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Hello and welcome to the Slate Political Gab Fest for Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2010,

although it's not actually Christmas Eve as we speak.

I'm David Plotz.

I'm here in Washington.

I'm alone in Washington because Emily Bazelon is in New Haven, as always.

And John Dickerson is somewhere in a red state.

I'm not sure which red state.

I'm not sure where in that red state he is, but he's very red at the moment, just like Santa Claus.

John, are you getting in touch with the Pulse of the country?

I am.

I'm right here on the Pulse in Knoxville, Tennessee, and I couldn't be happier by way of Roanoke, Virginia, another red part of the country.

Good. Okay. Well, that's exciting. So we're going to have three topics today. As always, first topic is going to be the start treaty.

Second topic is going to be the general unlamedness of the lame duck session. And the third topic is going to be the

new census and what it means for American politics. And then we'll have cocktail chatter,

which is going to be awesome this week. Are you going to hurry us along every step of the way?

Or are you just starting off that way? I'm just going to start off that way. Although I've

noticed that John speaks faster and faster

these days. Have you noticed that, Emily?

...