2010: Allbaugh Joins the Medina Dogpile

Former FEMA head Joe Allbaugh jumped into the Medina-9/11 kerfuffle, landing himself squarely with Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the scorn section. Debra Medina said on the radio and in a statement that it's OK for people to question their government — even on the subject of the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Her opponents, Perry and Hutchison, now joined by Allbaugh, were quick to pounce.

This is a math problem nobody thought of until now. With Hutchison's support waning in recent polls, Perry's holding and Medina's gaining, it's in the best interests of both of the oldtimers to jump on the newcomer. Perry's hope is that the people who left Hutchison for Medina will leave Medina for him and get him to that elusive majority he's been chasing for four years. Hutchison, at worst, needs to finish second in the primary — with Perry falling short — to get into a runoff and to stay alive for another six weeks or so after March 2. She needs to reclaim the people who appear to be leaving her for Medina. So everybody's in the dogpile. Allbaugh's statement, in its entirety:

Statement of Joe M. Allbaugh, Former Director of FEMA, on Comments Made Today by Debra Medina

It is not unusual for a politician to revise her position on taxes or spending issues, but on whom is responsible for 9/11, one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the United States?

As head of the lead federal agency in charge of recovery at the site in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, P.A., and who worked shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of courageous first responders and volunteers in government and private life, I believe it is disgusting and shameful that Ms. Medina would suggest that there are legitimate questions yet to be answered on whom is responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

In her revised statement, Ms. Medina is suggesting that she is sensitive to the rights of individuals who question whether or not the U.S. government had a role in masterminding the attack. She says there are legitimate questions that need to be answered.

Ms. Medina – this is nuts!! You owe an apology to this nation, to the families of the victims, and to the memories of those victims. Almost 3,000 people died that day, and they died as a result of the extremist views of Al Qaeda and the mastermind of 9/11, Osama Bin Laden.

Ms. Medina, if you really believe that there are legitimate questions yet to be answered about whether the U.S. government was involved in the 9/11 attacks, in my opinion, you have no business running for Governor of Texas.