US Determined to Win Tsunami Donation Competition

I'm just waiting on the soundbite...

"When it comes to donating, we will prevail."

Is it just me, or has humanitarian aid entered the spin zone? There have been massive humanitarian disasters before, but I don't remember it ever having the same flavor as what we've seen from our government this time. It's almost as if there's been a flurry of meetings in the war room.

Gentlemen, the Japanese are kicking our assess with cash donations, what are we going to do?

Let's send over some aircraft carriers!

Yeah! Japan's not allowed to have those!

Ooh! Let's send Jeb Bush to Sri Lanka!

I know, let's wheel out Clinton and George H.W. Bush!

Do I smell Karl Rove??

Maybe I'm being too political, but doesn't this whole thing seem kind of pedantic? Why enlist two former presidents to get Americans to donate?

Did Dick Sargent call up Dick York for acting tips? Did Sammy Hagar call David Lee Roth to help promote Van Halen's new album??

There are lots of other things the President could do to get help. Why not do a live address to the nation from the Oval Office and appeal to all Americans to give? Or call up the California Governor and ask him to get on TV. "Crisis tuhminated".

I have no doubt that Americans are digging deep to help out. But hopefully we'll all remember that it's our giving reputation at stake this time. There are other formidable global givers out there hot on our tails. And being number two is very un-American.