No way Chertoff should get the AG job: Remembering Katrina
By John Amato Sunday Aug 26, 2007 2:20pm
Michael Chertoff's name is being thrown around as a possible replacement for Alberto Gonzales. I'm re-posting this to highlight why he's not eligible for such a post. Tim Russert did a good job of grilling Chertoff over the absolute failure of his department in combating the Hurricane Katrina disaster. (Originally posted 9-4-05)
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Chertoff: Well, I think if you look at what actually happened, I remember on Tuesday morning picking up newspapers and I saw headlines, “New Orleans Dodged the Bullet.” Because if you recall, the storm moved to the east and then continued on and appeared to pass with considerable damage but nothing worse.”
Russert exposed the lies that have been coming from the administration for their lack of response to Katrina. Here's the full transcript from MTP. He admitted that he got his intel about NOLA from the media! The Democratic Party should oppose him if the nomination comes through.
RUSSERT: I want to stay on this because this is very important. You said you were surprised by the levee being broken. In 2002, The Times-Picayune did story after story--and this is eerie; this is what they wrote and how they predicted what was going to happen. (full transcript below the fold)
It said, and I'll read it very carefully: "...A major hurricane could decimate the region, but flooding from even a moderate storm could kill thousands. It's just a matter of time. ... The scene's been played out for years in computer models or emergency operations simulations... New Orleans has hurricane levees that create a bowl with the bottom dipping lower than the bottom of Lake Pontchartrain. ...the levees would trap any water that gets inside-- by breach, overtopping or torrential downpour--catastrophic storm. ... The estimated 200,000 or more people left behind in an evacuation will be struggling to survive. Some will be housed at the Superdome, the designated shelter for people too sick or inform to leave the city. ...But many will simply be on their own, in homes or looking for high ground. Thousands will drown while trapped in homes or cars by rising water. Other will be washed away or crushed by debris. Survivors will end up trapped on roofs, in buildings or on high ground surrounded by water, with no means of escape and little food or fresh water, perhaps for several days."
That was four years ago. And last summer FEMA, who reports to you, and the LSU Hurricane Center, and local and state officials did a simulated Hurricane Pam in which the levees broke. The levees broke, Mr. Secretary, and people--thousands...
SEC'Y CHERTOFF: Actually, Tim, that...
MR. RUSSERT: Thousands drowned.
SEC'Y CHERTOFF: Tim, I had...
MR. RUSSERT: There's a CD which is in your department and the White House has it and the president, and you are saying, "We were surprised that the levees may not hold." How could this be?
SEC'Y CHERTOFF: No, Tim, I have to tell you, that's not what I said. You have to listen to what I said. What I said was not that we didn't anticipate that there's a possibility the levees will break. What I said is in this storm, what happened is the storm passed and passed without the levees breaking on Monday. Tuesday morning, I opened newspapers and saw headlines that said "New Orleans Dodged The Bullet," which surprised people. What surprised them was that the levee broke overnight and the next day and, in fact, collapsed. That was a surprise.
As to the larger point, there's no question that people have known for probably decades that New Orleans sits in a bowl surrounded by levees. This is a city built on the coast in an area that has hurricanes in it that is built below sea levels and that is a soup bowl. People have talked for years about, you know, whether it makes sense to have a city like that, how to build the levees. So, of course, that's not a surprise. What caught people by surprise in this instance was the fact that there was a second wave, and that, as The Times-Picayune article makes very clear, creates an almost apocalyptic challenge for rescuers.
The fact of the matter is, there's only really one way to deal with that issue, and that is to get people out first. Once that bowl breaks and that soup bowl fills with water, it is unquestionably the case, as we saw vividly demonstrated, that it's going to be almost impossible to get people out. So there is really only one way to deal with it, and that is to evacuate people in advance.
Michael Brown got on TV in Saturday and he said to people in New Orleans, "Take this seriously. There is a storm coming." On Friday there was discussion about the fact that even though this storm could fall anywhere along the Gulf, people had to be carefully monitoring it. We were watching it on Saturday and Sunday. The president was on a videoconference on Sunday telling us we've got to do everything possible to be prepared. But you know, Tim, at the end of the day, this is the ground truth: The only way to avoid a catastrophic problem in that soup bowl is to have people leave before the hurricane hits. Those who got out are fine. Those who stayed in faced one of the most horrible experiences in their life.
