NewYork Times:
Hurricane season begins June 1, and yet the Federal Emergency Management Agency still has no new director. Two months ago, President Obama nominated Craig Fugate, the state emergency chief who excelled in Florida. The choice was hailed widely, on both sides of the aisle, as ideal. But Mr. Fugate is being held hostage in the Senate by David Vitter of Louisiana.
Mr. Vitter complains that FEMA is not answering his questions about some high-risk flood areas that await rebuilding. FEMA should answer his questions. But we suspect that Senator Vitter is more preoccupied with the approach of re-election season than any weather events. He is clearly relishing doing battle with the administration, issuing broadsides styling himself as a populist standing up to “strong arm” tactics of the White House.
Sen. Vitter, stop it! You have made a fool of yourself and embarrassed your constituents quite enough. Stop the posturing. We don't need or want any more of the Vitter follies. Let Mr. Fugate's appointment go through, so he can do his job to prepare for THE HURRICANE SEASON THAT IS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY! This is not all about you. It is about the safety of the citizens of Louisiana, whom you have thus far represented so poorly.
The Rhodes scholarship vetting process needs serious work. How could the powers that be allow in two such sorry prospects as Vitter and Bobby Jindal?
Thanks to MotherAmelia for the link. Click over to read MotherAmelia's Mothers Day sermon, which is excellent.
Mimi, When someone from a state so far from NY is a subject of an editorial we'd hope they'd listen. And if not to the NY Times, at least to you.
ReplyDeleteAmelia, I try my best to embarrass him back, but I doubt he ever notices. Plus, I'll call his office and email him tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteShame on the posturing political man!
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, Mr. Fugate has gotten mixed reviews here in Tallahassee. He deals well with the media. But Joe Myers, Fugate's predecessor,was the one who really shaped up our Emergency Management Division following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and had the respect of his workers.
(OK... taking the reporter's cap off now and returning to my place outside the fourth estate...)
Mixed reviews? Not the best recommendation, then, SCG. Why didn't Obama appoint Joe Myers?
ReplyDeleteStill, someone is better than no one in charge, and whoever it is will be reporting to a different boss than I-don't-give-a-shit Bush. That makes a difference, too.
Oh, I imagine he didn't appoint Joe Myers because I think the man is much happier fishing, hunting, and chain-smoking away his time in retirement.:) Mr. Myers endured the clean-up of Andrew... and then there was another year in the mid-90s where I remember every part FL got whacked by one storm or another. Still, he was a rare breed of man-in-charge who didn't let that status go to his head. And he made it a lot easier for Craig Fugate to take charge of the state's EMS.
ReplyDeleteYes, we need somebody in charge at FEMA because somebody needs to co-ordinate the federal response to disasters. And while Mr. Fugate has detractors... at least he does know something about disasters and not race horses!
And it sounds like your Senator's temper tantrum shouldn't be with Mr. Fugate, but should be directed at a certain other administration. I think you can find that commander-in-chief from that sad period playing in a nursery somewhere in Texas. You'll recognize him: he's the little tot who's known to cry if you take away his fire truck and tell him it's nappy time.
Vitter has what the Brits would call his "nappy times" as well, does he not?
ReplyDeleteHave you by any chance re-read John Grisham's "The Appeal"?
ReplyDelete(rofl)
Lapin, nappies, diapers? All the same. Some call him Diaper Dave, but I would never do that.
ReplyDeleteScott, I read it a long time ago, but I've forgotten. I'll have to look it up on Google to refresh my memory.
To paraphrase the late Sam Rayburn: They may be bright men, but I'd be more comfortable if they'd ever run for sheriff.
ReplyDeleteNow, whenever I read about Louisana's politicians, I think of you. How awful to have such embarrassing representation.
ReplyDeleteScott, I was thinking of another of Grisham's books. I haven't read The Appeal.
ReplyDeleteOrmonde, did you mean "never" instead of "ever", or am I missing something really clever?
Catharine, we not only have Vitter and Jindal, but there's Ray Nagin in New Orleans, who must be the most incompetent mayor ever. He was reelected after proving himself incompetent. What can I say?
Lacking your class, Grandmère, I ALWAYS call him Diaper Dave.
ReplyDeleteHow about delivering diapers at his doorstep every day until he stops being a twit? Wait, one could not get such a large loan from a bank as would be necessary to do this for that lengthy a period of time. Oh well.
Paul, you do it, so I don't have to.
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ReplyDelete