[Vision2020] FEMA Director Mike Brown Resigns

[Tbertruss at aol.com]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050912/ap_on_go_ot/katrina_brown

Embattled FEMA Director Mike Brown Resigns 

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer 8 minutes ago 


Federal Emergency Management Agency director Mike Brown said Monday he has 
resigned "in the best interest of the agency and best interest of the 
president," three days after losing his onsite command of the Hurricane Katrina relief 
effort.

"The focus has got to be on FEMA, what the people are trying to do down 
there," Brown told The Associated Press.

His decision was not a surprise. Brown was abruptly recalled to Washington on 
Friday, a clear vote of no confidence from his superiors at the White House 
and the Department of Homeland Security. Brown had been roundly criticized for 
FEMA's bearish response to the hurricane, which has caused political problem 
for Bush and fellow Republicans.

"I'm turning in my resignation today," Brown said. "I think it's in the best 
interest of the agency and the best interest of the president to do that and 
get the media focused on the good things that are going on, instead of me."

Brown, who said he last talked to Bush five or six days ago, said the 
resignation was his idea. He spoke on Saturday to White House chief of staff Andy 
Card, who did not request his departure, according to Brown.

He said he feared he was becoming a distraction to FEMA's relief effort.

"I came to the conclusion that this was in the best interest of not just the 
administration and not just me, but FEMA," he said. "They need to be focused 
on the continuing efforts in the Gulf."

Shortly after Brown was recalled to Washington last week, officials close to 
the FEMA director said he would likely resign. They said that even before 
Katrina, Brown had been planning on leaving the administration late this fall to 
go into the private sector.
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Vision2020 Post by Ted Moffett
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