Impeach the governor, "and that would be me."
September 14, 2005 12:05 PM Subscribe
Impeach Blanco Someone is, at last, calling for the impeachment of Kathleen Blanco. But they don't seem to be very serious about it since their Sign the Petition link isn't working.
Registered to InTouch Communications, though I'm not certain that this is their idea or if they're acting as a proxy for a conservative foundation seeking to take the heat off our incompetent federal government.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 12:12 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by Optimus Chyme at 12:12 PM on September 14, 2005
Lynch Blanco now!!!!
With any luck, it'll set an unstoppable precedent.
posted by cleardawn at 12:16 PM on September 14, 2005
With any luck, it'll set an unstoppable precedent.
posted by cleardawn at 12:16 PM on September 14, 2005
Now there's a quality FPP. Who says MeFi is dying?
</sarcasm>
posted by spock at 12:22 PM on September 14, 2005
</sarcasm>
posted by spock at 12:22 PM on September 14, 2005
This is the best thing I've seen on the interweb. Ever.
posted by glenwood at 12:28 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by glenwood at 12:28 PM on September 14, 2005
"For what, because she signed over control to the feds on the 27th of August after speaking directly with the President on the evening of the 26th? Man, did that turn out to be a mistake!"
-second that
posted by phredhead at 12:28 PM on September 14, 2005
-second that
posted by phredhead at 12:28 PM on September 14, 2005
You'd think the GOP would pick a worse picture than one of Blanco smiling. Maybe one where she has horns coming out of her head, or perhaps one where she's sodomizing a farm animal. Rove is asleep at the switch on this one.
posted by Rothko at 12:29 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by Rothko at 12:29 PM on September 14, 2005
Bush didn't intervene or Federalize the Guard in Iraq because he was afraid that Blanco would sue?
Is this the same guy who unilaterally invaded a sovereign nation in the mideast?
chai-rista almighty, this is a shitty post.
posted by psmealey at 12:38 PM on September 14, 2005
Is this the same guy who unilaterally invaded a sovereign nation in the mideast?
chai-rista almighty, this is a shitty post.
posted by psmealey at 12:38 PM on September 14, 2005
I'm a Republican. That means if I believe hard enough in a lie, it magically becomes true.
posted by expriest at 12:40 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by expriest at 12:40 PM on September 14, 2005
Federal response to Katrina Fastest of all Hurricaines Ever
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2005
"Give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don't give me the same idiot"
The right phrase aimed at the wrong person.
posted by dodgygeezer at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2005
The right phrase aimed at the wrong person.
posted by dodgygeezer at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2005
Great line, expriest!
posted by runningdogofcapitalism at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by runningdogofcapitalism at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2005
impeachblanco.org: Join the hundreds of Louisiana citizens who have already voted in the referendum to impeach Governor Kathleen Blanco
Wow, hundreds of people on board already? And they'll probably get less apathetic about the movement as time goes by!
posted by illovich at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2005
Wow, hundreds of people on board already? And they'll probably get less apathetic about the movement as time goes by!
posted by illovich at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2005
chai-rista's first post, c'mon, be kind (or not).
posted by fixedgear at 12:43 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by fixedgear at 12:43 PM on September 14, 2005
Maybe they jumped the gun here...or, the shark.
"Non-partisan Congressional report (PDF) clears Blanco against charges that she did not call a state of emergency in time."
Further info can be had from the press release by Rep. Conyers (PDF).
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 12:44 PM on September 14, 2005
"Non-partisan Congressional report (PDF) clears Blanco against charges that she did not call a state of emergency in time."
Further info can be had from the press release by Rep. Conyers (PDF).
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 12:44 PM on September 14, 2005
Thanks NantesNewark....we've seen that before.
BayeuxBayonne? ArlesAtlanticCity? TarbesTrenton? PerpignanPaterson?
posted by psmealey at 12:44 PM on September 14, 2005
BayeuxBayonne? ArlesAtlanticCity? TarbesTrenton? PerpignanPaterson?
posted by psmealey at 12:44 PM on September 14, 2005
...their Sign the Petition link isn't working...
Works for me (but I'm not a resident of LA).
posted by Ochiee at 12:48 PM on September 14, 2005
Works for me (but I'm not a resident of LA).
posted by Ochiee at 12:48 PM on September 14, 2005
Kathleen Blanco, the Governor of Louisiana is completely and solely to blame for our lack of preparedness and for mishandling the rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
There are no hands without blood on them at this point. The mayor made mistakes, the governor made mistakes, the federal government made mistakes. People who stayed made mistakes.
I have spent serious discussion time on how this would have been handled if Bobby Jindal had been elected governor. The general consensus seems to be that at least the hospitals would have fared better.
posted by ColdChef at 12:48 PM on September 14, 2005
There are no hands without blood on them at this point. The mayor made mistakes, the governor made mistakes, the federal government made mistakes. People who stayed made mistakes.
