FEMA Director: We Did Not Know New Orleans Convention Center Was A Hurricane Shelter
FEMA Director: We Did Not Know New Orleans Convention Center Was A Hurricane Shelter
Here’s what the FEMA director said to Paula Zahn tonight on CNN:
Michael Brown, director of FEMA: People who were unable or chose not to evacuate are suddenly appearing. And so this catastrophic disaster continues to grow. I will tell you this, though, every person in that convention center, we just learned about that today and so I have directed that we have all the available resources to get to that convention center to make sure that they have the food and water, the medical care that they need.
Paula Zahn: Sir, you’re not telling me –
Brown: To care of those bodies that are there –
Zahn: you’re not telling me that you just learned that the folks at the convention center didn’t have food and water until today, are you? You had no idea that they were completely cut off?
Brown: Paula, the federal government did not even know about the convention center people until today.
Apparently, the media knew the New Orleans Convention Center was a shelter for hurricane victims before the Bush Administration did. Meanwhile, victims at the convention center are facing “horrible, horrible conditions†where people are lying sick and dead on the streets.
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Cindy, please pick these people up on your way to D.C.!!!!
I will help fund the trip.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:08 pmIf these people didn’t have their lies and outright stupidity– they’d have nothing at all.
This anarchy should be direct at the lot of them.
BUSHCO= Fiery Wreck followed by watery death
September 1st, 2005 at 9:19 pmAnyone have Brown’s email? My mom is feeling cranky (it runs in the family) and really pissed off. She wants to write him an email and tell him what an idiot he is and demand answers. His phone number is (202) 646 3900, but I’m afraid if I give to my mom she’ll just starting ranting and raving and….
September 1st, 2005 at 9:24 pmBrown has no experience in emergency management. He is another ass kissing chickenhawk. I’ll be glad to call the moron and tell him what I think. I will rant and I will rave as that is my right. Thanks idlecrank for the number, now give your mom the phone.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:27 pmTaking a quick moment in the middle of all that’s unfolding to say how very much the reporting on this blog is appreciated. You’re doing a great job capturing the significant threads of this traumatic episode.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:39 pmSomebody give Chertoff and Brown a television set. They are clueless.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:40 pmWorst
Admistration
Ever.
Detached, incompetent assholes.
But then again, IT’S HARD WORK.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:42 pmYikes!
Somebody at FEMA knew – They organized it!!
This Director would have known too if he wasn’t so busy doing press-interviews for the last few days. Who hired this guy? What’s he directing?
September 1st, 2005 at 9:46 pmFire his ass!
September 1st, 2005 at 10:00 pmARE THEY ALL BRAIN DEAD?
September 1st, 2005 at 10:01 pmThis episode illustrates the fact that if you are of lower income or vulnerable you are on your own in this country now more than ever. I think this message is playing in the back of the minds of many people in this country right now who are watching this debacle unfold.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:04 pmTrust breaks down, then society.
Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me. Frauds.
Where are FEMA’s contingency plans …?
If anyone has seen a high-rise construction crane, you’ll know it has a base and boom made of tubular steel framing. The steel frames are 100 to 200 feet in length …
… and would provide the perfect reinforced frame for a levee wall. Such a frame would allow water to flow through it and would not wash away as they put it in place. They could then drop sandbags around this frame.
Somebody down there, put a fucking idea on the table …
September 1st, 2005 at 10:08 pmEmail Cindy Sheehan and ask her to invite the refugees to join her in D.C. or to camp in Crawford @meetwithcindy.org
September 1st, 2005 at 10:15 pmThis episode illustrates that Fuhrer Bush and company wish to clear out New Orleans of the poor and hand it over to the land speculators. This is what US and its allies have been doing for years to Native Americans, Indonesians, East Timorese, Guatemalans, wherever indigenous and poor people live the corporate imperialists pursue a policy of genocide and land clearing under the guise of democracy spreading, drug interdiction, etc to thin out the populations, turn the people into slaves and take over their resources – Christopher Columbus set the example in 1492 – slaughter the natives through enslavement and torture, steal their resources and wealth, and take over the land, it worked then, it’s still working today.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:21 pmcmw,
Unfortunately you are exactly right. property is going to be very cheap in New Orleans after this. The people with the money to buy up large parcels of it also have the power to get a proper levee built around it.
