CBS says FEMA has rehired Brownie as a consultant "to evaluate it's response following Hurricane Katrina." The Times-Picayune says merely that he "is continuing to work at the Federal Emergency Management Agency at full pay, with his Sept. 12 resignation not taking effect for two more weeks."

While there, says, DHS spokesman Russ Knocke, said Brownie will advise the department "some of his views on his experience with Katrina."

Long goodbye or not, aren't pearls of wisdom such as Brown appears to have on offer usually extracted not with paychecks but with subpoenas?