WAS FEMA DIRECTOR QUALIFIED FOR POSITION WHEN HE WAS HIRED AS DEPUTY?

More proof of political and personal connections having a screwy effect on the rest of us:

Michael D. Brown had been working for 11 years as commissioner of judges and stewards for the International Arabian Horse Association, a breeders and horse show organization based in Aurora, CO.

A spokeswoman for IAHA who spoke with the Boston Herald for a story that ran today described the organization this way:

"We do disciplinary actions, certification of (show trial) judges. We hold classes to train people to become judges and stewards. And we keep records.'' She said about Brown: "This was his full-time job . . . for 11 years.'' The firing came after a series of lawsuits over alleged supervision failures.

Out of work, the former estates and family attorney who was also a Republican activist got a call from an old college roommate. That roomie was then-Federal Emergency Management Agency director Joseph M. Allbaugh, who asked Brown to come on board as his deputy.

Brown spent two years in FEMA's number two position, until his buddy Allbaugh left to work on President Bush's reelection campaign. He had no signinficant experience that would have qualified him for the position before coming to FEMA, just his reputation as a GOP go-boy and his college friend.

His agency has already come under enormous fire for their lack of management after last year's hurricanes here in Florida. And NOW!?!? In the aftermath of Katrina?

It's enough to make you cry. Now you see why he'll be the fall guy when this is all over? Give him six more months at the helm, and Brown will be fired or asked to resign.