Smart people take advantage of good times
September 1st, 2005 at 10:30 pmRich people take advantage of adversity
It’s funny to see the here-to-fore sycophants in the news media incredulous at the bold-face lying coming out of the mouths of Bush and his appointees.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:32 pmI don’t think I would want to live in that chemical cesspool now. Have heard of the idea of condemning the whole area. Maybe the oil industry is interested.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:37 pmFire him.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:59 pmFrom this interview, Brown apparently does not read, hear or see media reports, yet he lectured the press earlier today for reporting bad news. What a guy. Perfect for a high-level post in this administration.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:04 pmThis is an embarrassment for our country.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:32 pmI’m guessing that these bastards will be happy to redistrict Louisiana with a lot less democratic voters now. Why isn’t the press on fire with the horrible negligience and criminal conduct of this administration? Do the flood waters have to reach Washington D.C. before we finally get a press or democrats with the backbone to shout for justice?
September 1st, 2005 at 11:46 pmBULLETIN: On Nightline, I just heard that the United Nations has offered to help the US. They have offered manpower and they have offered “expertise.” It appears the world recognizes that we are being governed by a bunch of baboons (they must have simply reviewed the statements from Bush, Chertoff, Brown, etc.) and the U.N. determined that humanitarian efforts are necessary.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:18 amSo far, the baboons in the White House have not responded.
Another Bulletin:
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:20 amThe Astrodome is full and can’t accept any more people.
(I saw Tom Delay standing on the podium behind the mayor — Delay smirks like Bush does) — maybe it’s a Texas thing — kind like all hat and no cattle.
The Republicans are racist. Face it, this is
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:31 amabout “hatred of blacks” and most of the people who are suffering are blacks.
I saw on the news today that the govt. had predicted what would happen to N.O. if a cat5 hit there. They knew that 136,000 people would not be able to evacuate. They knew they would not have the means to evacuate them. They knew all this and did nothing except Bush cut the funding for the corps of engineers work being done on the potential flood problem and sent most of their members to Iraq. They knew long ago that the levees would only withstand a cat3 and yet they did nothing. They have NO EXCUSE – they knew this would happen. Fire the FEMA idiot…impeach Bush.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:31 amThe only way you’ll get help from this administration is to move to Iraq.
Wow, redstate.org is getting really upset at all this criticism.
They’re practically calling for a second civil war.
September 2nd, 2005 at 1:01 amI suppose that it is a rule somewhere that everything bad is Bush’s fault but it seems to me that there is enough blame or fingerpointing to go around for everyone.
Some questions:
1. Did the city or state have any responsibility for planning for emergency shelters or is this solely the responsibility of the federal government?
2. Was the city of NO responsible in any way for provisioning the emergency shelters? If so did it do so or once again is this solely a federal government responsibility?
3. Did the citizens of NO have any responsibility to evacuate when told to do so? Did the city or state have any responsibility to provide transportation to those who had none? Did they even have an evacuation plan in place? I would think tha there were enough school buses available to empty NO in short order before the storm hit. Should the federal government impose evacuation plans on cities for all possible disasters?
4. Did anyone ever think that building a city below sea level is a bad idea? I’m not blaming the victims here but I think common sense ought to intrude every now and then. If a city is between and lower than two large bodies of water it might be a good idea to have a “defense in depth” levee system rather than a giant bowl which, once breeched, lets the entire city flood. Again, whose responsibility is it to plan against that eventuality?
Some comments:
1. I love NO and have visited there several times. I have friends who are from there. However; you couldn’t have paid me to live there.
a. crime outside the tourist areas was rampant
b. just looking at the 17th Street Canal on the way in from the airport and seeing how high the water level was above the ground was frightening,
c. the local government was arguably the most inept and corrupt of any in the northern hemisphere
In short, while its emotionally satisfying to blame Bush, the relality is this has been a catastrophe in the making for the past 50 years or more.
