Debating Christmas on the House floor NOW No Freakin Kidding!!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

I don't believe this!

[CatholicEdHead]

1. Just defecting from the recent batch of tax cuts

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Davis (R) says we are trying to Neuter Christmas

:eyes:

[uppityperson]

15. Neuter Christmas????

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[WritingIsMyReligion]

61. Why not spay it???

Why are we assuming that x-mas is male??

:P :P

Seriously, though...

Oh, my word....

:puke:

[TankLV]

81. Neutering is gender neutral.

[The Stranger]

122. Does Christmas have a penis or a vagina?

Which is it? Let's cut straight to the issue here.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

128. I suppose so, but still....

:P :P

[jazzjunkysue]

136. Was the Grinch neutered?

[Triana]

78. f*ck that, let's murder it

i have no use for a eunuch HOLIDAY.

[Chipper Chat]

85. How about shrinking christmas so small

we could "drown it in a bathtub."

[arikara]

99. Drown it in a bathtub!

Good one! :rofl:

I have a notion that the corporate masters aren't happy with the spending habits of the unemployed and underemployed this happy happy season.

[rucky]

101. That's why Bill O'Reilly is selling his Holiday Balls online...

[LibDemAlways]

126. In what alternate universe do people

stick ornaments on their Christmas tree that advertise for FAUX News and O'Reilly? Those bastards ought to be ashamed of themselves - FAUX for making and promoting them and any "moran" who buys one.

[chicagiana]

132. isn't it appropriate ...

Isn't it appropriate that O'Reilly's balls are made out of glass !?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Right wingers are showing their true fascist nature now. They're trying to force corporations and individuals to follow their religion. They're trying to transform Christmas into a state holiday and FORCE everyone to celebrate it in the way that they dictate.

Fuck Christmas. It isn't even on the right day. Give me a good solstice holiday!!!!

[Chautauqua]

141. Um. Uh. Well...

Christmas is already a state holiday.

As The Daily Show put it so well last year:

"Christmas: It's the only religious holiday that's also a federal holiday. That way, Christians can go to their services and everyone else can stay home and reflect on the true meaning of separation of church and state."


And remember, this is the government that said that a nativity scene is allowed in public displays because it is a secular symbol. After all, the mythologized birth scene of Christianity's demi-god figure is appealing to everyone!

[chicagiana]

142. For example ...

For example the scene is certainly relevant to adherents to Mithraism, Dionsyiunism and Zaroatrianism. Two traditions upon which modern Christianity is based.

[Beelzebud]

139. I say we try to neuter Davis. :D

[DistressedAmerican]

3. Jo Ann Davis

Shallow, Stupid Skank.

Jesus Fucking Christ. They I put him back in! Happy silly bitch?

[DistressedAmerican]

5. Boil This Fucking Frog!

How Stupid!

[Kralizec]

77. The Boiling Frog.

You're a friend of mine.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. Ackerman (D) up now

I really don't know what we're doing up here today. We're setting up a straw man. Is this another war we are going to fight against an enemy that doesn't exist?

:rofl:

calling them on this stupidity!

[The Backlash Cometh]

127. Another war against a non-existing enemy!!!

OH, I LOVE IT!

[Renew Deal]

4. OK

:freak:

[Skink]

8. I accidentally said Holidays to someone buying Left Behind books

today. She smiled and held back telling me I will be struck down.

[madeline_con]

35. LOL! n/t

[Ladyhawk]

72. Maybe she was buying them for the comic factor?

I know someone who reads them for shits and giggles.

I couldn't because that fundy stuff scared the hell out of me when I was a kid. Even those crappy "Thief in the Night" and "A Distant Thunder" movies made me have nightmares for years. The reason? It was presented as something that was definitely going to happen. I didn't know anyone who thought otherwise.

Teaching kids they'll go to hell if they aren't a Christian is a form of child abuse.

[tavalon]

82. I was raised on that shit (Southern Baptist)

Luckily, I got over it. Those damn reasoning skills always seem to turn us into Godless Liberals Supporting the Gay Agenda (tm), don't they? ;)

[Beam Me Up]

97. pssst. Did I ever tell you about the time the church burned to the ground?

