Good thing they are passing a law -- people might forget...

Missouri lawmaker files bill making Dec. 25 'Christmas'

The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY | A Missouri lawmaker wants to officially declare Dec. 25 as "Christmas."

Missouri has 12 holidays, but most don't have an official title in state law. For example, the fourth Thursday in November is a holiday, but you need to consult your calendar to find it's Thanksgiving Day.

Missouri has just four named holidays — Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln Day, Truman Day and Columbus Day.

A bill filed Thursday by Republican House member Mike Cunningham, of Rogersville, would make "Christmas" the name of the Dec. 25 holiday.

Besides holidays, lawmakers have created a slew of memorial days. But those can be easy to forget because you still have to come to work. They include Law Day on May 1, Jefferson Day on April 13 and Peace Officers Day on May 15.

Check out this website for updated information on California fires.

I was reminded this weekend of the simple advice of a young Whig lawyer who in 1840 described the process of winning an election as:

"Make a list of the voters, he wrote, ascertain for whom they will vote, have undecided voters talked to by someone they hold in confidence, and, on Election Day, get all Whig voters to the polls."

This morning the US Embassy in the capitol of Yemen was attacked by terrorists.  This incident hit home to me—in 2006 while deployed in support our efforts in the Global War on Terrorism I spent time working out of the United States Embassy in Yemen.  Watching the video and seeing the pictures of the area attacked brought back a lot of memories of my time at the Embassy in Yemen.  I remember standing outside the front gate and talking to the Yemeni guards who provide outside security to the United States Embassy.  The Yemeni citizens killed today are our allies in the war on terror and lost their lives helping to protect American citizens, diplomats, and military members.  I enjoyed the Yemeni people—I appreciate the brave ones who risk their lives daily and I’m saddened to see the loss of life at the hands of terrorists.  My thoughts and prayers go to their families…

This is something that is essential for California, and I am very proud to be a supporter…

California Voters FIRST Act Qualifies for the November Ballot
Thank you to all of our coalition members, volunteers and supporters for your efforts to help gather enough signatures to qualify the California Voters FIRST Initiative for the November 4, 2008 General Election. Your hard work has paid off!

After submitting 1,180,899 signatures, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified our redistricting measure on June 17, 2008.

As I prepared this morning to go early vote in Tuesday’s election, I needed some guidance on the judicial races in San Diego. I found a terrific resource that everyone should use. The California Republican Lawyers Association, a group I have had the opportunity to work with on poll watching and election day activities, has created a statewide voter guide for California judicial races.

Not only can you find out which candidates in your area have been endorsed by CRLA, but you also can learn about the different levels of judges, how much they get paid, when and how they are appointed or elected. It is a really well done voter guide and I shouldn’t be surprised coming from Steve Baric and CRLA – a top notch organization that knows how to get the job done.