FEMA Holds a Press Conference with Themselves

[@_@ Artman]

FEMA has press conference with FEMA staff posing at "reporters" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/25/AR2007102502488.html)

Johnson stood behind a lectern and began with an overview before saying he would take a few questions. The first questions were about the "commodities" being shipped to Southern California and how officials are dealing with people who refuse to evacuate. He responded eloquently.

He was apparently quite familiar with the reporters -- in one case, he appears to say "Mike" and points to a reporter -- and was asked an oddly in-house question about "what it means to have an emergency declaration as opposed to a major disaster declaration" signed by the president. He once again explained smoothly.

FEMA press secretary Aaron Walker interrupted at one point to caution he'd allow just "two more questions." Later, he called for a "last question."

"Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?" a reporter asked. Another asked about "lessons learned from Katrina."

"I'm very happy with FEMA's response so far," Johnson said, hailing "a very smoothly, very efficiently performing team."

"And so I think what you're really seeing here is the benefit of experience, the benefit of good leadership and the benefit of good partnership," Johnson said, "none of which were present in Katrina." (Wasn't Michael Chertoff DHS chief then?) Very smooth, very professional. But something didn't seem right. The reporters were lobbing too many softballs. No one asked about trailers with formaldehyde for those made homeless by the fires. And the media seemed to be giving Johnson all day to wax on and on about FEMA's greatness.

Of course, that could be because the questions were asked by FEMA staffers playing reporters. We're told the questions were asked by Cindy Taylor, FEMA's deputy director of external affairs, and by "Mike" Widomski, the deputy director of public affairs. Director of External Affairs John "Pat" Philbin asked a question, and another came, we understand, from someone who sounds like press aide Ali Kirin.

Link to video (http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/26/fema-softball-presser/).

They seem to think their role is not to manage the emergency but to manage public perception of how they manage the emergency. I guess preventing blame is more important than preventing disaster.

[Jubelum]

If they would have just cancelled the press conference altogether, then we'd be hearing *some* people wailing about "lack of information" and "cover up."

Let's hold another press conference with Boxer, Pelosi, and the Lt Gov there to ask some grandstanding questions. Then we can get what we came for! I agree that FEMA should not be answering its own staff after just 15 minutes notice- that misdirection is troubling. This is par for the course for FEMA, and exemplary of why it should be abolished.

This is shameless to a point of hilarity. The scary part is that if it we somehow did get Pelosi and Boxer and the rest of the political capitalists to ask questions, the MSM would carry the water until it all evaporated after the congressional hearings. I am no fan of FEMA, its existence, its performance, and its powers.

FEMA is a joke under any administration... people have this jacked up view that Washington is supposed to show up with suitcases of money and a bunch of badges and "take care of people." I hope FEMA functions in its full, totalitarian perfected state if a Democrat is in the White House... I'll be waiting to see that. :lol:

The political capitalists are in full shameless politicking mode on this one. We've gotten the expected bullshit lines of "Iraq" and "global warming."

[@_@ Artman]

Looks to me like violations of a federal law forbidding federal employees to impersonate journalists.

During the 1970s, a congressional investigation discovered that CIA operatives and FBI domestic agents were going under cover as journalists. That was casting suspicion on and endangering the lives of legitimate journalists. In a major reorganization of intelligence and covert regulations, Congress approved a law forbidding federal employees to impersonate journalists. It's a felony.

I doubt it could be made to apply in this instance because the federal employees asking the questions don't seem to have identified themselves as journalists. But as a lesson to FEMA, some D.C. reporter has got to ask about "possible felonies" committed by FEMA employees during the Southern California fires. Make 'em squirm on the record.

[SDW2001]

I cannot believe this. All persons responsible for putting this together and executing it must be fired and prosecuted immediately.

On another note, I've noticed the Federal, State and Local Love Fest® going on since this whole thing started. All the statements have people going on an making Oscar acceptance-like speeches about all those they want to thank. It's disgusting, and happening at every level. I was clicking through the other day and noticed Geraldo™ talking to some people, then he went down the line introducing everyone (local officials, mostly) as they stood there with big shit-eating grins on their faces. Shut up. It's not about you. If you want to interview a fireman or police chief or national guard person, fine. But I don't give a damn about the Comptroller of blah blah county. "Look honey...look kids! I was on TV!"

[midwinter]

I cannot believe this. All persons responsible for putting this together and executing it must be fired and prosecuted immediately.

I agree.

But I initially read that as "must be fired and executed immediately," and my first thought was "I didn't know SDW was from Texas."

[Frank777]

FEMA continues to excel at disaster management. Nobody creates more and better disasters than they do.

