Daily Kos

Pittance

by kos

Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:49:13 AM PDT

So Mr. Magnanimous in Texas has responded to a calamity with up to 100,000 dead by offering a measly $35 million. That is less than Bush will spend on his coronation. It's what the US spends in Iraq roughly every 3-4 hours.

As other nations up their ad packages (including Australia, Japan and the EU), the US will be shamed into offering more. It's inevitable. But our nation's first feeble efforts at generosity, coupled with Bush's utter silence on the matter (until shamed by Clinton into opening up his mouth), will further add to the animosity the world holds against the US.

At a time when we could've shined, and made true on our promise of international generosity and a beacon of optimism and hope, the Bush administration gave us the opposite.

Update: While Bush focuses our tax dollars on war, we can do our part:

IRC Donations
Oxfam
India Relief
CARE
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Permalink | 102 comments

  •  maybe he's just disappointed... (none / 0)

    given that "aid to those affected by the tragedy" has now knocked "helping the US fund its imperialist boondoggle" further down other developed nations' shopping list.

    The president is Lucy, and he's holding a football. We're Charlie Brown. - Bob Herbert

    by djinniya on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:30:19 AM PDT

  •  Proud of humanity (4.00 / 3)

    Minutes ago I posted this in my diary. I think it's relevant, so please forgive me from reposting it here again:

    Here in the Netherlands donation drives for the tsunami relief funds are getting unexpected help from all directions - one town council decided to donate 1 euro per citizen and asks all other cities to do the same (if followed by all towns that would mean over 16 million euro), listeners to a "top-2000 songs" radio show are calling for listeners to donate "2000 euro-cents", a central bank account has been openend backed by just about all major charities to coordinate funds, and, well, I could go on forever, and I'm sure it's the same where you, dear reader, are living. Companies as well: Apple, Google and Amazon changed their home pages to make donations easier.

    In the mean time, lots of folks are posting about "stingy countries". I suggest we stop that now, because, wether it's true or not, I don't care about that any more. What I'm seeing around me is making me proud - people really care, and that gives us all hope for the future. The average Joe, in the end, is a Good Person!

    In the Netherlands, it's a habit to celebrate new year with a lot of firework at midnight. My weblog is among many to call to all Dutch to send the money they planned to spend on fireworks to charity instead. I'm sure there's something similar you can come up with for where you are living.

    The Silver Lining for this disaster is this: despite differences in religion, race, or whatever, when it comes down to it, People Care!

    by DreamerFi on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:32:09 AM PDT

  •  Can We Please Draft (4.00 / 7)

    Bill Clinton to be President of our Shadow Government?

    Please?

    Also, does anyone have an address so that decent Americans can write him and thank him for actually responding with the dignity and leadership we're supposed to embody as a nation?

    I prefer this brand of Socratic inquiry, actually: WTF is wrong with you?

    by lightiris on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:33:10 AM PDT

  •  When I heard Clinton ... (4.00 / 6)

    all I knew was I wanted my president back.

    Sigh.

    by SusanG on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:35:13 AM PDT

  •  American image is bad (none / 0)

    I was listening to the tsunami rescue effort coverage on BBC yesterday and the commentators were being very critical of America for ignoring the UN and launching our own, uncoordinated effort. There was also warnings to the affected countries not to really expect the money pledged to actually be delivered.

    One of the things the UN does right is provide aid, and everyone around the world is taking notice of how the United States seems to think it operates outside of any world body. This may be an interesting test of America's stature in the world. By operating independently of the UN we may find that we lose a lot of credibility for not doing all we can. Could the tsunami disaster hasten in an era of the post-US United Nations as a serious, powerful world governing body?

    Are you shaking or biting the invisible hand?

    by puppethead on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:35:57 AM PDT

    •  Did Africa get Bush's promised $10 B for AIDS? n/t (none / 0)

      -6.63 -5.64

      I am I and you are you, and we are both each other too -- Clair Huffaker

      by xysrl on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:51:30 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Of course not, Bush is a liar n/t (none / 0)

        by MD patriot on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:04:43 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  yes (none / 1)

        But $10 billion for abstinance only aide is worse than nothing.

        The money tied more hands than anything.

        There was one piece of good though...in Angola/Namibia border area the Department of Defense has sent special representatives to assist the local military in testing and education for the those who test positive.  There was a recent report on this on PBS.  The raise in AIDS cases for married servicemen in those security forces are the highest due to their separation form their spouses (or so the report noted).  Those stationed away from their spouses frequented prostitutes.

        In some units, nearly 80% of the servicemembers tested positive for AIDS while in the general population AIDS is less than 10%.  And Namibia, they're working hard to slow the progress and have made progress.  Very interesting story.  

        I've heard there've been other stories and some African journalists and anchormen who've tested positive have "come out" to help those who don't understand the disease.  It's really very inspirational, but still way too scattered.

        The most important word in the language of the working class is `solidarity.'--Harry Bridges, longshore union leader

        by Bendygirl on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:09:47 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  '08? (4.00 / 4)

    Is there any way we can sneak a provision into the "Amendment for Ahnold" that would allow Bubba to run again?  Man, I miss that guy...