MR. RUSSERT: But that's the point. Those who got out were people with SUVs and automobiles and air fares who could get out. Those who could not get out were the poor who rely on public buses to get out. Your Web site says that your department assumes primary responsibility for a national disaster. If you knew a hurricane 3 storm was coming, why weren't buses, trains, planes, cruise ships, trucks provided on Friday, Saturday, Sunday to evacuate people before the storm?
SEC'Y CHERTOFF: Tim, the way that emergency operations act under the law is the responsibility and the power, the authority, to order an evacuation rests with state and local officials. The federal government comes in and supports those officials. That's why Mike Brown got on TV on Saturday and he told people to start to get out of there.
Now, ultimately the resources that will get people who don't have cars and don't have the ability to remove themselves has to rest with the kinds of assets a city has--the city's buses, the city's transportation. You know, there will be plenty of time to go back over what the preparation has been with respect to infrastructure in New Orleans, with respect to transportation, with respect to evacuation. To confront a situation that, as you point out, people have been aware of for decades--this is not something that just came on the horizon recently.
But I want to leave you with a very, very important marker which I'm going to put down now. At this particular moment, this is not over. There is a tremendous challenge. Whatever the criticisms and the after-action report may be about what was right and what was wrong looking back, what would be a horrible tragedy would be to distract ourselves from avoiding further problems because we're spending time talking about problems that have already occurred.
MR. RUSSERT: The...
SEC'Y CHERTOFF: We are going to have to feed--wait a second. We're going to have to feed, clothe, house and educate a city of people scattered across the country. We're going to have to do it in a way that doesn't disrupt the rest of the country. We're going to have to continue the work to restore our infrastructure. We're going to have to clean probably the greatest environmental mess we've ever seen in this country. And we're going to have to make important decisions about this in the next days and weeks and months. And I've got to tell you that for my money what I'm going to spend my time on is focusing on making sure we are getting on top of emergencies that are still under way.
MR. RUSSERT: This is hurricane season. Are you prepared for another hurricane in that region or, God forbid, a nuclear or biological attack, which we're told could happen at any time?
SEC'Y CHERTOFF: I'm going to tell you, Tim, you've put your finger on something which I said the day after this hurricane hit. As catastrophic as this is, we are still in hurricane season. And as much as we are working on desperately getting people out now, we've got to make sure we are holding in reserve and we are preparing for what could come next, whether it be a hurricane, whether it be a disease. I mean, we are challenged to make sure that at a moment when we have a current catastrophe and we have to be vigilant about other catastrophes that we do not lose focus and spend time dwelling on the past. I promise you we will go back and review the lessons that we have to learn, what went right and what went wrong. But I will tell you now we will be making a huge mistake if we spend the time in the immediate future looking back instead of dealing with, as you point out, what's going on now and what may yet come.
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The new DA? He looks like a member of "The Banking Guild" from Episodes 2 & 3.
Chertoff is only one of the many potential candidates that Bush could nominate. We need to lay out a message that will preclude many of the bad names. Democrats should be talking up certain candidates. The big point here: the President has the prerogative, but this President has such god-awful judgment that he needs some serious help. Democrats should be listing off a litany of Bush's bad choices for his staff...
How about a renewed link to Olbermann's Special Comment on Chertoff's gut?
And, of course, there is this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWfb9gy7vq0
Should Dems drag Chertoff's "good" name thru the mud for political reasons just like they did Gonzo? Remember, lying, obfuscation, and incompetence are all political reasons.
It's called a "recess appointment" and I see no other way that Bush could get ANYONE he chose through.
Man, Chertoff SUCKS!
Liberal AND Proud @ 1:
No, no....he's Jaffar in the Broadway production of Aladdin.
He is an Israeli, I dont believe he should have the job he has. People that server in high level positions in government shouldnt be allowed to have divided loyalties.
It is absolutely necessary for the protection of the American Democracy that the next AG be independent. Democrats thruout capital need to harp on the meme "NO MORE CRONIES".
