All I can say is WTF???

All I can say to the Democrats via Pogo, “It ain’t that you is ignorant or dumb, it’s just that you is stupid but you have pretty brown eyes.”

“But, but, but, you wouldn’t want me to vote AGAINST CHRISTMAS, would you? Huh? WOULD YOU???” Feh.

707! That made my afternoon!

truely, I do despair

And the pandering just goes on and on. Disgusting.

From the full text button in the link to the bill:

(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and

But I guess bigotry and persecution of those other heathens is fine.

Jim.
Funny you should mention that as the author of the resolution was Steve King (R, Wingnut Iowa) who refused to vote in favor of a resolution honoring Ramadan.

I’m so damn fed up with my party, the Democratic Party, I could scream.

Yeah, tell it to Basra.

I’m so damn fed up with my party, the Democratic Party, I could scream.

At least a few Dems mustered the cajones to vote against this waste of time. Can’t say as much for any of the thugs.

From the text of the bill:

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others

Oh, ok — they’d love to “serve others” — but only on Christmas Day.

Guess on every OTHER day, the people of the U.S. and the troops can go fuck themselves. But We the People can’t reach them on Christmas Day. So I guess we’re fucked then too.

The Republicans under Bush intended to increase distrust and hatred between religions. Some sort of perverse ‘divide and conquer’ ideology perhaps. On this they have been very successful. Rove has got to be smiling. To Hell with them all.

OMFG. Bill Orally triumphs over Nancy Pelosi.

Go on fuckin’ vacation already, will ya? Just don’t forget to leave someone behind to open the Senate every coupla days.

The rest of you – dismissed!!!

OT..Oh..Boy:

Negative news coverage may have cost former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales his job, but it won him a dubious honor Wednesday from a magazine published by the American Bar Association: Lawyer of the Year.

link

OT – i read this post at openleft by matt stoller on fisa today. it begins:

I’m getting lots of questions about FISA and retroactive immunity. Honestly I have no idea what’s going on, and I stopped following Senate procedure a few weeks ago.

my first thought was, “wtf? are we not going to support dodd after he stood up on this?”

my second thought was this long comment left in reply.

tomorrow the senate judiciary committee meets to consider specter’s “compromise” fisa bill. after that there will be 2 or three bills for the senate to consider. the modified restore act was the biggest win (that i know of) by the house progressive caucus this year.

i know the “no retroactive immunity” campaign was a collaborative effort by matt, fdl, and other blogs… so, could someone tell me if the campaign is no longer active? i gave $$ to dodd and have made a ton of calls, so i’d sorta like to know. did i miss something?

The large picture, speaking for myself only, is that the Democratic Party has enabled the GOP agenda. There are of course exceptions to most, if not all the rules.

From the text of the bill:

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others

“Warning, Cannibals Ahead!”

Hi folks….

Every single minute, hour, and day we continue this ill-fated campaign in Iraq has taken lives needlessly.

All that potential gone forever.

Merry Christmas….

No worries, the supreme court will reject it out of hand for direct violation of the laws separating church and state

pelosi is an utter, complete, nauseating disgrace as house speaker. all that was important to her was getting there — that historical status as the first woman speaker. she has fuckall leadership abilities; tactical abilities; issue awareness.

and now we have discovered she is an accomplice to the commission of crimes against humanity.

my hope is she experiences another first — first house speaker of the united states to be convicted of war crimes.

In this Holiday Season, it is good to know that the world is once again safe for democracy, er, Christmas.

Listen, I was against the War On Christmas as you can see by examining my voting record. Not a single vote in favor of the RUMFAC (Resolution for the Use of Military Force Against Christmas) but now that we are in it (and doing so well), I think it’s time to put our differences aside and Support Our Troops>

Christians weren’t persecuted in Iraq under Saddam but now they must either flee or be killed. Merry Christmas!

I think this violates the 1st Amendment every which way, by respecting Christianity. Jesus is just alright with me. But Christianity as an organized religion has a history of persecution, torture, and oppression, and that is just with Christians fighting other Christians.

