Don't Let The Donald Steal Christmas

He'll put the merry in and take the cheer out

Christmas may have survived secularists, but can it survive Trump? During his victory lap around the county, he has been proclaiming to ecstatic throngs that he'll

Jim Gill

make America say Merry Christmas again. I note in my column for The Week:

[B]orrowing a page from Bill O' Reilly's book and publicly shaming businesses that he deems aren't paying sufficient obeisance to Christmas. (O'Reilly, incidentally, believes that replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays" is a part of a "secularist-progressive conspiracy" to advance such nefarious ends as legalization of narcotics, abortion on demand, and euthanasia.) For example, Trump has constantly slammed Starbucks for redesigning its cups to emphasize a generic holiday — rather than one with an explicitly Christmas theme. He's even threatened to evict the coffee shop from his hotel and has encouraged his fans to boycott it.

But this will only put the "merry" in Christmas at the risk of taking the "cheer" out.

Go here to read the column.

Comments

[AlmightyJB]

That's not all he'll put in and out.

[Playa Manhattan.]

Go here to read the column.

Not on your life.

[AlmightyJB]

You don't want to be put to sleep by her droning?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Is there a chance a track could bend?

[AlmightyJB]

Nice:)

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

I'm thinking that should be a response to any Dalmia article from now.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

That is one of the classic Simpson scenes that everyone knows, like Bort and like Santa's Little Helper eating a ladybug.

[???? ??????, Jr.]

Dogs should not eat ladybugs.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

I know most commenters hate Shikha, especially the conservatives in libertarian clothing, but I am a true contrarian and therefore enjoy her articles.

[Hyperion]

Ah, comedy fan, I see.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Always

[Jimbo]

"Gilmore, do these libertarian clothes make me look fat?" - CMW

[Robert]

I did. She's continuing the insinuation that Trump is mean. Projecting that he'll do mean things. But I just can't see him as a meanie.

[Suicidy]

Trump ISN'T a big meanie?

[I can't even]

That's right. She voted for Hillary because she is so nice - and right thinking.

[__Warren__]

Donald John Trump has put the mas back into Christmas!

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

I thought he put mas back in "massa"?

[Jimbo]

No,no,no...he put the "mas" back in masican butt sex

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Sorry, Reason, you went to the well one too many time. I'm Dalmiad out.

??????? ?? ????, those who believe it! I mean, I don't, but it's fun to put Cyrillic in from time to time.

[???? ??????, Jr.]

I made out the word "porn", but that's it.

That what ???? is, right?

[kbolino]

"We don't even have a language, just this stupid accent!"

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

I'm assured it kills with the ladies.

[Suicidy]

"Hon hon hon!"

[Robert]

Everything on the Internet is porn some way or other. And porn, porn, porn!

[Ted S.]

I think you need to use real Cyrillic, and write something like ??????? ???????!

Now to write another sentence or two so that the server squirrels don't bitch about how much non-English I've used.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

That Cyrillic is real, sir. It just happens that South Slavs stripped their language of all the poetry and charm that Russians and Ukrainians kept!

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Wait, are you a Slav too?

[Ted S.]

I majored in Russian in college.

[Animal]

Ah, but did you Czech your privilege?

[Duke of url]

Well done.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Czechs do like to engage in existential bitching, and they have the highest incidence of atheism in the world.

[Animal]

Probably because they're always Hungary.

[Jimbo]

I majored in passing!

[Robert]

"Christos podilsya!" Chris needs podiatry for his ill toes?

[Robert]

"Christos se rodi." Chris toes say, "Roadie"?

[Robert]

Oh, I get it. Chris needs podiatry because his toes have spent too much time on the road.

[kbolino]

Don't Let The Donald Steal Christmas

Yes, that is a real thing and it's totally going to happen.

[Hyperion]

Dude, he's gettin on his grinch jammies right now, the onesies, and he's gonna come down your chimney and get your stuff!

If he actually really did that to Shikha, I would laugh. I want to see video.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

If Trump wanted to steal Christmas, it's be so huge, so successful, you'd all become Jewish overnight!

[Quo Usque Tandem]

Oy to the world.

[???? ??????, Jr.]

All right, will do.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

I think you meant to say "Oi to the world."

[MarconiDarwin]

It's even worse than Obama coming to grab your guns

[Fist of Etiquette]

This won't de-escalate the culture wars but ramp them up with religious minorities forced ever more into progressive arms for protection through courts and lawsuits. It'll also force millions of folks, like my husband and me, who aren't super religious and therefore happy to embrace the cultural default to reexamine whether we are now aiding and abetting a dangerous form of majoritarianism.

Alternately, you could unfollow the president-elect and just do you.

Presidents have a bully pulpit but usually that doesn't mean much. Was Obama able to enact gun control? Get Fox News ignored as a news source? Get Hillary elected? Its power is diminished.

[Bubba Jones]

Obama was able to block sales of spent military brass and really fck up the ammo market for months/years.

So while you are correct that he failed in his stated goals, he did succeed in his unstated goal of just being a dick to gun owners.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Yes, while at the same time being a boon to gun and ammo sales. There is power in presidential blunder, I suppose. But that was due to a perception of enacting regulation, which I don't think anyone is reasonably suggesting Trump is going to try here.

[PapayaSF]

"Religious minorities," huh? Can you name more than one in this group, Shikha, or is this just a euphemism?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Zunists, Zoroastrians, Tengri, Jews, Orthodox who follow Julian Calendar...

[Suicidy]

Don't forget Ralians.

[John Titor]

It doesn't count if you're just naming Crusader Kings 2 factions.

[kbolino]

I'm pretty sure every time Dalmia says "religious minorities" in the context of the U.S., Hindus are part of the definition.

[PapayaSF]

Yeah, but which "religious minorities" is Trump supposed to be "ramping up" culture wars with?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

All of them. He just grabs them by the cassock, and they let him. They let him!

[kbolino]

For Dalmia, the answer to that question would depend on the day of the week.

[Hyperion]

And Buddhists, didn't you hear about Trump's planned Buddhist ban?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Good thing is, Buddhists are not supposed to care about it!

[Jimbo]

Don't believe that, it's just a Trappist.

[Bill Dalasio]

If you're basing your life on support or defiance of Donald Trump, or any politician for that matter, you should probably take some time to re-examine you life choices and at least consider professional help.

[Hyperion]

OMG!, we just went and bought lots of good food to cook and lots of alcohol and now it's ruined cause the Donald gonna steal it, waahhh wahwahhwahh waaahhhh!!!!

[AlmightyJB]

Yes, I always look to politicians to dictate my holiday cheer level.

[Hyperion]

I hear that Trump's election has stopped some progs from having orgasms. Seriously, you can't make this shit up.

[PapayaSF]

I saw that. Women losing libido because they're so upset.

[Hyperion]

Good thing my wife is a Trumpet I guess, lol.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Welp, scratch another sentence from "said by no one ever" list!

[Hyperion]

I'm sure my wife is not the only female Trumpet in the country. Sure the rest of them are white girls living in Alabama who still wear tube tops and drink Bud light, but still...

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

There's a fact that they exist. But, being glad for it, that was a bridge too far, I thought...

[Hyperion]

I think you missed the entire point, never mind...

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Or my joke landed flat...
Eh, I'd rather be thought dumb than unfunny any day of the week.

[Hyperion]

No, I got your original joke about something on one else has ever said. But I had started out making a play on it because of the Hillary supporters losing libido... Oh well, things go awry around here sometimes.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Yes, one punchline per joke! Trying to riff usually ends up in disaster (Monty Python Exception always in effect).

I'm mostly militant about that rule, and turns out, for good reason...

[AlmightyJB]

"white girls living in Alabama who still wear tube tops"

I'll be in my bunk

[DOOMco]

kinda sounds like she blows.

