Brown reports: "Former FEMA Director Michael Brown offered criticism of President Obama's early responses to Hurricane Sandy yesterday."
Former FEMA Director Michael Brown. (photo: Dennis Cook/AP)
"Brownie" Says Obama Responding to Sandy Too Quickly
31 October 12
ormer FEMA Director Michael Brown offered criticism of President Obama's early responses to Hurricane Sandy yesterday, including a dig at the administration's response to last month's attack in Libya.
Yesterday, ahead of the storm's pummeling of the eastern seaboard, Brown gave an interview to the local alternative paper, the Denver Westword, on how he believed the Obama administration was responding to Sandy too quickly and that Obama had spoken to the press about Sandy's potential effect too early.
Brown turned then to a reliable right-wing attack on the President's response to the attack on a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi that killed four Americans:
"One thing he's gonna be asked is, why did he jump on [the hurricane] so quickly and go back to D.C. so quickly when in…Benghazi, he went to Las Vegas?" Brown says. "Why was this so quick?… At some point, somebody's going to ask that question…. This is like the inverse of Benghazi."
Conservatives have been hitting Obama for weeks on his attendance at a fundraiser in Nevada following the assault in Benghazi, claiming at alternate times that the President either cared more about politics than lives lost or that he was trying to downplay the attack's significance. Now the critique has mutated into a belief that Obama is currently "playing President" to score points during disaster relief in the run-up to the election, in contrast to his actions in September.
Brown is not the only one making the insinuation that Obama and his administration are responding too quickly to Sandy only for political reasons. He's joined in his accusations by such prominent right-wing commentators as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and columnist Charles Krauthammer.
However, Brown's comments carry a special irony due to the role he played during the Hurricane Katrina debacle in 2005. As director of FEMA during the legendarily botched response, Brown, famously dubbed "Brownie" by President Bush, was in the center of criticism from both sides of the aisle that the Bush administration was too slow to respond. An internal review by the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector-General following the disaster concluded, "Much of the criticism is warranted." Brown resigned from his position as director less than two weeks after Katrina hit.
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Comments
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Michael Brown had no experience with disaster relief - he was only a college roommate of some republican chump who knew Bush - so Bush gave Brown the job at your taxpayer expense. Ineptitude, fraud, lies = Republican.
Republicans destroyed America. 8 years of Bush-Cheney Republicans caused the trillion dollar economic disaster.
Robbing Romney and Lying Ryan are the same Republicans with the same disaster agenda.
Republicans have a LOT of NERVE. Brownie, that idiot, shoots his mouth off. And today Jeb Bush was whining that Obama was mean to his little brother.
WAKE UP Jeb Your little brother killed thousands of innocent people, Americans and Iraqis, AND HE DESTROYED our economy. We DETEST YOUR LITTLE BROTHER.
Now shut up and go away Jeb.....And NEVER come back. We have had it with you Bushes.
Jeb and rest were far worse what they do to their states, and people's money. W was a patsy for them all.
PS Up next: "GOP Criticize Obama for Not Lying Enough During Campaign -- Suggest that he may have discovered cure for 'Romnesia' but is refusing to share it"!!
None.
And, how many deaths are being HIDDEN?
Four.
How many people died when Bush lied?
Thousands upon thousands of Americans and Iraqis.
How many were hidden?
Many (the exact value is unclear since the deaths of "contractors" aren't always reported).
So, aside from the fact that GOP are willing to make EVERYTHING BO does into a national crime, what's your point?
We already know that 3,000 people died on 9/11, on US soil as id neessary to remind you, after several warnings were completely disregarded by Bush.
Now what is it you were saying again about Obama and failed pridency or something like that...?
Thanks from me too!
No, we're just onto Romney and KNOW what a disaster he would be and cause if he were given the reins. People, like those that the GOP have been touting for the last 40 years are scary, greedy, reckless, human beings that apparently failed kindergarten; you know, the place where one learns that he is not the center of the universe. Besides, some of the policies that 'Bama has gotten through the Republicants are liveable, with future tweeking. Both candidates are chicken hawks for the corporate empire, though, but that IS America today. We Americans are letting it happen, otherwise we'd all be voting for Jill Stein.
And you think Robbin'Romney's policies would SAVE the US?
Did you miss the fact that the UAW has charged Romney (November 1) for profiteering from the auto bailout, stealing and hiding billions of dollars he received from taxpayer bailout monies in an illegal "blind" trust in his wife's name in a three-layered, tax-free, venue off-shore?
This is real, Robt Eagle! What besides this incessant Benghazi rant have you got that show that Romney even should be ALLOWED to run for president, let alone BE a president of integrity and honesty?
He's a lying thief, and you know it.
Out damn spot!
N.
YIKES! What a painfully wimpy description of Brownie's comments. Other more fitting words come to my mind:
Intolerable hypocrite, monumental incompetent, blatant partisan shill, pathetic Repub tool, historical charlatan, epic fraud, bungling vampire that bites his own neck, primping inept poofta...
