CNN VIDEO - "Dems to Blame for Brown Hire?" Lieberman was in charge

[Nothing Without Hope]

A few tidbits from the video:

At Brown's confirmation hearing for FEMA deputy director in June 2002, only 4 of 17 senators showed up and the hearing lasted a total of just 42 minutes. At that time, there was a Democratic majority in the Senate. Lieberman was in charge at the Brown hearing, and he says he found Brown acceptable because of his "extensive management experience." No questions were asked about why the 9 years in the Arabian Horse outfit would prepare him for life & death, huge emergency relief responsibilities.

When FEMA was folded into DHS, the Dems agreed to have NO SECOND CONFIRMATION HEARING when Brown was up to become FEMA director.

Now Lieberman is saying that the next FEMA director will get lots of scrutiny. But just one hour earlier, 4 important hearings for DHS appointees were skipped by ALL senators, including Lieberman; only some staff were there. THERE IS NO SIGN THAT THE SENATE DEMS WILL BE ANY MORE CAREFUL NEXT TIME, DESPITE LIEBERMAN'S ASSERTIONS.

Unsaid in the video, strangely, was the fact that now the Republicans have the Senate majority and that in any case, Bush is the one who names these monstrously inept POSs for these critically important appointments. The implication was that the Dems failed by not sufficiently protecting the country from the Repubs' folly in naming and supporting Brown, but no blame of the Republicans, let alone of Bush, was given. Truly bizarre, to blame the Dems when it was Bush's appointee and all Repubs supported him.

Truly shameful. Bush and his Republicans were primarily responsible, of course (a point not made in the video), but the Democrats under Lieberman's "leadership" allowed this totally unqualified fool Brown into the position where he could cause the deaths of thousands. There was no scrutiny, no resistance to Brown's appointment to this extremely important position at all.

Lieberman needs to be out of office, along with the rest of the GOP-accommodating useless Democratic deadwood. And this incident should be added to the long list of failures and betrayals by this useless DINO.

I can't give you a direct link to the video, but you will find it on the CNN home page at http://www.cnn.com (it's currently one of the two clips in the "watch free video" box on the right side) or in the video list (just now it was on the 2nd or 4 pages of listings). Again, the title of the CNN free video is
"Dems to Blame for Brown Hire?" (2.21 minutes)

[LittleClarkie]

1. This is so bizaare

Where is the nuclear option now. Where are all the arguments about up or down votes and elections having consequences and the president having the appointees he wants? A good and sensible Dem in the eyes of your average Republican, ie Leiberman, is being sold up the river for letting Brown go, when if he had fought Brown's appointment, he'd have been smeared by Rove and Co.

Hey, Leiberman! You're being scapegoated, dude. You might wanna get your head outta Bush's ass now!

[aquart]

2. No man has earned it more.

[Nothing Without Hope]

22. no argument there.

[Melodybe]

3. Lieberman is not a democrat, he doesn't count.

[LittleClarkie]

4. With that D by his name, they are able to claim that "a Democrat"

let it happen. He counts for purposes of scapegoating.

[Imagevision]

42. People of Connecticut better dump him for other Dem nominee

Lieberman and McCain make a quaint couple

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Lieberman has been such a slimy Rethug wannabe, I've wondered if Rove

has something truly embarrassing on him - I do think the Bush White House keeps many powerful and influential people in line by threatening to disclose damaging information about them.

Just think of all the slime you've seen Lieberman roll in - is he "just" a sellout to the fat corporate interests, or is he in Rove's pocket? I've wondered.

In any case, he's no friend of the American people, including his own constituents. I hope they figure that out by the next time he's up for re-election. His record is more than a disgrace, his actions have worsened the terrible state the country is in now.

[Toots]

37. Bush* appointed Brown not Leiberman

All Leiberman did was allow Bush* to have his guy... Bush* wanted him Bush* got him and America got screwed ....again.

[swag]

5. All part of the WH plan: spin the blame

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1103581,00.html

The second tactic could be summed up as, Don't look back. The White House has sent delegates to meetings in Washington of outside Republican groups who have plans to blame the Democrats and state and local officials. In the meantime, it has no plans to push for a full-scale inquiry like the 9/11 commission, which Bush bitterly opposed until the pressure from Congress and surviving families made resistance futile.

[bluestateguy]

6. Lieberman didn't do his job

That's true, but Bush appointed the guy and continued to express confidence in him.

[LittleClarkie]

8. But the President should get the people he wants

Elections have consequences you know. Brown deserved an up or down vote. Blah da blah da blah da.

Oh my God, my HEAD!

[Coexist]

35. did Lieberman look at his doctored resume or his real resume?

bad info leads to bad decisions.

