Congressmen Move to Overturn 'Merry Christmas' Ban...

[Liability]

Unrelated to this ruling. So not much anyone can do about it. Also, getting into what words are or are not allowed on letterhead is way too sticky.

I'm happy with not forcing the taxpayers to pay for thinly disguised campaign mailings from congress-critters.

No. It's not unrelated to this ruling. The ruling says that the franking privilege has to forbid the insertion of the "Merry Christmas" wish in franked mailings. The rationale for that idiotic determination is that it would constitute some imaginary violation of the First Amendment Freedom of Religion establishment clause.

In other words, TAX dollars cannot be used for fear of some Constitutional disruption in the Force.

But it is still the use of tax dollars to print the letterhead stock used by Congress-critters and to dutifully print out thousands of copies of each mailing. So, if the phrase is used anywhere in the letters, the same idiotic rationale would be expected to prohibit it.

The issue of whether tax dollars should be allowed to be used to disseminate re-election propaganda is a separate and distinct (thorny) issue.

But the issue of whether insertion of ANY religious or holiday sentiment somehow violates the First Amendment prohibition is an entirely different matter.

The claim that saying "Merry Christmas" in the sign-off of those letters somehow risks the establishment of a religion or somehow risks the prohibition of the free exercise of anybody's religion is farcical on its face.

It's unrelated because the franking office can't forbid things from being written on any letterhead. They can just refuse to mail them. Hence, outside the scope of this decision.

It IS related because it's still tax dollars supporting the Congress-critter's communications and those communications involve the use of that awful, horrible, evil phrase, "Merry Christmas."

Of course whether Congress-critters can be barred by the Franking Committee from using tax-funded letterhead in the first place is obviously not the point. Nobody has suggested that they have jurisdiction. But somewhere, some asshole is going to complain about the use of tax dollars for the letterhead on which Congress-critters write "Merry Christmas." And the BASIS for the bitching will be EXACTLY the same: "the use of tax dollars violates the mythical 'separation of church and state'," even though that's plainly NOT what the First Amendment says.

 

[RadiomanATL]

No. It's not unrelated to this ruling. The ruling says that the franking privilege has to forbid the insertion of the "Merry Christmas" wish in franked mailings. The rationale for that idiotic determination is that it would constitute some imaginary violation of the First Amendment Freedom of Religion establishment clause.

In other words, TAX dollars cannot be used for fear of some Constitutional disruption in the Force.

But it is still the use of tax dollars to print the letterhead stock used by Congress-critters and to dutifully print out thousands of copies of each mailing. So, if the phrase is used anywhere in the letters, the same idiotic rationale would be expected to prohibit it.

The issue of whether tax dollars should be allowed to be used to disseminate re-election propaganda is a separate and distinct (thorny) issue.

But the issue of whether insertion of ANY religious or holiday sentiment somehow violates the First Amendment prohibition is an entirely different matter.

The claim that saying "Merry Christmas" in the sign-off of those letters somehow risks the establishment of a religion or somehow risks the prohibition of the free exercise of anybody's religion is farcical on its face.

It's unrelated because the franking office can't forbid things from being written on any letterhead. They can just refuse to mail them. Hence, outside the scope of this decision.

It IS related because it's still tax dollars supporting the Congress-critter's communications and those communications involve the use of that awful, horrible, evil phrase, "Merry Christmas."

Of course whether Congress-critters can be barred by the Franking Committee from using tax-funded letterhead in the first place is obviously not the point. Nobody has suggested that they have jurisdiction. But somewhere, some asshole is going to complain about the use of tax dollars for the letterhead on which Congress-critters write "Merry Christmas." And the BASIS for the bitching will be EXACTLY the same: "the use of tax dollars violates the mythical 'separation of church and state'," even though that's plainly NOT what the First Amendment says.

The Franking office will not send anything saying "Merry Christmas", no matter what it is written on.

The letterhead issue is unrelated to this decision.

 

[Old Rocks]

The fucking atheists are winning their war against Christians. That's what it means.

