A simple question

Forget all the spin all the talk. Forget the litany of stories of how bad things were and are in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Forget about who declared what when even though it's clear the attack dogs of the right are lying about it. Just ask one question to those in chrage - "Why couldn't you get water to dying people?" Related questions would be "Why did babies die, and they did, because FEMA couldn't get a bottle of water to them?" Mind you, these were babies held in the arms of their mothers who were being interviewed by t.v. reporters, with camera and sound crews, a producer and a few armed escorts, who got to them. So if Gerald Rivera can get to them or Duke students can get to them or Oprah or Sean Penn can get to them how can FEMA cannot?

It's a simple question. Why can't you get bottles of water to dying people at the Superdome or Convention Center? Media and rescue helicopters were throwing bottled water down to roof survivors. How come the mighty U.S. government can't? Oh, maybe it's Mayor Ray Nagin's fault since he lords over a fleet of helicopters. Or maybe it's Gov. Blanco's fault since see has control over the 6th Fleet and search and rescue air wings. Water. Simple question. Water.

Not when a disaster area was declared or when an evacuation was ordered. Water. Why can't you get water to dying babies? And they did die from lack of water.

Michael "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" Brown is the head of FEMA and on their website brags, "Under Secretary Brown has led Homeland Security’s response to more than 164 presidentially declared disasters and emergencies, including the 2003 Columbia Shuttle disaster and the California wildfires in 2003. In 2004, Mr. Brown led FEMA’s thousands of dedicated disaster workers during the most active hurricane season in over 100 years, as FEMA delivered aid more quickly and more efficiently than ever before." All that experience but he can't get water to dying babies.

Michael Chertoff, the Director of Homeland Security, who along with Brownie only seems to want to secure his next job rather than secure food and water to dying toddlers was also breathtaking in his calm explanation of baby murder due to lack of water. He along with Brownie are playing the "no one thought," "no one could have imagined," "we just found out about those people today" cards and unfortunately some people are buying. Maybe someone should ask him if he could imagine toddlers and infants dying because they couldn't get water to hurricane victims in an American city?

Water to babies. They couldn't do it. Brownie told Ted Kopple about the people at the convention center who had no food or water, "My heart goes out to those people." As Jon Stewart so brilliantly commented, "Can they drink your heart? Can they eat it?" I would add, "do you have a heart?"

Water. A simple question.

Oh, and by the way, FEMA's website also proudly proclaims that Brownie is in charge and directs the Nuclear Incident Response Team. Sleep well tonight.

BONUS POSTING: Andy Borowitz gets the Curmudgeon to crack a brief smile. Read how it happened here.

BONUS SIMPLE QUESTIONS: If Brownie hadn't known someone, would this graduate of a non-accredited law school, former Arabian horse commissioner for stewards and judges have been named general counsel of FEMA? Except for knowing someone should a FEMA chief be selected without disaster relief and management experience? Do you W lovers really believe that FEMA chiefs should be selected because of who they know or what they know? Are there any standards left or is it all just about good connections, good hearts but no brains?