Peter B. Lewis is still an ass.

In Steven Litt's article in today's Plain Dealer, the notably testy billionaire founder of Progressive Insurance and alleged pothead announced a new $101 million dollar gift to his alma mater, Princeton, while taking his latest dig at hometown Cleveland.

"Cleveland is not high on my list because it's all palaver," he said in the interview.

Who talks like that? I had to hit a dictionary to find out what the hell "palaver" meant. What a douche.

Lewis has been railing against local non-profit management for years, lashing out at Case Western Reserve University and causing it to dump a chunk of its board of trustees. Later he imposed a very public hiatus on his giving to any local non-profits, forcing leaders to trip over themselves to kiss his ass with changes and projects they thought would impress him.

The result?

“People don’t want to believe what I say. Nothing’s changed," he said in the article.

Predictably, the sucking up after his announcement is causing a waterspout on Lake Erie.

“He has shown himself to be an exceptionally generous person," said Michael Horvitz, chairman of the Cleveland Museum of Art. "If people want to be the object of his bounty, they have to show they’re deserving of it."

Lewis is “one of the most generous philanthropists alive," Ed Hundert, Case president said. "It’s inspirational to see his support for these wonderful causes."

The gift “proves once again, Peter Lewis is a remarkable philanthropist," Jill Snyder, director of Cleveland's Museum of Contemporary Art said.

Pussies.

The reason these non-profits haven't been able to win him over in all these years is because they're spending all of their time trying to second-guess what he wants, rather than pursuing a mission that's right for their organizations. You can just imagine hushed board meetings across the city. "I know this program will do nothing for our constituents, but do you think Peter will like it?"

And still they get nowhere in loosening his purse strings.

For all of his public posturing, I think Peter B. Lewis just wants someone, anyone to push back. With his power and money, I bet he's surrounded by so many "yes people" that he's just waiting for someone to call him on his shit. In fact, I think he would be so surprised if someone just bent him over his huge mahogany desk, whipped out a switch and smacked him across the ass he might change his cranky ways.

"That's right bitch!" the successful 501(c)3 dominatrix would scream. "We're building the art museum the way our patrons, board of trustees and architects want it. And you're going to take it hard and ask for more!"

I bet he writes a check faster than you can say, "Yes mistress."

Just as soon as she gives him a break from the lashings.