John Edwards Calls For "Brownie's Law" For Federal Agencies
By Logan Murphy Tuesday Aug 28, 2007 10:15am
Reuters Via Yahoo:
Former Sen. John Edwards said at a Hurricane Katrina conference he would propose what he called "Brownie's Law" requiring that qualified people, not political hacks, lead key federal agencies.
Edwards, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, drew laughter when he spoke on Monday of the proposal at the "Hope and Recovery Summit" ahead of the two-year anniversary of the storm on Wednesday.
"It's an absolute travesty to have people who are essentially political hacks in a very responsible position," he told the audience at the University of New Orleans.
"Brownie" refers to Michael Brown, who was head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency when Katrina struck the United States on August 29, 2005. He was criticized as being a political appointee unprepared to lead FEMA when a floundering government effort stranded thousands for days in flooded New Orleans. Read more...
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"“It’s an absolute travesty to have people who are essentially political hacks in a very responsible position,” he told the audience at the University of New Orleans."
That sums up what has basically been wrong with this administration. Starting at the top with bush and working all the way down.
"Brownie's Law". Yes, yes, yes.
Make it retroactive to 2000 and we won't have to bother with impeachment.
Making the process even longer, no thanks.
Orwell's Illegitimate Son @ 1:
Nice of you to use insinuation, rather than quoting fact. Are you a troll for FAUX NEWS?
Wow! Does he mean that the Bush administration did not hire competent people? I am shocked! :)
jtmonty46 @ 5:
Oh, goody! Another C&Ler who automatically thinks that saying anything bad about a Democrat equates to being a right-wing troll.
You want proof? Go find it on your own. It's easy to do. I'm tired of educating everybody with whom I come into contact. Any idiot with a computer can do it.
Do you fit that description?
Great idea. Go Edwards.
Whatever amount of regulation it takes to unplug abject cronyism is all right by me.
Orwell's Illegitimate Son @ 7:
Name calling too!?
Be an adult. Read your own post and see what I mean. If you are tired of "educating" everyone then, give up.
We need a law for this? What good are laws? They don't obey the laws we have now.
I doubt he can do much anyway. The point where the damage to this country at all levels has become permanent may have been crossed a long time ago.
Pardon my pessimism.
There should be enactment of "bush's law" - a law designed to prevent the utter and criminal travesty that has been the cheney/bush administration.
Bush is speaking in NOLA now and he actually just told the people he's speaking to that he and Laura don't live in New Orleans. He said they come back each visit and see the progress that has been made and basically if you live there you can't see the progress like he can. I wonder what's going through the people's heads who are listening to him?
They should call it the "Heckuva Job" Reform Bill
Another great idea, Ex-Canuck.
W has laid the groundwork for absolute dictatorship down the road, and is only a few steps from it himself.
In fact he (Rove and Cheney, that is) has already invented a modern equivalent.
Sounds like a good idea. It would be sense for someone who is qualified in to lead a particular agency.
pissed off patricia @ 13:
Probably not happy thoughts. Remember in the aftermath how people turned around and walked away from the fake aid station, that he was using for a publicity stunt?
Much like The Public's Toxic Right-to-Know Protection Act (S. 595) ..
there is much to be done ....
The House companion bill (H.R. 1055) is stalled in subcommittee.
If Congress passes the Toxic Right to Know Protection Act, it will be a step forward in saving TRI.
http://ga6.org/ct/cdLJtes1tukR/
Oh and ... the good people of Tennessee will remember..
Federal Government Kept Nuclear Accident Secret
..accidental release of highly-enriched uranium at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Tennessee
http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3908/1/97?TopicID=1
As AMERICANS... Regardless of political party.. .United We Stand...
Against George W. Bush, Richard B. Cheney and all other civil officers who have committed Treason, Bribery, High Crimes and Fraud against the United States of America, our public institutions and our people.
jtmonty46 @ 9:
I'm going to have to weigh in here. John Edwards lost a teenage son in an automobile accident, has a wife who has cancer and was born poor and became wealthy through education, hard work and intelligence. I think Edwards knows about sacrifice and is now using his life and position to help others to achieve (the polar opposite from the guy currently in the Oval Office btw). Me thinks this swipe at Edwards (true or not) comes more from Orwell's son being a Hillary or Obama supporter than a troll for Faux News.
Basically, anyone that CNN, Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS or your local big city newspaper says is a "viable" or "top tier" candidate is owned by the Bilderbergs/CFR's (Barrack's wife work's for the Chicago branch of the CFR) . . . . or put quite simply . . . by the rich man's club that runs things.
This club has already chosen Hillarymart and Barrack for the left side of the fish tank.
Paper ballots and hand recounts would be a good start.
