Dubya is such a petty little prick.

[Elfdart]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... ailarticle

By John F. Harris and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 29, 2004; Page A01

The Bush administration more than doubled its financial commitment yesterday to provide relief to nations suffering from the Indian Ocean tsunami, amid complaints that the vacationing President Bush has been insensitive to a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions.

As the death toll surpassed 50,000 with no sign of abating, the U.S. Agency for International Development added $20 million to an earlier pledge of $15 million to provide relief, and the Pentagon dispatched an aircraft carrier and other military assets to the region. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, in morning television appearances, chafed at a top U.N. aid official's comment on Monday that wealthy countries were being stingy with aid. "The United States is not stingy," Powell said on CNN.

Although U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland yesterday withdrew his earlier comment, domestic criticism of Bush continued to rise. Skeptics said the initial aid sums -- as well as Bush's decision at first to remain cloistered on his Texas ranch for the Christmas holiday rather than speak in person about the tragedy -- showed scant appreciation for the magnitude of suffering and for the rescue and rebuilding work facing such nations as Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Indonesia.

After a day of repeated inquiries from reporters about his public absence, Bush late yesterday afternoon announced plans to hold a National Security Council meeting by teleconference to discuss several issues, including the tsunami, followed by a short public statement.

Bush's deepened public involvement puts him more in line with other world figures. In Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder cut short his vacation and returned to work in Berlin because of the Indian Ocean crisis, which began with a gigantic underwater earthquake. In Britain, the predominant U.S. voice speaking about the disaster was not Bush but former president Bill Clinton, who in an interview with the BBC said the suffering was like something in a "horror movie," and urged a coordinated international response.

Earlier yesterday, White House spokesman Trent Duffy said the president was confident he could monitor events effectively without returning to Washington or making public statements in Crawford, where he spent part of the day clearing brush and bicycling. Explaining the about-face, a White House official said: "The president wanted to be fully briefed on our efforts. He didn't want to make a symbolic statement about 'We feel your pain.' "

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.

Tens of thousands dead, and this lowlife and the shitstains who work for him have nothing to offer but insults at his legitimately elected predecessor. What a sorry piece of shit we have occupying the White House. Oh, wait! He's not in the White House, he's pretending to clear brush on his phony ranch in Crawford. Of course he has a track record of going AWOL when things get tough.

[Chmee]

Some aspire to be the Education President ....

Dubya is the Vacation President. Prior to 9/11 he was on pace to shatter the record for an incumbent spending time away from the office at Crawford and Camp David .... he's done better since then, but has never been one to let world events dictate his recreational schedule.

[MKSheppard]

Tens of thousands dead, and this lowlife and the shitstains who work for him have nothing to offer but insults at his legitimately elected predecessor.

Idiot. This very question was put forth on Stuart's board, in relation to HMG's
response:

By David Newton:
"Well in that case, recall people in the Department for International Development off their Christmas holidays if necessary!! Well in that case get people on ships in the region and get RAF aircraft from Lyneham and Brize Norton out NOW. Well in that case, look to get the garrison battalion of Brunei into the area NOW to help.

It is quite acceptable to have a delay of 24 hours or so before something is done. However, we are now over 2 days after the disaster, and that should be sufficient time to at least announce that RN and RAF units are being committed to the relief effort. I have not heard anything about that happening. "

By Jimlad1:
Secondly David, let me try and answer your point from the perspective of one who works in Whitehall and who is now on Xmas leave

Firstly, we have to ask what can we do? The ships in theatre - 2 x escorts and an RFA are not equipped to carry out the NEO or humanitarian aid task. Taking them off task and getting to the quake zone even at full speed will take at least 10 days - thats assuming the crew are even in the country where the ship is mind you. Then we have to ask, what can an escort ship with no provisions for disaster relief usefully do in the area which can't already be done by the local armed forces? Do we have the right kit to even talk to the armed forces on the ground? Would our presence there be more of a nuisance than a help in the greater scheme of things? Finally, would any of these countries even want or appreciate one or two RN warships turning up to help - dumb but true! Also would you be happy knowing that persian gulf security was being affected for about 2 months while this is done?

As for the RAF - firstly what will they carry? Then where will they go? Then who will provide the money to send them there in a time of crisis (a big issue!), then where will they stay, what supplies are available for them? How can they deconflict this with the other nations also sending in tons of supplies at the same time?

You have to realise David that instant reactions just don't happen in Whitehall or DC. Yes I'd love it if Blair came on now and said he'd ordered CJO to do the job - at that point I'll be on the first train to London to get back to my office to start doing my job in turn. But that won't happen - right now the decision makers are all over the shop, the situation isn't clear in the Far East and standing up the Whitehall decision making apparatus at xmas leave for something that we aren't even sure we can do something useful about anyway isn't the best way forward. It's far better to wait till Tuesday, at which point we're all back, we then have a good handle on which countries need help and which are ok. We can get the ball rolling fast and then go. Its not perfect, but I'd rather we waited 10 days and sent british forces to where they needed to be, doing a job that everyone agreed they could do, rather than sending a set of flags in piecemeal and then trying to form an operation out of it.

