Who remembers Brownie, the completely unqualified political appointee, whom Nincompoop Nero, aka Crawford Caligula, praised with “heck of a job” as New Orleans drowned? It is possible, however unlikely, that Brownie might have done a better job, had he not been deprived of needed information about conditions there. With that in mind, thanks to the only Resident worse than GW ChickenHawk in US history, another heck of a job may be just around the corner.
President Donald Trump officially announced Thursday the nomination of Kirstjen Nielsen, John Kelly’s former principal deputy chief of staff, to be the new nominee for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
At a formal White House event to announce the nomination, Trump spoke highly of Nielsen and her “sterling reputation as a dedicated leader whose number one priority was the security of our citizens, not politics or ideology.”
Trump added: “That sets her apart.”
After Trump’s remarks, Nielsen said it was a privilege to have worked at the White House and DHS, and she implied that she shares the administration’s priorities when it comes to national security.
“I share the President’s commitment to the security of the county and the safety of the American people,” she said. “Truly, there is nothing more valuable than to feel safe in your own country.”…
Inserted from <CNN>
That may see, innocuous enough on the surface, but there’s a lot more to this story.
On Aug 27, 2005, two days before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, officials at the American Red Cross wrote to a top homeland security adviser at the White House, warning that the storm was likely to slam New Orleans as a major hurricane.
The message was sent to Kirstjen Nielsen, whose title was special assistant to the president for prevention, preparedness and response. She was 33 years old.
It was the first of many alarming emails Nielsen would receive over the following days as water poured into New Orleans and the city was deluged. And in the storm of blame that followed the costliest natural disaster in American history, Nielsen’s team was widely criticized for its passive and clumsy response.
Twelve years later, President Trump has nominated Nielsen to the top job at the Department of Homeland Security. As DHS secretary, she would be in charge of a 240,000-employee agency with a $40 billion budget whose many responsibilities include managing disasters such as Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Washington Post>
Rachel Maddow explains in detail how Nielsen sat on the information, neither responding to it, nor passing it on to someone who could.
If Senate Republicans confirm Nielsen, God help the families of all the dead when her Republican response to the next disaster is incompetent to meet the need.
RESIST THE REPUBLICAN REICH!!
15 Responses to “Another Heck of a Job”
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The USA is officially ****ed if that knot-head Nielsen is approved. OK, where are the petitions – or must I make one?
Gawd…..how awful !!! We’re screwed.
If nominated, she should get her A – – down to post- apocalyptic Puerto Rico to help them!!!
The Post article is very revealing. And here’s a Daily Kos “diary” from someone who was there and, needless to say, hasn’t forgotten.
(Freya, I’m not sure there’s a petition on Kos, but this article might be a place to look.)
Excellent article.
Thanks. “Crashing Vor” is quite dependable IMO.
So it would seem!
Somehow I can’t shake the feeling that Drumpf is now trying to find outhow far he can take things and at what point Republicans will stop letting themselves be taunted and stop doing Drumpf’s bidding. Because, and let’s be honest about this, by nominating Kirstjen Nielsen and giving her this send off (“sterling reputation as a dedicated leader”) Drumpf is giving Congress and many Americans the finger. How much longer will they take it?
I would be very surprised if the Senate does not confirm her, as Democrats cannot block it.
I’ve concluded the level of Trumpian administration incompetence doesn’t just happen … they actively work at it!
You can bet your bipee on that! Just look at his cabinetful proof.
Nothing but a bunch of sleaze! Clear the swamp and fill it with snakes!
Thanks all! Tired hugs!
Incompetence seems to know no limits! God (not the right wing nut job God!) bless America because America needs all the good help it can get with this administration!
Affirmative action. No big deal.
Welcome Ed. Affirmative action? That seems most unrealistic. Do you have a rational explanation?