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

Mormons, not so much.

and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Congresskritters, not at all.

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

But scientists and engineers have contributed more. (Oh, and so have artists and writers and musicians.)

No argument from me, OKK. Most I was just observing the complete lack of negative votes on the part of the thugs.

I can’t say that I’m surprised by anything or any ridiculous bills that are passed by Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Democrats. To be honest, Pelosi has been a real disappointment and we as Democrats can only hope that she somehow is defeated in the 08 elections!

Negative news coverage may have cost former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales his job, but it won him a dubious honor Wednesday from a magazine published by the American Bar Association: Lawyer of the Year.

lawyer here hanging head in shame. (but NOT a member of the ABA)

Who did Abu beat out? Look toward the bottom:

Adams said the magazine’s picks “do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the ABA.” The American Bar Association is made up of about 400,000 lawyers in the United States.

Other high-profile lawyers that were nominated for the distinction included Goodling, the Justice Department’s liaison to the White House who quit in April amid the political firestorm; I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff who was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the investigation into the leaked identity of former CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson; and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the top prosecutor in Chicago who won the case against Libby.

Classy organization we’ve they’ve got there…

Now that Congress has come out firmly in defense of our constitutional right to practice the religion of our choice, as long as it is certain forms of Christianity, maybe they can now turn their attention to restoring our constitutional rights of free assembly, free speech, privacy…

Does anyone know why a vote from Pelosi is not recorded on this resolution? She is not listed either on the site linked to in the story or on the vote record on House.gov. She is not even listed as voting “present” or “not voting”. Is it common practice for the Speaker not to vote on resolutions?

Non-Christians celebrate “Christs” Mass?

I think they might celebrate the “War Against Christmas” non-religious version that this Amendment was likely trying to critique…but if they actually celebrated the RELIGIOUS holiday that would make them some sort of Christian (although likely not of an acceptable sort to the Bible Thumpers).

The criteria reflects the profundity of attorneys.

Cindy Sheehan

In terms of the Speaker doing anything “dumb ass”? I’m aghast!

The Speaker hardly ever votes. Her constituents, therefore, have the best of all possible worlds: a representative who doesn’t represent our views on the issues of the day (war, impeachment) and taxation without representation. Yay, San Francisco!

I guess Congress is saying it is OK to be a non-Christian, as long as you celebrate Christmas.

In fact the Speaker(s) rarely cast a vote.

henry waxman – aye
diane watson (my rep) – aye

wtf??

This is good timing, since I just this morning posted about The War on Solstice

Did the Speaker pass out candy canes to those who voted “Aye”?

Since when did April Fool’s Day get changed to mid December?

I also wonder what precisely most Christians do on Christmas day to “serve others”?

Usually that day is spent playing around with new toys and Christmas gifts, watching an NBA game, and gorging oneself. Some go out to watch a movie.

Non-Christians usually scamper on down to eat at a Chinese Restaurant run by local Buddhists.

I don’t even think that the local food-kitchens serve meals on X’mas.

I always thought April Fool’s Day had been moved to the first Tuesday in November.

I always thought April Fool’s Day had been moved to the first Tuesday in November.

I think that one is now known as “Fooled Day”.

A couple of times, my sister and I (nominally Christians) volunteered with some others to deliver Meals On Wheels to the elderly.

An amazing thing, doing Christian charity on Christmas Day.

Don’t they *know* that the little boy’s birthday they’re celebrating grew up to be Satan’s brother?

How much more this crap can we take? Leadership is required Speaker!

AP – Republican presidential rivals called Wednesday for deep cuts in federal spending, and said the reductions need not require painful sacrifice by the millions of Americans who receive government services.

Perhaps the House’s overwhelming support for this resolution reflects that, as with the USA PATRIOT Act, they did not have time to read it…

Truth is kiddo, they are almost correct. But not the way they think. It would just require turning off the corporate federal spigot (including the DoD) and closing all the corporate welfare loopholes.

Which means it will never happen.