[BigT]

Paging Swiss!!

[Swiss Servator]

I'm late, but....

*narrows gaze*

[MarkLastname]

I believe they're called sTrumpets

[Chipper Morning Wood]

"Not tonight, honey, Trump is president."

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Holy fuck, are we going to see Lysistrata revived?! It could be the next Hamilton!

[BigT]

Fewer little progtard kids is a good thing. Also fewer abortions!

[Suicidy]

It's just an excuse for the progtard beta males lacking the.......capacity........to give them a good deep kicking.

[Jimbo]

I tricked him, I drank it all!

[The Fusionist]

To be fair, Christmas observance isn't really part of the purview of the President, if the office is understood in terms of its constitutional limitations.

And the "Happy Holidays" nonsense is simply politeness run amok - and it still reminds people that there are holy days at this season of the year, so it doesn't even accomplish its don't-offend-secularists objective.

[Christophe]

The hard-core antireligionists have moved on to "Season's greetings" instead, for that reason.

[BigT]

Super Solstice, dude!

[PurityDiluting]

On this eve of Christmas Eve, I wish the Commentariat a very Merry Christmas indeed.

[Hyperion]

Happy day before the day before Christmas, rat fucking shitlord of the cisheteropatriarchy!

[Jimbo]

And to you as well

[Hyperion]

Look at that caricature of the Donald. For lack of better words, it looks like a Chinese Bolshevik. It's totally racist. Who knew that Dalmia is racist?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Holy shit, it's the next President of North Korea.

[JayU]

I do find it interesting how it's apparently OK to make fun of Trump for having orange skin, bad hair and small hands.

But don't you body shame or make fun of someone's appearance you dirty mother fucker, you.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Well, he chooses to wear orange foundation and hay bail hair, but being fat is hormonal.

[AlmightyJB]

What class looks like

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38413905

[The Fusionist]

That poor kid was lashing out because he doesn't have a face.

[The Fusionist]

But yes, it's a great Christmas story.

[Rufus The Monocled]

'BLACK SLAVERY?! WHAT THE FUCK DO I CARE ABOUT NIGGERS WHEN I GOT NO FACE!?!"

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Jeebus, Rufus. That didn't sound very canucky.

[BigT]

Did he grab her black cat?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

That portends bad luck in the future.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

I mean, it's nice and all, but - does this woman not understand how incentives work?

[Suthenboy]

Reason doesnt. Shikha keeps writing hysterical, incoherent gibberish and Reason keeps writing checks.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Hey, this one might break 100 comments. I mean, maybe four are article related and mostly because we didn't get the red meat of AM Links, but clicks are clicks, man.

[Hyperion]

There's nothing else to comment on.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

I guess this is the official PM links thread.

[Mr. Paulbotto]

In the spirit of Lysistrata above, the commentariat should just stop commenting on days like this until they provide us lynx.

[Hyperion]

This kid is no dummy. First he insults her, then he gets a hug. She's pretty cute, kid is a playa!

[CatoTheChipper]

Does this qualify as "negging"?

[Suthenboy]

Not what I was expecting. You are correct. That is class.

[GILMORE?]

Check out the linked video

"Does America have a race problem? ALL THE EVIDENCE SAYS YES. But not everyone agrees. Surveys show that black people think race is an issue, while white people don't. "

He's going on a journey into the Mind of White America.

I expect it to look something like this

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Gavin did it already.

[GILMORE?]

The thing i mentioned above is some news-doco thing on the BBC. I couldn't link to it because it was embedded in the original story (way above)

here is the thing i'm talking about.

The concept of there being "two Americas" is almost as old as the nation itself.

From the outset there were the landowners, the ruling class - the "haves". And then there were the have-nots.

That divide has been economic but also racial, with minorities claiming a disproportionately small share of the nation's substantial wealth.

And yet, a 2013 Pew Research Center study showed that half of white Americans surveyed do not feel that African Americans are treated less fairly by the police, employers, doctors and others. Only 13% of blacks felt the same way.

Amid the current backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement and increasing wealth disparity, Clive Myrie from the BBC's This Week's World delves into what white Americans understand - or don't - about race.

[kbolino]

When I think of authorities on race relations in America, the first people that come to mind are Brits.

[GILMORE?]

i laughed

[Jerryskids]

The concept of there being "two Americas" is almost as old as the nation itself.
From the outset there were the landowners, the ruling class - the "haves". And then there were the have-nots.

"Must be a king."
"Why?"
"He hasn't got shit all over him."

I guess that joke never would have worked in any country other than America since there's never been an example of a rigidly stratified class system dividing the haves from the have-nots anywhere else in the world at any other time in history.

[DesigNate]

Do you think they realize that the vast majority of white people in America didn't own land back then?

[AlmightyJB]

"Gavin did it already"

The Myth of the Nobal Savage

[Trigger Hippie]

He's going on a journey into the Mind of White America.

I was expecting a Wes Anderson movie.

[Crusty Juggler]

The Rockettes agree!

Would would would wouldn't wouldn't would would would wouldn't would would.

[AlmightyJB]

I can't see the pic all that well on phone but just to be safe I'll go with would all.

[The Fusionist]

You realize that one of them used to be a boy named Steve, right?

(let's see how much milage this rumor gets before I explain it was a joke)

[AlmightyJB]

What I don't know won't hurt me.

[Swiss Servator]

I knew a 1LT who married a Rockette - he smiled a lot.

[Troy muy grande boner]

Would would would would would would would would .....

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

Trump's gonna bring out the girls.

[The Fusionist]

The real thing: Scientists recreate Santa Claus's face
Researchers in Liverpool use facial reconstruction to produce image of St Nicholas [of Myra]

They used data based on 1957 measurements of the skull in Bari, Italy, back when scientists were given access for that sort of thing.

Bonus fun fact - his nose was once broken. Did Arius give him a return punch?

(huh-huh, Christmas punch)

[Hyperion]

OMG, Santa is a white dude! Christmas is controlled by the patriarchy, I knew it!

[AlmightyJB]

Reminds me of some B-list actor. Older, always the strong, silent earnest type. I keep thinking of David Morse but I'm thinking it's someone else? The eyes mainly.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Younger George Kennedy? Although maybe more Martin Balsam in Tora!Tora!Tora!?

[Ted S.]

Ben Kingsley?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

That needs a "when you nutted but she still sucking" caption.

[The Fusionist]

It does?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Yes, because Saint Nick's "dead inside" eyes make that a funny caption.

[Christophe]

It's not a bad opinion column expect for the part where things go from "Donald Trump says silly things and participates in unnecessary culture war" to "Here's the worst thing he could do with presidential power, should he be inclined to" to "And that's why Trump is Terrible".

It's not as bad as progs going full BushTrumpHitler, but it's unlikely to convince anyone who didn't already assume he's going to be maximally terrible.

[Domestic Dissident]

Merry Christmas, Dipshit Scumbagetta!

[Crusty Juggler]

Joe Biden: America's strongest woman was a capricious snob

[The Fusionist]

Hey, you take back that insult against Cynthia Rothrock!

[Chipper Morning Wood]

+1 scorpion kick

[Suicidy]

+10 Torpedo tits.

[GILMORE?]

"She thought she had no choice but to run," he said. "That, as the first woman who had an opportunity to win the presidency, I think it was a real burden on her."

Trying to turn Clinton into a Christ figure who sacrificed her personal desires to undertake a great labor on behalf of all of us...?

(slow clap) Bravo, Biden. That is some Class-A poop-shining.

No, she totally wasn't a power-hungry narcissist who sought the presidency because it was her sole goal in life to rule with an iron fist over all those that had thwarted her in the past.... She was doing charity work.