Really? Your God is that weak

 

[Liability]

It's unrelated because the franking office can't forbid things from being written on any letterhead. They can just refuse to mail them. Hence, outside the scope of this decision.

It IS related because it's still tax dollars supporting the Congress-critter's communications and those communications involve the use of that awful, horrible, evil phrase, "Merry Christmas."

Of course whether Congress-critters can be barred by the Franking Committee from using tax-funded letterhead in the first place is obviously not the point. Nobody has suggested that they have jurisdiction. But somewhere, some asshole is going to complain about the use of tax dollars for the letterhead on which Congress-critters write "Merry Christmas." And the BASIS for the bitching will be EXACTLY the same: "the use of tax dollars violates the mythical 'separation of church and state'," even though that's plainly NOT what the First Amendment says.

The Franking office will not send anything saying "Merry Christmas", no matter what it is written on.

The letterhead issue is unrelated to this decision.

Jesus Christ. Repeat yourself much?

OF COURSE the letterhead issue is unrelated to the determination and rules of the Franking Committee.

How many times do you have to say that obvious shit and have me agree with it?

That's NOT the point, though.

The thing that IS related is that the RATIONALE by which the fucking Franking Committee made that determination (rule). Their rationale is that the Constitution somehow prohibits the mentioning (by Congress-critters in mailings that are paid for by tax dollars) of any words or phrases involving religion. That self-same rationale WOULD thus prohibit (albeit not by the Franking Committee, of course) the use of tax dollars to pay for the letterhead stock and the copying costs.

Ergo, the same rationale would prohibit Congress-critters from saying, "Merry Christmas" in any official letters (regardless of whether it gets mailed under the franking privilege or not).

 

[WillowTree]

The fucking atheists are winning their war against Christians. That's what it means.

Really? Your God is that weak

No reason to fund a weak god. And atheists should work on Christmas.

 

[paulitician]

I think Big Government should ban anything that could possibly offend anyone. They should just play it safe.

 

[bodecea]

What is it with this banning stuff coming from Government? Seems like they're always in such a rush to ban everything. Banning 'Merry Christmas' in greetings? Come on Big Government. You can do better than that. Good to see some in Government trying to reverse this trend.


Rep. Joe Walsh, an Illinois Republican, and Rep. Mike Ross, an Arkansas Democrat, are trying to overturn a rule that forbids the use of “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Hanukkah” in taxpayer-funded congressional correspondence.

Congressional rules state that mail containing holiday greetings cannot be “franked” — Hill lingo for receiving taxpayer reimbursement for postage — according to a memo from the “Franking Commission Staff” obtained by The Washington Examiner.

Members may “make reference to the season as a whole using language along the lines of ‘Have a safe and happy holiday season” but only if it is “incidental to the piece rather than the primary purpose of the communication,” the memo said.

In response to the memo, Walsh and Ross circulated a letter Monday encouraging both Republican and Democratic members to demand the rule be rescinded.

“We are not celebrating winter this December,” the letter reads in part. “We are celebrating significant moments in two religions that have fundamentally shaped our nation — and as Members of Congress who represent thousands of constituents celebrating these holidays, we ask you to reconsider these outdated and restrictive rules.”



Read more: Merry Christmas Ban | House of Representatives | Joe Walsh | The Daily Caller

Sure...they don't want to pay for it themselves.

 

[RadiomanATL]

No. It's not unrelated to this ruling. ....

It IS related...

Jesus Christ. Repeat yourself much?

OF COURSE the letterhead issue is unrelated...

You were saying you were agreeing all along?

 

[Cammmpbell]

Why do so many Americans support Big Government banning so much? That always amazes me. I'm beginning to get the feeling most Americans really do fear Freedom & Liberty now. It's like they need that Big Government to control their lives now. But i guess that's what the Big Government plan was all along. So many are so dependent on Big Government making decisions for them. It's very sad.

Ask big government why they declared a totally unnecessary war and told a thousand lies to do it and then caused the death of over 4400 young Americans and ran up a trillion dollar debt. You people squawk about the wrong things.

Your PREMISE is stupid. The war was only "totally unnecessary" in your vapid opinion.

You are mistaken. In fact, you're just a dick.