I have spent serious discussion time on how this would have been handled if Bobby Jindal had been elected governor. The general consensus seems to be that at least the hospitals would have fared better.
posted by ColdChef at 12:48 PM on September 14, 2005
That page has got to be a parody. I mean, it's got to.
I could imagine someone sincerely wanting Blanco impeached that is still in touch with reality. It's a stretch, but one could hold that view (assuming impeachment is even a possibility under LA law). But whoever wrote that is a fucking idiot if they aren't making a joke.
From the site:
posted by teece at 12:51 PM on September 14, 2005
I could imagine someone sincerely wanting Blanco impeached that is still in touch with reality. It's a stretch, but one could hold that view (assuming impeachment is even a possibility under LA law). But whoever wrote that is a fucking idiot if they aren't making a joke.
From the site:
Kathleen Blanco, the Governor of Louisiana is completely and solely to blame for our lack of preparedness and for mishandling the rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.Not even Karl Rove would overstep that much. completely and solely? Has to be a parody. Are there people out there this stupid?
posted by teece at 12:51 PM on September 14, 2005
When in doubt, host your website with known anonymous spam fronts, too.
My hunch? Just a crap attempt at email harvesting.
posted by bhance at 12:51 PM on September 14, 2005
My hunch? Just a crap attempt at email harvesting.
posted by bhance at 12:51 PM on September 14, 2005
"completely and solely to blame"
B...b...but...Bush just took responsibility! Oops. Maybe he should have waited.
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 12:53 PM on September 14, 2005
B...b...but...Bush just took responsibility! Oops. Maybe he should have waited.
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 12:53 PM on September 14, 2005
Anyhow, let's not play the "blame game" here.
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 12:55 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 12:55 PM on September 14, 2005
Nice work, bhance.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 12:55 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by Optimus Chyme at 12:55 PM on September 14, 2005
Just in case anyone missed the complete bullshit in the accusations:
Here is Blanco's declaration of State of Emergency dated 9/26.
Here is the formal written request asking for federalization of disaster relief dated 9/27.
Similar documents from Governor Barbour of Mississippi don't seem to be as publicly available (I could be wrong on this).
posted by Pollomacho at 12:57 PM on September 14, 2005
Here is Blanco's declaration of State of Emergency dated 9/26.
Here is the formal written request asking for federalization of disaster relief dated 9/27.
Similar documents from Governor Barbour of Mississippi don't seem to be as publicly available (I could be wrong on this).
posted by Pollomacho at 12:57 PM on September 14, 2005
At least they'll be spamming morons... er, I mean morans.
posted by btwillig at 1:00 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by btwillig at 1:00 PM on September 14, 2005
Here's the petition, too, if you feel like signing anyone up.
posted by bhance at 1:04 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by bhance at 1:04 PM on September 14, 2005
Are there people out there this stupid?
Is this your first time on the internet?
posted by jefbla at 1:05 PM on September 14, 2005
Is this your first time on the internet?
posted by jefbla at 1:05 PM on September 14, 2005
Pollomacho, but it has to be someone's fault and we all KNOW it can't be Bush's or anyone in his perfect little administration. They shit roses and cough up pearls.
It must be Blanco's fault. Maybe she wasn't enthusiastic enough in her signing of the State of Emergency or maybe she wasn't humble enough when he requested federal help. It can't be ShrubCo's fault, that would upset the cosmic balance of rightness.
And the spin just keeps on spinning.
And yeah, didn't Bush take responsibility for all this shit the other day anyway? So now Chuck DehalfWitt knows more about the situation than the President? Okay, bad example, Chuck knows more about the situation than the people who pull Bush's strings to make him dance?
posted by fenriq at 1:09 PM on September 14, 2005
It must be Blanco's fault. Maybe she wasn't enthusiastic enough in her signing of the State of Emergency or maybe she wasn't humble enough when he requested federal help. It can't be ShrubCo's fault, that would upset the cosmic balance of rightness.
And the spin just keeps on spinning.
And yeah, didn't Bush take responsibility for all this shit the other day anyway? So now Chuck DehalfWitt knows more about the situation than the President? Okay, bad example, Chuck knows more about the situation than the people who pull Bush's strings to make him dance?
posted by fenriq at 1:09 PM on September 14, 2005
Has anything been clarified as to whether either party (state or federal) had discussed "Mandatory" evacuations?
I seem to remember an early debate as to the stated opposed the "Mandatory" and the Feds wanted everyone out regardless...
Just curious if anyone heard anything more on this, or if it was just a opinion tidbit drawn up by the media without expansion or reason.
-Duff
posted by DuffStone at 1:20 PM on September 14, 2005
I seem to remember an early debate as to the stated opposed the "Mandatory" and the Feds wanted everyone out regardless...
Just curious if anyone heard anything more on this, or if it was just a opinion tidbit drawn up by the media without expansion or reason.
-Duff
posted by DuffStone at 1:20 PM on September 14, 2005
Pollomacho, but it has to be someone's fault and we all KNOW it can't be Bush's or anyone in his perfect little administration. They shit roses and cough up pearls.
