FEMA director resume scandal

[PennSkinsFan]

Link (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9266986/)

This explains alot. You can't possibly have good emergency response when the people at the top are completely incompetent.

[BurgundyNGold]

This is not a defense of this guy's results at FEMA in any way shape or form, but let he who has never overstated something on their resume cast the first stone. I've interviewed a lot of people and a certain amount of inflation has to be expected.

Also, the item they're talking about happened in the 1970s. The 19 freakin' 70s! If you're hiring somebody for a position on the strength of an experience item on their resume from 30 years ago then you're a derelict.

This resume business is a red herring. Look higher folks.

[RedskinsDave]

What a non-story this is. If anyone thinks emergency management is rocket science, you know nothing of emergency management. I was an EMT and also a disaster planner, trainer and evaluator (PTE). Prior to my PTE job I had zero experience in emergency management other than my EMT work. I learned on the job and I am quite sure that Brown was able to do the same in two years as general counsel.

[BurgundyNGold]

What a non-story this is. If anyone thinks emergency management is rocket science, you know nothing of emergency management. I was an EMT and also a disaster planner, trainer and evaluator (PTE). Prior to my PTE job I had zero experience in emergency management other than my EMT work. I learned on the job and I am quite sure that Brown was able to do the same in two years as general counsel.
I know a few major organizations and financial institutions who have appointed completely unqualified individuals to head their disaster recovery "program" (DRP) as a second responsibility. It's sad really.

[CNYSkinFan]

this is my favorite part:


Former Edmond city manager Bill Dashner recalled for Time that Brown had worked for him as an administrative assistant while attending Central State University.

"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," Dashner told Time.

Damn it now I can't become FEMA director because I hate starch in my shirts.

:)

[CNYSkinFan]

Does anyone else watch "The Office"?

"I am assistant Regional Manager"

"No you are assistant to the regional Manager"

"Same thing"

"No it is not"

[RedskinsDave]

Does anyone else watch "The Office"?

"I am assistant Regional Manager"

"No you are assistant to the regional Manager"

"Same thing"

"No it is not"

Let's form an alliance!

[CNYSkinFan]

Let's form an alliance!

Ok you get in this box......

[MoeRedskins]

Ok you get in this box......

I think it would be a good idea if you dyed your hair blond and did some spying in the Washington office.

[CNYSkinFan]

i heard this on the Radio and have no source to confirm it yet...but apparently Brown legal credentials have come into question as apparently he did no graduate from an accredited law school, though he did take and pass the bar. Probably nothing but i will search for some back up.

[RedskinsDave]

i heard this on the Radio and have no source to confirm it yet...but apparently Brown legal credentials have come into question as apparently he did no graduate from an accredited law school, though he did take and pass the bar. Probably nothing but i will search for some back up.

Well if he passed the bar who cares? Just ask JFK Jr, anyone can graduate from law school. I am sure that is why there is the bar anyways.

[CNYSkinFan]

Well if he passed the bar who cares? Just ask JFK Jr, anyone can graduate from law school. I am sure that is why there is the bar anyways.

Didn't Strom Thurmond do the same thing. He passed the bar but did not go to college?

[Ibleedburgundy]

What a non-story this is. If anyone thinks emergency management is rocket science, you know nothing of emergency management. I was an EMT and also a disaster planner, trainer and evaluator (PTE). Prior to my PTE job I had zero experience in emergency management other than my EMT work. I learned on the job and I am quite sure that Brown was able to do the same in two years as general counsel.


I think you just demonstrated you are more qualified than Brown.

[Agrawog]

What a non-story this is. If anyone thinks emergency management is rocket science, you know nothing of emergency management. I was an EMT and also a disaster planner, trainer and evaluator (PTE). Prior to my PTE job I had zero experience in emergency management other than my EMT work. I learned on the job and I am quite sure that Brown was able to do the same in two years as general counsel.

So you think it is a bright idea that the head of our emergency department needs to LEARN ON THE JOB when the whole point of the job is to be ready to HANDLE THE JOB on a moment's notice?

How stupid is that? He clearly did not know what he was doing and when push came to shove--ta da! Katrina.

The director of FEMA is not a place to learn your job - that is what the state EMA groups are for or the many other levels of FEMA are for. The director of FEMA should be a stud emergency services guy. That's like saying that the head of the joint chiefs doesn't have to have A LOT of military experience, he can learn on the job!!

Dave you and I have disagreed on many a point but I have never seeing stupidity in our discourse. Go back and read what you posted, man. That doesn't make any sense. He is the head of the NATIONAL EMA. He should not only know his job he should be a guy who knows it better than anyone else.

Would you apply this standard to the Treasury secretary? Or does this only apply to emergency services work because it is not 'rocket science'. Do you really think your experience as an EMT and PTE match the requirements of handling the largest natural disaster in U.S. history?

I know you are in the tank for Bush but come on.