And there is a difference between being wrong (if indeed they were wrong, for example, about Saddam HAVING WMD) and lying.

Wars do cause death. The loss of ANY of our military is tragic. You use it as a debate tactic. You are slime.

And don't worry about running up a trillion dollar debt. Asswipes like you don't complain about that kind of behavior EXCEPT when (for partisan political purposes of your hyperbole) you object to the particular cause for such spending.

Assholes like you ALWAYS squawk about the wrong things.

Hey, speaking of which. Hurry. You're overdue. Start another important and meaningful thread about your personal dislike of religion. Get on it, you slacker.

George W. Bush picked a fight with Saddam Hussein because he couldn't get over the fact that Hussein tried to assassinate his daddy in 1993. He said he prayed about it and god told him to invade Iraq. What does it take for you to come off the bullshit. Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction and Bush and his cabinet told a thousand lies which said he did. You're not just a little bit wrong you are major phucked up. 'Course these days nearly every Republican is............

Bush praying about it classes his attack as another Crusades type event. 'Course this time only about 150,000 innocent Iraqis were slaughtered.

 

[Liability]

Ask big government why they declared a totally unnecessary war and told a thousand lies to do it and then caused the death of over 4400 young Americans and ran up a trillion dollar debt. You people squawk about the wrong things.

Your PREMISE is stupid. The war was only "totally unnecessary" in your vapid opinion.

You are mistaken. In fact, you're just a dick.

And there is a difference between being wrong (if indeed they were wrong, for example, about Saddam HAVING WMD) and lying.

Wars do cause death. The loss of ANY of our military is tragic. You use it as a debate tactic. You are slime.

And don't worry about running up a trillion dollar debt. Asswipes like you don't complain about that kind of behavior EXCEPT when (for partisan political purposes of your hyperbole) you object to the particular cause for such spending.

Assholes like you ALWAYS squawk about the wrong things.

Hey, speaking of which. Hurry. You're overdue. Start another important and meaningful thread about your personal dislike of religion. Get on it, you slacker.

George W. Bush picked a fight with Saddam Hussein because he couldn't get over the fact that Hussein tried to assassinate his daddy in 1993. He said he prayed about it and god told him to invade Iraq. What does it take for you to come off the bullshit. Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction and Bush and his cabinet told a thousand lies which said he did. You're not just a little bit wrong you are major phucked up. 'Course these days nearly every Republican is............

Bush praying about it classes his attack as another Crusades type event. 'Course this time only about 150,000 innocent Iraqis were slaughtered.

Zzzzzzzzzz. Without the canned liberoidal party line, it appears that Dummmbell couldn't even compose a single post. The brain dead old coot reiterates the stale old claim that "George W. Bush picked a fight with Saddam Hussein because he couldn't get over the fact that Hussein tried to assassinate his daddy in 1993."

We know that it was on W's mind. But that does NOT mean that it was his motivation.

I'm glad he prayed over it. You and I may not believe that God spoke to him, but at the very least, it shows that he was not just mindlessly reacting. The process of praying involves contemplation and time and thought and it shows concern. It is one of the merits of religion that you, being a bigoted narrow-minded buffoon, cannot even grasp.

And while you pretend to worry about the death of "slaughtered" Iraqis, shit munching hypocritical old gasbags like you never gave them a fucking thought when Saddam was the one actually slaughtering them.

You are a classic asshole, old fart, but at least you have no integrity or credibility.

 

[Cammmpbell]

Your PREMISE is stupid. The war was only "totally unnecessary" in your vapid opinion.

You are mistaken. In fact, you're just a dick.

And there is a difference between being wrong (if indeed they were wrong, for example, about Saddam HAVING WMD) and lying.

Wars do cause death. The loss of ANY of our military is tragic. You use it as a debate tactic. You are slime.

And don't worry about running up a trillion dollar debt. Asswipes like you don't complain about that kind of behavior EXCEPT when (for partisan political purposes of your hyperbole) you object to the particular cause for such spending.

Assholes like you ALWAYS squawk about the wrong things.