That is from the text of what ever that thing is that they passed? This is not a joke?

Yech.

My Republic Rep appears to have been absent today. Why does he hate Christmas?

This is enough to put me off Christmas.

Lloyd Doggett, what are *you* doing voting for this creepy shit???

Lahoma and I will be serving Christmas dinner and washing dishes and mopping floors and whatever at the Salvation Army. Why? Because we believe in the “spirit of Christmas”. And we try our best to live up to the teachings of the Golden Rule. We fail sometimes. Sometimes, many times. It’s not too late to volunteer.

Okay, first thing I thought of when I heard of this bill was ‘What a waste of a house. What a waste of brain material’

Then I decided to reserve judgment until I knew who sponsored the bill. It was Steve King [R-IA], most likely trying to create a wedge issue that would become red meat for O’Reilly and other pundit morons. More red meat for vicious spinsters to attack with saliva flying from their gorgon mouths while meek viche democrats try to defend their votes.

Ultimately, this is a symbolic vote. What the Democrats have done is taken the red meat and eaten it themselves.

So I still don’t like this bill, obviously, for language reasons (why Christians, why not ‘all faiths’ – Honestly, could any congress critter just wedge -that- in before a vote?

But I think it means jack. Still, this could also be used to prove that congress is wasting everyone’s time. Well, thank the sponsor of that.

you know, when it’s my birthday I don’t go around wishing everyone else happy birthday, they wish me happy birthday on mine and I wish them happy birthday on theirs

how on earth could someone wish “merry christmas” to someone when they don’t know if it’s their holiday?

happy holidays does the trick very nicely thank you very much

Anyone want to tell the party leadership they got pwned on this one?

that’s the problem, Jane. we’ve been telling them that every effing day for around seven years, now.

what’s that definition for insanity, again? something about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results…?

possibly, they just. don’t. give. a. f**k.

To add to my comment, the majority of America would call themselves ‘Christian’ over any other significant denomination. The idea is to take those Christians and wedge them in between Right Wing talking points, like ‘The democrats do not want us to save Christians’ yada-yada-yada, in an attempt to split the Christians (church-goers or non-churh-goers, either way – both groups celebrate Christmas). Thus, the timing of this bill as well.

I’m waiting for the official Congressional “Merry Christmas from Guantanamo, Wish You Were Here!” cards. I’ll bet they’re all festive and shit!

Someone once drove up to me at a bus stop and handed me an envelope on Christmas. I don’t know why, I didn’t think I looked particularly homeless. But maybe they thought that anyone using a bus on X’mas must be in poverty. The envelope contained $5. I put a stamp on the envelope and sent it to the Loaves & Fishes…with $10 of my own. So I guess some folks do try, even if it’s in odd sorts of ways.

Tis the season!

A perfect Christmas song to our DemocratIC “leaders” in Congress:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM

“War is over if you want it…” repeat again and again.

It’a shame we can’t just live and let live. Of course I realize I’m naive.

I’m waiting for the official Congressional “Merry Christmas from Guantanamo, Wish You Were Here!” cards. I’ll bet they’re all festive and shit!

And, I understand the holiday cuisine is excellent down there:

Appearing on Fox News Tuesday night, long-shot GOP presidential candidate Duncan Hunter declared that opposition to waterboarding is “part of the Democrat blame America first” agenda and goes “right along with their desire to close Guantánamo, where the terrorists are gaining weight on American menus that include honey-glazed chicken and rice pilaf.” …

C’mon. We say this over and over again around here…for years now.

No matter how much we compromise and bend over backwards for Repubes, THEY WILL ALWAYS INSULT US AND MOCK US, AND THE MEDIA WILL HAPPILY PILE ON. Got it?

No amount of political and media chess moves will change that with the modern day Repube Party.

Never give them anything. Ever.

The ABA is certainly lucky that the writers are on strike. Of course some lawyer jokes just write themselves…

BobbyG,
Sure it wasn’t Honey glazed Ham?

Will the Democratic “Leadership” change next year if a Democrat wins the WH?

