I see that another wingnut voltron has formed over the fact that there are 37 trees in the White House, started by the loathesome former secretary for Barbara Bush, Andrew Malcolm. James Joyner handles this rather nicely:
For one thing, these Christmas trees aren’t for the Obamas. Rather, they’re for the tens of thousands of tourists who line up in the cold to tour the White House during the holidays. Indeed, precisely because of all the tourists running around, this is the part of the White House that the Obamas are least likely to use.
For another, the notion that the best thing one can do during a bad economy is to cut back on spending is remarkably counterproductive. If anything, the Obamas should be laying on more Christmas trees–and so should the rest of those fortunate to have jobs. That’s, after all, how people who sell and transport trees and ornaments put food on their tables. The last thing they need is for people to start cutting back in some bizarre show of solidarity.
I’m not sure if James meant to make the argument for expanded government spending and a second stimulus, but he just did.
By the way, I love how wingnuts can claim Obama is simultaneously waging a war on Christmas while also having too many Christmas decorations up.
Liz
I’m pretty sure all the decorating was done by volunteers too. But wait-is that good or bad??? :-\
beltane
Christmas trees are pagan symbols which means that the Obamas are pushing Wicca (and lesbianism) down the throats of the God-fearing. What will be next, holly and mistletoe?
The Dangerman
If they have time to bitch about 37 trees or Asian food on 12/7 at the Girls’ school, they “got nuthin” and they damn well know it.
Surreal American
The 37 Christmas trees are necessary to make up for the fact that the Obama kids ate treason food last Wednesday (December 7).
Mike Goetz
Sick of stupid.
That is all.
ruemara
Dude. Black people multi-task. Don’t you know that? that’s how we’re both inferior, lazy and sneaky criminals who have brought down the world econ.
Suffern ACE
O.K. I’m lost. Are there too many trees or too few and do they have bongs on them or black power symbols this year?
Tone In DC
I think right wing textbooks don’t mention FDR at all. No 25% unemployment, no people starving in the street, no bankers jumping from windows. They just fast forward from early 1933 to December 7, 1941.
Deficit spending to put people back to work? The New Deal (and the attendant alphabet soup of TVA, CCC, etc.)? Didn’t happen.
MikeJ
Is that line supposed to get liberals to shriek, “tree murderer!”
Tone In DC
@The Dangerman:
Gotta like that. ;-)
Guster
Are any of them birch trees?
No? They all have brown bark? Typical Mau Mau anti-white racism …
Jeff Fecke
Obviously, the Obamas are fans of the movie “Clerks.”
The Snarxist Formerly Known As Kryptik
Consistency is for putzes. The GOP has no need for consistency, as long as people believe them no matter what.
schrodinger's cat
@Tone In DC: Spending for the war effort was government spending too. It was a massive stimulus and it deficit financed.
slag
These two points are not at odds. In fact, for the last two seasons, I have canvassed the neighborhood in search of the most obnoxious holiday displays. There are few more effective weapons in the War on Christmas than the giant plastic Frosty snowglobe, amplified Christmas music, and a light display that causes temporary blindness. Indeed, this is how we identify our comrades in arms.
johnsmith1882
@Suffern ACE: i’m lost too. maybe this is an end-around on obama’s war on christmas? like how his total inaction on guns is evidence that he’s taking away their guns? look at all those christmas trees, obviously he hates christmas!
Snowball
Indeed. I am sure Bill O’Reilly tonight will go after and criticize Andrew Malcolm for hating Christmas.
Yeah, I won’t hold my breath for these hypocrites.
ET
So lame I just can’t get past it.
The WH has been doing copious Christmas decorations long before Obama entered the White House and now it is a big issue? Really? Heck I assume he remembers the decorations from when he worked in the WH. Goodness but the die-hards on the right have completely lost their damn minds.
Mnemosyne
I’ve been looking for a logical place to link to this Slacktivist story, and this seems to be a good spot:
Confused Rhode Island Christianists sing secular song to defend Pagan symbol
trollhattan
And Jimmy Carter was teh funnyz with the whole sweater-wearing, solar collector-mounting thing. Funnyz because America Can Keep the Thermostat Wherever it Fracking Wants to Daymit!
Yutsano
@Guster: No aspens either. Typical.
@Tone In DC:
You mean the alphabet soup that supports more than half of the economy in the South and over which they go ballistic if you try to cut funding for it? That was created by Jeebus.
