FEMA director Mike Brown was originally brought into the agency as its general counsel, under the auspices of his old college roommate (and Bush fixer) Joe Allbaugh. By now we all know that Brown is an emergency manager who knows nothing about managing emergencies, and a former horse association commissioner who knew nothing about horses… but apparently, he was also a general counsel who was hardly even a real lawyer.
In a devastating expose published today in The New Republic, University of Colorodo-Boulder law professor Paul Campos determines to answer the question “of exactly what, given Brown’s real biography, he is qualified to do.” The answer, not surprisingly, is very little.
To understand the Mike Brown saga, one has to know something about the intricacies of the legal profession, beginning with the status of the law school he attended. Brown’s biography on FEMA’s website reports that he’s a graduate of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. This is not, to put it charitably, a well-known institution. For example, I’ve been a law professor for the past 15 years and have never heard of it. Of more relevance is the fact that, until 2003, the school was not even a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS)–the organization that, along with the American Bar Association, accredits the nation’s law schools. Most prospective law students won’t even consider applying to a non-AALS law school unless they have no other option, because many employers have a policy of not considering graduates of non-AALS institutions. So it’s fair to say that Brown embarked on his prospective legal career from the bottom of the profession’s hierarchy.
According to Campos, Brown received his J.D. in 1981, and spent the next couple years representing the interests of a “prominent local family” in Enid, Oklahoma, followed by an 18-month stint at a local law firm (that no longer exists.) But it appears that by 1987 he had already more or less abandoned his legal career. From 1991 to 2001 he served as commissioner of judges and stewards for the International Arabian Horse Association, a full-time position from which he resigned under pressure.
What, then, are we to make of the claim in Brown’s FEMA biography that, prior to joining the Agency, he had spent most of his professional career practicing law in Colorado? Normally, an attorney practicing law in a state for ten years would have left a record of his experience in public documents. But just about the only evidence of Brown’s Colorado legal career is the Web page he submitted to Findlaw.com, an Internet site for people seeking legal representation. There, he lists himself as a member of the “International Arabian Horse Association Legal Dept.” and claims to be competent to practice law across a dizzying spectrum of specialties–estate planning, family law, employment law for both plaintiffs and defendants, real-estate law, sports law, labor law, and legislative practice. With all this expertise, it’s all the more striking that one can’t find any other evidence of Brown’s legal career in Colorado.
Campos further deconstructs Brown’s FEMA bio, in which he impressively claims to have served as “a bar examiner on ethics and professional responsibility for the Oklahoma Supreme Court and as a hearing examiner for the Colorado Supreme Court.” Campos’ translation?
In Oklahoma, he graded answers to bar exam questions, and, in Colorado, he volunteered to serve on the local attorney disciplinary board.
Ouch.
Campos’ summation is equally devastating, and a pointed critique of the Bush administration.
When Brown left the iaha four years ago, he was, among other things, a failed former lawyer–a man with a 20-year-old degree from a semi-accredited law school who hadn’t attempted to practice law in a serious way in nearly 15 years and who had just been forced out of his job in the wake of charges of impropriety. At this point in his life, returning to his long-abandoned legal career would have been very difficult in the competitive Colorado legal market. Yet, within months of leaving the IAHA , he was handed one of the top legal positions in the entire federal government: general counsel for a major federal agency. A year later, he was made its number-two official, and, a year after that, Bush appointed him director of FEMA .
It’s bad enough when attorneys are named to government jobs for which their careers, no matter how distinguished, don’t qualify them. But Brown wasn’t a distinguished lawyer: He was hardly a lawyer at all. When he left the IAHA , he was a 47-year-old with a very thin resum
The fact that he is not an actual lawyer makes him more qualified for just about anything.
Brownie, you’re doing a great job!
Isn’t that Brownie to the rear left?
1 – Did you hear that Richard Pope?
I hope someone on the Congressional investigation/Press asks to see the required FBI background check which would have been given to the White House. Either the FBI didn’t do a complete job or the White House swept it under the rug. Brownie probably resigns and I’m sure his pal over at Halibuton will take good care of him. Goldy’s correct the buck has to stop with BUSH. I think they all knew and ramped his resume up to get through hearings, then strangely enough no mention of what the guy did for the past 10 years on his FEMA bio page. Don’t put anything down in writing that might tip off someone to do some checking.
So when while Stefan was posting Bob Williams propaganda piece you were doing some real research showing that perhaps indeed the blame against the Bush adminstration is in fact legit.
Here is the link to the Colorado Supreme Court attorney information page on Michael D. Brown:
http://www.coloradosupremecour.....?Reg=21529
In Colorado, the state supreme court is directly in charge of attorneys, while the Colorado State Bar Association is a voluntary association that attorneys can join or not join as they please.
You lefties still dwelling on FEMA when the LA guvnur stopped the aid going to the people on the bridge, the Superdome and the Convention center? Why? She didn’t want people going to the place of last resort. Read from these pixels: http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,.....24,00.html
This FEMA fiction your side continues to spout is slipping more and more everyday.
Sure Mike Brown may be in over his head (I’ll again go on record and say may), but now we see this diversion from Goldy over the real problem as I stated in paragraph one!
While Wrongboy tries to spin, less we forget the truth:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/.....sp?id=1260
and a good article on Bob Williams propaganda piece:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509070003
And while we are dealing with wrongboys’ whitehouse talking points, remember:
“If the Post wants to characterize criticism as “strident” or “harsh,” it might better begin with the false claim, made by a “senior Bush aide” — and reported in the September 4 edition of the Post as though it were true — that Blanco still hadn’t gotten around to declaring a state of emergency as of September 3. In fact, Blanco did so on August 26, a fact the Post acknowledged in a correction on September 5. But neither the Post’s correction, nor any subsequent article, even hinted at a basic, and extremely newsworthy, fact: The Bush administration is spreading false information about Blanco in order to shift blame to state and local efforts”
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509080023
The Oklahoma State Bar website doesn’t list Michael D. Brown as an attorney. They do appear to be a mandatory bar association, but I could be mistaken about that. Unfortunately, they only allow a web search of Oklahoma lawyers who have consented to be web searched. So he probably was admitted in Oklahoma at one time.
Reminds me of the fellow that Bush nominated to some Court of Appeals judgeship. He had been general counsel for Brigham Young University, but had never been admitted to the Utah bar. He was a member of the DC bar (I think), but got suspended even from that membership while serving as BYU general counsel for not paying the DC bar dues (and probably not doing their continuing legal education either).
This was widely publicized, and should have disqualified the fellow on ethical grounds. Judicial nominees have been disqualified for less — such as hiring undocumented aliens as household employees. But I think that the U.S. Senate actually confirmed this fellow, in spite of everything.
Jimmy @ 3
‘…showing that perhaps indeed the blame against the Bush adminstration is in fact legit.’
Goldy’s research shows nothing of the sort. If he really wanted to dig into something he could try to find out why Brown was confirmed when the dems had control of the Senate. His qualifications seemed fine at the time. Why act like his background is a surprise?
‘Critics say he was unqualified for the position, citing his background as the head of the International Arabian Horse Association. But such concerns were not evident during Brown’s confirmation hearings in 2002, when the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved his nomination. Then-committee chairman Joe Lieberman said at the time that Brown’s earlier experience as an assistant city manager in Edmond, Oklahoma, was a “particularly useful experience.”‘
The only part of Brown’s background Goldy has not tried to skewer is the one most relevant. Instead he reflects that Brown was not good with horses and no longer works with them, was not really a lawyer and no longer works as a lawyer. As we can assume Brown is no longer going to school perhaps Goldy can find out if he was a poor student.
Real research would dig out how Joe Lieberman and Hillary could have voted for such a loser.
All this Monday-morning QBing and bodies are still being recoved in N.O. My only hope is that you guys keep it up.