    Sobering statistics:
    Current cost of War in Iraq: $147 Billion
    Size of U.S. porn industry, annually: $10 billion
    Coca-Cola's Annual Marketing Budget: $1.9 billion
    Worth of Enron stock options exercised by Kenneth Lay in 2000 alone: $123.4 million
    Montreal Expos 2004 Payroll: $43.2 million
    Estimated Cost of Bush's 2nd Inauguration: $40 million
    Amount pledged by the U.S. to help the worst humanitarian disaster of our generation: $35 million
    Administration denials of "stinginess": a dime a dozen

    "'Shit' is the tofu of cursing" --David Sedaris

    by LiberalVirginian on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:36:33 AM PDT

  •  "Shamed"? (none / 1)

    Bush doesn't know the meaning of the word.  

    To have a sense of being shamed one must be willing to admit that one is capable of making a mistake.

    Bush, so incompetent, he can't even do the wrong things right.

    by JAPA21 on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:36:49 AM PDT

  •  "Leadership" (4.00 / 9)

    Where is it, exactly?

    Forget about public leadership for a second, which he has so miserably failed at here, and which the world so desperately needs someone like the President of the United States to step up and take the lead on. Perhaps he should appoint Bill Clinton as "head of state," but he doesn't even have to, because Clinton has already filled the vacuum Bush created with his silence.

    But what about private leadership? Real leadership? George obviously doesn't like dealing with the "hard work" saving the lives of tens of thousands of people who will be lost to famine and disease. Otherwise he wouldn't still be in Crawford clearing brush. He would be in Washington on the phone with national leaders from the affected nations, Europe, the UN, relief agencies, etc. actually leading and directing the relief efforts.

    But he is not a leader.

    He is a coward and an embarrassment to humanity.

    by thirdparty on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:37:09 AM PDT

    •  Not human (none / 0)

      he's a pod person, not human.

      "I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..." - Elvis

      by Gearhead on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:44:22 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Bush is the leader in killing, not helping people (4.00 / 3)

      Bush has caused over 100,000 deaths in Iraq, so this  tsunami is threatening to his stature as "man of the year".  Bush's indifference to the millions affected by this tragedy are not unexpected, he has demonstrated time and again that he only has compassion for his like minded cronies.  

      Bush is the leader of death, Clinton and others offer a vision of hope and compassion that Bush will never match because it is not part of his madman mindset.

      Chimpeach

      by MD patriot on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:48:43 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Huzzahs for Clinton (4.00 / 4)

      Why is it just Clinton?  Where's John Kerry?  Where's a united Democratic front shouting America's support to assist the victims of a horrific natural tragedy?  This would be a fun opportunity for the party out of power to make magnanimous, big-hearted public offerings of aid and goodwill to the rest of the world.  

      On Media Engagement

      by magpie02141 on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:54:42 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Where are those who aspire to Lead? (none / 0)

        The lack of reaction is incredible.  Where are those who want to lead the democratic party, Where are those who want be in the public eye as possible leaders?  Are they that scared of the Bush administration?

        by AZGoob on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 04:59:40 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  george bush NEVER misses an opportunity... (none / 1)

      to turn his back on all that's decent when there's nothing in it for him. doing the compassionate, humane thing is what we would hope for in our President, but bush can't even do the strategically smart thing... establishing a generous humanitarian presence in a politically volatile part of the Muslim world.

      He is a coward and an embarrassment to humanity.

      boy, you said it. every time i think i couldn't possibly be more disgusted by george bush's actions... i am.  i'm so glad Bill Clinton made the statements he did when he did. perhaps it will remind the world what the other half of Americans want in their leader.

      www.epluribusmedia.org

      by kiw on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 01:42:32 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  "asian armageddon" (none / 0)

    last night as my fiance was channel surfing past msnbc he stopped for a second on scarborough's program with the large font "Asian Armageddon" posted at the bottom of the screen.

    Bush probably can't see past some psychotic affirmation of his plans in this disaster as god's overall positioning of him as president to lead in the end times. A world in ruins is more congruent with his worldview than an impulse to give aid in the face of such tragedy and suffering. He had to be shamed into loosening his white-knuckle grip on the purse-strings. I agree that the clean-up of the tsunamis destruction will, in time, leave less of a stain than that of America's shameful, sluggish, cheapskate response to a real crisis.

    by throwlikeagirl on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:40:55 AM PDT

  •  It's worth noting (4.00 / 5)

    The $20 million that was announced the other day is a line of credit, which in theory will need to be paid back.  Of course it's an open question on if we would try to collect or not, but I find it amazing that it's being reported as if it was a grant.

    Come visit me at Totales Turns!

    by romantotale on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:41:07 AM PDT

  •  Eric Alterman Says It All (4.00 / 2)

    Next time you hear some politician or conservative pundit blather on about what a generous country we are, remember this; we're devoting less than half of what Bush is planning to spend on his own inauguration to helping people recover from one of the worst natural disasters in human history

    msnbc
    and at skippy

    I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

    by jillian on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:41:31 AM PDT

    •  Government (none / 1)

      That's only true if you measure generosity only in what is coerced through taxation.