[Libertarian]

You want a Christ figure? I'll give you a Christ figure! Sorry for the spoiler, but here is how this opinion piece wraps it up. I'm an atheist, but Jesus Christ, the phrase "for all the bloviating about Jesus of Nazareth this time of year" deserves some kind of obliviousness award. Welcome to the Northeast Florida Lefties:

"For all the bloviating about Jesus of Nazareth this time of year, keep in mind that upon his coming and going, nothing really changed. The same cannot be said for Barack Hussein Obama II."

http://folioweekly.com/The-Cross-of-OBAMA,16646

[Suthenboy]

Totally not a cult. Nope.

These people creep me the fuck out.

*shivers and goosebumps*

[BigT]

You know who else the same cannot be said for ...

[DesigNate]

Holy. Shit.

[Trigger Hippie]

I...Christ's existence changed nothing...Christ.

[Bill Dalasio]

When someone says something so unfathomably stupid that stunned silence is the only fitting response.

[Jerryskids]

Becca Swanson.

[commodious lies and cheats]

"Son of a gun. We may lose this election," Biden recalled thinking. "They're all the people I grew up with. They're their kids. And they're not racist. They're not sexist. But we didn't talk to them."

Shame you didn't communicate that sentiment to Clinton's campaign before she started hectoring them as bigoted throwbacks and resurgent white nationalists.

[The Fusionist]

Hasn't this professor heard of Homey Claus?

[Rufus The Monocled]

After reading that in The Week no less, I have to wonder why is Dalmia on the Reason roster.

I'm not sure what I just read.

[Marshall Gill]

The greatest Liberty of all is the Liberty to live immigrate.

[SIV]

Merry Christmas, Shikha !

[Hyperion]

Look, dude. Trump has already stolen her Christmas and ruined those 100 fawning Hillary first woman president articles she had planned. She could have been the next Brian Beutler! You're just mean.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

She could have tried to get some of them into Newsweek "yeah she lost, but here's a bunch of articles written for her victory" feature. No initiative!

[Hyperion]

She could have just edited them a little. This is what 'should' have been, but white dudes and Putin.

[DenverJ]

Dude, Putin is a white dude!

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Merry Christmas, SIV!

[The Fusionist]

The latest outrage

"To make our panettone, we could have used tofu, papaya, seitan, seaweed, and cooked it for 30 seconds in the microwave... But no! We made it by following our recipe, the original one since 1919. Since always."

[Rufus The Monocled]

"...Panettone is an Italian cake filled with raisins and sultanas..'

Not sure why they give the impression this is the only way to make panettone.

This is just a sampling.

http://chefshop.com/12-Festive.....--W80.aspx

I just bought my daughter the little single plain versions. Dee-lish.

[Ted S.]

I'd rather have empresses than sultanas. 😉

[Pompeius the Quant Retard]

I bought a "pumpkin cream" panettone with candied pumpkin fruit last week...just awful. Stick with Italian fruitcake.

[The Fusionist]

This Canadian police department sends Christmas cards to people suspected of gang activity, urging them to change theiir ways

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Er...um...at least they're not shooting dogs for Christmas?

Fucking hell, these people are 30 minutes drive from me, and, for good measure, are considered Bible-Thumpin' Yokels.
You'd think I'd have gotten used to West Coast Cringe by now...

[Rufus The Monocled]

And justifying killing the dogs.

[Hyperion]

Gang activity, in Canuckistan? Trailer Park Boys?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

The usual, drug gangs shooting each other and occasionally some poor bastard who happens to be in a wrong spot. At least they are mostly multiracial these days, from what I understand, so, progress!

[Hyperion]

Wait... the most ultra-enlightened PM in all of PM land in all da murl has not legalized all drugs already? Ok, well I mean at least he's legalized cannabis, no?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

They're gettin' there!

When do you anticipate that the Government will introduce legislation to legalize marijuana?
The Task Force finished its work on November 30th and made its final report available to the Ministers of Justice, Health, and Public Safety and all Canadians on December 13, 2016. The Government will consider the advice of the Task Force in developing the new legal framework.

The Government of Canada has committed to introducing legislation on the legalization and strict regulation of marijuana in spring 2017.

The new legislation would come into force after being passed by Parliament and once regulations have been developed. These regulations would set out the details of a new system for access to marijuana. For example, they would define who could produce and distribute marijuana, standards for labeling and packaging, and important safeguards to restrict access to keep it out of the hands of children

[Hyperion]

The last time I was in Canada, I first could not get up from the bar with my beer and walk to my table that I had been waiting for. I had to pay for the beer at the bar first. WTF? Then, I could not walk from my table back to my hotel room with an unfinished beer in the same fucking building! Fuck Canada, the only country dumber than the USA when it comes to alcohol, that is all. I can't even imagine the pants shitting that would go on there over any other drug.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

At least our drinking age is 18 or 19 (depending on where you are).

But yes, otherwise, ugh. Shit, we can't buy booze in supermarket, and in BC, government runs liquor stores. Our current government has done more liberalizing than any other provincial govt in history by allowing more private stores to open - where govt stores aren't serving the public.

[Reverend Lovejoy]

Clarification: Alberta under Ralph Klein was the first province to privatize liquor sales (after a few years of having privatize wine outlets). That was 1993 or 94. Years before BC privatized liquor sales shortly into the new millenium.
I've taken my beer from the bar to the table in BC and in AB, though you're right, previously you had to pay your bar tab first, or the server would have to handle the transfer.
And there's no way anybody walks out of a bar with booze. Not in the original container, and not in a Go-Cup, though I think that latter reg was reduced in the mid-aughts when the Oilers and Flames were Stanley Cup finalists.
BC has also announced it will allow liquor stores to sell booze but that hasn't happened yet, and I don't know what's taking so long.

[Reverend Lovejoy]

Although liquor sales are way more free-wheeling in AZ (for example) I find their event regs goofier than in BC or AB.
For instance, for obvious old guys a bartender or doorman in AB or BC will accept a split-second token waive of the ID or often just hand-waive us in.
But at the Tempe Arts and Crafts Festival (or whatever it's called) when I pulled that stunt the guy at the wine-ticket-selling counter shit himself and wouldn't relent until I had slowly and calmly placed my ID in front of yet another uniformed tool who, yes, carefully looked over the ID as if there were some doubt whether I had cleared the drinking age (I was late 40s and look at least that old). I mean, c'mon.

[commodious lies and cheats]

Dunno about legal codes, but you'll get some rotten stares from the waitstaff, at least where I drink, 'cuz now they have to transfer your ticket to the server unless you close out at the bar first. I'd imagine taking your beer to your room is a no-no since the bar is leased to a different company than owns the hotel.

Carding anyone over the age of thirty is stupid, though. Fining establishments and servers who fail to abide by every absurd restriction imposed on liquor establishments is stupid. Our drinking age is stupid, and counterproductive. And frankly I think we go way too hard on barely-intoxicated DUI offenders, and lose the forest for the trees.

[SIV]

Take out the Trump angle and that would've been a nice Holiday clumn from Ms Dalmia.

Every year, we get the obligatory tree and open presents while sipping eggnog and listening to Nat King Cole's Christmas album. Later in the day, we bake shortbread cookies with our (Christian) friends and dine over lamb rogan josh and pulao. In short, we may not celebrate this national holiday in a traditional American way (whatever that means), but we have no trouble doing so, much less saying Merry Christmas.

It sounds like you do celebrate Christmas in the traditional American way.

[BigT]

Except for the damned curry.

[GILMORE?]

Go here to read the column

lol

that never gets old.

[PapayaSF]

Attention Derpetologist: Villager in China uses grenade to crack open walnuts for 25 years. Best comment: "It's more stable than a Samsung phone."

[OldMexican Blankety Blank]

Yes, I don't recommend you use a Samsung phone to open walnuts. You will probably waste less time and less phones using a hand grenade like that guy.