This post seems to make the point that Chertoff should not get this job because of the failures of the Katrina response. Hogwash.
Chertoff should not get the AG job because he's a crony.
"NO MORE CRONIES" Especially not in a job such as this. And Reid and Pelosi need to seriously consider no more vacations for congress so there will be no more recess appointments. Our Democracy has already taken enough abuse.
It seems like the only thing they did quite well is cross their arms and point their fingers at someone else. Its amazing, they can listen in on a phone conversation on the other side of the planet, but they cannot get intelligence about what is happing on an hourly basis in this country when it came to the weather.
It seem that Homeland Security is more concerned about tracking down minor players dreaming up crazy schemes that helping the citizens in our own country. Catching crazies is much better headlines, than doing what is good for our country.
If Bush makes a nomination, and there is either an (R) after the nominee's name, or the nominee has a Republican affiliation, the nominee will be incompetent, at best.
I don't know. It would get him out of DHS, where we know he's lousy, which is one plus. Couldn't do much worse there. And he might be decent as AG. Remember, this isn't about what Chertoff deserves; it's about what the country deserves, or at least, about what we can best hope for while still stck with this administration.
Chertoff: "The buck went thataway...."
That man's another Brownie.
No way should he get a new job in government, ever.
Effing cadaverous monkey's boy
he's a sexy, sexy man, looks like he eats babies.
What DIFFERENCE does it make, people? Kindly get a freakin' grip. Let's pretend for a moment Chertoff is sent up as the nominee. What will happen?
He'll go to Capitol Hill. The Dems will bark at him "KATRINA!!! barkbarkbark!!!"
He'll say, "1. Brownie fault, not mine. 2. Katrina is not AG job. 3. The president wants me."
The Dems will bark "Brownie your boy, Katrina big mess, President's an idiot."
He'll say, "Yes he was my boy, but this has little to do with law and order type stuff or being the AG. So, yeah - NOLa is still a mess. Big deal. And as far the President goes - what else is new?"
The Dems will bark, he will reply - this will go on a for a few weeks and then they will vote. And several Dems will demonstrate the fact that they are not Chordates, and will ROLL and vote with the Republicans, whom, as Tweakerbell (?) in another thread noted HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE and will vote with the President. Bingo - Chertoff becomes the new AG.
It doesn't matter who Bush nominates. He could nominate CHTHULU and the Dems would roll on it. They are spineless wonders of political jellyfish. Whoever Bush nominates will be the next AG. Face it - your system's broken, you have no real opposition party, you're screwed. I'm an expat for good reasons.
Drag Chertoff's name through Katrina mud. Katrina is not political. It is mass homocide.
pholidote @ 12:
I don't know about that. We might do better to leave the post unfilled (or to allow a "interim" AG, moved up from a Career position within the Dept., if there are any of those left at this point).
As I wrote above: the best we'll get from any Bush nominee is incompetence.
anon @ 8:
Look, Chertoff is a piece of incompetent turd, but he is not an Israeli. he was born right here in the port town of Elizabeth, NJ.
If incompetence is a Bush administration prerequisite, it makes sense that the most incompetent get promotions.
He'll be a recess appointment AG
Bush probably shouldn't have used the phrase, "dragged through the mud" today considering what people were dragged through after Katrina.
Chertoff just isn't smart enough to do a good job as AG. I don't know if Alberto was smart but we do know he would so anything bush asked of him and the constitution meant nothing to him either. Remember to Alberto the Geneva Conventions were "quaint"
Chertoff?
Oh hell no!!
keep nosferatu away from any new white house jobs.
Well, as long as he's familiar with camel racing in Saudi Arabia, he's fine by me -- o wait, that was the other guy. Doh!
Bush doesn't even remember Katrina except when he is put on a plane once a year to make his "We feel your pain speech in Jackson Square."
Ya beat me to it, Doug. Recess appointment absolutely. We had bets in the office that AG would quit during recess for just this very reason. Anyone know if Congress can come off recess to duke it out? If so, that's what they _should_ do. Even a conservative non-bushie would have these guys swingin' from the rafters.
is chertoff a part of the inner circle??
if not, nominating him wont fly at all
the libs hate him as a result of katrina and all his bs in regards to homeland security
the wingnuts hate him cuz of all his bs in regards to illegal immigration
this nom would be doa
no longer a proud american @ 15:
are you kidding? he's a manorexic. Doesn't eat anything, except maybe what he licks off chimpman's boot.
