Asses From Elbows

Brown Discounted Levee Breach
By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer
Wed May 10, 4:14 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Hours after Hurricane Katrina hit, former FEMA director Michael Brown dismissed reports that floodwaters had breached New Orleans' levees, and he obsessed over media coverage of his agency, according to newly released e-mails.

Brown's own schedule was booked with media interviews in the days immediately before and after the storm. At 6:21 a.m. the day Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, Brown was prepping for an interview and e-mailing with his then-deputy, Patrick Rhode.

"Yea, sitting in the chair, putting mousse in my hair," Brown e-mailed Rhode.

"Me too!" Rhode replied.

Some e-mails also offered a window into the power struggle between FEMA and the homeland Security Department, its parent agency, as to who was in charge.

On Sept. 4, press aide Sharon Worthy wrote to Brown, referring to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, "CBS radio on Sec. Chertoff ... saying federal government in charge of New Orleans. Does mean he is or is it you?"

Brown did not reply.

"I am tired, no, angered by charges of racism. You know that neither me nor anyone associated with me is a racist. Grrrr," Brown wrote in a Sept. 7 e-mail to Worthy, before adding lightheartedly, "How was that Sonic burger?"

Annie's not calling either one of you cupcakes, racists. Nope. Not that. But, ohmygod. We'll give you some free advice. Nature's design of the anal sphincter is for maximum exertional output pressure. Output. That's output. Roger that? Get it? Got it? Good.
















A bureaucrat woke up one day with nothin' much to do
He tried to put his street clothes on but couldn't find his shoe
The night before he tied one on now cobwebs filled his head
By afternoon he called in sick and then went back to bed
Yippee Yi Yo Yippee Yahweh
Vengeance is on the way
it's time we hang'um hang'um hang'um
Till their toes are danglin'
Hang 'em high.
---- Karl Clang - "Hang 'Em High"