Brownie’s Bang Up Job

7:09 pm EST September 22nd, 2005 | Politics | 8 Comments

Just another reason we need a truly independent commision to investigate the mismanagement of FEMA and the Bush administration’s culture of corruption that rewarded political cronies with key appointments

Michael Brown, the embattled head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, approved payments in excess of $31 million in taxpayer money to thousands of Florida residents who were unaffected by Hurricane Frances and three other hurricanes last year in an effort to help President Bush win a majority of votes in that state during his reelection campaign, according to published reports.

 Some Homeland Security sources said FEMA’s efforts to distribute funds quickly after Frances and three other hurricanes that hit the key political battleground state of Florida in a six-week period last fall were undertaken with a keen awareness of the looming presidential elections, according to a May 19 Washington Post story.

Homeland Security sources told the Post that after the hurricanes that Brown  and his allies [recommended] him to succeed Tom Ridge as Homeland Security secretary because of their claim that he helped deliver Florida to President Bush by efficiently responding to the Florida hurricanes.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel uncovered emails from Florida Gov. Jeb Bush that confirmed those allegations and directly implicated Brown as playing politics at the expense of hurricane victims.

 As the second hurricane in less than a month bore down on Florida last fall, a federal [FEMA] consultant predicted a “huge mess” that could reflect poorly on President Bush and suggested that his re-election staff be brought in to minimize any political liability, records show, the Sentinel reported in a March 23 story.

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8 Responses to “Brownie’s Bang Up Job”

  1. White Whale says:
    September 22, 2005 at 9:09 pm

    Is anything really independent and thourogh with this administration? Like every figure that becomes too toxic, Republicans will divert attention until his reputation is “restored” or he is eliminated from public thought.
    Dugger,
    I wanted to ask you if you have ever served with a Heild Smith from New Orleans/Metarie area? That is my uncle and he was telling me some story about food in Texas or something, and mentioned some serviceman who was a bull rider and a guy named Dugger. Probably coincidence.

  2. Zappa says:
    September 22, 2005 at 10:09 pm

    When Bush told Brownie he was doing a heck of a job he was refering to Brownie throwing money at the voters in FL – not NOLA – Bush just forgot where he was…

  3. Semanticleo says:
    September 23, 2005 at 12:09 am

    Two things brought down the Nixon Administration;

    Hubris and Groupthink.

    Need more be said?

  4. goatchowder says:
    September 23, 2005 at 1:09 am

    Wrong, Semanticleo. What brought down the Nixon Administration was (1) a Democratic Congress, and (2) an independent, courageous media that covered stories in-depth.

    Not to mention, a much better-educated populace which also had more free time to spend on following and understanding the story.

    Today, we have neither.

    Thanks for playing though.

  5. goatchowder says:
    September 23, 2005 at 1:09 am

    s/neither/none/

  6. Semanticleo says:
    September 23, 2005 at 2:09 am

    BTW Goatchowder;

    Bradlee and Wapo staff had their ass hanging out there alone for close on 12 months with nary a shorthair of support, save some NYT press feeds carrying a couple of WoodSteins stories.

  7. frameone says:
    September 23, 2005 at 2:09 am

    Goat –

    What exactly would Congress and the media have had to investigate if not for the hubris and groupthink in the first place?

  8. Semanticleo says:
    September 23, 2005 at 2:09 am

    Today, we have neither.

    This too, shall pass……….