It’s kind of hard to get into the Christmas spirit. I’m trying but I see a lot that’s bogus in this “Peace on earth, good will to men” thing.

For example, why is Gov. Robert Bentley leaving a lump of coal in hundreds of thousands of poor Alabamians’ Christmas stockings? Why not expand the state’s Medicaid under Obamacare and help out the very people you were elected to serve, governor? It costs the state nothing! It’s free! If you’re not going to help 300,000 poor working people, then give us the official reason why you won’t step up and do the right thing. Bah, humbug!

Here’s the kind of letter you need to receive, governor. Mark Twain wrote it in 1869 to Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, the American capitalist and richest man in the country at the time: “Go, now, please go, and do one worthy act. Go, boldly, grandly, nobly, and give four dollars to some great public charity. It will break your heart, no doubt; but no matter, ... better to die suddenly and nobly than live a century longer the same Vanderbilt you are now.”

Vanderbilt was a Scrooge, governor, and a hundred years from now hopefully history will remember you as a political Scrooge if you let people suffer as a result of some political agenda against the federal government. Bah, humbug!

I’ll tell you what isn’t free: jails and prisons. Those cost taxpayers big bucks. That’s why it concerns me when people go straight to jail in the sense of “Monopoly” — they land on the wrong square, they do not pass “Go” and they do not collect $200. That means they didn’t get a fair shake in the legal process. Case in point: Alabama political blogger Roger Shuler, who landed on the wrong square.

Shuler’s in jail in Shelby County right now for alleging that a trio of Alabama power brokers — Rob Riley, son of former Gov. Bob Riley,  Atty. Gen. Luther Strange and federal judge Bill Pryor, all notable “family values” types — have been involved in certain indiscretions that don’t exactly spell out “f-a-m-i-l-y-v-a-l-u-e-s”. Personally, I don’t know if Shuler is on target with his allegations or not, but several things about Shuler’s jailing make me say, “Bah, humbug!”

To begin with, Shuler was arrested at his home in Shelby County on Oct. 23 and his mugshot shows him with a black, swollen eye. A retired judge was brought out of moth balls and charged Shuler with contempt of court. The judge sealed the court record at Rob Riley’s request and ordered Shuler to take down all blogs pertaining to the alleged “family values” trio. Of course, Shuler can’t do that from jail. “That’s your problem,” the judge is alleged to have told Shuler in open court. Thus, Roger Shuler could be in jail in Shelby County until the cows come home.

What’s happened to Shuler is called “prior restraint” and it’s unconstitutional according to the U.S. Supreme Court. After years of watching “Perry Mason,” here’s how I think the case should have been handled. Rob Riley brings a defamation lawsuit against Roger Shuler. Everybody involved swears to tell the truth and nothing but the truth and the court decides, after hearing everyone’s testimony, if Shuler defamed Riley and the others. (Seriously, it’s legally difficult to defame a politician for obvious reasons.) If Shuler is found guilty, then he’s ordered to take down the blogs and suffers whatever other reprisals the court decides.

Naturally, we’re all aghast here in Alabama that Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” got his hand spanked for speaking out against gay sex. “First Amendment right, First Amendment right!” we’re screeching. But how many Alabamians even know about the Shuler situation and its ramifications for free speech and a free press? Few, no doubt, since the case has been woefully neglected by state media even though it’s getting national attention. Shuler’s wife has been locked inside their house in Birmingham since he was arrested. She’s also named in Rob Riley’s permanent injunction and she’s scared and has a right to be.

Mark Twain referred to these kinds of political and judicial pretensions as a “taffy pull” and that they are. Said Twain long ago, “There are certain sweet-smelling, sugarcoated lies current in the world which all politic men have apparently tacitly conspired together to support and perpetuate.” Truly, there is nothing new under the sun.

In lots of manger scenes I’ve noticed that the animals are lying down. It would, indeed, be a Christmas miracle to see the sheep get to their feet just once. The look on the faces of the Herods of this world? Priceless!

Bob Morgan is a retired, award-winning journalist and an author.