A senior North Pole official, operating under a grant of anonymity, provided a copy of a letter sent from the Congressional GOP leadership to Santa.

It starts like this: “We in the GOP Congressional leadership are concerned about the growing dependence in our nation on handouts, and the increasing expectation that you can get something for nothing. . . .”

On this ninth anniversary of 9/11, there will be politicians offering their thoughts, as well as more than a few preachers. My thoughts, though, turned to the late Buck O’Neil. Those who flew the planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania left a lasting monument to their hate. How we reacted — and continue to react — to the events of 9/11 speaks volumes about who we are. For myself, when I preach tomorrow morning, I can only hope to be as eloquent and powerful and inspiring as Buck.