[Natorgator]

Eh, I don't really like Dubya myself but what can he do? They've already increased their pledge by a lot. There is not a lot he can do...but perhaps he could at least make a statement publicly.

[Col. Crackpot]

every spare ship in the Pacific fleet is racing to the scene! Two whole battlegroups loaded with marines, medics, doctors, helicopters and equipment. Dozens of planes have been , or are being sent, all in addition to the two donations of 15 and 20 million dollars. This is just Bill Clinton being an attention whore and yearning for the good old days.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Everyone does realize that the very fact that you are posting to this message board refutes the necessity of a world leader to be in his capital to deal with affairs at home and abroad? Fuck, even Medieval Kings used to travel a circuit of the Kingdom, and their most advanced communications technology was runners. The President is surrounded by dozens of secure phones, telecommunications devices, and data uplinks no matter where he is. It's simply irrelevant that his location is in Crawford, in fact, he could never set foot in the White House one single time and still run this country just fine.

[Elfdart]

In Britain, the predominant U.S. voice speaking about the disaster was not Bush but former president Bill Clinton, who in an interview with the BBC said the suffering was like something in a "horror movie," and urged a coordinated international response.

Yeah Crackpot, that Clinton sure was hamming it up for the cameras.

Natorgator, one thing Numbnuts could do is to give a public statement on TV (which reaches more people than the internet or secure phones, Duchess) and ask private citizens to donate to relief groups. Instead, he sends a stooge out to attack Clinton.

And the Shepster's response is too incoherent to even be a non-sequitur. Shep, you're going to have to do better than that to earn your George W. Bush presidential kneepads.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

(which reaches more people than the internet or secure phones, Duchess)

Why exactly are such messages as you demand important when time could be better spent coordinating the actual disaster relief which is actually going to save lives? At any rate, Americans have a demonstrated tendency toward individualism and anti-government sentiments which suggests that a charitable appeal by the President would be of marginal benefit at best, and that's the only possible truly productive reason to make such a statement.

[theski]

In Britain, the predominant U.S. voice speaking about the disaster was not Bush but former president Bill Clinton, who in an interview with the BBC said the suffering was like something in a "horror movie," and urged a coordinated international response.

Yeah Crackpot, that Clinton sure was hamming it up for the cameras.

Natorgator, one thing Numbnuts could do is to give a public statement on TV (which reaches more people than the internet or secure phones, Duchess) and ask private citizens to donate to relief groups. Instead, he sends a stooge out to attack Clinton.

And the Shepster's response is too incoherent to even be a non-sequitur. Shep, you're going to have to do better than that to earn your George W. Bush presidential kneepads.

How is that recount going..... Kerry Reconcede Yet???

[Col. Crackpot]

nice elf fart, address just one sentence of my post.

ACTIONS > WORDS

The Bush Administration's actions:

35 million dollars in instant aid (more than every other country in the world combined) Also, USAID is currently going to congress to get more money because they ran through ALL of their cash on hand.

2 Navy Battlegroups loaded with supplies are enroute

dozens of transport planes loaded with supplies are enroute

Bill Clinton's Words:

"Golly gee, lets all help"

[Elfdart]

Clinton's not President anymore, Colonel Crackhead.

[Col. Crackpot]

Clinton's not President anymore, Colonel Crackhead.

yeah, well it would seem that someone forgot to tell him.

[Elfdart]

(which reaches more people than the internet or secure phones, Duchess)

Why exactly are such messages as you demand important when time could be better spent coordinating the actual disaster relief which is actually going to save lives? At any rate, Americans have a demonstrated tendency toward individualism and anti-government sentiments which suggests that a charitable appeal by the President would be of marginal benefit at best, and that's the only possible truly productive reason to make such a statement.

Dubya could get on national TV for about 60 seconds, do the usual condolences bit and ask for donations. Then he could go back to pretending to clear brush, or raping the Bill of Rights, destroying Social Security, or whatever else he was doing. Funny, he and his flunkies are SOOOOOOO busy "coordinating relief efforts" that they can't do what presidents usually do in a disaster, but they have spare time to take pot shots at Clinton. They must really be jealous of a legitimately elected President who was more popular, successful and respected -even without 3000 people being murdered.

[Elfdart]

Clinton's not President anymore, Colonel Crackhead.

yeah, well it would seem that someone forgot to tell him.

So the man answers a reporter's questions about current events and now he's trying to usurp the office? Talk about insecurity!

[Col. Crackpot]

Clinton's not President anymore, Colonel Crackhead.

yeah, well it would seem that someone forgot to tell him.