How would such a law be enforced? What constitutes a hack? How can regular people like me make the case that we can take-on bigger challenges without having done the exact job before?
Now granted, Brownie had zero disaster recovery experience and little logistics experience. If we lived in a rational world, we wouldn't have been appointed to that position in the first place. But can you enforce common sense with a law?
I need to research to see if any European nations have such a law. I'm guessing they don't. (Ahem, Greece, anyone?)
Actually that law is plain old common sense. We all do it every day. When we need someone to do something we find the person with the most successful record of accomplishment. It should be call the Duh law.
from the article:
"Hunter, a U.S. representative from California, said Katrina had proven that "government is inept."
He praised the efforts of average citizens to help storm victims, saying: "I see rising from the destruction of Katrina a new and profound appreciation for freedom."
Another "drown the government in the bathtub" idiot. This is wrong on so many levels. Would the paople of NO have been happier if it ONLY was "every man for himself" in the aftermath?
jtmonty46:
Oh, but I have given up. It's just fun to come on here and watch everybody continue to play the game, because when you are no longer a participant in the game, that's all there is left to do.
Watch the game and comment on the follies of the players.
Or, if you favour a cinematic analogy, to critique the actors on the stage.
Whatever tickles your fancy.
Ruthless People thinks I'm either a Hillary or Obama supporter.
Right.
If all Edwards was interested in was making money, he would remain in private practice. He could make a lot more there than sitting in the oval office.
There were only a handful of people in bush's audience. He was speaking more as a politician than as a friend to them. Meanwhile a lot of people were gathered somewhere in the town and they rang bells for all the people who died in Katrina. A president who wasn't so hated would have been at that affair instead of hidden in a school room with a few kids and some state officials. He should be ashamed of himself for even going there today and disrupting the town with his security detail and all. They didn't want or need him today. They know why he's there. He's there for himself and not for them.
anyone with a ps2 or ps3, play any metal gear solid game.
It will scare you thinking how close to reality the fictional plot of a videogame can be.
if you have played it, you would understand when I say that most of these repub and democratic candidates seem like they were hand picked by the patriots
Dhalgren @ 21:
There are many people with experience in disaster mitigation. We have qualified people who have served in the military, police, fire departments, peace corp, etc... We have training programs for learning how to manage various emergencies.
Brownie's claim to fame is that he nearly put a horse breeding club out of business. During Katrina, he asked his staff not to call him, as he was have a lobster dinner with important people.
If the person in his position, had actually put together a command center and response team, they would've done thousands of times better then him.
Heck, screen writers for Roger Corman could do a better job than Brownie!
pissed off patricia @ 2:
You said it beautifully! It's exactly what's been wrong all these years of President Poopypants reign.
Makes me crazy when something like this, which is a common sense issue, seems to be beyond those in "power" to understand. Someone with knowledge, experience, integrity, and ability to act positively and quickly needs to head these important positions. Political hacks do not belong anywhere, ever.
pissed off patricia @ 26:
John wants to be president. I could vote for him. But I have zero confidence that voting has much influence over the election process.
Orwell's Illegitimate Son @ 25:
Well, you sound like a troll, so you should be pleased t hat someone is giving you the benefit of the doubt.
If you hadn't jumped in with the first comment in such a troll-like tone, maybe we would think otherwise?
I honestly can't remember if you have been around here for a while, I know your handle is familiar, but I would have to research to see what your typical stance is... not making a decision either way until I do that.
Either way, you don't add much to the discourse, that's for sure.
Frankly, I think Edwards is the best of the admittedly compromised candidates they are offering us.
Edwards says the right things... He seems to back a lot of it up. Hillary Clinton says the wrong things and backs that up with more empty rhetoric. I will not vote for her. Any other Democrat other than Biden or Lieberman.
Edwards, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, drew laughter when he spoke on Monday of the proposal at the "Hope and Recovery Summit" ahead of the two-year anniversary of the storm on Wednesday.
To me the article makes it sound like Edwards drew laughter for his proposal. Rather than in making a reference of Brown.
I may be reading into this; but the article doesn't mention exactly what Edwards said that caused laughter. And then the article closes with a direct quote from Hunter about government being inept and it's best to have "average citizens" fend for themselves at its end.
I guess the assumption is supposed to be that it was something said or done by Brown. But closing with Duncan's comments, the article reads like Edwards drew laughter for wanting qualified people, not political hacks, leading federal agencies.
Again, I may be reaching. But if photos can get "touched up" why shouldn't I not expect written word to get the same treatment?
.
America is at the point where we have to PASS LAWS for the preservation of common sense. Goodness.
.
Orwell's Illegitimate Son @ 24:
When Kucinich stands a chance let me know, right now I'm going with Edwards.
