In The Blogs

FEMA

| Tue Nov. 25, 2008 9:08 AM PST

FEMA....Via Steve Benen, Al Kamen reports that FEMA may be getting a facelift under Barack Obama:

First off, the likely plan is to break off the agency from the Department of Homeland Security, a move that by itself would help restore the pride that folks at FEMA felt when it was an independent agency.

Second, there's increasing talk that former director James Lee Witt, who took over the then-troubled agency at the start of the Clinton administration and left it eight years later with a much-enhanced reputation, is coming back from retirement to run FEMA for six months to a year, to whip it into shape.

I assume this is one Clinton "retread" that no one will complain too much about?

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Comments

Submitted by Paul Moeller (not verified) on Tue Nov. 25, 2008 9:03 AM PST.

Great idea - therefore somebody will certainly complain.

Submitted by jerry (not verified) on Tue Nov. 25, 2008 9:06 AM PST.

No one will complain? My guess is the rightwingers use this as another data point to push the retread meme, never looking at the underlying good aspects.

It's all fodder.

I am curious as to how backstabber Lieberman deals with this. DHS consolidation is his dick fight, isn't it?

Submitted by markg8 (not verified) on Tue Nov. 25, 2008 10:29 AM PST.

If Lieberman complains he should immediately be brought into the president's office with Reid where he can be asked if he'd like another vote to strip him of his chairmanship.

Submitted by supersaurus (not verified) on Tue Nov. 25, 2008 10:36 AM PST.

how about a really "bold" move, in the bush style...bring brownie back!

Submitted by Varecia (not verified) on Tue Nov. 25, 2008 12:28 PM PST.

As long as there are no more *privatized* disaster management 'plans' ala Innovative Emergency Management, I think we'll be OK.

Submitted by Jesse Fineran (not verified) on Wed Nov. 26, 2008 5:38 AM PST.

It will take more than getting FEMA out from under DHS to restore order to the chaos that is FEMA. FEMA's problems are rooted deep within the core of it's current FEMA leadership. FEMA continues to demonstrate an inability to utilitize basic Core Values and lacks accountability. FEMA knew that occupants of FEMA housing were suffering and did nothing to protect their victims from the dangers of formaldehyde. Without accountability FEMA will continue to protect it's own self-interest and not the survivors that they were tasked to protect. New Leadership must be in touch with basic Core Values and does not fear accountability.

Submitted by JeffB (not verified) on Wed Nov. 26, 2008 7:24 PM PST.

I don't think it's a great idea. I address this in more detail on my site, but I believe that nostalgia is the main reason that Witt is being considered. He is rightly credited with improving FEMA markedly in the 90s (I know, I worked for the agency), but that doesn't mean he's the best person for the job at this time.

I have been in the car

Submitted by jewelry stores (not verified) on Fri Aug. 14, 2009 8:20 AM PDT.

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