Michael Brown's Emails
Michael Brown's Emails
#0Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 8:53am
"Brownie, you're doin' a HECKUVA job!" --President G.W. Bush
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Posted 11/2/2005 11:12 PM Updated 11/2/2005 11:14 PM
FEMA e-mails provide window on ex-director's response
By Andrea Stone, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — E-mails sent as Hurricane Katrina raged reveal that FEMA's then-director, Michael Brown, discussed his clothing and his need for a dog sitter but left unanswered urgent messages.
A House committee investigating the response to Katrina released about 1,000 e-mails as members complained that the Bush administration had failed to provide copies of communications among high-level officials, including White House chief of staff Andy Card and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
Deputy White House press secretary Trent Duffy said, "The White House staff is working on that information collection."
The newly released e-mails depict an official who "made few decisions and seemed out of touch," said Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La.
Last month at a Senate hearing, Marty Bahamonde, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's only employee in New Orleans when Katrina struck Aug. 29, said he e-mailed Brown on Aug. 31, "Sir, I know that you know the situation is past critical ... many will die." Brown replied, "Thanks for the update. Anything specific I need to do or tweak?"
An e-mail offering critical medical equipment got no response for four days.
Brown resigned two weeks after Katrina hit. E-mail excerpts:
• Aug. 29, 7:19 a.m., Cindy Taylor, FEMA deputy director of public affairs to Brown, about his shirt as he appeared on NBC's Today: "My eyes must certainly be deceiving me. You look fabulous — and I'm not talking the makeup."
Brown, 7:52 a.m.: "I got it at Nordsstroms ... Are you proud of me? Can I quit now? Can I go home?"
• Aug. 30, 10:52 p.m. Brown to assistant Tillie James: "Do you know of anyone who dog-sits?"
• Sept. 2, 8:37 a.m. Brown to acquaintance Betty Guhman, on his pre-Katrina plans to leave FEMA: "Last hurrah was supposed to have been Labor Day. I'm trapped now, please rescue me."
Andy Lester, Brown's lawyer, said the committee "ought to focus" on FEMA's budget and other issues and not on e-mails that he characterized as efforts to boost morale among stressed staff and deal with family matters.
Contributing: Judy Keen
FEMA e-mails provide window on ex-director's response
#1re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 9:01am
Sept. 2, 2005 9:15 a.m.
Dear PalJoey,
I know it's been so long since we shared that night in Washington but I still think of you often. So much so that I cannot even concentrate on doing my job. Everyone is talking about some storm - don't they understand I am hurting inside. I need to see you if only for total closure. Please call me, pookeybear, anytime - day or night. I won't answer the phone for anyone else but you, my sweet. Gotta run now, W is coming for a visit soon. I think someone drew him a picture of what is going on and he wants to fly over it while he finishes the second chapter in that damn goat book he's been reading for four years.
Love, Michael
XING
PED
PED
#2re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 9:04amOMG, RobbO--how did you find out who my White House "mole" is?
#3re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 9:07ami know where several of your moles are....
XING
PED
PED
#4re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 9:12amthe one on his right buttock is actually a mic.
#5re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 9:23amFEMA should've lowered Brownie into the Superdome with a bag of M&Ms in his pocket till there was nothing left except some hair plugs and the lingering scent of High Karate.
#6re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 10:29am
Got Nothing after that one lildogs.
Brownie is just a scmuck.
Case closed.
brdlwyr
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
#7re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 10:45am
The fault does not lie with Brown, but with the idiot who put him in that position!
Updated On: 11/3/05 at 10:45 AM
#8re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:06pm
Damn, you know that I have not had my coffee yet when I cannot even spell Schmuck correctly.
The buck does stop with Bush - but he will never accept responsibility in any true form.
Question: Florida is still a mess after Wilma - why isn't anyone talking about that?
#9re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:24pmIt's okay...not having any water, food or shelter...people tend to prize those things over not letting gay people get married...at least I hope they remember in 2006.
brdlwyr
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
#10re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:30pmJeb 2006! I think not. Maybe Katherine Harris as running mate.
brdlwyr
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
#13re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:41pm
She causes a reaction from my other end.
I'm sick, get me a bucket . . .
#15re: Michael Brown's Emails
Posted: 11/3/05 at 2:20pmAnd they say the Dems are weak and ineffectual...
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