Congress gets spanking from Brown

Sometime you just don’t know how much you don’t know. Yesterday it became clear that congress doesn’t know much about FEMA. Congress had designated fall guy Michael Brown before a joint committee to listen to pompous committee members ramble on and stating the obvious, expressing outrage, posturing for the cameras, and occasionally even asking a question. Only when Brown was speaking, in response to some windbag’s question, did it become clear that he was the smartest guy in the room…by far.

So when it became clear that Brown was not going to just sit there and take it from the dopes who happened to be his inquisitors, politicians did what they do best, blather on…and on…and on. Rep. William J. Jefferson, black Louisiana Democrat, who lives in the upscale Uptown area of New Orleans, who, like most Louisiana politicians, is under investigation by the FBI, who commandeered rescue assets to clean out his own home called blathered on so long he didn’t get a question in. That was probably his game plan. Legendary strongman Rep. Chris Shays, Lilly white boy & Connecticut Republican took Brown on and came out looking like the idiot he is for his trouble. In his quest to fix the blame for everything that went wrong in Louisiana on Brown, Shays demonstrated what an ill-informed dolt he remains. Brown had to point out to the clueless Shays that FEMA is not responsible for evacuations, law enforcement, gas distribution, diaper changes, haircuts or lawn treatments.

The press has made the take away from the hearing Brown’s remark that his biggest mistake was not recognizing by Saturday how dysfunctional the Louisiana state and local governments were. He could have added corrupt, inept, crooked, uneducated, self-serving, weak, stupid, lazy, etc. etc. For their part, when made aware of Brown’s obviously accurate comment, Louisiana Governor Blanco and New Orleans Gangsta Mayor protested so loud and long that the average person became suspicious that they were hiding something. A prudent protest might be something along the lines of, “Well it is clear mistakes were made across the board and there will be time to sort that out later.”

Well the real take away should be Brown’s remark that FEMA’s preparations in Mississippi and Alabama were largely effective. Only in dysfunctional Louisiana were FEMA’s plans and efforts found to be lacking. Hmm, wonder why? Could it be twin idiots separated at birth at the local level? Naaa, couldn’t be. An inarticulate idiot profane mayor? Noooo. A dopey woman governor that couldn’t run the neighborhood bridge club let alone a state government? Couldn’t be. It has to be all Brown’s fault. After all, he is Republican, white, male and probably believes in some kind of religion. In short, he is the perfect fall guy.

If the committee couldn’t handle the mild mannered Michael Brown what are they going to do when LTG “You are stuck on stupid congressman” Honeree shows up firing both barrels?