[Cha]

54. Yeah, where's that clip

of bush saying.."good job, brownie"? Or what ever the fuck bush was dribbling that day?

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. I am wondering how they finally did blackmail Gov Blanco into THIS:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1781715
Thread title: La. Governor Takes Responsibility For Hurricane Response

This despite all evidence:

A bipartisan committee showed it was NOT Blanco's fault, that she acted correctly:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1777186
Thread title: Nonpartisan congressional research report finds LA governor took necessary

[bowens43]

9. Who nominated Brownie?

Not Lieberman.

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. Exactly. And it's assumed that all Repubs would support him. It's

like the video plot line is saying the Dems have the responsibility to protect us from the dangerous folly of Bush and the Repubs - and yet it blames ONLY the Dems, not the Rethugs for pushing the disastrous appointment in the first place. Very, very strange.

Lieberman is a total Bush ass-kisser and deserves a great deal of blame for abandoning all responsibility or even pretence of integrity in lettng Brown in. But BUSH is the one who pushed for him and the Rethug bullies ALL fight for Bush's whim.

[calico1]

32. Right. And the President could have

fired Brownie. Or was he under some obligation because Lieberman helped get him passed? Please. This is stupid and I'm surprised people here are going along with it. Its one more attempt by the Administration to shirk responsibility -- yet again.

[Nostradammit]

10. Congratulations Joe !!

Here's some more of that Bush family loyalty!

Where you planning to live after the revolution, Joe?

[ReadTomPaine]

12. When you dance with the Devil, the Devil doesn't change, you do.

Kissing the Monkey doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore, does it, Joe?

[ladylibertee]

19. LOL

[freeplessinseattle]

14. and if he had been more questioned by Dems, so what?

we see what happens, nothing! at least they've been trying lately though, and maybe they do pick their battles.

[Lochloosa]

15. There is more to the story than you see at first glance

Deputy Directors are almost always approved. They were not interviewing the Director. This is the person that the director wanted have working for him. He was hired for his "extensive management experience."

[Nothing Without Hope]

20. Yes, but the approval process for DIRECTOR was waived. Was that under

Rethug leadership? The video doesn't say - and it's an important point. The video tries to pin it all on the Dems, which is such a bizarre tack to take for a Bush nominee.

[slor]

16. This is why you do not vote with thugs...

just to appear "bipartisan" or simply because you do not think you have enough votes for your side to win. That being said, I am cool with joementum being replaced by a real Dem!

[Nothing Without Hope]

17. Here's a March VIDEO of Joe Lieberman supporting creationism and

keeping Terry Schiavo's feeding tube in. There is no neocon pandering too low for ol' Joe:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/03/28.html#a2187



Direct video links:
(Windows Media): http://movies.crooksandliars.com/MTP_Joe.wmv
(QuickTime): http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Meet_the_Press.mov

Transcript:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7284978

[ladylibertee]

18. "Dems to Blame for Brown Hire?"

I am not surprised the Retardicans would pull this stunt.I think it's a sorry attempt.Am I to believe that if Lieberman would have expressed the opposite opinion at Browns hearing, the Retards would have not hired him?I think not.Please.Anyway,let us not forget what Lieberman was referring to when he made those assumptions.He was relying on a FALSIFIED resume.He was simply going on what he had to look at not knowing it was a blatant LIE.It's not Lieberman's fault at all.Brown LIED on his resume.So, it was still Browns fault.So there!!!:P

[Nothing Without Hope]

21. Whether or not Brown lied on his resume, even the "enhanced" resume

did NOT show enough qualifiactions for FEMA deputy head, let alone FEMA head. The parts that he's said to have lied about are very minor positions from long ago - the fact is, there is no way this incompetent loser had what was needed to head or even deputy-head that agency. It's in keeping with the Bush policy of staffing government departments with loyalist hacks.

Here's the latest (updated Sept 11) Michael Brown bio at the FEMA site. I'm including his photo to see if you agree that he looks rather "unfinished," like John Roberts:

http://www.fema.gov/about/bios/brown.shtm

Michael D. Brown
Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Michael D. Brown was nominated by President George W. Bush as the first Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response in the newly created Department of Homeland Security in January 2003. As the head of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Under Secretary Brown leads federal disaster response and recovery operations and coordinates disaster activities with more than two dozen federal agencies and departments and the American Red Cross. He also oversees the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration, and initiates proactive mitigation activities.

Additionally, Under Secretary Brown helps the Secretary of Homeland Security ensure the effectiveness of emergency responders, and directs the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center, the National Disaster Medical System and the Nuclear Incident Response Team.