September 2nd, 2005 at 1:04 amWhite House spokesman Scott McLellan said a number of countries have offered aid. “We are open to all offers of assistance from other nations, and I would expect that we would take people up on offers of assistance when it’s necessary.”
…
Canada has some of the best search and rescue capabilities in the world – Canada’s forces often play the role of search and rescue support during coalition wars.
I wonder when their offer of assistance will be necessary?
September 2nd, 2005 at 2:51 amso now I know… IT TAKES A FLOOD AND A HURRICANE TO defuse the RIGHT-WING-WING-NUTS….. they have been totally silent.
Or possibly, they are too busy with KKKarl rove to be bothered with the ISSUES.
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:21 amIf Canada was smart, they would wait this one out….. Let DUMBYA sink…. I love it!!!, however i hate the fact that MORE of our poor are DYING BECAUSE OF DUMBYA’S LIES……….
I DIDN’T THINK THE LEVEEE’S WOULD FAIL…. B U L L S H I T !!!!!
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:23 am#25, i will be MORE THAN HAPPY to go forth with a new civil war!!!! Just because I am from TEXAS (Not like dumbya that wasn’t born there) I WON’T BE TOO PROUD TO STICK UP FOR JUSTICE IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THAT THE SOUTH IS MOSTLY BIGGOTED!
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:25 amI am still holding my breath until the final flooding takes it’s toll.
This is NOT A GOOD THING! I fear that things will get worse. I FIND IT PARTICULARLLY DISGUSTING THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR DONATIONS, WHILE THE RICH PAY LESS AND LESS TAXES.!!!!!
Since the “Right”wingnuts feel they know right from wrong, let THEM finance this one!!!!!
However, I feel that if we let them finance this one, our donations will go to further their RIGHT WING AGENDAS….so , I feel that we should start our own relief effort!
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:29 amPAT ROBERTSON… KILL CHAVEZ… OOOPS I MEANT KIDNAP HIM… OH, I AM SO SORRY……. BULLL S H I T!!!!!
Do NOT donate to that bigot! Do not even respond to him. He is EVIL. so is shrubya!!!!
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:32 amHow could the very person who’s job it is to know, not know?
September 2nd, 2005 at 5:22 amHOMELAND SECURITY IS A SHAM
September 2nd, 2005 at 7:33 amOT
I see that Mr. “Expert Political Fund Raiser” has had to turn to Daddy and President Clinton to raise charitible contributions in the aftermath of his latest fuck-up. ChimpBush is only good at getting the Rich to donate to keeping their taxes ridculously low and keeping the poor from invading the Country Club. He couldn’t get people with a conscience to donate to squat.
Arrgh!
September 2nd, 2005 at 8:46 amThe ugliness has only begun.
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:15 amHe knew last year in Florida but that was probably because of some sorta reason: Election??
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:28 amIt’s such complete chaos down there. It seems like no one knows anything at all, and none of the agencies can or will communicate effectively. I don’t understand anything that is happening. The reports of rapes and murders escalating is terrifying me. I don’t understand why they cannot get this under control. They need to just start shooting people and bussing people. The idea that for five days, people were in the Superdome getting raped and murdered by other survivors while the city is swallowed up by the Lake – I cannot get my head around what is happening at all. I hope a thorough investigation of this post-Katrina situation (and really even this pre-Katrina situation – never before have I thought about FEMA flood insurance, but FEMA flood insurance seems like it basically pays people to live in flood zones, and thus ends up killing them) happens as soon as its reasonably possible. Some heads need to start rolling.
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:43 amBush just said that assistance levels are “unacceptable.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but FEMA is headed up by one of Bush’s golfing buddies he appointed and who had little or no experience in disaster relief. So lets put the blame where it belongs: on old whats-his-name.
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:52 amBrown of FEMA, on television, said to send money to an organization, forgot its name, but it is ran by Pat Robertson.
What an asshole this golfing buddy, fellow neocon of GWB is.