DumbBoy: I am wrong. FEMA was on site trying to work but was blocked on August 30th. Terry Ebbert said this on Sept 1st.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/na/D8CBPBCG0.html
Superdome Evacuations Enter Second Day
Sep 01 7:59 PM US/Eastern
Let me use the JustDumbBoy method day calendar. August 30th FEMA on-site blocked by LA-NG per the guvnur. 8 days before that is August 22nd. Where was the Katrina Aug 22?
Sorry DumbBoy, your day mathematics don’t work. You have to start counting from the official day the LA officials say they were there. Terry Ebbert is the OFFICIAL LOCAL CITY GUY appointed by the mayur. Try and get real DumbBoy. Your hatred of Bush is affecting your mathematical skillz!!!
Regarding Media Matters: More lefties talking to lefties? Hmmm… Where is the critical thought there? Looks to me as the standard love fest.
Regarding Horsey: Great Graphics but wrong topic.
JDB
The Media Matters link dissects this one pretty well. It additionally refutes the argument that the federal gov’t is somehow powerless to respond unless the local gov’t initiates a request, citing the DHS National Response Plan. (I mentioned this–even the exact passage MM cites–on another thread yet again today.)
It baffles me somewhat how anyone can truly believe that federal responders are powerless in the face of local/state government. It seems to me that one of the things the NRP enables is for the federal government to step in when local authorities are overwhelmed–or just downright incompetent.
JDB @ 6
‘..good article on Bob Williams..’
Are you suggesting that Bush should have someone like Williams running FEMA?
Goldy,
if you can find out where & when Brown & Allbaugh were college roommates, it might be of interest – or not. They didn’t attend the same colleges, according to any bio’s I could find.
re Allbaugh, it was one of MSM that ran that aspect.
NoWonder @ 11:
No, but I would say given his record of never being right and being a failed right wing political hack, I’m surprised he isn’t. However, I wouldn’t be suprised if he is awarded the Medal of Freedom.
Wrongboy @ 9:
You are better than the president, you can admit when you are wrong…, of course, for you like the president, that is when you open your mouth.
I answered you post on the original thread, but I would point out to you that as of Sept. 1, the seventh day that FEMA was activated, Mr. Ebbert, the local guy you prize so much, said that FEMA was still doing nothing. Not really a strong point for you.
And the Red Cross and FEMA are not one in the same. FEMA is the one that is supposed to take care of problems between agencies. What did they do when the Red Cross ran into problems, same thing they did throughout this whole disaster: nothing.
And you have problems with mediamaters? You who post newsmax and Sean Hannity? To borrow from Roger Rabbit:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Let’s go back to 1954. Gov Faubus blocks the Arkansas Black Nine from school with armed Ark Nat Guard. Eisenhower gets angry and the 81st Airborne sent in to do the federal job. Ark Nat Guard finally federalized. Ark Nine go to school.
Lets go forward to 2005. The LA guvnur controls her state national guard. FEMA official are unarmed. FEMA there on Aug 30th per Terry Ebbert. She sends it there to block the help from arriving. People cry on national news where is the help. Long distance media shots show trucks in the distance. Are these the aid trucks blocked from the dome, conventions center and the bridge overpass? Again go to the Red Cross website URL posted above. You lefties can’t stand the light of day appearing on your bullshit because the stink will rise to incredible levels.
Keep it up. Your blog with a few others will keep this lefty mantra, while the real story continues to break.
Media Matters uses VERY selective quotations and virtually no context. One example –
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509080022
I actually watched the Murdock exchange. Another person was on with him and she was stating things like Bush ordered blacks to be shot on site in N.O., etc. Did Media Matters have any problem with her “truths”? No, they did not.
My post is in bullpen. JustDumbBoy would you like to bet dinner on this when the Red Cross says they were blocked in delivering aid? So you don’t trust their web site? Armed LA Nat Guard stopping progress?
Since no one reads here:
Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?
Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.
The state Homeland Security Department had requested–and continues to request–that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.
The Red Cross has been meeting the needs of thousands of New Orleans residents in some 90 shelters throughout the state of Louisiana and elsewhere since before landfall. All told, the Red Cross is today operating 149 shelters for almost 93,000 residents.
The Red Cross shares the nation’s anguish over the worsening situation inside the city. We will continue to work under the direction of the military, state and local authorities and to focus all our efforts on our lifesaving mission of feeding and sheltering.
The Red Cross does not conduct search and rescue operations. We are an organization of civilian volunteers and cannot get relief aid into any location until the local authorities say it is safe and provide us with security and access.
The original plan was to evacuate all the residents of New Orleans to safe places outside the city. With the hurricane bearing down, the city government decided to open a shelter of last resort in the Superdome downtown. We applaud this decision and believe it saved a significant number of lives.
As the remaining people are evacuated from New Orleans, the most appropriate role for the Red Cross is to provide a safe place for people to stay and to see that their emergency needs are met. We are fully staffed and equipped to handle these individuals once they are evacuated.
9
“Regarding Media Matters: More lefties talking to lefties? Hmmm… Where is the critical thought there?
Actually, they do a pretty good factual analysis. There is no definite conclusion offered, but rather a questioning of Williams’ qualifications in commenting on the disaster, again, supported with factual information.
Let’s face it, the right wing has any number of media “watchdog” groups (I’m not using the term pejoratively), such as the Media Research Center. One could question the MRC’s conclusions, like this one: “MSNBC: Bush Supporters Are Anti-Black?!” (this is the headline currently on their home page, the article’s title is more tame)
http://www.mrc.org/cyberalerts.....0908.asp#1
One could also question their objection to Olberman’s commentary he gave Monday (9/6/05), since he was clearly stating his opinion, etc., etc.
Yeah, Media Matters being objective? NOT!!!
Why didn’t Media Matters go after Randall Robinson who said his people, black people are turning to cannibalism? At total fabricated lie!!! Because lefties don’t criticize lefties!!!!
Nancy Pelosi using the dead bodies in the nursing home where the nursing home owner told the LA Parish leader that she didn’t want to evacuate. 30+ old people died due to the owner defying the evacuation order when there was two vehicles and volunteers ready to evacuate. More lies by the lefties.
Selective use of some factual information Dr E.
nw @ 15
“Media Matters uses VERY selective quotations and virtually no context.
I would hope the quotations are selective. That’s how one makes a point. As for context, background is given, along with a video clip, plus links to the O’Reilly Factor and Fox. How much more do you want?
Amazing you all don’t care about government incompetance.
Clearly having a racist mayor who hates poor black people doesn’t seem to matter to you. Or maybe he’s just incompetent, and thus the misery of thousands is excusable?
Remember, 100% of his world is New Orleans (Fema has to worry say about Florida hurricanes, NY, LA, etc)… so with a town known to get hurricanes, AND with 3 days warning, he does nothing.
wow. Spin over substance i guess
19
How so? The link provides all the context you need.
21
“Amazing you all don’t care about government incompetance.
I can’t speak for others, but as a progressive I am appalled by government incompetence in this matter, especially at the federal level. And no, I don’t buy the “spin” about the mayor and gov. holding up federal relief efforts, for reasons stated above and elsewhere. From what I gather, the federal government trumps state and local governments in severe cases when it perceives it necessary.
Righton: FEMA had to worry about the Gulf Coast and Florida destruction by Katrina. But these leftist hatemongering Nutburgers can’t comprehend that!
Dr. E @ 20
‘How much more do you want?’
When the other person being interviewed is a spouting lies at 10X the rate and provides obvious racist commnents I would hope for a bit of scrutiny. If only to give them some credibility beyond the left wing.
dr e at 23
Who is responsible for the disaster relief plan, say for Burien, or Van Nuys? Shouldn’t those most likely to be affected be in prime position to know their own plan, come up with one?
Shoot, you leave it to the feds and they might ship snowshoes to Van Nuys, sunblock to people in Minnesota, whatever.
We are not a federal government only land. So faced with locals expected to do something, its unrealistic (aka political) to point only at the feds.