Under Secretary Brown has led Homeland Security’s response to more than 164 presidentially declared disasters and emergencies, including the 2003 Columbia Shuttle disaster and the California wildfires in 2003. In 2004, Mr. Brown led FEMA’s thousands of dedicated disaster workers during the most active hurricane season in over 100 years, as FEMA delivered aid more quickly and more efficiently than ever before.

Previously, Mr. Brown served as FEMA's Deputy Director and the agency's General Counsel. Shortly after the September 11th terrorist attacks, Mr. Brown served on the President's Consequence Management Principal's Committee, which acted as the White House's policy coordination group for the federal domestic response to the attacks. Later, the President asked him to head the Consequence Management Working Group to identify and resolve key issues regarding the federal response plan. In August 2002, President Bush appointed him to the Transition Planning Office for the new Department of Homeland Security, serving as the transition leader for the EP&R Division.

Prior to joining FEMA, Mr. Brown practiced law in Colorado and Oklahoma, where he served as a bar examiner on ethics and professional responsibility for the Oklahoma Supreme Court and as a hearing examiner for the Colorado Supreme Court. He had been appointed as a special prosecutor in police disciplinary matters. While attending law school he was appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee of the Oklahoma Legislature as the Finance Committee Staff Director, where he oversaw state fiscal issues. His background in state and local government also includes serving as an assistant to the city manager with emergency services oversight responsibilities and as a city councilman.

Mr. Brown was also an adjunct professor of law for the Oklahoma City University.

A native of Oklahoma, Mr. Brown holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration/Political Science from Central State University, Oklahoma. He received his J.D. from Oklahoma City University’s School of Law.

Last Updated: Sunday, 11-Sep-2005 17:02:50 EDT

[ladylibertee]

23. LOL Indeed. Like pink play do

I still say that it is the retardicans fault.They cannot place the blame on Lieberman because he based his opinion on a lie that was unknown to him at the time, just like Bush did with the war and WMD's

[Nothing Without Hope]

24. Of COURSE it was the Rethugs' fault. He was their appointee, it was

their vetting via FBI or whatever, and they supported whatever the blivet**-in-Chief wanted.

Lieberman and the other Dems on those confirmation committees (the one for deputy dir of FEMA and the one for Director of FEMA) certainly fell down on the job, but Brown was never their choice.

This video is so very bizarre, turning handstands and twisting into pretzels to blame the Dems for Bush's disaster. Probably would have brought Clinton in on it if they could have found a way.

Pink Play Doh! :rofl: So true!

[ladylibertee]

25. Thank You, Thank you....But yeah.I have this urge to squeeze his face

[Nothing Without Hope]

26. A gift for you - this Onion piece on John Roberts - seems we're not the

only ones struck by his unformed face and lack of experience:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/40512

Bush Nominates First-Trimester Fetus To Supreme Court

September 14, 2005 | Issue 41•37

WASHINGTON, DC—In a press conference Monday, President Bush named a 72-day-old gestating fetus as his nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat that opened following the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

"Already, this experienced and capable embryo has demonstrated during his or her in utero existence a deep commitment to the core principles of the Constitution," Bush said. "It is with great pride that I nominate this unborn American patriot to the highest court in the land."

If confirmed by Congress, the bean-sized vertebrate would be the nation's first prenatal Supreme Court justice.

The unnamed fetus, who made headlines only three weeks ago when he or she was appointed to the Virginia State Supreme Court after working at a private law practice for five hours, has enjoyed a meteoric career in American jurisprudence. A remarkable prodigy who graduated from Georgetown Law School mere days after his or her neural folds fused, the nominee reportedly shares much of the conservative, pro-business philosophy of the Bush White House.

(snip)

[Patiod]

45. He didn't lie - he IS a college friend of Allbaugh's

and wasn't that his primary qualification? So why are you guys accusing him of lying? You must be brainwashed by the Left Wing Media!

[Stinky The Clown]

27. That's spin, pure and simple. And the media is back to normal

CNN is back to catapulting the propaganda. Any hopes we may have had that the Katrina disaster woudl bring back the honesty and humanity in the media should be dashed by this.

I'll say it again ....... our NUMBER ONE ISSUE is the media. Fix that and everything else falls into place for us. Including BBV.

[hlthe2b]

28. What's the latest on a primary challenger to LIeberman?

I've had enough...

[Totally Committed]

29. Joe Lieberman is no Democrat...

He just plays one in the Senate.

He is a sniveling DINO appeaser/colluder/aider-and-abettor/Bush-kisser who needs to be gone from this Party. He is part of what is wrong with The Democratic Party today.

He should talk his effing Joementum and LEAVE.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

TC

[Skidmore]

30. Joe, sweetums,

Smooch.