What happened here is that a crony was given a top job (like most other Presidents have done including Democrats I am sure) and he got caught with his pants down when time came for him to perform. My problem here is that this particular post could have had 8 quiet years but the one time he is going to be needed he is REALLY going to be needed. The downside to having an unqualified person here is HUGE.

We have now reaped what Bush has sown. There is lots of blame to go around post-katrina and I was not one of those initially blaming the President. But it is now clear that many of his decisions have had a strong impact on this disaster, starting with the equestrian lawyer who "was always on time. He always had on a suit and a starched white shirt" (my head spins from the praise). :banghead:

[RedskinsDave]

Yeah because we all know that the directors of agencies are the experts. I guess Donna Shalala was an epidemiologist. I guess the attorney generals have all been retired FBI agents. Seriously, these people are managers. It is the people who are career employees who need to know what they are doing.

[fent]

So you think it is a bright idea that the head of our emergency department needs to LEARN ON THE JOB when the whole point of the job is to be ready to HANDLE THE JOB on a moment's notice?

as bad as this sounds, you HAVE to learn on the job. what experience is out there that qualifies you to handle being President? what experience is out there to learn from in regards to a city built below sea level suddenly being underwater? the only people that work for the government that come into their jobs knowing exactly what to do, sadly enough, are the staff assistants (think secretary). everyone else has to learn on the job.

[Agrawog]

Yeah because we all know that the directors of agencies are the experts. I guess Donna Shalala was an epidemiologist. I guess the attorney generals have all been retired FBI agents. Seriously, these people are managers. It is the people who are career employees who need to know what they are doing.

Ok, I will give you that no one is totally prepared for a job like this but this guy was a lifetime lawyer! He had never, ever been involved in this kind of activity. You have to at least know the language and be able to stand up in a room and make your case for dollars, or helicopters or troops to people who have other priorities. You need to be an advocate, not someone so thankful for the bone thrown your way that you don't speak up. That sure is what looks like happened here. How are you supposed to manage even a little bit when you can't make distinctions between opinions being thrown around in a crisis. This is why you have people with experience in jobs that deal with national security and the saving of lives.

the next time you go to the ER let's see if you will take the Intern's advice (he's learning on the job after all) or the attending's.

BTW - I went to his official bio site and checked out one of his speeches. I wanted to get feel for the guy. We have all reacted mildly to the flap over his service as an assistant to the city manager versus assistant city manager. I can live with some inflation on your resume but check out what the guy said in a speech:

One of my early public service jobs in Oklahoma involved my working with local first responders, particularly fire departments. I was the Assistant City Manager and I recall one Christmas season that seemed to have a record number of fires and I watched a home literally go up in smoke. Every thing that the family owned was destroyed. There was nothing that the fire department could do…the fire spread so quickly and rapidly

I believe that leave no room for error. This guy (if we believe the other people involved) is clearly stating he did things he did not. This guy gets shadier with every passing day. Very sad.

[akhhorus]

Didn't Strom Thurmond do the same thing. He passed the bar but did not go to college?

I will brook no bad mouthing of Strom Thurmond unless I do it personally! He went to Pickens A&M.

[hail2skins]

This is not a defense of this guy's results at FEMA in any way shape or form, but let he who has never overstated something on their resume cast the first stone. I've interviewed a lot of people and a certain amount of inflation has to be expected.

Also, the item they're talking about happened in the 1970s. The 19 freakin' 70s! If you're hiring somebody for a position on the strength of an experience item on their resume from 30 years ago then you're a derelict.

This resume business is a red herring. Look higher folks.Does that include someone who says they graduated from the University of Windows 95 on their resume? It's a true story, trust me.

[fent]

the next time you go to the ER let's see if you will take the Intern's advice (he's learning on the job after all) or the attending's.

on this note, i would like to rant about GW hospital. i experienced this exact problem and spent 5 days in the hospital because a test that should have been run in the first batch was skipped by the residents and it took 5 days for an attending to realize it and order the test that finally diagnosed me.

[CNYSkinFan]

And this thread has jumped the shark. Thank you for playing.

[BurgundyNGold]

Didn't Strom Thurmond do the same thing. He passed the bar but did not go to college?
So, all you have to do to become a lawyer is pass the bar? I would've figured the system would be set up to fleece you out of $100K in law school.

[BurgundyNGold]

as bad as this sounds, you HAVE to learn on the job. what experience is out there that qualifies you to handle being President? what experience is out there to learn from in regards to a city built below sea level suddenly being underwater? the only people that work for the government that come into their jobs knowing exactly what to do, sadly enough, are the staff assistants (think secretary). everyone else has to learn on the job.
If that were basis for hire, Bush should've hired Governor Wetworth from the Snorks to be head of FEMA.

[BurgundyNGold]

on this note, i would like to rant about GW hospital. i experienced this exact problem and spent 5 days in the hospital because a test that should have been run in the first batch was skipped by the residents and it took 5 days for an attending to realize it and order the test that finally diagnosed me.
I'm telling you, Fent. The government and the medical profession are being run by C students... if you're lucky.