      Voluntary, private donations are the true measure of generosity.

      'Screw you guys, I'm going home' -- Eric Cartman

      by Neil Stevens on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:53:29 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Here's a true measure of generosity for you (none / 1)

        "Voluntary, private donations are the true measure of generosity."

        So, then, you agree that Bush should cancel his inauguration bacchanalia and donate, to tsunami relief efforts, the $45 million that was to be spent.

        Are you better off now than you were eight years ago?

        by MJB on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:59:48 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Maybe (none / 1)

          I'd be more impressed if he took out his checkbook and gave $5,000 to one of the charities doing work out there.

          'Screw you guys, I'm going home' -- Eric Cartman

          by Neil Stevens on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:02:50 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  laughable- Bush has no checkbook! (none / 0)

            Bush is a rich killer madman- what makes you think he has a checkbook?  What in his spoiled little frat-boy on steroids life has he ever had to work for?  Nothing, and daddy or the taxpayers or his Bandar Bush buddies have always bailed him out and paid all the bills.

            Bush is slime, he has no conscience or compassion because his mind is totally warped.  There is no other explanation for starting a war of his choice based on lies.  

            The madman Bush is the most destructive force in the world- worse than a tsunami.

            by MD patriot on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:08:35 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  huh? (none / 0)

            Wonderful, sir, but what we're trying to do here is not "measure generosity", we're trying to SAVE LIVES...I for one, am perfectly satisfied that in additional to my private donation, my "coerced" tax dollars are going to this effort...maybe it's not an accurate measure of generosity, but you know what?  I don't care.  Lives are at risk.  

            "'Shit' is the tofu of cursing" --David Sedaris

            by LiberalVirginian on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:18:00 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  Heh (none / 0)

        England has promiced 15 billion pounds plus the are raising serious money through charities. With a GB total population of 60,094,648 million in 2003 they are giving more guaranteed money than we are with a population of somewhere near 300,000,000..

        NEXT...

        by Mike S on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:08:07 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  cold cash (none / 1)

          Canadians (31M) have done reasonably well.

          The Feds have coughed up $4M, too little but not too late to do much more. Canadians have nearly doubled that amount via private donations to the following:

          ~ have a powerful day ~

          by moeman on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:27:43 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Japan's tsunami aid in context (none / 1)

          Japan has pledged $40 million of aid -- guaranteed aid -- not a line of credit. This is not to mention other aid that the SDF and JICA have provided on the spot. I have elaborated on this in other comments.

          Consider this:
          An unusual number of typhoons made landfall in Japan in 2004. Several of these caused considerable damage. In October, powerful earthquakes struck Niigata repeatedly, causing massive damage. I believe these were declared natural disasters.

          In the light of reports I've read about Floridians whining about how no one gave to them in the last hurricane as rationale for stinginess, well, I think the facts here speak for themselves.

          Now, as a long-term resident of Japan, I generally criticize more than I praise, but I must say that in this case, Japan is putting the U.S. to shame.

          Clinton's stepping into the breach is about the only sane news I've heard out of the U.S. in too long. Thanks Bubba. Can we have you back?

          Esse quam videor

          by LetThemEatWingnuts on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 11:26:20 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  "Thousand points of light" (4.00 / 2)

    Just wait.  He'll say this.  He'll point to a "faith based" relief effort since humanity is in "god's hands."

    "I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..." - Elvis

    by Gearhead on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:43:17 AM PDT

  •  Tax Protest (none / 1)

    How about everyone who owes the federal government taxes withhold $50 from their tax payments and give it to relief efforts.  Enclose a letter with your tax forms stating that it is a protest against a government with screwed up priorities: plenty of money for war and crony capitalism, pennies for real human needs.

    -7.75, -7.64 www.politicalcompass.org "When the intellectual history of this era is finally written, it will scarcely be believable." -- Noam Chomsky

    by scorponic on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:43:52 AM PDT

  •  asdf (none / 0)

    I'd just heard this on the radio a minute ago, and it made me sick to my stomach. Now excuse me please, I have to go over to your previous post and declare myself a proud flounder.

    The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

    by sidnora on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:45:17 AM PDT

  •  More Crumbs... (none / 0)

    from the Washington Post...

    Change Means Fewer Students  

    Will Be Eligible for Pell Grants

    By Dan Morgan

    The Department of Education yesterday announced a new formula for calculating eligibility for college financial aid, a move that will eliminate federal Pell Grant scholarships for an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 low-income students and force a modest scaling back of other types of state and federal assistance to broader categories of undergraduates.

     . . . [E]ducation officials indicated yesterday that they were taken aback by the timing of the announcement, just two days before Christmas.

    LBJ was once famously quoted during the Vietnam era as saying if you wanted to understand our foreign policy just look at our domestic policy (words to that effect).  Hmmmm.

    by hollywood on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:46:48 AM PDT

  •  To be fair... (none / 0)

    Canada has "only" offered an initial 4 million $ at this point.. with promises of more to come... but I kinda felt we as a government could have done better... particularly when we're running a budget surplus in the billions.

