White House Christmas

[skcin]

^ I agree. But why would this admin. use the media to brag about all the Christmas crap they have at the White House during a war? Seems that it would piss people off more than make them say "awwww, how cute!"

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by skcin

^ I agree. But why would this admin. use the media to brag about all the Christmas crap they have at the White House during a war? Seems that it would piss people off more than make them say "awwww, how cute!"

They all do it as evidenced by the sites I posted.

I think people like to see tradition, etc. I think this is supported by the fact that they have been doing it for decades. Clearly you see that the image by the Christmas tree and the kids presents given to the WH and all that is wholesome image that will play well in almost all of America regardless of your opinion, which while your's and I respect it, is clearly in the minority

[skcin]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

They all do it as evidenced by the sites I posted.

I think people like to see tradition, etc. I think this is supported by the fact that they have been doing it for decades. Clearly you see that the image by the Christmas tree and the kids presents given to the WH and all that is wholesome image that will play well in almost all of America regardless of your opinion, which while your's and I respect it, is clearly in the minority

I looked at your sites. Previous war-time administrations did not seem to be so pretentious from what I saw there. There's nothing wrong with having a tree (even more than 1), or decorating, or giving gifts, especially to underpriveleged kids.

I do see something wrong with overdoing it - expensive meals, countless floral arrangements made with real flowers, topiaries, fruit sculptures, etc. You can decorate & celebrate & keep the holiday spirit in a more tasteful, toned down manner, IMO. especially when you're the leader of a country at war.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by skcin

I looked at your sites. Previous war-time administrations did not seem to be so pretentious from what I saw there. There's nothing wrong with having a tree (even more than 1), or decorating, or giving gifts, especially to underpriveleged kids.

I do see something wrong with overdoing it - expensive meals, countless floral arrangements made with real flowers, topiaries, fruit sculptures, etc. You can decorate & celebrate & keep the holiday spirit in a more tasteful, toned down manner, IMO. especially when you're the leader of a country at war.

There is a way to celebrate, even with abundance, but when it becomes ostentatious it is in very poor taste.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Then you're going to have to fault every President in, I believe, the history of the US and televised since, I believe, the Kennedy era

I'm psychic because I knew this would be your response. Admit it, you have the hots for Laura.

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by skcin

I looked at your sites. Previous war-time administrations did not seem to be so pretentious from what I saw there. There's nothing wrong with having a tree (even more than 1), or decorating, or giving gifts, especially to underpriveleged kids.

I do see something wrong with overdoing it - expensive meals, countless floral arrangements made with real flowers, topiaries, fruit sculptures, etc. You can decorate & celebrate & keep the holiday spirit in a more tasteful, toned down manner, IMO. especially when you're the leader of a country at war.

You looked at the White House website? Make sure to clear your cookies and do a spyware check. This is the Bush Administration we're talking about.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I'm psychic because I knew this would be your response. Admit it, you have the hots for Laura.

Well, she and "Dollar Bill" Cheney are on my screensaver!!!!!

Seriously, every President has done this and most during a time when some US soldier was killed or injured - so I do not see the deal with faulting W anymore than any of the others. And - mind you, I detest W and his cronies.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

There is a way to celebrate, even with abundance, but when it becomes ostentatious it is in very poor taste.

Line drawing and where do you draw your's?

Again, the Clintons, Bushes, Regeans, Carters, Fords, Nixons, Johnsons, Kenndeys and so on did it.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Line drawing and where do you draw your's?

Again, the Clintons, Bushes, Regeans, Carters, Fords, Nixons, Johnsons, Kenndeys and so on did it.

No, I'm relatively sure that none of them had dog shaped topiaries all over the place.

I'll draw the line for you. The country is at war. We are torn apart over this administation. Approval ratingas are very low. So put up a giant tree & decorate it, have 4 or 5 dinners (hopefully some for "regular" people as well as politicians and businessmen; and not all consisting of one of the most expensive ingredients) and toss some poinsettias around the House. You don't need to do more than that to give people a warm, cheerful holiday feeling.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by skcin

No, I'm relatively sure that none of them had dog shaped topiaries all over the place.

I'll draw the line for you. The country is at war. We are torn apart over this administation. Approval ratingas are very low. So put up a giant tree & decorate it, have 4 or 5 dinners (hopefully some for "regular" people as well as politicians and businessmen; and not all consisting of one of the most expensive ingredients) and toss some poinsettias around the House. You don't need to do more than that to give people a warm, cheerful holiday feeling.

Again, people died in the admin.'s of Clinton, Bush I, RR, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, kennedy, etc. -- yet, they all did it too. I remember seeing newsreels of FDR and the WH at Christmas and the celebrations they had and they were, for the times, quite fancy despite the war and the depression. So, to me this admin. is doing nothing the others did not do. That speaks nothing to whether I, you, or anyone is correct in thinking it is in bad taste. I am just saying that if you think it is in bad taste for the reason that such a show is awful when people are dying for our country -- then you have to hate them all because they all did the same thing.

Interestingly, the WH always does the best when entertaining and decorating. So, why should this be any different

I think in the end, people just hate this because Bush is doing it.

[skcin]

^ I want to see video please. The opinion I have formed about the current administration's over-the-top holiday decorations & festivities was due to the TV show that I watched. So, I cannot judge past admins until I see video footage, or lists of crap they paid for, or photographs of every room they decorated. I will be happy to denounce all former presidents if they've all done it to this degree.


BTW - I wonder how much is donated, and how much is paid for.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by skcin

^ I want to see video please. The opinion I have formed about the current administration's over-the-top holiday decorations & festivities was due to the TV show that I watched. So, I cannot judge past admins until I see video footage, or lists of crap they paid for, or photographs of every room they decorated. I will be happy to denounce all former presidents if they've all done it to this degree.


BTW - I wonder how much is donated, and how much is paid for.

Google it Actually, I am basing it on memory - I remember someone walking through the WH with Hillary, Barbara, and Nancy -- I also remember seeing the newsreels of the FDR and Eisenhower years - and they were all similar to the one this year. But, I have no clue where to find them.

I do not know how much is donated. I am sure some. But, the WH has a staff of likely a thousand or so. So, if they were not making those topiaries, they'd be doing something else I guess.

In the end, it is a dog and pony show that has happened on tv since Kennedy.

[skcin]

^ I looked around a bit, didn't find much. I looked at your links too, not much detail there. I'll Google when I get some time and report back here, sir.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by skcin

^ I looked around a bit, didn't find much. I looked at your links too, not much detail there. I'll Google when I get some time and report back here, sir.

I did too and found some sites that claimed to have some video in the archives that you could pay to see and I did not want to make my point that bad

But, if memory serves me correctly, they all do this Christmas at the WH thing every year and it always is a very produced thing IMO. I think Mamie Eisenhower had like 10 trees one year

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Again, people died in the admin.'s of Clinton, Bush I, RR, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, kennedy, etc. -- yet, they all did it too. I remember seeing newsreels of FDR and the WH at Christmas and the celebrations they had and they were, for the times, quite fancy despite the war and the depression. So, to me this admin. is doing nothing the others did not do. That speaks nothing to whether I, you, or anyone is correct in thinking it is in bad taste. I am just saying that if you think it is in bad taste for the reason that such a show is awful when people are dying for our country -- then you have to hate them all because they all did the same thing.

Interestingly, the WH always does the best when entertaining and decorating. So, why should this be any different

I think in the end, people just hate this because Bush is doing it.

..or in the end..he is just hated..period!