interest of the president," three days after losing his on-site command of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. "The focus has got to be on FEMA, what the people are trying to do down there," Brown told The Associated Press. His decision was not a surprise. Brown was abruptly recalled to Washington on Friday, a clear vote of no confidence from his superiors at the White House and the Department of Homeland Security. Brown had been roundly criticized for FEMA's bearish response to the hurricane, which has caused political problem for Bush and fellow Republicans. "I'm turning in my resignation today," Brown said. "I think it's in the best interest of the agency and the best interest of the president to do that and get the media focused on the good things that are going on, instead of me." Brown, who said he last talked to Bush five or six days ago, said the resignation was his idea. He spoke on Saturday to White House chief of staff Andy Card, who did not request his departure, according to Brown. He said he feared he was becoming a distraction to FEMA's relief effort. "I came to the conclusion that this was in the best interest of not just the administration and not just me, but FEMA," he said. "They need to be focused on the continuing efforts in the Gulf." Shortly after Brown was recalled to Washington last week, officials close to the FEMA director said he would likely resign. They said that even before Katrina, Brown had been planning on leaving the administration late this fall to go into the private sector.
__________________
Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
If only Mayor Nagin and Gov. Blanco would show the same good sense.
Time is beginning to show that FEMA's response is better than first portrayed, but Brown quickly became a magnet for the media and partisan Dems who want to turn Katrina into a tarbaby for the Bush Admn in hopes of gaining ground in the mid-term elections. Thus far I've yet so see reports of any substantial errors made by Brown.
I look for Bush to appoint a very strong personality-- something Brown was not. Maybe a military man.
Yes, Admiral Allen would have made an excellent choice for a Brownie replacement. Unfortunately, that's not who Bush picked.
Bush has chosen R. David Paulison to replace Brownie. You might remember him as the fellow who recommended buying DUCT TAPE andPLASTIC to protect your home from a terrorist chemical attack. Is this REALLY the best and the brightest he can find for an important position like this?
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Americans have apparently heeded the U.S. government's advice to prepare for terror attacks, emptying hardware store shelves of duct tape.
On Tuesday, less than 24 hours after U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison described a list of useful items, stores in the greater Washington, D.C. area reported a surge in sales of plastic sheeting, duct tape, and other emergency items.
These items, Paulison said, can be helpful after a biological, chemical or radiological attack.
A Lowe's hardware store in Alexandria, Virginia, said every roll of duct tape has been sold. Another Alexandria Home Depot store reported sales of duct tape tripled overnight.
"Everything that was on that newscast, we are selling a lot of it," said Rich Pierce with a Home Depot in the
D.C. area.
In his advisory, Paulison recommended that households have on hand three days worth of water and food; an emergency supply kit for both home and automobile; radios with extra batteries; and plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal windows and doors. (What to do)
With concerns growing about al Qaeda's interest in acquiring weapons of mass destruction, Paulison cautioned that aid after an attack could be hard to come by, at least initially.
He said that in the first 48 to 72 hours of an emergency, many Americans will likely to have to look after themselves.(Red Cross on preparedness)
If an attack occurs, Paulison said, households should tune in to local media outlets and not evacuate unless they are told to do so.
President Bush's Homeland Security Council raised the national threat level from yellow to orange on Friday. Orange indicates a "high" risk of terrorist attack, and yellow indicates an "elevated" risk.
The level was raised in part because of a high amount of "chatter" being intercepted by intelligence agencies.
When the Department of Homeland Security urged Americans on Monday to take steps to prepare for a possible attack, it said the advice was intended not as a "dire" warning but as cautionary advice. [/align]
I hate to confuse nattering naysayers with facts, but David Paulison has NOT been named as permanent FEMA director. He has been named 'acting director' after Brown's sudden resignation. Maybe he will be selected on a permanent basis, but if that decision had been made, I doubt the announcement by Chertoff would have designated the acting director position.
While Rick R may not deem him qualified he is a career firefighther and emergency administrator. Paulison was confirmed by the Senate in 2001 when he was named Administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration. Of course, his confirmation was conducted by the same committee chaired by Dem. Sen. Joe Lieberman that failed to conduct an adequate vetting of Mike Brown. After the questions regarding the puffing up of Brown's resume, I expect that Paulison's credentials and career will be examined quite closely before he is named permanent FEMA director.
Good riddance to Brown, he was probably the biggest mistake in Bush's reward appointmentees!
1. The man in no way, shape, form, or fashion was qualifyed for the position.
2. You may want to check out his record in regards to the millions mis-spent under his FEMA reign after the 4 hurricanes in Fla. last year. http://www.cq.com/public/20050912_homeland.htmlHere are a few excerpts from this article:
Quote:
The congressman said FEMA Director Michael D. Brown " who announced his resignation Monday " ignored his concerns about massive fraud in Miami-Dade County, where newspapers reported that FEMA handed out about $30 million worth of furniture, clothes, appliances and other relief to residents who sustained minimal hurricane damage.
Quote:
FEMA also awarded more than $29 million in flood relief to residents of Mobile, Ala., despite calls and letters from local emergency officials saying the county suffered no damage, according to media reports.
Quote:
"[Brown] said it didn"t occur, and I said, "It did occur; [the newspapers] had documentation," " Foley said. "This just really rankled us because we needed to pay back counties . . . and we"re paying for people we don"t believe are legitimate."
__________________
The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog
Wait until you read about the waste, fraud and corruption that will inevitably come from aid to Katrina. When you throw $60 billion this fast at a problem, it's going to happen. No matter who's prez, no matter who's in charge of FEMA.
Taz, I'll bet that I can take any sanctimonious conressman that criticized Brown for waste and find more pork sponsored by him than Brown wasted.
Congessional pork barrel spending and subsidies to supporters is by far the biggest waste in government. Keep in mind also that the $60B approved for Katrina aid is a supplemental appropriation and will add to the deficit dollar for dollar. Our kids and grandkids will be paying this plus interest long after most of us are gone.
FEMA Chief Brown Resigns
WASHINGTON"Federal Emergency Management Agency (search) director Mike Brown said Monday he has resigned "in the best interest of the agency and best interest of the president," three days after losing his on-site command of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. "The focus has got to be on FEMA, what the people are trying to do down there," Brown told The Associated Press. His decision was not a surprise. Brown was abruptly recalled to Washington on Friday, a clear vote of no confidence from his superiors at the White House and the Department of Homeland Security. Brown had been roundly criticized for FEMA's bearish response to the hurricane, which has caused political problem for Bush and fellow Republicans. "I'm turning in my resignation today," Brown said. "I think it's in the best interest of the agency and the best interest of the president to do that and get the media focused on the good things that are going on, instead of me." Brown, who said he last talked to Bush five or six days ago, said the resignation was his idea. He spoke on Saturday to White House chief of staff Andy Card, who did not request his departure, according to Brown. He said he feared he was becoming a distraction to FEMA's relief effort. "I came to the conclusion that this was in the best interest of not just the administration and not just me, but FEMA," he said. "They need to be focused on the continuing efforts in the Gulf." Shortly after Brown was recalled to Washington last week, officials close to the FEMA director said he would likely resign. They said that even before Katrina, Brown had been planning on leaving the administration late this fall to go into the private sector.