NoWonder @ 8
The dems probably voted for Brown the same way they voted for Iraq… at face value. Bad move for sure.
But you gotta admit this is damnning. REALLY. He has proved it. All this talk about how the state has to make the call because of procedure???? Break protocol man!!!! It’s time to go in!!
Loisianna was probably the least prepared state for this mess but still you gotta think…NO WONDER!! (yes, that was a cheap shot. sorry :)
I think we all know about the cronyism that has gone on and accepted it through every administration we can remember. This one takes the cake on the bad calls by a president though. And I understand the desire to defend Bush. But at this point it is just protecting the village idiot more than anything else. His war has failed, his domestic policy has failed, and this is a glaring example of why. Most of us have known all along that he is not competent which is why we would hope he would be ADVISED to hire competent people. Sorry but I gave him a HUGE chance to show his worth.
So much of this eternal search for gotcha-Bush is really pointless and boring. If it is not the Downing Street Memo, Karl Rove this or that, WMDs, and now the Katrina disaster I am assuming the left would have absolutely nothing to do. I do not speak for anyone else, yet I think all of the shrill attempts at vengeance for either election Bush won has done more harm to the various factions of the left wing. I think the right is stengthened with all this attention. I can only relate to the saying where the true character of a man can be known by looking at his enemies.
Have fun.
. . . and if you want some real fun . . . check out the number 2 and number 3 guys at FEMA . . . OUCH!
I equate Goldy’s fixation on Brown the way Goldy complains about Stefan’s fixation on Dean Logan. So Goldy looks at anything to have stick. Seems that Brown has some teflon on and this pisses Goldy off. While the MSM eventually comes to the fact that the victuals were kept from the populace by governor orders Goldy’s fixation on Brown will be back burner material next week.
Please Goldy keep it up. You are wonderfully funny now.
righton @ 21
“Amazing you all don’t care about government incompetance.”
Yes, most of us do—particularly when the government that works for us, that we work for, and the we pay taxes to, fucks up and people die as a result (Iraq invasion, Hurricane disaster relief).
Why the hell aren’t you outraged that shurb put an unqualified nincompoop in charge of federal disaster relief?
“Clearly having a racist mayor who hates poor black people doesn’t seem to matter to you.”
And you are one fucked up asshole for suggesting such a think. What the fuck, asshole, do you push over old people when they get in your way on the sidewalk?
Puddy asked the question of you lefties earlier but I see JustDenseBoy, NotCluedIn, etc. didn’t want to answer: It was your party that removed FEMA from a cabinet position. I saw it was a proposal from Joe Lieberman. And I like that guy too. Was it a wrongo move by your party? Yes or No?
The President declares next Friday as a day of prayer and remembrance and some lefty nutburger (borrowed from ProudAss) is complaining about this. See how stupid this is?
Wow, the wingnuts posting here are really out on a limb. Even Shrub—the idiot who almost never admits any fallibility—has admitted that the results of the relief effort are were unacceptable.
Holy shit, these fuckers are really lost (as in cult-like- brainwashed and intellectually-missing-in-action) when the man they worship admits to a mistake but they still hang on to defend him and attempt to divert blame to elsewhere!
DJ: Glad to see you on this site.
Let me answer this and then talk.
I am a proud black man. I look at this issue from my side of the tracks. I would be asking Mayur Nagin why didn’t you follow your own plan? MSM is starting this questioning. I would ask the governor why she did what she did? I would ask why didn’t you keep order? Your guys have the guns. Your guys searched the people going into the Superdome to relieve them of their weapons.
Sure FEMA didn’t do it too well. But FEMA had Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama to deal with along with Louisiana. I am underwhelmed by the MSM commentary on this. Why does your side focus like a laser beam on the feds and give the locals a pass? I saw those buses and see floating dead people and it breaks my heart as a black man. Now I see the governor issued orders that may have killed many of my people. I am appalled. You guys completely gloss over that!
Regarding govmint: I was educated that local govmint is in control until the state govmint takes over. I see that local and state govmints did not know what each other was doing. Then yesterday the mayur complains that the guvnur was blocking his plans. Also I see that the guvnur blocked emergency supplies on her direction of the LA National Guard. What is wrong with this picture that lefties can’t see? Are you all so blind that when my people are involved, you guys have no clue about us. How many HA lefties on this board are black? Stop trying to talk about my people.
I hated hearing Randall Robinson saying my people are savages reverting to cannibalism. Why haven’t any of you lefties decried that stupid comment? You all make me sick! There is no reflection on your wrong commentary ever. Then you accuse us of being EVIL by being conservative? Give me a break.
So dj et. al. until your side genuflects on the stupid commentary from Goldy and many of you HA lefties, I will continue to be saddened and shocked by lefty commentary.
Signed,
PacMan – a WA resident now!
The funniest thing I’ve ever seen is:
Puddy Freep and the PacMan
The WNF (WingNut Federation) tag team!
Clueless: Answer PacMan’s well asked questions. No you can’t because you are devoid of thought. And who is your Nutburger Tag Team (NuTT), you and rujax, you an windie, you and dj, you and donk****don? You have many partners to choose from. To me, all worthless moonbats!! I will take a proud black man any day of the week, especially since he’s from Philadelphia!!!
Dj: We agree that the results are less than stellar. We all said that. We also ask why is there blame being ascribed when people are dying and dead? Becasue your side can’t wait to blame people. Your nutburgers in Time Mag just after 9/11 went into the blame game then just like now. If your side was in power you would decrying it’s all political, it’s all political.
dj 36
When was the last time you responded to any posts or comments with something factual or even relevant? You truly typify the worst of you lefties. Every time somebody brings up the most basic of facts (f. ex. the non-use of the school bus fleet before the storm) you and your leties revert to calling them a prick, etc.
How’s this from a non-worshipper: Most of the so called trolls you heap crap on are just trying to correct the distortions and outright lies that the lefties are flinging around. It is obvious that you lefties (Goldy included) feel like your “blame Bush” strategy has “momentum”. Perhaps it does but does that mean anybody who actually tries to inject THE FACTS into this is “cult-like- brainwashed and intellectually-missing-in-action”?
Dr. E to answer your question about why the Federal Goverment can’t get involved in states affairs check out this website.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act
Sec. 1385. – Use of Army and Air Force as posse comitatus
Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both
The real reason for this law is explain better at this website.
The Ferderal Goverment can’t get involved in civilian matters unless asked or requested by that state Governer. Untill then the Federal goverment is very limited in what they can do to provide aid and in what matter. You do not want to erode this Act (The Posse Comitatus Act).
http://law.wustl.edu/WULQ/75-2/752-10.html#fn35
In response to the military presence in the Southern States during the Reconstruction Era, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act[1] (“PCA” or the “Act”) to prohibit the use of the Army in civilian law enforcement. The Act embodies the traditional American principle of separating civilian and military authority and currently forbids the use of the Army and Air Force to enforce civilian laws. In the last fifteen years, Congress has deliberately eroded this principle by involving the military in drug interdiction at our borders. This erosion will continue unless Congress renews the PCA’s principle to preserve the necessary and traditional separation of civilian and military authority.
For those who want to play the blam game are not helping anyone.
so far not a single lefty nutjob has said the blame equally ascribes to Governor and Mayor… right…??