Not making this up. In California they proposed legislation making lawyer jokes “hate crimes.”

“War is over if you want it…” repeat again and again.

Just realized that last Saturday was the anniversary of John Lennon’s death. In retrospect, that’s pretty much when this country took it’s baby steps (electing Raygun) toward the path to Hell we now call home.

OT – today, driving in Austin, TX, I saw a big truck all done in camoflauge, with absolutely no identifying license plates front or back. what is that about? is this normal and i just never noticed it before?

I think it’s dumb to harp about this. I would take the opposite strategy and recognize every religion that requests a recognition. Make the Goppers vote no time after time. Show them for their religious bigotry and small tent.

Speaker Pelosi phone number: 202-225-0100

Speaker Pelosi FAX number: 202-225-4188

hmm, separation of church and state. how’d they deal with that?

“whereas the united states, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity.”

aha! guess my copy of the constitution didn’t come with the secret christian decoder ring…

Another extremely important issue is flag burning.

Repubs will just not let this “Democrat Party” childish game of theirs quit, will they?

Shrub was called on it at one point, and it seemed to stop for a bit at least with “reputable” outlets, but it’s back in full effect now. Some Dems need to make an issue out of this and call them on it everytime. The DNC would be a good group to counter this. It matters.

If we don’t, the Noize Machine will make sure it becomes permanent vernacular.

Congress has passed the “hooray for Christmas” act. Who says they can’t get anything done?

I do hope that this is covered in depth my MSM. The country should know and celebrate this great advance for true believers.

Was this act sponsored by WallMart?

Absoutely, given the rampant epidemic of flag burning that continues unabated.

Wouldn’t do much good. this whole resolution came about because of a Repub who was incensed that he was asked to vote in favor of a resolution honoring Ramadan.

They have no sense of irony.

OT – today, driving in Austin, TX, I saw a big truck all done in camoflauge, with absolutely no identifying license plates front or back. what is that about? is this normal and i just never noticed it before?

It was a Blackwater contingent picking up the strippers for their christmas party

hey, off topic but I just had one of my epiphame’s

you know how bill oh really and seah hanadeee use the old;

“do you want us to loose the war?” gambit?

I would love then next progressive guest on the bill oh really show to ask him;

“why are you helping the terrorists win?”

“don’y you want us to win the war against terrorism?”

“are you a coward?…what kind of patriot bows to the will of terrorists?”

things like that and then SLAM him with allowing officials to steal our information, SLAM him with allowing officials to break the obligations we have through our treaties, SLAM him with being a terrorist for enabling terrorism

man I would love to see him try to recover from THAT

Dozens of flags spontaneously combust every year; it’s just not very widely reported.

What makes me so frustrated and sad . . . it’s all a [never-ending political] game to them. If they *don’t* vote ‘aye’ and give Christmas a w00t, their opponents in the next election cycle can use it against them. They vote ‘aye’ and think hah! bluffed called, I win.

Makes me so mad and so sad and so disappointed.

Do these assholes know that the text specified in the Constitution for the oath of office of the President doesn’t include the word God, much less “Christ”? On second thought, don’t let them know about that or we’ll have another amendment in the offing.

Without having seen the truck I would guess it’s a US Army vehicle. Back in the day, a lot of military trucks were painted olive drab. Nowadays, I’d guess they’re painted in camoflauge colors instead. If there’s any ID on it, it would at most be a plate ID’ing the base it is assigned to.

OT..FISA

Senators Lobby Reid to Keep Telecom Immunity out of Surveillance Bill

TPM

Interesting..I guess Reid can decide which version is the “base bill”..also interesting that Webb is one of signers of the letter.

i would guess army too. there was no id whatsoever. this is normal?

I believe there was a deliberate effort to keep any mention of god out of the constitution

I also think thomas jefferson tried to get congress to pay for any religous services in congress to be payed directly out of congressman’s pockets and not on the government payroll

that movement failed to pressure but there you have it

One of the (many) sinister things here is that they’re providing prescriptions, in seemingly anodyne language, for what other religions should be about.

