U.S. officials in Thailand demand money from US citizens to get

[DebJ]

new passports after everything they owned (including money, wallets, bank cards) were washed away...

(snip)
That was not the case with the U.S. government, Wachs told her mother. It took the couple three hours, she said, to find the officials from the American consulate, who were in the VIP lounge.

Because they had lost all their possessions, including their documentation, they had to have new passports issued.

But the U.S. officials demanded payment to take the passport pictures, Helen Wachs said.

The couple had managed to hold on to their ATM card, so they paid for the photos and helped other Americans who did not have any money get their pictures taken and buy food, Helen Wachs said.

"She was really very surprised" that the government did so little to ease their ordeal, she said.

(end)
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/28/tsunami.diver/index.html
Of course, that's not the headline for this article...but isn't that the more important part of the story?

United States govenment embarrasses us around the globe yet again!

[MSgt213]

1. Taking their cue from their boss. We don't give a fuck what happen to you

But don't you feel safe?

[Ian David]

2. Meanwhile, back at the ranch (literaly)...

Bush Biking, Relaxing at Texas Ranch

CRAWFORD, Texas - Besides monitoring the devastating earthquake in Southeast Asia, President Bush (news - web sites) is biking and strolling around his ranch here and pondering tax reform and other goals in his second term.

"He's clearing some brush this morning," deputy White House press secretary Trent Duffy said Tuesday, adding that the president and first lady also planned to host friends at the ranch.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=703&e=6&u=/ap/20041229/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

[Flammable Materials]

5. This would be funny if it weren't so depressing and sickening.

I think we should just start using "clearing some brush" as a euphemism for jerking off ... since "clearing brush" and "being a jerkoff" is all this asshole is capable of doing.

[acmavm]

7. Clearing brush? Drop the 'r'. We need to clear some bush**.

Clear out of the White House. Two elections, two election thefts.

History will NOT be kind to this man.

[MSgt213]

6. And telling Clinton to shut the fuck up. Bush has no dignity and in turn

the world see us americans as having no dignity. No class. Here was the perfect opportunity for Bush to call all the world leaders and say "hey I know you guys think I'm an asshole for the shit I pulled in Iraq, but we need to pull together here and help." You know show that he was capable of leading on one fucking thing. Instead he says fuck you to everybody to include the americans lost.

[forgethell]

13. Wouldn't you suspect

that this was more bureaucratic incompetence and callousness than White House policy? Geez! Bush is responsible for more than enough, but to expect that he is behind every ineptitude of the American government is crazy. The careerist bureaucrats are callous enough in ANY administration. Check out, for instance, the IRS, the welfare office, etc.

[Flammable Materials]

3. They must have mistaken the American tourists for poor people ...

... and shook them down on Republican instinct.

[izzie]

9. Were they rich liberal? All that coffee they drink I guess

Turns one off. I saw that on TV last night and I believe it. I have known people who lost every thing to some one taking it. Stealing all their stuff and the US would not help them. They were stuck in Italy with nothing and had to make a toll call to Alaska to get some one to send them money to get them home.My daughter had to call into a Middle East country once and the US said they would not help. Your are better of with trying Can.

[DebJ]

12. good one!

[rooboy]

4. FWIW, the Aussies over there reckon our govt doesn't give a shit either.

eom

[Benhurst]

8. As a BushAmerican, what sort of treatment did she expect

from "her" government? Like it really is "her" government. Yeah. Sure.

Ask not what The Leader can do for you. Ask what you can do for The Leader.

[opihimoimoi]

10. But Bush is clearing brush and monitoring the event by watching CNN

and is too busy to help with involvement...he is tired and his hand is thickened with those callouses..... yeah, right.

Those poor tourists, what a horror.

[Prodemsouth]

11. There are people who had it far worse than these tourist. If she was

standing there complaining about the conduct of the US officals. My next question- who did you vote for?