    Canadians in general though have been very generous.. as of this morning.. private Canadian donations to relief agencies have totaled 2.5 million $ in the first 30 hrs of this disaster.

    I hope the same generosity is happening in the US with the citizenry.. tho I've seen no initial figures for what has been donated so far.

    Canadian Progressive Bloggers

    by tribe34 on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:47:00 AM PDT

  •  I was wondering when this would be posted (4.00 / 4)

    I was doing a graph of monies Bush spends to kill versus spends to save. Using rough figures of 100,000 dead by tsunami and 100,000 dead in Iraq, $20 million for aid versus $200 billion for war...

    Thats $200 per person to help.

    Versus $2,000,000 per person to destroy.

    Let's hear it for REPUBLICAN VALUES!

    </sarcasm>

    -6.63 -5.64

    I am I and you are you, and we are both each other too -- Clair Huffaker

    by xysrl on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:47:22 AM PDT

    •  $8 million per hour to kill Iraqis (none / 1)

      Bush is spending $8 million per hour to kill Iraqis and devastate their country while opening a $35 "line of credit" for the disaster victims.  That means he will want to be paid back.  Maybe if Loch-Mart or Halliburton could get some no-bid contracts they could help in the relief effort- I can just see the bill for $5 per gallon water delivered by the Halliburton cheaters.

      The Diego Garcia base would be an excellent place to start relief efforts, but our soldiers and navy personnel are busy killing people, no time for anything but a perfunctory effort to save the brown skinned people.

      Bush is a liar and total scum, this is just one more example of his failure.

      Chimpeach

      by MD patriot on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:54:03 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Diego Garcia (none / 0)

    We have one of the largest US bases in the world on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.  That base alone holds enough personnel and equipment to provide an instant, well-located staging area for international relief efforts.  Does anyone know if we have opened the base to international flights, shipments, etc.?

    -7.75, -7.64 www.politicalcompass.org "When the intellectual history of this era is finally written, it will scarcely be believable." -- Noam Chomsky

    by scorponic on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:47:55 AM PDT

    •  news blackout (none / 0)

      last I checked, there was no news coming from there.  Someone reported here on Sunday that the base's server appeared to be down.

      The president is Lucy, and he's holding a football. We're Charlie Brown. - Bob Herbert

      by djinniya on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:55:38 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  oops, spoke too soon (none / 0)

      Apparently they're fine in DG. From Stars and Stripes

      A Navy support facility located near the center of the Indian Ocean was spared any damage from Sunday's devastating ocean surges.

      Officials said the Diego Garcia Navy Support Facility, which houses about 1,700 military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors, suffered no damage related to Sunday's earthquake and ensuing tsunamis.

      The president is Lucy, and he's holding a football. We're Charlie Brown. - Bob Herbert

      by djinniya on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:58:53 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  We can make a difference at the netroots (none / 1)

    We raised money in 2004 for what we believed in - We can do it again to help the tsunami victims.

    If every Kerry voter sends $1 it's more than the asshats in the WH are doing.

    Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices. Voltaire 1694-1778

    by SallyCat on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:49:04 AM PDT

  •  Scale Back the Inauguration (none / 1)

    The Inauguration should be really scaled back, in light of this tragedy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  This isn't the right time to spend so lavishly, in view of the whole world.  

    Although this was not cause by terrorism, this will be the defining moment in the lives of these people.  They look to America, and see us partying away?  Celebrating a man who won't even help them survive until the next day but extols the virtues of Christianity?

    Maybe that is what really bothers me - this man is a Christian?  I am a Christian, and my theology tells me to help the sick and the poor, and especially help children.   Do we just have different Bibles?

    I don't own any stocks or bonds. All my money is tied up in debt.

    by muffilator on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:50:56 AM PDT

    •  Bush is no christian- look at his actions (none / 0)

      Actions speak louder than words, and Bush certainly doesn't follow Christ's teachings.  Of course he fits into the historical mold of the Crusaders, but they were bloodthirsty killers who also corrupted and ignored Christ's teachings.

      Bush uses the born-again Christian scam to suck in the wing-nut voters, his so-called religion is a lie like the rest of his fake biography.  Bush is a coward and evil to the bone madman who is working to destroy the world we know.  The US Constitution is being shredded by this madman and our country is slipping away with each day he is in power.

      Chimpeach

      by MD patriot on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:14:55 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  It's all good (none / 0)

    ExxonMobil's operations in Aceh  continue apace despite the earthquake's destruction all around.

    Perhaps now would be a good time for some largesse on the company's part instead of just fighting lawsuits regarding their role in monstrous human rights abuses in that region.

    One reason we have not seen more images of the destruction in Aceh is that journalists have not been allowed up there since Martial Law was imposed in 2003:

    Although information is never more important than during wartime, troubling glimpses are all that is possible right now. The Indonesian government and military have effectively barred nearly all independent and impartial observers (including diplomats), as well as international humanitarian aid workers, from the province. Those allowed into or to stay in Aceh are generally not permitted to venture beyond the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.

    These moves have succeeded in making the war in Aceh largely invisible, helping Indonesia achieve its goal of decreasing the interest of the international and Indonesian media and thereby reducing the potential for pressure to cease its military operations.

    from Human Rights Watch.

