From CBS News:

CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger reports that Michael Brown, who recently resigned as the head of the FEMA, has been rehired by the agency as a consultant to evaluate its response following Hurricane Katrina.

(HT: Crooks and Liars)

UPDATE: The Department of Homeland Security is already spinning the story. From the AP:

Brown is continuing to work at the Federal Emergency Management Agency at full pay, with his Sept. 12 resignation not taking effect for two more weeks, said Homeland Security Department spokesman Russ Knocke.

During that time, Brown will advise the department on “some of his views on his experience with Katrina,” as he transitions out of his job, Knocke said.

This isn’t consistent, however, with Brown’s statement on the day he resigned:

Today I resigned as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As I told the President, it is important that I leave now to avoid further distraction from the ongoing mission of FEMA.

Nicholas E. Calio, a former White House aide to the Bushes, defended Bill Frist yesterday against allegations of insider trading. “To me, it’s inconceivable that he [Frist] would sell stock based on inside information,” Calio said. “He doesn’t need the money.”

Ah, yes – Bill Frist would never steal because he’s already rich. Obviously, Calio’s memory must be short to forget these infamous millionaires:

Ken Lay, former CEO of Enron, who earned nearly $50 million in 2000 -

Ex-Enron Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay surrendered to authorities Thursday after being indicted in what experts called the centerpiece of the government’s crackdown on the scandals that have rocked corporate America. [CNN/Money, 7/12/04]

L. Dennis Kozlowski, former Tyco executive, who earned $71 million in 2002 -

A state judge on Monday sentenced former Tyco International Ltd. executives L. Dennis Kozlowski and Mark H. Swartz to 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison for looting the company of hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for lavish parties, luxurious homes and extravagances such as a $6,000 shower curtain. [Washington Post, 9/20/05]

Bernard Ebbers, former WorldCom CEO, who earned more than $34 million in 2002 –

Ex-WorldCom chief executive Bernard Ebbers was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison for his role in orchestrating the biggest corporate fraud in the nation’s history. [CNN/Money, 7/13/05]

Calio’s right. Wealthly people are the most virtuous.

Bill Frist’s entire defense in the face of insider trading allegations against him is that he sold his stock to “avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.” But in 1994, in the middle of a tough election campaign where his challenger raised questions about the potential of such conflict of interest cases, Frist said he would recuse himself from from the votes, not sell his shares:

“If there is ever any potential of a conflict of interest, I will consult the Senate Ethics Committee and will recuse myself from the votes if that’s the case,” said Frist. [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 10/26/94]

So after holding onto his HCA stock for the last 11 years, Frist suddenly decided last month that he was going to change his own standard: rather than recuse himself from any votes that presented a conflict, he decided to sell off the stock completely. Coincidently, by selling the stock when he did, Frist avoided millions in loses.

A question for Bill Frist: instead of selling off your shares to avoid an appearance of conflict, why didn’t you simply follow-through on your 1994 pledge to recuse yourself from questionable votes?

In this Congress, corruption runs deep.

Popular right-wing blogger Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs wrote a post on Saturday called “What If They Gave a Protest and Nobody Came?” It was picked up by various bloggers including Michelle Malkin, who called it “fair and balanced” coverage of the protest.

In the post, Johnson published the photo below as evidence of the “media’s tendency to exaggerate,” arguing that “it looks like the turnout was much less than 100,000 people.” Johnson noted later in the day that “Al-Reuters” had also used the 100,000 number, despite the fact that the picture below “refutes” that claim.

Note to Johnson and Malkin: Maybe the reason the photo didn’t show many marchers is because the photo wasn’t of the march. That actually went down 15th Street, as they could have seen from this map of the route:

To judge the size of a demonstration down 15th Street, it’s probably best to use a photo that actually includes 15th Street, like the shot below. (You’ll notice the throngs of marchers filling up the street for several blocks.)

There is no snow in Georgia, but Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) has called for schools statewide to take today and tomorrow as “early snow days.” Perdue proudly announced his decision as part of his call for citizens to save more fuel. According to his office, closing schools will save 225,000 gallons of diesel fuel each day.

The rest of the state is not quite as proud of Perdue.

Perdue’s decision to close schools was announced after schools had let out last week, setting off panic amongst parents who had to hastily find (and pay for) two days’ of child care for their children.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution noted:

Three weeks ago he [Perdue] was winning praise nationally for suspending the fuel tax, a move that was expected to save Georgians about 15 cents per gallon.

However, such savings could be more than eaten up for parents who have to pay for two extra days of day care because of the school closings.

Perdue’s sympathetic response:

Perdue aides said the governor is sympathetic to the plight of parents and that he hopes they will use the weekend to make arrangements for their children.

That’s nice of him.

recuses himself from the investigation of suspiciously timed stock sales by Majority Leader Bill Frist.

about Katrina failures. “The response to Rita…suggests that the government had plenty of authority to respond to Katrina and that what was lacking during Katrina was an understanding of when to use that authority,” Knight-Ridder reports.

This summer, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) abruptly sold his shares of the family hospital corporation, HCA Inc., just a month before a company announcement sent the stock price plummeting.

ThinkProgress has created a Frist Stock timeline that catalogues the key events in this emerging scandal. The timeline reveals that Frist faces at least four distinct problems:

1. Lying to the public.

2. A violation of Senate Ethics rules.

3. A Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation.

4. A Justice Department investigation.

Check it out HERE.

Now we need your help. If there’s something you think should be added, suggest it in the comments section or send us an email.

according to the Gulf Daily News. The prince, Al-Waleed bin Talal, blamed “US foreign policy and support for Israel” for the 9/11 attacks. (Via Sploid)