Obamas reuse ornaments from Christmas past

[RamboLiberal]

It used to be that Christmas at the White House dazzled visitors with the glitter of thousands of fairy lights. But not this year. Not in this economy and not with this practical-minded first lady.

On Wednesday, Michelle Obama debuted a White House whose decked halls were decidedly understated. Where the Bushes and Clintons previously put up a dozen Christmas trees in the mansion's Foyer and Cross Hall alone, there are just seven on the entire State floor this year. The biggest of them — the 18 1/2 foot Douglas fir in the Blue Room — is decorated with recycled ornaments that Mrs. Obama's team dug out of the warehouse where old White House decorations are stored.

"We took about 800 ornaments left over from previous administrations, we sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country, and asked them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark and then send them back to us for display here at the White House," said Mrs. Obama.

Decorating in woodland colors of brown, gold, claret and cinnamon, Mrs. Obama chose as her theme, "Reflect. Rejoice. Renew." Aides said the toned-down décor was both a nod to the tough economic times and Mrs. Obama's interest in environmentalism. (The traditional White House gingerbread house features a miniature kitchen garden like the one Mrs. Obama had dug on the South Lawn.)


First lady Michelle Obama holds an event to present the Christmas decorations and to thank volunteers who helped ready the White House on December 2, 2009.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. They have done something both beautiful and thoughtful...

K&R

[NYC_SKP]

2. That's how to lead by example, and with everyday things... Nice.

And the white house garden is back, organic!

Recommended!

[saracat]

3. Nice gesture but it doesn't square with millions spent on war and limited funds for unemployement

or job development.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Let it go...

not worth it.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Unbelievable.

Making DU as ugly a place as F.R., before our very eyes.

[saracat]

12. I said it was a nice gesture, Do you ever post anything not containing vulgarity?

[Cha]

14. b.o.b.

[PBS Poll-435]

15. **** *** *****?

:shrug:

(Just guessing...)
:D

[NYC_SKP]

19. .

I think you got it.

:rofl:

[PBS Poll-435]

21. These kids today with their clever acronyms and abbreviations

I struggle to keep up.

:D

[Raine]

54. Yup TYPICAL

always having to crap in a positive thread trying to drag other's down into their misery, PATHETIC. x(

edit: typo

[saracat]

10. Perhaps it is because many Americans cannot reflect rejoice and renew as they have no jobs

and many are homeless and cold during this holiday season? When I read about the "limited funds" coming o soon after the troop escalation and a few recycled ornaments aren't going to make things better.I said it was a "nice gesture" but that is all it is!

[NYC_SKP]

17. It's more than a gesture and I find your explanation disingenuous, at best.

There were homeless and hungry and poor before Obama, and there would have been with your candidate of choice.

The Obamas chose to recycle ornaments as a charming thing to do but also, just maybe, to say something about consumerism.

Are they perfect? Hell no.

But when a DU member posts something nice and non-inflamatory, do you REALLY have to throw in something so marginally related?

Please. Every positive post has had someone take a shit on it, and it's just bad form, embarrassing.

If you have something to say about the funds, then you can damn well write an OP about it.

It's not like there aren't a thousand critical or downright abusive threads posted into which your anger is a more appropriate fit.

OK?

[saracat]

25. Don't like my explaination? Tough. I spoke the truth .And it is just a nice gesture, nothing more

And it is relevant as the remarks made concerning "limited funding for the jobless" were made today.The irony of this obviously escapes you.And you really need to give up on the primary nonsense.None of it has anything to do with today.

[NYC_SKP]

30. It's bullshit. You should take your drama to some other post.

Nothing in this op about "limited funds for the jobless", but by your self-righteous logic, you can justify posting your criticism wherever you want.

It is juvenile to chime in on an innocent positive post with your off-topic crap, and the "nice gesture" lead does nothing to dampen what it is: a rude interruption.

Here's the OP:

It used to be that Christmas at the White House dazzled visitors with the glitter of thousands of fairy lights. But not this year. Not in this economy and not with this practical-minded first lady.

On Wednesday, Michelle Obama debuted a White House whose decked halls were decidedly understated. Where the Bushes and Clintons previously put up a dozen Christmas trees in the mansion's Foyer and Cross Hall alone, there are just seven on the entire State floor this year. The biggest of them — the 18 1/2 foot Douglas fir in the Blue Room — is decorated with recycled ornaments that Mrs. Obama's team dug out of the warehouse where old White House decorations are stored.

"We took about 800 ornaments left over from previous administrations, we sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country, and asked them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark and then send them back to us for display here at the White House," said Mrs. Obama.

