During his first all-hands meeting with agency personnel, acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Richardson issued a striking warning: “Don’t get in my way,” the former United States Marine Corps ground combat officer told staff, according to a recording of the speech obtained by CBS News.

“Obfuscation, delay, undermining,” Richardson continued, referencing tactics he believed a fraction of FEMA staff might try to subvert his agenda. “If you’re one of those 20% of the people and you think those tactics and techniques are going to help you, they will not, because I will run right over you. I will achieve the president’s intent.”

Richardson’s formal title is Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator. He was named to the role Thursday and has not been formally nominated nor confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

  • opus86@lemmy.today
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    4 hours ago

    “I will achieve the president’s intent.” How does anyone know what that is? He swings wildly on issue to issue on a daily basis.

  • Zink@programming.dev
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    6 hours ago

    Seeing that face and the quote “Don’t get in my way… I will run right over you” I literally checked to make sure it wasn’t the onion before browsing the comments.

    • Etterra@discuss.online
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      6 hours ago

      Because they don’t care about helping people and never have. They only care about themselves.

  • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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    13 hours ago

    “Don’t get in my way” works when you’re actually doing something yourself. But this guy isn’t going to do shit, he’s an acting manager. If people get out of his way and do nothing, he’s going to accomplish nothing. The order he’s looking for is “do what I say”.

    “I, and I alone in FEMA, speak for FEMA,” Richardson said.

    Ok, you’re going to be doing the press briefings and writing the releases then? Go for it big man.

    “…I took my Marines to Iraq, eleven of them”

    Oooooh, ELEVEN whole marines! Wow, what a prestigious career in leadership.

    “We’re going to find out how to push things down to the states,” the acting leader later added. “That should be done at the state level. Also going to find out how we can do more cost sharing with the states.”

    I assume this is the royal “we”, as your only instruction is to not get in your way.

    Read the whole article, there’re more dumb statements. This guy is a big old clown. I’m sure many people there care deeply about their jobs, either for the mission or for maintaining a steady paycheck, but like the petulant doge pups, I think I’d just openly mock a boss who acted like that.

    • Zenith@lemm.ee
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      11 hours ago

      So the red states are about to see they were the welfare queens all along…

      • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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        7 hours ago

        trump already denied aid to some of the red states that were hit by tornado, ms huckabee did plea for aid.

  • ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    “I don’t stop at yield signs,” he continued.

    I haven’t heard this expression before. I understand that he’s trying to project the whole ‘alpha male’ things through that phrase. But that’s a fucking stupid expression. Yield signs are there for everyone’s safety, including your own. Not yielding at them, either literally or figuratively, is the sign of a dunce.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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      2 hours ago

      Yeah, he’s trying to project power in attempt to make people comply before they’re forced to. Hopefully it fails. If it were me, I’d be more likely to fight back after he says something like this.

    • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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      14 hours ago

      Also, many times you’re not supposed to stop at yield signs. I assume he means “ever, including when someone else is in the roadway”, but it’s just a muddled statement.

  • theprogressivist @lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    I can’t stop laughing at this dude’s overcompensation. Your tough guy shtick is actually hilarious, and I would laugh in your face if I could.

    • Jesus@lemmy.world
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      13 hours ago

      Someone should question why he drinks tea, and not black coffee, like a real merican

      • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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        3 hours ago

        black coffee with no, sugar, or sweetener or creamer that is. caffiene might be too much for this old fart: high blood pressure, or high heart beat rate.

  • CubitOom@infosec.pub
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    15 hours ago

    Translation, workers should get in his way as much as possible.

    He needs staff to do their jobs so he can accomplish his agenda. He can not do that if faced with disobedience. It’s not like he is capable of doing any staff members jobs.

    • SinningStromgald@lemmy.world
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      13 hours ago

      Firing them and shutting down FEMA is his and Trumps goal. One way or another a majority, if not all, will loose their jobs.

      • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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        2 hours ago

        Honestly, I don’t think so. FEMA has some powers that would be useful to a fascist if they butcher the wording and intent. I would suspect that’s the goal, not removing it.

  • xyzzy@lemm.ee
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    15 hours ago

    I mean, the stated intent is to eliminate the agency. So why would anyone there assist you in eliminating their jobs?