Ho, Ho, Ho: What You Told Us to Stuff Into the Stockings of 2008's Naughty and Nice

Earlier this week, I asked for your suggestions on what gifts we should give to some of our favorite -- and not so favorite -- public figures. You responded with a flying sleigh's worth of great gift ideas. Even Santa's elves couldn't have been more industrious.

Now it's time to unwrap the presents. Here are our favorite suggestions for what we should stuff into the stockings of some of 2008's naughty and nice, starting with a few gift ideas of my own:

Alan Greenspan, Phil Graham, Chris Cox, Richard Fuld (Lehman Brothers), Franklin Raines (Fannie Mae), James Cayne (Bear Stearns), Angelo Mozilo (Countrywide), Joe Cassano (AIG): Hallmark's new "Sorry I Collapsed Your Economy" card to be signed and sent to the American people

Sarah Palin: A good time-slot for her inevitable reality show -- and an editor able to translate Palin-speak into actual sentences for her new book (if they can translate Greek-speak into English, I'll hire them too)

Norm Coleman: extended unemployment benefits

Karl Rove: a dustpan and broom to sweep up what's left of his reputation as a Boy Genius

Joe the Plumber, Reille Hunter, Levi Johnston, Ashlee Dupre, The Pregnant Man: a 16th minute

And here are your suggestions:

Henry Paulson: my bills (harobamason)

Rick Warren: Melissa Etheridge's greatest hits CD (jcgrim)

Gay Americans: equal rights (kelkelly)

John McCain: a new plumber (callmemara)

Rod and Patti Blagojevich: a swear jar (by the time Blago goes to trial, he'll have enough money to pay his attorneys) (IamaGApeach)

Rod Blagojevich: a haircut that doesn't make him look like the naughty next-door neighbor (auntcloud)

Mike Huckabee: On The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin (jcgrim)

Jim Bob Duggar: a vasectomy (sonomarc)

Plaxico Burress: rubber bullets, a holster, or a specially designed bulletproof vest for his leg (stewmaj)

Our Overseas Troops: next Christmas safely at home with their families (edenjones)

"Shoeless" Muntader Al-Zaidi: a Major League tryout (surely there is a club out there that could use a late-inning reliever who isn't afraid to throw the bean ball when some bum tries to crowd the plate (LaFajita)

Sarah Palin: a lifetime membership in Planned Parenthood (Family Plan, of course!) (2008CaliforniaFan )

Rep. Tim Mahoney: a chastity belt (SurrealPumpkin)

Ted Stevens: a visit from Santa's brother, Escape Claus (Expatessa)

Elizabeth Dole: a Sunday school refresher course (grateful4thedead)

Rachel Maddow: a White House post (harobamason)

William Ayers: an apology from the media (Kingbreaker)

The People of Connecticut: a special election to recall Joe Lieberman (LMPE)

Illinois and New York: special elections to decide who should fill their open Senate seats (AliMB)

Minnesota: "Senator Franken" (Letterman)

Every Senator and Congressperson: plaques for their desks that say, "Remember: Serving the people should be an honorable profession." (offred)

Howard Dean: a big 50 state "thank you" (Kingbreaker)

Barack Obama: steel for his spine -- he's going to need it (Virginia Plain)

Condoleezza Rice: some respect -- she lost hers while spouting the views of George W. (2008CaliforniaFan)

Dick Cheney: a soul to replace the one he lost -- or never had. (SeeDaddy)

George W. Bush: a sudden realization of all the damage he's caused the world (offred)

The American Public: a well-deserved break (TurkerB)

And there was this collection of board game gifts suggested by Miralo:

Bush: "Clue"
Cheney: "Sorry"
Condi: "Chutes 'n Ladders"
The MSM's punditocracy: "Trivial Pursuit"
Ordinary Americans: "Payday"
Obama (and I mean this in the best possible way): "Monopoly"

Comments

[alwaysthere]

In the great words of Lillian Hellman, as she drew her last breath !

I was fun wasn't I.

Thanks Lady

[CowboyBill]

Though I might not deserve it, thanks to my lucky stars that I've finally signed up for the Huffington Post. Thank you, Arianna, for the superb online publication that will certainly stand as the "one that got it right" in the national need for responsible and adult coverage of the news we might never see elsewhere.

As a former news dude, very long ago, I put in time with radio, early television, newspapers including the Atlanta Journal and United Press International. During that my appreciation was formed for good writing, better editing and the best in editorial comment. Your work so far is very much in tune with all my hopes. Thank you and Happy New Year.

[dessertsfirst]

Arianna, Thanks for a great year of posts: this one was, as usual, excellent; and provides humor along w/ the "realities" in America.
And thanks to all the contributors of 'presents' for the noted offenders, they make a great read.
Happy holidays to all.
2009 ushers in a new era, and should be a great year for us all.

[kjo46]

My gift to the MSM- Programs emphasizing inclusion, cooperation and sharing to replace the reality shows whose themes are always exclusion of the "losers" (i.e. those who don't beat each other up hard enough). These are just part of the whole right-wing agenda to shape the public thinking into cheering the toughest and meanest at the expense of the underdog.

[offred]

Here's another gift idea: Halliburton, DynCorp, Blackwater, KBR, and others have made immense profits from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I think it would be only right for each company to tithe 10 percent of its profits this year and all coming years to veterans advocate groups and nonprofits.

Or maybe we should be charging those companies a windfall tax (since it's a great time to be a war profiteer), the proceeds of which would be designated to veterans and their families, to use in dealing with those issues that will continue long after the wars officially end.

I don't think that's too much to ask.

[anastomosis]

And don't forget the NRA and those other Orcs who make profits from private prisons.

[dessertsfirst]

Tithing implies a voluntary act: I doubt sincerely that these companies have enough compassion in their little finger to do so; hence it must be made mandatory such as in taxing as you indicated. But it is a great idea to come up w/ revenue to fund our veterans and their families to cover their health care, and other needs.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

Your suggestion just makes 'a lot of sense' and if these companies had any 'respect' for our Country... they would do that willingly. That's the problem... they respect nothing but the bottom line and how much they can line their pockets or bank accounts.
Young Americans putting their lives on the line for..... 'private profit' .... Sad
(and they know it-as does Congress/Senate)
If Cheney had any backbone he could also tell his Friends/Haliburton that it is the 'right thing to do'... but he won't.

As a side note: All of America needs to know 'how MUCH' in dollars these 'profiteers' have actually made off this War. What was the "Price" they put on the heads of all those proud Soldiers?
Someone give us the 'details'... who will write that story?? Why hasn't it been told... by anybody?

[jojo ballz]

I love you all!

Merry Christmas

[plumnelly]

Thanks to Huff post for the great blogs. Happy Hollidays to all and a good night.

[letemwait]

Arianna, please don't refer to your English - not even jokingly - as "Greek-speak." Your command of English is amazing, all the more so since you learned it as a second language.

[exoevolution]

Arianna thanks for all the truth & love.

Keep the truth & love flowing in 2009.

The Hawaiian son is rising from the west.

A sunrise of glorious HOPE.

Everything will be new.

Everything can be true.

Let truth & love touch everyone.

[nightslider]

May you all have a white Christmas and a Happy New Year, and may the gentle persons serving this great nation in distant lands return safely to their loved ones, on a personal note I want to thank Arianna for presenting to us the public at large, the means and wither all to post our opinions, thoughts and feeling's on a multitude of subjects,.

It has been a horrendous year for all of us, the economy collapsing, the continued conflagration in Iraq, and throughout the world, we have lacked serious leadership for eight long years and the bitterness of a to long presidential campaign,

Here's a prayer for Obama and his family, May they fare well in the difficult times ahead for he will need our support, patience and understanding for the things he must do to right this ailing ship of state. God Bless and Good luck to us all.

[brooklyncitizen]

Merry Merry Christmas.

Thanks for giving us occasional respite from our struggles under this Bush regime. It's almost over and that's the best gift of all.

[thecanadian]

A huge Thank You and Merry Xmas to Arianna, Huffpo Staff and all fellow bloggers. Thanks for an outlet of truth! Our wish for everyone - that MSM stop the hate mongering and help with peace!.
Love from your Canadian Friends. Merry Xmas to all bloggers.

[northicus]

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all at the Huff-Post and may the New Year bring us all to a better understanding of our difficult and urgent work ahead. We are one world, one planet, and one humanity who basically all have good intentions but for a few bad apples. Thankfully, we haven't quite yet gone beyond the point of no return. A more balanced approached to domestic and foreign affairs is required. Our environment needs our immediate attention, not just talk but real solutions, this endless need to arm ourselves to the teeth to kill other human beings must stop, all this endless warfare for what? If you don't give me what I want I'm going to beat you up! I thought the human race was suppose to be advanced of unprovoked aggression. Where is the civility of life? The reason for being? I'd rather be biking, hiking and enjoying the wonderful outdoors but I feel like so many others the need to address the past 8 years, to do what I can to change the path of blind stupidity and division of the Right-Wing agenda. Again, to all the courageous writers of the HP, job well done and thank-you for calling it as you see it. We have lost our grounding connection to reality but with your help we are beginning to rediscover our voices. Keep up the Good Works and maybe we can all turn this ship around.

[jazzybo]

Huffpost you are awesome! Feels good to rant and rave sometimes!
Heres to a better New Year!

[AlaninElkGrove]

For George Bush - a Christmas stocking containing one lump of "clean" coal (it would be empty, of course, for there is no such thing as clean coal).

For Rick Warren - a little note reminding him that he is a HOMOsapien, not a heterosapien...

For Arianna - a special thanks for bringing to us this Big, Fat, Greek blogspot for all of us to stay informed and enjoy. "Thank You, Arianna!!!"

...and to all my fellow HuffPost bloggers, contributors, and posters a very joyous Holy season (whatever your faith or non-faith).