By Richard W. Stevenson and Stephanie Strom Published: January 4, 2005 (Snip) WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 - President Bush on Monday enlisted his two predecessors in the White House to lead an effort to raise money from individuals, corporations and foundations in the United States for disaster relief in the nations devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami. Seeking to help the millions of people afflicted by the calamity and continuing to rebut criticism that the United States had been slow in its response, Mr. Bush asked his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st president, and Bill Clinton, the 42nd, to work together to augment with private money the $350 million in government funds that the administration has pledged so far. "We're showing the compassion of our nation in the swift response," Mr. Bush said, flanked by the two former presidents in the Roosevelt Room. "But the greatest source of America's generosity is not our government. It's the good heart of the American people." The response that Mr. Bush asked his predecessors to nurture got under way within hours of the earthquake and tsunami on Dec. 26, as individuals and corporations sent donations pouring into relief agencies. Among other donors, Mattel, the toy company, gave $250,000 to Save the Children through its foundation, and Citigroup allocated $3 million to be divided equally among the Red Cross, local relief organizations in the affected countries and the long-term rebuilding effort. Many companies were able to respond within 24 hours to the disaster through their offices and employees in the countries that were affected. Others, like Amazon.com, have turned themselves into fund-raising auxiliaries for charities, using their influence with their customers to attract donations. On his first full day back in Washington after a week of vacation at his home in Crawford, Tex., Mr. Bush appeared at the White House with his father and Mr. Clinton, who then accompanied him and Laura Bush on condolence visits to the embassies of Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. At the Defense Department, officials said the United States was planning to dispatch the Mercy, a Navy hospital ship based in San Diego, to Indonesia, where it will provide 250 beds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/04/international/worldspecial4/04prexy.html |
Cindy Adams 1.3.05 (Snip) HAPPY New Year, etc., etc. Much in formation, so pay attention: George Soros. You know the name. Hungarian-born billionaire, Nazi occupation survivor, age 74. Strong-minded, tough-willed, political activist, one of the world's richest men, he unloosed $5 billion to promote democracy in the Soviet bloc. Owns a slice of practically everything including jetBlue. Recall recent headlines for spending many of his own millions to try and defeat Bush's re-election? Well, he's suddenly worried Big Brother might now come after him. Unknown to practically everyone except windy Cindy is that Mr. Soros is quietly divesting himself, even as we speak, of anything in his private equity group that contains Third Party money. To circumvent what he frets could be the Bush Cabinet, a k a The Grim Reapers, coming after him in terms of SEC, FTC, IRS or any other initials, all's being sold off or spun away from him. Even shucking some stuff he personally owns outright. However, whatever's retained will be whatever has him as its sole investor with his own money of which he has approximately $16 billion, give or take an IRA. All will be placed into some newly defined entity. http://www.nypost.com/seven/01032005/gossip/cindy.htm |
