Day: September 9, 2005

In place of the daily news about refugees, Katrina victims, body bags, and deadly water, Gateway Pundit has a roundup on the positive side of things.

Just now from CNN: Ophelia regains hurricane strength and could make landfall in South Carolina on Monday or Tuesday, says National Hurricane Center.

“Typically, those with talent, charisma, and luck work behind the scenes to bring a man’s vision to light.”

Trauma over CEO Barbie.
(Relax, it’s the Onion – ed.)

I like Tom, but he shouldn’t have said this.

This morning, U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s visit to Reliant Park offered him a glimpse of what it’s like to be living in a shelter.

While on the tour with top administration officials from Washington, including U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and U.S. Treasury Secretary John W. Snow, DeLay stopped to chat with three young boys resting on cots.

The congressman likened their stay to being at camp and asked, “Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?”

They nodded yes, but looked perplexed.

It’s comments like these that really highlight the differences between those who live within the Beltway and those who do not. Let’s face it, DeLay is out of touch on this. It’s fine that he showed up for the tour, but he should have kept his mouth shut. Now, the story is about him and not about the relief effort, or the condition of the evacuees.

Pity.

FEMA director Michael Brown is being sent back to Washington; Homeland Security Director Chertoff will announce a new leader for on-the-ground Katrina relief efforts, senior administration official tells CNN.

MORE: Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen will replace Brown as the on-site head of hurricane relief operations in the Gulf Coast.

STILL MORE: Asked if he was being made a scapegoat for a federal relief effort that has drawn widespread and sharp criticism, Brown told The Associated Press after a long pause: “By the press, yes. By the president, No.”

“Michael Brown has done everything he possibly could to coordinate the federal response to this unprecedented challenge,” Chertoff told reporters in Baton Rouge, La. Chertoff sidestepped a question on whether the move was the first step toward Brown’s leaving FEMA.

But a source close to Brown, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the FEMA director had been considering leaving after the hurricane season ended in November and that Friday’s action virtually assures his departure.

EVEN MORE: Brown doesn’t know why he was pulled. ABCNews says he’ll be out as FEMA head, very soon

Others: Malkin | Brown Replacement Familiar With Challenges |