    Now hopefully with aid workers and journalists allowed in, the world will get to see what is happening there. Though it's sad that it took such a disaster to lift the curtain.  Who knows how many lives could have been saved if the international community were not kicked out nearly 2 years ago?

    by bartona on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:51:25 AM PDT

  •  seriously? (none / 0)

    Are people surprised with Ws pettiness and complete lack of earnestness?

    Read this and try not to vurp.

    http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/12/20041229-1.html

    This so-called world leader finds time to kid around, beer buddy like in his vapid response to serious questions.

    ~ have a powerful day ~

    by moeman on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:51:38 AM PDT

  •  "We will prevail over this destruction" (none / 1)

    Am I the only one that finds the phrasing of the presidents first official response irritating? Take the words "this destruction" out and insert the words "these terrorists." Blah, I'm tired of worn out frames, I want real feelings and sincerity.

    ::shrugs::

    Maybe I need to get out more.

    "If you don't want to fight for the future and you can't figure out how to beat these people then find something else to do." BILL CLINTON, Sat Oct 29, 2005

    by DriftawayNH on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:53:14 AM PDT

  •  I'd like to know (none / 0)

    what the Saudis are giving.  Yes, we in the US should do our part to give life rather than spending to destroy it, but I'd also like to know that other nations of means ante up.

    If you build a house of cards, people will move in.

    by diamondpen on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:53:15 AM PDT

    •  Saudis give to Bush, not disaster relief (none / 0)

      The Saudis and Bandar Bush give money where it will multiply, they don't care about their own people, why would they donate to disaster relief?

      Bush has caused 100,000+ deaths with more on the way in Iraq, he is worse than the biggest tsunami in recorded history in number of deaths caused.

      Chimpeach the coward Bush so that he can clear brush in Crawford all day every day.

      by MD patriot on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:57:57 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Me-ow! (none / 1)

    But Bush aides can find it in themselves to be petty at a time like this, can't they?

    Many Bush aides believe Clinton was too quick to head for the cameras to hold forth on tragedies with his trademark empathy. "Actions speak louder than words," a top Bush aide said, describing the president's view of his appropriate role.

    http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/washpost/20041229/ts_washpost/a32337_2004dec28&am p;e=2

    This looks likely to scroll off the recent diaries before many people see it, but I posted a diary about a Jewish Buddhist's reflections on this tragedy here:

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/29/11344/281

    http://twitter.com/...

    by Renee in Ohio on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:55:04 AM PDT

    •  Riiiight ... (none / 0)

      "Actions speak louder than words," a top Bush aide said, describing the president's view of his appropriate role.

      So does inaction.

      (And Jesus H. Christ, enough with the photo-op "bush clearing", Dubya. You're turning your faux ranch into desert.)

      "All progress depends on the unreasonable man." -- George Bernard Shaw

      by Bearpaw on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:48:23 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Relief organizations that can be trusted? (4.00 / 3)

    Does anyone have a list of relief organizations that have been vetted and can be trusted?  With the amount of charitable fraud I would hate to make a contribution and see it disappear down a black hole of skimming.  Which organzations are known to do solid work?

    sPh

    by sphealey on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:58:37 AM PDT

    •  for starters (none / 0)

      ICRC, Care and Oxfam.

      The president is Lucy, and he's holding a football. We're Charlie Brown. - Bob Herbert

      by djinniya on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:00:16 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Mission of love (none / 0)

      I've worked with this group before.

      Honestly, I'd like to see DFA do a drive for water and hygiene products through the local DFA chapters.

      Here's more on Mission of Love:
      Kathleen Price
      Sunday 11:00 AM-12:00 Noon...Room 208
      "Mission of Love: You are Here to Make a Difference"
      The Mission of Love Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian aid to those in need worldwide, especially children. Backed by individuals, local businesses and others, Mission of Love airlifts clothing, medicine, food and building supplies to third world countries, including the poorest community in the United States, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota.
      Once the supplies arrive, groups of people, young and old from all walks of life, are there to utilize the supplies by building medical clinics, repairing orphanages, administering medical treatment to the ill and serving those who need help. Mission of Love has as its purpose "helping the indigenous people of the world, from Nepal, to Honduras, to Pine Ridge." "We're grassroots, nonpolitical, nondenominational. What we give is...without strings attached," says Kathleen Price, Director and Founder. Mission of Love is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio.
      She also says: "You are not here to change the world, but to touch the hands that are within your reach." See how you can help foster and support her efforts and help yourself grown your own "Mission of Love." You may also talk with Kathleen in Booth 108, or visit their website at www.missionoflove.org.

      This info is listed on the Universal Light Expo 2004 site.

      The most important word in the language of the working class is `solidarity.'--Harry Bridges, longshore union leader

      by Bendygirl on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:16:51 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Charitywatch (none / 0)

      Make4Think posted this on Blog for America:

      For those concerned with the responsible management of their charitable donations, there is an org called Charity Watch (www.charitywatch.org) that describes and rates the efficiencies of various relief organizations.

      http://twitter.com/...

      by Renee in Ohio on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:17:44 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Doctors Without Borders (none / 1)

      Go here to donate and find out more.

