A WHINY PAEAN TO PORK AND POWER: Sen. [Arlen] Specter on Tuesday wanted to show us what was wrong with Washington -- and, unwittingly, he did.

MICHAEL BARONE: States with no income tax grew faster in the last decade.

CANADA'S OIL SANDS DEVELOPMENT gets (mostly positive) top-level review. Which annoys IEEE's resident environmental activist.

Never let facts interfere with your vision.

O HOLY NIGHT: some thoughts on the meaning of Christmas.

STANDING WATCH ON CHRISTMAS: attributed to Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Giles, U.S. Navy, Al Taqqadum, Iraq.

Read it all.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS from 42 years past.

THE SPIRIT OF SANTA is alive and well in America.

MERRY CHRISTMAS


The National Christmas Tree in front of the White House.


Our family tree.