Brownout

November 25, 2005 9:49 AM

Michael Brown starts Disaster Planning Firm After doing a "heck of a job", the former Commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association teaches others how to avoid stepping in shit.
posted by null terminated (27 comments total)

*teaches, argh. Also newsfilter.
posted by null terminated at 9:50 AM on November 25, 2005

Who else would know better how to create a synergy of private contractors and highly profitable federal disaster zones, than someone who was given his job by a cronyist administration.
posted by Rothko at 9:56 AM on November 25, 2005

He feels the need to point out that his mom and dad are proud of him. They should be insisting he fall on a sword for the shame and death he's caused...
posted by maryh at 10:05 AM on November 25, 2005

And the countdown to the first non-bid contract to his new firm begins. Perhaps it will be a Halliburton contract which is then sub-contracted out to him.

I predict three months.

Lastly, how about a naming contest for his new firm.
- BrownSpot
posted by fluffycreature at 10:11 AM on November 25, 2005

What a sad, useless and dull tool.

Of course his mom and dad are still proud of him. Has he ever taken note of the finger painted and crayon scribbled artwork that parents display proudly on their fridge? Yeah, it's like that.

I wonder if his parents ever saw that PDF of all the ridiculous emails he sent and the flippant replies he made while people were dying en masse in NOLA.
posted by loquacious at 10:11 AM on November 25, 2005

Hell, FEMA considers it's response to Katrina it's finest achievement of the year.

(via TPM.)

In addition to it's position as the world's leader in patronage positions for director-level Arabian Horse show advocates, FEMA is offering exciting executive positions in disaster management for experienced telephone sanitizers, advertising account executives and hairdressers.
posted by edverb at 10:16 AM on November 25, 2005

Michael Brown's fashion advice, dress code, and anthem. real audio via
posted by hortense at 10:25 AM on November 25, 2005

Isn't this a bit like OJ Simpson opening a marital-counseling clinic?
posted by clevershark at 10:29 AM on November 25, 2005

isn't this a bit like george w bush running a government? ... oh, wait ...
posted by pyramid termite at 10:46 AM on November 25, 2005

No wonder the republicans are being blamed of attempting to destroy the government ; as the government practically IS the officials in charge (as much as companies are the persons who run them, regardless of extremely abused limitation of liability) with such officials in charge the government has reached a new low of incompetence, but to maintain party cohesion each crony must be assured complete cover-up one way or another.

It's clear brown is either delusional about his competence or trying to pull all the money he can before his boat sinks..or maybe it's just another too-big-not-to-believe lie , consisten with this administration behavior, so bold and in-you-face way to pay Brown for his political cooperation by awarding his company government contracts....considering his friend rule the government I'd expect many contract coming..one way or another.
posted by elpapacito at 10:48 AM on November 25, 2005

Brown shows all the signs of being truly and deeply incompetent: he has no idea just how fucking stupid he is. It's the hallmark of true stupidity.
posted by teece at 10:52 AM on November 25, 2005

We are talking about here about the man who wrote "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina," not to mention "She May Call You Up Tonight" and "Barterers and Their Wives." We are talking about a man who might have crashed and burned in some early 70s jam band, but kept the fire burning with Montage, Stories and the Beckies (okay, Stories had a crappy lead singer and the Beckies were colorless). To think that this genius, who has left this incredible body of work and inspired the likes of Richard X. Heyman, should have been expected to save New Orleans from Hurricane Katrinia is to expect way too much of our musical artists -- however talented. I can only hope when Mr. Brown (born Michael Lookovsky) gets all this disaster relief business out of his system, he'll give us another album of immortal melodies.
posted by Faze at 11:01 AM on November 25, 2005

Brown said officials need to "take inventory" of what's going on in a disaster to be able to answer questions to avoid appearing unaware of how serious a situation is.

Doesn't even really need a comment, does it?
posted by tristeza at 11:09 AM on November 25, 2005

Proof of the value of fame and that when it comes to marketing, fame and infamy are the same thing. All you need to do is attract attention or be well-known. Doesn't matter much why.
posted by scheptech at 11:34 AM on November 25, 2005

Michael Brown starts Disaster Planning Firm

Michael Brown planning Firm, starts Disaster.
posted by CynicalKnight at 11:42 AM on November 25, 2005

Just saw this:

'Can I quit now?' FEMA chief wrote as Katrina raged
posted by null terminated at 11:58 AM on November 25, 2005

"Hurricane Katrina showed how bad disasters can be"

Beforehand we thought disasters were like, just a pain in the butt. Now we know they can be really bad!
posted by Optimus Chyme at 12:00 PM on November 25, 2005

pyramid termite: isn't this a bit like george w bush running a government? ... oh, wait ...

Whatever do you mean, pt? Surely, Bush has excelled all former presidents in any number of ways.

Take this one, for example:

President George W. Bush and the current administration have now borrowed more money from foreign governments and banks than the previous 42 U.S. presidents combined.

Throughout the first 224 years (1776-2000) of our nation’s history, 42 U.S. presidents borrowed a combined $1.01 trillion from foreign governments and financial institutions according to the U.S. Treasury Department. In the past four years alone (2001-2005), the Bush Administration has borrowed a staggering $1.05 trillion.

I'm sure I'm just being naive, but I'd really like to see something akin to conservatism in our White House.
posted by darkstar at 1:09 PM on November 25, 2005

1. Start disaster planning firm
2. ...
C. Profit!
posted by hal9k at 1:31 PM on November 25, 2005

Isn't this a bit like OJ Simpson opening a marital-counseling clinic?
posted by clevershark

isn't this a bit like george w bush running a government? ... oh, wait ...
posted by pyramid termite

Isn't this a bit like putting Fredo in charge of the Corleone family?

It's like if Cheif Wiggam opened a P.I. firm.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:12 PM on November 25, 2005

I'm sure I'm just being naive, but I'd really like to see something akin to conservatism in our White House.
posted by darkstar at 1:09 PM PST on November 25 [!]


Seconded.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:12 PM on November 25, 2005

You'd have to be extremely dedicated to sending messages to the right people in order to hire him...

(and have a complete disregard fro the safety of the public in the event of an emergency, naturally).
posted by Artw at 2:55 PM on November 25, 2005

Those who can't do - teach.

This is the tragedy not only of "Heck-of-a-job Brownie" but also of so many "consultants" especially the management variety.
posted by caddis at 3:09 PM on November 25, 2005

I'm sure I'm just being naive, but I'd really like to see something akin to conservatism in our White House.

They're pretty much Republican, therefore they're pretty much conservative. If this equation worked in the past, I don't see why it shouldn't work now..maybe because...mhh..because it's inconvenient with such a horrific government ?

Maybe some of these librulz were right after all that all that glitters ain't gold.
posted by elpapacito at 8:23 AM on November 26, 2005

OMFG.

However, the title says it all. He is actually perfect for the role of:

...... disaster ....... planning .....

Now, if it would have been disaster preparedness, or disaster avoidance, or disaster competency... well, that's another story entirely.
posted by jkaczor at 8:46 AM on November 26, 2005

I know nothing at all about disaster recovery. Think he'd hire me at, say, $250,000 per year? I could use the paycheck, and I seem to be qualified.
posted by Daddio at 10:17 AM on November 26, 2005

Suggested motto: "don't let me happen to you."
posted by adamrice at 4:50 PM on November 26, 2005