My Christmas carol to Congress: “Deck the Halls with Boston Charlie, Walla Walla, Wash an’ Kalamazoo! Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley, Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!”….”Bark us all bow-wows of folly, Double-bubble, toyland trouble! Woof! Woof! Woof! Tizzy seas on melom collie! Dibble-dabble, scribble-scrabble! Goof! Goof! Goof!”

Another snippet from the text

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Is there some relationship between the Bible and Constitutions, or Scripture and Republics that I don’t know about? The acknowledged Republic that structured our system of government was Rome…BEFORE it became Christian.

And our particular Constitution explicitly broke with other nations in Europe by rejecting an State establishment of religion…rejecting the idea of allowing four State sectarian religions (Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, Catholicism, Baptist) and acceding to the Rhode Island model of establishing none, and allowing the freedom of conscience in terms of faith. That even compelled the States themselves to extract out the Establishment clauses in their State Constitutions. As Colonies these States often persecuted minority sects and Non-Christian faiths. In 1791 Virginia was the second State to Constitutional accept religious freedom in its Constitution. The other States soon followed.

Much that really distinguishes Western Civilization from Eastern Civilizations is the movement away from literalist readings of scriptures and the rejection of superstitions. …though with Resolutions like this, one really has to wonder.

BTW Keith Ellison (Moslem) and Dennis Kucinich (Venusian) also voted for this travesty. I can’t make heads nor tails of the NAYS, though.

Well, yes. That point about the verbatim text of the oath not including God makes their point pretty clear.

Nancy “Torture-US” Pelosi has no business being Speaker of th anything. Just because she’s the first female speaker does not mean she’s (1)smart (2) a leader or (3) worth keeping in that role. I suspect that if the relatively intelligent activist residents of her district make a concerted effort, they could kick her sorry ass out of Congress and onto K street which is where she wants to go anyhow.

She no more has the best interests of the party at heart than Mitt Romney is going to convert to Catholicism.

I’m sick of Pelosi and Reid, their alleged “leadership” might not just cost us the majority, but any chance for real progressive change for decades, since they have perfected the art of “fold and run”.

Just sayin’.

Oh and Hi, Jane!!!

Well, when I was in the AF, most of the various trucks just had some small lettering on the door and maybe a tag on the rear with something like HAFB (for example – standing for Hickam Air Force Base). Army probably has less ID’ing features.

I substituted the U.N. flag for the U.S. flag right after 9/11 & won’t fly the U.S. flag again until after W leaves the prez.

and a hrumpf, and a hrumpf, a HRRRRRRUMPF.

Actually, my reply to tw9ff @71 would be: Congressional Democrats should have filibustered…with Christmas carols.

Somewhere Bill-O is buying a round of felafels for everyone….

In the old Army the unit to which the vehicle was assigned in the TOE was painted on the “bumpers”, if you will, front and back. In code, of course — “123rd, 1″, for example.

This drives me absolutely fucking nuts, the historical illiteracy, the falsification of history. They think we have Mosaic Law or something?

do you think he leaves willingly?

is there an “event” planned that will “suspend the constitution”, that will “suspend congress”, that will “suspend elections”?

I really have to keep making this point, there is no way they are amassing all this power for hillary

and no matter what some people think about them deluding themselves, there is NO way they think they are gonna win the general election UNLESS they control the voting booths.

I cannot believe anyone thinks they are amassing this power for hillary or whoever is the democrat to take office

they are not

Frankly I’m relieved. I was afraid the Speaker was going to decide that this Christmas issue was off the table.

so, I notice now preview works for just about everyone, there is a notification that tells us there is a new thread, the site is blazing fast

I am to make prediction;

edit to return in two weeks

*crosses fingers*

perris,
I don’t believe these clowns ever thought that far ahead. Given how limited they’ve shown themselves in both the willingness and ability to plan for anything, it never entered the equation.

Good idea. ;0)

Maybe they’ll impeach Mohammed.

Alternative conspiracy theory: Hillary’s in on the fix.

