Turn that Frown Upside-Down. Mr. Brown has left Clowntown.

AP:

[FEMA Director Michael] Brown will be replaced by Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad w. Allen, who was overseeing New Orleans relief and rescue efforts.

Brown has been under fire because of the administration's slow response to the magnitude of the hurricane. On Thursday, questions were raised about whether he padded his resume to highlight his previous emergency management background.

Less than an hour before Brown's removal came to light, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Brown had not resigned and the president had not asked for his resignation.

Two questions:

How does a government official pad his resume? If the FBI can have mile-high files on millions of non-threatening people, how can the government not check the references of a candidate for a high-level executive position? (Oh, right. Cronyism.)

The second, more important question: Brown needs to be fired. Bush should fire him. No one in this country would blame Bush if he fires Brown. So why not? This administration is so afraid to admit defeat that they stubbornly stick to their ridiculous guns. You made a mistake hiring Brown, Mr. President. Fire his ass. I'll applaud you, for once, for doing the right thing, for once.