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December 23, 2014 11:24 PM UTC

Christmas Open Thread

  • 49 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

"In this blessed season, let not blind passion darken our counsels. We shall not solve a moral question by dodging it. We can scarcely hope to have a full Christmas if we turn a deaf ear to the suffering of even the least of Christ's little ones."

–Harry S. Truman

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49 thoughts on “Christmas Open Thread”

  1. Very good analysis of the Cromnibus bill and the machinations Democratic senators went through to be perceived as supporting their various constituencies.

    [The] three groups of Democratic senators voted as follows:

    1. Six senators — like Warren, Sanders, Franken and Brown — opposed the bill during the cloture vote (the vote whether or not to bring it to the floor) and also opposed it after it came to the floor.
       
    2. Sixteen senators, many with "liberal" reputations — like Merkley, Cantwell, Wyden, Whitehouse — supported the bill during the cloture vote and opposed it only during the floor vote. 
       
    3. All others — like Schumer, Bennet, Warner, and others — supported the bill all the way, by voting for cloture (to bring it to the floor) and also voting for the bill itself.

    The Greatest Deliberative Body on Earth©, and its members who triangulate and posture and pontificate, then vote for the Most – not the Least – among us, is not quite as high-minded as they'd like us to think. Take a second to contemplate what Chuck Schumer, Mark Warner, and Mike Bennet have in common.

  3. Driving buy to wish every one a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Joyous Holiday Season.  However you celebrate my wish is for peace not partisanship, love not hate and a renewed effort to help the less fortunate among us.

    God Bless…

     

    1. Unfortunately Rs can still run on how we need Rs to rescue the economy because Dems avoid blowing their own horn on economic issues like the plague. It would mean no longer treating Obama like toxic waste and they're scared to do that. Not that any of the Dem pols in competitive or red states managed to stay in or get elected to office with the "We don't like Obama either and are almost as conservative on economic issues as real Republicans" strategy. But, hey…. why not copy the 50 year failed Cuba policy strategy and just stick with something that doesn't work? that's really being almost just like real Republicans. And old generals fighting the last (heck the war before the last before the last) war.

  5. Good morning and Merry Christmas to all who pass by here today. This is, for me, a bittersweet season, following so closely the passing of my mother in November. We had a wonderful relationship and communicated regularly.

    It is difficult for me to describe how much I miss my Mom just now, but I am motivated by my loneliness for the sound of her voice to say this to all my beloved Polsters….

    If your Mom is still within the power you have to reach her…call her…write her…text her…anyway you can, and tell her how much you love her and how much she means to you….do it….just do it.

    and Mom…if you are within the recognition of my undying love for you….Merry Christmas…give Jesus a hug for me…

     

    1. Duke, I know what you are feeling as my dad passed in early November. Just hold on to all your great memories – you will always have those. Merry Christmas to you and all the great people who post on this board!!  ( With a couple of exceptions – LOL – you know who you are).

      1. Same for me. A difficult 2014 for me. My dad passed away in April, along with a friend I considered my bubbe in July, and finding out a close college friend passed away three years ago, through a mutual friend last week.

        Hopefully 2015 will bring a lot of joy to all of us.

        For one, I'd like to see the Republican publically disembowel themselves in front of everyone and completely melt down, showing M$M why Republicans should not be anywhere near power.

        Other than that, happy holidays y'all. Just finishing up the last day of Chanukah here…

    2. Thanks, Duke. So sorry for your loss. And I've been calling my mom every day since we lost my brother a little over three years ago because I know she needs to hear from me and I know it would make my brother happy. She's modern, extremely bright, well informed, has lots of friends an isd extremely engaged in everything I'm interested in so our daily calls are fun.Sometmes we have to play phone tag because she maintains a full social life and is constantly out and about.  I look forward to our daily chat and know how lucky I am to have a healthy fit, beautiful smart mom approaching 90. May your friends here take your advice. they won't regret it.

      My advice? if you have brothers and sisters stay close to them. Nothing in my life has been anywhere near as painful as the loss of my big brother. It doesn't matter how old you are. There's nothing on earth like the little sister/big brother relationship. All you little sisters out there, cherish your big brothers and talk to them regularly. You'll never regret it. I lost mine suddenly. You never know what could happen tomorrow. Be a good little sister today.

    3. Same for me. A difficult 2014 for me. My dad passed away in April, along with a friend I considered my bubbe in July, and finding out a close college friend passed away three years ago, through a mutual friend last week.

      Hopefully 2015 will bring a lot of joy to all of us.

      For one, I'd like to see the Republican publically disembowel themselves in front of everyone and completely melt down, showing M$M why Republicans should not be anywhere near power.

      Other than that, happy holidays y'all. Just finishing up the last day of Chanukah here…

    4. My Mom passed away 10 years ago and there isn't a single day that I don't miss her gentle love.  I find myself buying items that my Mom had when we were growing up.  Merry Christmas Duke.  The sorrow never leaves but after a period of time, you think of the good memories with your Mom.

  6. Merry holidays everyone!  May you get out and win the War on Christmas this year by giving from your heart and not chasing after things, not perpetuating rank consumerism and not embracing the covetous nature of what this Madison Ave day has become.  Do not let the Marketeers distract you from the meaning here, regardless of your personal flavor of faith, including none..  

    The Sheep and the Goats

    31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

    34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

    37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

    40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

    41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

    44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

    45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

    46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

     

    PS: No offense to goats, I take it as allegory.  All of it.  

