Rick's Cafe Americain

After being called “stingy” by a UN official, the U.S. has stepped up its initial offer of aid to tsunami victims in Asia from $15 million to $35 million—about what Bush’s inauguration is expected to cost..

50,000 lives.  Which still sucks.

I do think, there is a degree of apples and oranges, but your point is well taken.

Think how amazing it would be, though, if Bush said, you know what, I’ll forgoe my party, let’s send these funds over to the Pacific.  It is probably illegal, but it would still be awesome—and not something W would do in a million (or thousand) years.

It’s definitely illegal, funny that none of the 10 lawyers that post and comment here noted that.  But then, they couldn’t criticize Bush needlessly, could they?

You guys have 10 lawyers reading this blog now?

I doubt its that high.

But speaking as a layman (this is hardly my area of expertise), I’m not sure it would be illegal.  It seems to me that there would be no problem if the donors consented to a different use of the money.

It truly would be great PR.  But, of course, the Bush crew isn’t about PR, they are about “values” and “morals”, such as those embodied by holding a $35 million party while half the world suffers from the worst natural disaster in decades.  Just exactly what JC would do, I’m sure.

Postscript: As of this morning, I understand the US has upped its aid to $350 million.

Would JC play poker with Ugarte, Rick?

He would indeed.

Please untwist the knickers, Karol. It would be illegal to repurpose the donations without getting authorization, but I think most donors would, if asked, be willing to tone down the embarrassing glitz-fest that Clinton turned the inaugural into if the money was going to be redirected to disaster relief. Certainly under threat of being exposed as “the jerk who said no,” they would. The legality is hardly the point. Our priorities are the point. To paraphrase fellow comic Will Hines put it, “George Bush committed $35 million to tsunami relief. George Steinbrenner committed $57 million to signing Randy Johnson.”

Second, Danny, are you our old friend? If so, where have you been? We’ve missed you. Anyway, JC would definitely play poker with me - certainly while I am too timid to push. The meek may inherit the earth but they aren’t going to win it playing No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em.

Also, it’s my understanding that the Bush team is still soliciting donations to cover the inagural parties, rather than toning the parties down and redirecting efforts toward tsunami relief.