Air Force One. Also. Too.
schrodinger's cat
@Tone In DC: Spending for the war effort was government spending too. It was a massive stimulus and it was deficit financed.
amk
@MikeJ: dkos prolly has a ‘diary’ on that right now.
ABL
fuckin’ cognitive dissonance! how does it work?!
Suffern ACE
@ET: Yeah, I’m confused as to what they’re trying to do. “Young bucks on welfare waste money on bling when they buy the same things that the white people waste their money on” comes to mind.
Tone In DC
@Yutsano:
Did not know the number was anywhere near that high. Thanks for your comment, dude.
They need the cash for a few things, I figure. Such as, to keep the statuary in good shape. All those bronze/marble/granite monuments honoring Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Nathan Forrest and Strom Thurmond.
Tone In DC
@schrodinger’s cat:
Definitely. Remind these wingers of that fact and heads may asplode.
Wag
Totally off topic, but in a funny way, kinda on topic if you wonder about the cognitive disonence that is the modern GOP
via TPM
Ruckus
@ruemara:
LOL
Roc
They’re inconsistent because they’re not forming an opinion based on evidence, but rather selecting evidence based on their pre-existing opinion.
They believe Obama is bad. Anything that agrees with that, whether claims that he’s owned by Wall Street or a communist or a secret muslim gets them nodding along. Because it reinforces their opinion that he’s bad.
They don’t spend any thought on whether those claims make any sense, or how they could possibly reconcile with one another. And that’s also why they’re utterly unfazed when one of their claims is roundly refuted.
They simply do not care about the claims.
They just know Obama is bad.
Yutsano
@Tone In DC: The Tennessee Valley Authority AFAIK is still the major electricity generator for most of the South. That’s why it was created: because private industry wouldn’t spend the money to build that infrastructure. That’s a huge government intervention they all depend on and they squak if you even think of cutting it.
dmsilev
That’s easy. Obviously, the Obamas are attempting to corner the market on Christmas trees and ornaments and even the entire national supply of roast beast, just so ordinary Americans wouldn’t be able to celebrate Christmas themselves.
You’re a mean one, Mr. Obama.
tkogrumpy
OT but is any one interested in Obama’s disastrous appearance on 60 minutes?
Jay in Oregon
@johnsmith1882:
Dammit, you beat me to the observation that Obama’s lack of any crackdown on firearms is proof to the wingnut mind that he intends to take away our guns!
The wingnut mind, how does it work!?
John Weiss
@Mike Goetz: If you’re ‘sick of stupid’, as I am, then you should relocate to somewhere in the woods. We did. It helped, but I don’t think that one can get rid of the stupid. Also, don’t watch TV and don’t read newspapers. Own lots of cats.
Don’t fall in.
Tone In DC
@Yutsano:
Figures. This winger sentiment is right up there with “Keep your government hands off my Medicare” and the like.
Mnemosyne
@tkogrumpy:
And here I thought people on the left had been screaming for three years that Obama needed to talk about Republican intransigence. Now that he has, you’re screaming about how “disastrous” it was for him to follow that advice.
Make up your damn minds, people.
russell
On the other hand, it’s nice to know that the cost of 36 Christmas trees is all that stands between us and national fiscal health.
Shalimar
@tkogrumpy: What was disastrous about it? If you’re going to say intentionally provocative things, at least give detail so we can decide what the hell you are talking about.
The Snarxist Formerly Known As Kryptik
And, of course, when this comes up, as I stated in another post, I find out that a huge ass chunk of my friends, reasonably sane and moderate at worst, have all bought into the “War on Christmas” and rage against the sinister PC Brigades, making me feel like a total fucking alien in my circle once more.
Fuck it, I really don’t belong here do I? I really am just a fucking alien….
carpeduum
Wow, you actually made a good point Wrong Again Cole. On that last sentence. Even a broken clock and all that.
amk
@tkogrumpy: yeah, he kicked croft’s ass along with those of rethugs. It was disastrous for rethugs and their shills.
carpeduum
Speaking of wingnut bullshit. What was with that 60minutes interview aired last night? Every fucking questions was a wingnut gotcha attempt.
It was so bad that the Prez actually had to call him on his bullshit….twice! How interviewer first said the prez is being too willing to compromise then 1 or 2 questions later how the prez is not trying hard enough to compromise. I mean wtf? Of course Obama navigated the minefield perfectly as usual but wtf??? Has any other prez had to put up with so many bullshit questions over and over from the press? Ever?!
