Secret Santa in the Senate: The wisecracks

A bipartisan gift exchange might not bring Republicans and Democrats any closer together, but it's good for a few laughs

After a tough year, the Senate could use a pick-me-up: Maybe that's why Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) helped organize the Senate's first-ever Secret Santa gift exchange.
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In a bid to spread some Christmas cheer among warring Democrats and Republicans, Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) have organized the Senate's first "Secret Santa" gift exchange. Fifty-eight senators have signed up, 21 Republicans and 37 Democrats. Johanns tells Reuters the exchange could ease tensions on Capitol Hill, although he doesn't "have any great expectations that we will suddenly fix Medicare and Social Security and the budget." That may be true, but the gimmick did give political commentators a fresh, much-appreciated reason to ridicule Congress. Here, a sampling of the snark:

It's a Christmas miracle!

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