# Mike Brown resigns as head of FEMA **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297 "2005-09-12T18:59:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/1 "2005-09-12T18:59:48Z")
[Link](http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/12/D8CIT0UO1.html) Any chance we can name that Coast Guard admiral as his replacement? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/2 "2005-09-12T19:03:12Z")
Geez, what a surprise. God forbid he should actually be fired. I don’t think I was the only one to see this coming. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/3 "2005-09-12T19:04:08Z")
Put in someone qualified when there are other old cronies looking for jobs? Don’t hold your breath. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/4 "2005-09-12T19:08:19Z")
Are people in higher-up political administration positions _ever_ fired? In my recent memory, I don’t remember a POTUS ever saying, “So, to that end, Mr. So and So has been kicked to the curb.” I’m sure President Bush asked for and received his resignation. I mean, that is how things are done at that level. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/5 "2005-09-12T19:12:45Z")
Gee, I must be psychic - I saw this coming. Just like most of the thinking world, I think. **ivylass** , I’m certain the resignation was requested, too. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/6 "2005-09-12T19:14:06Z")
I pretty much knew it when he didn’t know about those poor folk in the Convention Center. Really, would it hurt them to turn on the news once in a while? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/7 "2005-09-12T19:19:42Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’m sure President Bush asked for and received his resignation. I mean, that is how things are done at that level. I think you give W too much credit. Either Brown was overwhelmed by the bad press, or Rove & co. leaned on Brown, but I don’t see Bush ever asking any of his Good Ole Boys to quit. Let’s see what (if anything) Bush has to say about the man. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/8 "2005-09-12T19:26:06Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > I think you give W too much credit. Either Brown was overwhelmed by the bad press, or Rove & co. leaned on Brown, but I don’t see Bush ever asking any of his Good Ole Boys to quit. > > Let’s see what (if anything) Bush has to say about the man. I predict he will thank him and accept his resignation with a heavy heart, blah, blah, blah. Firing him would mean admitting he was wrong. No chance you’ll ever hear that out of this guy. He still looks bad because he didn’t do it himself. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/9 "2005-09-12T19:41:19Z")
I’m not so sure he can be fired in the traditional sense. Isn’t he confirmed appointee? Anyway, good riddance. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/10 "2005-09-12T20:10:53Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Any chance we can name that Coast Guard admiral as his replacement? Probably not. VADM Allen is one of two Admirals that many in the service believe will be the next Commandant. My money was on the other Admiral until this highly visible assignment came along for Allen. Barring a disaster in which he gets blamed, I think now that he’s a lock for the Commandant job if he wants it. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/11 "2005-09-12T20:15:26Z")
Commandant? Is that like being on the Joint Chiefs of Staff? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/12 "2005-09-12T20:21:38Z")
The Commandant is the top dog in the Coast Guard - the one in charge. The CG Commandant, unlike the other service chiefs, does not sit on the JCS. (Although you will see him sitting with them at many functions - State of the Union Adress for example) We had a Commandant who tried to change that in the '80s - to no avail. VADM Allen is currently the Chief of Staff, USCG and Commanding Officer of CG Headquarters. [Bio](http://www.uscg.mil/vice_admiral_thad_w.htm). ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/13 "2005-09-12T20:29:36Z")
Way back during Hurricane Dennis (in July, dang it’s been a long summer) [this photo](http://rds.yahoo.com/S=53720273/K=fema+Brown/v=2/SID=e/l=NIR/R=7/SIG=12rbrc2ko/EXP=1126643187/*-http%3A//story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050909/480/dn10109091952) was published. It shows Brown getting off a Coast Guard Helicopter. When DeHusband saw this, he started complaining about Brown not being prepared to be FEMA chief. When I asked how he could tell from a photo, DeHusband said “How can he be in charge if he’s acting like a three year old every time he gets out of a helicopter?” Good point. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/14 "2005-09-12T20:56:47Z")
According to Drudge: “R. David Paulison, head of FEMA’s emergency preparedness force, is President Bush’s pick to replace Mike Brown as head of the relief agency…” ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/15 "2005-09-12T21:05:02Z")
Paulison sounds like a pretty good choice. [http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050912/D8CIUQ5O9.html](http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050912/D8CIUQ5O9.html) Brown certainly deserves his (large) share of blame, but I hope he’s not the only scapegoat out of all this. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/16 "2005-09-12T21:14:45Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > The Commandant is the top dog in the Coast Guard - the one in charge. The CG Commandant, unlike the other service chiefs, does not sit on the JCS. (Although you will see him sitting with them at many functions - State of the Union Adress for example). Under the current structure, the Commandant of the Coast Guard does get to sit on the JCS when there is a formal declaration of war and the Coast Guard is transferred to the Department of Defense. (Right now they are part of the Department of Homeland Security, previously part of the Department of Transportaion, previously part of the Department of the Treasury. Isn’t beauracracy fun?) In that case, he reports to the Secretary of the Navy along with the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chief of Naval Operations. But there has never been a formal declaration of war since the whole JCS structure was set up in 1947. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/17 "2005-09-12T21:20:49Z")
At least he’s done the honourable thing. Or appears to have, at any rate. I remain less than impressed with the other politicos. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/18 "2005-09-12T21:21:44Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Are people in higher-up political administration positions _ever_ fired? In my recent memory, I don’t remember a POTUS ever saying, “So, to that end, Mr. So and So has been kicked to the curb.” > > I’m sure President Bush asked for and received his resignation. I mean, that is how things are done at that level. The CIO of our corporation resigned “to seek external opportunities.” On a Friday afternoon. Effective immediately. Yeah, it’s very rare for these types to get out-and-out fired. [sub](The rumors were that he was taking bribes from vendors; being just a peon, I don’t know whether that’s the truth.)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/19 "2005-09-13T03:57:26Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > According to Drudge: > > “R. David Paulison, head of FEMA’s emergency preparedness force, is President Bush’s pick to replace Mike Brown as head of the relief agency…” Mr. Paulison wears an additional hat-he’s the top dog at the US Fire Administration which oversees fire related training and many other tasks. A fellow who has come up through the ranks, he’s been a fire chief at Miami-Dade, is a paramedic, and is a past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He has an impressive CV to be sure-but as a firefighter, I can only hope that his position at the USFA is filled by an equally qualified individual, as I rely on the National Fire Academy to deliver training to those who will replace folks like myself who are getting long in the tooth. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297/20 "2005-09-13T04:01:36Z")
One can only hoipe that head of the US Fire Administration is low enough on the status/money pole that the patronage plum-hunters figure it’s not worth picking. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-brown-resigns-as-head-of-fema/321297.md?page=2)