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:53 amI don’t think anyone knows right now where the breakdown has happened and whom is to blame. I lived in New Orleans for three years, and I won’t be surprised if we learn that political incompetence in that city resulted in the communication and coordination failure Nagin was angry about the other day when he said the helicopters to drop sandbags into the levee never came. I read this morning, too, that engineers have known for years that the city’s levees couldn’t withstand a Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane – it was always known the levees would fail and the city would capsize in that event. Yet a Category 4 hurricane is not exactly a low probability event from the perspective of the life of a city – New Orleans was statistically predicted to receive a Category 4 once every 70 years, and a Category 5 once every 180 years. But as that first links shows, the engineers had the plans to make those changes but hadn’t. While I think it’s entirely fair to criticize Bush for the cutting of funding to FEMA, the levees would’ve still broken. And having lived there, I’ll say this – that city, and the state in general, has deep political corruption. This is the same state that nearly elected David Duke, the neo-nazi, to governor (voting instead to elect a known criminal). Given the deep corruption in the city, my tendency is to focus also on what was being done to prevent this by the city and the state itself.
FEMA flood insurance transcends this administration, though. FEMA flood insurance lowers the price of living in a flood zone, and basically operates as a subsidy. You are in essence paying people to build homes in freaking flood zones. It’s reckless and immoral, and seems to benefit mainly the middle and upper class. It makes me want to puke. I hope a thorough, nonpartisan evaluation of this catastrophe happens – something on the level of the 9/11 Commission – and the appropriate people pay.
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:42 amHow has Bush been able to sleep in his nice,clean bed while the citizens of his country suffer and die in New Orleans? If he can be so callous and unfeeling to his own citizens, how do you think his administration treats people in other parts of the world?
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:43 amAs an American-turning-Canadian, I can tell you that there is no way that your northern neighbors are going to let New Orleans sink or swim, as a commenter upthread suggests. Wooly-headed liberals that we are, it’s not in our national character to refuse help to those who need it. You can make fun of us for that — and I’m sure NeD will not miss the opportunity to do so — but this is so deeply ingrained in the Canadian character that wild horses couldn’t keep us away, especially not for reasons of mere spite.
Of course, your own government may have other ideas. AmericaBlog notes that the person responsible for fielding international aid offers, Condi Rice, is spending the crisis in Manhattan, attending Broadway shows and going shoe-shopping.
This is nothing short of America’s “Let them eat cake” moment.
September 2nd, 2005 at 2:26 pmI saw this on The Dail Kos website. Can it true that the only reason that the incompetant, blundering FEMA Director is running the show is because he was a Bush crony (Bush Pioneer)? That thousands of people died or are dying due to his no-talent butt being in charge.
http://dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/34622/68348
FEMA Dir. Mike Brown fired from prior job at Horse Assoc.
by Goldy at HorsesAss
Fri Sep 2nd, 2005 at 00:46:22 PDT
[editor's note, by Goldy at HorsesAss] Revised title
“An unmitigated, total fucking disaster.” That’s not a quote from Mike Brown, but rather, a quote describing him. And most disturbingly, it’s not even a reference to his dismal performance as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This blunt critique was emailed to me from a regular reader who was apparently attracted to HorsesAss.org by her passion for politics and her love of Arabian horses.
I think I’ve told you that I’m into Arab horses. Well, for 3 years Michael Brown was hired and then fired by our IAHA, the International Arabian Horse Assoc. He was an unmitigated, total fucking disaster. I was shocked as hell when captain clueless put him in charge of FEMA a couple of years ago.
* Goldy at HorsesAss’s diary :: ::
*
He or the WH lied on the WH presser announcing him to FEMA. IAHA was never connected to the Olympic Comm, only the half Arab registry then and the governing body to the state and local Arabian horse clubs. He ruined IAHA financially so badly that we had to change the name and combine it with the Purebred registry.
I am telling you this after watching the fucking shipwreck in the Gulf. His incompetence is KILLING people.
Yes, that’s right… the man responsible for directing federal relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, sharpened his emergency management skills as the “Judges and Stewards Commissioner” for the International Arabian Horses Association… a position from which he was forced to resign in the face of mounting litigation and financial disarray.