It must be Blanco's fault. Maybe she wasn't enthusiastic enough in her signing of the State of Emergency or maybe she wasn't humble enough when he requested federal help. It can't be ShrubCo's fault, that would upset the cosmic balance of rightness.
And the spin just keeps on spinning.
And yeah, didn't Bush take responsibility for all this shit the other day anyway? So now Chuck DehalfWitt knows more about the situation than the President? Okay, bad example, Chuck knows more about the situation than the people who pull Bush's strings to make him dance? - Fenriq
Sorry to bring this WAY off topic, but being a somewhat "Newer" MeFi reader, I find that this opinion is expressed to an extreme in these forums... Being a Conservative capitalist myself, I tend to let the Republican / Democrat debate fall to those who find the process worthy. unfortunately, The loudest voices keep saying the same thing over and over and over again. Whereas, I'd expect a community such as this to be more substantive with their expressions.
Just my opinion, but if they do shit roses, why shout it every 5 minutes, and if they don't, why use sarcasm as cheap jab at supporters... Eventually making fun of supporters will loose you another election. Maybe talking about what's really important (issues to improve stuffs) is more productive?
Anyway... Like I said... either faction means jack to me overall. I vote for whatever and whoever will protect my Life, Family, friends, money, and freedoms... Demo or Repub...
-Duff
posted by DuffStone at 1:29 PM on September 14, 2005
It must be Blanco's fault. Maybe she wasn't enthusiastic enough in her signing of the State of Emergency or maybe she wasn't humble enough when he requested federal help. It can't be ShrubCo's fault, that would upset the cosmic balance of rightness.
And the spin just keeps on spinning.
And yeah, didn't Bush take responsibility for all this shit the other day anyway? So now Chuck DehalfWitt knows more about the situation than the President? Okay, bad example, Chuck knows more about the situation than the people who pull Bush's strings to make him dance? - Fenriq
Sorry to bring this WAY off topic, but being a somewhat "Newer" MeFi reader, I find that this opinion is expressed to an extreme in these forums... Being a Conservative capitalist myself, I tend to let the Republican / Democrat debate fall to those who find the process worthy. unfortunately, The loudest voices keep saying the same thing over and over and over again. Whereas, I'd expect a community such as this to be more substantive with their expressions.
Just my opinion, but if they do shit roses, why shout it every 5 minutes, and if they don't, why use sarcasm as cheap jab at supporters... Eventually making fun of supporters will loose you another election. Maybe talking about what's really important (issues to improve stuffs) is more productive?
Anyway... Like I said... either faction means jack to me overall. I vote for whatever and whoever will protect my Life, Family, friends, money, and freedoms... Demo or Repub...
-Duff
posted by DuffStone at 1:29 PM on September 14, 2005
I blame society.
Boy, Chai-rista, that was worth $5, wasn't it?
posted by klangklangston at 1:31 PM on September 14, 2005
Boy, Chai-rista, that was worth $5, wasn't it?
posted by klangklangston at 1:31 PM on September 14, 2005
Duff, because I'm saying it to make it harder for them to use for themselves. The GOP is trying hard to spin this blame anywhere they can while "accepting responsibility" themselves. Its a well known tactic for them to appear to be responsible while working hard behind the scenes to pin the blame on someone else.
So, if you vote for whoever will protect your life, family, etc. who did you vote for last November? Would you have still voted that way knowing what you know now?
Making fun of people that live in fantasyland won't lose their votes, they were never up for contention. Those people vote the party no matter what.
Maybe I'm just tired of the same old line of bullshit, maybe I'm just tired of it all, maybe I'm ready for an administration that doesn't make me look back nostalgically at Reagan and Bush I's administrations (but maybe that's because I was too young to see what utter fucktards they were too?).
Regardless, Bush's administration has no credibility, whoever they are trying to pin the blame is almost certainly not the correct one to get the blame. They allowed that guy to resign earlier this week, remember?
posted by fenriq at 1:37 PM on September 14, 2005
So, if you vote for whoever will protect your life, family, etc. who did you vote for last November? Would you have still voted that way knowing what you know now?
Making fun of people that live in fantasyland won't lose their votes, they were never up for contention. Those people vote the party no matter what.
Maybe I'm just tired of the same old line of bullshit, maybe I'm just tired of it all, maybe I'm ready for an administration that doesn't make me look back nostalgically at Reagan and Bush I's administrations (but maybe that's because I was too young to see what utter fucktards they were too?).
Regardless, Bush's administration has no credibility, whoever they are trying to pin the blame is almost certainly not the correct one to get the blame. They allowed that guy to resign earlier this week, remember?
posted by fenriq at 1:37 PM on September 14, 2005
IMO, Bush Jr, has as much creditability as Clinton. They've both had MAJOR issues regarding their character brought up, Their decision making, etc... Both had obviously different problems overall, But you can't cuss one without cussing the other without being inconsistent.
Who I voted for is my business, and if you see me supporting one side or the other, I assure you it's not because I'm a party line guy. Like I stated previously, When I have time, I research and use my vote for my benefit. If I don't have time to research, I don't vote. And I won't bitch either, so don't even go there...