I don't like this idea sheerly because of the fact the President should have his choice of people in office. The president needs people he knows and can trust running departments under him. If "brownie" was someone he could trust then it only made sense to install him as a head of some department. Same goes with the rest of his administration. Considering his education and background what made anyone think he would install anyone other than C students? I think thats something we all should realize when we look at candidates that we are not just choosing them for 4 years but were choosing the people they have dealt with and trust to be right there with them.
pissed off patricia @ 12:
Those who listen to Bush don't have much mor than air going through their heads. That's the giant sucking sound -- air going into a vacume.
John Wison @ 32:
You said it. Besides, while Hillary is meeting with Murdoch, Bill is riding around with Bush Sr. in his golf cart. What's with that? One thing we don't need is Republican lite.
p.o.p.,
Was McCain in NOLA with W?
Did he bring a cake?
Cuz that would make it all better. They could pose for a picture with it. Old times. Old times (for scumbags).
NewNameAcquired @ 34:
I'm not so sure that the folks who've argued that our evolution is going backwards, were off the mark.
I'm thinking that humans were more intelligent hundreds of years ago.
CD @ 36:
This is most excellent satire!
Obviously, a man that is a liar and a crook at heart, can't trust honest and competent people!
Wolfie asked brownie about what edwards had said yesterday.
BROWN: Well, first of all, that's a cheap shot pandering for votes coming from a hollow politician. And, frankly, if John Edwards hadn't liked my qualifications, he could have voted against me when I was confirmed by the United States Senate.
And if you look at what Congress has done in terms of revamping the FEMA law, I qualify under those qualifications. I have more emergency management experience than John Edwards has experience as a U.S. senator.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/28/sitroom.02.html
Another example that edwards spent 6 years as part of the problem and now he expects people to believe he has changed.
GDliberal @ 42:
Well, if there was any question as to Brownie's qualifications before Katrina, then they are settled now. He proved himself a failure.
I didn't see McCain. He's probably sleeping in after being on one of the late night shows last night. It might have been Letterman's, I don't know but I know he was on one of them.
I think today is McCain's birthday, maybe they can have cake later. Since bush, for the last two years has basically said of the people of NOLA, let them eat cake, I suppose there will be one.
Reminds me of the film Dave with Kevin Cline (IIRC) where the actor gets a guy who actually knows how to run a company to save money for good causes and the guy basically says that if he would run his company like that, he'd be bankrupt.
But Edwards is correct. You need people who know what they are doing to do the job.
Problem is, these people are often not big speakers or know little about law and would need help.
The fact that Brownie is still out there, doing his heckuva job thing on the air, proves that there is just no end to how low the thugs can go, and have the MSM lap it up.
Olbermann, are you listening to this tool?
That'd be a nice idea, but we already had a candidate in California who taught for one year ... apparently for the sole purpose of saying he was a teacher and thus, pro-education. Underneath it all, he was just another rich boy angling for a seat at the table.
Banning political hackery does nothing to stop it from breeding elsewhere.
sorry for the double post
The problem with having the right guy in the right position is that then others cannot screw around with it.
If there as a *real* AG doing his job, how much influence could Bush have?
Can it be applied retroactively, to kick Bush out of office?
Funny how you need to have five years experience and take a comprehensive test to become a master plumber or electrician because it involves the safety of the public, but you can run a multi-billion dollar federal agency, that we depend on in crisis, with no degree or experience other than knowing how to put your tongue up the ass of some politician ahead of you.
Our Democratic congress should get some eggs and impose MINIMUM standards for all federal agency heads. This would, at least at a minimum, force BUSHCO to nominate a person who is not TOTALLY political and give Amarican a fighting chance to have an agency head who is not a total tool.
[...] University John Edwards Calls For “Brownie’s Law” For Federal Agencies » This Summary is from an article posted at Crooks and Liars on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 This [...]
Duncan Hunter relies on the conservative agenda, destroy government, then blame government when it doesn't work. What. A. Git. It's hard to decide who's worse, assholes like Hunter, or traditional media assholes who've sold this crap to the nation.
Regardless of what one thinks of Edwards, his suggestion makes perfect sense. Enough with the fucking bitching already.
I give Brownie about 1/2 of 1% of the blame for his faults... I give GW Bush 99.5% of the blame... let's not forget who APPOINTED the idiot... (yes, another idiot).
Any anger should be directed at the one who AUTHORIZED, knowingling, appointing a political idiot hack.
King of Mean @ 54:
Yeah, Brownie wasn't qualified to judge his own qualifications. He continues to prove this point.
Duncan praises the efforts of the average citizens. Right, like these *-holes who are going to NOLA to get their picture taken in front of destroyed homes -- http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/28/green.update/index.html.