      "All progress depends on the unreasonable man." -- George Bernard Shaw

      by Bearpaw on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:53:09 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Some possibilities (none / 0)

      A friend who works in Sri Lanka posted the following list as possibilities.  He is too busy at the moment for me to query, but I assume he thinks these are OK:

      American Red Cross
      http://www.redcross.org

      Care USA
      http://www.careusa.org

      International Medical Corps
      http://www.imcworldwide.org

      International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
      http://www.ifrc.org/

      Oxfam America Asia Earthquake Fund
      http://www.oxfamamerica.org

      Save the Children
      http://www.savethechildren.org

      =======
      sPh

      by sphealey on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 10:28:43 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  When I've had money to give- (none / 0)

      it goes to a group based here in Portland- Mercy Corps. More info on them is available here:

      http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/

      These folks really walk the talk. If you have a couple bucks, through them their way.

      "It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -Albus Dumbledore ~~~~~~~~~ http://slugcrossings.blogspot.com/

      by Lainie on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 04:06:53 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Bush Misses and Opportunity with Muslims (4.00 / 3)

    Bush could have used the largess of the United States to send a message to the world that we care about people of all races and religious beliefs.  The majority of the world's muslims live in Indonesia and India.  This was an opportunity to win the hearts and minds of that community or to have them think twice about hating America so much in regards to Iraq.  This measly offering only demonstrates this administration's lack of concern about poor brown people and muslims.  We can and should do more. I am thoroughly ashamed.  We should take care of poor people at home and abroad.  That's the moral values that I value.  

    Oracle2021

    by Oracle2021 on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:59:45 AM PDT

  •  $853 each for Iraq, $0.12 each for Tsunami (none / 0)

    And he originally pledged $0.05 but got shamed up to  12 cents.

    There are 293,027,571 people in US.  

    Please, everyone, start talking in per person costs.  We clearly don't get the big numbers on an instinctive level.

    I'm for extending the working Medicare program, so Americans can concentrate on living their lives without fear of changing a job or going bankrupt.

    by jm1963 on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:18:07 AM PDT

  •  it doesn't matter anyway (none / 0)


    Ranked by percentage of GDP, the US is at the bottom of givers.

    What sense does a comparison by total $ amounts make anyway?

    our own correspondent is sorry to tell of an uneasy time that all is not well…

    by Felix Deutsch on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:19:32 AM PDT

  •  Act for change! (none / 0)

    Go here and sign the online form asking the Jerk in Charge to send more money.

    I added this message:
    "Please consider the grand gesture of reducing the cost of your inauguration and pledging that money to tsunami relief!  What an embarrassment it will be to the American people if you hold an elaborate party at this time when there is such suffering in the world.  Are you truly a compassionate conservative?"

    Here's what my friend wrote:
    "With your inauguration funds in the obscene millions, you might consider reducing the cost of this spectacle and pledging this money in addition to other funds, to tsunami relief. Don't you think it's embarrasing to hold such an over-the-top party when there is such suffering in these countries? A compassionate conservative would truly walk the walk and thus far, we've not seen you do that.

    It would be refreshing and obviously, THE RIGHT THING TO DO if the US would actually spend some money on life, not on death and killing."

    Blood 4 Oil War 2

    by TXsharon on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:21:43 AM PDT

  •  Not sure if this is a valid way to look at it, but (none / 0)

    Canada's GDP in US$ is $853.8 billion
    US GDP is $10,933.5 billion
    OR 12.8 times that of Canada

    Canada gave $4,000,000 (~$3,305,000 US$)
    US gave $35,000,000
    OR 10.6 times that of Canada

    So, relative to GDP, the US could afford to give a little more. On the other hand, Canada has a surplus, so maybe we can afford a little more!

    **The GDP data is from 2003 and came from the oecd website.

    The Journal of Interesting Times

    by jbalazs on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:29:57 AM PDT

  •  Donations via Amazon (none / 0)

    Go to Amazon home page to donate to the Red Cross. Quick and easy. As of early afternoon Wednesday donations via this route total $1.7 million. Americans are on the ball, even if the administration isn't.

    Against silence, which is slavery. -- Czeslaw Milosz

    by Caneel on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:34:48 AM PDT

  •  Pittance (none / 0)

    No it's not pittance. This is cold and calculating. Bush wishes to alienate us from the rest of the world, the easier to rage war if everybody hate us. Just to watch him, deny that are not generous, in his inarticulate manner is an embarrassment for our country.
    Shame on us for generations for re-electing him.

    by Braindead on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:38:42 AM PDT

  •  Compare (none / 0)

    What are the other countries giving? What's the EU giving?

    I rock knobs!

    by Jumbo on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:39:57 AM PDT

  •  screw the left coast (none / 0)

    gotta love the shlub's reaction to this question, as reported by reuters on his statement:  
    The president appeared caught off guard by a question as to whether the United States was adequately protected with early warning systems for residents of the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii.

    "I can't answer your question specifically," Bush said but added that he was in the process of asking government agencies to look into such things.