I just found your original statement tired and old. Pointless and offputting. Why would someone who IS a party liner, want to vote democrat when democrats as a whole are pointing fingers and obsessively respinning the current administration's spin.. Every Administration spins... But you'd think Bush was "Exrememly" good at it seeing the ammount of effort some are dumping into the de-spin campain...
I don't remember it being this bad in the past... Of course, my early 20's were... An adventure...
-Duff
posted by DuffStone at 2:02 PM on September 14, 2005
Who I voted for is my business, and if you see me supporting one side or the other, I assure you it's not because I'm a party line guy. Like I stated previously, When I have time, I research and use my vote for my benefit. If I don't have time to research, I don't vote. And I won't bitch either, so don't even go there...
I just found your original statement tired and old. Pointless and offputting. Why would someone who IS a party liner, want to vote democrat when democrats as a whole are pointing fingers and obsessively respinning the current administration's spin.. Every Administration spins... But you'd think Bush was "Exrememly" good at it seeing the ammount of effort some are dumping into the de-spin campain...
I don't remember it being this bad in the past... Of course, my early 20's were... An adventure...
-Duff
posted by DuffStone at 2:02 PM on September 14, 2005
She should be impeached for not being Republican:
Blanco] says that two days after Katrina, desperate for help, she couldn't get through to Bush and didn't get a callback; hours later, she tried again, and they talked....posted by kirkaracha at 2:06 PM on September 14, 2005
[Mississippi Gov. Haley] Barbour hasn't had to wait hours to talk to Bush. In fact, Barbour said in an interview with USA TODAY, the president called him three to four times in the wake of Katrina. "I never called him. He always called me," he said.
"Give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don't give me the same idiot"
Oh, and BTW, the Washington Post article that their own link gives as the source for this makes it clear that the person who spoke these words was referring to the director of FEMA, not Blanco.
posted by googly at 2:16 PM on September 14, 2005
Oh, and BTW, the Washington Post article that their own link gives as the source for this makes it clear that the person who spoke these words was referring to the director of FEMA, not Blanco.
posted by googly at 2:16 PM on September 14, 2005
fenriq:
maybe I'm ready for an administration that doesn't make me look back nostalgically at Reagan and Bush I's administrations (but maybe that's because I was too young to see what utter fucktards they were too?).
Yes.
posted by fleacircus at 2:24 PM on September 14, 2005
maybe I'm ready for an administration that doesn't make me look back nostalgically at Reagan and Bush I's administrations (but maybe that's because I was too young to see what utter fucktards they were too?).
Yes.
posted by fleacircus at 2:24 PM on September 14, 2005
Do we really think that the State government was to blame here?
Obviously a bad faith post.
posted by Chris_awesome at 2:24 PM on September 14, 2005
Obviously a bad faith post.
posted by Chris_awesome at 2:24 PM on September 14, 2005
DuffStone:
Eventually making fun of supporters will loose you another election.
No. Playing nicely is how elections are lost.
posted by PsychoKick at 2:27 PM on September 14, 2005
Eventually making fun of supporters will loose you another election.
No. Playing nicely is how elections are lost.
posted by PsychoKick at 2:27 PM on September 14, 2005
DuffStone, have you not noticed the nonstop finger pointing by the Bush administration?
And sorry but Bill Clinton did not mess with intelligence reports to suit him and then launch the nation into a war without an exit strategy based on lies. Clinton got a blowjob from an intern. Equatting one with the other is absolutely ridiculous.
Are there other common issues where Clinton and Bush are similar? I'm sure there are. But I never got the feeling that Clinton was solely interested in making his pals richer at the expense of the rest of the nation and that's exactly what I feel about Bush.
fleacircus, but was it as bad as what he have today?
PsychoKick, is it playing nicely or the expectation that the other side will play fair that loses elections?
posted by fenriq at 2:38 PM on September 14, 2005
And sorry but Bill Clinton did not mess with intelligence reports to suit him and then launch the nation into a war without an exit strategy based on lies. Clinton got a blowjob from an intern. Equatting one with the other is absolutely ridiculous.
Are there other common issues where Clinton and Bush are similar? I'm sure there are. But I never got the feeling that Clinton was solely interested in making his pals richer at the expense of the rest of the nation and that's exactly what I feel about Bush.
fleacircus, but was it as bad as what he have today?
PsychoKick, is it playing nicely or the expectation that the other side will play fair that loses elections?
posted by fenriq at 2:38 PM on September 14, 2005
-Duff
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:42 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:42 PM on September 14, 2005
Hah. Four out of five New Orleanians would rather impeach someone else, I suspect.
posted by insomnia_lj at 2:44 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by insomnia_lj at 2:44 PM on September 14, 2005
Wow, so now it's her fault? Now I don't know what to think or who to blame. Can someone please point me to a story that I can comprehend like a missing, dead or runaway white woman?
posted by any major dude at 2:49 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by any major dude at 2:49 PM on September 14, 2005
No. Playing nicely is how elections are lost.