[Derpetologist]

Not bad, but it's hard to top the tale of the Darwin Award winners who got drunk and took turns stomping on a old anti-tank mine.

[Cdr Lytton]

+20? tilt

(stupid squirrels)

[pan fried wylie]

it's the squirrels fault you can't bookmark an html entities reference.

[MoreFreedom]

I agree with Dalmia that it would be better to allow people to celebrate Christmas as they want. But I disagree with her here, simply because Trump hasn't used or proposed any government force be used to deal with this. No we aren't "now aiding and abetting a dangerous form of majoritarianism".

In fact, Trump is defending our freedom to say Merry Christmas from the liberals and Muslims who've been trying to eradicate our celebration of it via their organized opposition to it, and their objections to people celebrating it, by claiming they are offended by it. Their claims of being offended are far more offensive, because people celebrating Christmas are harming no one.

Threatening turnabout will hopefully lead liberals to appreciate the freedom of speech they've abandoned and worse, have attempted to take away from us. When Trump actually attempts to implement policy that threatens our freedom of speech, then Dalmia can object, and I'll join her.

Consider the gay lawyers who lectured Ivanka Trump in front of her kids. I'm glad they were thrown off by the airline for offending their other customers. That kind of action leads to better behavior, without government involvement. Leave it up to individuals/companies to decide what's offensive (it's subjective), it's a freedom we should have, and allows us to associate freely with people who are not rude, tell the rude people to leave our property, and get people to behave better.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Pretty much well stated.

Except there are no liberals anymore. We call them progressives one could - and do - argue.

[GILMORE?]

You win todays cookie

[MoreFreedom]

I'll add that I voted for Johnson, believing Trump would be a disaster, as did most of the authors here on Reason. But I think we should give Trump a chance, as it looks very possible that he's a closet libertarian! And like his predecessors, he lied to get elected (not that I support it). But I'd be thrilled to accept his means to libertarian ends. After all, his first target was Rand Paul which suggests he knew Paul was his major opposition.

Let's wait for Trump to actually do something in government before objecting to what he MIGHT do. After all, I don't think many people can say clearly what Trump will do. Nominating Mulvaney for OMB is practically a libertarian dream after all. As a long time libertarian and supporter of Reason, I hope Ms. Ward and staff give Trump a chance, and when he strays, then let him have it and I'll join them.

[Crusty Juggler]

What's up with these well-reasoned, thoughtful comments? I'm outraged.

[PapayaSF]

I'm not sure Trump is a libertarian, but I am hopeful that he is a pragmatist, and a cutter of costs and red tape. Since libertarian solutions are often pragmatic and less expensive, I see a lot of potential.

[Cyto]

He is a libertine though.... and that's kind of like a gateway drug to libertarian.

[PapayaSF]

But he doesn't drink or do drugs, and he's married. Not very libertine.

[Hyperion]

Well, it's just like this. Trump has never served a single day in public office. And yet, according to progs, he's already ruined the USA. One of the closest guys to him is a guy described by the left as a 'radical libertarian', Peter Thiel. I really do not have any expectations from Trump, as a libertarian. I expect to be thoroughly disappointed by him... or maybe better said, I expect him to suck. But is there a chance he'll be better than what we've seen the last few decades? Yes, there is. Slim though it be, it's there.

[Bill Dalasio]

I very much doubt he's a libertarian, closet or otherwise. I will be willing to hope that maybe, just maybe, he'll prove to be someone who, under the circumstances, libertarians can work with.

[SIV]

as it looks very possible that he's a closet libertarian!

Something a smarter, more perceptive commenter has been telling you fucking cosmos for about a year now.

[Suthenboy]

That's all fine and good MoreFreedom, but does Trump know where his bombs are falling?

[Libertarian]

Trump is a closet libertarian? I think your'e drunk on the salty liberal tears we've been relishing these last few weeks. Get a grip. Trump is a buffoon. The honeymoon will end shortly after January 20th.

[MarkLastname]

Yeah let's not forget who this guy is. Best to your expectations low. If he does more or less nothing at all for four years, I'll take it.

[PapayaSF]

Still better than Hillary.

[MoreFreedom]

Consider this soldier bearing the brunt of being charged for displaying a bible verse " "No weapon formed against me shall prosper," on her desk:

http://www.breitbart.com/big-g.....eme-court/

That's government power being used to suppress the liberty of someone just displaying something on their personal desk space. Who should really care about this, except those who want to punish Christians? Why this when we have chaplains in the military?

[Cyto]

How did it take this long in the discussion for someone to point out the obvious... That Trump is merely championing the freedom to offer Christmas well-wishes to one another without fear of the PC police kicking the door in.

It makes no sense at all to say that this is an attempt by the federal government to dictate how we celebrate Christmas. I'd say she didn't understand the context or meaning, but she says it right in the article, so she knows that there has been a decades-long campaign to scrub all things Christian from the public celebration of Christmas - particularly the line "Merry Christmas". So I just don't get how this article could have been written.

It isn't even as if she's arguing that there aren't a bunch of PC police running around dictating that you can't say Merry Christmas in a public setting.

Look.... nobody is out there claiming that you can't wish someone a Happy Ramadan, or Happy Hanukkah. If he was proposing a law that everyone must celebrate Christmas and outlawing well-wishes for Krishna Janmashtami then maybe you'd have a point. But he didn't. He just told the PC police to step off, we're going to wish each other Merry Christmas.

A pretty effective bit of populism, because there can't be a very large natural constituency for "thou shalt not say merry Christmas!" Pretty much only atheist activists and a smattering of Jews fall in to the "complain about Christmas" pile.

[Hyperion]

Can someone please tell me why this is news?

Woman beats kids with belt for opening Christmas presents early

I'm pretty sure my memory is not that bad. This exact thing happened to me and all the other kids I knew until we finally tired of the beatings, maybe at age 12 or 13.

[SIV]

I guess it is only news because she was arrested and charged with two felonies!

[Hyperion]

Generation fucking pussy.

[OneOut]

So did she BEAT them or spank them ?

My father tore my ass up with a belt many times and I deserved every one but one for which he apologized when he learned the truth.

He never once BEAT me.

[Stormy Dragon]

Interesting litmus test for the new administration:

'It's a hassle': Pennsylvania driver's licenses will soon not be accepted to fly domestic

The Republican controlled Pennsylvania state legislature passed a law roughly a decade ago banning the state from complying with the REALID Act. The DHS revoked their waiver in October, which means that on January 22, no one in the state will be able to get on airplane with their driver's license.

What's Trump going to do about this?

[Ted S.]

Repeal REALID?

Disband the DHS?

[SimonD]

Hmm. interesting timing. This sounds like another poop-bomb left by the Dems for the soon-to-be President Trump. I actually want to see how he handles this as well. I'm pessimistic, but open to a positive surprise.

[SimonD]

oh, NVM. The waiver ends in January 2018. I still want to see how this is handled.

[Voros McCracken]

This is the sort of thing where I'll be shocked if the ban ever gets enforced. Riots at the airport are of no benefit to anyone.

[Fist of Etiquette]

First!

Awwwwww.

[Tonio]

Happy Xmas and a Merry New Year to youse all. Now get the fuck off my lawn.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Christmas = RUINED

[BigW]

C'mon Reason it's time to trade Shikha to Slate for a player to be named never.

[GILMORE?]

We'll take Jamelle Bouie's old socks.

[Crusty Juggler]

Fucking Earth, man.

[Ted S.]

Fucking links, man.

[Crusty Juggler]

You're mean.

I have no idea what "cleared the pitch" means.

[Ted S.]

The pitch is the playing surface.

I thought the fans shoveled the stands, not the pitch.

And the Packers are paying the fans in cash now, because apparently too many people were keeping the checks as souvenirs instead of depositing them.