Chertoff=Death's Shadow
No way Chertoff should get the job after katrina but also after having lied to Congress about the John Walker Lindh case. Jesselyn Radack wrote about his reprehensible behavior in her book. She's also written a diary on Kos about Chertoff and his lies.
Seems my sources in DC are giving out two versions as of now. One side has it that Chertoff is going to be nominated; the other side says they won't nominate him afterall due to Katrina. We'll have to see. But more importantly we'll have to be ready to fight.
Dhalgren @ 20:
He has dual citizenship to my knowledge - born to an Israeli Rabbi. He is Israeli. Normally that wouldnt matter, but he is holding high office and I'm not at all certain divided loyalties are the place for high office.
This guy is perfect for the job.
AG Rove . . .. He is looking for work, isn't he.
Spruce @ 7:
Yes, that's it... that's where I've seen this evil scary face before. Thanks!
Sad thing is that, at least on paper, this guy is actually qualified for the job. One of only a handful that have signed on with this criminal organization. But again that is just on paper - not on actual merit.
But judging from that picture, all I can say is I hope all that chemo and radiation therapy is workin' out for ya.
Spin it baby! Damn he's good!
MR. RUSSERT: But that’s the point. Those who got out were people with SUVs and automobiles and air fares who could get out. Those who could not get out were the poor who rely on public buses to get out. Your Web site says that your department assumes primary responsibility for a national disaster. If you knew a hurricane 3 storm was coming, why weren’t buses, trains, planes, cruise ships, trucks provided on Friday, Saturday, Sunday to evacuate people before the storm?
They didn't evacuate because for many years leading up to Katrina the general consensus was the levees could stand up to a Category 3 storm. The finger should be pointed at Blanco and Nagin as well for the decision to not evacuate the city.
keiran @ 28:
Ass.
Isn't bush supposed to make a trip to the gulf coast this week because of the anniversary of Katrina's hit down there? I just heard on tv some names on bush's short list for AG and I didn't hear Chertoff's name read. Ted Olson was on the list along with Orin Hatch, Fran Townsend and a couple others I didn't recognize.
This whole Chertoff thing may be a red herring.
Its called drawing from the very small and ever shrinking inner circle of those already in the know on all the illegal domestic surveillance programs and all the other shady undertakings they have been involved with (starting with manipulated, stolen elections). They aren't going to pick someone who isn't in line with their thinking - who may feel an ounce of loyalty to 'the country before GW' that might be willing to spill the beans out of genuine patriotism. The more people that they let know what they are really doing, the more chance it will be exposed. I am betting he goes with Chertoff. When has Bush EVER cared what Congress or Americans think when it comes to ANYTHING?
Skeletor should not be confirmed.
They will beat his ass in hearings until he withdraws his name. Even a nitwit like Chertoff would know that I think.
moondancer @ 41:
Yes, unless Bush makes it a recess appointment and he stays until the end of Bush's term (because Bush stalls hearings until then).
I'd rather have Chertoff at DoJ than DHS, he can do less damage there through his incompetence (speaking as someone who lives in a state that is regularly hit by hurricanes).
SKELATOR RETURNS!
Be afraid, be very afraid!
Hold on. Maybe the chimp's brain isn't fried enough to think he can get this slimebag nominated. Really. Poses quite a sanitation problem hanging upside down dripping guano all over the "homeland insecurity" office floor.
*got to banish and resist the word homeland from our vocabulary before they gain that fake reality.
I'm already working on my ark.
They seem to be getting gradually smaller: Ashcroft-Gonzo-Skeletor.
Who'd be next Kate Moss?
And what did ever happen to Twiggy?
Why don't they get rid of the "recess appointment"???
Nope, not Skeletor or Jafar....Squidward.