Dr E the message I left on this blog got caught up in goldie’s filters.Check out these web sites and you will understand why the Federal Goverment can’t over ride local goverments. The Posse Comitatus Act is in place to protect us from goverment abuse of our personal rights.
http://law.wustl.edu/WULQ/75-2/752-10.html#fn35
In response to the military presence in the Southern States during the Reconstruction Era, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act[1] (“PCA” or the “Act”) to prohibit the use of the Army in civilian law enforcement. The Act embodies the traditional American principle of separating civilian and military authority and currently forbids the use of the Army and Air Force to enforce civilian laws
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act
National Guard units while under the authority of the governor of a state;
Troops when used pursuant to the Federal authority to quell domestic violence as was the case during the 1992 Los Angeles riots;
The President of the United States can waive this law in an emergency;
In December 1981 additional laws were enacted (codified 10 USC 371-78) clarifying permissible military assistance to civilian law enforcement agencies—including the Coast Guard—especially in combating drug smuggling into the United States. Posse Comitatus clarifications emphasize supportive and technical assistance (e.g., use of facilities, vessels, aircraft, intelligence, tech aid, surveillance) while generally prohibiting direct participation of Department of Defense personnel in law enforcement (e.g., search, seizure, and arrests). For example, Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETS) serve aboard Navy vessels and perform the actual boardings of interdicted suspect drug smuggling vessels and, if needed, arrest their crews.
Bad news being reported right now on Countdown, could be 40,000 dead in NO. This is so sad.
As yes, Mr. Loocy said this was an overused term. Why is the Mr. Wrestling Coach Loocy. Remember you told me you were a wrestling coach. But I digress. Moonbats. But sometimes GBS is not a moonbat, because he makes me think. Not many of you do. Why? You don’t place any personal thought on this.
Case in point. Who determined that the Democrats took FEMA from a cabinet position? Puddy. Who called your side on the BS spewed by Goldy? ProudAss. Who found the Red Cross web site? Puddy. Who uses the MSM to prove our points? We do. Need I search more to prove other factual items? What does you side do? Use attack blogs.
Why are other sites reporting less than 5000 people dead?
Iam still wating on your wonderful answers Clueless. DJ you can help him out if you can clean up your commentary and reduce the four letter epithets. Otherwise you are a fetid water brained lefty.
Sorry, I am still waiting on your wonderful…. I was watching O’Reilly on the chemicals in the water.
Zip: only 13% blame Bush. So the democratic attack machine came out in full force yesterday.
zip – some transit buses were used to transport people to the Superdome and the convention center – that’s all that NOLA could be expected to do under the circumstances and even that was a miracle. The place was wrecked.
The bus meme is completely bankrupt. Only an idiot or a troll could still be pushing that.
Just ask Puddy “school buses in the path of a hurricane” Freep.
Look in the mirror, pal. Everytime you come here is to hate. You back nothing up. You have no credibility.
29
“Shoot, you leave it to the feds and they might ship snowshoes to Van Nuys, sunblock to people in Minnesota, whatever.
Looking at the DHS’s mission, it seems that they are supposed to be positioned to avoid these types of things.
zip @ 41,
Several days ago I was providing plenty of factual information as idiots like Janet B posted made-up shit (e.g. the rumor that the Governor of LA had not declared an emergency–what the fuck?).
Now, I find that when Goldy provides another interesting post with factual information about the lack of qualifications of the director of FEMA, a bunch of you fucking wingnuts start blaming the injured and attempt to divert the topic away from the topic of the post—the lame credentials of, and the exaggerated resume of Mr. Brown, and the obscene cronyism that resulted in Brown becoming director of FEMA.
Hence, I have no problem barking back at the trolls, even if the signal to noise ratio is on the low side.
If you don’t like it, GO FUCK YOURSELF!*
* Special thanks to the President of the Senate, Dick Cheney, for this inspiration.
Goldy,
Congrats on making the top of the recommended list at Kos. They like you; they really like you! :-)
And thanks for following up. There are plenty of jobs in the federal government that can be done by political hacks. After all, some jobs don’t require much specialized knowledge, and presidents should be able to influence the direction and leadership of executive branch agencies. I don’t think this administration has learned one damn thing in four and a half years in office, but I hope future presidents will be more discerning in their selections. As we’ve seen here, the potential negative consequences are just too high for some jobs to be left to cronies. My mother teaches CPR for the Red Cross, but I don’t think she should become Surgeon General.
PacMan @ 46
“DJ you can help him out if you can clean up your commentary and reduce the four letter epithets.”
Shove your opinion up your ass, motherfucker!
(And not a single four letter epithet in my response :) )
klake
The DHS also cites the Posse Comitatus Act in their appendices to the National Response plan, along with other federal statutes (including the Stafford Act of 1974) in determining how it responds to federal emergencies. My brief reading of the NRP seems to indicate to me that the DHS is reserving the right to supercede state and local officials in general, as well as in making proactive responses. Of course I could be wrong, since I was only made aware of the NRP a couple of days ago and haven’t waded through all of its 100+ pages (nor do I have much inclination to do so). I’m sure others have more expertise in both response structures as well as federal bureaucratese than do I… I just find the “attack the local officials, defend the federal officials” response from right wing pundits (and others, including CNN’s Kyra Phillips) to be rather suspicious.
Who determined that the Democrats took FEMA from a cabinet position? Puddy. Who called your side on the BS spewed by Goldy? ProudAss. Who found the Red Cross web site? Puddy. Who uses the MSM to prove our points? We do. Need I search more to prove other factual items? What does you side do? Use attack blogs.
Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do! We do.
Who leaves the Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do! We do.
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do! We do.
Who robs cave fish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do! We do.
Couldn’t resist…
I dont know whether Brown is qualified or not. Most positions like this are more adminstrative then anything else.
That said, its clear you seem to regard him as being the weakest link.
The real problem with FEMA is the layers of red tape that are intrinsic to any government agency as well as it being locked under Homeland Security management, in my opinion.
This might also be interesting to follow:
http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/637/1/
DJ: Thanks for describing your sex life to your friends. Eewww! Another fine example of well thought out directed lefty blather. If you can’t answer me mano-e-mano, you are a sick person. Your fiendish retorts prove you have no sense of truth. Thanks again dj. You make me appreciate GBS more everyday!
Proof FEMA dropped the ball also:
Emergency Response Team
The ERT is the principal interagency group that staffs
the JFO. The ERT is composed of DHS/EPR/FEMA staff
and ESF personnel. The ERT includes an advance
element, known as the ERT-A, that conducts
assessments and initiates coordination with the State
and initial deployment of Federal resources. Each
DHS/EPR/FEMA region maintains an ERT ready to
deploy in response to threats or incidents. The National
Emergency Response Team (ERT-N) deploys for largescale,
high-impact events, or as required. (pg.58)
The ERT-A deploys during the early stages of an
incident to work directly with the State to obtain
information on the impact of the event and to
identify specific State requests for Federal incident
management assistance. (pg.58)
The ERT-N deploys for large-scale, high-impact
events, or as required.
An ERT-N may pre-deploy based on threat conditions.
The Secretary of Homeland Security determines the
need for ERT-N deployment, coordinating the plans
with the affected region and other Federal agencies.
The ERT-N includes staff from DHS/EPR/FEMA
Headquarters and regional offices as well as other
Federal agencies. (Three ERT-N teams are structured,
with one team on call every third month. A fourth
standing team is on call year-round exclusively to
manage incidents in the National Capital Region (NCR).)
(pq.58)
Federal Incident Response Support Team
(FIRST)
The FIRST is designed to be a quick and readily
deployable resource to support the Federal response to
Incidents of National Significance. The FIRST deploys
within 2 hours of notification, to be on-scene within
12 hours of notification. DHS/EPR/FEMA maintains
and deploys the FIRST.
The FIRST is a forward component of the ERT-A that
provides on-scene support to the local Incident
Command or Area Command structure in order to
facilitate an integrated interjurisdictional response.
After linking up with local and State officials, the team
assesses the situation and identifies the potential
requirements for Federal support, provides protective
action recommendations, identifies critical unmet
needs, and coordinates response activities with other
Federal responders. They also oversee on-scene Federal
assistance, which could include critical life-saving and
life-sustaining items.
The FIRST is not intended to supplant existing response
teams, but to bring a near-time immediate Federal
presence to the scene of an Incident of National
Significance. The FIRST is robust enough to represent a
“value-added” resource in the earliest phase of a
response operation. Upon the subsequent deployment
of an ERT, the FIRST integrates into the Operations
Section of the JFO.