Suffern ACE
@russell: Sadly, it is too late. We now have to wait until next year before we can solve the pressing issue. 1 artifical tree will save the country. Hopefully someone to think to buy it at Target on the 27th, when it will be 1/2 off.
Death Panel Truck
FIFY.
Tone In DC
Yutsano:
Thanks for the info. I went a-searchin’ and found a few factoids…
Type Government-owned independent corporation
Industry electric utility
Founded May 18, 1933
Headquarters Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Key people Tom Kilgore (current CEO)
Revenue $11.26 billion USD (FY 2009 ending September 30, 2009)
Operating income $1.97 billion USD (FY 2009)
Net income $726 million USD (FY 2009)
Website tva.gov
Didn’t know it was an independent corporation.
If the wingers had their way, this organization would not exist. Cognitive dissonance, indeed.
dww44
@Roc: Along those lines, a few minutes ago, I just rebutted a chain email that claims that Obamacare will raise Medicare Part B premiums by 156% by 2014 to $240.00 a month and that Obama delayed the premium increases so as not to impact the 2012 elections. Hence, everyone, you need to go vote against him as he is killing Seniors!
That email had been circulated and recirculated by the time I got it. I was very respectful in my rebuttal, though. In this part of the country, I sorta have to be, or I will live in isolation for the rest of my days.
Tone In DC
Last TVA screed, lest folks say I am spamming/threadjacking.
Reagan and his cronies found a way to even mess this up…
dww44
@carpeduum: I am glad someone else noticed this. Steve Croft was argumentative, disrespectful and arrogant. I don’t see any of them doing this with Republican candidates. Certainly not Croft. If he has, I wish someone would provide links.
While I am glad the President rebutted him, I sorta wish he had rebutted with an evil eye and a stern voice. If the President wins reelection, it will be NO THANKS to that sorry excuse for MSM that we have. What is it with them?
Montysano
I have a Facebook friend from my hometown in rural southern Indiana (a very racist area). This guy is retired, and posts a non-stop stream of birther/black helicopter nonsense. Because Snopes, Wiki, PolitiFact, FactCheck and Google are all in on the conspiracy, he and his commenters are completely immune to facts. It truly is an alternate reality. It’s astounding.
One of his commenters wants “This traitor our of our White house”, which I thought was a very telling capitalization-fail.
Montysano
@tkogrumpy:
You mean the interview where Obama was thoughtful, calm, and nuanced? Yeah, that was a real disaster.
Just fucking shoot me….
300baud
“Wingnut voltron” is possibly the best metaphor I have ever heard.
boss bitch
@tkogrumpy:
Joe Scarborough is that you?
MCA
Re: the obvious cognitive dissonance it takes to believe Obama’s a four-star general in the War on Christmas and simultaneously displaying too many Christmas trees, I’m sure the wingnut mind just siphons these out into separate containers. The overabundance of Christmas trees in the White House is a long tradition, so it’s not a legitimate show of faith (by this President, at least), but rather just going along with tradition. The only agency Obama could exert in the matter then would be to cut back on the copious trees out of a sense of fiscal responsibility. The fact that he hasn’t done so speaks only to his desire to ruin the nation’s economy even more, not religion. It’s seen as a purely economic event.
Also, I would imagine this kills him on the purity troll front, as well, because he’s all for renewable energy and saving the planet and stuff, but then he’s all like “Go kill a bunch of trees and ornately decorate them in a wild display of fiscal and biological recklessness!” instead of insisting that the Christmas trees in the White House all be either (i) giant pyramids of small, potted plants to be reintroduced into the wild after the holidays, or (ii) fake trees made out of unicorn shit, with methane extractors hooked up and ag digesters slowly eating them down to nothing on December 26. I’m surprised no rightwing hack has called for President Obama to stop murdering innocent Fraser Firs and Blue Sprices if he wants to be taken seriously when responding to petroleum companies allowing billions of gallons of crude to spill into the Gulf of Mexico.
trollhattan
@Montysano:
My first thought: “60 Minutes” is still on after Andy Rooney done croaked? My second thought: If “60 Minutes” is still on, do more than five people watch it? My third thought: Hey, something shiny, over there!
gaz
@MikeJ: I’d happily chop and burn every single one – w/ styrofoam cups, 1980’s hairspray cans, and endangered animals as kindling.
