6:07 pm, September 5, 2005
The New Orleans Times-Picayune has called for FEMA to get the hell out of their city, and for Bush to fire FEMA Director Mike Brown and all of his blunderlings. One thing we know is that Brown knows shit from Shinola, based on his past employment as the head of the International Arabian Horse Association, where he got into so much horseshit they fired his ass. Now he can swim in shit up to his eyeballs and not notice.
FEMA head takes heat in spotlight
By John Biemer and Howard Witt Chicago Tribune staff reporters Published September 4, 2005
For the decade prior to joining the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Director Michael Brown was commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association, a Colorado-based group that organizes breeders and horse shows. Then he was asked to resign.
“He didn't follow the instructions he was given,” then-IAHA President William Pennington confirmed Saturday.
Less than five years after that dismissal, Brown, 50, finds himself heading the federal agency charged with responding to one of the nation's worst disasters.
Brown has been one of the leading public faces of a federal response sharply criticized as too little and too late. His statements and sometimes even his demeanor under the camera's glare have been questioned by critics--and often divergent from the grief-stricken reality on the ground.
During one of his first televised news conferences Wednesday, when violence and chaos were spreading in New Orleans and bodies were beginning to be seen floating in the water, Brown laughed and joked as he took reporters' questions.
At points last week, he described security in New Orleans as “pretty darn good.” He said he had received no reports of “unrest,” nor any information about uncollected corpses. And on Thursday night, he told CNN the agency had just learned that thousands of people had huddled at the New Orleans Convention Center, even though the city had directed them to go there, and journalists had been reporting their plight.
The frustrated New Orleans mayor, C. Ray Nagin, lashed out last week, saying federal officials “don't have a clue” what was going on in his city. And the top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, was quoted in The New York Times as calling on President Bush to fire Brown.
Seeking her own expert, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco on Saturday hired James Lee Witt, the widely praised FEMA director under President Bill Clinton, to advise her.
Still, even though Bush has called the federal response to the disaster “not acceptable,” he praised Brown Friday during a tour of Alabama, saying, “Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job,” the AP reported.
FEMA DIR. MIKE BROWN FIRED FROM PRIOR JOB AT HORSE ASSOC.
by Goldy at HorsesAss
by Daily Kos.com
Fri Sep 2nd, 2005
[editor's note, by Goldy at HorsesAss] Revised title
"An unmitigated, total fucking disaster." That's not a quote from Mike Brown, but rather, a quote describing him. And most disturbingly, it's not even a reference to his dismal performance as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This blunt critique was emailed to me from a regular reader who was apparently attracted to HorsesAss.org by her passion for politics and her love of Arabian horses.I think I've told you that I'm into Arab horses. Well, for 3 years Michael Brown was hired and then fired by our IAHA, the International Arabian Horse Assoc. He was an unmitigated, total fucking disaster. I was shocked as hell when captain clueless put him in charge of FEMA a couple of years ago.
Goldy at HorsesAss's diary :: ::He or the WH lied on the WH presser announcing him to FEMA. IAHA was never connected to the Olympic Comm, only the half Arab registry then and the governing body to the state and local Arabian horse clubs. He ruined IAHA financially so badly that we had to change the name and combine it with the Purebred registry.
I am telling you this after watching the fucking shipwreck in the Gulf. His incompetence is KILLING people.
Yes, that's right ... the man responsible for directing federal relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, sharpened his emergency management skills as the "Judges and Stewards Commissioner" for the International Arabian Horses Association ... a position from which he was forced to resign in the face of mounting litigation and financial disarray.New Hampshire Arabian Horse Association
I am headed to the IAHA convention in San Antonio after Thanksgiving. It should be a hot time down there this year. A complete counter slate of officers has been offered from the floor of convention. There is a lot of unrest in this industry right now. There are 17 resolutions pertaining to Resolution 5-90 (The office of the Judges and Stewards Commissioner) i.e.; the $3.00 fee. Mike Brown who was commissioner was requested to resign after all of the controversy regarding the number of lawsuits that are pending transpired.
AWhiteHorse Equine Industry Articles, Editorials and Opinions Page
From Tom Connelly to the Board of Directors:
As the Board directed during our recent conference call, negotiations have been ongoing with Mike Brown in relation to his resignation.
Attached is the final agreed upon separation agreement which Mike has executed and presented to us. He realized that this matter was going to go to the Board and he wanted to have signed it before it was actually presented.
I plan to sign the agreement Monday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, but in the meantime, if you wish to make any comments, please forward them to Joleen White and she will make sure we all see them.
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
I. PARTIES
The Parties to this Agreement are:
A. International Arabian Horse Association, a Colorado non-profit corporation, which is located in Arapahoe County, Colorado ("IAHA"); and
B. Michael D. Brown, an individual who is a resident of Boulder County, Colorado.
II. RECITALS
A. Mr. Brown is employed as the Judges and Stewards Commissioner of IAHA.
B. Mr. Brown and IAHA are currently involved as co-defendants in litigation.
C. Mr. Brown desires to resign from his employment with IAHA, and IAHA desires to accept Mr. Brown's resignation. However, in an attempt to accomplish an orderly transition for IAHA, the parties desire a gradual disengagement of the relationship so that Mr. Brown can complete his pending work and continue to assist in the defense of the pending litigation.
III. COVENANTS
In consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which the parties hereby acknowledge, the parties agree as follows:
A. Upon execution of this Agreement by the parties, Mr. Brown will resign from his position with IAHA, effective January 31, 2001.
