Are We Stingy? Yes

Are we stingy? YES!
"We hope Secretary of State Colin Powell was privately embarrassed when, two days into a catastrophic disaster that hit 12 of the world's poorer countries and will cost billions of dollars to meliorate, he held a press conference to say that America, the world's richest nation, would contribute $15 million. That's less than half of what Republicans plan to spend on the Bush inaugural festivities."

I'm glad that Bush decided to step up his initial offer of $15 million, and offer aid of $35 million. Yeah, that's LESS than what Bush is spending on his coronation ceremony on January 20th ($40+ million). But, one has to ask, is that it? Wow...we're sending an aircraft carrier! [NYT]

Price of Inauguration (coronation) too rich for even the 'haves.' [NYT]