(pg.59)
Dr E. Bob Harris was put forth yesterday.
Karma Clueless Kos, if the mayur implemented his evacuations plan as stated as Part D. (remember you & JDB asked on the other thread), the buses would have been used and not stranded and leaking oil from them as shown in the Google shot.
Dr E. When Seattle had WTO a few years back the city of Seattle lack the skills to handly the problems they face with certain uninvited gest. The Mayor refuse the Nat. Guard to wait in standby in case there was problems. We went home only to be called up a few days later to put the unrest down and restore order. The local police were down town without any support from the Mayor nor the Governor, needless to say they (Police) were not the happiest campers. They also experence the same problems that New Orleanes Police are today. Now you lose a lot of good Police Officers because the Mayor was derelict of his duty. Everytime I have seen this problem before the local folks disregard good advice from those parties who have been there in the same situation before. Your best bet is keep the Fed’d out as long as you can. The locals are better at solveing problems than a bunch of outsiders, keep the governer informed, and be ready to ask for help when need.
Pacman –
I got a four letter word for you: E V I L. It fits you to a T. You’re making excuses for dangerous incompetents. You’re blaming the victim and like your hero Karl Rove, you’re attacking and ridiculing critics them on it. It ain’t gonna pass muster, fool.
You say Goldy is “fixated” on Brown. Why shouldn’t he be? The guy is a freakin’ incompetent totally unqualified for the job. A crony, a hack. And I heard all the people under him are just as bad if not worse.
It seems you’re a little “fixated” on skin color. Well here’s a little something from a certain wingnut dark-skinned girl that should entertain you as well.
As for where FEMA is in the scheme of things I don’t freaking care if it’s at cabinet or dozen levels down from George Wanker Bush. I don’t care if the D’s, the R’s or the Z’s put it there. It had better be staffed with someone on the ball (like Clinton had) when its responsibility is to save lives.
klake
You’re comparing 2 situations of completely different scale. I don’t really think they’re comparable…
Speaking of unqualified, did anyone see the press release today by District 9 candidate, Steve Hammond? I couldn’t believe my eyes. Hammond is trying to force the Prosecuter’s office and the Sheriff’s office into making the “investigation, arrest and prosecution of looting and related crimes during natural and man-made disasters the county’s highest law enforcement priority.”
Heaven forbid that we make the evacuation and survival of all of those affected the highest priority, but NO, we must get the LOOTERS! This is obviously some sort of legislation to gain favor during election cycles, but cmon, this is one of the worst examples of bandwagoning that I have ever seen. Give me a break.
Dr E. They use the same game book no matter what events take place and the scale has nothing to do with what actions they take.
Moonbats – How many people have you exploited today? How many votes did you buy with your explotation? How many dreams did you kill? How many people did you tell that it’s futile for them to pursue the American dream? How many people did you give money to in order to kill any desire they have to achieve by themselves and be productive citizens? How many people did you kill today by making them dependents on the government and the productive taxpaying citizens?
None I address my FEARS Redneck and didn’t hide behind by mommys skirt and didn’t wipe my snotty nose on her appron.
Speaking of padded resumes, here’s a Republican that Bush might want to consider for FEMA director She doesn’t know anything about emergency services, but neither does the incumbent. She’s at least as qualified as the incumbent and more, ahem, uplifting.
Hey Wabbit – Remember the movie from 1950 that starred “Harvey The Invisible Rabbit”. “Harvey The Invisible Rabbit” is going to be the metaphor for Adam Smith’s invisible hand that manages demand, supply and prices. So when I refer to “Harvey” from now on while I’m explaining and illustrating the miracle of free market capitalism, that’s what I’m talking about. (See below)
Hey Wabbit – Did you see what Harvey The Invisible Rabbit did today as energy prices fell today on news that shortages are not as bad as feared? You can stay in your hutch and not lift a paw. Harvey’s got it covered. It’s a fucking miracle.
It was reported today that Mike Brown lead the search for Bob Denver aka “Gilligan” in the 1960s after their fateful trip aboard that tiny ship. Only a dumass like Brown could have missed that huge island. Also, The Smartest Woman In The World demanded an investigation as to why the island was uncharted. TSWITW also questioned how they could have failed to find the castaways when it was known there were within a 3 hour radius of the port, and there were few islands in the vicinity. All fingers seem to be pointed straight at MIKE BROWN. The Coroner’s report indicated that years of “no phone, no lights, no motorcar, not a single luxury” and living in “primitive Robinson Crusoe” conditions took years off Mr. Denver’s life, leading to his untimely demise this week.
Rest in peace little buddy.
A little entertainment for the wingnuts!
Ober at KOS there is a reports now of Brownie and liposcution in horses. Part may be correct as when Brownie was at IAHA he did investigate allegations of liposuction being done to horses necks. Bush may have thought that was pretty important for the new FEMA director.
what great input you have. All you have written in the past week is the wingnut creed, and you have the guts to call a liberal out on ‘no original thoughts’. Get a life little one.
Redneck – Ha Ha, real lame. Why don’t you pour some Johnny Walker Blue, light a Cuban and click on the link I’ve provided above for some entertainment we know you’re gonna love!
Nowonder at 31…. you think by now you would see the glaring truth.
Trust me when I say that the next president, who WILL be a democrat, will be held accountable by the democrats. I will be right there watching that is for sure.
Stop defending Bush. He is an incompetant lier. Everyone needs to stop defending him.
MTR @ 68
Zero.
clueless @ 51
“some transit buses were used to transport people to the Superdome and the convention center – that’s all that NOLA could be expected to do under the circumstances”
Check out the City of NO emergency plan:
http://www.cityofno.com/System.....8;tabid=26
The busses were supposed to be used to transport the old and poor people BEFORE the hurricane hit, Einstein. The mayor dragging his feet before issung the mandatory evacuation (BEFORE the hurricane) and then ordering evacuation in his half assed way certainly caused more deaths than anything FEMA did or did not do.
Tell us again it’s all Bush’s fault or Brown’s. Speaking of insanely and repeatedly dissing Brown’s qualifications for the job,
Jimmy you little dickweed@77—
EVERYONE NEEDS TO STOP DEFENDING HIM!
And I love it when LEFTIST PINHEADS like you can’t even spell I-N-C-O-M-P-E-T-E-N-T!!! It ends in -ent you incompetent little fucker.
You also can’t spell L-I-A-R!!! You lying sack of shit.
Where did you go to school asswipe?? EVERGREEN? And what grade are you in?
SECOND?
Clueless @ 73
I wondered where HA got ideas for words and phrases. I thought you guys made it up yourselves.
Jimmy @ 77
‘…you think by now you would see the glaring truth.’
Just because I read HA and target practice a bit here does not mean I drink your kool-aid. I like Bush, and especially like what he has done for the US and the world. A few mistakes, sure. Evil, no way.
Nark the Red Neck @71
Don’t you wish Roger was an invisible rabbit! Dream on.
@82
Insurrection. That’s what we need in this country — a fucking insurrection.
81 – Glad you enjoyed the entertainment Larry.
A few mistakes? The guy’s a walking talking mistake.
Here another little video about one of W’s “mistakes”. Very expensive mistake. Wouldn’t you say?
Evil? Oh, yes Larry, yes.
It was the Insurrection Act. Yeah that’s the ticket.
Comment by Puddybud— 9/8/05 @ 8:43 pm
Hey Puddybud you might have something.
Military support to civilian law enforcement is carried out in strict compliance with the Constitution and U.S. laws and under the direction of the president and secretary of defense.
http://www.northcom.mil/index......actsheet=5
The Insurrection Act (Title 10 USC, Sections 331-335). This act allows the president to use U.S. military personnel at the request of a state legislature or governor to suppress insurrections. It also allows the president to use federal troops to enforce federal laws when rebellion against the authority of the U.S. makes it impracticable to enforce the laws of the U.S.
