President Cheapskate

Attaturk doesn't make what the President makes, but he managed to reach into the bear-trap that is his wallet and gave a donation to help with relief in Southeast Asia -- I'm no Sandra Bullock (to put it mildly) but I managed. I know many of you have as well, and those who haven't have very good reasons for not doing so.

But what of Dear Leader? He's pretty well-off, has a steady, and sizeable income. What is he giving?

To help in what he called ''this urgent cause,'' Bush urged Americans to send money instead of other items and restrict their giving to ''reliable charities already providing help to tsunami victims.'' The Freedom Corps Web site -- www.usafreedomcorps.gov -- was providing a ''donate now'' link to five dozen such organizations.

Bush himself plans to make a personal donation but has not done so yet.

Does he have to apportion his allowance?