with all the money, clothing, food, etc. donations that have already been sent to help victims of the tsunami, i doubt very much a couple thou would make much difference there.
on the other hand, it could have a hell of an effect on my life if donated to equally worthy causes.
the first causes that come to mind would be us supreme court justices scalia and thomas--one of whom is very likely going to replace chief justice rehnquist.
neither is likely to object (pun intended).
according to court records, thomas has been given $42,000 worth of stuff (ranging from a $19,000 bible to a set of tires as well as a $5,000 check earmarked for his grandnephew's tuition) during the period 1998-2003. i dunno bout giving him cash though cuz that always seems so...i dunno...what's the word? impersonal! especially when there's a good alternative. while he can no longer run down to the corner to rent his own, im sure he still enjoys porn videos, fortunately, i have friends in the biz who'll sell em to me at cost so a couple grand worth oughta keep him happy for at least as long as the same amount of money would feed a medium-sized village.
unlike justice clarence--who appears to be receptive to receiving anything--scalia may be one of those judges for whom it's so difficult to shop. despite the temptation of spending some time in a secluded location with him and a loaded shotgun, ill pass on taking scalia duck hunting. too bad i got a weak stomach...cuz that kinda thing makes an impression on antonin. not that it would affect his objectivity in any way of course. one need only look to the last session to see how it didn't sway his vote on the cheney case.
don't get me wrong. i sympathize with all those people who lost their homes and families and livelihoods n stuff. it's just that i sympathize with myself more. and ya never know when i might have a case that goes all the way to the supreme court.
why not send somethin to sri lanka now and do the justices later? you ask. because according to the court's interpretation of the 1989 Ethics in Government Act--which states no federal employee, even judges, can accept "anything of value" from anyone who has 'official business before them'-- judges can accept gifts of unlimited value so long as the donor doesn't have a case in their court at the time the gift is given.
i qualify now. i might not next year should the fbi be able to connect me with any of those emails telling people how to deposit donations for tsunami victims into numbered account in some bank on malta.