Let's just say bush chooses chertoff and let's just say he's approved as AG. Who in the world would replace Chertoff as head of homeland security? Wouldn't that require another senate confirmation to fill that position?
pissed off patricia @ 50:
Rove
pissed off patricia @ 50:
They already announced that this morning. It was Clay Johnson, a CEO and another unqualified Bush loyalist crony. Oh, I feel safer already.. (sarcasm dripping...)
Did Chertoff say "Dodged A Bullet"?
Why YES!! One newspaper did!
No less the finest source than the WingNutDaily!!
Where all Bush Admin Officials get their "news"...
anon,
thanks for making sure that there is at least one anti-semitic strawman post in a thread about a jewish pol.
chertoff was born in nj...his father was a rabbi in nj....his mother was an el al flight attendent
you are wrong and are just trying to spread anti semitic hate on this blog
aint gonna fly
nwmuse @ 52:
Sorry, here is the link:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/27/clay-johnson-dhs/
Chertoff is so evil that his insides are turning black. Just look at him!
In keeping with the Masters of the Universe theme, if chertoff is Skeletor then chimpy must be Evil-Lyn.
Sadly, there's no one amongst the bushies deserving of the title He Man.
nwmuse, thanks for that link. It doesn't make me feel too good to think about having a guy with zero experience as the head of homeland security right here in the middle of hurricane season. Hopefully the newest FEMA guy can do a better job than brownie did during his time at the wheel.
Who, Katrina, was that one of those late 80's teen idols?
Yellow Elephant Safari @ 57:
Condie?
I just don't see how ANY department is going to work like it should or be run competently until people start being appointed who are skilled, organized, have experience, education, and talent in the area they would be taking over. It would also help to have them be able to actually put country before party or person (GW or Cheney).
I am afraid this country won't be right again until that starts to happen. It is almost like they are intentionally and systematically dismantling our entire government. I realize that Bush ran every business ihe was ever in control of into the ground before leaving it, but this is frightening.
Heckuva-Job Brownie needs work.
uncle joe mccarthy @ 54:
C'mon. O'Reilly's gotta have something to work with!
Is Chertoff even a lawyer?
Rusty Shackleford @ 64:
Yes, he was a prosecutor for Rudolph Giuliani, and helped him with his mafia protection racket.
Look for Chertoff in a recess appointment. I'd say Orrin Hatch but he's not enough of a crony. Bush needs someone to lie for him and cover up the facts and Chertoff is just his kind of toady. Although Hatch is a hack, he might not be prone to "massage" the facts the way Chertoff would...
uncle joe mccarthy @ 54:
I just love it when hillbilly peckerwoods speak without thinking. There is bigotry in your heart or you wouldnt have seen bigotry in a reference to an Israeli. I dont. (You probably dont understand that anti-semitism refers to jews and arabs as they are both semites NOT israelis).
My post was about a (likely) Israeli NOT a jew.
Chertoffs father was a rabbi, his mother was (apparently) an Israeli national who worked for El Al. By Israeli law the child of an Israeli is an Israeli. If true, and it appears to be, I dont think its a good idea for him to hold high office due to divided loyalties.
You, son, mentioned his religion, not me.
As a note, I didnt think Brezcinski (sp) or Albright should hold high office either. (Both unelected)
I dont believe I am wrong, I am not spreading hate ... and you are an over reacting ignorant peckerwood.
A note for the site monitors. I answered an Ad Hominem attack with an Ad Hominem attack for a reason.
How about Chalabi for AG?
Or will Chalabi Take Chertoff's job in Homeland security?
We wouldn't have to remember Katrina if they hadn't forgotten about it.
Weaseldog @ 69:
I'll see your Chalabi and raise one Maliki.
love C&L, but this time I think we need to find something more directly law enforcement related to challenge Chertoff with, not Katrinia. it would look too unrealted.
No Skeletor for AG. Ain't no way.
#65
For the record, Chertoff was instrumental in taking 5 mob bosses off the streets of NYC back in the 1980s, and has been critical of the administration for detaining enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay without affording them due process. When Bush nominated "Skeletor" (ha, ha, good one) to replace Tom Ridge, he was approved by a 98-0 vote in the Senate.
Spruce @ 7:
YES YES!!
#68
You may find the case of Afroyim v. Rusk quite interesting.