First Baptist Church of Scottsburg Indiana, circa 1960.

It was the custom for kids my age (just before puberty) to "Commit themselves to Jesus" a month or so before Easter so, on Easter Sunday, all the soon to be blooming teenagers could get dunked in the baptismal (glass tank up behind the pulpit).

Well. I was among them that year but when Easter rolled around I had the measles and so couldn't attend the ceremony. You know Baptists, they weren't about to let THAT stop them from dunking me. So, some weeks later when I was well enough, they scheduled to have a special ceremony one Sunday evening JUST FOR ME.

That afternoon, the church BURNED TO THE GROUND. I'm talking major conflagration, complete with the steeple falling into the nave, throwing sparks and flame and billows of thick black smoke into the air. I know this because I watched it happen as the Volunteer Fire Department (of which my older brother was a member) fought valiantly to contain one of the biggest blazes they had ever had to contend with.

I'm not making this up.

Edit: typos

[tavalon]

102. And then you became a Godless Pagan?

Hee hee.

I got dunked in one of them thar' glass tanks. Luckily my pastor was smart enough not to reach for the microphone.

[Beam Me Up]

105. Oh, I got dunked, alright.

A few weeks the fire they arranged to use the baptismal at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on a Sunday evening (since they wouldn't be using it themselves, you see).

It was very weird. I'd hoped I'd feel differently, being sinless and all somehow, but fact was, I didn't.

"Pagan?" Well, sort of. "Godless?" I wouldn't go that far. The 'God' I believe in is consciousness.

[tavalon]

106. I was teasing

I'm a pagan as well. I've heard the other sides idiots call us Godless Pagans who support the gay agenda (I would if there were one) so I tend to make jokes about it.

[Beam Me Up]

109. Suspected as much.

I'm gay. I have no agenda. I can barely figure out what I'm doing from day to day.

[tavalon]

113. Then you're an okay person

It's those who think they know what they're doing who are the scary ones.

[Hekate]

111. I myself am a Goddess Pagan

We're everywhere.

I always wonder what people (not you; the seriously misinformed) can possibly mean by "godless pagans" when what we really have is a a whole pantheon....

Hekate

[Hekate]

112. I myself am a Goddess Pagan

We're everywhere.

I always wonder what people (not you; the seriously misinformed) can possibly mean by "godless pagans" when what we really have is a a whole pantheon.... :rofl:

Hekate

[tavalon]

114. As a fellow Pagan

I find that one amusing too. We have plenty of Gods and Goddesses.

[druidity33]

118. pagan here as well

and i think since they believe in only the "one" God (capital G)... they consider no other "gods" valid. Therefore we are Godless because we don't worship "the one true God". Oh well. Enjoy solstice! Here it's -3 degrees right now, not sure how long an outdoor ceremony it's gonna be for me this year... peace out

[chicagiana]

133. The war on paganism ...

The war on paganism is the ancient war against reason and ultimately science.

The fundies want to replace observation of natural creation (nature) with their nutty stories. They want to keep people from reading god's intention in CREATION ITSELF.

Science is the ultimate manifestation of paganism. Reading the way the world works is the ultimate way to read the intentions of a creator.

Those who dispute naturism are by definition satanists. Those who believe that the bones in the ground are "satanic corruptions" are satanists. To believe that an evil entity can interfere with god's message is to believe that this being is of equal or greater power than a creator. This is by definition why people worship satan. They believe that satan is more powerful.

Those of us enlightened by nature should have little or no tolerance for the ignorance of these satanic disciples who's purpose is to blind us to the nature of god's creation. Call them the evil pretenders that they are and get it over with. Deal with them at the level that they are.

[julianer]

104. One Sunday back in the late seventies

I needed money to get a drink and I knew my mum would be in the local Catholic church. I hadn't been in church for years but I sneaked in next to her and borrowed a fiver(£5). My evening proceeded smoothly thereafter....

The next day news reached me that the Pope had died. Coincidence? Perhaps, perhaps not....

[Beam Me Up]

108. I hope you don't mind that I find your story humorous.

Hello to Bath from the otherwise occupied USA.

