There has been enough second-guessing recriminations surrounding the post-hurricane relief effort on the Gulf Coast to last a lifetime.

Still, the spate of stories suggesting that the Federal Emergency Management Administration was unready for the disaster and managed by ill-prepared political appointees must be taken cautiously.

The overall evidence suggests that the federal government — and here, the buck stops on the president's desk — was a step short and a step late.

That message seems to finally be getting through. Look no further than the decision by Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff to relieve FEMA director Michael Brown of his direct disaster relief command in the Gulf, with his responsibilities there taken over by Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen.

Chertoff, too, should own up to his share of the failure, with FEMA now under the massive Homeland Security umbrella.

After being sent back to Washington, Brown resigned yesterday.

Before his departure, critics made it clear that Brown was not qualified for his post, and that he was purely a political pick.

FEMA has always been a place for political patronage. That's inevitable. Administrations come and go and so do FEMA directors and other top officers.

But within that system, it's imperative that posts as important as these go to people with the background and qualifications to do this enormously difficult and stressful job.

The Los Angeles Times reports that as many as five top FEMA administrators were moved into position without obvious qualification for the job. This is not the Times' opinion, it's the conclusion of a union representing FEMA managers that warned Congress more than a year ago that FEMA was being run by people with little knowledge or experience in disaster management.

It's naive to expect patronage and politics to disappear from the higher reaches of the federal government. And, to be fair, patronage is in many ways a factor of wanting people in position one knows and trusts.

Still, there are exceptions. Surely, there are enough Republicans out there who understand disaster preparedness and relief, and are quick on their feet.

FEMA's response can indeed mean the difference between life and death. And directing such a crucial agency demands a high level of experience and technical expertise.

Clearly those qualifications must come before politics and patronage.