They pay $47 to ride down streets to gawk and the destruction. Bet the same folk would be frothing at the mouth at a mention of government trying to help Katrina victims.
I like Edwards... I know he too is among the political elite, but he has always been a pretty straight shooter none the less.
Is this who's going to be the new head of FEMA?
http://icefloe.org/pups/girl/brownie-2.jpeg
She's only a little bit younger than Monica Goodling.
Ain't goin' to happen so why waste time talking 'bout it.
[Knock it off, tyree]
tyree @ 60:
make me!
[Are you sure about that? -- Sitemonitor]
seems to me if someone can say liberdouches a democrat i can disput it!
Don't feed the trolls folks.
The problem that I have with this law is that it seems like it wouldn't be necessary if Congress would observe its oversight responsibilities. I'd RATHER have laws for Campaign Finance Reform, or maybe a law preventing the control of Congress AND the Executive by any one party...
John Edwards has divested himself of special interest money. He worked on Wall St. to come to understand how that shell game operates (as a finance guy, I can tell you that this is INTEGRAL). He has a trial lawyer's adversarial mentality, which compounded with hints that he has given indicate a good probability that he is able to and will do what is necessary to restore the US......going to get the motherfucking money back from the elitist scum. His image as a populist probably is played up to some degree (EVERYONE sells out to some extent), but he did come from a working class background.....a world apart from the silver spoon trust fund baby who has been running the country for the last 6 years.........."those people" (per upper crusty affectation) to him are his Mother and Father, neighbors growing up, etc. Oh, and there is no one in the right's field of candidates who could even stand a chance against him.
V V
im for kucinich but if i have to id vote for edwards and hope for the best!
Brownies Law, competent people in charge. Washington would be a ghost town of tumbling sagebrush and crickets chirping… nothing else. I’m all for it!
tyree @ 61:
Or they'll sic her on you
http://www.hillary.org/hillary/dominatrix.jpg
ysbaddaden @ 67:
yesbad hillerys never look so stunning,
The corporatist MSM just loves the idea of Hillary getting the nomination because they feel that they can use her "lightening rod" status to rouse the base.
Listening to talking heads like "tweety" Mathews, after a while you begin to realize why it is Johnathan Edwards that they really fear.
Here's a link to a DKos poster that includes several links to videos of his speeches. Listen to what he is saying and you'll understand why they want to bury his campaign:
John Edwards "Leaves the Pack and Names the Beast" at the LiveStrong Forum!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/27/165628/449
As Allison Rose Levy, of Vineyard Journal summed up John Edwards' stand on HealthCare well in her blogpost, "The Valor of John and Elizabeth Edwards:"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alison-rose-levy/vineyard-journal-the-val_...
Another attack would certainly prove that the repugnacans can't be trusted with national security. It would also show that fighting them there doesn't work.
Edwards has my vote, and always has.
He speaks truth to power amid constant slagging of his haircut.
Kuci for VP!
damn straight! they should have to be qualified, not just presidential cronies getting paid back for their loyalty with important appointments...
John Edwards comment is bringing up a debate we need: over-privileged cronyism versus Meirtocracy. Edwards is a self-made man. Bush and most of his crew have never done an honest day's work in their life, if you don't count influence peddling. I think Bush's contempt for the law was cemented by his rejected application to University of Texas law school. He didn't even have to go through 2 years ROTC or 90 days of Officer Candidate School to get his butter bars. Daddy greased it.
Sounds like a good idea to me! I strongly support "Brownie's Law"!!
Here's a real good reason why you should pay attention to Jonathan Edward's anti-corporatist campaign:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/20493272
Terrible @ 74:
This is an excellent idea and a great way to have fun with Republicans.
Orwell's Illegitimate Son @ 24:
orwell's illegitimate son thinks someone cares.
right.
During many years as a college/university academic administrator I was a participant in the hiring of many dozens of faculty and staff members. Each candidate had to display a broad knowledge of a major field of study plus intense interest and focus of a sub unit of that field. But some issues that never came into play in the hiring process were political affiliation, religion or family associations.
Did we always hit the jackpot? No, but in 95% of the cases we, as an institution, were well rewarded.
While these are the aims in most hiring practices in just about all businesses or organizations, it is most certainly not the goal of the current administration. In my entire 80 years I have never seen an administration so inept. It is almost as if they have deliberately chosen to flout best hiring practices and pervert the process by bringing in the least competent individuals they can find.
It has become an international joke as well as an unmitigated disaster.
Edwards earned some points on this with me! I hope somebody brings up Brownie's law when they start trying to choose the new AG! Imagine Bush nominating somebody with actual qualifications! Hard to do...
I know this is a dead thread, but this picture of Brownie looks very much like Mr. Bean, whom I would have preferred leading FEMA when Katrina hit.
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