Unfortunately true. I'm really tired of hearing that "if only Democrats would be nice and focus on the issues" canard when the Swift Boat Vets smear campaign was so successful.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 2:53 PM on September 14, 2005
Unfortunately true. I'm really tired of hearing that "if only Democrats would be nice and focus on the issues" canard when the Swift Boat Vets smear campaign was so successful.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 2:53 PM on September 14, 2005
Just a crap attempt at email harvesting.
Sadly, the socially-liberal party is too stupid to conceive of such an idea, thus neutering their ability to communicate directly with staunch social conservatives. One should be capable of imagining the possibilities in subtley and gently leading the social conservatives toward a free and equal society.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:55 PM on September 14, 2005
Sadly, the socially-liberal party is too stupid to conceive of such an idea, thus neutering their ability to communicate directly with staunch social conservatives. One should be capable of imagining the possibilities in subtley and gently leading the social conservatives toward a free and equal society.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:55 PM on September 14, 2005
fenriq: Iran-Contra was pretty fucktardian as I recall.
posted by fleacircus at 2:55 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by fleacircus at 2:55 PM on September 14, 2005
The people running the impeach Blanco site have their heads way, way, way far up their asses.
From their site:
"Kathleen Blanco ... is completely and solely to blame for our lack of preparedness and for mishandling the rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."
That's not what Dubya said.
The site, btw, was registered by a domain name service in Melbourne, Australia for InTouch Communications LLC, out of Dover, Deleware.
This isn't a grassroots movement. This is 100% Grade-A Washington beltway astroturf -- someone has a political agenda here, and they're too chickenshit to even say who they are.
posted by insomnia_lj at 3:01 PM on September 14, 2005
From their site:
"Kathleen Blanco ... is completely and solely to blame for our lack of preparedness and for mishandling the rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."
That's not what Dubya said.
The site, btw, was registered by a domain name service in Melbourne, Australia for InTouch Communications LLC, out of Dover, Deleware.
This isn't a grassroots movement. This is 100% Grade-A Washington beltway astroturf -- someone has a political agenda here, and they're too chickenshit to even say who they are.
posted by insomnia_lj at 3:01 PM on September 14, 2005
fleacircus, good point but I seem to recall ol' Ron didn't know anything about it (just kidding, I think I might be channelling an SNL skit about it).
posted by fenriq at 3:05 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by fenriq at 3:05 PM on September 14, 2005
Those kooky neocons love deflecting blame. The governor is soley responsible? Please.
posted by fleener at 3:09 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by fleener at 3:09 PM on September 14, 2005
Just called the number for impeach Blanco. A guy answered the phone... "Hello?"
Not "Hello, InTouch communications..." or "let me forward your call to..." A small company, obviously.
I asked about who the registrar was for impeachblanco.org and I was told "InTouch Commnications". I asked "So, your company is represents clients on their websites and domain name registrations? And he said "Yes, that's what we do here. Louisiana politics is notoriously corrupt, and our client would like a bit of anonymity."
I left my contact information for their client, who supposedly will be notified and can call me back.
posted by insomnia_lj at 3:14 PM on September 14, 2005
Not "Hello, InTouch communications..." or "let me forward your call to..." A small company, obviously.
I asked about who the registrar was for impeachblanco.org and I was told "InTouch Commnications". I asked "So, your company is represents clients on their websites and domain name registrations? And he said "Yes, that's what we do here. Louisiana politics is notoriously corrupt, and our client would like a bit of anonymity."
I left my contact information for their client, who supposedly will be notified and can call me back.
posted by insomnia_lj at 3:14 PM on September 14, 2005
Why do some people, Duff being the obvious example, feel the need to use their username as a signature?
-nonmerci
posted by nonmerci at 3:23 PM on September 14, 2005
-nonmerci
posted by nonmerci at 3:23 PM on September 14, 2005
He does it every single time, too.
-interrobang
posted by interrobang at 4:21 PM on September 14, 2005
-interrobang
posted by interrobang at 4:21 PM on September 14, 2005
Might want to read this, StrasbourgSecaucus:
The FEMA Phoenix
reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
By Daniel Franklin
Washington Monthly
But don't let facts confuse you......
posted by SweetIceT at 4:22 PM on September 14, 2005
The FEMA Phoenix
reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
By Daniel Franklin
Washington Monthly
But don't let facts confuse you......
posted by SweetIceT at 4:22 PM on September 14, 2005
For example from that article:
"...Witt's first challenge was to assemble a staff to direct the new FEMA. Much criticism had been leveled at the high number of political appointees in the agency. More than one member of Congress, including Senator Mikulski, had called for FEMA to be reorganized along the lines of most federal agencies, to be "professionalized." In other words, only the highest positions would be appointed by the president, while all other positions would be staffed by career civil servants. Only then, these critics suggested, could FEMA properly respond to catastrophes.
