Jeb Bush in southeast Asia

I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised to hear that Jeb was accompayning Colin Powel to SE Asia. What I'm stumbling on is why? Is big brother making an attempt to give baby brother some "presidential" exposure? Is this some foreshadowing of a Republican move to perhaps put this buy up for the Presidency in 2008?

Regardless, here's to hoping my tax dollars are not going to send a non-federal politician on a foreign aid mission. If I were a Floridian, I'd be wondering if my state tax dollars weren't, in part, going to fund this little boondoogle. If I were a card carrying member of the republican party I'd be wondering too. I'd be wondering what on earth this Jeb guy was possibly going to contribute to the whole operation. Its not like anyone there either knows or cares about him. Hell, they don't even care about his brother (fearless leader).

This happens all the time in politics and you never hear about anything productive coming from these visits...I recall Giulani used to go on these all the time too and I'm sure the Democrats are just as careless. Still, it just seems like a waste of $10K to me.