[Tonio]

Links? We don' need no stinkin' links.

[Suthenboy]

Global warming is a bitch.

[chemjeff]

I don't get the outrage over the "Happy Holidays"/"Merry Christmas" stuff. To me, if you want to wish a stranger to have a Merry Christmas, it seems the more polite thing to do is to say Happy Holidays, since by doing so you aren't making the presumption that the person is a Christian. Why make uninformed presumptions about strangers? That seems to be the definition of prejudice.

Furthermore, by insisting that people use the phrase "Merry Christmas" even to people who aren't Christians, it seems to me that this continues the secularization of the Christmas holiday. You'd think devout Christians would be opposed to that sort of thing.

[Acosmist]

"Holiday" is religiously charged. Stop othering me, shitlord, etc etc et fucking c.

[chemjeff]

Yeah I know. But since we use the word holiday, at least colloquially, to refer not just to "holy days" but just days in which we get time off from work, I am less sympathetic that using "holiday" should cause major amounts of umbrage. Christmas on the other hand really is a religiously significant "holy day" for Christians.

[Acosmist]

What do you call the days of the week, then?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

The days I bang your mom.

[Acosmist]

Fuck off, Tulpa.

[Tonio]

Your use of Latin is inherently imperialist and therefore patriarchal and otherist.

[Libertarian]

"You'd think devout Christians would be opposed to that sort of thing."

And you'd be right. But O'Reilly plays a devout Christian on TV.

[SIV]

Christmas is a secular holiday that is widely celebrated by non-Christians. See Shikha's column for example.

[chemjeff]

So all of those "Jesus is the reason for the season" bumper stickers, then...?

[SIV]

They're sported by Christians as a reminder to the secular-celebrants.

[BigT]

Sex is the reason for every season

[Lurk Diggler]

The problem is really just that only someone who is a swollen inflamed pussy is bothered by being greeted by such a greeting in the first place so they deserve the favor returned.

Fuck we don't give a fuck about cinco de mayo in this country but can you imagine an asshole going around pissing about people celebrating it.

Honestly, those sort of insufferable assholes deserve a nut punch.

[Cyto]

Imagine someone coming up to you and saying "Shalom!". Are you going to respond with "Screw you, you rude asshole! I'm not Jewish!"

Or if someone celebrating Makar Sankranti wished you "Happiness and Good Fortune!", would you be outraged? Or would you just say thanks, same to you....

Does "Happy Eid!" from a Muslim give you fits? Or would you just take it as a pleasant greeting?

When I went to my friend's kid's Bar Mitsvah, everyone greeted us with "Gud Shabbat". I didn't freak out. I just returned the traditional Jewish greeting.

[Rufus The Monocled]

The anger is starting to bubble up and up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9rvjdB-VRc

What a cocky little left-wing douche that Maas is, eh?

[Suthenboy]

No one could have seen that coming.

Geez, looking at the links on that page it seems the real backlash against Europe's insane immigration policies are getting cranked up.

[SimonD]

Exactly.

My basic opinion is that if "President Trump" is the U.S. backlash against two decades of insane Progressivism, we got off lucky. I was half-expecting an actual Christian theocracy.

[Rufus The Monocled]

The (North) American backlash will be far saner and calmer than the European version if I were to guess. We're just better that way.

Too much baggage in Europe and too many unassimilated masses.

[BigT]

Thousands of years of slights and grudges to settle in Europe. When order fails, look out!

[The Fusionist]

Shouting down speeches by people you don't like? Nice work, Germans.

[DEG]

"The longer you shout the longer I stand here".

Hehehe

[juris imprudent]

Harsh - no links and the last article up is Dalmia.

[BigT]

Bah, humbug!

[PapayaSF]

The true motive of the Berlin terrorist has just been discovered. It wasn't Islam, it was lifelong anger that his parents named him "Anis."

[Tonio]

Why do you hate Pimpinella anisum, PSF?

[Hyperion]

'an' 'eese', Tonio, not Asshole.

[BigT]

"What am I, chopped liver?" - Colon Powell

[???? ??????, Jr.]

You're a mean one, Mr. Trump
You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
With hair like orange peel.
Mr. Trump
No one gives one little shit
About The Art of the Deal.

You're a monster, Mr. Trump
You're a pussy-grabbing douche
You're the worstest guy that ever ran,
Since Lyndon Fucking LaRouche
Mr Trump

You're a foul one, Mr. Trump
You're a clownish, racist stooge.
Your heart is full of unwashed socks
All chock-full of spooge Mr. Trump
The only three words you ever say
Are, and I quote: "Disaster, winning, YUGE."

You nauseate me, Mr Trump
Incredibly, super lame
You're an eminent domainer,
Without a bit of shame
Mr Trump!
Fuck your stupid hotels
And stupid golf course,
And ESPECIALLY Trump: The Game!

[Rufus The Monocled]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1KtIrU1IH4

What the hell was Merkel thinking? And to think she was arrogantly demanding other countries do the same thing. Looks like countries that pushed back like Hungary and Poland were right. Now she's basically admitting her mistake with none of the responsibilities of a problem all of her doing. Cytotoxic hardest hit.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

"The overall threat of terrorism remains the same as it has been in the recent years".

No. It's higher. It's higher because you broke the law and called refugees in. She still doesn't understand what happened, and she'll never understand it. She's just scrambling for more regulation, because it's all she knows.
But she'll be Chancellor again, so it's working.

[Rufus The Monocled]

How can she possibly be re-elected? Unless she's doing something right elsewhere?

[Hyperion]

She won't be.

[The Grinch]

Hopefully not, Frau Merkel has been the worst German leader since you know who (maybe some E.German leaders excepted, don't really know much about them). She's been an absolute disaster for Germany and Europe.

[Libertarian]

Frau Merkel?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs5j8uUR2nc

[MarkLastname]

Willis Brandt wasnt one of my favorites, but he's worshipped today by social democrats.

[BigT]

Merkel is from E Germany, so what did we expect?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Here's how. She still has tons of support. She's leaking some to AfD and FDP, but Social Democrats are leaking to Greens and Commies.
Once votes are counted, she's still most likely to have most votes. She now needs to make a coalition.
AfD is out, but FDP is traditional partner. If they can get to 50% of the seats, she's done.
They can't - she is in coalition with Social Democrats right now. They will revive it, and, if she has more seats, she is in. If CDU/CSU + SPD don't have 50%+ seats, you are talking party realignment of the kind that killed Liberals in UK after WWI, or in US when Democrat-Republicans and Federalists died.
And the next most likely Chancellor is Social Democrat - so it'll get worse in that case.

[Ted S.]

As I mentioned the other day, here are the various opinion polls.

[The Grinch]

When's the next election?

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

Sometime next year, between August and October.

Much like most democracies outside US, their election date is not set in stone.

[The Grinch]

That's a good while from now. If the attacks continue in Germany she'll be done, if not it looks like she'll have a very good chance. Hopefully the Germans will come to their senses but I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Rufus The Monocled]

That explains why she's starting to clean her mess up I guess.

[Suthenboy]

Meh. She isnt going to clean anything up. She is just trying to make the right noises. They should gibbet her.

[Hyperion]

They should hang her in public, but not before liberal application of tar and feathers.

[BigT]

She needs a shower!

[Ted S.]

Next September.

[MarkLastname]

There's no way to form a coalition in Germany without either the CDU or the SPD. FDP won't ally with AfD nor will the SPD or the CDU.

[Ted S.]

Her party leads in the polls, and with the AfD getting around 10%, there's a good chance neither the center-right CDU/CSU/FDP coalition nor the far-left SDP/Greens/ex-Communists will get a majority. That leaves yet another grand coalition a big possibility.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Sheesh, Germany is not that far off Italy with all these coalitions.

