Canary in the Coal Mine?

[MNeagle]

'Transplant shock' claims life of National Christmas Tree

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/120504-nationalchristmastree-hmed-531p.photoblog900.jpg Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images file


This December 1, 2011 file photo shows the 2011 National Christmas Tree after being lit by US President Barack Obama and the First Family during a ceremony on The Ellipse near the White House in Washington, DC.

The Colorado blue spruce passed away "due to complications resulting from transplant shock" just 14 months after it was planted in the Ellipse field outside the White House, the National Park Service said May 4, 2012. Born on a tree farm in New Jersey, it replaced a similar tree knocked down in a wind storm after 33 years.

A successor tree -- also a Colorado blue spruce, from an undisclosed state adjacent to the US capital -- has been identified, and it will be planted in late October, the federal agency said. The ceremonial lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a Washington tradition that dates back to 1923 when then-president Calvin Coolidge flicked the switch on a fir tree festooned with 2,500 electric bulbs. Last Christmas, in a nod to 21st century energy efficiency, the tree featured 65 sets of programmable color-changing LED lights as well as 160 starburst ornaments in an heirloom topper design.

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/04/11544862-transplant-shock-claims-life-of-national-christmas-tree?lite

[ximmy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG7lDY-s24g

[Errosion Of Accord]

A couple of years ago I saw a caravan guarding a semi out in WY. My curiosity was piqued so when I finished my commute I asked the coworkers wtf that mess was all about. It turned out that they were transporting the national xmas tree. It was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen because there was like 6 black SUVs escorting that truck with that tree. It was as if the president took his niglets out to the forest had them pick the tree and he cut it for them then said "daughters I promises you that nothing will happen to this tree and I will use all taxpayer means to ensure that the tree you two picked will be on the white house lawn in just a few days".

[gunDriller]

A couple of years ago I saw a caravan guarding a semi out in WY. My curiosity was piqued so when I finished my commute I asked the coworkers wtf that mess was all about. It turned out that they were transporting the national xmas tree. It was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen because there was like 6 black SUVs escorting that truck with that tree. It was as if the president took his niglets out to the forest had them pick the tree and he cut it for them then said "daughters I promises you that nothing will happen to this tree and I will use all taxpayer means to ensure that the tree you two picked will be on the white house lawn in just a few days".


my guess is, Ron Paul would say, "we are not going to spend $1 Million on a Christmas Tree".

i can just see him going - as President Paul - to the local Christmas tree lot to buy a Christmas tree like everybody else. like he may have done the rest of his life.


it says something about Obama's character that he treats the White House expense account with such low regard. it says that he likes being treated as Royalty, and perhaps even thinks he deserves it - deserves to have servants.

would he really lose politically if there was a picture of the "White House Christmas Tree" - and it was a small $25 or $50 thing like most people get ?