FEMA is challenged, is correct. FEMA failed is proven.
From shrubs point of view the main plus with chertoff is he knows he will maintain and cooperate with the obstruction of justice. That is the ONLY thing that matters to smirking chimp and his handler(cheney). There are leaks springing everywhere in the levee, and they're trying to keep it from bursting before 1/20/09.
Is it any coincidence that Bush signed an Executive Order two weeks ago having to do with the president designating an acting Secretary of DHS.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070813.html
I am not a lawyer and I don't really get legalese, but seems weird to have written this 2 weeks ago and then come out today with press about replacing Chertoff. Now if Chertoff is going to replace Gonzales, then this whole things has been in the works for a while. I still think Chertoff will be a recess appointment for Gonzo.
Maybe I read that wrong, but I just feel like there is some wrangling going on. They will find a way to get around rules and laws (as usual).
I can't believe people (the press) fall for this time and again.
Chertoff is just a ploy so that they can get their real guy in there (maybe Hatch?). Just as they did with Myers. They never expected her to get the SCOTUS gig, but it made Roberts look like a million bucks. Don't believe for a second that all this wasn't scripted by that 'retired' Rove guy. He may be out of the dugout, but he's calling the shots from the clubhouse.
Here's a prediction... bush will appoint him for no other reason than to spite the left... stay tuned folks!
Sure, it seems like a long shot, but Bush may nominate a moderate, malleable Democrat just to keep everyone off balance.
If the dems. hold tough in the conformation hearings they might keep Cherkoff out. But after watching them cave on everything so far im not holding out much hope. Let's hope
they can prove that they are not the Cowards we think they are.
judyo @ 5:
I'm afraid you are probably right. Unless the two-party facade comes up with a compromise crony.
Everytime I hear "The fact of the matter is" or "The fact is".........their lying.....give me one reason why I should beleive them?...It doesn't even have to be a good reason.....just one.
Well, Chertoff has the requisite level of incompetence and Bushbot-ness for Shrub to nominate him AG. And enough Dems in Congress are pussy enough to support his nomination.
Thanks for that clip... I was starting to forget what a lying asshole this guy is. He has ZERO ability to admit he's ever been wrong about anything, typical Bushie.
In other words, he would make an EXCELLENT Attorney General.
It is unreal that even Bush would suggest this man be placed in the office of Attorney General of the United States of America. Isn't it embarrassing and humiliating enough to have him in the office of FEMA, after all the damage with Katrina he has already committed?
Hundreds and thousands of people have lost their lives and everything they own with this incompetent thug at the steering wheel of this American disaster that is still in play, and to even mention this fool in the same breath of taking on even greater responsibility in American Federal Government is simply unacceptable.
I truly hope there will not be any Democratic support of not just this clown, but any one of the idiots Bush will present to the people of this country with no Law Enforcement and Federal leadership ability with impeccable credentials and a well known public servant to ALL the people and the capability to install subordinates to these prosecutor positions without bias of their party affiliation and that they will also hold these people under their employment to the highest level of accountability and at this stage of the game, I am not sure that Bush can present anyone of that caliber to the American people.
This person that takes on the responsibility of Attorney General of the US, should be fully knowledgeable, responsible as well as accountable, and I don't mean to the President who only appoints this person, but full accountability to the American people whom really are held accountable to the laws of this land. We want no more hypocrites in that office period.
I would say that not supporting this guy or any other thugs also applies to Republican elected officials, but I know it would be fruitless to even suggest that they would not be thrilled to have a man like Michael Chernoff as the Attorney General of the United States.
To make matters worse, while listening to all the National TV networks of right wing stupid ass pundits. These people speak of the possibility of Michael Chernoff as a serious contender for the office of Attorney General of the United States as if it would be a natural choice for Bush to make, even after we have had the worst of all choices in Alberto Gonzales, Condi Rice and all the rest of the cabnet appointments of George W Bush.
I remember "Louisiana is a city that is under water", a 2005 statement by Chertoff there after Katrina hit should be enough to discredit this guy.
i respectfully request my two senators, messers durbin and obama, to filibuster mr chertoff (should he be nominated) till