Shades of McGreevey - FEMA Chief Had Zero Qualifications For Job

[mhafinancial]

From Knight-Ridder:

NEW YORK So who is Michael Brown, now catching all kinds of criticism for his handling of the catastrophe in New Orleans? It seems his primary career experience before nabbing a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) post was running an Arabian horse association. An article by Matt Stearns and Seth Borenstein for Knight Ridder Newspapers observes, "there was little in Michael D. Brown's background to prepare him for the fury of Hurricane Katrina."

The reporters quote Kate Hale, former Miami-Dade
emergency management chief: "He's done a hell of a job, because I'm not aware of any Arabian horses being killed in this storm. The world that this man operated in and
the focus of this work does not in any way translate to this. He does not have the experience."

During the 1990s, Brown served as judges and stewards commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association. His job was to ensure that horse-show judges followed the rules and to investigate allegations against those suspected of cheating. "I wouldn't have regarded his position in the horse industry as a platform to where he is now," said Tom Connelly, a former association president. The reporters refer to Brown's stormy years with the horses as a "rocky tenure."

But Brown knew Joe Allbaugh, President Bush's 2000
campaign manager. Allbaugh took over FEMA in 2001, and hired Brown as general counsel.

My friend's horse feels safer already.

[mhafinancial]

The big difference between McGreevey's appointment and Bush's appointment is that Bush isn't getting a hummer, altho the folks in New Orleans are sure taking it up the.......

[Travelling Slim]

Would love to hear someone over on the right defend Bush's nomination of Michael Brown. Or, for a change, maybe even admit their guy made a mistake.

[On Highway 29]

Would love to hear someone over on the right defend Bush's nomination of Michael Brown. Or, for a change, maybe even admit their guy made a mistake.


The guy never makes a mistake because he answers to a higher father! :redcool: :redcool:

[Travelling Slim]

Would love to hear someone over on the right defend Bush's nomination of Michael Brown. Or, for a change, maybe even admit their guy made a mistake.

Anyone?

[Travelling Slim]

Still waiting.

[TIES2]

Still waiting.

See my "Can't Resist" post

"But the dim view of Brown's qualifications by senators seems to have emerged only in hindsight. Members of both parties seemed little troubled by his background at 2002 Senate hearings that led to his confirmation as deputy FEMA chief.

Indeed, Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman (news, bio, voting record) of Connecticut, who led those hearings, called Brown's long-ago stint as assistant city manager in Edmond, Okla., a "particularly useful experience" because he had responsibility for local emergency services."

Perhaps after the fact is not the ebst time to question someone's qualifications. Perhaps our esteemed senators on both sides of the aisle need to raise more questions in advance of such appointments.

[mhafinancial]

See my "Can't Resist" post

"But the dim view of Brown's qualifications by senators seems to have emerged only in hindsight. Members of both parties seemed little troubled by his background at 2002 Senate hearings that led to his confirmation as deputy FEMA chief.

Indeed, Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman (news, bio, voting record) of Connecticut, who led those hearings, called Brown's long-ago stint as assistant city manager in Edmond, Okla., a "particularly useful experience" because he had responsibility for local emergency services."

Perhaps after the fact is not the ebst time to question someone's qualifications. Perhaps our esteemed senators on both sides of the aisle need to raise more questions in advance of such appointments.
Agreed. They should have paid more attention to his background, no question.

And that is EXACTLY why the Republican's requests for straight up and down votes on any nominations - judicial or otherwise - is unwise. And the fact that Frist threatenend the "nuclear option" several months ago if they didn't get their way is indicative of how they wish to conduct business - with no oversight, no barriers.