Love

W

[karynnj]

31. Bush is to blame - Brown was his appointee

At most the Democrats didn't block him - there are many Senators on both sides who believe the President is entitled to have the cabinet (and below) apointments that he requests. Brown pretty much fabricated his resumee - for this level position no one independently verified it. In all previous administrations, it would be reasonable to assume that the resume is at least accurate (even if incomplete. Bush's lack of anger at the obvious lying may mean that he was not lied to, congress was.

[zbdent]

33. Uh, wasn't that at the time when Dems were still working with this

administration (not that they haven't stopped taking it up the, uh, you know, for this guy) due to "coming together after 9/11"?

And the "Dems are Terrorists" was only getting its toe in the water?

[paineinthearse]

34. Amen! Joe must go!

A committee chair is a position of responsibility and trust. 4 out of 17? Give me a break, no responsible chair would let a vote to be held.

Lieberman needs to be out of office.

I need to go out, but will do some snooping later.

Good find! Nominated.

[paulk]

36. Rove has given CNN it's marching orders

Blame the Democrats. Blame Lieberman. Blame everyone but the true culprits - the incompetent Bush administration.

And judging from the many kneejerk Lieberman hate posts in this thread, the plan is working.

Karl is pleased.

[Dr Fate]

39. Lets put Liberman & Bush under oath and get to the bottom of this.

n/t

[paulk]

41. since a bipartisan inquiry into Katrina was rejected

on a straight party line vote - I don't see how getting Bush under oath is going to happen. I can see the Republicans going after Lieberman, though. They're already doing it... with help from their friends in the MSM, and their friends on the left, as this thread demonstrates.

There is a time when the circular firing squad really needs to stop.

Now is that time - Bush is on the ropes - the blame for Katrina needs to be pinned totally on him, where it belongs. But, no - too many are willing, for their own intra-party partisan reasons, to buy into the right wing spin and help spread the blame.

[Dr Fate]

44. Liberman should go on TV and say "I'm willing to go under oath"

"...as long as Bush is. I assumed he was being honest when we were presented with Brown's forged resume- I guess from now on we should assume Bush is not being honest in these matters..."

The fact that Bush will never go under oath does not stop Democrats from going on TV and asking "Why wont he go under oath- what is he & the Republican Congress hiding?"

I think Liberman should just be blunt and 100% honest- that is the best way to play this out.

So I agree with you that we need to pin this on Bush.

[bunkerbuster1]

47. eh. Lieberman is every Reep's favorite Dem.

If they knock him down like this, they'd have to get another one, and I don't see that happening. Thus: Color me naive but I don't see Unka Karl behind this.

BTW, Lieberman is occasionally infuriating, but in general I don't loathe him anywhere near as much as the typical DUer.

[paulk]

49. it's true that Lieberman is a favorite of these folks

but, right now he's what the military calls - "a target of opportunity".

[bunkerbuster1]

50. possible, but they're losing a very important symbol

if this is by design.

Of course the stakes on Katrina are huge, so maybe it is worth it to the Reeps to dump Joementum over the side.

Let's see if Sean Hannijob continues to say nice things about Joe in the next few days.

[Nothing Without Hope]

38. kick n/t

[Hello_Kitty]

40. This is just like when they blame Dems like Kerry for Iraq war votes

"But they looked at the SAME intelligence as Bush and came to the SAME conclusion!"

Umm...no they didn't. They looked at it AFTER it was cooked. They didn't have access to all the facts beforehand. Again, with Brown, they were going on what they were TOLD about all this supposed extensive emergency management experience he had. Sure, they should have delved deeper as we can see now. But at the time of Brown's confirmation 9-11 was still fairly recent and they probably didn't want to appear like they were obstructing efforts with Homeland Security.

[Imagevision]

43. Right out of the Rove script book- Blame them and walk away

and it'll merely turn into controversy and go no where's...! yaaawnnn!

[SiouxJ]

46. Back to passing the buck I see

same ol' Shrub. Nothing has changed.

[brentspeak]

48. So much for the "liberal media"

It's funny when Republicans claim CNN is full of liberal bias, even the station airs stories entitled "Dems to Blame for Brown Hire?"

[zanne]

51. Wasn't Clinton involved? n'/t

[OzarkDem]

52. I guess they'll say the same about Roberts

when he turns out to be a miserable failure.

[Nothing Without Hope]

53. kick for this truly bizarre but all too revealing story n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

55. Anybody know if there has been more pushing on this meme,

that the DEMS were responsible for Brown being head of FEMA? Or was this just one bizarre aberration?

Though as has been pointed out in this thread, Lieberman is NOT really a Dem and deserves condemnation for many, many reasons.

http://static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/4/5705181_47300212aa_m.jpg

[Nothing Without Hope]

56. kick n/t