Merry Christmas, Building and Loan!

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season.  I sure am.  First of all, it’s Christmas Day and we are wearing shorts.  Snow looks pretty in pictures, and the kids lament the lack of sledding, but dang.  Snow is cold.

Second, we’ve had our first Christmas sans Santa, and I’m so glad to be rid of that fat man.  The following opinion offends a lot of people, but here it is anyway:  I hate Santa Claus.

There.  I said it.

I’ve never understood why parents are so protective of the Santa fantasy.  You stay up half the night, wrapping and assembling and crafting a Santa scene.  You do all the work, and he gets all the credit.

Santa also encourages the idea that a child can have whatever he wants, if he is on the “good list.”  Nevermind the cost, child.  Santa’s little elves will construct it for free in their little workshop.  Also, nevermind the “made in China” label.

So, I broke it to the younger son sooner than necessary.  Some folks were disappointed, but lemme be honest.  The fact that I maintained the pretense for seven years is just short of a miracle.  I found myself apologizing for spoiling the fun too early, but being told the truth isn’t what upsets my younger son.

“That’s okay Mommy,” he says.  “But I don’t get why everyone lies to their kids about Santa.  That violates the Ten Commandments.”

What do you say to this logic?  Feel free to berate my lack of Christmas cheer in the comments.  Don’t even get me started on the newest deception crowding the Facebook feed, however:  Elf on the Shelf.  Seems like maybe he’s just Big Brother’s easy-going little brother.

School is going well, and we’ve found a church to attend.  Who knows what is in store for all of us in the next few years, but nevermind.  At least it’s bound to be interesting.

We’ve had family visiting all week.  Tomorrow we travel to visit more family.  Just having some time off is reason to celebrate.  Yeah, the fiscal cliff, sequestration and all that still looms ahead.  Beyond personal preparation, there’s nothing much to be done, really.  Our fellow citizens want to play chicken with the Gods of the Copybook Headings, and in the short term we can’t stop them.

Here’s this year’s tree, looking suspiciously like last year’s tree:

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy New Year to you all.  Hold on to your butts, because 2013 is sure to be a bumpy ride . . .

Finding Obama Hypocrisy: Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel

I’m not first on this, but the Reason video on YouTube doesn’t have many hits yet, and it should.  Maybe I can help add 10 more.

In case you can’t stand the sound of President Obama’s voice, here is his September 2008 quote from the campaign trail:

“Senator McCain’s first answer to the economic crisis was . . . get ready for this . . . a commission.  That’s Washington-speak for ‘we’ll get back to you later.’  Folks we don’t need a commission to spend a few years and a lot of taxpayer money, to tell us what’s going on in our economy.”

Fast forward to 18 February 2010′s White House Press Release:  “President Obama Establishes Bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.”

Nevermind.  A commission on “Fiscal Responsibility and Reform” is way different from that commission Senator McCain wanted on the economic crisis.  Obama’s Commission has got the word “reform” in it, so it really must be better.  Especially since the Commission includes SEIU’s Andy Stern. 

Fast forward a little further now, to 5 June 2010:  “But of Course: Deficit Reduction Commission Asks for More Funding.”

Snicker.

To close, some news from today: 

“Democrats on a blue-ribbon deficit-reduction panel suggested spending cuts would likely have to outweigh tax increases if the nation is to seriously tackle its ballooning financial obligations.”

Well, halle-bleepin-lujah.

Maybe Obama’s Commission is better than McCain’s.  After all, it’s getting Democrats to sound a little like fiscal conservatives.

Bah, prolly just lip-service.

Other sources (and trackbacking effort to increase views):

Instapundit and One Big Dog.