I love that description - it even made me laugh out loud!!!
oh hell they are all repeating the company line from McCain to Krauthammer and even Newt the Gingrich and lets' don't forget Rush Limbaugh are all saying the same thing that Obama is too quick to act with Sandy and went to Las Vegas with Benghazi. pooftas!
Gov even said so, probably bit his tongue but still conceded the quickness to help his State and its residents.
I am also glad Gov chastised those who stayed....If no one understands the costs no only financially but in human lives to have to come and rescue people in areas with water, rapid undertow, wires, not to mention other debris some toxic.... Shameful to put people in such positions to rescue your sorry asses.
When you are told a storm is coming, Pack, tie down, bury...but get out...do not risk others lives, they have families. Jersey has idiots who have to live in areas that Insurance should say no. but instead we pay for the idiots who have to keep up with the elite, most are not on a par with a slug.
OB was Commander and Chief...and Gov Christie knows it. Nit was campaigning far away from these sites. If he was sooo competent, he and Ryan should have been in these sites to help out, serve coffee. But instead them and their families are off in some lush hotel. See the difference....
That it is serious reflects the tragedy that is the GOP establishment now.
This guy let more than a thousand Americans die following Katrina. He should be in prison.
This abject failure has the nerve to scuttle out from under his stone AT A TIME LIKE THIS and dare criticize the President for getting the job done he was too dumb and incompetent to do himself.
Does he imagine people have forgotten the New Orleans debacle? And his egregious part in it?
Brownie should get back under that stone before someone treads on (in?) him.
We are indeed a polarized nation. And no, both sides are NOT equally crazy.
The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwnwEPfLEIE
While I still trust NJ Gov. Christie as far as I could throw him (uh-hem), I do give him kudos for commending, and not condemning, Obama for his leadership in a time of crisis. He put politics aside to put people first- small comfort to our neighbors on the eastern seaboard.
Now, if only "Brownie" would take a midnight stroll through the streets of Louisiana wearing a white Snuggly and holding a Confederate flag.... I'd call that the perfect storm.
Not one iota of shame in this whole group of Retarded Regressive Retreads, WiseHeart. They keep cycling them in front of us to the point of exhaustion. Sure we had comments about Bush because of his administration' s lies about Iraq, but there was no attack as bad as those leveled at President Obama. These shameful public attacks are being watched by the whole world, and we are continually diminished in their eyes.
Glad you are safe enough to post.
And this from somebody who fucked-up post-Katrina so bad they had to replace him after embarrassing even the Dimwits crowd ("You're doin' a great job Brownie"!). His experience for the post; -a certain expertise on the subject of Arab horses. Such is rampant cronyism.
Hell, I might make Chancellor of the Exchequer yet when I go back to "Blighty" -and I'm an economic dingbat!
Now I'm waiting on the Evangelicals blaming the Gays and the scenario is complete. Anybody hear anything on that yet?
B.T.W., how CAN you respond "Too quickly" to a disaster?
At least Chris Christie did and said the right thing; wonder what he thinks of this.
These critters are almost beyond belief, Twit right in there amongst them.
NY was next, Cuomo showing the leadership and hands on more than Bloomberg before and now. NJ actually waited, waited, the Jerseyites who believed their TV more important than others lives....well, their gamble didn't pay off. I am not sorry for those who laugh in our faces and build where they should not. They cost taxpayers money, they cost Rescue equipment, time, and too many lives. Selfish ignorant people who do not learn.
One gripe...they snivel at every storm...every storm yet, build on the flood zone, at the river, on the Ocean. Whaa I have no electricity, I have to hand pump my basement, I didn't put my boat in drydock, whaaaaa. Every week I hear these same people, same faces, same names sniveling about their losses. Truth be told, our insurance goes up while these people on hillsides in California, beachsides in USA claim everything every rain, avalanche, fire so they can live in the style of rich and famous.
Rescue the Dogs, kids and leave them with life rafts. Perhaps if they actually had to rebuild on their money, they would not be in the same place incident after incident. Sorry for rave but I am tired of them all since before Katrina. I get NY/NJ news....I will bet you these lazy snobs will rebuild on the same spot. Come March they will be putting in the first of many claims for 2013
oh wait a minute...
This just in...
9-11 happened ON AMERICAN SOIL AND BUSH KNEW ABOUT IT IN ADVANCE...
AND DID NOTHING TO STOP IT.
Y'know, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.
Reactionaries are such sore losers.
Please, if anyone thinks that was my view, check the dictionary under irony and sarcasm. I say this just as a corporation would label a package "Warning: Do not cut finger while opening package." Some people are actually that dumb, although I haven't seen any here on this subject....yet.
Of course, that's why he's Brown. Come to think of it, that also applies to Scott Brown as well.
In response to 'Sandy' -
1 Obama paused his electioneering to 'take charge' of the response - Romney followed suite by pausing his campaign and apparently doing nothing.
2 Obama makes a speech to help reassure the American public - Romney followed suite by also making a speech.
3 Obama travelled to New Jersey to see the devastation first hand - Romney followed suite by travelling to Florida to restart his campaign.
As far as I can see Obama seems to be doing his job, Romney on the other hand still seems to be stuck in the 'Me too' mode that he was in at the last debate.
