Thoughtful gift-giving for Christmas

Christmas is a time for giving, a time to remember those less fortunate than ourselves. It's a time to be compassionate, to remember those who are persecuted and offer whatever relief we can.

When the spirit of Christmas moves you, here are a few tax deductible gift-giving suggestions from the Republican National Committee.

Since many of you already live in Republican Congressional districts, you can choose to donate to your own Representative's Legal Defense Fund. (Believe me, if your Representative is Republican, he has one.)

If you live in a Democratic district, donations are kindly welcomed at the following charities:

—Tom DeLay Legal Defense Fund

—Bill Frist Legal Defense Fund

—Scooter Libby Legal Defense Fund

—Randy "Duke" Cunningham Legal Defense Fund

—Karl Rove Legal Defense Fund

—Bob Ney Legal Defense Fund.

You can also buy a Legal Defense Fund Plan from the Republican National Committee making it easy and convenient to contribute to whichever Republican Senator or Representative happens to be unjustly persecuted at the time. A simple bank pre-authorization for whatever affordable amount you wish to contribute (minimum $50 monthly) is all that is required.

Perhaps you'd like to help out victims of Hurricane Katrina who remain officeless.

The Republican Party headquarters in New Orleans was completely ruined. Republican staffers have been operating out of six FEMA trailers since three days after the hurricane. It's unconscionable. Donations are welcomed at the Let's Rebuild New Orleans (Republican) Organization www.makingneworleanswhite.com.

Although George W. Bush cannot run for president again by law, you can still choose to contribute to the Re-elect George Bush Campaign. One percent of all contributions go to buying phone cards for our troops in Iraq, so your contribution is really important.