:hi:

[Ladyhawk]

130. Yeah, funny how that happens, isn't it?

I started out Southern Baptist, too. :D

[izzybeans]

119. I rented one on tape for a long drive, it was the "prequel"

that "shows how the antichrist was born". No doubt the parents were liberal academics who divorced because the father was a closted homosexual. Four birds, one stone.

The assinine plotlines were so hilarious I thought for sure it was social satire.

[izzybeans]

120. I rented one on tape for a long drive, it was the "prequel"

that "shows how the antichrist was born". No doubt the parents were liberal academics who divorced because the father was a closeted homosexual. Four birds, one stone.

The asinine plot lines were so hilarious I thought for sure it was social satire.

[mwb970]

125. I looked through one of the Left Behind books at Barnes & Noble.

I was surprised at the wooden, graceless writing, which seems to be dumbed down to about 6th-grade level (no big liberal words). It reads like Weekly Reader for religious nuts.

I don't see how anyone with a brain would put up with a single chapter of such leaden prose. But of course, they don't!

[Pirate Smile]

6. I'm sure the Gulf Coast residents really appreciate this use of time

by the GOP controlled House.:eyes:

[ecstatic]

18. such a travesty nt

[Pirate Smile]

21. This really is un-friggin believable. Now it is the "zealous liberals"

according to Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite.

Oohhh - she even threw in the nasty ACLU.

[FreedomAngel82]

40. They can't do anything

without bringing up the ACLU or the Clenis. :eyes: Really quite sad.

[tavalon]

83. Yeah, but with this current crop, it's just different day, same old shit

At least this one has a great potential for making fun of. I swear, Jon Stewart's job just keeps getting easier and easier. These morons keep writing his lines for him and he doesn't even have to tweak them.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Go Gary Ackerman!

Nice speaking!

[SillyGoose]

10. Ackerson: no one is attacking Christmas.

Is this bizarre or what? I can't believe they are debating this.

[HEyHEY]

11. On YOUR dime too

[SillyGoose]

12. No kidding. nt

[FreedomAngel82]

45. I should tell my dad

I'm sure he'd like to know what they're doing with his money. :crazy: What's this resoultion???

[SillyGoose]

16. Ackerman nailing it here.

His reference to elf-tossing made me spit my drink all over my keyboard.

[tavalon]

84. Elf tossing!!!

I don't even know the full phrase he used and I'm glad I didn't have liquid in my mouth.

Oh Good Lord, I want a transcript! This has high comedy value!

[Occulus]

90. Is that like salad tossing?

I can't believe I just said that.....

[Usrename]

93. Big bowl of elves and some sprinkles

:rofl:

[ecstatic]

13. excellent points by guy speaking (re: symbols vs. actions)

don't know his name...

[DistressedAmerican]

14. Elf Tossing!!!

This whole thing is the single stupidest thing I have ever seen.

[MsKandice01]

17. What are they actually debating???

[Usrename]

94. H.Res579

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HE00579:@@@T

They haven't published it yet.

[LWolf]

116. Iraq, Iran, Katrina, Diebold, Plamegate...

the list of issues/events needing to be addressed marches on.

And this is what they are spending their time on????

[NewJeffCT]

19. go to www.mediamatters.org & read what Cal Thomas has to say...

I was shocked, but far right conservative Christian Cal Thomas has no problem with "Happy Holidays" and the like.

www.mediamatters.org

[FreedomAngel82]

48. Jon Porter did pretty good too

He agreed with the democrat before him. Ackerman did great!

[last_texas_dem]

110. Cal Thomas

is surprisingly not always a total nut on the subject of religion. Several years ago, there was a sizeable controversy concerning student-led prayer at football games. (I ended up getting embroiled in it on a personal level when the principal altered an article I had written for the school newspaper on the subject w/o telling me and other fun occurences not worth getting into, etc., etc.) Anyway, I recall one of the best articles on the subject at the time was by Cal Thomas, whose view was essentially, "If Xianity has been weakened so much that it can't withstand not having public prayer at football games it is beyond rescue." Alright, maybe not those words exactly, but that was essentially the argument ol' wingnut Cal put forth. I guess he's right about something every six years or so!