It warms the cockles of, um, uh,... one's heart or something like that.
Actually, it was after Ohio, that Mittens went to Florida, I believe it was on the same day that Obama went to see the disaster.
BTW, I read a comment from a Southerner this morning who suggested that "Sandy" was only a minor storm as it was labeled Cat 1, rather than the Cat 2 and 3 storms that have hit the South. This is an example of the stupidity that is evident in America today. This "clown" has no clue as to the population density, infrastructure, and other factors that are impacted by each individual natural occurrence.
And we believe that we can have an effect on the voting propensity of people like this.
Trouble is so many Americans watch FAUX, list to RUSH, and such - Just get everyone you know out to vote on 11/6 and in CA be careful how you read the propositions. Yes on labeling products but be careful to read prop 32. At first I thought "yes" but it's tricky bc the prop exempts the big money from flowing in. The school props - puts money in general fund and we know the schools will get little if any of it.
GO OBAMA/BIDEN - vote straight DEM
Believe me League of women voters have hammered on 32 NON STOP, and so have many others. they show clearly that the oil companies and other big money are the ones FOR 32 and also the ones that BENEFIT.
I worry more about 37, there has been so many negative ads about it, and to be sure it is imperfect, but we need to put brakes on Monsanto. The law can be perfected....if it gets a chance. We will see.
The Benghazi affair was tragic but did not call for any immediate action other than to gather and receive information. Whatever happened there, it was all over by the time we heard about it.
On the other hand, when there is a physical emergency putting a large section of the country in danger, immediate action is called for. What would the Republicans have us do in reaction to a devastating hurricane and flood, subcontract rescue and repair operations to Blackwater?
As for Brownie, the man is thoroughly disgraced for life and should just lay low and keep his mouth shut. Or change his name and move to Europe. Say g'night, Brownie!
"YOU'RE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB BROWNIE"
MEMORABLE MAMA SHRUB QUOTES
"THIS IS ACTUALLY WORKING OUT QUITE WELL FOR YOU"
You are right. I could not believe my ears.
No wonder W was so stupid. His mother had no tact, no heart, she was totally tone deaf. I don't think she understood at all what she was doing. I have heard, that people, who know her says that she is a very nasty woman with a really sharp tongue.
Oh Yes! "Voice of Reason" . . . And why doesn't the President just turn the thermostat up a few degrees so we can see Ryan's beautiful pecs as he campaigns with his shirt off?? And I'm sure that if there had only been a True Republican in the White House, Sandy would never have DARED turned "LEFT" and caused all that damage. And Iran and Syria would be celebrating democratic (or is that Democrat . . . ?) elections by now!
Yes, that's what REASON means . . . .
Makes perfect sense to me.
Sorry if it doesn't "make sense", but it's a fact.
GET OUT OF YOUR ALTERNATE UNIVERSE FOR ONCE!!! SHEESH! In case you have forgotten, OPEC sets the oil prices...OPEC!! ! Ye have much too much Fox Noise in the ears and "Faux Facts" on brain!
Of course, he should do like Bush and ignore the problem and not do his job. Go to a golf outing and a birthday party as NOLA drowns.
And in one of the few truths Republicans have told in the last 32 years, when excusing Bush, the president has little to do with gas prices, speculators do that. Although Bush's destruction of the economy did cause prices to drop as the speculators backed off because they realized people couldn't afford to buy at their grossly inflated prices.
Brownie is a breath of fresh hot air. He reminds us of what a repug presidency would be like.
An endorsement from him is like a hug from a child molester. I wish they'd report it more.
I would say that any bad mouthing is now a showing of low person and their faith. Any undecided out there who hasn't seen that OB is the Leadership this country needs shouldn't be allowed to vote.
Bush not even worth discussing. But Nit and Ryan are at Lush Hotels with their family. Living the life, again flaunting in the faces of America while the East Coast drowns. Great Religion of anti people, anti America...So nice to see that Charity only begins at home boys.
I remember so many Democrats on sites, esp Carter. Sleeves rolled up, shovel in hand. He wasn't looking for publicity this was what made him. OB comes to NJ after Christie did all by call him a N word on TV. there he was showing people that FEMA was already setting up local offices, phone lines ready. He looked at the mess, talked, consoled. He knew NY and CT had taken heed, started bolting down before, so he did his necessities in Delaware, Md, Pa and other States. But NJ got to see this President within hours of given an okay to land, at the devastation and assessing what must be done. FEMA, Army Corp, and telling Insurance to get it together...
It had to be handled as such...Norh has to get ready...winter came on the back of Sandy.
Please explain, because I've never heard of a "chocolate mayor" before. Enlighten me.
After Sandy things were up and running in many places rather quickly. After Katrina, it looked like a bomb site, cell towers were down for weeks and in some cases months so that people could not find family and friends. No street lights, broken sewer pipes for which absent homeowners were charge $800-900/mo. My husband while repairing our home was mugged, twice, by pairs of white thugs. The Red Cross, although well-intended, was utterly no help in locating people so we did not know if our friends and family were living or deceased. NO ONE DID THEIR JOB. TOTAL SYSTEMS FAILURE!
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