Here's yet another fine example of what Republicans must mean when they talk about compassionate conservatism (WSJ, subscription required), though more along the lines of the Dennis Hastert, Trent Lott and Barbara Bush comments.
Two shaky House incumbents, Democrat Melancon and
Republican Boustany, hope response to hurricane rallies voters behind
them. House Republican campaign chief Reynolds touts chance to market
conservative social-policy solutions; Rep. Baker of Baton Rouge is overheard telling lobbyists: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did."
Baker
explains later he didn't intend flippancy but has long wanted to
improve low-income housing. (emphasis added)
How often does a politico try to explain away a statement he denies
making? By saying that he didn't mean to be flippant, he admitted
making the statement. Is that another way of saying "I didn't know anyone else was listening?" Just like Trent Lott, Dick Armey and others, this is just another example of how these people really talk and think when they think they're in safe, sympathetic company.
Maybe a good way to clean up public housing is to raise the minimum
wage and provide some decently paying jobs. I'm ashamed to think I
belong to the same species as Representative Baker. He has no business
being in a position of power with this kind of callous attitude. It's
beyond disgusting. Pathological is closer to the truth. Also not
to slight President Bush, who like kicking an injured dog, issued an
executive order to suspend the minimum wage pay for the grunts who will
actually be doing the clean-up work in the disaster areas.
Minimum wage rates have nothing to do with the billions that
Halliburton and other
companies the government may hire to do the cleanup and reconstruction
will receive to pay their executives and retirees (like Cheney) who
will make out like bandits again.
This nation seems to think that being poor isn't punishment enough, we
have to hate them, too. There never was any Cadillac driving welfare
mother... but you know people loved to hear it. Jesus was a socialist.
These rich pig empathy-less social darwinist "conservatives" are going
to be really suprised when they find themselves in hell.
A TIME investigation reveals discrepancies in the FEMA chief's official biographies
Now, an investigation
by TIME has found discrepancies in his online legal profile and
official bio, including a description of Brown released by the White
House at the time of his nomination in 2001 to the job as deputy chief
of FEMA. (Brown became Director of FEMA, succeeding Allbaugh, in 2003.)
Before
joining FEMA, his only previous stint in emergency management,
according to his bio posted on FEMA's website, was "serving as an
assistant city manager with emergency services oversight." The White
House press release from 2001 stated that Brown worked for the city of
Edmond, Okla., from 1975 to 1978 "overseeing the emergency services
division." In fact, according to Claudia Deakins, head of public
relations for the city of Edmond, Brown
was an "assistant to the city manager" from 1977 to 1980, not a manager
himself, and had no authority over other employees. "The assistant is
more like an intern," she told TIME. "Department heads did not
report to him." Brown did do a good job at his humble position,
however, according to his boss. "Yes. Mike Brown worked for me. He was
my administrative assistant. He was a student at Central State
University," recalls former city manager Bill Dashner. "Mike used to
handle a lot of details. Every now and again I'd ask him to write me a
speech. He was very loyal. He was always on time. He always had on a
suit and a starched white shirt."
Brown's lack of experience in emergency management isn't the only
apparent bit of padding on his resume, which raises questions about how
rigorously the White House vetted him before putting him in charge of
FEMA. Under the "honors and awards" section of his profile at FindLaw.com
-- which is information on the legal website provided by lawyers or
their offices--he lists "Outstanding Political Science Professor,
Central State University". However, Brown "wasn't a professor here, he
was only a student here," says Charles Johnson, News Bureau Director in
the University Relations office at the University of Central Oklahoma
(formerly named Central State University).
Under the heading of "Professional Associations and Memberships" on
FindLaw, Brown states that from 1983 to the present he has been
director of the Oklahoma Christian Home, a nursing home in Edmond. But
an administrator with the Home, told TIME that Brown is "not a person
that anyone here is familiar with." Brown's FindLaw profile lists a wide range of areas of legal
practice,
from estate planning to family law to sports. However, one former
colleague does not remember Brown's work as sterling. Jones says
when his law firm split, Brown was one of two staffers who was let go.
MICHAEL BROWN YOU
INCOMPETENT LIAR -- QUIT ALREADY. How can you live with yourself?
Katrina is a wake up call for all of us! Bush and Brown must go NOW.
We
need qualified, competent leadership to deal with what may be headed
our way in October. Bin Laden Said Planning 'Great Ramadan
Offensive' for October 2005 - Assyrian International News Agency | Sept
9 2005
Al
Qaeda's planning a series of spectacular terrorist strikes in October,
targeting American interests as well as U.S. allies in Europe and the
Middle East. The plans are said to be coordinated by Osama bin Laden
and his top lieutenant in Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- and are the
subject of a non-public report issued by terrorism experts this week. Report warns of terrorists Great Ramadan Offensive
Now, an investigation
by 