Hey, speaking of which. Hurry. You're overdue. Start another important and meaningful thread about your personal dislike of religion. Get on it, you slacker.

George W. Bush picked a fight with Saddam Hussein because he couldn't get over the fact that Hussein tried to assassinate his daddy in 1993. He said he prayed about it and god told him to invade Iraq. What does it take for you to come off the bullshit. Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction and Bush and his cabinet told a thousand lies which said he did. You're not just a little bit wrong you are major phucked up. 'Course these days nearly every Republican is............

Bush praying about it classes his attack as another Crusades type event. 'Course this time only about 150,000 innocent Iraqis were slaughtered.

Zzzzzzzzzz. Without the canned liberoidal party line, it appears that Dummmbell couldn't even compose a single post. The brain dead old coot reiterates the stale old claim that "George W. Bush picked a fight with Saddam Hussein because he couldn't get over the fact that Hussein tried to assassinate his daddy in 1993."

We know that it was on W's mind. But that does NOT mean that it was his motivation.

I'm glad he prayed over it. You and I may not believe that God spoke to him, but at the very least, it shows that he was not just mindlessly reacting. The process of praying involves contemplation and time and thought and it shows concern. It is one of the merits of religion that you, being a bigoted narrow-minded buffoon, cannot even grasp.

And while you pretend to worry about the death of "slaughtered" Iraqis, shit munching hypocritical old gasbags like you never gave them a fucking thought when Saddam was the one actually slaughtering them.

You are a classic asshole, old fart, but at least you have no integrity or credibility.

I'd ten times rather be a classic asshole than an ignorant, very ordinary asshole...........If you get my drift.

 

[Liability]

George W. Bush picked a fight with Saddam Hussein because he couldn't get over the fact that Hussein tried to assassinate his daddy in 1993. He said he prayed about it and god told him to invade Iraq. What does it take for you to come off the bullshit. Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction and Bush and his cabinet told a thousand lies which said he did. You're not just a little bit wrong you are major phucked up. 'Course these days nearly every Republican is............

Bush praying about it classes his attack as another Crusades type event. 'Course this time only about 150,000 innocent Iraqis were slaughtered.

Zzzzzzzzzz. Without the canned liberoidal party line, it appears that Dummmbell couldn't even compose a single post. The brain dead old coot reiterates the stale old claim that "George W. Bush picked a fight with Saddam Hussein because he couldn't get over the fact that Hussein tried to assassinate his daddy in 1993."

We know that it was on W's mind. But that does NOT mean that it was his motivation.

I'm glad he prayed over it. You and I may not believe that God spoke to him, but at the very least, it shows that he was not just mindlessly reacting. The process of praying involves contemplation and time and thought and it shows concern. It is one of the merits of religion that you, being a bigoted narrow-minded buffoon, cannot even grasp.

And while you pretend to worry about the death of "slaughtered" Iraqis, shit munching hypocritical old gasbags like you never gave them a fucking thought when Saddam was the one actually slaughtering them.

You are a classic asshole, old fart, but at least you have no integrity or credibility.

I'd ten times rather be a classic asshole than an ignorant, very ordinary asshole...........If you get my drift.

You are a classic asshole, so to that extent your wish has been granted, old shit. But a classic asshole is, sadly, quite ordinary. As are you, ya fucking senile moron.

 

[Cammmpbell]

Zzzzzzzzzz. Without the canned liberoidal party line, it appears that Dummmbell couldn't even compose a single post. The brain dead old coot reiterates the stale old claim that "George W. Bush picked a fight with Saddam Hussein because he couldn't get over the fact that Hussein tried to assassinate his daddy in 1993."

We know that it was on W's mind. But that does NOT mean that it was his motivation.

I'm glad he prayed over it. You and I may not believe that God spoke to him, but at the very least, it shows that he was not just mindlessly reacting. The process of praying involves contemplation and time and thought and it shows concern. It is one of the merits of religion that you, being a bigoted narrow-minded buffoon, cannot even grasp.

And while you pretend to worry about the death of "slaughtered" Iraqis, shit munching hypocritical old gasbags like you never gave them a fucking thought when Saddam was the one actually slaughtering them.