[Protagoras]

20. It's WAAAAAY Past time to tell these dumbasses

to start doing REAL work or get the hell out. My god...I'll bet this idiocy just cost us a million dollars. What's a minute of house time going for these days btw? Cuz I WANT MY MONEY BACK!

Ginny Brown-Waite can bite my menorah. What an amazing exercise in political masturbation.

[adriennui]

22. these morons should be fired or thown into the slammer

for crapping away our tax dollars (it is grand larceny) debating an issue that shouldn't be the concern of the goverment.

we have entered the bizarro world.

[0007]

57. The proper word is "moran"

..
This is not referring to you, adriennui.

[adriennui]

59. no explanation needed

we're kindred spirits here at DU.

[Reciprocity]

23. Good grief this is the most asinine POS I'v seen.

BTW great proem!!

[Protagoras]

24. Dingell's poem is a must-post as soon as it's out

Did he compose it himself? We need to find it and put it on the front page.

[Reciprocity]

30. And to Bill O'Reilly Happy Holidays.LOL

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Don't they have anything else to do?

Hmm, what about the Katrina victims still without homes? Nah? Not important enough???

[Viva_La_Revolution]

28. My boy just walked in with a few of his friends...

I explained what was going on, they are just as stupefied as we are. One asked - Aren't they supposed to be working on important stuff, like the war and poverty?

[Kadie]

26. I need a copy of this poem by Dingell.

LOL

[dweller]

31. can you quote a line or two?

maybe it could be found.

dp

[Viva_La_Revolution]

34. nothing on his website yet...

http://www.house.gov/dingell/

[Kadie]

58. I wish I could,

here is a link in another thread to give you an idea...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5600995#5601047

[dweller]

67. that sounds as if he wrote it

i was thinking he was reading a satire of xmas or something.

hope it shows up soon.
dp

[Pirate Smile]

27. The Daily Show and Olberman should have a Party with this idiocy!

[Reciprocity]

32. My thoughts exactly.

[FreedomAngel82]

50. Oh I can't wait!

Will it be in time for tonight or tomorrow?

[Pirate Smile]

54. Tomorrow.

[FreedomAngel82]

62. Darn!

I still can't wait though. :)

[WritingIsMyReligion]

64. That thought just crossed my mind...

Can't wait to hear Jon's take on this horseshit.

[tavalon]

86. Yep

These idiots are writing his show with this one.

[agincourt]

29. Why don't they debate the important stuff,

Like the Bowl Championship Series, or Andro being used in baseball?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

33. Norton (R)

Asking that they withdrawl the resolution.

"From the ones that just ruined Christmas for thousands of poor people by voting down the aid package, this would be funny if it were'nt so sad."

[Viva_La_Revolution]

36. Woolsey (D) calling them out

"You can always tell when the right wing is in trouble, they bring up some " ridiculous waste of time to divert

[FreedomAngel82]

51. Is Ted Stevens behind this??

[SillyGoose]

37. Attacks on friggin' candy canes???

Has this woman lost her damn mind??

[Viva_La_Revolution]

38. Scott (D)

this is not a war on the symbols of Xmas, but there is a war on the Spirit of Xmas! :)

[SillyGoose]

47. In this whole miserable fabricated war on Christmas, I have not heard

one alleged attack on candy canes (I can't believe I actually had to type those words).

[WritingIsMyReligion]

65. She had a mind in the first place???

:shrug:

[madeline_con]

39. Attack on red and green colors, candy canes and Santa!!

Who the hell is this broad in the red shirt with the blue jacket who just equated these "symbols" with a menorah or other symbols of religion?!!

[FreedomAngel82]

52. I didn't know Santa was in my Bible

Where is that? Mark?

[madeline_con]

55. I'm not sure...

I'm still looking for the verse about candy canes.

[FreedomAngel82]

63. Let me know when you find it

;)

[WritingIsMyReligion]

66. Naw, Leviticus.

All that good ole OT stuff.

:P :P

[tavalon]

87. It's in Nicholas, second chapter

They call him Old Saint Nick.

