Following up on Brendan’s earlier post on how the NHC director received a reprimand for pointing out that forecasts might not nearly be as accurate as hoped due to the possibly of a satellite failure:
Today, word’s in from the Miami Herald that the NHC was inspected yesterday. In addition, “Meanwhile, for the first time, one of Proenza’s hurricane forecasters expressed public concern about some of Proenza’s actions since he took the job in January.
Lixion Avila, a lead forecaster and a center employee for more than 20 years, said he believes Proenza meant well but unintentionally has undermined public faith in hurricane forecasts.”
Money quote: “Reached Monday night, Proenza confirmed the surprise inspection, but — in a departure from his usual practice — he said little else.” I wonder why?
Asked if he believed his job was threatened by the NOAA inspection team and its mission, Proenza said:
“I await their finding and, hopefully, their support.””
It sounds to me as if Proenza knows his days are numbered.
Among those on the team: John Guenther, an attorney for the U.S. Commerce Department…has considerable experience in personnel matters, according to Commerce Department records.
It may well that an employee filed a personnel grievance. But the real money quote?
What will he say if asked about Proenza’s future?
Avila: ‘My answer to them will be, `You never asked me when you put him in, so don’t ask me if he should be removed.’ ”
They didn’t bother asking their lead forecasters to give input into who they’d like to see as the new boss? *shakes head*
I’ts great to actually hear something from forecaster Avila. After reading his hurricane discussions and forecasts for years, I’ve always been curious about the faces behind the bylines.
This is a silly polical dispute and Proenza is brave (crazy?) not to be a yes man in the Bush machine. Give the NHC what it needs to get the job done and move along.
gahrie, don’t you think its kind of sad that your only defense of Bush doing something wrong is to try and say “hey clinton did something bad too”? Yeah thats what i thought, you HAVE no defense.
David K. You’re missing my point. I don’t think Pres. Bush has done anything wrong, either with the NHC or the prosecutors.
I also don’t think Pres. Clinton did anything wrong when he fired the prosecutors. (although he did when it came to the travel office….historically that office had been non-partisan until the Clintons arrived, and he certainly didn’t need to charge them with corruption as an excuse)
Rather it is your side who insists that Pres. Bush is in the wrong, but excuses Pres. Clinton. That’s the hypocrisy.
I agree with gahrie. Two wrongs mean too many wrongs. If cronyism is such a concern, we should be looking at the next Presidential candidates and whether they ask for blind loyalty. A certain woman comes to mind.
But this is about hurricanes. And this should be on the front page news. I’ve never understood where people were accusing W of loyalty issues until now.
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July 3rd, 2007 at 1:28:38 pm
Here’s a interesting tidbit:
Among those on the team: John Guenther, an attorney for the U.S. Commerce Department…has considerable experience in personnel matters, according to Commerce Department records.
It may well that an employee filed a personnel grievance. But the real money quote?
What will he say if asked about Proenza’s future?
Avila: ‘My answer to them will be, `You never asked me when you put him in, so don’t ask me if he should be removed.’ ”
They didn’t bother asking their lead forecasters to give input into who they’d like to see as the new boss? *shakes head*
July 3rd, 2007 at 2:18:34 pm
I’ts great to actually hear something from forecaster Avila. After reading his hurricane discussions and forecasts for years, I’ve always been curious about the faces behind the bylines.
This is a silly polical dispute and Proenza is brave (crazy?) not to be a yes man in the Bush machine. Give the NHC what it needs to get the job done and move along.
July 3rd, 2007 at 5:43:40 pm
Again, welcome to the United States of Cronyism. Doing your job is not important, being a yes man/fall guy is.
July 3rd, 2007 at 7:53:49 pm
Again, welcome to the United States of Cronyism. Doing your job is not important, being a yes man/fall guy is.
And if you don’t believe David, just ask the White House Travel Office circa 1992 or the 93 prosecutors Pres. Clinton fired……
July 4th, 2007 at 3:43:19 am
gahrie, don’t you think its kind of sad that your only defense of Bush doing something wrong is to try and say “hey clinton did something bad too”? Yeah thats what i thought, you HAVE no defense.
July 4th, 2007 at 4:52:35 am
David K. You’re missing my point. I don’t think Pres. Bush has done anything wrong, either with the NHC or the prosecutors.
I also don’t think Pres. Clinton did anything wrong when he fired the prosecutors. (although he did when it came to the travel office….historically that office had been non-partisan until the Clintons arrived, and he certainly didn’t need to charge them with corruption as an excuse)
Rather it is your side who insists that Pres. Bush is in the wrong, but excuses Pres. Clinton. That’s the hypocrisy.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:15:45 am
I agree with gahrie. Two wrongs mean too many wrongs. If cronyism is such a concern, we should be looking at the next Presidential candidates and whether they ask for blind loyalty. A certain woman comes to mind.
But this is about hurricanes. And this should be on the front page news. I’ve never understood where people were accusing W of loyalty issues until now.