Heckuva Job

From CNN, via the estimable Josh Marshal, NewDonkey, and myriad others:

BROWN TO START EMERGENCY PLANNING CONSULTANCY BUSINESS

Thursday, November 24, 2005; Posted: 9:01 p.m. EST (02:01 GMT)

DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- Former FEMA Director Michael Brown, heavily criticized for his agency's slow response to Hurricane Katrina, is starting a disaster preparedness consulting firm to help clients avoid the sort of errors that cost him his job.

"If I can help people focus on preparedness, how to be better prepared in their homes and better prepared in their businesses -- because that goes straight to the bottom line -- then I hope I can help the country in some way," Brown told the Rocky Mountain News for its Thursday editions.

What is not entirely clear in this report is that the "Disasters" to be managed and prepared are not natural catastrophes, as one is supposed to think, but people: disasters like Mr. Brown himself who have been put in charge of something important, for which they are congenitally determined to fuck up.

Contrary to popular opinion, I believe that Mr Brown is emanently qualified for this position - but that in itself ought to disqualify him. Of far worse implication for his prospects, however, must surely be the implicit denial of his target customer? The last thing any of them could do is admit that they are what they are.