Apparently the Clintons are going to accuse Obama about “drugs”. Good old fashioned trash, those Clintons.

I think that is a little optimistic

I am certain they planned ahead for the shock in Iraq, I am certain they planned for the shock after 9/11, whether or not the attack was part of the plan is for another discussion but they were certainly prepared for “if” a catastrophy occurred

do not fool yourself

they are not amassing this power for hillary, they are not amassing this power for a democrat

something is going to happen

thanks for the responses re the army truck i saw. i didn’t realize it was the norm.

Well, the truth is, Macy’s and Wal-Mart along with other retailers offered them a 20% discount if they passed this bill. It fulfills good shopping deeds.

Fern, this one might seal the deal:

Sweatshop Christmas? China’s Tainted Goods
from ABC News: Top Stories
A report alleges abuse in the making of holiday ornaments sold in the U.S.

but here’s the real scary conspiracy theory;

pelosi is in on it too…does anyone have ANY clue why “impeachment is off the table”?

any clue at all?

hmmm

opens teh can of worms right there, no?

I found this on a Baptist website…it’s a tract dating from 1931 and amazingly argues that one of the critical doctrines of Baptists is separation of Church and State! The author argues that what sets Baptists as more Biblical than the Catholic Church is that principal and the failure to consolidate into “national organizations” with leaders.

He argues that the Baptists at the Constitutional Convention opposed an Amendment pushed by Patrick Henry to allow four official religions…and instead supported Madison and Adams in the “Rhode Island”-based Freedom of Religion clause.

He also complains about the payment of of military and Congressional clergymen, as well!

Trail of Blood

Funny how the Southern Baptists are the most adamant about imposing their religious views into legislation today.

Actually, I don’t spend much time thinking about things that I can’t figure out. If you’re right, then we’ll just have to deal with it when it happens.

Obviously the pertinent question is: did Obama inhale?

I caught something about Tony Blair making an appearance in the Christmas Barneycam. I thought it was a joke but I looked at the video anyway. My gawd, it’s not a joke.

Talking Jesus Doll Sells Out Faster Than Most Christian Televangelists
from Huff Po by The Huffington Post News Editors

Wal-Mart has sold out of its Talking Jesus Messenger of Faith doll, a spiritual action hero that spouts classic Jesus-isms like, “Love others as much as you love yourself,” and “I am Jesus. I am the son of God.” Says a spokesman for the manufacturer, “We feel blessed that the toys are now in the hands of thousands of children, teaching them the word of God.”

Missed the chance to get your Talking Jesus doll? (And not satisfied with celebrating the arrival of the real Jesus this Christmas?) Don’t worry! 23/6 brings you an entire catalog of religious talking dolls. Click on the audio player below each one to hear them speak!

I was baptized into two very different churches. Once in the Catholic church (for my mother) and once in the Southern Baptist church (for my father). True story. And there you have it. That’s why I’m so screwed up. And to make matters worse, I don’t go to any churches.

Just got off the phone with Pelosi’s office. Thanked her for the O’Reilly bill, not that there were any issues with the economy, healthcare of the Iraq war to deal with. Way to go…disheartening.

I remember Lennon being killed as the double whammy, after Reagan being elected. Couldn’t believe it, didn’t think it could get worse. Was I wrong.

Actually, it takes very little to put me off Christmas.

Is that what you call this? ”leadership”?

I know mentally retarded people with more leadership ability than these clowns. For that matter, I know mentally retarded beagles with more leadership ability than these clowns.

The day after John Lennon died, I was quoted in the local newspaper saying that there was some kind of relationship between that event and Reagan’s recent election…both suggested a rise of meanspiritedness in America. My grandfather, a lifelong Republican, told me he could see my point. I can only imagine what he would think of the current crop of wingnuts, or of the abomination that is the Bush presidency.

Thank you. I had forgotten about that. Pogo?

I just wrote my representative in Congress praising him for passing this important resolution that protects the small minority in this country who practice the Christian faith. They are so vulnerable without this single sentence of support from our Democratic leaders. Now the children can sleep peacefully again.