And what of that misleading White House press release?
From 1991 to 2001, Brown was the Commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association, an international subsidiary of the national governing organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
I can’t even begin to fact check the dates or IAHA’s alleged relationship to the US Olympic Committee, because of course, the IAHA doesn’t exist anymore, so there’s nothing to Google. But it begs the question… how the hell did his prior job experience prepare Brown to head FEMA?
Well, judging by his agency’s performance over the past few days… it didn’t.
[Cross-posted at HorsesAss.org]
September 2nd, 2005 at 5:06 pm[...] Michael Brown, director of FEMA, did not know that thousands were stuck in the Convention Center. Homeland Security Secretary Michale Chertoff did not know that thousands were stuck at the Convention Center. [...]
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:17 amStop the Bush bashing and start blaming the right people. First off, Bush could not do anything. He could not send in the National Guard or the Army. It is illegal for military to have been sent in without a special request for federalization. Gov. Blanco did not activate the National Guard, request help from other states or ask for federalization of the troops before Katrina hit. She didn’t even do it Monday. Then on Tuesday she was stuck with her head in the sand when the city started flooding. Then she finally acted and it was too late.
Also, stop donating to the Red Cross. Donate to other relief organizations. The Red Cross is refusing to help people in New Orleans. They were all set up outside New Orleans and refused to go in until it was safe. Since Blanco hadn’t called in additional troops until Tuesday, there was no ability to make the city safe for the Red Cross.
But the Red Cross goes into war zones, into Iraq and Afganistan, but they will not go to the Superdome or the Convention Center.
Why not direct your anger at them? They were there and they did nothing while people were dying.
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:47 amBushCo cut Army Corp engineers funds for levee improvement by 45%, in 2004/05 the Corp asked for 68 million for levee work he gave them 6 million just enough for operation…. the corp frooze hiring and stopped all work on the levee. The New Orleans district of the Corp went soliciting for funds from the Parrishes to shore up the levee that just broke at the 17th this year. Where was the 280 million ear-marked for levee work 7 years ago…. under Clinton tenure. Most was cut in 2003 and the remainder twindled away as the Iraq price tag and the narrowly focused home security department goppled up the rest of the butched. If you follow closely Bushco and his cohort– the incompetent chertoff and brown should be impeached or send parking for negligence.
The Catastrophy in New Orleans was a Federal Disaster not a state one, not to absolve the state and city folks but Bushco were squarely responsible.
Read History folks in 1927, when New Orleans was also under water ashort potty-belled President Calvin Coolidge behaved the same way as Dubya is…. one Huey Long stood up taught the democratic party and the nation a lesson. In the ashes of that flood Coolidge went parking and as histroy records—- is still rated as one of the worst president this country ever had. Governor Long shock up the party and as to date his progress ideas created FDR and his new deal, and the rest of the prosperity this country has enjoyed for the last 80 years.
Bush and Co. with their imperial wars and individualism/profiteering agendas and the corperate glutons, with their “you are with us or against us mentality” have finally been exposed. It is my firm beleive that their agenda has been buried with Katrina… out of the New Orleans floods a new progressive deal will emerge and country the country for another 80 years.
September 3rd, 2005 at 3:49 ammark: I’m sure he sleeps quite soundly and with that contemptable half-smirk he constantly has.
September 3rd, 2005 at 5:35 amNow is the time for all good(typical) leftists to name call.
Now is the time for all good(typical) leftists to blame the gubament.
Now is the time for all good(typical) leftists to increase the burden on society.
Now is the time for all good(typical) leftists to hate.
Now, all you lefties, get out their and get to work.
September 3rd, 2005 at 7:48 amIt’s hard to believe no one called FEMA. The police knew about it and all the viewers of Fox News. I bet they were flooded with calls and emails begging FEMA to help. I don’t believe that FEMA didn’t know. I think Mr. Brown is lying.
September 3rd, 2005 at 10:38 amOk Americans we need to pull together and get the people of New Orleans some HELP!
