Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas. We are celebrating our four children, extended Turley clan, and, of course, Luna. So far, Christmas has avoided the series of unfortunate events that made last year so … well … memorable.
Yesterday, we went to the Christmas market in the loop and got potato pancakes and other delights. Unlike the arctic weather of last Christmas, it was perfectly balmy this year in the 40s and 50s.
My mom is 96 and going strong.
Last night, I made our traditional Cioppino soup — a tradition started by my late father, Jack Turley. It is a spicy mix of mussels, shrimp, sea bass, clams, crab meat, and other ingredients. I have previously written how I grew up hating the soup but the tradition fell to me when my father became ill. I am now as addicted to the soup as my father was. When I make the soup each year, it continues an indelible connection to my Dad and best friend.
We spent this morning trying to keep Luna out of the stockings given her suicidal fetish for chocolate.
We will have roughly 30 tonight at my Mom’s house off the lakeshore. I will be making the beef, gravy, Yorkshire pudding, and fresh grounded horseradish sauce. We also have a great Bûche de Noël (or yule log cake) and other delights for dessert.
The Turley family wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday. I will be toasting our blog family tonight and giving thanks for the wonderful community we have created at this site.
Best wishes,
Jonathan Turley
Merry Christmas Professor Turley! Best wishes to you and your family.
Merry Christmas!
Jonathan: I would be remiss if I did not extend to you and yours a Merry Christmas. Unfortunately, not every on this blog shares your sentiments. “Anonymous” (the one with anger issues) says: “BAH, HUMBUG!”. He apparently is not into brotherly love or the spirit of Christmas.
There is someone else who doesn’t like Christmas much. It’s Melania Trump who didn’t like the role of decorating the WH at Christmas. In a 2018 CNN interview she complained about that and the criticism her husband received for separating migrant families at the southern border at Christmas. Here is part of what she said:
“Where I am–working like a–my ass off at–Christmas–stuff that you know, who gives a F–k about Christmas stuff
and decoration. But I need to do it, right. OK, and then I do it. And I say I’m working on the Christmas planning for the
Christmas–and they said, ‘Oh, what about the children that they were separated?’—Give me a F—king break”.
I doubt much has changed in the DJT household since then. Sure, Mar-a-Lago will probably be lavishly decorated for Christmas. But that will be done by the hired help. Melania has other concerns. Her relationship with DJT has been become, to put it charitably, “chilly” since the 2020 election– what with all the criminal and civil cases and the second E. Jean Carroll defamation case to start next month. All these weigh heavily on the former first lady as well as on DJT. Not much to celebrate for them. In contrast, President Biden and the First Lady will be celebrating Christmas at Camp David. In a Christmas video they read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”–TOGETHER. I doubt you will see that at Mar-a-Lago this year.
As to the “wonderful community” on this blog let me wish those who share with me the values of preserving our Democracy and the rule of law, I wish you a joyous Holiday season!
Hey Dennis
Will you be giving your little nephew Christmas Day off from you cornholing him this year?
“preserving our Democracy”
Is not a value, you idiot.
Dennis imagines a Trump family that could match his misery of feeling compelled to come here and share his brain dead TDS. Instead of enjoying a nice time with family and frie…well, family, he chooses to dump his wretchedness on Jonathan. Most here agree that Dennis is a despicable, lying, small minded, tormented soul, but today he has outdone even himself in proving his lack of self worth and need to find some purpose in life. Well done, Dennis. I’m sure your proud.
Really, Dennis, in “the spirit of Christmas” and “brotherly love” try to be a little more tolerant and charitable in your assessment of Melania Trump. Seems like you’re the one with “anger issues”.
The trolls never rest.
You’re fun!
Do you spend Christmas alone or should I pity your family?
Share your cioppino recipe please. Thank you.
Thank you for you sharing thoughts all year !!! You have a Blessed Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas!
Our gift is a truth.
Dr. Carol Swain, Vanderbilt, says Claudine Gay plagiarized her work and is not a PhD.
Affirmative action projects are advanced because of DEI “pedigree,” not eligibility.
Claudine “Barack Obama” Gay
Barack “Claudine Gay” Obama
Their fraudulent scenarios are fungible.
Claudine Gay is a plagiarizer and not a PhD.
Barack Obama is the son of a foreign citizen and not a natural born citizen with two citizen-parents.
This is the dynamic duo of communist DEI.
Professor, I hope you enjoy celebrating the Lord’s Birthday. Bless you all.
Merry Christmas! Your posts have been thought provoking and enlightening. Thank you!
Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet after his birthday has been celebrated hundreds of times?
Perhaps to give people more time to get right with God?
Merry Christmas and THANK YOU
All I want for Christmas is the USA to return to the Rule of Law!
To the Professor and all who dwell here!
You and yours, too, Cindy!!
Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Turley, and your immediate family, as well as your extended family. I have appreciated all year your sage opinion regarding current events. Your thoughts , on current events, are always iffy and provoking me a reevaluation of the issues each time.
You and your family have a fruitful and peaceful coming New Year.
Brings back beautiful memories. Thanks.
You’re the best. Met you in Oklahoma City. Merry Christmas
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!!! Thank you for your year long series of thoughtful articles. They are a present that keeps on giving. Hearing about family traditions is an added treat. Bret Lobner
I’m wishing the Turley family a wonderful Christmas and many blessings in the year ahead! Thank you, Professor Turley, for sharing your perspective with us on the important issues of the day.
Merry Christmas and thanks for your indispensable wisdom
Merry Christ-mas! The child is born.
Favorite screen version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: Carol for Another Christmas (1964), written by Rod Sterling. An overlooked gem. Find it on Turner Classic Movies, or maybe You Tube.
Happy Holidays.
Darn! I misspelled Rod Serling’s name. Blame it on spell-check.
Merry Christmas, Professor Turley, to you and the entire Turley family! Yes, keep Luna away from chocolate and other sweets, and anything fatty (voice of Dog Mom experience).
Look forward to your posts and TV commentaries in 2024; could you post the Cioppino recipe?
Merry Christmas, Professor Turley!
BAH, HUMBUG! 😐
Merry Christmas!!!