Tongue Tyed: Grasping

Sep 9, 2005

Grasping

Right now I am trying to put my fingers around and grasp what is happening in our Administration. The stories about Michael Brown, the FEMA Director, are staggering. I am trying with all my might to find a way to distrust the information I am finding, but to be honest, the little bit I have been able to find as exaggerated still doesn't get Michael Brown off the hot seat.

In case you are unaware, his CV is being seriously criticize at the moment. Let's start with the fact that his last job was running the Arabian Horse Association. A fine job, but certainly not what one would expect for the Director of the Federal EMERGENCY Response Administration. What could he do? Send in the Cavalry?? Oh, wait, they don't use horses anymore...Ok, but maybe he was head of some local emergency organization for a large city before this? Uh, no. Ok, small town? uh, no. Red Cross? Nope. Hmmm...

Ok then, just how did he get this job? It looks like cronyism. Good old fashioned Buddy Buddy with the Prez. After the 2000 election, Bush, as a thank you, hired most of his campaign staffers in one position or another. One of my friends was included in that number and often told me how Bush was guaranteeing his supports jobs. A nice gesture, but I think Deputy Chief Director of FEMA was a stretch. Before he became Director, he was the Deputy Chief to Joe Allbaugh.

So what else did Mr. Brown do in his illustrious career? Well that is up for debate. He says he was Assistant City Manager for Edmund Oklahoma. Edmund, OK says he was Assistant TO the City Manager, and did that as a college student. It was an internship.

Brown also notes on his FindLaw profile the following:

"Director, Oklahoma Christian Home, Edmond, OK, 1983 - Present "

This is the only place I can see an exaggerated mistake. Apparently, he is saying, no, no. Not Director of the home, but a member on the board of directors. Well, ok, I can see how that could be confused. But then, the Oklahoma Christian Home says they have never heard of him, and no one on the Board has heard of him. And it states that he is STILL a member by saying "1983-Present". Huh. Strange.

And the most interesting of all is that Brown states he was a professor at Central State University (now the University of Central Oklahoma). The University acknowledges that he was a student there and may have worked as an instructor, but that is no where close to his claim of, "Outstanding Political Science Professor." He wasn't even on the faculty.

On neither his FEMA Bio nor his FindLaw profile can I find information that suggests he was involved in any way in emergency management prior to his Deputy Chief appointment. Yes, this does give him 3 years experience, but that hardly seems adequate given that he was hired to rescue us from terror attacks like 9-11.

I understand Bush's desire to thank his supporters for their hard work to get him where he is, but this appointment is just ridiculous. How many other unqualified people are running our country?

posted by Ty @ 9/09/2005

2 Comments:

At 12:40 PM, September 09, 2005, Ty said...: I commented on what he has done since he was appointed. I just don't think it's adequate to place someone in a position like that with no experience.

That information was also added to his bio in the last few days according to www.crooksandliars.com. I'm not saying he didn't do the work or anything, just a little side note...

Also, just heard...he has been removed from the position as of today...

But honestly, if you had know in 2001 or 2002 that the FEMA director's last job was heading up a the Arabian Horse Association, wouldn't you have thought that was strange? It's just that this information has finally surfaced. The American public should be able to trust that we are being led by QUALIFIED individuals, don't you think?
At 9:49 PM, September 11, 2005, Anonymous said...: I understand the idea of political kickbacks, but a job like this SHOULD be taken seriously. Not as a good job payback.

Regardless, I think everyone knows that the response was inadequate on almost all levels.

I take that back, I think the public has done an excellent job.

About Me