    2. I never saw the point of denying the name of the holiday – even though it has almost nothing to do with the birth of the historical Jesus, whom I think of as a great teacher like Gandhi.

      It's possible to enjoy the spectacle of the season, opportunities to reaffirm family ties, give small gifts, while avoiding the excess commercialism. Channukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule are equally meaningful for me.

      1. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Who cares? Back in the day Happy Holidays just meant Christmas and New Year. Whatever, it's all just people being nice except for the idiots who take offense at one greeting or the other.  As for that war on Christmas, name me another religion that has the services of NORAD and all the local TV channels playing along with one of their holiday traditions. Christianity and Christmas are the undisputed Kings so I suggest everyone who celebrates Christmas just relax and enjoy your hegemony and don't get pissy if someone prefers to use the Happy Holiday greeting. Just be glad they're not using the FU, get your fat ass out of my way, I'm trying to shop greeting.  

        So Happy Whatever to all and to all a good night.angel

    1. Hm. I wonder if they have subtitled or captioned it already?

      If not, then Sony has some serious problems (as in they violated the Americans with Disabilites Act)

      , the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that made it clear closed captioning of movies would be considered a reasonable accommodation. At the same time, theaters had begun the process of installing digital movie systems. With the installation of digital technology, providing closed captioning in the theater becomes more affordable a well as technically achievable.

      ….so where's the captioning/subtitled? Google's auto-caption is still a major fail.

    2. I just watched it and I liked it – a lot. It's sophomoric and over the top and crass, but when that's all done really well it makes for a really good movie.

      And dustpuppy before you assume, check. Yes it has close captioning and it was accurate (my hearing is poor so I have it on for the couple of times I can't follow what was said).

              1. I was wondering 'cause a guy at Huffpo disagrees…

                Adolescent vulgarity of this variety is probably intended for a mentality on the order of freshmen in a backwater college fraternity, but any other viewer must either abdicate all standards of taste or else wonder why a movie of this kind is successful with a broader audience.

                But if there is cleavage, well….

      1. Same to you and your family, Duke – and may our paths cross in 2015.  And thank you for your reminder to reach out to family.  While we're celebrating additions to our family with our wedding last weekend, a family in Denver will be celebrating tomorrow without their son (and my son's best friend).  A life cut short.  #carpediem.

        Safe travels, friend. 

    4. I thought I posted this earlier: Before I got married and my wife became my only charge,  I was a nanny. I used to sing babies to sleep with this song. 

      1. Cook, it's a soothing melody, but the lyrics could give a kid nightmares: "On the bloody morning after, one tin soldier rides away". Of course, for an older kid, you might have been the best.nanny.EVER.

        1. When I said babies, Mama  I meant in-arms babes, not toddlers. They did just like the melody, it is very soothing. If it makes you feel better, Cat's in the Cradle was my other favorite lullaby. 

  11. Pope Francis decries the brutality of war and its effects on refugees and children, in a Christmas plea for peace.

    And just to remind we Francis-fans that we still have our differences, he included aborted unborn in his catalogue of cruelties against children. In the feminist world view, women must have the right to choose whether or not to bear a child, whether or not the church sees this as cruel.

    I like his big-picture view, though, putting abortion in the context of poverty and oppression. Given female literacy and empowerment, given a path out of extreme poverty, given a healthy environment and health care, most people would choose to bear the children they are given.

    Peace on earth, good will to all. An appropriate message today.

     

    1. Merry Christmas, MamaJ.  You are indeed a very special human being.  Loving this Pope more and more each day; he's just what this hurting planet needs right now.  You're right, his context is what's important, and it's time for an entirely new conversation and construct.  I hope leaders on one side of this issue can begin to acknowledge the sanctity of life (without fear that their legal rights would be removed) – while the other side can acknowledge (and begin to act upon) the societal evils that are the root cause of so many unwanted children.   As a Jesuit priest told me long ago, until we 'go to the root', we'll never solve the problem.  I, for one, am going to commit to initiating this conversation in 2015.

      Merry, Merry Christmas. 

      PS: In case you missed this, a very special story on NPR:  A Century Ago, When the Guns Fell Silent on Christmas

  12. Probably I will go to this, as well…..WBC keeps on changing their plans as the opposition solidifies, and the opposing picket group, now called "Love is the Higher Ground" adapts quickly, as well.

    Strategically, it's a good move on WBC's part.- half of Pueblo West is hostile to the MMJ stores – the other half, of course, gets baked whenever possible. I have a friend who works making treats for one of these stores. Business is booming.

    Merry Christmas to you, my friend, and I hope you enjoy the blessings of the season.

  13. ColoradoPols, a minor nitpick on the quote.

    It's Harry S Truman, not Harry S. Truman. His middle name is simply S

    Something about a compromise on the middle name…

    1. I have an important task to finish before the end of the year, and, of course, it's on line.  To prove that I am who I say I am, I needed to enter my dad's middle name.  Bit of a problem, he doesn't have a middle name.  I tried "none," "NMI," "NMN," and they didn't work.  My other alternative was to type in the name of my first grandchild.  I have no grandchildren and no signs that I will ever have grandchildren.  I love tech, really, really, I do.  But if this is to identify me uniquely, shouldn't the site know that I don't have grandchildren?  Gotta wait til Monday to talk to the techy people to get an identifier question that I can answer.

      Merry holidays to one and all.

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