There are 269 Christmas wreaths in the White House

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2006/12/01/laura-bush-christmas/

The American president's wife of 30 years was beaming as she invited photographers into the White House to see the spectacular preparations she and her family have been making for the season of goodwill.

"This is a beautiful old house to decorate," she said with a proud smile. And the 60-year-old had certainly pulled out all the stops in order to give 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that festive feel, with 17 Christmas trees, 4,638 ornament balls, 269 wreaths and 1,089 feet of garlands.

The First Lady also indicated that visitors could put her taste to the test, quite literally, if they wanted. "Everything is edible," she revealed, before adding, "not that I would suggest anybody breaking a piece off."

Needless to say, there will be no shortage of good food on offer within the walls of the historic building when the celebrations get underway. Over the next 20 days President Bush and his wife will play host at some 24 different parties, with around 10,000 guests enjoying their hospitality.

[elehhhhna]

1. There should be 2,907

http://icasualties.org/oif/

[ComerPerro]

3. ouch.

[datadiva]

7. You nailed it perfectly elehhhhna! n/t

[YDogg]

11. EXACTLY the way I look at it.

[ComerPerro]

2. party, party, party. Good times and prosperity for all. Well, ok, not really "all"

more like less than 1%.

And so what if we are at war? Its party time, live it up!

[JNelson6563]

6. Yeah, cause we're all in this together!

Well, sort of....

[Earth_First]

4. 20 days, 24 parties, 10,000 guests...

Meanwhile statistics show that we stand to loose 24 American lives a week, 10,000 innocent Iraqi civilians, all in the next 20 days.

Priorities.

[Gregorian]

5. They should completely fill the place.

That way bush couldn't fit in.


These people have absolutely no sense whatsoever. What goofs! The good they could be doing, with their power. They sure as hell better hope there's not a god. They are fucked, if there is.

[Bitwit1234]

8. Why no outrage!!!!!!!!

When President Clinton was in the white house and Hillary invited guests the republicans carped and carped and carped about the waste of taxpayers money. AND the Clintons did not have half as much food or half as many GUESTS.

And remember when President Clinton invited people for the weekends to spend time in the Lincoln Room. All we heard was how dare Clinton...that is the peoples house,especially after some of the invitees donated money.

Have you heard anything about the steady stream of Lincoln bedroom sleepers, the money charged for a dinner with bush, the money charged for lunch with bush or Laura. Nope. The republicans are strangely silent on this.

[shaniqua6392]

9. Some of us don't feel comfortable with such lavishness

as long as our troops are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and are missing another Christmas. But not the Bush family. Nothing seems to bother them. It is not their children in these wars.

[Cass]

10. Has she ever done anything for the soldier's and/or their families at the holidays?

Something like urging Americans to send cards and greetings to our soldiers overseas? Or organizing toy and/or food drives for military families who have a parent serving in the war? Anything for those people who have actually sacrificed for her husband's war? The article says they will host 24 parties for up to 10,000 guests - I wonder if any of those parties will be for military families.

This self-absorbed display is uncomfortable if not at least tempered with some form of giving to those less fortunate, IMO.

[Tellurian]

12. Interesting point though- The Christmas color theme is Blood Red!

I noticed ALL the decorations were in Blood RED...
against the GREEN. Is there a subliminal message there?


NOT A GOOD SIGN! imho...

[knitter4democracy]

13. Don't even get me started!

She isn't using the nation's artists and craftspeople like First Ladies before her, and she is insulting our people. Where is the tribute to Katrina victims, to our lost soldiers, to America in general?

Hilary did it better in '98 in the middle of the impeachment crap. I didn't like how crowded the tree was, but at least artists and craftspeople were well represented.

[Botany]

14. This is so wrong

And the 60-year-old had certainly pulled out all the stops in order to give 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
that festive feel, with 17 Christmas trees, 4,638 ornament balls, 269 wreaths and 1,089 feet of garlands.

snip

Needless to say, there will be no shortage of good food on offer within the walls of the historic
building when the celebrations get underway. Over the next 20 days President Bush and his
wife will play host at some 24 different parties, with around 10,000 guests enjoying their hospitality.

[Missy M]

15. It's a big house but not that big....

seems like an over abundance of wreaths. Must be one on every window and door.