[lonestarnot]

41. What a crock of shit!

[and-justice-for-all]

42. For Fucks Sake!!

Thats our Tax dollars hard at work, because some pansy ass right-wing nuts!! These "Xtians", so they claim to be and I seriously doubt that they are Xtian, are really getting on my last nerve with this whining about EVERYTHING!!

If its not the a movie..Passion of the Christ, Narnia or IMAX secrets of the deep, then it has be some other pathetic insecurity. It just goes to show you how much faith they really do have in their own religion, if they were REALLY Christian then this little shit would not bother them, but since they are poser Xtians....AFA, FRC, Christian Coalition and other Xtian Cults need to shut the fuck up about this stupid bullshit thats nothing more then Neo-Con distraction from the more important issues

I dont say happy holidays, I say MERRY FUCKING XMAS!!

[Shallah Kali]

79. They want the power of Rome during the Middle Ages

when they could jail or even execute anyone who dared contradict the accuracy of the bible. Apparently nothing less than that will please them.

[lvx35]

98. Thank you!

if they were REALLY Christian then this little shit would not bother them

thank you for saying that. It cuts to the heart of the whole problem with these new fake christians, they are complete idolterers. They will worship any idol, any mortal thing...the bible, christmas, preachers...absoultly anything but God, because that requires you to look within and deal with yourself, thereby preventing you from having some externalized thing to worship and some other thing (liberals) to complain about.

[FreedomAngel82]

43. Weiner is doing great!

I've never really seen him before.

[Pirate Smile]

44. One of the Repubs mentioned the attacks on red and green which

has already been disproved!!

Idiots!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5599063

[Viva_La_Revolution]

56. Actually one of them said it twice...

and some other repug said it too.

[kevinbgoode]

73. We need to get the names of EVERY one of those

congresspeople - this irresponsible display of leadership needs to be nipped in the bud. They don't represent their district - they represent a bunch of lunatics.

[tavalon]

88. My partner wants to know

if these people are on crack? I think it's a valid question.

[Zambero]

91. It's an inside job

Design-a-War: First, fabricate the cause. Then fabricate the enemy. Onward to victory!

[Usrename]

129. We've seen this work over and over again

Welcome to Du!:toast:

There seems to be a pattern here.

[FreedomAngel82]

46. Go Ackerman!

[SofaKingLiberal]

49. Are those six pointed stars on all the chairs?

[Just Me]

53. Didn't the Nazis pull this kind of shit,...

Seriously, this is sick, sick, sick!!!

Have they a clue about how their behavior perfectly resemble fascism? Do they even care? Apparently, NOT! They are sick.

God, how I tremble at such behavior. :scared:

[WritingIsMyReligion]

60. OMFG

Iraq war? Fucked-up economy? Thousands dying? Poverty? Rigged elections?

"LALALALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!"

Oh my fucking God.... I am so ashamed to live in this country. SO fucking ashamed...

[NuttyFluffers]

68. oh for the love of god... why don't they swig a brewski and moon us?

has just about the same effect. well, america has been in "joke nation" status for quite a while now; one would think i couldn't be surprised still...

[gauguin57]

76. Yep. The Europeans must be peeing their pants laughing right now.

Old Europe, New Europe, All Of Europe.

[rman]

96. You bet,

but we don't blame you. We feel sorry for you.
And we are with you in our hearts and minds - well, i am.

[MelissaB]

69. I'm so embarrassed!

I just can't believe this is happening.

[sniffa]

70. we have evidence that santa has WMDs

and besides, miLLions of eLves are yearning for freedom.

no one can argue that the worLd isn't better off without santa.

[Ladyhawk]

71. What a fucking waste of time...unbelievable.

You know, if anything "conservatives" have ruined Christmas for me this year.

[gauguin57]

74. Happy Flying Spaghetti Monster Festive Yule Solstice Saturnalia Day

Merry KissMyAss-mas

[jarnocan]

75. How about send themall this Merry christmas card or

similar sentiment- especially to the Whitehouse.

http://64.34.180.159/pics4/i/20051210/5/3/8/5385e554110aa67e69a35735044803820

[Shallah Kali]

80. What a load of Freedom Fries! This is so pitiful and a freaking waste of t

time and taxpayer money! I hope whomever runs against this person uses this footage of fake crimes against Christmas in ads!