We need to call for the immediate resignation of the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Michael Brown.
This man has repeatedly ignored the calls from the mayor and the press to help Americans.
This man failed to render basic support to Americans for no other reason than he refused to investigate the claims of their suffering.
This man could not correct the mistakes of his mismanagement and would not take responsibility for his actions.
He has shown his inability to use his imagination to grasp the concept that large groups of people are in areas not on his little map.
This man is unable to manage his staff and control the relief process. Officials were giving mixed signals to the people at the New Orleans convention center. That resulted in the needless suffering by people simply trying to survive.
In every interview Michael Brown would give the same excuse that there were 2 disasters and that’s why he was incompetent. His inflexibility and shortsightedness is a dangerous combination in a highly dynamic and changing situation such as a large rescue and recovery operation.
We as Americans must call for the end of this catastrophe.
A petition to recall Michael Brown is desperately needed. We need to save the people of the Gulf Coast.
The firing of Michael Brown is more important than money at this point.
Mark T.
September 3rd, 2005 at 5:12 pmThe blame belongs squarely on Bush.
September 4th, 2005 at 12:50 pmWhat a ridiculously stupid thing for the FEMA Director to say on CNN! Didn’t know about the people at the convention center?! It’s only been on CNN, Fox News
September 4th, 2005 at 1:31 pm& MSNBC on a 24-7 basis not to mention radio & newspapers. Doesn’t FEMA monitor the news? Even my little Federal agency has a tv tuned to CNN in their Security/Emergency response office. The you-know-what is gonna really hit the fan. But then most of the affected people are very poor with little power & influence. It sure as heck wouldn’t have happened in Washington, D.C. where I work! Can’t imagine people with any money & resources wanting to stay there. It’s not the last hurricane that is going to hit the area. Why put yourself through all that again?
You’re going to love this – guess how Brown got his job? He was the last FEMA director’s college roommate. That would be Joe Allbaugh, whose other experience includes being Bush’s campaign manager and who currently is a lobbyist for Halliburton. Damn.
September 4th, 2005 at 9:42 pmI spent 5 years on a FEMA/DMORT team and didn’t renew my membership when Homland Security took over because they were so poorly organized that they sent the renewal notice to the wrong address and by the time I found out the time had run out to renew and I’d have to go through the whole 16 page application all over again. Despite it being only by a week, they wouldn’t make any exceptions. During the period of time that I was a member it was a totally political ass kissing group that only called “friends” to get paid on activation. If you weren’t one of the “boys” you weren’t called. Now that they are really needed, and it’s a vacation weekend, where are they? Not there are they. They aren’t bothering with the bodies yet, and definitely won’t until a real mess. They haven’t even bothered with the living because they are predominately black and poor.
September 5th, 2005 at 12:19 amFEMA isn’t to blame for all the problems going on over in New Orleans. The Governor and the mayor told FEMA not to send in any aid after the hurricane hit because there wan’t that much destruction. It was only after the levee’s broke that all hell broke loose. By Federal Law, FEMA cannot intervene unless asked to by the State government. Until the National government can get to the problem scene, it’s up to the Local, County, then State government to take care of their people.
That idiot mayor and governor should be fired for not taking this storm seriously, not employees of FEMA.
September 5th, 2005 at 1:59 pmMike, Mike Brown, Dir. of FEMA – Is that you? If so, the finger pointing won’t save you at this late date. Shame shame!
September 6th, 2005 at 1:11 amGive me a break about all this racial BS! I am Native American, and if anyone ever got a crappy deal in this country it was us, but you don’t see “Us” throwing up racial comments every time something bad happens. Grow up and move on.
September 6th, 2005 at 12:07 pmThe fact that the FEMA director did not know that the convention center was a shelter is not a negative statement about FEMA, but about the incompetent Mayor Nagin and Gov. Blanco.
Here is a section of the City of New Orleans disaster plan, which you can find it on their web site: “‘We coordinate all city departments and allied state and federal agencies which respond to citywide disasters and emergencies through the development and constant updating of an integrated multi-hazard plan. All requests for federal disaster assistance and federal funding subsequent to disaster declarations are also made through this office.”