Klake, I said this earlier and was pooh poohed by these lawless lefties. Certain things have to be done in a specific order. Anything less and these same lefties would be asking for the ACLU to sue.
81 – Glad you enjoyed the entertainment Larry.
A few mistakes? The guy’s a walking talking mistake.
Here another little video about one of W’s “mistakes”. Very expensive mistake. Wouldn’t you say?
Evil? Oh, yes Larry, yes.
Comment by For the Clueless— 9/8/05 @ 8:57 pm
Clueless nice pice of propaganda you found, but is nothing further from the truth. I have been over there and I have seen some of Saddam’s handy work, that cut doesn’t show the reason we went over to Iraq. Maybe you should buy a ticket and go visit you friends that you love to support. When you come back enlighten us on what they had to say and well they embrace you and your ideals. Please don’t forget you prayer rug, they pray five times a day and no sleeping in either.
[Read on!!] New Orleans is not built below
> > sea level, but some of it is in the newest areas where they filled in
> > marshes for housing. What outsiders don’t understand is that Lake
> > Pontchartrain fills up with the storm surge and becomes about six to
> > eight feet above sea level. This is what floods the lake front and newer
> > areas of the city during a hurricane. It usually takes about two weeks
> > to return to normal sea level and drain. What has made it bad this time
> > is two fold. First they built a sea wall, not a levee, to protect the
> > city from the lake (not the river) during hurricanes. Unfortunately
> > somebody tied a barge to the seawall ahead of the storm and it pounded
> > the sea wall down and allowed the water into the city. The second
> > problem is the same as the first – they built a seawall around the city
> > so the water cannot flow back out into the lake. The height of the lake
> > was greater than ever but the sea wall was high enough to keep the city
> > dry, it just broke because of stupidity in allowing boats and barges to
> > moor to the structure.
> >
> > The comments about the local government is noteworthy. The city is
> > mostly black and white flight has taken place. The police chief, mayor
> > and all major offices are held by blacks. Our governor is a white
> > grandmother from New Orleans with no top management experience. The
> > congressman from this district is black and under FBI investigation for
> > graft. The senator from this area is a young white girl with no job
> > experience at all, but her dad was a local power broker. Did I mention
> > that all of these folks are democrats. There has been no ability to make
> > a decision except for how to keep in office for many, many years. As
> > soon as the FBI comes and puts one of them in jail, there as another
> > crook to take his place. We get the kind of government we pay for. This
> > is an unprecedented emergency and there was no leadership at all until
> > Bush stepped in and sent the army into the city. Remember it is up to
> > locals to request federal help as they cannot just rush in uninvited.
> >
> > The responsible black community and remaining white community all
> > evacuated as ordered. Many blacks remained in order to loot the city as
> > they did during past emergencies. The mayor of New Orleans claimed as
> > much on camera. By staying behind they have also made the rest of the
> > nation responsible for them. Those who left are getting no help for food
> > and housing – only those who stayed back and made trouble. Who was
> > shooting at the rescue workers since last Wednesday? Who stole the
> > Wildlife and Fisheries rescue boats on Tuesday night so they could have
> > mobility to loot and burn the city. Most of the early rescue efforts had
> > to be stopped because of the gunfire from the ghetto gangs. The first
> > guardsmen into the city came without guns because they were here to
> > rescue not defend. They were run out of town by hoodlums. At least three
> > days were lost helping people because of the black gunmen shooting at
> > everything that moved. The attacked the police station and shot it up
> > pretty bad. Some casualties were suffered by the police but they did not
> > shoot back. The black leadership didn’t want any voters lost. Kill one
> > of them and you may lose an entire family of votes. Yesterday is the
> > first reported killing of the gangsters when five of them were shot by
> > the army after being attacked on a bridge site. Unofficial stories of
> > the army cleaning out these pests say many have been killed but the
> > media is not entering those areas. It seems that news people were shot
> > at along with everybody else.
> >
> > The shelters were no havens. Hundreds of women were raped and refugees
> > were beaten to death. Security police in the superdome were beaten and
> > thrown out into the water by the black gangs so they could have mob
> > rule. Vigilante action by some of the refugees was all that saved any of
> > the whites or women from them. They apparently threw some of the bad
> > guys off the upper tier of the dome onto the lower seats.
> >
> > This was a repeat of Watts and Newark, and every African nation when
> > white government surrendered control. Contrast this to The Miss. Coast
> > where the actual damage to structures and loss of life is immensely
> > greater. No looting or anarchy is being reported, Could it be that it is
> > because of the quality of the citizens? The war cry of the uninvolved is
> > that this is clearly a racial thing and we didn’t want to help the poor
> > of New Orleans. Possible 100,000 people stayed behind and you cannot
> > tell the gangsters from the populace. Volunteers lined up to help
> > immediately but were repulsed by gunfire. We must be southern bigots who
> > wouldn’t undergo combat conditions to rescue those folks wanting to get
> > out after the storm. The overwhelming majority of rescuers are white,
> > the bus drivers who are hauling them out are white, the coast guardsmen
> > are white, the places where the refugees are now housed are in white
> > neighborhoods, my daughter has four elderly blacks staying with her in
> > Houston, etc. There has been no offers of help from the black community
> > or churches. Our local black college has done little to help, no black
> > churches opened the buildings for refugees, no black politicians made
> > facilities available ( most have busses and some have new meeting halls
> > or gyms in the black neighborhoods). Yep it is a racial thing, if a
> > black has a problem, it is whitey’s fault and we are criticized for not
> > fixing it fast enough. Remember the cry of the looters – I’ve got to get
> > food furor my babies. Did you see any babies in the dome or any other
> > shelter? People who cared about family and children and babies were all
> > gone from the city before the storm in most cases.
> >
> > Don’t worry about the city, it will be back in operation in many areas
> > by the end of next week. Several weeks will be required to pump out the
> > lowest areas of town but the city will be functioning long before that.
> > The higher areas will re-occupied when electricity is restored. This
> > week people are visiting their homes to recover what they need for the
> > next few days. Remember that many areas had flooded streets not flooded
> > houses. The lowest areas that you see flooded to the roofs are not the
> > slums, these are generally middle class areas where they build in areas
> > that were filled in marshes and are actually well below sea level. The
> > slums will be refilled long before these low areas are rebuilt. Slums
> > are old areas and old timers knew better that build in the marsh lands
> > so they will still be there and occupied in weeks.
> >
> > To address the last of the criticism of New Orleans management, they did
> > do several things to protect the city such as have the Corps of
> > Engineers build that sea wall in the last twenty five years and install
> > several huge pumps for the low lying areas. How much more were you as a
> > taxpayer willing to give to make New Orleans waterproof??? We had to
> > compete with making Los Angeles and San Francisco earthquake proof
> > during the last twenty five years. If the Corps of Engineers that
> > studied the problem decided a seawall was the most cost effective way to
> > protect the city, I am amazed to hear how damn smart in engineering some
> > magazine editors are on this subject. Remember the catastrophe only
> > occurred after the boats and barges slammed into the seawall. Without
> > that blunder the city would have been dry and no problems would have
> > been encountered and a lot fewer black citizens would be sporting
> > AK-47’s and stolen diamond rings.
http://www.radioblogger.com/#000970 – Now we know the Salvation Army and the Red Cross was kept out.
MG: I was very specific with the American Red Cross, president and CEO Marty Evans, and said wait. Tell me clearly. Were you prepared to go in before the levees broke? Before water became an issue of any kind? She said absolutely. Were you denied access before the levees broke? She said we were denied access from minute one.
HH: And did they attempt to renew their request to get in after the levees broke, Major Garrett?
MG: Yes. I am told that the timeline indicates a frequent reasking of this question.
HH: And a frequent denial by Louisiana state Department of Homeland Security?
MG: Right. Because as we discussed last night, their system was this is the shelter of last resort. It is an evacuation site, not a services site.