So the man answers a reporter's questions about current events and now he's trying to usurp the office? Talk about insecurity!

you know what, i don't want to have a clinton arguement right now, it just doesn't seem appropriate in the current context.

[SirNitram]

Wow. Another Republican, who, when criticized, immediately comments on Clinton. If this hadn't been stripped of all humour by it's over-use here, it'd be funny.

[Chmee]

Any ex-President worth anything commits his fame and contacts to worthwhile pursuits.

Jimmy Carter is the most obvious example of an ex-President who goes on to probably do better work as an EX than he did as an incumbent. But Clinton's speaking out on the crisis in south Asia is completely consistent with the mission of the Clinton Presidential Center:

Combat HIV/AIDS
Racial/ethnic/religious conciliation
Citizen service
Economic empowerment of poor people
Leadership development

Clinton is a globalist, always has been ... his most cogent comments during the recent campaign were all directed at the concept that our security is enhanced best through building mutually beneficial relationships with the entire global community.

It only would have been noteworthy if, given his philosophy and interests, he had NOT spoken out on the current crisis.

[Crown]

nice elf fart, address just one sentence of my post.

ACTIONS > WORDS

The Bush Administration's actions:

35 million dollars in instant aid (more than every other country in the world combined) Also, USAID is currently going to congress to get more money because they ran through ALL of their cash on hand.

2 Navy Battlegroups loaded with supplies are enroute

dozens of transport planes loaded with supplies are enroute

Bill Clinton's Words:

"Golly gee, lets all help"

Can I ask where the source of this information is coming from, specifically if it also details what other countries are contributing?

[Col. Crackpot]

nice elf fart, address just one sentence of my post.

ACTIONS > WORDS

The Bush Administration's actions:

35 million dollars in instant aid (more than every other country in the world combined) Also, USAID is currently going to congress to get more money because they ran through ALL of their cash on hand.

2 Navy Battlegroups loaded with supplies are enroute

dozens of transport planes loaded with supplies are enroute

Bill Clinton's Words:

"Golly gee, lets all help"

Can I ask where the source of this information is coming from, specifically if it also details what other countries are contributing?

It was from CNN, however it seems that i was a little off. The $35 million actually represents 44% of the total money pledged.link

That 35 Milllion does NOT include the cost of diverting two Navy Battlegroups for relief efforts, nor the cost of scrambling a fleet of C-130's filled with relief supplies. Nor does it include private donations made by American civilians.

[CaptainChewbacca]

(which reaches more people than the internet or secure phones, Duchess)

Why exactly are such messages as you demand important when time could be better spent coordinating the actual disaster relief which is actually going to save lives? At any rate, Americans have a demonstrated tendency toward individualism and anti-government sentiments which suggests that a charitable appeal by the President would be of marginal benefit at best, and that's the only possible truly productive reason to make such a statement.

Dubya could get on national TV for about 60 seconds, do the usual condolences bit and ask for donations. Then he could go back to pretending to clear brush, or raping the Bill of Rights, destroying Social Security, or whatever else he was doing. Funny, he and his flunkies are SOOOOOOO busy "coordinating relief efforts" that they can't do what presidents usually do in a disaster, but they have spare time to take pot shots at Clinton. They must really be jealous of a legitimately elected President who was more popular, successful and respected -even without 3000 people being murdered.

I get it, you're so sick and blinded with your impotent rage you're venting in the only way you can. The president is getting shit done. He doesn't need to hold your hand and explain to you how he's doing it. If he got on TV and made a speech, you'd open a thread bitching about how he was grandstanding in the middle of a tragedy of biblical proportions, which is what Clinton is doing.

You think anyone in Sri Lanka is gonna be glad Clinton is worried about them? Hell no, but they're gonna be glad to get American food supplies Bush sent.

[Admiral Valdemar]

How fucking pathetic. One-hundred thousand, you read that right, one-hundred thousand people have been instantly killed or swept away forever in an event that actually physically rocked the planet's axis, and all you lot can do is take pot shots at politicians. I wouldn't even mind, but unlike 9/11, there aren't any Bad Guys™ to go after this time.

Fuck, they're all as bad as one another at this game. They suck at life. The effort put into slinging mud at US politicians if converted to actual currency would be more than enough to deal with this tragedy.

[Petrosjko]

How fucking pathetic. One-hundred thousand, you read that right, one-hundred thousand people have been instantly killed or swept away forever in an event that actually physically rocked the planet's axis, and all you lot can do is take pot shots at politicians. I wouldn't even mind, but unlike 9/11, there aren't any Bad Guys™ to go after this time.

Fuck, they're all as bad as one another at this game. They suck at life. The effort put into slinging mud at US politicians if converted to actual currency would be more than enough to deal with this tragedy.

I'm in agreement with Valdemar and Crackpot on this. Let's just let it go and revisit Crackpot's thread on places to make contributions.

Fuck politics. This is a human issue. Let's do what we can for the living.

[Beowulf]

And with that, lockage.