First- let me start by saying... I think 35 million is a disgrace.
I'll assume that the figure is so low either because Bush doesn't have a caring bone in his body... or because he's so intelectually superior (LOL) that he doesn't read newspapers or monitor the news & therefore isn't seeing the absolute devastation over there.
It makes me literally SICK that this man is the "leader" of our country and has no concept about what has happened over there. Anyone else here think that 117,000 plus people leaving the earth at right around the same time in such a horrible way- (leaving behind devestated families who now have to not only deal with their grief but with the fact that many of them haven't eaten in days) warrants a bit more than 35 million?
After 9/11 the world rallied around us in support. In our time of need other countries stepped up. I think its pathetic that Bush can't do the right thing WITHOUT EVERYONE GETTING PISSED AND CALLING HIM ON THS STINGY BEHAVIOR!!!!
Add this to the list of shit he has tanked. 9/11 Support? Gone.
Tax Relief? A lie. Civil Rights? On the way out.
I am hoping the Conyers move will in some way help. Another 4 years of this is U N I M A G I N A B L E
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7210893By David Morgan
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush, criticized for his slow reaction to the Asian tsunami disaster, said on Thursday he would send a delegation led by Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region on Sunday to assess the need for U.S. assistance.
The delegation, which will also include the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, was due to meet regional leaders and international organizations working to bring relief to an estimated 5 million tsunami survivors in southeastern and central Asia.
But there was no word about increasing the $35 million of assistance that Bush announced this week, despite growing pressure from critics that he could allot more money to victims and repair America's international image hurt by the Iraq war.
Members of Congress were already at work drafting a new U.S. tsunami aid package for early next year amid Republican assurances of a generous appropriation. The size of the package had not yet been agreed.
"The challenges of coping with suffering on this magnitude are almost unfathomable, and we will act," said Republican Rep. Hyde, who chairs the House International Relations Committee.
But administration critics stepped up their attacks on Bush, saying he has been slow to respond to the tragedy that has killed at least 125,000 people.
"Congress could act very very quickly, but it also helps if the president wants to act very quickly," Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said in a CNN interview.
"He has the authority right now, on his own, to move about $300 million -- $50 million a country -- for those that are effected. He could do that today," he added.
Congress approved $40 billion in spending within three days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that killed 3,000 people. Lawmakers also responded speedily with $13.6 billion for states hit by hurricanes in the run-up to last month's U.S. elections.
White House budget office spokesman Chad Kolton said budget officials were working to assess what funds could be freed up without legislative action.
In his statement on Thursday, Bush emphasized the scope of U.S. assistance already under way and pledged to do "everything possible" to provide relief in partnership with the international community.