Rep. John Dingell Gave Me An Early Christmas Present...

Rep. John Dingell of Michigan is my new hero. One of the stupidest things that Congress has done (there are many) is the recent House Resolution 579 (i.e. Protecting Against The War Against Christmas). Basically it was a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected, and that references to Christmas should be supported. This is all based on Bill O'Reilly's perceived "War On Christmas."

To help emphasize how stupid it was for Congress to even spend time talking about this right before the holiday break with so many more important things going on in the world and in the country, he spent his time on the floor reading a poem. It is hilarious. (watch here.) His delivery is pretty amazing.

Keith Olbermann, host of Countdown on MSNBC, put me on to this story and made a good point when he pointed how hypocritical it is of O'Reilly and Fox News to talk about the "War On Christmas" when they sell Bill O'Reilly Christmas ornaments as "holiday ornaments" and had a company "holiday party" instead of a "Christmas party." Some of the very things that O'Reilly attributes to this "war." An added bonus was watching Stephen Cobert declare that the "War On Christmas" was misguided and that the actual war we should be fighting is the "War On Holiday."

In honor of Rep. Dingell, I've included the words to his wonderful poem below:

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House
No bills were passed ‘bout which Fox News could grouse;
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
So vacations in St. Barts soon would be near;

Katrina kids were nestled all snug in motel beds,
While visions of school and home danced in their heads;
In Iraq our soldiers needed supplies and a plan,
Plus nuclear weapons were being built in Iran;

Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell;
Americans feared we were on a fast track to…well…
Wait--- we need a distraction--- something divisive and wily;
A fabrication straight from the mouth of O’Reilly

We can pretend that Christmas is under attack
Hold a vote to save it--- then pat ourselves on the back;
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger
Wake up Congress, they’re in no danger!

This time of year we see Christmas every where we go,
From churches, to homes, to schools, and yes…even Costco;
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy,
When this is the season to unite us with joy

At Christmas time we’re taught to unite,
We don’t need a made-up reason to fight
So on O’Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter, and those right wing blogs;
You should just sit back, relax…have a few egg nogs!

‘Tis the holiday season: enjoy it a pinch
With all our real problems, do we honestly need another Grinch?

So to my friends and my colleagues I say with delight,
A merry Christmas to all,
and to Bill O’Reilly…Happy Holidays.