Brown joked in e-mail as Katrina churned
 

In the days leading up to Katrina, former FEMA Director Michael Brown sent jocular e-mails to colleagues about his clothing, finding a dog-sitter and asking if he could quit, an investigation revealed.

The House panel investigating the government’s slow response to the storm has released pages of internal e-mail dating from before Katrina hit on Aug. 29 in which Brown appears focused on issues other than the catastrophe at hand.

Brown resigned as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sept. 12 after being made the main scapegoat for the government’s lack of preparedness for Katrina, which killed more than 1,000 people.

Shortly after 7 a.m. on the morning of the storm, a FEMA public affairs official sent Brown an e-mail complimenting him on the outfit he wore during a national television briefing. In response to the e-mail, whose subject was “Re: New Orleans update,” Brown said, “I got it at Nordstroms,” then added, “Are you proud of me? Can I quit now? Can I go home?”

Hours later, Brown received e-mails about levee breaches and pieces falling off the roof of the New Orleans Superdome, used as a shelter during the storm.

Casual responses at a critical time

On Aug. 31, FEMA official Marty Bahamonde sent Brown a desperate e-mail from New Orleans, calling the situation “past critical.” Describing patients in temporary emergency shelters, Bahamonde wrote, “Estimates are many will die within hours.”

He also wrote, “We are out of food and running out of water at the dome, plans in works to address the critical need.”

Brown’s reply to the e-mail was: “Thanks for the update. Anything specific I need to do or tweak?”

A few days after Katrina’s devastation, FEMA aide Sharon Worthy sent an e-mail to Brown suggesting he roll up his sleeves when making television appearances.

“Even the President rolled up his sleeves to just below the elbow,” the e-mail reads. “In these crises and on TV you just need to look more hard-working.”

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http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9912186/

I think he fell off too many Arabian horses, landing on his head, in his previous job.

No see he didn't ride them - he just took bribes; riding might have taken too much effort and planning... sticking out his hand was much easier (well as long as he wasn't directly behind the horse).

Re: Brown joked in e-mail as Katrina churned
 

Who do you suppose advised the President?

May be true, but I haven't seen that. Can you cite a link or reference?

My personal fav is when Marty Bahamonde tried to tell Michael Brown that the situation at the Superdome was critical and Brown's press secretary said he would need time eat since it was a busy night at a Baton Rouge restaurant.

"I just ate an MRE and crapped in the hallway of the Superdome along with 30,000 other close friends so I understand her concern about busy restaurants." - Marty Bahamonde

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...ack=hppromobox

A couple of months ago, there was a local grassroots project to send a truck full of food down to Mississippi. I wanted to call the effort "I Can't Believe It's Not FEMA" but the organizers had other ideas.

Hang him by the balls. 3/4" hemp or sisal rope will do the trick.

It was reported in one of his emails he says "I am a fashion god".

Yep he's a god of fashion don'ts.

Re: Re: Brown joked in e-mail as Katrina churned
 

He didn't need advisement on this. Everything he does takes "hard work". I think he uses that phrase in every speech he gives.

Kathleen Blanco may have made some mistakes as governor, but I think she was smart to ignore Brown's comments instead of responding to them. He ended up looking like an ass anyhow.