    "I think that our location in the world is such that we may be less vulnerable than other parts," Bush said. "But I am not a geologist, as you know. But I think it's a very legitimate question."

    huh, and i thought he had been "monitoring the situation closely."  by watching TV of course.  guess he hasn't seen the stories about oregon and the cascadia fault.  or maybe he just doesn't consider blue states like CA, OR and WA to be us.

    but on the positive side, it's actually true that he's not a geologist.  hey guys, check it out, bush told the truth about something!

    l'audace! l'audace! toujours l'audace!

    by zeke L on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:42:13 AM PDT

    •  Sweet Jesus! (4.00 / 2)

      He's had three days to sit on his can and do a little research on what to do if it happened here.

      THIS is a leader?

      He refuses to be a compassionate American face and voice to the world, leaving it to his predecessor.

      He penny-pinches in an emergency AND takes a swipe at his predecessor.

      Message to Mr. Bush: You're the leader of the freaking free world, the most powerful person on the planet. Get the goddamned rake out of your hand, get seismologists on the phone and at the VERY LEAST find out if you're selfish American interests are protected on the West Coast.

      I swear to God, I am not going to survive the next four years. He's driving me out of my mind.

      by SusanG on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 10:08:07 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Someone get Preznit a Google Printout (none / 0)

      As a Californian we know about the Tsunami in Alaska in the 60's that also took out part of Crescent City CA -

      Yikes can't anyone in the WH google?

      Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices. Voltaire 1694-1778

      by SallyCat on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 03:08:08 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Not to defend the Bush Administration (none / 0)

    but I hear that the thrity five million is an initial amount. As assesments are made more money will be brought in to aid efforts. This is what i'm hearing at a press confrence on cspan right now.

    http://www.jasongooljar.com

    by progressiveny04 on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 09:43:55 AM PDT

    •  And you believe this because? (none / 0)

      How many times has this administration promised something and then failed?  Ask Florida residents about FEMA after the hurricanes this year.  This list would go on and on. . .

      Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices. Voltaire 1694-1778

      by SallyCat on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 03:10:02 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I'm Going Hungry (none / 0)

    Well, I don't mind stealin' bread
    From the mouths of decadence -
    But I can't feed on the powerless
    When my cup's already over-filled....

    by hollywood on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 10:01:27 AM PDT

  •  Aid in PPM (none / 0)

    First, it's not true that ranked by GDP the US is at the bottom. We're just near it. Here are the figures for the countries that I can get aid data on:

    
            Pledge        GDP [millions]   Pledge Quotient
    
Australia    7,800,000       579,662       13.45
    
Britain        907,000     1,606,853        0.56
    
Canada       4,000,000       963,550        4.15
    
China        2,600,000     6,435,838        0.40
    
EU           4,000,000    35,175,761        0.11
    
Japan       30,000,000     3,582,515        8.37
    
Kuwait       1,000,000        37,993       26.32
    
Singapore    1,200,000       104,042       11.53
    
UAE          2,000,000       Unknown       Unknown
    
US          15,000,000    10,871,095        1.37

    In this chart the GDP is in millions of international dollars (dollars corrected for purchasing power parity--PPP). The "Pledge Quotient" is the pledged dollars divided by the GDP. In other words, it's a measure of the number of dollars pledge per million dollars of GDP, or parts per million. (I think this is an easy way to see just how small a contribution it is. In other words, for every dollar we earn on average per year we are spending 1.37 millionths of a dollar in aid.)

    NOTE: These are very rough figures and don't take into account individual contributions, only government contributions. These figures are based on the best data I could research off the Web last night and they've probably already changed. Also, the amount for the EU is just for the EU itself and does not include contributions already pledged by many countries within the EU (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, etc.) It also doesn't include non-financial aid, such as assistance by the military (especially the Indian navy and no doubt our own) nor pledges of doctors, airplanes, etc. Also, I didn't count the $20 million loan that the US put up because it's not in the same class as a grant. I can't tell if it's more of a help or a burden to give someone a loan in a country that's just been devastated. How are they supposed to pay it back?

    Looking at the data it is clear that certain countries have been particularly generous. I wouldn't say that it's a rich-country-bad/poor-country-good trend, however. In the generous category I think Australia, Canada and Japan stand out among the "rich" countries. The large immediate pledges from UAE and Kuwait are particularly noteworthy and I hope are a trend for the rich countries in the ME. But I think the real surprise is China, which I don't think of as "rich" by any stretch, and yet they came up with millions already.

    So, is the US being stingy in its aid? It remains to be seen what kind of individual contributions are given, but by government standards we are off by a factor of 5 or 10 based on our GDP.

    References:

    The best list of donors I found was at Sympatico. The GDP values are from Wikipedia, where you can find a reference for PPP.

    Think, liberally.

    by Liberal Thinking on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 10:17:07 AM PDT

  •  Oxfam US: Direct link to Earthquake/Tsunami Fund (none / 0)

    Click here if you want to ensure your Oxfam US donation is earmarked for the Asian Earthquake & Tsunami Fund.