Such fools we voted into office.

They passed a similar resolution regarding Ramadan and Muslims. I’m not sure this is worth getting worked up over.

Rachel Maddow (sp?) guest on Hardball, completely flustered Tweety by saying that Alan Keyes won the R Iowa debates.

Another extremely important issue is flag burning.

and a suggestion that the politicians who are covering their asses with the flag are included in the burning as well, meteorologically metaphorically speaking.

Other than that the sponsor of this resolution was offended to be asked to vote in favor of the Ramadan resolution, you are correct.

My point is this: it’s a symbolic vote, nothing more.

The whole thing sounds like something that would have occurred in one of those mock legislatures that high school kids go to.

Not the Congress of the United States of America.

Yes. You have not heard the terrific good news. Cutting taxes increases the amount of money the government actually collects. It is a voodoo phenomenon only known to supply side economists and the ultra wealthy. With this same magical wand the Republicans can also cut government spending while increasing benefits to constituents. They have perfected this form of magic, much to the disgust of almost 30% of their base who claims Jesus is the cause of this phenom.

Symbolic votes is the specialty of our esteemed Congress.

Didn’t Bush Senior claim that stuff didn’t work, at least, until Reagan made him VP?

The phrase he used was “VooDoo economics.” Until Ronnie offered him the VP slot at which point (to quote Doonesbury), Bush SR put his principles in a blind trust.

That was one of the funnier more transparent flip flops of modern political history. Along with 41’s no new taxes lip synch.

No argument there. But I’m not getting upset over a vote on Christmas.

Decided to Wiki Mark David Chapman and GUESS WHUT? He’s *now* an evangelical Christian who “told his parole board hearing in 2004 that, if released, he would like to minister on Jesus and God.”

Isn’t that special?

Does anyone know if Rudy giggled at the Iowa debate? The clip they’re playing on Hardball suggests he’s taken the 12 Steps toward a giggle-free life.

I substituted the U.N. flag for the U.S. flag right after 9/11 & won’t fly the U.S. flag again until after W leaves the prez.

You may have to wait until there is a legit administration even so.

Yes. Bush Sr. was the coiner of the VOODOO economics phrase while campaigning against Reagan. Reagan ended up moving away from supply side as well after his policies failed and he was forced to raise taxes. Of course this was back when the Republican party actually cared about Deficits. The new Cheney supply siders argue that defecits do not matter. Of course they don’t because they will not be around to be accountable for them.

They passed a similar resolution regarding Ramadan and Muslims. I’m not sure this is worth getting worked up over.

Did they pass one for Hindus? Buddists? Atheists? Pastafarians?

Where does it stop?

jesus fucking christ. what about separation of church and state? i am sick to death of all this religion talk – i am appalled that a single penny of mine would pay these clowns to pull shit like this. why don’t the fucking democrats just back huckabee for pres and be done with it?

Didn’t mention that I reserve the right to fly the U.N. flag in perpetuity. Until the U.S. becomes a country that seems reasonable again. Won’t necessarily happen under Hillary.

It’s actually a fun way to make a statement. Outside of folks here (who also are adept at google), almost no one knows what it is. I don’t do lawn signs, bumper stickers, or other overt political acts. This one’s subtle because only I know what I’m saying. The ultimate inside joke.

My wingnut son, on occassion of his 21st birthday in June 02, insisted the U.S. flag go back on the country house while his friends partied there. I granted his wish, as it was a special occassion. Otherwise, I either avoid politics with him, or give him grief.

That is excellent news! Clinton, Obama, Biden, and Dodd all signed on! How can Harry refuse when he’d be going against the next President?

good on Bobby Scott (D-VA-3)

“Madam Speaker, this resolution purports to protect the symbols of Christmas, but what really needs to be protected are not the symbols of Christmas, but rather the spirit of Christmas. The spirit of Christmas demands generosity and goodwill towards others.