[AtomicKitten]

89. Let's face it. This Congress is retarded.

[texpatriot2004]

92. Bingo! And EVIL TOO. Rat Bastards, like there is nothing else

for them to do right now. Grrrr.

[bleedingheart]

123. yep...sadly it is true...they are retarded

[incapsulated]

95. I missed it...

Did Christmas win or lose? I hope it didn't lose because I just bought my tree! Will I have to chop it up for mulch, now?

:cry:

[Beam Me Up]

100. .

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[SoCalDem]

103. Too bad the dems did not call a meeting

then have a spokesperson satnd up, and anounce that they had real problems to deal with, and when the repubes were done stroking O'Reilly's bogus "issue", to send someone to get them..They should have then all gotten up and left the building..

This is disgusting beyond belief, but it's fairly ordinary.. They spend hours "debating" silly stuff like naming buildings after people no one has ever heard of, and redesignating state flowers & insects, and yet they never seem to have enough time to debate important things..

shame on them all for playing games..

[NMMNG]

107. These people are unreal

Completely and totally unreal. :crazy:

Needy people lost funding for programs so these fools could debate this. :wtf:

[OKNancy]

115. Holiday = holy day

If this ever came up in any conversation I had with a live person ( it hasn't)
I'd remind the person that holiday means holy day.

http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861618310/holiday.html

[rosesaylavee]

117. Fire them all

We sure don't want to spend time discussing the budget, Katrina, the war, terrorism efforts, the growing ethics problems in Congress, the economy, the energy crisis, our *resident losing his mind, etc.

They don't deserve their positions. Fire em now.

[ChickMagic]

121. This is so freaking stupid

I'm an atheist, but I have a wreath on my door at work, a Christmas tree outside in the main room, next to a menorrah with gelt, a basket of corn for Kwanzaa and a snowman for Saturnalia. I'm REALLY killing Christmas, don't ya think?

[newportdadde]

124. What is scary is your seeing the GOP via its propoganda machine

completely change the business that should be going on in our nations capital by OUR elected officials.

[paineinthearse]

131. Have you read John Dingle's floor speech?

:rofl: He really sticks it to O'Lielie

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5616012&mesg_id=5616012

[chicagiana]

134. Founder's Christmas Spirit !!!!

Honestly, I too believe that Christmas has been corrupted beyond the founders intentions.

In the days of the revolution, Christmas was celebrated as a combination of New Years, Carnivale and Halloween with adults roaming from door to door demanding food and drink.

We have indeed lost the true spirit of Christmas. Immediately, we need to start:
* Door to door "sack or quenching" by which you must hand out little bottles of booze to people who knock on your door.
* Public "open bars" in civic centers.
* Public bawdy tents where adults can openly cavort and celebrate.
* Re-enacted attacks of revolutionary troops attacking drunken Hessians on Christmas.

Bring back the Revolutionary Christmas. Bring back what the founders expected!!!!

[jazzjunkysue]

137. So, the founders of our nation invented christmas? New one on me.

Guess I'll have to remain a pagan of the enlightenment.

[chicagiana]

140. No, no ... this was a joke ...

The fundies always like to talk about "the old days". What they're really talking about is a myth about the old days.

When they talk about religion in public spaces they always create some elaborate lie about the role of religion during the founding of our nation. I'm simply saying we should apply the same standard here.

Christmas as a "solemn institution" is a relatively new phenomenon. It was considered largely irrelevant by the early church. The date itself for Christmas is almost certainly incorrect as it is not in the correct season. Rather, it is a sumper-imposition upon pagan celebrations in an effort to construct a "universal" (Catholic) church.

Christmas wasn't valued very much. Hence it turned into a party holiday.

The founder's Christmas was a Christmas of public drunkeness. It wasn't important. So don't give me all this crap about the importance and emphasis of a "holiday season" rather than Christmas specifically. It all comes full circle back to the solstice and celebrations associated with it.

Happy Solstice. I look forward to the days becomming longer.

[helderheid]

135. OH ... MY ... GOD.

[PatriotGames]

138. I love the fundie right and their non-issues. n/t