Horses Arabian

Why DID Bush appoint Michael Brown as head of FEMA?

This question isn't really about Katrina, even though most comments about Michael Brown involve Katrina. But just in general, why would you put the ex-director of the "Arabian Show Horse Association," who is also a mid-level lawyer from Oklahoma, in charge of a major government agency whose mandate is disaster relief? What experience did Bush feel Michael Brown would bring to the position? Was he actually the most qualified candidate in the entire country for that position? If not, doesn't that mean Bush was derelict in his duty toward the American people? These are serious questions. Katrina aside, doesn't Michael Brown's appointment demonstrate serious flaws with Bush's model of governance? How do Republicans feel about this? I thought Republicans believed in appointments through "merit," not through personal connections. When did you guys abandon that principle?

Public Comments

1. wasnt the question once asked which members of Clintons first cabinet wasnt dead or in jail after the first 3 years?...except Reno none and you ask about 1 of Bushs guys?
2. Pretty much EVERYTHING BUSH DOES at this point demonstrates "serious flaws with Bush's model of goveranance".
3. he needed a job
4. That's so old news. At a high level, appointments are based not 100% on merit but more on connections. This is America after all Was Jennifer Anniston the absolutely best qualified to play Rachel Green? Who knows and who cares
5. Hmmm...got some good answers here. And of course, one even blames Clinton for Bush's bad choices. LOL. I think "Brownie" was a huge political donor or something like that. For Bush to claim he's so worried about terrorism, and yet appoint a total yo-yo to head FEMA is beyond comprehension
6. did you know that better than 35% of all Federal employees of FEMA were on vacation during Katrina?
7. They used to play golf together...too easy
8. Appoint a do nothing to lead an agency that does nothing makes perfect sense to me.