Nobles and knaves

Nobles: The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, for making the world a better place, starting here.

The Marine Corps has a motto: No better friend, no worse enemy. The latter half is being experienced by the world’s terrorists, the former is being felt right here at home. For 57 years, the Marines Corps Reserves have sponsored their Toys for Tots drive, which operates in all 50 states, and the District and Puerto Rico. The inspiration behind the Marines’ efforts starts with the very spirit of Christmas: No child should go without at least one gift on Dec. 25. To that end, the drive has distributed more than 313 million toys to 151 million children over the years.

Here in the District, those wanting to give a toy to a needy child can go to any of the city’s 33 firehouses, which are serving as collection points for the gifts, through Dec. 23. Tax deductible cash donations are also accepted. For more information, e-mail questions@tfttoyexpress.com, or call 202-685-1302 or 301-619-2713.

For giving Americans one more reason to be thankful for our servicemen and women, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation is the Noble of the week.

Knaves: Chevy Chase, because he’s definitely not in the Christmas spirit.

Perhaps lefty celebrities should send President Bush a well-deserved Christmas card this season. After all, it is the season of giving, and the commander in chief has rejuvenated many of their failing careers just by being their sole source of inspiration.

Regaling a Kennedy Center crowd on Tuesday night with less than imaginative ways of using the four-letter word, Mr. Chase referred to the president as a “dumb [expletive].” That’s side-splitting humor, but nothing compared to this catchy witticism: “I’m no [expletive] clown either … [Mr. Bush] started a jihad.” Boy, when Mr. Chase is on, he’s on. This next one might not be a joke, but it is funny: “This guy in office is an uneducated, real lying schmuck … and we still couldn’t beat him with a bore like [Sen. John] Kerry.” Well, Mr. Chase can say goodbye to a Christmas card from the Kerry family this year.

A nod must go to People for the American Way, the sponsors of the night, for distancing themselves from Mr. Chase’s comments. President Ralph Neas said: “It was not what I would have said, and certainly not the language People for the American Way would ever use in discussing any president of the United States.” The audience apparently didn’t find it very funny either.

For humiliating even the liberals in the crowd, Mr. Chase is the Knave of the week.