More: MG: And they said, look. The Mayor told all these people to bring three days worth of food and water. Well, not very many people did. So the National Guard did bring in, on its own, palettes of food, water and things. But clearly, it wasn’t enough. Clearly, they were overwhelmed. The numbers were staggering. In the end, it was up to 60,000 people that the National Guard had to supervise, or at least try to supervise at these two places, and eventually move out with the buses. Where did the buses come from? They came from FEMA. 1,100 of them were produced in 72 hours, even though as we all saw, buses were under water all over the city, never used.”
More: HH: Mark, before we get to the specifics that I’m talking about, the media’s meltdown, it seems to me that a lot of facts have come to light. What’s your judgment of what went wrong last week in New Orleans?
MS: Well, I think the question of what went wrong is a very simple one. It actually has a failed local and state government. And when you’re in that situation, there’s a limit to what the national government can do, particularly when you’re talking about a national government that has to basically span a continent. You know, DeTocqueville understood this in 1840, when he published Democracy in America. He said a nation can establish a free government, but without municipal institutions, it cannot have the spirit of liberty. And that’s the point. That’s what we saw on September 11th, that it was in the Mayor and the police and the fire departments, and the other municipal institutions in New York, that you saw the spirit of liberty, and you measured the health of that society. And that’s what has failed with this guy who’s the mayor of New Orleans, and with this governor of Louisiana, and this hysterical meltdown by Senator Landrieu of Louisiana.
HH: You know, Mark Steyn, there seems to be a massive attempt at fraud under way, which if it was occurring in the mail, it would be, I think, subject to mail fraud, which is to persuade America, via the MSM, that this is George Bush’s and his FEMA’s fault. How do you respond to this?
MS: Well, I think I understand when the foreigners to this, because if somebody in a Belgian newspaper says why isn’t Bush doing more, that’s fair enough. You know, they think of this as a problem, why aren’t the politicians doing more. And the only American politician that they’ve heard of in foreign countries is the president, George Bush. But what excuse do the networks and the big newspapers have? They don’t have that same excuse. And they’re colluding, essentially, as you say, in a fraud that is going to further damage their reputation. It’s not really having any effect in the polls. It’ll just be another one of these dead horses they flog for a while, until they finally give up on it, because another dead horse has come along.
HH: Well, you know how someone talks about cars who doesn’t know anything about cars? Like me talking about cars? And they give it away right away, and then you don’t listen to them on cars. On this story, the national media is giving away they don’t understand anything about government.
MS: Yeah. I think you’re right. You made a very good point a couple of day ago, that actually, this is the sort of stuff that is a basic civics class stuff. And I’ve found it extraordinary that people don’t understand. People say why can Bush do so much in Iraq, and he can’t do so much in Louisiana. Because Louisiana is a sovereign entity, and he has basically, unless he wants to take extraordinary powers that haven’t been used in this country for a hundred and forty years, he has to do everything with the cooperation of the governor. And this governor is someone who before all this happened, was characterized in the press as deliberative. What that means, is that she seems to take days to make simple decisions.
HH: Yeah. She’s befuddled.
MS: You can’t have someone like that running a hurricane.
Hey Clueless
Any videos of Jewish children with there flesh smeared on a pizzaria wall. How about some 911 victims falling from 900 feet on fire splattering on the sidewalk. If you added that it would be more dramatic.
Puddybud @ 82
Well, it is too bad that Mike Brown wasn’t a quick thinker. He could have sent FEMA folks into New Orleans earlier. And when the criminals in New Orleans fired on the FEMA workers, Brown could have had Bush declare that an insurrection existed — which would have been legally correct. Then Bush could have federalized the whole operation, and the previous failures of Nagin & Blanco (no evacuation plan for the poor, drowning hundreds of buses) would have been the main news thread — instead of the slow federal response.
As it is, everyone in charge of things in Louisiana — from city to state to federal — looks like a total screwup.
88
Re: Insurrection Act — is itself an exception to Posse Comitatus. Incidentally:
“Some government attorneys believe that the Insurrection Act is subject to a very liberal interpretation”
according to the Homeland Security Institute. (http://www.homelandsecurity.or.....edness.htm)
As for Posse Comitatus, the President apparently can waive the law in case of emergency.
I’d be interested to hear what a constitutional scholar or other expert on constitutional law would have to say.
RPope: Almost disagreement, you are mostly correct. He was slow in this. But the latest timeline shows the FEMA people in August 30th, one day after the levees breaking. New Orleans Disaster Manager Terry Ebbert said so. Should it cost Brown his job, let the investigation determine it. All I have ever said that the locals screwed up first. No lefty will admit to that. That’s all I have been saying. Google search my comments. Can’t catch me on this!!!!
When I look at these postings here, Goldy and his lefty goosesteppers are disingenuous about this. Watch and listen as the lefty MSM finally investigates the Salvation Army and Red Cross charges. Can’t hide the info when the RC pastes on their web site.
klake@ – Thank you for your service to our country and I’m glad you made it back safe and hopefully in one piece.
We didn’t go to Iraq to put an end to Saddam’s handiwork. If that were true, we’d be in North Korea or some other place putting another son of a bitch murderer out of business. We went because we were told he was a threat like OBL. Remember the “mushroom clouds”? It didn’t turn out that way did it? There was plenty of evidence that he was no threat at all.
The Bush regime went to war because they think the only way America can matter in the world is by throwing her weight around. The neo-cons want the nations of the world to keep coming to us like people asking favors of some Mafia Don.
We shouldn’t go to war because some clowns in the White House think it’s the “right thing to do”. We go to war only because we have ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER CHOICE.
I’m not going anywhere. I’m an American. I don’t support murderers and torturers like Saddam, mass-murdering religious fanatics like OBL or incompetent clowns who are guided by a “higher father” like current bozo in the oval office.
Thank you for putting your life on the line for your country but excuse me if I excercise my rights and curse the sons of bitches who put you in harms way for NOTHING. Iraq, IMO, was not worth the lives, the limbs and the treasure.
Dr E. I know Major General Timonthy J. Lowenberg personally and he is an expert on the subject matter you requesting about. He still visits University of Pugt Sound, and you could possible listen in to one of his speeches.
I’d be interested to hear what a constitutional scholar or other expert on constitutional law would have to say.
http://www.washingtonairguard.com/
During this active duty tour, General Lowenberg was also appointed an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Puget Sound School of Law in Tacoma, Washington. He has taught continuously at the University of Puget Sound, and more recently, Seattle University School of Law, since 1973.
General Lowenberg also serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee for the Adjutants General Association of the United States and as Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor.
Dr E this the General that our Govener will go to for any advice on this subject matter if we face a deaster like Miss. or La.. If you ever meet the General you would be really impress in what he has to say and how he treats his fellow country men.
Hey Clueless wait for the September 14 hearings on the 9/11 Omissions Report. I thought Lt Col Shaffer, Capt. Phillpott and James Smith all said that they traced Mohammed Atta to Iraqi Intelligence, dismissed by the 9/11 Omission. But I could be wrong. I look forward to Spector’s Hearings.
Dr. E I don’t like liberal interpretations of any laws. The Constitution is a living document, delineating specific actions. The forefathers were very circumspect in their deliberations. If GWB called it an Insurrection what do you think the ACLU, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton would have done? Dem bastard white guys in the White House trying to shoot dem house and field n i g g e r s. Guns a blazing like Blazing Saddles only for real! We can see the headlines and news bylines on TV. Shit would be a flying and Goldy would be a blogging. There is no winning here with the left. Bush’s hands were tied. Why do you think there were all those meetings at the Pentagon, etc.? How do we deal with this, that and the other.
Well, the msm’s made it to this story: Aaron Brown, Time, yada, yada …
To correct the color of the prez’s quote @2: Goldy, you’re doing a great job!
103 – But I could be wrong.
There’s a first time for everything, is there?
