Yesterday on CNN, there was a press conference with Michael Chertoff, Gen. Honore and embattled FEMA director Mike Brown. This exchange took place:

PHILLIPS: ....we got to take you straight to a live news conference with the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff. Let's listen in.

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECY.: ....That's my update. We'll take a few questions. If you've got questions for me or for the general or for Mike Brown, please just tell us who you want to direct your questions to.

....QUESTION: There's been a lot of questions about Mr. Brown's background. Can you tell us a little bit about any disaster experience you've had or what qualifications you have to be (INAUDIBLE)

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: Sure. Started out as general counsel at FEMA, ran operations at headquarters through 9/11, and since then, 164 presidential disaster declarations, including the California wildfires, the historic outbreak of tornadoes in the Midwest a couple of years ago and last year's historic four hurricanes that struck Florida. So yes, I've been through a few disasters in my life.

[Source, Lexis.com, CNN, 9/5/05 1pm]

Update: Brown was the subject of much discussion at today's White House press briefing with Scott McClellan. Things didn't go too well for McClellan.

Via Bob Casey's (PA) Senate campaign:

When asked about the Hurricane Katrina disaster this weekend on Pittsburgh's ABC affiliate WTAE-TV, Rick Santorum said, "...you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving." Click here to see the video.

by TChris

Mark Levin gripes about the Supreme Court in this Newsweek interview. He argues that the Supreme Court is the “most powerful” branch of government and that its power is “unchecked.” In fact, the Supreme Court has the final word only when it interprets the Constitution. If the Court interprets or applies a statute in a way that Congress doesn’t like, Congress can (and frequently does) change the statute, effectively nullifying those Court decisions.

While complaning that the Court has usurped power from the states and from the federal legislature, Levin cites Justices Scalia and Thomas as his current heroes. It’s interesting that he didn’t mention Rehnquist, who led the mini-revolution in Commerce Clause jurisprudence, invalidating two pieces of federal legislation. Scalia and Thomas helped Rehnquist form the majority in those cases, but Levin fails to explain why he holds his heroes blameless for their own role in a supposed usurpation of federal legislative power.

by TChris

Posting sex offender registries on the web provides a doubtful benefit to communities. Individuals who want to reoffend often move without registering, while those who seek to obey the rules risk becoming the targets of vigilantes.

Michael Mullen has confessed to killing two sex offenders in Washington.

"Mullen also said that he had planned the murders for some time and that on July 13, 2005, he had accessed the Whatcom County Sheriff's sex offender Web site, and from that selected at least one of the two victims," the release said.

As is typical throughout the state, the Web site includes the residences of sex offenders who are required to register with local authorities.

Publicizing conduct for which punishment has been imposed and completed hampers rehabilitation. It also encourages harassment and violence, as this case illustrates.

The AP reports that President Bush, like Jesse Jackson, opposes the term "refugees" in referring to Katrina victims.

The president tells reporters, "The people we're talking about are not refugees, they are Americans." And he adds, "They need the help and love and compassion of our fellow citizens."

His words appear to put him on the same side as the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who has declared it's "racist" to call U.S. citizens refugees. Jackson and other black leaders say the word has a criminal connotation -- and prefer the more neutral term "evacuees."

[Hat tip Patriot Daily]

Howard Dean speaks here.

Based on today’s reports, it seems clear that President Bush’s visit today is just another callous political move crafted by Karl Rove. It’s just appalling to see how quickly President Bush and Karl Rove have mobilized a political strategy in their own defense, but simply failed to mobilize a swift response to either keep the people in the Gulf Coast region safe in the first place or aid the victims in the aftermath of the storm.

by TChris

Authorities in New Orleans have created a temporary facility (chain link pens topped with razor wire) to hold recently arrested individuals. One might expect law enforcement officers to have a sense of priority in the wake of the disaster, but they’re arresting people for disturbing the peace (what peace?) and for possessing small amounts of drugs. This arrest is beyond stupid:

One man had mooned a state police car on patrol.

From Think Progress: If you think Mike Brown isn't qualified, look down the organizational chart. The #2 at FEMA is an advance guy. The #3 is a campaign press flak who used to work at Maverick Media. Neither had any emergency management experience.

From the Wall St. Journal, (subscription as of now):

From a Statement by Sen. Minority Leader Harry Reid (received by e-mail.)

“The federal government has an enormous responsibility to provide relief to the survivors of this storm. We can and must do better than the federal government’s performance so far. Through my conversations with officials on the ground and in consultation with Senator Mary Landrieu, I believe that the recovery and relief operations will cost up to and could exceed $150 billion. FEMA alone will likely require $100 billion in additional funding.

“I want to make clear to the people of the Gulf States that we will continue to stand with you as the recovery continues, and do everything we can to get you the necessary resources you need to rebuild.”

The Judiciary Committee has delayed the confirmation hearing of Judge John Roberts until next Monday. Chair Arlen Specter says he expects the hearing to take no more than one week, which would put Roberts on the Court for the beginning of the October 3 session.

by TChris

If anyone deserves to be fired (other than the president), it’s Michael Brown, who has no clue how to respond to disasters, despite his position as the head of FEMA. As TalkLeft reported, the Times-Picayune asked the president to fire Brown immediately.

Not gonna happen. The question now is whether the president will follow the precedent he set with the incompetent George Tenet by awarding Brown the presidential medal of freedom.