You are a classic asshole, old fart, but at least you have no integrity or credibility.

I'd ten times rather be a classic asshole than an ignorant, very ordinary asshole...........If you get my drift.

You are a classic asshole, so to that extent your wish has been granted, old shit. But a classic asshole is, sadly, quite ordinary. As are you, ya fucking senile moron.

I'd say you're in your twenties and about half smart. NO.....I'm goddamned sure you're half smart.

 

[Liability]

I'd ten times rather be a classic asshole than an ignorant, very ordinary asshole...........If you get my drift.

You are a classic asshole, so to that extent your wish has been granted, old shit. But a classic asshole is, sadly, quite ordinary. As are you, ya fucking senile moron.

I'd say you're in your twenties and about half smart. NO.....I'm goddamned sure you're half smart.

You senile fart, you can't even guess well. I may not be as ancient and decrepit as you, but I am a whole lot older than a senile fuckwad like you "thinks" I am.

Fuck. Get your droopy stupid ass back into the nursing home, ya diseased, dried, desiccated, dipshit moron.

I know you're slow. Which is to say, you're half fast.

 

[paulitician]

How but just letting them say 'Merry Christmas?' Is that really so terrible? Why not give Freedom & Liberty a chance. So wadda ya say Big Government?

 

[DontBeStupid]

How but just letting them say 'Merry Christmas?' Is that really so terrible? Why not give Freedom & Liberty a chance. So wadda ya say Big Government?

Hey Coward. They can say "Merry Christmas".

You apparently don't understand that.

 

[paulitician]

How but just letting them say 'Merry Christmas?' Is that really so terrible? Why not give Freedom & Liberty a chance. So wadda ya say Big Government?

Hey Coward. They can say "Merry Christmas".

You apparently don't understand that.

'Say'/'Write?' whatever. Just let them write 'Merry Christmas.' Is it really so awful? I think our Nation can survive it. What do you think?

 

[Cammmpbell]

You are a classic asshole, so to that extent your wish has been granted, old shit. But a classic asshole is, sadly, quite ordinary. As are you, ya fucking senile moron.

I'd say you're in your twenties and about half smart. NO.....I'm goddamned sure you're half smart.

You senile fart, you can't even guess well. I may not be as ancient and decrepit as you, but I am a whole lot older than a senile fuckwad like you "thinks" I am.

Fuck. Get your droopy stupid ass back into the nursing home, ya diseased, dried, desiccated, dipshit moron.

I know you're slow. Which is to say, you're half fast.

You could be thirty and be a lot older than I think you are. 'Course I'm just judging by the ridiculous bullshit you post.

Yes....I'll BE Here When The Morning Comes:

 

[DontBeStupid]

How but just letting them say 'Merry Christmas?' Is that really so terrible? Why not give Freedom & Liberty a chance. So wadda ya say Big Government?

Hey Coward. They can say "Merry Christmas".

You apparently don't understand that.

'Say'/'Write?' whatever. Just let them write 'Merry Christmas.' Is it really so awful? I think our Nation can survive it. What do you think?

Hey Coward. They can write "Merry Christmas".

You apparently don't understand that.

 

[Liability]

I'd say you're in your twenties and about half smart. NO.....I'm goddamned sure you're half smart.

You senile fart, you can't even guess well. I may not be as ancient and decrepit as you, but I am a whole lot older than a senile fuckwad like you "thinks" I am.

Fuck. Get your droopy stupid ass back into the nursing home, ya diseased, dried, desiccated, dipshit moron.

I know you're slow. Which is to say, you're half fast.

You could be thirty and be a lot older than I think you are. 'Course I'm just judging by the ridiculous bullshit you post.

Yes....I'll BE Here When The Morning Comes:

* * * *

God dayum. You are a crashing bore. But you are consistently trite and stupid.

I am older than you imagine. If I were to judge your mental age by the trite bullshit you spew, I'd peg you as a child.

In your case, of course, it's called a second childhood. Senility has hit you hard, eh you stupid piece of crap.

I know you' be here, you dead dick pussy. so what? You'll still be just trite and addled.