1.) Eric Holder hopes Santa doesn’t check his list twice this year — You’ll never guess who’s to blame for Eric Holder’s problems. Or maybe you know already, assuming you own a mirror. That’s right, it’s your fault! TheDC’s Matthew Boyle reports:
“Under fire for leveling a racially charged attack at his critics, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has neither backed down nor revised his remarks, appearing instead to restate them. In a front page New York Times story on Sunday, Holder alleged that some of his critics — a group he referred to as the ‘more extreme segment’ — are motivated by racism. ‘This is a way to get at the president because of the way I can be identified with him,’ Holder said of criticism he has received for the Fast and Furious scandal, among other things. ‘Both due to the nature of our relationship and, you know, the fact that we’re both African-American.’ Now, in a statement to a left-wing blog, a Justice Department spokesperson says Holder has been misunderstood — but, pointedly, did not retract the attorney general’s claim about racism. ‘A simple reading of this comment shows that he was referring to how he is identified with the president given their close relationship and all they share in common, including their ideology,’ read the statement. The phrase ‘all they share in common’ would include the fact that both Holder and Obama identify as African-American. The spokesperson went on to explain that Holder has galvanized critics not because of his misdeeds or incompetence, but as a consequence of his liberal activism: ‘His critics rightly view the Attorney General as a progressive force and given our current political environment, there will be those who use any opportunity to score political points.'”
Meanwhile, Border Patrol agent Brian Terry and hundreds of Mexican citizens are still dead, and Holder is on record as lying to Congress about what he knew about it and when. That’s why the Congressional vote of no confidence in Holder is now up to 90 signatories. That’s why he wants you to think it has nothing to do with his actions. That’s why he wants you to think he’s a victim.
2.) The government gives itself Christmas presents all year long — Americans love paying taxes, and being told they’re not paying enough taxes, because they know their money is being spent wisely by people who are smarter and more ethical than them. That’s why we have stories like this. TheDC’s Taylor Bigler reports:
“As the fight over how to fix America’s overspending habit ended in a stalemate this year, the federal government spent billions of dollars in 2011 on some unusual projects. And according to a new report from Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, $6.5 billion of it was wasted. The list includes more than $100,000 on a video game ‘preservation’ center, $120 million in salaries to dead employees and $15.3 million for one of the infamous Bridges to Nowhere — all in a year when the federal deficit rose by nearly $2 trillion. Coburn’s ‘Wastebook 2011’ report lists 100 of the most egregious spending boondoggles.”
Click the headline to see the top 10. Funnest one: A $484,000 grant to build a Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant in Arlington, TX. Does Michelle Obama know about this? Because she’s going to want to go.
3.) Can’t wait to return Obamacare for a refund? — Speaking of government competence and thrift, TheDC’s Paul Conner reports:
“2011 was supposed to be a bad year for President Obama’s health care law, with House Republicans taking aim and federal lawsuits snaking their way through the judiciary. And although the House of Representatives has had limited success in dismantling the overhaul, key portions began to unravel all by themselves. Here’s a look at the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s year in review…”
Read the whole thing. Barely a month has gone by where somebody didn’t find out what’s in Obamacare — good job passing it, Nancy Pelosi! — and realize what a disaster it is. And there’s little reason to think 2012 will be any different.
4.) The new Catwoman thinks Christmas is a zero-sum game — Have you seen the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises yet? Did you notice something odd about the new Catwoman? Yeah. TheDC’s Christopher Bedford reports:
“The trailer opens with a young boy singing a haunting rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ to a crowded football stadium; Bruce Wayne’s butler, Alfred, lamenting that he has failed to protect Wayne; and a class war warning from Catwoman (played by Anne Hathaway): ‘You think this can last,’ she sexily whispers in Wayne’s ear. ‘There’s a storm coming, Mr. Wayne. You and your friends better batten down the hatches, because when it hits, you’re all going to wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us.’ As Catwoman utters her warning, the trailer shows footage of a well-dressed man being thrown from a mansion balcony, and a frenzied mob tearing another terrified victim from his hiding place… Reports that surfaced in October indicate that Nolan may have incorporated Occupy Wall Street into the film. Catwoman’s warning and the lunatic army of dispossessed ex-cons in the upcoming movie has been seized upon by newspapers and liberals across the country as a possible allusion to the cause of the 99%.”
Maybe Christopher Nolan realizes what the rest of us have been saying all along: Occupy Wall Street are the bad guys.
5.) No bowl full of jelly here — Everybody knows that there’s absolutely nothing in the world more important than politics, and as 2011 draws to a close, none of us are sick of it. Nonetheless, sometimes you just need to look at some attractive young women in scanty Santa-themed garb. Or maybe you don’t need to. Well then, you don’t have to click on the link, do you? Fine. That’s what we get for trying to spread some yuletide cheer.
6.) Today’s words of wisdom from the Twitter feed of the Grinch — “Awoke from a HORRIBLE dream wherein I made amends with the despicable town of Whoville. Yawn! How long have I been asleep? What month is it?”
VIDEO: Bill Clinton puts a lump of coal in Obama’s stocking
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