“Instead of legislation that respects the spirit of Christmas, Congress in just these past few weeks has passed a budget that includes mean-spirited attacks on the least of us. For those who are hungry, we are cutting food stamps. For those who are sick, we are cutting Medicaid. For those who are in prison, we are imposing senseless mandatory minimums. For others we are ignoring increases in heating costs and cutting student loans. At the same time we are cutting those programs to help the least of us, we are cutting taxes for the wealthiest in society.

“Madam Speaker, we ought to express our passion for Christmas through deeds, not words; and we should not be distracted from our responsibility to uphold the spirit of Christmas as we consider the effects our actions on the Federal budget will have on the least of us during this holiday season.

“For these reasons I oppose this resolution.”

http://www.house.gov/list/pres…..pirit.html

THanks for that link, I’ve sent it on to several people who will be interested in it.

OT But I think that Mukasey may not be able to oversee any investigation on the Zubaydah tapes. Seems that as Judge Mukasey he signed off on the FISA warrants that allowed the FBI to surveil Jose Padilla. And as a major, triggering, bit of evidence offered to him to allow that investigation the DOJ used the confessions of Abu Zubaydah. Remember that Padilla was tried in US Courts and is a US Citizen…he’s not a foreign enemy combatant.

Those confessions had to be voluntarily offered to be legal. Thus the DOJ either foisted illegally obtained confessions onto Mukasey…OR he knew that they were obtained through water torture. In either case he is NOT an uninterested party. He is a witness.

Furthermore, Mukasey was the one who ruled against Padilla bringing Zubaydah into court to testify about how they may have been tortured to offer up his name. He said there was no evidence of coercion in the confession. Well now there is!

Mukasey needs to start the process to appoint a Special Prosecutor! Mukasey knows that he has to withdraw from decision-making on this.

oh boy– that quote from Scott was from 2005 according to the link– I never knew they tried it before.

well, I guess he’s not changed his mind ’cause he voted no again.

(things have only gotten worse anyway)

Thank you for your insights, fwiw I am in accordance with your stand and think your “gift” at the 21st showed respect for the day it was.

Now that we have the important matters of Turkish conduct in the early 1900’s and the sanctity of Christmas out of the way, maybe we can address some minor issues like the Iraq war or the destruction of the US constitution.

-G

It’s beginning to look a lot like George III, King of England in ole Wiretap America.

The house didn’t just uphold Christmas, it upheld Christianity in a country where a quaint dead document pushed Separation of Church and State. We used to have a Constitution with a First Amendment that said they were to be separated, although the words “separation of church and state” aren’t in it literally, and either Madison or Hamilton depending on which scholar you beleeve wrote in one Federalist Paper.

“In a free government, the security for civil rights must be the same as for religious rights.”

In Article VI, paragraph 3, the Constituion states that state and federal office holders “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

Pretty appropriate in a Presidential Campaign where the President will in all likelyhood be decided in Iowa on Jan. 3 in the Democratic primary (although some believe New Hampshire and South Carolina could matter if the Hill robot wins in Iowa, and the two leading Republican candidates in Iowa are arguing about whose brother Satan is.

One of them,the Mittster, has affirmed his religious tolerance by banning Muslims from the imaginary Cabinet he’ll never appoint, even though there is a Muslim in Congress, and possibly more than one.

I know when I assess a Presidential prospect, the first thing I need to drill is who the hell does he think Satan is a brother to as Iowa leader Mike Huckaby puts focuses important attention. And the questions eminate from there. What kind of SUV would Satan drive, and would he drag race his brother? Nothing like Satan as the focus of a Presidential campaign.

Huckabee–the candidate who makes you think what the devil would do

Best. Headline. Ever.

Apparently, like Christ….Christmas divides like a sword as well.

Yes, that’s right, the truth divides.

The resolution is much ado over nothing. And so is the furor over it.

Well, this is wonderful-we have no other problems facing us and I am sure the Founding Fathers are so proud they are dancing a jig in the afterlife. Oh, wait, that’s the sound of them spinning in their graves. Never mind. Great leadership there, Nanc.