FEMA Katrina Funeral Contractor Desecrated Corpses

Scoop ^ | September 15, 2005 | Jason Leopold

[Capn TrVth]

Of course this is all Bush's fault.

[sinkspur]

Cronyism.

Oh. Cronyism because Blanco hired them?

Sorry, Dan. You can't hang this around Bush's neck.

[PAR35]

"Scoop is a “fiercely independent” press release driven Internet news agency "

http://www.scoop.co.nz/about/

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Oh. Cronyism because Blanco hired them?

First things first.

Who brought Kenyon in, Blanco or FEMA?

[sinkspur]

Who brought Kenyon in, Blanco or FEMA?

Find any other company that does what Kenyon does. It was the first company called in to do corpse retrieval after the Indian Ocean tsunami.

You guys are so funny. I suspect if you researched Clinton's FEMA, you would find that Kenyon might have been involved at Oklahoma City, just as Clinton used Halliburton for reconstruction.

You need to face facts. There are companies that excel at what they do. Accusing the government of "cronyism" because they are used is ignorant.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

You need to face facts. There are companies that excel at what they do. Accusing the government of "cronyism" because they are used is ignorant.

Who brought Kenyon in, Blanco or FEMA?

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

You guys are so funny. I suspect if you researched Clinton's FEMA, you would find that Kenyon might have been involved at Oklahoma City, just as Clinton used Halliburton for reconstruction.

Let's look instead at Bush's FEMA.

Who was Bush's first FEMA director?

[sinkspur]

Nah. You refuse to look at context. Your mind is made up that somehow Bush is rewarding his buddies here, even though Louisiana is paying Kenyon, and even though Kenyon has been involved in every major disaster recovery in the world in the last ten years.

See ya.

[Wristpin]

"You need to face facts. There are companies that excel at what they do. Accusing the government of "cronyism" because they are used is ignorant."


That's not important to the libs. All they care about is that the contract was openly bid, regardless of whatever emergency is occurring.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Nah. You refuse to look at context. Your mind is made up that somehow Bush is rewarding his buddies here, even though Louisiana is paying Kenyon, and even though Kenyon has been involved in every major disaster recovery in the world in the last ten years.

In your first reply to me on this thread, you said that Blanco contracted for Kenyon to perform the recovery. While Louisiana was the one who ulimately signed the contract, it was only because FEMA was refusing to sign a contract with Kenyon. But it was FEMA who called in Kenyon. As you know, Kenyon is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SCI.

And who runs SCI? Robert Waltrip, long-time Bush family friend, whose PAC donated $45,000 to GW Bush's 1994 gubernatorial campaign and $100,000 to GHW Bush's presidential library.

This in spite of the fact that the feds have used Kenyon for every major recovery effort dating back to the Oklahoma City bombing. And yet, FEMA was dragging it's feet signing a contract with Kenyon.

Some on this thread have speculated that it's because the feds were checking Kenyon out. This could not have been the reason as the feds were intimately familiar with Kenyon. As you wrote, the feds have been working with Kenyon for many years, yet no contract. Strange, no?

Bush's first FEMA director was Joe Allbaugh. Allbaugh had previously worked for Bush as his his chief of staff while he was governor. Allbaugh left FEMA to become a lobbyist representing, among other clients, Halliburton. (See: Former FEMA head and Halliburton lobbyist visits Louisiana for deals)

But Allbaugh contends he wasn't down in Louisiana seeking contracts. He was in Louisiana to 'coordinate private sector support'. 'But that's not the same thing as asking for government contracts for clients', he says.

Ri-ight... And the meaning of the word, 'is', is?

[sinkspur]

I see. So, it would be just dandy with you if FEMA (who did not sign the contract) or the State of Louisiana just let the bodies rot in the sun while bids were put out to avoid anybody who has any relationship whatsoever with the Bush administration getting a single source contract.

OK. If that's what you want.

[been_lurking]

In your perfect little world, the only companies that would be authorized to sign Federal government contracts would be....?

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I see. So, it would be just dandy with you if FEMA (who did not sign the contract) or the State of Louisiana just let the bodies rot in the sun while bids were put out to avoid anybody who has any relationship whatsoever with the Bush administration getting a single source contract.

On the other hand, the NFDA would've done for free what Bush-cronies are doing for the money. (See: FEMA mortuary move irritates volunteer)

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

In your perfect little world, the only companies that would be authorized to sign Federal government contracts would be....?

Honest and not run by cronies of policitians or bureaucrats.

What is your criteria for companies contracting with the federal government?

[sinkspur]

On the other hand, the NFDA would've done for free what Bush-cronies are doing for the money.

Are you kidding? I'm rolling on the floor, laughing out loud!

I worked in the funeral industry. You actually think your local overweight undertaker, who is accustomed to dealing with intact bodies, with an occasional gunshot wound, or drowning, thrown in, is capable of rolling into New Orleans and dealing with that dangerous environment?

Kenyon International exists for a reason. They know what they're doing since they've handled mass casualties many, many times. LeRoy from Heavenly Angels Funeral Chapel wouldn't have the first clue about dealing with unrecognizable cadavers, unbelieveable stench, and maggots crawling out of every orifice, day in and day out.

Your hometown mortician is good at what he does, and Kenyon is good at what it does. And they're worth every penny of what each makes.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Your hometown mortician is good at what he does, and Kenyon is good at what it does. And they're worth every penny of what each makes.

If Kenyon is so good, why was FEMA dragging it's feet to sign a contract?

[sinkspur]

Who knows? The Kenyon guy on the ground said FEMA could not guarantee his people "safety."

But, that's now moot, as Louisiana has signed the contract (for which they will be reimbursed by FEMA anyway).

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I worked in the funeral industry. You actually think your local overweight undertaker, who is accustomed to dealing with intact bodies, with an occasional gunshot wound, or drowning, thrown in, is capable of rolling into New Orleans and dealing with that dangerous environment?

Maybe, maybe not. From the article I linked:

"Kenyon asked us to share the names and phone numbers of NFDA members and funeral directors who are interested in a paid three-week employment situation," the NFDA told its members. "If you have already volunteered with NFDA, we'd like to let you know about this paid option to help."

So, even though LeRoy hasn't a clue, Kenyon still wanted to pay them to do exactly what you said they were incapable of doing. Strange, no?

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

But, that's now moot, as Louisiana has signed the contract (for which they will be reimbursed by FEMA anyway).

You don't know why they were brought in without a contract, but you know it's not cronyism.

[sinkspur]

So, even though LeRoy hasn't a clue, Kenyon still wanted to pay them to do exactly what you said they were incapable of doing. Strange, no?

Depends on what the local guys would be doing.

In any case, Kenyon's strength is logistics: organizing the effort and coordinating identification. IOW, overall management of the recovery.