Why did Mayor Nagin not tell FEMA of its plans? Why did the Govenor not send in the guard. And don’t tell me they were all in Iraq, because that is not true. Louisiana has over 60% of its troups in its state.
FEMA is not a first responder. It is not the first line of defense. But the State and local governments are. FEMA began moving troops in on Tuesday. That is fast for the Federal Government, not to mention that they cannot come in until the Govenor request them, unless you want the President to declare an insurrection, which would have been another Anti-Bush Blogging opportunity.
Since you folks want to play the blame game there it is. You LOOSE!! The Democratic Gov. Blanco is finished! Do not cry too hard. Instead cry for the people who are really hurting, the victims of the hurracaine.
September 6th, 2005 at 8:33 pmHere’s a good question for Mike Brown ,
“Did you enjoy reading My Pet Goat?”
I blame Bush for giving Mike that book because Mike
September 7th, 2005 at 10:58 amnever bothered to turn on the TV , he just kept reading.
Neither of your links prove that ANYBODY knew the convention center was a shelter.
In your first link, the only mention of it is:
“He and about 50 other people found makeshift shelter on a ramp leading to the mall and parking garage at the New Orleans Convention Center.”
I hardly think the FEMA director would have been aware of this prior to Thursday.
Your second link is dated: Thursday, September 1, 2005; Posted: 11:36 p.m. EDT
This was HOURS after Brown’s interview with Paula Zahn. Would you care to post a link that supports your claim? *I* didnt know the convention center was open until Thursday either.
September 7th, 2005 at 11:26 amThe Mayor has been doing a good job.
The Governor is a useless idiot.
The FEMA director is an incompetent moron.
September 8th, 2005 at 10:51 amI think I like vanilla
September 9th, 2005 at 11:55 amWhy is everyone so mad at Michael Brown at fema,
September 9th, 2005 at 6:11 pmLets see, all he wants his his cut of the $60 billion , thats why he does not want just anyone to go save lives, he has his owne people so he can get his cut from them, like Cheany has in the Iraq war.
Are we all so supprise of this, thats the way this hole Bush thing is, the BUSH’S get rich with there oil friends and his friends get rich anyway they can.
I keep hearing this President say he has chosen the right man for the job any time he picks someone for a job, lets see does it look like it, maybe he met he pick the right man to line his pockets.
Is anyone want to wear at Michael Brown shoes? during the perilous hour at hurricane katrina? in New Orleans!or you gonna run for your life!
September 10th, 2005 at 4:40 amThis is all part of the Bush’s plain for 2008.
September 10th, 2005 at 10:50 amLets see Jeb bush got all the help he wanted right away to make him look very good in a disaster can’t you see what is going on here.
Let me tell you something now about the bush’s, they are for thereself, they are getting very rich from us has anyone been to keywest? the bush family are building condoes there , low income starting at $500.000 is this low income, I know property is high there but you don’t think they are getting money from the goverment because they are listing them as low income housing.
the Bush familys do not care what happens to us here they are for there self, we did not have to go to war with Iraq it was away for this president to get even for thm trying to kill his father and for there family to make more money with oil. its funny that we have to pay alot more for gas now,and you really think this president cares? he is making a killing off of these prices, plain and simple he is to blame for the prices and he is laughing all the way to the bank, and cheany I don’t even want to go there ,look at his old company.
This administration is only for one thing for the bush’s to get rich and there close friends to get rich anyway they can, look at Michael Brown for some reson last year he paid out millions to some people in florida that was not hit by any dissaters, sounds like someone is finding ways to line there pockets.
Don’t you really think there is enough blame to go around but the buck should stop at the feet of bush, he is the president, and he swore to keep us safe, god help us when we have a dirty bomb go off, it won’t be if but when, you know where the president will be underground hiding while the rest of us has to wait for help.
To tom on number #60, yea you are right it is a demacrate who is governor there, so it prove this President is to blame.