Decorating in woodland colors of brown, gold, claret and cinnamon, Mrs. Obama chose as her theme, "Reflect. Rejoice. Renew." Aides said the toned-down décor was both a nod to the tough economic times and Mrs. Obama's interest in environmentalism. (The traditional White House gingerbread house features a miniature kitchen garden like the one Mrs. Obama had dug on the South Lawn.)

Nothing there makes your interruption civil or appropriate.

:patriot:

[saracat]

32. Nothing I said was rude or inappropriate.Unlike some of the responses

I am sorry the jobless and the war funding are inappropriate in the fantasy christmas thread where all is merry and kind.

[NYC_SKP]

38. It didn't belong here, it's as simple as that. I.E.: "Nice dress, but your hair sucks" is not cool.

eom.

[PBS Poll-435]

11. Really? Hmmm

Obama signs jobless benefit extension
By Tami Luhby, CNNMoney.com senior writer
Last Updated: November 6, 2009: 12:13 PM ET

Bill extends unemployment benefits by up to 20 weeks. Legislation also extends homebuyer tax credit into next year.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- President Obama said he signed into law Friday a bill to provide up to 20 additional weeks of jobless benefits to unemployed Americans and extend the $8,000 tax credit for new homebuyers into the middle of next year.

After calling the jobless rate "sobering," Obama said the bill he signed will "will help grow our economy, help create and save jobs, and help provide necessary relief to small businesses," in a statement following the signing.

The House approved the measures by a 403-12 vote Thursday afternoon, a day after the Senate passed the legislation.

The closely watched legislation will extend jobless benefits in all states by 14 weeks. Those that live in states with unemployment greater than 8.5% will receive an additional six weeks. The proposal will be funded by extending a longstanding federal unemployment tax on employers through June 30, 2011.


Hmmm...

[saracat]

20. Really? Hmm :Obama warns of limited funds for the jobless

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7149085

[PBS Poll-435]

24. I am not quite sure I get your drift

The President says that private-sector employment growth is the only sustainable solution to unemployment and that the country can't afford to send out unemployment checks forever.


Seems pretty reasonable to me. (Especially when the guy signed legislation extending unemployment benefits last friggin' month)

[saracat]

27. Funny.We have seemingly unlimited funds for war.And banks and

corporate bailouts.For the jobless? Not so much.And we can't even give SS recipients a cost of living increase! And yes I know not ALL of is is the Presidents fault alone. But he is the leader.And the private sector comment is really trite considering what the feds, with his urging did to bailout corporations.

[PBS Poll-435]

29. CPI didn't increase. Tied to SS Legislation related to COLAs.

Corporations that took Gov't funds and haven't paid them back by years end pay their execs a max of 500K. They are used to taking home MILLIONS.

And yeah, the private sector (McDonalds, KPMG, Arbys, Boeing, etc) needs to create the jobs to employ the jobless.

Are you drinking?

[girl gone mad]

55. You mean corporations who took TARP funds, not Gov't funds.

Just to clarify, because there were multi-trillions of government funds handed out sans the compensation restrictions attached to TARP.

[boppers]

46. Yay, total thread hijack!

How cool is that!

Somebody does something thoughtful and... it's grounds for complaint.

SCENE:
Father who was over in Iraq comes home to his young daughter (HEIDI) and wife (GINA). He hasn't seen either for a year.

FATHER: Merry Christmas, Heidi, I got you a Bicycle!

HEIDI: While you were over there slaying innocents, my mother and I had to fend for ourselves, what kind of man are you? How could you be so callous? Why would you do this to us?

FATHER: Er... you don't like the bicycle?

HEIDI: You've enslaved yourself to corporate masters, disregarded your base, and now seek to placate me with this trinket? What have you done to prove that you're a proper father?

FATHER (to GINA): Uhm... was it a bad bicycle choice?

GINA: She's been reading DU.

END SCENE

[left is right]

56. Obama doesn't set the budget that is Congress' job

He signs it like any other bill and he has not been in office long enough to sign a budget

[WonderGrunion]

59. Obama announced the intended end to two Bush wars

and I found employment after a year of not working due to the Obama recovery.

The Obama White House is Green by example.

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. +1

[PBS Poll-435]

5. K/R nt

[Rhiannon12866]

6. We value the oldest ornaments the most. They have a history...

It's a nice tradition to start. :-)

[Cha]

8. Yes, the ornaments that have a history are

the most treasured~

Hi Rhiannon:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Hi, Cha!

We have a few ornaments that my mother had as a child and they're always given pride of place. :D

The lights, on the other hand, belonged to my grandmother, and those aren't as useful when they're antiques... ;) :hi:

[Cha]

16. What did you say that pug's name

was? :)

[Rhiannon12866]

18. He's a Brussels Griffon!

And his name is Jack. He's sleeping right now. :loveya:

[Cha]

23. Is Jack on facebook?

:rofl:

[Rhiannon12866]

34. Um, no. He's a dog...

He's on Dogster! :D

http://www.dogster.com/dogs/373080

[Cha]

40. I knew it!

That's a pretty sweet site for doggie lovers and Jack has quite the profile.

