Twas the Night Before Christmas

Inspired by Major Henry Livingston Jr. (1748-1828) 

(previously believed to be by Clement Clarke Moore)

Liberally AND Conservatively adapted...

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the country

Not a consensus was found, not even agreement;

The issues were outlined by the pundits with care,

In hopes that St. Freedom soon would be there;

The politicians were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of re-election danced in their heads;

And pappa in his earplugs, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the internet there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the windows I flew like a flash,

Clicked open the laptop and logged in to see.

The emails and videos of the candidates grew

Gave the fact-checkers much work to do,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny hopefuls,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Free.

No more rapid responders were needed,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, DONALD! now, HILARY! now, BERINE and RAND!

On, CHRISTIE! on BUSH! on, CARLY and CARSON!

To the top of the news! to the top of the polls!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the net

That reason and integrity which gives hope a chance.

As I surfed through to see the options,

Downloading the future, St. Freedom appeared.

S/He was committed to the constitution completely,

And privacy and individuality were not forgotten;

No special interests muddy the agenda,

With fiscal responsibility becoming the way.

S/He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,

And stopped all the violence; and acted with integrity,

And using diplomacy and trust to legislate,

And giving a nation a new opportunity;

And I heard the saint exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"FREEDOM IS FOR ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

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May 2016 bring us all closer to the Freedom that the Founders envisioned.