And the entire time I’d still be laughing at the simps that support the modern GOP. Clowns. Every last one.
gaz
@John Weiss:
Times Two =P
Berial
@Montysano: Go to Facebook and try to put snopes.com into a comment. Facebook won’t let it get displayed and will give you a message that snopes is a spam site.
My best guess is that enough people got tired of all the debunking of their favorite juicy chain emails that they started reporting snopes as spam and enough did it to actually get it kicked.
Sad really.
slag
@dww44:
Normally, I like this kind of interview. Or, more accurately, I like interviews that don’t genuflect to the interviewee. But even I thought Steve’s attitude was a little much.
That said, if you watch the uncut version online, you can see that it was clearly edited to make the interview look much more contentious than it was at the time. So, Kroft looks a lot less nasty in the long form interview.
different-church-lady
@slag:
Someday when I run this country, tax breaks will be intrinsically linked to lawn decoration.
Put quite simply: if you have enough money to place an inflatable decoration on your front lawn, you do not need, and do not get, at tax break of any sort.
Yes… this country will be a much different place when I run it.
different-church-lady
@carpeduum:
Fortunately handling things like that are one of Obama’s strengths.
different-church-lady
@MikeJ: And the two artificial trees have carbon footprints larger than a Boeing 767.
slag
@different-church-lady:
I don’t know. This plan seems a little difficult to enforce. Maybe a more direct solution would be to impose a sin tax on such items. However, when you run the country, I think this is one area in which compromise is plausible. Perhaps both a sin tax and a more draconian solution could be implemented. Just to ensure that all offenders are affected.
Hill Dweller
@slag: After watching the unedited version, its obvious they edited it to make Kroft look combative(although he was even more obsessed with polls in that version) and Obama look worse. Granted, Obama didn’t look bad in the edited version, but they left out a lot of really good stuff from him, especially on the economy.
different-church-lady
@slag: When you consider how different the FBI will operate when I run the country, it won’t seem difficult at all.
Second hand exchange of existing inflatables will not be penalized, as long as said inflatables are not displayed. Special exemptions will be allowed for professionals who run kitch museums for anthropological interest.
PurpleGirl
@Wag: Wow! This guy takes cognitive dissonance and hypocrisy to new heights.
russell
I’m not sure that’s a metaphor.
smintheus
@Mnemosyne: Several of my wingnut HS classmates from RI were frothing at the mouth about this faux controversy a few weeks ago. Then they suddenly piped down when a reporter uncovered docs from the previous Republican governor who also called it a ‘holiday tree’…a fact that oddly enough caused no ‘controversy’ at the time.
PurpleGirl
@Tone In DC: While there are electric utilities in the South on the eastern seaboard, that whole inner rural mountain area is served by TVA. Few, if any, private investors wanted to build and run electric companies because the population was too spread out to be profitable. And utilities are expensive to build and operate.
different-church-lady
@Mnemosyne:
So true. And completely explains roughly half of what winds up on the Daily Kos rec list.
Origuy
@Berial:
I did this just last week, with no problem. My aunt posted the myth about the cell phone directory from 2005.
opie jeanne
@slag: The most obnoxious lawn decoration I’ve seen this year is being sold by Lowe’s this year. It’s an outhouse, with Santa opening the door and peeking out, and an elf standing nearby holding its nose.
I haven’t seen it on anyone’s lawn yet, but I live in a neighborhood that does not like the inflatables.
SiubhanDuinne
@slag:
Earlier today I was handed a coupon that would have entitled me to drive through a two-mile stretch of a neighborhood consisting almost entirely, I believe, of .01 percenters to look at their Christmas lights.
The discount price for a car with just one person: $40.
That’s not a typo. If I drove an SUV or had a few passengers along, it would have run me triple digits.
SiubhanDuinne
@opie jeanne:
Somehow that seems appropriate for the company that has become notorious overnight for their bigotry in cancelling sponsorship of “American Muslim.”
El Cid
“Wingnut Voltron”.
I’m glad that there are some number of people who get this and get struck by the funny imagery.
Bryan Rasmussen
Having too many christmas trees subverts the true meaning of christmas which is one tree for one good christian family.
Now if a muslim family has 37 christmas trees you can see how that means 37 christian families have none!
If that isn’t a war on christmas and christianity I don’t know what is!
Berial
@Origuy: Did it today and Facebook wouldn’t let me. It annoyed the hell outta me too, as the ‘claim’ being made was easily debunked.
James Joyner
I think the stimulus was necessary but poorly targeted. I’d have preferred more infrastructure spending and direct grants to the unemployed/displaced.