During the presidential campaign, candidate Donald Trump promised to make Christmas great again, break the ridiculous ‘Happy Holiday‘ PC-ism, and support everyone saying “Merry Christmas” again.
Well, that’s another promise fulfilled:
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“Whoa”, is the initial word which comes to mind seeing a Reuters article describing Christians in Aleppo celebrating peace and hope for the first time in five years in Syria.
I can genuinely say I never expected to see Reuters present a factually truthful article, which, at its very core and central reality, simultaneously shows how almost all Western media reporting was based on falsehoods, lies and political ideology.

The previously promoted narrative surrounding the “Syrian Rebels” is stunningly incompatible against the outlined reality.  The article doesn’t go as far as explaining that the “rebels” were the Islamic extremists; however, it is logically impossible for the content of the article to be accurate unless the reader accepts the now exiled radical citizenry were, and are, supporters of the Islamic State (ISIS) and other Sunni Muslim insurgent groups.
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(Via Palm Beach Post) […] Trump and his wife Melania and an entourage of Secret Service agents and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies made the trip from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club to attend the 10:30 p.m. service at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, which sits about 400 yards from the Atlantic Ocean. They received a standing ovation from the congregation when they arrived. (more)

[…] Bethesda-by-the-Sea is the oldest Protestant church in South Florida. It opened more than 125 years ago in Palm Beach. Its location has made it popular with celebrities, politicians and athletes. Michael Jordan was married there in 2013, and singer Rod Stewart was spotted at a service earlier Christmas Eve. (link)
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A Russian Defense Ministry Tu-154 plane heading from Moscow to Syria crashed on Sunday morning near the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi. All 92 passengers are considered dead, including 64 members of the Red Army Choir.

(Via Daily Mail) The Tu-154 model plane, which belonged to the Russian defence ministry, crashed two minutes after leaving the southern city of Adler at 5.40am (2.40am GMT). There were no survivors. (more…)

Reading 1 Is 9:1-6

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

Gospel Lk 2:1-14

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “2016 Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Trump/Pence presidential victory.

Transition Website HERE

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

Merry Christmas

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Mr. President-elect Donald J Trump and Mrs. Melania Trump together with their son Barron, will be attending midnight mass Christmas services at The Church of Bethesda by The Sea in West Palm Beach Florida.

The Trump family quietly attended services last year at the same church –pictures here– However, as President-Elect -and incoming First Family- this year there is heightened media and public interest.  Security has been enhanced accordingly.

The Episcopal service is being live-streamed via CBS12

VIEW HERE

This might mean Hope Hicks takes over formally as White House Director of Communications….
Palm Beach, Florida (CNN) – Jason Miller, President-elect Donald Trump’s spokesman, has decided he will not take the job of White House communications director he was tapped for just two days earlier.
Citing family reasons, Miller announced he will not continue on to the White House and will hand off his responsibilities as communications director to Sean Spicer, the Republican National Committee communications director who was announced this week as the incoming White House press secretary.
“After spending this past week with my family, the most amount of time I have been able to spend with them since March 2015, it is clear they need to be my top priority right now and this is not the right time to start a new job as demanding as White House Communications Director,” Miller said in a statement he provided to CNN, adding that he is also expecting the birth of his second daughter next month. (more…)

This tweet from President-elect Donald Trump directly implies his willingness to lean into the problem:

And President-Elect Donald Trump is not alone carrying optimism: (more…)