    ~~This is Aaron G. Stock~~ (My Public Email is altered. Swap "g-ma-il" and "ace-pumpk-in", then remove dashes to email me.)

    by Ace Pumpkin on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 10:23:37 AM PDT

  •  Another Lost Opportunity (none / 0)

    What is apparently lost on our obtuse president, is the fact that the epicenter of this disaster is the largest Muslim country in the world. By magnaminously coming to the aid of these nations with alacrity and vigor, Bush could've made enormous strides in our "war on terror".

    Instead, I suspect many of these countries will react to any future terrorist attack against us, in the same manner we reacted to them in their hour of need. With sluggishness and token gestures.

    A Liberal Primal Screen

    by erickh on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 10:24:48 AM PDT

  •  If you call $120 million a pittance, sure! (none / 0)

    Okay, people have been bitching about a "$15 million" grant or a "$35 million"aid package. The simple fact is, that when those amounts were announced the death toll was somewhere around ten to twenty thousand, if not less. to quote CNN: "Bush also announced that the Pentagon is "dispatching a Marine expeditionary unit, the aircraft carrier [USS] Abraham Lincoln and the maritime preposition squadron from Guam to the area to help with relief efforts." That's not the half of it. The "in kind" aid, like mobile water purification plants, are going to save hundreds of thousands of lives. I notice that most of the people here are using outdated aid amounts and the highest estimated death tolls. Evil, EVIL Bush! Not holding a press confrence immediately!!! Jeez!!!

    by ericl on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 01:41:14 PM PDT

    •  EVIL Bush! Not holding a press confrence immediate (none / 0)

      Well, he has a good excuse...he was finishing the last chapter of MY GOAT.

      DLC Centrism assumes that if Democrats move to the right the Republicans are going to stand still.

      by Genf on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 01:57:13 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Oh yes. (none / 0)

      And how long did it take him to issue a statement about his concern for the loss of life?  That we would do "all that we could possibly do" for the region--which could give the requisite wiggle room so he's not pinned down?  Oh yeah, I guess that would have interrupted his brush-clearing schedule.

      But assuming Shrub was off thinking big thoughts, please answer me this:
      -How much of this "aid package" consists of loans?
      -Can you link to a story about the in kind aid that will save thousands and thousands of lives?

      "Sir, we've already lost the dock." A Zion Lieutenant to Commander Lock, The Matrix Revolutions

      by AuntiePeachy on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 01:58:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  It's Game Time (3.75 / 4)

      Can't wait to see Bush crawling back to Congress in April looking for anonther $100 Billion for Iraq, while he spends a mere $15 Million to help the least of our brothers in their greatest hour of need.

      I mean the rightwing spent $70 Million dollars investigating Clinton's blowjob, but they can only dish out $15 million to help here. What a complete fucking joke.

      You want to raise my taxes to help the tsunami victims be my guest. I would wholeheartily embrace this kind of policy.

       

      by JohnnyAppleseed on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 02:30:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Natural disasters don't register in the -- (none / 1)

    -- "with us or against us" game plan.  Truly, I believe, Bush himself and his incompetent administration just plain don't know what is expected or, for that matter, decent.  Every crisis that Bush has faced has been of his own (or his father's) doing.  

    In Bush's mind, I'm sure he's saying: "America didn't cause that wave."  ergo, no help.

    "There's been a little complication with my complication"

    by dash888 on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 02:01:10 PM PDT

  •  P.S. glad the UN was on hand as a first responder (none / 1)

    to arrive with aid and help.  Not so "irrelevant" as Bush stated, eh?

    "There's been a little complication with my complication"

    by dash888 on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 02:09:21 PM PDT

  •  I guess W's Christianity... (4.00 / 2)

    ...is only for winning elections.

    **sigh**

    All behold the tamed Maverick, at his master's feet.

    by coigue on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 03:33:18 PM PDT

  •  Whoa there, fella (none / 0)

    How much does it cost to operate an aircraft carrier battle group 4000 miles from the US?

    What does it cost to have C-130 transport planes flying around the clock missions to support relief efforts?

    Does the fact that $35 million dwarfs the contributions from any other western country (save Australia) and represent an initial investment with BILLIONS more to follow matter one wit to all of the pathological bush haters on this site?

    Is there no decency  left sir? Does the fact that camera hound Bill Clinton goes on TV to "feel the pain" of people matter more than the careful, measured response of the government in this crisis?

    The actual outlay of US government funds--including assistance from the military which is NOT included in the $35 million-- will make you, Mr. Markos, look like an idiot in the end.

    by Superhawk on Thu Dec 30, 2004 at 03:56:18 AM PDT

  •  Just imagine ... (none / 0)

    A US president as leader of the free world had
    • finished job at hand in Afghanistan
    • $ 200 billion in his pocket
    • donates a large sum of money for redevelopment
    of SE Asia coastal areas in analogy to the Marshall Plan after
    World War II.

    Be Liberal, Be Free Especially Amongst Family And Friends

    NEW DIARY - PROPAG - GOPUSA in Texas & UA Richard Powell Investigated

    by creve coeur on Thu Dec 30, 2004 at 07:10:24 AM PDT

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