NYT: No joy at the White House, despite holiday garb

[DeepModem Mom]

November 30, 2006
Subdued Cheer at the White House
By Marian Burros

Iraq may or may not be in the midst of a civil war, and political tensions are escalating in Lebanon, but the White House must carry on. First Lady Laura Bush previewed the holiday decorations for the press today and whether it’s the outside world intruding or the administration’s six year ennui, it was hard to escape a feeling that there was not a lot of holiday joy evident in the Executive Mansion, despite its holiday garb.

The decorations were generic red, green and silver balls and icicles, stars and beads with tufts of cotton to represent snow. The usual presents under the tree were missing.

The chief usher, Gary Walters, offered his usually diplomatic opinion: “It’s different,” he said.

The Marine Corps group that plays in the entrance foyer was fewer in number this year, down to three.

Even Mrs. Bush’s choice of wardrobe was in keeping with the subdued atmosphere: a tailored, muted, brick tweed pants suit, with minimum jewelry....

***

One of the house butlers, who has been there through many Christmases, wondered what was happening to the White House. “It’s just not the same aura that it used to be,” he said.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=760


The entrance to the Blue Room of the White House, with the White House Christmas tree in the center of the room, is seen at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 as first lady Laura Bush, not shown, gave a media preview of the 2006 holiday decorations. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

WP/AP: White House Decorated for Holidays
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/30/AR2006113000664.html

[solara]

1. There is no joy in Mudville....

:evilgrin:

[Bucky]

6. Mighty Cheney has fucked up

Someone should do a full pastiche.
The Mighty Casey himself struck out after a serious of failures fueled by his arrogance, ignorance, and delusions of invincibility.

[izzie]

2. I think some times this will be the President as the count of our

downfall. With the South still in a mess, the Middle East in a mess,The some what death of the Middle Class. and the world looking right at us for being evil even after so many things we did well it will be the President we count it from. I think that as the first world war changed the face of Europe and the Middle East we will look at this time of Bush as the same way. One can hardly look up to the White House any more and it sort of fits the picture. Most of us will still plug along as we have for so many years, my family have been here since the Mayflower, but some of the very good days of a super power and being looked up to are gone. It is almost as if we can read it in the White House and what we put in to that place and Bush seems to be the second rate. One country never stays on top for long when you read history. Is it sad? For many it will be but for most of us life will just move on and we will do as well as we can.

[calimary]

20. I think your point is a valid one. I think bush will have opened the

era of American Decline. In fact, he hasn't just opened it, he's kick-started it, with booster rockets. I suspect it was coming anyway, but he's hastened its arrival, probably by several decades.

[Erika]

3. There is no peace on earth

For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.

Brought on by W, and today a 44 year old woman soldier lost her life in Iraq.

But are the twins home happy and relaxed from their 25th birthday in Argentina? W has his priorities, and we don't make the list.

[SoCalDem]

4. Aaaw.. makes you almost feel sorry for them,

NOT!!!!

:rofl:

Lumps of coal, all 'round :)

[blogslut]

5. She was positively giddy last year

Not so much this year

[symbolman]

7. Clothing

by Chairman Mao..

If that ain't a Commie suit, I don't know what is.. :)

[Octafish]

17. Chairman Monkey

[malaise]

11. Wonder if she got all that cotton

from Bush's vacuous brain?

[mikeytherat]

13. I've said it before and I'll say it again:

Whoever chooses Laura's outfits hates her.

mikey_the_rat

[earth mom]

16. Is it me, or does that look like a clown suit?

:shrug:

[mikeytherat]

18. Give me $20 of fabric remnants and a few days,

and I'll make her a nicer, much better-fitting frock than that abomination. And who the Hell thinks that color is "brick?" That is a one sickly shade of coral.

mikey_the_rat

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. My parents had a couch

made out of that material when I was little. It was the ugliest and scratchiest couch you would ever want to meet.

[Bucky]

8. "The Marine Corps group that plays in the entrance foyer was fewer in number this year, down to 3"

Gee, I wonder where the other Marines are? Hopefully this is just a side effect of their weak recruitment efforts.

[cornermouse]

9. Didn't the cameras has much trouble getting past

all the cement barriers, fences, guards, soldiers, and missiles to film the Christmas Peace on Earth special from the White House? :sarcasm:

[A Simple Game]

10. In the first paragraph the NYT mentions

holiday decorations, holiday joy, holiday garb. The word Christmas is not mentioned once. Why does the NYT hate Christmas?

The Washington Post liberally uses the word Christmas in it's article, therefor the Washington Post loves Christmas!

Battle lines being drawn? Nobody's right if everybody's wrong. Some people speaking their minds.

Much ado about nothing, just the mood I'm in this morning.

[maine_raptor]

12. brick tweed pants suit

:wtf: is a "brick tweed"


Is just how do you tweed bricks anyways?

One has to wonder if the "subdued atmosphere" was more on account of losing control of his pet Congress more than anything else.

If the Dems had taken veto-proof control, would the mood have been downright funereal?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[blogslut]

15. A Tale of Two Years

2005 Lincoln Portrait:



2006 Lincoln Portrait:



2005 Pickles with Tree



2006 Pickles with tree:



2005 White House exterior



2006 White House Exterior



2005 White House Christmas Theme: "All Things Bright and Beautiful"

2006 White House Christmas Theme: "Deck the Halls and Welcome All"(?)

[trof]

19. "No joy"...double entendre?

In fighter pilot-speak "no joy" is code for "I can't see the target" or other aircraft being pointed out by air traffic control radar operators, whatever.

Has Bush** finally achieved political invisibility/irrelevance/ineffectiveness?

"The President**? No joy."
:-)