But Clinton and Witt demonstrated an understanding of the virtues of the patronage system. The high number of political appointees allowed the new administration to free itself of the incompetents and replace them with talented new people. Clinton agreed to let Witt interview all potential appointees to ensure that they were qualified for the jobs. As a result, the resumes of the team they assembled are formidable. Elaine McReynolds, head of the Federal Insurance Administration served as the insurance commissioner of Tennessee for over seven years. Richard Moore, a former state legislator from Massachusetts, was appointed to help make state and local governments better prepared for disasters. Carrye Brown, head of the Fire Administration, had worked on Capitol Hill for 18 years where she was a specialist in disaster and fire legislation.
With a new mandate and the staff to go with it, Witt conducted a top-to-bottom review of FEMA's mission, its personnel, and its resources. The review brought swift changes. In its first two years, the agency shut down several unneeded field offices. It reduced internal regulations by 12 percent and drafted a plan to reduce them by 50 percent by the end of 1995. It strengthened programs that prepared states for natural disasters. And, so it could better inform state directors what aid was available, FEMA conducted the first comprehensive inventory in the agency's history.
Recognizing the unlikelihood of a massive nuclear attack, Witt also moved the agency out of the nuclear war business, making available to natural disaster responses many of the resources the agency had accumulated in preparation for a Soviet attack. One hundred FEMA disaster specialists were freed up to deal with natural catastrophes.
Virtually overnight, the agency has developed a new reputation for quickness and efficiency. Gone are the bureaucratic swamps that the old FEMA had made its hallmark. It is telling that when state disaster officials talk about FEMA's response time, they no longer speak in days or weeks, but in hours. They speak of phone calls, not of forms dropped in the mail.
Consider the Oklahoma City bombing. Tom Feuerborne, director of Oklahoma's Civil Emergency Management Department, can cite the events of April 19, 1995 almost down to the minute. It was 9:02 a.m. when a truck bomb ripped through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building in downtown Oklahoma City. At 9:30, Feuerborne placed a phone call to FEMA's headquarters in Washington. At 2:05, FEMA's advance team arrived, complete with damage assessors and members of Witt's staff. Six hours later, at 8:10 that evening, Witt himself arrived to be briefed on the situation. By 2:30 a.m. April 20, the first of FEMA's search and rescue teams had arrived to supplement the efforts of the Oklahoma City fire department. Says Feuerborne, "My office is very happy with the quick response of FEMA."..."
posted by SweetIceT at 4:29 PM on September 14, 2005
"...Witt's first challenge was to assemble a staff to direct the new FEMA. Much criticism had been leveled at the high number of political appointees in the agency. More than one member of Congress, including Senator Mikulski, had called for FEMA to be reorganized along the lines of most federal agencies, to be "professionalized." In other words, only the highest positions would be appointed by the president, while all other positions would be staffed by career civil servants. Only then, these critics suggested, could FEMA properly respond to catastrophes.
But Clinton and Witt demonstrated an understanding of the virtues of the patronage system. The high number of political appointees allowed the new administration to free itself of the incompetents and replace them with talented new people. Clinton agreed to let Witt interview all potential appointees to ensure that they were qualified for the jobs. As a result, the resumes of the team they assembled are formidable. Elaine McReynolds, head of the Federal Insurance Administration served as the insurance commissioner of Tennessee for over seven years. Richard Moore, a former state legislator from Massachusetts, was appointed to help make state and local governments better prepared for disasters. Carrye Brown, head of the Fire Administration, had worked on Capitol Hill for 18 years where she was a specialist in disaster and fire legislation.
With a new mandate and the staff to go with it, Witt conducted a top-to-bottom review of FEMA's mission, its personnel, and its resources. The review brought swift changes. In its first two years, the agency shut down several unneeded field offices. It reduced internal regulations by 12 percent and drafted a plan to reduce them by 50 percent by the end of 1995. It strengthened programs that prepared states for natural disasters. And, so it could better inform state directors what aid was available, FEMA conducted the first comprehensive inventory in the agency's history.
Recognizing the unlikelihood of a massive nuclear attack, Witt also moved the agency out of the nuclear war business, making available to natural disaster responses many of the resources the agency had accumulated in preparation for a Soviet attack. One hundred FEMA disaster specialists were freed up to deal with natural catastrophes.
Virtually overnight, the agency has developed a new reputation for quickness and efficiency. Gone are the bureaucratic swamps that the old FEMA had made its hallmark. It is telling that when state disaster officials talk about FEMA's response time, they no longer speak in days or weeks, but in hours. They speak of phone calls, not of forms dropped in the mail.
Consider the Oklahoma City bombing. Tom Feuerborne, director of Oklahoma's Civil Emergency Management Department, can cite the events of April 19, 1995 almost down to the minute. It was 9:02 a.m. when a truck bomb ripped through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building in downtown Oklahoma City. At 9:30, Feuerborne placed a phone call to FEMA's headquarters in Washington. At 2:05, FEMA's advance team arrived, complete with damage assessors and members of Witt's staff. Six hours later, at 8:10 that evening, Witt himself arrived to be briefed on the situation. By 2:30 a.m. April 20, the first of FEMA's search and rescue teams had arrived to supplement the efforts of the Oklahoma City fire department. Says Feuerborne, "My office is very happy with the quick response of FEMA."..."
posted by SweetIceT at 4:29 PM on September 14, 2005
Ultimately, the anti-homo knee-jerks made the difference in Nov04. IMO, Kerry would have been a stronger candidate if he had not tried to please the middle voters as much with his faux pro-Iraq stance.
