FEMA Chief Relieved of Katrina Duties

Via AP:

Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown is being removed from his role managing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, The Associated Press has learned.

Brown is being sent back to Washington from Baton Rouge, where he was the primary official overseeing the federal government’s response to the disaster, according to two federal officials who declined to be identified before the announcement.

I’m not sure if this means he’s been dismissed as FEMA director, or just dismissed from handling this particular disaster. I’m sure we’ll hear more news on this soon. I’ll be interested to see the Democratic response to this.

4 Responses to "FEMA Chief Relieved of Katrina Duties"

Bachbone says:

September 9, 2005 at 2:23 pm

Democrats’ response is easily predictable from their previous rants. “Too little, too late,” then demand more and bash Bush further. The old saying, “Give an inch and they’ll take a mile” applies here, too, I think. When will the GOP finally run out of cheeks to turn?
Baklava says:

September 9, 2005 at 2:44 pm

To them, stating the “truth” is not an “accusation” or “attack”.

They honestly don’t see themselves as attacking. I’ve had long conversations with some of them. They are actually offended and actually think you are attacking them for saying that.

There has to be a way to get to them with some kind of message that points out their behavior. It just keeps getting worse and more shrill (while we have a left of center president in office).
Severian says:

September 9, 2005 at 7:36 pm

I think I’ve figured out one reason that the Democrats are so hard and fast out of the gate with their incessant complaining and racism remarks, stark fear. Between now and the 2006 elections, the federal government, run by a Republican, will be responsible for doling out huge amounts of money. As a large percentage of the people of New Orleans who are out there receiving this largesse are black, they are petrified that some of the support they have traditionally gotten from the black community, bought and paid for with the social programs and handouts the Democrats have supported for years, will be transfered to whoever is the latest sugar daddy handing out the money. They see that they have to generate a huge “Bush hates black people” meme, get it truly ingrained in people, to offset any potential losses at the poles due to this.
Sloan says:

September 10, 2005 at 5:23 am

Brown has only been relieved of command in NOLA; he’s still FEMA director.

It could be a smart move by the President, because it gets Brown out of the “political hot potato” role the media has now assigned him. I think the President is waiting for the dust to settle, when many of the actions of FEMA post-flooding will come to light, and people will see that their performance (and thus Brown’s) was not as bad as the media has portrayed it. Then the President may not have to fire someone who doesn’t really deserve it in the first place.

When all is said and done, I think we’re going to find that the instances of FEMA “incompetence” were 1) isolated, and 2) in most cases caused by the state or local government, not FEMA.

Comments are closed.