FEMA Culpa

After calling a press conference to discuss the government's response to the wildfires where their own staff played reporters, FEMA has now apologized for their awesome stupidity.

"We can and must do better, and apologize for this error in judgment," FEMA deputy administrator Harvey Johnson, who conducted the briefing, said in a statement. "Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received."

No actual reporter attended the news conference in person, agency spokesman Aaron Walker said.

A spokeswoman for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who has authority over FEMA, called the incident "inexcusable and offensive to the secretary."

So offensive, in fact, that they're considering reprimanding those responsible. OMFG. You know you've fucked up when someone in the Bush administration suggests you might possibly maybe perhaps be held accountable for something. Shit!

I totally love this bit at the end of the Reuters article, for people just emerging from comas or wev: "FEMA's administrator during Katrina, Michael Brown, resigned amid widespread criticism over his handling of the disaster, despite U.S. President George W. Bush's initial declaration that he was doing a 'heck of a job.' E-mails between Brown and his colleagues over the course of the storm revealed a preoccupation with his media image, including his declaration, 'I am a fashion god'."

Those were the days!

[Thanks to my girlfriend Miller for the heads-up.]