Working on this year’s version before I leave for India (!) … for now, I give you last year’s version:

‘Twas the morn’ before Christmas, and all through the Senate
The whole floor was astir, even both Bennet(t)s
The charts were hung on the easels with big print
With hopes that C-Spanites would not have to squint

The Senators were pressing their blackberrys’ keys
To know if flights home would take off with ease.
And I, a lowly aide, just waited out the clock
Making sure health care remained on the tick-tock

When from the cloakroom there arose such a clatter
Jolted from my stupor, “_Now_ what was the matter?”
The rumors came fast; we were one YES vote shy
Even though each Democrat has promised to vote aye!

And then I remembered; our caucus comprised
Fifty-eight D’s, and–of course!–two other I’s.
And there in the hall were Bernie and Joe
Threatening to ruin the dog/pony show

Liebs wasn’t happy, so what else was new?
But now Sanders refused to give an inch… or two.
Nose to nose they stood, staring each other down
Bernie looked determined; Joe with his usual frown.

But wouldn’t the vote’s timing prevent such a row?
Missing families on Christmas would be a harsh blow
But of course that argument just wouldn’t do
Lieberman’s Jewish, and Sanders is too!

Passage looked hopeless, or so Politico reported
Our wills were depleted; we needed some imported
When who should arrive — the one and only POTUS
His previous absence had not gone without notice

“Obama!,” we shrieked, “Why such a no show?!”
“Sorry,” he replied, “I got stuck in the snow.”
“Now that I’m here, we’ll do progressives proud.
Let’s stick to our guns, force Joe to follow the crowd.”

And so the prez listened; he heard both senators out
Became silent, pensive, and then gave a shout!
“Aha! I have a solution that makes everyone glad
Give Joe what he wants and let Bernie be mad.

Liberals, we know, will never vote NAY,
This bill gives too many people a payday.
Sure the subsidies go to huge corporations,
But they pay for the poors’ needed operations!”

And, Lo, as always, Obama was right,
The progressive wing just couldn’t summon the might
Barack hopped in his limo; we invoked cloture
Though this final vote hardly gave closure

But then from the distance we heard a faint cry
The president was booming his hopeful goodbye
“30 million insured will be such a sight!
Health Care for all, and to all a good night!”