Canada *could* end up this way if the Greens and other *fourth* parties gain support. At the moment, it's 2.5 parties plus the regional Bloc Quebecois who don't get enough seats to matter.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

German coalitions tend to be smaller and more stable, and, importantly, half their national parliament is elected first-past-the-post way, which helps curb the number of parties elected.

[Hyperion]

If she thinks she's sending Cytotoxic to the USA, then it's nuclear war.

[lap83]

I'm not too concerned about him. He would probably get lost in North Dakota, thinking he was in New York, and start an abortion debate with some cows. It could be entertaining

[Hyperion]

I can actually see him standing in a field arguing with cows and telling them how he's smarter than them, for hours.

[OneOut]

She said those responsibble and helpers will be brought to justice.

Will she turn herself in or wait to be indicted?

[__Warren__]

There might not be any links until Tuesday!

[BigT]

I hope y'all got plenty of Xmas spirits!

[Wizard with a Woodchipper]

Trumps response to Obama's collusion with U.N. in condemning Israeli's settlements is pretty good.

[Derpetologist]

Baby great white shark rescued from the sand at Los Angeles beach

[__Warren__]

Oh sure, A white shark gets rescued...

[Hyperion]

Dateline 2016, Los Angeles beach:

In a twist of ironic fate, great white shark eats person who rescued it just 4 years ago..,

[The Fusionist]

No, I'm seeing more of an Androcles and the Lion set-up, with the guy about to drown and the shark gently nudging him safely to shore.

[Suthenboy]

Lions are smart, social critters that are easily tamed. Raise one like you would a dog and they are much like dogs.

Sharks? Not so much.

[The Fusionist]

Wow, you got me, lucky for you I was being totally literal and thus set myself up for that burn.

[Rufus The Monocled]

I can see Warren as an anchor for one of the networks.

[BigT]

Anchor, like, to drag it to the bottom?

[Rockabilly]

I just ate a Chocolate chip marijuana cookie in the shape of a Christmas Tree!!

Happy Nude Year!!!

[Libertarian]

I LOVE AMERICA!

[Hyperion]

All 6 states? Or was it 8? I guess the rest of us who want to eat a Christmas Tree cannabis cookie can just go to the rape cage. And liberty and happiness for all, or for 6 states.

[DOOMco]

hit yet?

[Stormy Dragon]

I don't care whether someone wishes me a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays", as long as its sincere.

What bothers me is those people who say "Merry Christmas" the way most people would say "Fuck You".

[SIV]

Merry Christmas, ASSHOLE

[Suthenboy]

You have a real nice day Stormy.

*I have mastered the art of saying that in such a way that the most socially unaware person alive knows it means 'fuck you'.*

[The Fusionist]

Bless your heart!

[Suthenboy]

That is one of my favorites too.

[Hyperion]

No, you can't have more of my stuff for Christmas. Fuck off and get a real job.

[OneOut]

Well bless your heart Stormy.

[ant1sthenes]

On Christmas Day, I travel round the world and say...

[MarkLastname]

Happy fucking holidays bitch and have a pleasant fucking hannukah you douchebag.

[Bra Ket]

Meh the religion-purging thing is annoying. Every religion insists on doing this to their rivals, so atheists are acting like a competing religious group.

[Tonio]

Merry Christmas, Bra Ket.

[OneOut]

They beleive in something they cannot prove so that alone makes them kinda religious like.

[Zero Sum Game]

Are we really though? Literally no atheists I know even care.

I think this whole War on Christmas isn't anything real. It's just capitalism to be generic about the holidays, lest some whiny group or other feels left out and boycotts something.

[Lurk Diggler]

Catering to a group of whiners means the whiners exist.

[Zero Sum Game]

Not even sure what you're driving at.

Choose one specific greeting and all the rest complain. Go with something generic, Christians complain.

Atheists just pop popcorn and watch all of 'em go insane oven nothing. Starbucks cups? Why would an atheist even care what's printed on them? Might be a few of us out there needling people over it because it's hilarious, but I really doubt there are that many sincere non-believers who actually care.

And even if some of you sincerely believe that atheists are up to no good and driving all this, well I guess we're winning. "Merry Christmas" is apparently now an epithet instead of a heartfelt greeting, and that isn't anything anyone can lay at our feet.

[Lurk Diggler]

It's pretty simple. If businesses are avoiding saying merry Christmas, then it's because those people that are offended by it exist. Its just like the people saying businesses are making girls buy girl toys. The customers drive the market, not the other way.

Starbucks cups? Why would an atheist even care what's printed on them?

Because they're among the least tolerant assholes in this country. Why that is, I don't know. Maybe they feel historically opressed, maybe they feel theyre smarter than everyone and should run society. Either way that is how they act, and businesses react to it, not vice versa.

[Lurk Diggler]

America did a shit job at purging other religions.

[Libertarian]

Dow notches 7th straight weekly gain, longest streak in 2 years

"If the question is when markets will recover, a first-pass answer is never."
-- P. Krugman

[SimonD]

I guess the second-pass answer was 'within eight hours'.

To be honest, it surprised me a bit that the markets recovered so quickly. I expected a bit of an uncertainty hangover. It makes me a bit more pessimistic about the near future.

[MarkLastname]

Someone at Princeton should make a place of that sentence and nail it to the wall outside his office.

[__Warren__]

Carrie Fisher in critical condition after heart attack.

Fuck you, 2016.

[The Fusionist]

It could have been worse:

"The heart attack happened about 15 minutes before the plane landed in LA, celebrity news website TMZ reported. A medic who was travelling on the plane administered CPR.

"Paramedics then spent a further 15 minutes administering more CPR to Fisher before getting a pulse, TMZ reported. The actress was on a ventilator in the UCLA medical centre, the website said."

[lap83]

Yikes, I hope she pulls through

[???? ??????, Jr.]

Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford are already en route, donning Stormtrooper gear.

[BigT]

Still would.

[cavalier973]

I have a bad feeling about this...

[lap83]

Shikha on the war on Christmas beat? I can't wait for the Sheldon Richman article about the evils of Hanukkah

[The Fusionist]

Those pagans were simply trying to modernize a backward culture!

[__Warren__]

That would give me a Ziongasm.

[Warty]

I mean, Hannukah *is* kind of gross. Let's celebrate a sordid civil war in which it's not at all clear that the good guys won. Oh, and by the way, let's celebrate the miracle of fuel rationing while we're at it.

[Pro Libertate]

And the food. Thinking more Seders, but, really, bagels are about it.

[Pan Zagloba "The Stickler"]

World's most sensible anarcho-Marxist, sometime Reason contributor and my journalistic man-crush Brendan O'Neil has an awesome article in today's Spectator

So I want to pay tribute to the everyday, steadfast Leave voter: the heroes of 2016. They kept their heads while all around them lost theirs. They rejected the politics of fear, and the media's foul attempt to scare them into changing their minds with talk of a mad new era of populism, and stayed true to their beliefs. And here's the best bit: many of them voted, not out of self-interest, but for what they think is the greater, democratic good. Let me tell you about the bit in this week's CNN/ComRes poll that really got me: 17 per cent of those who think their personal finances will worsen as a result of Brexit say they would still vote Leave. In short, they put their belief in how to make Britain a better, more democratic nation above their own economic comfort. There must be something in my eye.

[juris imprudent]

It's bad enough when they don't vote in their own self interest - then they have the nerve to tell us they voted in the national interest. Don't these fools know to vote how we tell them? What is wrong with them? /prog-derp

[Ken Shultz]

Someday, we'll look back on articles like this as relics of a culture war that lasted for some eight years--and are no over.

That day was over a month ago.

[The Fusionist]

It's too early for the Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah, so let me link the "he was despised" aria.

[Suthenboy]

How many times have I said that if Jesus were real and came back today he would just get crucified again and by the same people while endless crowds cheered them on?