[Jubelum]

FEMA continues to excel at disaster management. Nobody creates more and better disasters than they do.

:lol: Awesome.

[SDW2001]

FEMA continues to excel at disaster management. Nobody creates more and better disasters than they do.

:lol::lol: BEST SLOGAN. EV-AR.

[mydo]

Why did they think they would get away with it?:???: They could have just released a "Q&A" memo that did the same thing.


What they really wanted was the 10 second news clip of them "responding" to "questions".

[mydo]

FEMA continues to excel at disaster management. Nobody creates more and better disasters than they do.

Federal Emergency Manufacturing Association.

[addabox]

If they would have just cancelled the press conference altogether, then we'd be hearing *some* people wailing about "lack of information" and "cover up."

Let's hold another press conference with Boxer, Pelosi, and the Lt Gov there to ask some grandstanding questions. Then we can get what we came for! I agree that FEMA should not be answering its own staff after just 15 minutes notice- that misdirection is troubling. This is par for the course for FEMA, and exemplary of why it should be abolished.

This is shameless to a point of hilarity. The scary part is that if it we somehow did get Pelosi and Boxer and the rest of the political capitalists to ask questions, the MSM would carry the water until it all evaporated after the congressional hearings. I am no fan of FEMA, its existence, its performance, and its powers.

FEMA is a joke under any administration... people have this jacked up view that Washington is supposed to show up with suitcases of money and a bunch of badges and "take care of people." I hope FEMA functions in its full, totalitarian perfected state if a Democrat is in the White House... I'll be waiting to see that. :lol:

The political capitalists are in full shameless politicking mode on this one. We've gotten the expected bullshit lines of "Iraq" and "global warming."

Instead of using every post as a launching point for your obsessive dislike of Democratic politicians and their totalitarian ways, you could just copy and paste something like "commie pinko bastards put fluoride in the water". To save time, I mean. I realize the references are a little dated but they have withstood the test of time and are a good fit with your John Birch Society circa 1963 take on the government.

[Bergermeister]

I cannot believe this.

I didn't want to at first, either: It really does seem to have happened:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071027/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fema_faux_news_conference;_ylt=AudikefxwbheL71DKPH R4m.s0NUE

I'm not sure if just getting rid of the individuals who participated will do the job; the entire gov't culture seems to move in this way.

Why does FEMA just keep screwing up at every chance they are given?

[Aries 1B]

Incredible. End the agency and prosecute all participants of this travesty.

V/R,
Aries 1B

[Northgate]

If they would have just cancelled the press conference altogether, then we'd be hearing *some* people wailing about "lack of information" and "cover up."

Wow. Unbelievable.

[Jubelum]

Wow. Unbelievable.

Strike 2... if you have something to say, spit it out. :p

Do you deny that lack of a press conference would have drawn exactly that response from Mrs. Pelosi? THAT's unbelievable. :)

FEMA screwed the pooch on this one, and per my original post, should be an excellent place to start the discussion that it be abolished.

[midwinter]

I'm curious, Jube. What would you propose, instead? I would say that I assume you'll say "nothing," but that seems a bit overly simplistic, considering that targeted federal funding for emergency management efforts in disaster-prone states might be, you know, useful.

[@_@ Artman]

I'm curious, Jube. What would you propose, instead? I would say that I assume you'll say "nothing," but that seems a bit overly simplistic, considering that targeted federal funding for emergency management efforts in disaster-prone states might be, you know, useful.

It's obvious, he wants private contractors to handle it. You know, like Blackwater. ;)

[midwinter]

That's all well and good, but those private contractors have to be paid, don't they? I have a hard time imagining Oklahoma recovering from the May 3 tornadoes or the MS gulf coast recovering from Katrina without federal assistance.

[trumptman]

FEMA-We just put them in charge of your health care.

Nick

[midwinter]

I thought they were.

[@_@ Artman]

Fake FEMA news conference director gets promotion (http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Fake_FEMA_news_conference_director_gets_1028.html)

CNN reports that John "Pat" Philbin, the Director of Public Affairs responsible for FEMA's recent faked news conference, is effectively receiving a promotion. PRNewser was notified by an email which said that Philbin's new job was an "amazing opportunity to head the communications shop at ODNI."

Philbin is slated to become Director of Public Affairs for the Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell.

:mad:

[Frank777]

Philbin is slated to become Director of Public Affairs for the Director of National Intelligence...

I can see how his skills might be useful in this new position. ;)

[Jubelum]

It's obvious, he wants private contractors to handle it. You know, like Blackwater. ;)

Riiiiiiiiiiiight. :rolleyes: