Senator Franken Brings “Secret Santa” to the Senate

This tickles me to no end. Leave it to Al. Now that I think of it, you could have alot of fun doing Secret Santa presents to those guys.

Let’s leave aside those questions of naughty and nice. Scores of senators this year are feeling festive, and plan to exchange gifts, Secret Santa style, across party lines.

Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, came up with the idea, apparently to find a way to bring about some comity in a nonlegislative manner, similar to when members earlier this year broke with tradition to sit with colleagues from across the aisle during President Obama’s State of the Union.

“We did Secret Santa when I was in grade school,” Mr. Franken said in an e-mail. “ I remember one year I picked this kid who used to intimidate me on the playground. Turns out after we got to know each other and we became friends. So, I thought Secret Santa would be a good way to cut through the partisan divide here in the Senate. And who knows, maybe it will create some unlikely friendships.”

(snip)

Don’t expect any elaborate antler chandeliers or fine jewels; the price for presents has been set at a friendly $10 limit. (Picture Senator Kay Hagan, Democrat of North Carolina, picking out an umbrella over at Union Station for Senator Mike Crapo, Republican of Idaho. Or maybe a gift certificate to Chipotle Mexican Grill? Not that anyone knows which name Ms. Hagan selected.)

More than half of the chamber — 21 Republicans and 37 Democrats — recently drew names from Santa hats, and will exchange their gifts at a gathering in mid-December.