Former Sen. John Edwards said at a Hurricane Katrina conference he would propose what he called “Brownie’s Law” requiring that qualified people, not political hacks, lead key federal agencies.
“It’s an absolute travesty to have people who are essentially political hacks in a very responsible position,” he told the audience at the University of New Orleans.
“Brownie” refers to Michael Brown, who was head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency when Katrina struck the United States on August 29, 2005. He resigned shortly after President George W. Bush, who appointed him to the post, told him publicly, “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job” as chaos reigned in the devastated city.
We’re just about at the 2-year anniversary of the Katrina disaster. Most published reports estimate the various government efforts have accomplished little more than 20% infrastructure recovery. Pitiful scorecard for the richest nation in the world.
GigG
#2 “is the law going to spell out the required qualifications for each and every department head?”
I sure hope so. Have you ever read a job description, filled out a job application, maybe submitted a resume? If so you understand the procedure.
#9 “Oh and BTW. Cheney was not appointed he was elected twice.”
Elected once on tainted voting machines in a controversial election, appointed by the courts the other time. You sir stand corrected!
#17 please just give us a link. A list of 267 I don’t knows could refer to what he had for lunch a year and a day prior.
Who pays you to post here anyway?
>>Janet Reno is a great example. Although she filed against
>>Microsoft there was no real sanction.
No there wasn’t. Janet Reno and the Clinton administration tried everything in their power, but the wheels of justice move slowly. So by the time the appeals were in progress, Little King Georgie was in power, and (as usual), money talks. So they dropped the case. If the Microsoft case is evidence of anyone’s incompetence, it would be Little King Georgie and his underlings. All hail the new software overlords.
And yeah, she fucked up Waco. As I said, nobody’s perfect. At least she was trying to do SOMETHING. I haven’t seen anybody claim that the Branch Davidians are not a wacko separatist group of religious fanatics, practicing polygamy with underage girls, stockpiling illegal weapons, and child abuse. If ‘berto had been in charge, he would have done what he did in every tight situation, sitting in the corner jibbering like a chimp “I don’t remember, I can’t remember, I can’t recall”.
I am not sure why but the 2008 Democratic National Convention is being held in Denver. It really should be held in New Orleans.
This would highlight the stark differences between the parties, and make future Presidents think twice about leaving American Cities devastated as a means of doing normal business.
But, that would be smart and courageous, and courage is something the pandering DEMs have not been known to have much of.
C’mon you people the US you have get your shit in order now!
Isn’t that what people in the US say to everyone else? ROTFL!
Just too funny – but no one seems to see that in the US.
Cheers
>>They should at least cap at 100k or something, so people
>>will think twice about living in hurricane and flood areas
I’ll bet that at $100K a pop, most of the victims of Katrina would have been happy as pigs in shit.
Or do you mean $100K total to rebuild the roads, the hospitals, the fire stations, police stations, the schools, the levees, the power infrastructure, and all the businesses?
I’m talking about federal insurance payout for homes. I’m not particularly bothered by Katrina payouts, but rather in other areas that are very hurricane prone and people keep getting big payouts to rebuild.
>>I’m not particularly bothered by Katrina payouts
Well then, we’re in agreement, but we disagree with bobbo. He resents anyone “below sea level” being reimbursed for losses incurred due to a force majeur, although 30%-40% of the claims for flood damage come from regions rated “low-to-moderate risk” for flooding by FEMA.
47. It would seem a bargain to give the true victims the money in lieu of paying off a bunch of crooked government contractors to rebuild. I wouldnt have a problem with that. Probably 10% on the dollar. Of course I basically pulled that figure out of my ass based on the government charging us 10 more than what it should cost.
If you have an unquestioning alligieance to a party then others are corrupt and we are just trying and made a mistake. Thats how the parties coopt the political process and the voters become members of an organization instead of indepedant judges of public servants. If any type of corruption or incompetence is not judged harshly regardless of party affiliation then it all devolves into he said/she said crapola.
Well, they really should be rebuilding above sea level like they did Galveston way back when.
For incompetent Clinton Cabinet members, you have to include Bruce Babbitt, who managed to get himself found in contempt of court, something that hadn’t happened in over a hundred years. I think it was over a case where the government was managing money for Indian tribes, and they lost all the money.
>>For incompetent Clinton Cabinet members, you have to include
>>Bruce Babbitt,
Uh, Mikey. In case you haven’t seen a newspaper in the last decade, Bruce Babbitt was CLEAR OF ANY INVOLVEMENT in “wampumgate”.
Keep trying.
Incompetent bungling nitwits appointed by Little King George are a dime a dozen. Incopetents appointed by Clinton are a little harder to come by.
Maybe that’s because Little King George is a fucking incompetent nimrod. You think?