[The Fusionist]

I think Fyodor Dostoevsky covered that.

Ho, ho, ho!

[The Fusionist]

A sensitive seasonal song

[The Fusionist]

The Little Drummer Boy

[The Fusionist]

Carol of the Bells

[Rufus The Monocled]

I have to say, this Crown Royal Rye is not too shabby and smooth.

[Hyperion]

Enjoying my Russian Standard Platinum with cranberry and lime. I can drink this straight, but I still have a few things to do before wandering off into the ozone.

[Rufus The Monocled]

/raises glass.

[Hyperion]

Cheers!

[OneOut]

I have released the Kraken !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BigT]

Spare some crack for a friend?

[DEG]

I ended Samichlaus season a few days ago.

Unfortunately, a cold started coming on two days ago, so no booze beyond a little Jameson's, with honey and lemon, in my tea.

[Ted S.]

At least I'm not the only one with a cold.

I put some vodka in my eggnog last night, and boy was I coughing badly for it. 🙁

[DEG]

Black tea, lemon, honey, whiskey.

Thankfully the cold is just about gone so I'll be able to go back to normal soon. Hopefully yours will also clear up soon.

[The Fusionist]

On Christmas Day you can't get sore
Your fellow man you must adore
There's time to rob him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty four

[The Fusionist]

Here's a Christmas concerto by Corelli

And, knowing my audience,

Here's one by AC/DC

[The Fusionist]

Don't call Him Shirley

[Crusty Juggler]

A guy in his bathtub giving his cat a bath while rapping.

[The Fusionist]

I can't think of any puns to go with that.

[The Fusionist]

John Milton, "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity"

[The Fusionist]

Tiny Tim off the hook? Perhaps he wasn't the reason a Pennsylvania school district cancelled A Christmas Carol, and an Anti-Defamation League official denies reports that the controversy caused a Jewish family to flee the area.

[The Fusionist]

ADL Press Release

[Jerryskids]

Kamala Harris seriously needs to get laid, she's still got a throbbing hard-on for Backpage.

[Raven Nation]

If she's not getting laid, I assume it's by choice not from lack of offers.

[The Fusionist]

The Attorney General doesn't like Santa Claus or marijuana

(Loretta Lynn *is* the Attorney General, right?)

[Hyperion]

Umm, that's a white girl, you racist.

[Hyperion]

Ok, this isn't nice. But for anyone who don't want no Christmas cheer.

Hurt

[The Fusionist]

A wannabe Santa finally persuaded Utah DMV that a license plate reading "HOHOHO" isn't naughty.

[OneOut]

So here we are just a few days after the close of Reason's great pledge drive.

And no links ?

Would they dare do this during the panhandling season ?

Me thinks not.

[Sevo]

So it dawns on the geniuses who run CalPERS that after dumping gun and tobacco stocks, 7.5%/annum isn't in the cards (it wasn't anyhow, but they screwed the pooch on the SJW divestments).
Nope, not on your life; time to get real!
7%!
"Calpers aims to lower pension fund's level of projected returns"
http://www.marketwatch.com/sto.....2016-12-20

[The Fusionist]

A federal court in Texas decides there will be a trial over a "nativity scene."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) set up a display in the state Capitol to counterbalance the traditional, plain-vanilla nativity scene. This "Winter Solstice" display commemorates the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791. Baby Bill o'Rights is being venerated by George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and the Statue of Liberty.

The Governor of Texas ordered the display pulled. The court says there needs to be a trial on whether this violated Freedom of Speech or constituted an Establishment of Religion.

[Hyperion]

Texas says fuck off bitches!

[DEG]

That is a good song.

[Hyperion]

I've actually lived that song, and I believed I was in Texas...

[Suthenboy]

*facepalm*

How about we just leave all of that kind of thing off of government property? The place where bean counters shuffle and stamp papers, a gaggle of fuckwits assemble to decide how to fleece the people isnt the place to celebrate anything. The FFRF sounds cool but do they have to be such assholes? Their display should be up year-round. Eventually some proggies would take offense at it and the focus of this battle would change.

[The Fusionist]

Strangely, there's nothing in the Bill of Rights display honoring James Madison, or his Baptist constituents who pressured him into safeguarding religious freedom in the Constitution.

I suppose that honoring a bunch of Southern Baptists would ruin the narrative.

[Suthenboy]

There are a lot of people who aren't in it that should be. If they had to pick and choose then they did ok. If it were me I would include them all and they would all be holding rifles.

[cavalier973]

Expect someone else to do this, except the Founding fathers will be gathered around Baby Jesus offering the Dec of Ind., the Const., and the Bill o' Rights.

[DenverJ]

So, I'm at the pub after work, and this girl texts and asks what I'm doing. I reply "eating dinner", so of course she calls me. WTF is wrong with people? I'm eating, so yeah, perfect time to call. Stupid bird.

[The Fusionist]

I see the makings of a country song...it could be called "Why does she call me when I'm drinking dinner?"

[DenverJ]

I like that Eddy. I think you should write it. You may have a gift for country western. I have one line for a song: "I'm not crying 'cause you're leavin', I just got your cigarette smoke in my eyes".

[Suthenboy]

Just a stab in the dark here, but you are eating dinner without her. She is trying to find out who you are eating with.

[Atanarjuat]

Bingo.

[DOOMco]

+1 liquid bread

[Ted S.]

So she's not a "would"?

[DenverJ]

She's an "meh, I drank my dinner, why not?"

[DOOMco]

so you invited her to the pub?

[DenverJ]

No. I'm exhausted. Ate dinner, having a couple drinks, going home. I got to work on Tuesday, and a whole bank of sump pumps wasn't working, half a city block of crawlspaces were flooded. For the last three days, I've been crawling through slick clay mud, dragging pumps, hoses, cords , and tools behind me.
The womyns will have to wait for their servicing.

[DenverJ]

Four days, not three. Baby Birthday Jesus, no wonder I'm so tired and sore. And I can't send some kid down there, this kind of thing requires experience to figure out what went wrong with the system, hell just to figure out how to start the process of draining and working your way back.
Why they pay me the big bucks 😉

[GILMORE?]

The womyns will have to wait for their servicing.

[insert long string of corny jokes about plumbers]

[DenverJ]

Yeah fuck the plumbers. They're the ones who installed this system that now I have to fix. Sure, it's on them, but i have to prove its their fault. To do that, I have to work my way back, draining everything as I go, to determine what went wrong. For instance, they'll claim it must be the electrician's fault the systems not working. In order find out, I have to actually get to the pumps. I already have learned enough to think the electoral was done right. I'm looking at the plumbers. Fucking lazy assholes taking shortcuts because "hey, who's ever going to come down here to check our work?"

[DOOMco]

damn. sometimes its rough seeing someone elses "work"

[Hyperion]

I have to tell you, and I have proof. Brazilian soap operas have the best fucking music as well as the most beautiful women you have ever seen. Ok, this is just about music, but for real, you probably already believe me about the women.

I don't even know that this is, but I like it

[The Fusionist]

"Your call is important to us...please hold and an operator will be with you shortly..."

Ha ha, just yanking your chain.

[Suthenboy]

Yeah, whatever. Do they actually fuck like they do in Italian soap operas?

[Hyperion]

I dunno, Suthen, but they're not shy about that stuff like we are. I look forward to your Italian soap opera links.

[Suthenboy]

I cant find any links that aren't to porn sites. The youtube stuff is all R rated. I am not posting links to porn sites.

[Hyperion]

Well, there you go. Just watch prime time Globo, I'ts you 24/7 prime time eye candy. Just trust me on this one.

[Libertarian]

Thanks a lot. Now I'm down another rabbit hole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly0JBUwL-5w

[TheZeitgeist]

I see Obama regime voted 'present' at UN today.