Even has Dog astrology for the little Aries .. If that's not the cutest thing..I have to tell my boss about this tomorrow at work..for her dog.

March 21 - April 19
There's a lot of family activity, which is fine for a homebody like you. Someone may be doing some cooking. You can't help but respond to the smells, but try not to be Pavlov's dog.

[Rhiannon12866]

42. Actually, I discovered this site right here on DU...

And, yes, Jackie has quite the profile. He belongs to a couple of other sites, but this is the best... And I've passed it on, too, quite often. One of Jack's "pup pals" belongs to a girl who works in the deli department at my local market. :D


Yikes! I hadn't read his horoscope today! I'd better start cooking! ;)

[Rhiannon12866]

31. Oops! Wrong spot...

:blush:

[Hekate]

45. Aww, he's adorable. I am a sucker for dogs. nt

[Rhiannon12866]

51. Thanks so much! And so am I...

That's why I have Jack... LOL. Just kidding, he's actually quite a personality, don't know what I'd do without him... :loveya:

[NYC_SKP]

22. I remember we had those glass balls, and lights with pretty big screw in bases...

Used them over and over and over.

But then we not too well funded.

These days people buy all kinds of crap year after year, and more and more goes into the trash.

I applaud not only the historic bit of bringing out old w.h. ornaments, but of the sustainability of it.

:patriot:

[PBS Poll-435]

26. Someone just unrec'd this OP.

FFS

[saracat]

28. And that wasn't me.As I said, it was a nice gesture.

I will K+R

[NYC_SKP]

35. There's been a tremendous amount of that unreccing going on...

On another matter, remember the "phantom reccer" in the Lounge.

We had a confession...

:P

Not me, though I helped a couple times.

[PBS Poll-435]

36. ...

:rofl:


Nothing hurts like Canada Dry Diet Ginger Ale coming out the nose...

:D

[NYC_SKP]

37. ...

I didn't tell you about my misadventure last time I had to go out of town...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7132542&mesg_id=7150715

:P

[PBS Poll-435]

39. OMG

Whoa.


What did you do? Did you disassemble the bright blue umbrella? Some old-school leaf-action?


:D



And I think you stole my lighter, bro.

[NYC_SKP]

41. The umbrella was the only fabric, would have had to destroy it to use it...

And there were cushions around the other side of the complex on the lounges by the pool.

I could have sort of wrapped one of those around myself, I suppose, and hiked the 1/4 mile to the main office...

But then they would have wanted ID, maybe called the cops, I don't know!

Part Two: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7132542&mesg_id=7151263

[PBS Poll-435]

43. I was howling

That was so funny! Not just the story, but how you told it. Funniest part was not being able to find a Swiss Army knife equipped the way you wanted it in Friggin' Switzerland.

:rofl:


Getting back in was genius. Almost MacGyver-like. :D

[NYC_SKP]

44. It was fucking Switzerland, for fuck sake.

I'm still mad about that!

:P

[Hekate]

47. Oh. My. God. I quit reading that thread WAY too soon!

:spray: :rofl:

Hekate

[Name removed]

33. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[boppers]

48. I have 70 years worth of ornaments.

We tell the stories of the older ones when we hang them.

Tree decoration is it's own ritual in my family.

As far as why there are "only" 70 years, that's a whole other story, involving a rather feisty fight in my family, about the tree... grandpa knocked it over, grandma decided to destroy it.

Never question the determination of a 5'2" woman on a mission.

[nemo137]

50. That's excellent.

We have 20-odd years, and most of the destroyed ornaments are because of my mom's habit of taking in cats.

Although, as someone dating a 5'2" woman, I agree with your last line.

[boppers]

57. Tell her a random internet stranger says "Hi"..

...pardon me while I duck and run.

[Abq_Sarah]

62. I've got ornaments

That belonged to my Great-Grandmother.

The concept of "recycling" tree ornaments as if they were disposable doesn't even register with me. We never throw away an ornament unless it is beyond repair.

[Hekate]

49. KnR. Merry Holidays + considering a couple of Bah-Humbug awards.

[KakistocracyHater]

52. so does my family, who doesn't? Kill the war

*

[Raine]

53. WONDERFUL

I just love Michelle, she's really special! :-)

[eridani]

58. Excellent example to set

That, and the organic garden. These gestures are really helpful.

[Clio the Leo]

61. My wish for Christmas this year....

.... is that, by the end of their terms in office, the economy will be such that the Obamas will be able to indulge just a little bit.

But who am I talking about? This is the Obamas. I think "indulge" is one of the few words they dont know the meaning of. lol