Donate inaugural funds, Bush told

[cal04]

A TEXAS billionaire has a tip for US President George W. Bush: cancel his inauguration balls and donate the $US40 million ($53 million) saved to tsunami victims. Mark Cuban is the irreverent, outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team. He will not say how much he has given to the disaster victims, but the December 31 proposal on his website has generated controversy - and support - on the Internet.

"My point was that this was a great opportunity for the president to stand up and say that we are committed to aid, but we need to take a first step towards austerity so we can reduce the deficit," Mr Cuban said today via email. "A great way to demonstrate that first step would be to have the inauguration, but cancel the parties and request the uncommitted donations be donated to the relief effort," he said.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee, which is raising the $US30 million ($39 million) to $US40 million ($53 million) needed to cover costs from private donors, does not plan to cancel any of the nine inaugural balls or the three "candle light dinners" that donors of $US250,000 ($329,000) and $US100,000 ($132,000) get with the president and first lady.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11884410%255E1702,00.html

[Nikepallas]

1. I'm shocked and glad to see that.

[Child_Of_Isis]

2. Ha!

Someone finally said it.

[elshiva]

3. Right On!

Donate the inaugrul monies. Everyone knows you're the pResident, anyway, so who cares about it? Help out the Asians who really need it.

[mediaman007]

4. How about just donating the money left in his election account?

He shouldn't need that anymore...excpet he's probably going to hand it over to Jeb.

[elshiva]

24. Double Right On!

Bush is a smeghead!

[Malikshah]

5. Damn! I was hoping that this wouldn't happen

It's something that will gain the boy king sympathy and "gravitas" sentiments.

It is the one thing that he could do that would help slow down his slip into the black hole of approval rating slides...

Ok, I'm petty.

After all-- it is what a true leader would do.

[Bouncy Ball]

18. No the great thing is bush would NEVER cancel those

shindigs. So Cuban can call him out and he can look like the greedy ass bastard he is for thumbing his nose at the suggestion.

[w4rma]

23. LOL! Bush won't do it. He's no leader. (nt)

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Don't hold your breath. Bush and his cronies talk a good "values" show...

but they will NEVER give up the coronation parties, especially for something as meaningless to them as a tragedy as far away as SouthEast Asia. Not one of the attendees even knows one person who died in that tsunami!!!

[RamboLiberal]

7. Way to go Mark - I believe he's from my area of the country

originally - PA.

Here's his blog on this.

Do the Right Thing - Cancel Inauguration Parties

First, let me get my politics on the table. I’m an independent. I try to look at every issue with an open mind. I don’t have a favorite politician. I don’t donate money to politicians. I think any cause is better than getting a politician re-elected. I try to stay above politics and look only at the issues.

And there are plenty of issues.

As a country we face huge budget deficits. We face a declining currency. We have service people dying. We face responsibilities to help those suffering from the ongoing consequences and devastation from the Tsunamis. Then of course there are our obligations to our own citizens.

Responsibility. As a country we have taken on the responsibility of helping our own, and others around the world. That’s not a bad role. It’s a good role. They are among the many reasons I am proud to be an American.

What concerns me is that our politicians don’t understand that with accepting responsibility for providing financial support for ourselves and others comes the responsibility to pay the bills. As someone who has had more than one credit card confiscasted and scissored, I understand that its a lot more fun to look like a big shot charging up debt to pay for good deeds, then it is to write the check when the bills are due.

<snip>

How about it Mr. President? Can you take the first step? I can help you figure out where to start.

http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/1234000260025530/

[DemoTex]

8. First time ever I agree with Mark Cuban.

As a former resident of Dallas, and general critic of Cuban, I find his position on this "issue" very refreshing.

[girl gone mad]

15. I feel the same.

Cuban has always gotten on my nerves, but his blog statements are 100% correct.

[shanti]

16. i can say the same

mark cuban always made me cringe while watching him during basketball games, but i have to give him nuff props for this one.

[pinto]

9. LOL. Call them to put their compassion in action.Thanks for the find..n/t

[Erika]

10. Bush doesn't do sacrifice

He likes the good life.

[Edgewater_Joe]

11. Dear Mr. Cuban:

Call Ted Turner. Tell him you'll front him some dough in exchange for making CNN the REAL "liberal" media outlet the Wingnuts now falsely claim it is. Let Ted turn it into the Bush attack dog we desperately need. I will be in eternal gratitude for you.

Sincerely,

Lady Liberty

[pacifictiger]

27. Thats the problem with cnn these days

Ted's voice got sidelined when time-warner megacorp took over. Not much he can do any more.

[Karmadillo]

12. Any ideas on how we can unite to push this idea?

Donating the money is the right thing to do. People shouldn't die of disease and starvation just so a bunch of criminals can celebrate the ill-health of our democracy.

[leesa]

13. Good for him! I have no idea who he is but it's a grand thing to state

Of course, the greedy Republicans will never understand why they should do that.

[Ilsa]

21. He's an interesting character.

He made a snotty comment about someone "ending up working at Dairy Queen" and a comment about their abilities or educational level. The Dairy Queen people challenged him to go to work for them for a day, so he did! He's apparently a good sport and did a shift working at the DQ to show how hard you have to work, etc to keep the job. I find it intriguing that a wealthy person like MC can admit to his error on judgment.

I really hope his idea gets attention. It probably will in Dallas.

[struggle4progress]

14. kick

[Bouncy Ball]

17. Well hell's bells

THAT'S the first time I've EVER agreed with Mark Cuban. He normally comes off to me as an egomaniac, but DAMN!

I don't normally care what freepers think but I KNOW that has to have their heads fucking exploding!

LMAO!!!

[progressoid]

19. Why the hell would any of B* cronnies pony up any cash for the victims

Since they think God picked him to be the pretzeldent, it's just makes sense that God gave those heathens in Asia what they deserved too.

[The_Casual_Observer]

20. Hope bush chokes on a piece of beef at one of these shit deals

[Bouncy Ball]

22. I posted to his blog

guys go over there at that link and post comments of support! I did! Lots of foaming at the mouth bush idiots freaking out on him.

[aquart]

25. What did Cuban give?

[AgadorSparticus]

26. i have a newfound respect for mark cuban. wonderfully stated, too.

glad someone of prominence has the balls to say what we've been saying here on DU.

[lebkuchen]

28. I thought Rev. Moon paid for Bush's inaugurations

or is it only the breakfasts?

[Vektor]

29. Did Bush say...

"git outta mah face!" then challenge Cuban to a duel?

[Moderator]

30. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1131978