A proper bookend to the Illinois State Senator's improbable and inept political career.

[Suthenboy]

He is convinced that he can set his legacy in stone. I suspect I am going to be laughing my ass off for the next 8 years while the progs lose their minds.

[DenverJ]

Inept only if your metric is making things better. If your metric is gaining power, well, he was president of the most powerful country the earth has ever known for eight years, so that's something.

[TheZeitgeist]

If your metric is gaining power, well, he was president of the most powerful country the earth has ever known for eight years, so that's something.

When one thinks about it, Obama's success is luck of opponents. John Kerry gave him his slot at 2004 DNC, and he had to beat Alan Keys (giggle) for his Senate seat after Jack Ryan got bounced by a scandal (convenient leaking of divorce proceedings no less).

For Prez DNC primary, he had to beat Hillary Clinton; who in retrospect (its actually over!) is the biggest paper tiger in modern Presidential politics. Nobody I can think of has ever had the deck stacked so in their favor by every enabling institution possible so many times and still found out how to fuck it up. This side of Rick Lazio in a deep-blue state, Hillary Clinton has gotten her ass handed to her in every honest political contest she's ever been in.

Combined with 2008 cycle basically guaranteeing the Donk got the brass ring whoever it was, it was luck of the draw for Barry all the way to power.

And who do the Republicans dig up in 2012 to run against him? The only Republican in all the land, one from Massachusetts no less, who has socialized-care schemes all over his resume.

Barry really was lucky more than anything else. And good riddance to the moron.

[Sevo]

Taking a page from the lying POS in the WH, that bitch Kamala Harris makes an ass of herself one more time before leaving for DC:

"California pursues new pimping charges against Backpage.com"
http://www.sfgate.com/news/cri.....816350.php

Prediction: The 'thrown out of court' stigma will stick to her successor.

[Cyto]

The nice thing is that thanks to the Supreme Court pulling prosecutorial immunity out of its ass, there's nothing they can do about it.

In this case it is clear that she's just using her office to harass someone she doesn't approve of. They should be able to sue her personally as well as the state over this obvious abuse of power.

But they can't. Because the supreme court made up a magical power of immunity that lets them go as far as actually colluding to deny murder defendants their rights without consequence. So good luck getting anywhere with "they filed bogus charges!"

[Sevo]

Note the headline:
"GOP lawmakers explore health plan benefits cuts"
Ooooh, those nasty GOPers are gonna cut free surgery from my plan!, right?

Well, maybe not:
"Republicans lawmakers are exploring how the Trump administration can quickly trim required health insurance benefits under the law and lower the cost of health plans, GOP congressional aides said.
[...]
Known as "essential health benefits," the benefit requirements being examined are 10 broad categories of services all ACA plans must cover, such as preventive and wellness care, mental-health services and prescription drugs"
http://www.sfgate.com/nation/a.....816263.php

So maybe I won't have to pay for my birth control meds and pre-natal care?

[GILMORE?]

So maybe I won't have to pay for my birth control meds and pre-natal care?

Or your drug-rehab insurance, or your yoga-therapy, or that chiropractor you keep meaning to visit but never get around to.

Seriously, these fuckheads built 10,000 pounds of fat into the ACA just so that the second the GOP trimmed a tiny slice off they could scream in pain and declare that the Republicans were starving children in the maternity warn

Its how the left builds bureaucracy that lasts. You assume that there will be 'cuts' down the road, so you figure in 30% waste so that after the war is over, you still have everything you planned on in the first place.

[Sevo]

The screaming in the comments section is predictable; as you mention 'killing babies, hating the American public,' etc.
But he RAN on killing O-care and it was one of the believable planks; O-care stinks! Do they think the US population is in love with huge increases in insurance costs?
(Well, 8% are, but we'll leave that to turd to remind us).

[DenverJ]

This is why i couldn't believe that the elephants ran Romney in '12. Obamacare was hugely unpopular before it even passed, and the donkeys had to use procedural skulduggery to even get it passed. So Team Stupid nominated the guy who signed the prototype into law. SMDH

[The Fusionist]

Jewish prisoners in Michigan can't light Hanukkah candles - the guards have to do it for them

[The Fusionist]

Traditional Hanukkah songs by artists like Adam Sandler

But I really think Handel did the best Hanukkah song.

[Stormy Dragon]

Your list left off "Hanukkah in Santa Monica" by Tom Lehrer

And I think the best Hanukkah song is "Light One Candle" by Peter, Paul, and Mary

[straffinrun]

I'm almost ready to share my thoughts on why Trump won. Pretty sure I'm right.

[The Fusionist]

Because of this video? (NSFW)

[straffinrun]

Can't click. Sorry. Let me just say that my theory is completely unique.

[The Fusionist]

I may check back just to see what you have.

[The Fusionist]

I'll go get some beauty sleep...when I awaken, I hope to see your idea on this or the next thread.

[straffinrun]

Teaser: It contains some ideas that people tend to overlook.

[Tagore Smith]

As much as I dislike Donald Trump and continue to think him entirely unfit for the presidency, I have to admit that so far he's been the opposite of the Grinch for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the freakout over Trump, and I continue to enjoy it. My birthday is in early November, and he's like the gift I unexpectedly cherished from my birthday until Christmas, and maybe preferred to the new gifts I received at Christmas.

I have a feeling the honeymoon will be over on Jan 20 and a serious hangover will set in on the 21st. The fun will have been had, the consequences will start to become apparent, and only a very small part of me will whisper "...worth."

I really, really wish we could elect Trump President-Elect in perpetuity, but never actually inaugurate him. I kind of love him as President-elect, but I have a feeling I won't like him much as President.

[The Fusionist]

Here's an example of the kind of freakout which makes him so enjoyable as President-elect:

The "people's choice" lost the Presidency, time to reform the electoral college so this doesn't happen again - and we know this isn't partisan hackery because the idea was endorsed by the author's father, the distinguished nonpartisan historian Arthur Schlesinger.

[Tagore Smith]

"The Washington Post's Dave Weigel looked at other countries with national presidential elections.."

Glad to see that the Wapo at least has a libertarian perspective on this ;).

[Bill Dalasio]

I think I need a sanity check here. I'm sure people have heard about the plan to hold a concert to upstage the inauguration. Now, in principle, I don't have any issues with people spending their valuable time on things other than politics. But this is politics. The entire point seems like an attempt to slight the guy who they're trying to upstage. Now, it's their right to do so. But, the whole scheme just strikes me as the sort of thing people are supposed to grow out of when they leave high school. It seems to me to be playing immature, spoiled popularity games that adults are supposed to have grown beyond. Am I missing something?

[creech]

Not to be unduly cynical about this, but someone is going to make a buck off this event and, for them, making a buck is not an unintended consequence.

[pan fried wylie]

This board should be empty because all the commenters are too busy finding their own way to cash in on the saltyhamtears. Whoever thought up this concert recognizes opportunity when they see it.

[LoneWaco]

Thanks Shika. I'll keep an eye .....what's this under my tree? It says "Hillary Clinton will never be president". Just what I wanted! A Christmas miracle! Thanks Donald! God bless us, every one!

[The Fusionist]

Wait, wait, Congress can still reject the returns...there has to be *something*...

/sarc

[Trigger Warning]

Thanks for reminding me why I didn't donate this year.

[Nativist, Racist & Xenophobe]

But this will only put the "merry" in Christmas at the risk of taking the "cheer" out.

Speak for yourself. Seeing your head explode over Trump has certainly made my Christmas morning all the merrier!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

[buybuydandavis]

He'll put the merry in and take the cheer out

Just what is this supposed to mean?

Oh, right, it's Dahlia. Expect gibberish.

If she were capable of writing, she might have said

He'll bring out the cheers, but take out the merry

That would at least make sense. But I know, why start now, right?