B. Mr. Brown will employ his best efforts to conclude his work on pending matters during the month of September, 2000, and will assist in an orderly transition, and will continue to assist in the defense of litigation against him and/or IAHA relating to his work as Judges and Stewards Commissioner.
C. Prior to January 31, 2001, Mr. Brown will use all of his accrued vacation time.
D. IAHA will continue to pay to Mr. Brown his full salary, including benefits, through January 31, 2001.
E. During the months of February, March and April, 2001, IAHA will pay Mr. Brown his full salary, as severance pay.
F. Mr. Brown will continue to assist in the defense of litigation against him and/or IAHA relating to his work for IAHA as Judges and Stewards Commissioner, as reasonably requested by counsel for IAHA, unless reasonably objected to by counsel for Mr. Brown.
G. IAHA will pay to Mr. Brown a consulting fee of $100 per hour for time he spends assisting in the defense of litigation after April 30, 2001, such fee to be paid within 30 days of the date services are billed to IAHA by Mr. Brown.
H. IAHA will continue to provide and to pay for health insurance for Mr. Brown and his wife through October 31, 2001.
I. By October 1, 2000, Mr. Brown will cause to be contributed from the Michael D. Brown Legal Defense Fund Trust to the IAHA Legal Defense Fund the sum of $25,000.
J. IAHA will, without limitation and to the fullest extent allowed by law, continue to indemnify Mr. Brown and to hold Mr. Brown harmless from all liabilities, obligations, claims, causes of action, or expenses of any kind, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, that may arise or be incurred by Mr. Brown arising out of the performance of his employment as Judges and Stewards Commissioner of IAHA, including his duties under the terms of this Separation Agreement.
K. Mr. Brown further agrees to abide by the provisions of Paragraphs 17 and 18 his Employment Contract and the confidentiality requirements of Resolution 5-90.
L. This Separation Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by either party of any acts of wrongdoing whatsoever. The parties recognize that, due to the nature of Mr. Brown's duties as Judges and Stewards Commissioner, he has been the subject of numerous personal attacks, and that there have been numerous allegations made during the course of his employment that Mr. Brown engaged in conduct that would constitute cause for the termination of Brown's contract with IAHA. IAHA specifically acknowledges, however, that no cause exists to terminate Brown's contract with IAHA.
M. The Parties hereby and forever release and discharge each other, their heirs and assigns, from any and all causes of action, actions, judgments, liens, damages, losses, claims, liabilities and demands whatsoever, whether known or unknown, which arose prior to the date of this Separation Agreement.
N. Any dispute arising under this Separation Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration before the Judicial Arbiter Group in Denver, Colorado. In the event any arbitration is held pursuant to this Agreement, the arbitrator shall award the prevailing party his or its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
O. This Separation Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof.
P. The parties have each been represented by counsel in connection with this Separation Agreement and have read the entire Separation Agreement and understand each of the terms hereof.
Q. Colorado law shall govern the interpretation of this Separation Agreement and the resolution of any dispute arising in connection herewith.
R. No modification to this Separation Agreement will be effective, unless such modification is made in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto.
S. In the event that any part of this Separation Agreement and General Release is determined to be void, or otherwise unlawful, the remaining portions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.
Date:
Michael D. Brown
International Arabian Horse Association
Date: By:
And what of that misleading White House press release?The White House
Nominations
President Bush to Nominate Two Individuals to Serve in His Administration
The President announced his intention to nominate two individuals to serve as members of his administration.
The President intends to nominate Michael D. Brown to be Deputy Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Brown was appointed FEMA General Counsel in February, and Acting Deputy Director in September, where he has served as the Chairman of the Consequences Management Working Group. From 1991 to 2001, Brown was the Commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association, an international subsidiary of the national governing organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee. From 1988 to 1991, Brown was General Counsel to Dillingham Insurance, Suits Drilling, Suits Rig, Latigo Energy, Dillingham Ranch and Dillingham Enterprises, and from 1980 to 1988, he was an attorney in private practice. In 1978 to 1980, he worked for the Oklahoma State Senate Finance Committee, and from 1975 to 1978, Brown worked for the City of Edmond, Oklahoma, overseeing the emergency services divisions. Brown is a graduate of Central State University and Oklahoma City University Law School.
The President intends to nominate Ruth Lewis Griffin to be a Commissioner of the International Joint Commission for the United States and Canada. Griffin is the Executive Councilor for the Third District of New Hampshire and has been a member of the Executive Councilor since 1987. She was a Member of the New Hampshire State Senate, the New Hampshire House of Representatives and has served New Hampshire in elected office for a total of 35 years. Griffin is a member of the Governor's Commission on Intermodal Transportation which is the architect of the New Hampshire Highway Plan and the New Hampshire Health Services Planning and Review Board. She has served on the Portsmouth Board of Education, the Portsmouth Police Commission and is currently the Portsmouth Housing Authority Commissioner. A registered nurse, she is a graduate of the Wentworth Hospital School of Nursing.
I can't even begin to fact check the dates or IAHA's alleged relationship to the US Olympic Committee, because of course, the IAHA doesn't exist anymore, so there's nothing to Google. But it begs the question ... how the hell did his prior job experience prepare Brown to head FEMA?
Well, judging by his agency's performance over the past few days ... it didn't.
[Cross-posted at HorsesAss.org]