More FEMA bigs are bailing out

[brooklynite]

DAILY NEWS EXCLUSIVE

BY JAMES GORDON MEEK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON - Even as Hurricane Ophelia crashed ashore yesterday, more FEMA political appointees abandoned ship amid the torrent of criticism over the agency's handling of Hurricane Katrina.
Daniel Craig, recovery division director for the embattled Federal Emergency Management Agency, told staffers that he had resigned within hours of his former boss, FEMA Director Michael Brown, who quit Monday, agency officials said.

...snip...

Craig told staffers he expects to testify at congressional hearings probing why FEMA's response was so inadequate after Katrina flooded the Gulf Coast.

"A lot of the political will disappear," Craig predicted, according to one official.

A second top official, Edward Buikema, acting director of the response division, is returning to his old job - a lesser position - as Region 5 director in Chicago, sources said.

Patrick Rhode, FEMA deputy director and former White House advance man, also is expected by many to resign because of a sour relationship with the new acting director, U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/346648p-295731c.html

[Karenina]

1. What? Did someone start

checking out those resumes? :evilgrin:

[Patiod]

3. People lied on resumes? they weren't old college friends?

or big Republican contributors?

[Inland]

2. "Thanks for the salary, contacts, now I'm heading for the revolving door."

"Off to lobby for Halliburton now that there's a fallout."

[jsamuel]

4. What the heck does this mean? "A lot of the political will disappear"

[salvorhardin]

5. I think he means

that a lot of political (appointees) will disappear (resign/be fired).

[Imagevision]

13. Daniel Craig will have committed suicide before he testifies

You don't testify against Bushies and live... track record on this one!

[Raster]

16. it is TRULY AMAZING how many people get "suicided" after

crossing the bush* family evil empire. It really is. My favorite was the guy killed with two shots to the back of the head and it ruled suicide. TWO SHOTS to the back of the fucking head...suicide!

[bobbieinok]

20. who is that???? is there a list anywhere with reliable links????

[0007]

21. Cliff Baxter is still on my mind and absolutely do not believe

he committed suicide.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[never cry wolf]

7. I think, or at least hope

that it means by resigning he will be able to testify freely without being beholen to political hacks. At least that's how I read it.

[Benhurst]

6. There haven't been so many people heading for the door

since Barbara Bush cut the cheese in the White House.

[baby_bear]

8. Wonderful piece...thanks for the post, brooklynite

It almost reads like a piece out of The Onion.

The career FEMA people must have been so demoralized over the past few years, and especially the past month. I hope this makes them feel a bit better.

b_b'

[Pithy Cherub]

9. So, NOW the incompetent rats are jumping ship.

May they viciously turn on each other and rat each other out in the political aftermath of their horrendous ineptitude that killed hundreds if not thousands.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Nice folks to bail out in the middle of an emergency

They use to punish people severely for committing mutiny. Now a days they get promotions and medals instead.

[tabasco]

11. I'm sure the people in Chicago will be happy to know ...

that, "A second top official, Edward Buikema, acting director of the response division, is returning to his old job - a lesser position - as Region 5 director in Chicago, sources said."

Is there STILL no accountability?? The guy completely screws up at his DC job so he can just return to his cushy Chicago job??

Unbelievable.

[auburngrad82]

14. There's a Buikema listed in opensecrets.org as a bush donor

and a federal employee/appointee. Gave $2000 to Bush. Probably Ed's wife...

[Wordie]

12. Why isn't Chertoff on that list? Given his own responsibility for the slow

response time? Apparently he had more to do with it than "Brownie" did.

See earlier thread here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2090571

[Demeter]

15. And Those Are, No Doubt, The Smart Ones

Sigh. Just can't get good help these days (if you insist that they suck up to BushCo).

[geomon666]

17. The rats are leaping off the ship

You all belong in prison.

[brooklynite]

18. "Give me a better idiot"

"Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and give me a better idiot," pleaded Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, who burst into tears on NBC's Meet the Press after describing the death by drowning of a colleague's mother in a nearby nursing home. "Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don't give me the same idiot."

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/050919/19evacuees.htm

[NoAmericanTaliban]

19. Rats leaving the ship, but Jerkoff will get a medal

Their only loyalty is their careers. They are getting out while the getting is good. Be interesting if any of them will actually tell the'truth' during the investigation. Maybe they feel that their careers are shot & they have nothing to loose. Or maybe they are tripping over themselves to become lobbyist, and their testimony will be pointing fingers at the local dems. Jerkoff is too high level for resignation. Will probably get a medal.

[krkaufman]

23. So what's the line on Director Ducttape? Where does he measure...

... in the James Lee Witt scale of competence?

[MaineDem]

24. Rhode was mentioned as another one with no experience

There were about 3 or 4 members of FEMA mentioned as having no experience, like Brownie. None of them deserve to be there so I'm not surprised they're getting out before the investigation goes too deep.