NYT (Dowd): Neigh to Cronies

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/10/opinion/10dowd.html

Dowd of Brownie. Another great OpEd from Maureen.

on edit, (snip)

It sounds more like a Vince Vaughn-Owen Wilson flick than the story of a man who was to be responsible for the fate of the Republic during the biggest natural disaster in our history. Brownie was a failed former lawyer with a degree from a semiaccredited law school, as The New Republic put it, when he moved to Colorado in 1991 to judge horse judges for the Arabian Horse Association.

He was put out to pasture under pressure in 2001, leaving him free to join his pal Mr. Allbaugh at an eviscerated FEMA. Mr. Allbaugh decided to leave the top job at FEMA and become a lobbyist with clients like Halliburton when the agency was reorganized under Homeland Security, stripping it of authority. Why not, Mr. Allbaugh thought, just pass this obscure sinecure to his homeboy?

(snip)

She is even handed in that regard. In other words, what goes around comes around. :evilgrin:

of Baton Rouge was overheard telling lobbyists: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did."
He should be run out of town on a rail. :grr:

saying that kind of thing. He probably heard it in a focus group...

The amount of prejudice against the black and the poor exposed by this catastrophe is just staggering.

Some people can rationalize the failures of the government so that they do not have to feel sympathy and concern for the victims of Katrina.

-VI

This really exposed people's true nature. If there were any doubts, I think they are erased.

How can he look at the victims of Hurricane Katrina and imply with cold deliberation that G-d created the hurricane because he and others wanted to "clean-up" public housing?! :nuke:

-VI

When I read it, it seemed as if she had marbles in her mouth...(or typewriter) It felt mumbly..and not straight forward as is her usual style. Maybe she got a talking to about being too harsh a critic?

Love the phrase: "Michael Brown, who didn't know the difference between a tropical depression and an anxiety attack" LOL

"I understand that politicians are wont to put cronies and cupcakes on the payroll. . . .five of the eight top FEMA officials were simply Bush loyalists and political operatives who "came to their posts with virtually no experience in handling disasters. . .



While many see the hideous rescue failures as disaster apartheid, Barbara Bush and other Republicans have tried to look on the bright side for the victims. The Wall Street Journal reported that Representative Richard Baker of Baton Rouge was overheard telling lobbyists: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did."

Even those who believe in intelligent design must surely agree that Brownie and Representative Baker weren't part of it."


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/10/opinion/10dowd.html?hp

All members of the Congressional committee that reviewed and approved "Brownie's" nomination are guilty of conspiracy.

Nominated!