September 10th, 2005 at 11:07 amLook at it this way of all the other states on the coast in the last year who has had a hurricane and needed the goverment help got is right away and they were Republicans governors or the President bother which if you did not know is a Republican, so you can look at it the way it really seem to alot, the president is showing us he helps Republicans governors look at the record of this president how he does not help states with dems as governors, was’nt it him who would not help the governor of californa , davis when they were having problem with the energy there ,but now that there is a republican there now he does alot more for them. This president has just shown he can not bring this country together for he is about getting rich and trying to pass hate laws. god help us, oh I forgot this president is god, can’t wait till he is out.
I dont know why he just didnt help them out. If it was him, he would want somebody to help him out. I dont see why he didnt get a bus to get the people out that didnt have transportation before that storm ocurred.
September 10th, 2005 at 3:09 pmI agree with the person who mentioned the practice of clearing out the poor. Deep down, I think the republicans were hoping these people would drown, starve, and die. I grew up in a nieghborhood and went to college with many asshole republican pieces of shit. Then there are the redneck born-again douchebags who voted for him because he is sopposedly “Christian”. I wonder what Jesus would have done?? Time and time again I hear comments, from these scum dehumanizing African-Americans. If they are thought of as less than human it becomes easier to turn a blind eye to their suffering. It was blatantly obvious that the poor, the blacks, and the infirm were left to suffer because the powers that be felt they “deserved” to suffer. It would not shock me to see another civil war or revolution in this country. I am so disgusted that I want to move. This is not what the founding fathers intended when they broke free from English tyranny.
September 13th, 2005 at 11:20 amWhy is it the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’s fault that the CITY of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana pocketed billions of dollars in money that was supposed to go to fixing the levees? Not two weeks before Katrina, Congress released a report investigating 60 million that New Orleans had recently received for infrastructure that was unaccounted for. Why should the FEDERAL government continue to fund someone’s private parties and houses? I, as a taxpayer, am sick and tired of my taxes going to cities like New Orleans, and states like Louisiana that are more interested in corruption than taking care of people. Why didn’t the High and Mighty Mayor Nagin call out all city busses and all school busses, like is in his disaster plan, and get those people out of there? Why didn’t the Governor call for assistance before Tuesday Night? Our way of government doesn’t allow for the FEDERAL government to step into a LOCAL or STATE situation until they are asked to, or until it is determined by the Feds the State can’t handle it. Stop making this a race issue. I suppose you want to say Katrina was racist because it hit New Orleans, too?
September 26th, 2005 at 10:07 pm[...] [...]
October 5th, 2005 at 5:41 pmIsn’t it amazing how any douchbag can lie and say “I’m a Christian; I believe in Jesus” and automatically they have every ignoramus in the country blindly voting for him? And how many of these fools have actually read the Bible? Obviously these “Christians” have no idea what Christ was like or they’d know for a fact that Bush and his Cronies are not Christians at all! They say they are for personal gain, though their actions do not back up their words. We need more smart people in this country.
November 4th, 2005 at 9:34 pm[...] Ex-FEMA chief has been complaining that he is being made out be a scapegoat for the Katrina fiasco. OK, well let’s see shall we? This is the same genius that said “Paula, the federal government did not even know about the convention center people until today” in an interview with Paula Zahn on CNN. Now this interview was on September 1, 2005. The rest of the world seemed to have a clear picture that the Superdome was a shelter. On August 28th the mayor of New Orleans had ordered a mandatory evacutation. So “Brownie” didn’t know until the 1st of September? You have got to be kidding me, then again he was lamenting on emails “Can I quit now? CanI go home?” This self-righteous failure of a human being has no right to complain. Here’s a thought Michael…if you are feeling hard done by just think of the 1000 plus people who perished. If you hadn’t such a complete failure some of them might be with us today. You are pathetic. [...]
February 11th, 2006 at 4:40 pmHey “Brownie” what a looser you are…your S–t does stink
March 28th, 2006 at 7:35 pmYou’re a bismal failure as a human being.
Redeem yourself….get the help promised to the Katrina victims…NOW!
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