Oh yes, if you missed this Clueless because you do live your karma, Spector sent a letter to the FBI. This was missed by you all but the Pudster been following it.
Honorable Robert Mueller Director Federal Bureau of Investigation 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D. C. 20535-0001
Dear Director Mueller,
It has been reported in the news media and directly to my staff that Army Lt. Colonel Anthony Shaffer was the operations officer for a secret military program referred to as Able Danger. The mission of Able Danger was to use a sophisticated data mining program in conjunction with more traditional military intelligence methods to identify and track al Qaida terrorists oversees.
In connection with this mission, Shaffer reports that he and his associates discovered the names and U.S. locations of three of the four 9-11 pilots a year prior to 9-11. Because the suspected al Qaida terrorists were located in the U.S., Shaffer reports that he made repeated requests of Defense Intelligence Agency (“DIA”) officials to schedule a meeting with FBI officials in order to present this intelligence to the FBI for further investigation. Shaffer further contacted FBI agent Xanthig Mangum and asked her to schedule such a meeting within FBI. Shaffer states that he made this request both verbally and by email to Agent Mangum. Shaffer claims that the DIA decided not to share this information with the FBI on the advice of legal counsel and that certain meetings that had been scheduled on this issue were cancelled as a result.
This is an official request that your office provide to the Judiciary Committee all information and documents it has in connection with Able Danger, Lt. Colonel Anthony Shaffer, Captain Scott Phillipot or any other persons having any connections with Project Able Danger, including, but not limited to, email communication, notes, phone message slips, memos or any other supporting documentation.
I would appreciate it if you would provide Agent Mangum for an interview with my staff at your earliest convenience. Also, please provide information concerning any and all requests made to the FBI by any other entity, agency, branch or commission in connection with Agent Mangum, Lt Colonel Shaffer, Project Able Danger or any related matters, including, but not limited to, requests for interviews or documents.
Thank you for your attention to this important question about cross agency information sharing.
Sincerely,
Arlen Specter
DOOFUS @ 96
I’m glad you liked the video. It was about America in Iraq kicking butt and taking names. Did you like what you saw? Is that why you pay your taxes?
We didn’t go to Iraq and sacrifice American lives, limbs and treasure to fight the Israelis’ beef with the Palestinians and all evidence I’ve seen so far says Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. The Chimpinator himself said so.
@87
Who the fuck had his picture taken on a levee, then sped off in his presidential helicopter?
@107
Wasn’t it you Wabbit? You are everywhere in your retirement!
re 39: “Pride goeth before a fall.”
Gary Coleman
I came in from my chores this morning and turned on the TV and caught the last of the speil on Mike’s being replaced as being in charge of on-site operations for the Katrina mess.
I felt like someone had hit me in the stomach and knocked the air out of me! How sad. Political blackmail has won again! I feel sorry for the future of this country if this kind of politics continues.
In the meantime, I wish Mike the absolute best and will always be very appreciative of the tremendous job he did for IAHA.
The trash written above about Mike and IAHA is just that, trash! IAHA is not some little horse thing! It is 45,000+ members strong and the Arabian horse is revered around the world and has been for centuries. The Arabian horse has been the world’s greatest Ambassadore for peace throughout many centuries and still is. In the past the Arabian horse was the revered gift between kings, heads of states, etc., etc. to settle from differences to wars. I belong to WAHO (World Arabian Horse Organization) and have attended conferences around the world as a delegate for the Arabian horse interests in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Today this horse brings 65 + countries together in a wonderful atmosphere of peace and cooperation. For example, I have been seated next to Israel who sat next to Egypt and Libya, all having lunch at the same table and totally compatible. We had one common cause bringing us together…the Arabian Horse. This Arabian horse is what the organization that Mike Brown worked for and did such a fabulous job stands for. An organization comprised of people who breed, own and are dedicated to the preservation of the World’s greatest Ambassadore is not something to dismiss.
If you cannot understand the importance of IAHA/Mike Brown in relationship to the rest of the world………..you need to figure it out because you are sorely lacking in what history reveals to us that can help us understand the mistakes we make today, simply because some haven’t taken the time to study that history. The Arabian horse has played a part in world history, politics and war for centiries to say nothing of the fact this horse is the genetic foundation gene pool for every other light-horse riding breed existing in the world today. Respect him!!!!!
@110
I’ve never been to NOLA in my life! It’s amazing what kind of stuff wingy trolls will lie about.
Which reminds me of George Will’s “Theory of the Little Lie”: People like Puttybutt tell lies so petty and demeaning you wonder why they stoop to it.
Lorry @ 112 –
First. let preface this by saying that I am/was a lifetime member of both the IAHA and the AHRA. I agree with everything that you written concerning a noble breed of animal/
You say, in part:
” …If you cannot understand the importance of IAHA/Mike Brown in relationship to the rest of the world… ”
That’s exactly the point… This isn’t about the relationship of Mr Brown and the Arabian horse world. It’s about the relationship between Mr Brown and his duty to the American people and his abilities as the head of FEMA.
Lorry Wanger @ 112:
“The Arabian horse has played a part in world history, politics and war for centiries to say nothing of the fact this horse is the genetic foundation gene pool for every other light-horse riding breed existing in the world today.”
And that means Mr. Brown was qualified in disaster relief how?
Roger Rabbit @ 113:
The question is does Wrongboy know he is lying, or does he really belive the Novak he spews? I’m starting to think, sadly, he believes it.
PuddyBud “This was missed by you all but the Pudster been following it.”
Nuff Said!!!
LOL~!
I, too, am a lifetime member of IAHA (now AHA), WAHO and PAHR and was a member of AHRA since 1960. I joined IAHA in 1960. So, I guess one would call me an “old war horse” at this point, but I sure have lived through and seen a lot. It really doesn’t matter if it is equine politics, Washington politics or just local group politics. It always seems to deteriorate to the same level. So sad we humans can never learn from history…sorry my points went over the heads of so many. I will explain:
1. I addressed the disparaging and belittling remarks made by people ignorant of the history and essence of the Arabian horse breed. That I will never stand for!!!! This Arabian horse has played such a significant part down through the centuries of world history! The Arabian is a class act, bar none.
2. Mike stepped into IAHA “AND TOOK CHARGE” in an area that had never been done before in “any” equine organization….no previous guidelines to follow…..he started from scratch and exhibited exceptional organization and leadership skills. He then tackled a job no one had had the “guts” to do in the previous 25+ years in pursuing investigation of a few individuals who practiced blatent ethical problems detrimental to our breed… ! He was successful!
He put an educational system together that produced an “elite” corps of Arabian judges, bar none.
I know most of you here could care less about Arabian horses, but this all relates to Mike’s wide span of versatile abilities, including the areas of leadership and organization.
The Arabian judges are unique to start with in that they must (individually) be able to judge many different divisions (types of performance from English riding to Western riding to Dressage, jumping, cutting cows, stock horse, etc., etc.) No other breed is as versatile and no other corps of judges must be as widely knowledgeable. Mike’s program sharply honed these skills and our Arabian judges are invited around the world to judge Arabian horses. Mike was instrumental in creating a corps of judges that cannot be matched by any other breed or discipline. I give credit where credit is due. Remember, Mike had no involvement with horses. This was virgin territory in many respects. He got the job done.
So, IMHO, this background does, indeed, give Mike the credibility to head FEMA. Remember, Mike came into FEMA as legal counsel and moved up the ladder. So he actually did have much more experience with FEMA than he did with the horse world, which was “zip!”
Lorry @ 118:
Well, the good news for you is that you are as qualified to head FEMA by Bush’s standards as Mr. Brown.
And I’m glad you were happy with Mr. Brown, apparently many in your organization were not. Just as many of the civil servants in FEMA were not happy with him there.
But the fault is not Mr. Brown’s, it is Mr. Bush who nominated a political crony to such an important job.
Bush is a PUNK ASS CHUMP.
Wsahington Is A Fail State.