Duff, I appreciate your call for a more reasoned and researched response base in MetaFilter--Lord knows we've worked hard to earn our reputation for hardhitting fact searches--but your comparing the character issues of Clinton with those of Bush knocks your right off the shelf of credibility. Mountain, meet molehill. And you know it, so cut that I'm-no-party-line-guy crap. You're either a party line guy or an utter fucking moron.
Or, like the turd, you're both.
posted by squirrel at 4:52 PM on September 14, 2005
Duff, I appreciate your call for a more reasoned and researched response base in MetaFilter--Lord knows we've worked hard to earn our reputation for hardhitting fact searches--but your comparing the character issues of Clinton with those of Bush knocks your right off the shelf of credibility. Mountain, meet molehill. And you know it, so cut that I'm-no-party-line-guy crap. You're either a party line guy or an utter fucking moron.
Or, like the turd, you're both.
posted by squirrel at 4:52 PM on September 14, 2005
Here's a photo of Bush and Blanco ducking responsibility.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:44 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by kirkaracha at 5:44 PM on September 14, 2005
Petition to Impeach Bush
Petition to Impeach Blanco
I'm no HTML guru - could somebody take a look at the source on the Blanco petition? What is the Blanco petition doing calling JavaScript on the Bush petition's server?
posted by swell at 6:34 PM on September 14, 2005
Petition to Impeach Blanco
I'm no HTML guru - could somebody take a look at the source on the Blanco petition? What is the Blanco petition doing calling JavaScript on the Bush petition's server?
posted by swell at 6:34 PM on September 14, 2005
Well, at the risk of again being labelled a right-wing stooge, I think Duff has a real point.
The point isn't that we shouldn't criticize Bush or that we shouldn't fight hard and mean, the point is that the reflexive sarcasm is alienating and doesn't reinforce the message that will be beneficial. If you want to point out that Bush is a douchebag, do it by calling him and his supporters douchebags. Don't do it by sarcastically offering their own view of themselfs; that's too easy for someone who does support that view to merely affirm.
"He shits roses and pearls."
"Yeah, he does. At least he's better than you Democrats."
Instead, keep pushing it back on Bush and make sure that people who are defending him keep having to try to mitigate and deflect.
"He dropped the ball like a hook-handed bowler. You know, he blew this like he blew 9/11. Republicans keep campaining on the idea that government would be cheaper if it didn't work, and they set out to prove it with their hurricane response. And you think that they're gonna protect you when you lose your job? Shee-it, hope you like living in a stadium if anything bad happens near you. Think if there was a terrorist attack— Bush thinks his first duty in a disaster is clearing brush. We don't have a leader, we have the world's best paid idiot farm hand. Face it, you got fooled.
posted by klangklangston at 6:42 PM on September 14, 2005
The point isn't that we shouldn't criticize Bush or that we shouldn't fight hard and mean, the point is that the reflexive sarcasm is alienating and doesn't reinforce the message that will be beneficial. If you want to point out that Bush is a douchebag, do it by calling him and his supporters douchebags. Don't do it by sarcastically offering their own view of themselfs; that's too easy for someone who does support that view to merely affirm.
"He shits roses and pearls."
"Yeah, he does. At least he's better than you Democrats."
Instead, keep pushing it back on Bush and make sure that people who are defending him keep having to try to mitigate and deflect.
"He dropped the ball like a hook-handed bowler. You know, he blew this like he blew 9/11. Republicans keep campaining on the idea that government would be cheaper if it didn't work, and they set out to prove it with their hurricane response. And you think that they're gonna protect you when you lose your job? Shee-it, hope you like living in a stadium if anything bad happens near you. Think if there was a terrorist attack— Bush thinks his first duty in a disaster is clearing brush. We don't have a leader, we have the world's best paid idiot farm hand. Face it, you got fooled.
posted by klangklangston at 6:42 PM on September 14, 2005
By 2:30 a.m. April 20, the first of FEMA's search and rescue teams had arrived to supplement the efforts of the Oklahoma City fire department. Says Feuerborne, "My office is very happy with the quick response of FEMA."..."
With all due respect, and this is NOT to defend Bush, nor is it to demean the OK City bombing, but an incident that destroys one building (and a bit of the surrounding area), but allows access to said area is not very comparable in scope to a hurricane which devastates hundreds of miles including widespread infrastructure (roads, etc). Again, I'm not saying this excuses FEMA under Bush or that their speed was acceptable, I'm just saying the bombing (tragic as it was) and the hurricane were very different types of disasters.
