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January 19, 2006
Mighty Big Of Him
Remember Michael Brown? He, the unfortunate mediocrity who just happened to be head of FEMA when Hurricane Katrina, this nation's worst ever national disaster, struck in late summer. Michael Brown, who was so (in)famously told "you're doing a heck of a job, Brownie" by a reeling President Bush, only to resign under immense pressure a few days later. The same Michael Brown who then proceeded to blame others (all Democrats, conveniently) for his own gross incompetence.
Well, it seems Brownie has discovered self-reflection and even a bit of humility -- two traits, incidentally, his former boss could stand to acquire.
In a speech to a gathering of broadcast and National Weather Service meteorologists at a resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains (we'll get to that), Brownie admitted that "we all made mistakes" and that he "should have demanded the military sooner". Big stuff from the man who's meteoric bureaucratic rise from the Arabian Horse Association to heading our country's national disaster response agency was so abruptly ended just a few months ago.
Why, you may ask was Brownie addressing such a group? It seems Mr. Brown was in fact the keynote speaker at the Operation Sierra Storm 2006 Conference. After leaving FEMA he decided to start his own disaster preparedness consulting firm. While you pick your jaw up off the floor, realize that the man apparently has actual clients.
Wonder if you would hire someone like that to document what not to do during a disaster? We can be sure that at least he is counseling clients to have properly pressed dress shirts at all times (as he always had), and of the importance of taking full meal breaks in the heat of the crisis. How much would you pay to have Brownie enlighten you?
When asked if he felt he had been railroaded out of his post at FEMA, Brownie poignantly replied, "I'm moving on." Wow. Forget disaster preparedness, Oprah, this is the next Dr. Phil! You're doing a heckuva job, Brownie.
Hat tip to Josh Marshall on this one.
Posted by houtopia at January 19, 2006 07:44 PM