Rep. William Jefferson, D-La. filed an appeal to the U.S. Supremes, arguing that the evidence collected by the Feds is invalid because he's, uh, a congressman. Prosecutors are urging the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to move ahead regardless, saying his argument to the Supremes is like, stupid or something.

Jefferson argues that the charges are invalid because a grand jury got access to information about his actions as a member of Congress. That, Jefferson claims, runs afoul of a constitutional clause that shields members of Congress from civil or criminal action stemming from the performance of their legislative duties.

Because everybody knows that stuffing a freezer full of cash is just a normal, everyday thing in the performance of your normal, everyday legislative duties as a congressman.

Anybody with any lawyerly type constitutional classes (you didn't sleep through) want to speculate on the SCOTUS response? I'm hopin for a hearty F.O. myself.

If that's the proper legal term. I dunno.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 08:11 AM | Comments (52)
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Last year the government in Anchorage banned Billy Powers' giant snowman as a violation of the residential code. The snow attraction nevertheless made it's annual appearance.

Powers denies creating Snowzilla this year, insisting that he just appeared, and that he and his family was not responsible, although he does say that the giant man of snow is quite handsome in his stove hat. But city officials donÂ’t believe his claims, and they are far from amused.

“This property owner has repeatedly ignored city attempts to find ways to accommodate his desire to build a giant snowman without affecting the quiet, residential quality of the neighborhood,” Mayor Mark Begich said in an official statement. “This is a neighborhood of small homes on small lots connected by small streets. It can’t support the volume of traffic and revelers that are interested in Snowzilla.”

Awesome. Some snowmen were also seen protesting in front of Anchorage City Hall.

Snowmen with speech rights? Is this a trick question? They seem to have a mixed message, though. One sign reads "Save us Obama" and another says "Stevens for Mayor".

Thanks to reader Jerm.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 07:00 AM | Comments (50)
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Who has got leftovers?

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 06:46 AM | Comments (46)
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Travelled all night and slept half the day. Tried to beat the clock and get a Christmas wishes post in before the deadline. Hope I made it.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. I finally got to spend some time with my family, which is always good.

Posted by: Ace at 07:59 PM | Comments (42)
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I guess they've been getting quite a bit of mail lately.

...All letters are welcome. But there are code words hidden in some that are signals to stop paying close attention -- "Chris Dodd" and "Barney Frank." ...

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 03:24 PM | Comments (97)
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Um, wow. In a world where outreach between Muslims and others has been more or less a one way street, this is a pretty big gesture.

In his homily on Thursday, Chaldean Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly praised the establishment of Christmas as an official holiday as a step toward easing tensions.

"I thank the government for giving chances to all to serve each other for the general benefit, and I thank it too for making this day an official holiday where we pray to God to make us trust each other as brothers," he said at the Christmas Mass before several dozen worshippers in the small chapel of a Baghdad monastery.

A senior Shiite cleric, Ammar al-Hakim, attended the Mass flanked by bodyguards in a gesture of cooperation with Christians.

"I thank the visitors here and ask them to share happiness and love with their brothers on Christmas; by this they will build a glorious Iraq," the cardinal said.

"We came here to bring a message of love, respect and gratitude to our Christian brothers and to share happiness with them as we have shared sadness with them during the cruel targeting they came under," al-Hakim said in an interview with al-Furat TV. "We will do our best for equality between people and a good life for all, whatever their religious, sectarian and ethnic background."

He is the son and heir-apparent of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, Iraq's biggest mainstream Shiite party.

Yes, there are still problems and challenges (and don't think for a minute the linked article doesn't joyfully list them) but progress is progress. There are only a couple of hundred thousands of Christians left in Iraq so this seems to be a statement about what kind of country the Iraqis want that is aimed at a wider audience than just Iraqi Christians.

It's almost enough to make you think there's some hope that things might change for the people of Iraq. (See what I did there?)

Gateway Pundit has more on Iraq's Christmas celebrations.

And while the Iraqis who made this decision deserve the credit, let's never forget who made it possible. more...

Posted by: DrewM at 10:19 AM | Comments (71)
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I hope it's the best ever for all of you morons.

Take some time today to remember those who serve, and the families and friends who miss them today. If that's one of you, please accept my heartfelt thanks and prayers.

Hanging the stockings with care, Camp Lee, Virginia, Dec 1941

Here's a pretty sweet Christmas story for one soldier.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:48 AM | Comments (45)
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I'm just messin' with ya: probably won't be any Top Headlines 'til much later in the day.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and safe travels. Tradition has it that some other joes were just about to make their own little trip:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 03:38 AM | Comments (42)
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2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

May all of you wonderful morons who make me smile every day have the happiest of days, both tomorrow and ever after. God bless each and every one of you, now and forever.

Posted by: Open Blog at 09:42 PM | Comments (40)
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This guy has made a lot of these fun, very short, dining room table films. If you follow the link to youtube, you'll find some cute Transformers fight sequences in his repertoire.

One more dance number below the jump.

--and hey! Merry Christmas, my darlin' tapioca snorters. Best wishes to you and yours.

more...

Posted by: LauraW at 05:58 PM | Comments (30)
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