Don't do it by sarcastically offering their own view of themselfs; that's too easy for someone who does support that view to merely affirm.
I'm not sure if I fully understand what you're saying, but I will say this: I'm tired of shrillness in politics. I understand that Democrats/liberals believe that their candidates/politicians lie down and don't challenge the Republican side enough, but it's not enough to make so much noise that you simply make a wall of sound to try and block out what the other side is saying. I grow weary of people yelling back and forth "It's your fault!" "No, it's YOUR fault." "It's their fault over there!" "No, it's your fault!" You know what... it's somebody's fault - but blame isn't fixing things at all. Fix the damned problem. Stop talking about it like you're going to score points for 2006 and fix it.
BOTH sides are turning me off for 2006. The Republicans because they're grossly incompetant at times, the Democrats because they don't offer answers, they just lay down blame brush fire and burn everything in their path (except themselves, oddly enough). So DHS was a colossal failure... so FEMA shouldn't have been part of DHS... fine, then dammit FIX IT. Stop dicking around playing the "Gotta score political points" game and SHOW me that you can lead, and you'll get my vote every time. Keep bitching (on either side) and you'll never get my vote.
posted by Drylnn at 8:30 PM on September 14, 2005
With all due respect, and this is NOT to defend Bush, nor is it to demean the OK City bombing, but an incident that destroys one building (and a bit of the surrounding area), but allows access to said area is not very comparable in scope to a hurricane which devastates hundreds of miles including widespread infrastructure (roads, etc). Again, I'm not saying this excuses FEMA under Bush or that their speed was acceptable, I'm just saying the bombing (tragic as it was) and the hurricane were very different types of disasters.
Don't do it by sarcastically offering their own view of themselfs; that's too easy for someone who does support that view to merely affirm.
I'm not sure if I fully understand what you're saying, but I will say this: I'm tired of shrillness in politics. I understand that Democrats/liberals believe that their candidates/politicians lie down and don't challenge the Republican side enough, but it's not enough to make so much noise that you simply make a wall of sound to try and block out what the other side is saying. I grow weary of people yelling back and forth "It's your fault!" "No, it's YOUR fault." "It's their fault over there!" "No, it's your fault!" You know what... it's somebody's fault - but blame isn't fixing things at all. Fix the damned problem. Stop talking about it like you're going to score points for 2006 and fix it.
BOTH sides are turning me off for 2006. The Republicans because they're grossly incompetant at times, the Democrats because they don't offer answers, they just lay down blame brush fire and burn everything in their path (except themselves, oddly enough). So DHS was a colossal failure... so FEMA shouldn't have been part of DHS... fine, then dammit FIX IT. Stop dicking around playing the "Gotta score political points" game and SHOW me that you can lead, and you'll get my vote every time. Keep bitching (on either side) and you'll never get my vote.
posted by Drylnn at 8:30 PM on September 14, 2005
The Dems. can't fix FEMA and DHS (or get rid of the latter) when they're out of power. They don't control either the executive or the legislative branch, already.
posted by raysmj at 9:03 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by raysmj at 9:03 PM on September 14, 2005
The Dems. can't fix FEMA and DHS (or get rid of the latter) when they're out of power. They don't control either the executive or the legislative branch, already.
posted by raysmj at 9:03 PM PST on September 14 [!]
And should the Dems even BE in power either?
posted by rough ashlar at 9:31 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by raysmj at 9:03 PM PST on September 14 [!]
And should the Dems even BE in power either?
posted by rough ashlar at 9:31 PM on September 14, 2005
[i]The Dems. can't fix FEMA and DHS (or get rid of the latter) when they're out of power[/i]
They can't utilaterally change it, no, but they can work to change it, instead of tossing out blame like business cards. Yes, the Republicans can do more (currently), but that doesn't abrogate the Democrats of any responsibility.
posted by Drylnn at 10:33 PM on September 14, 2005
They can't utilaterally change it, no, but they can work to change it, instead of tossing out blame like business cards. Yes, the Republicans can do more (currently), but that doesn't abrogate the Democrats of any responsibility.
posted by Drylnn at 10:33 PM on September 14, 2005
ugh... sorry about the quote.. and the horrible spelling. My brain is on siesta for tonight.
posted by Drylnn at 10:34 PM on September 14, 2005
posted by Drylnn at 10:34 PM on September 14, 2005
Hear that noise?
That's the Swift Boaters cranking up.
Is it time to play the blame game now?
This equivocating and comparing the Clinton Administration with the Bushistas as though there's ANY comparison is really silly. Call me back when you've had family die for Dear Leader's stupidity and THEN tell me that.
posted by nofundy at 7:03 AM on September 15, 2005
That's the Swift Boaters cranking up.
Is it time to play the blame game now?
This equivocating and comparing the Clinton Administration with the Bushistas as though there's ANY comparison is really silly. Call me back when you've had family die for Dear Leader's stupidity and THEN tell me that.
posted by nofundy at 7:03 AM on September 15, 2005
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posted by Pollomacho at 12:12 PM on September 14, 2005