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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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 Posted: 12/09/03 - 15:49 Post subject: must be slow business in Tex-ass politics ....
Plastic Christmas Tree Shakes Texas Politics
DALLAS (Reuters) - The speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is under fire and having his Lone Star State pride questioned, all because he decorated the House floor with a giant made-in-China plastic Christmas tree. The state's tree growers are up in arms and crying 'Bah Humbug' over the 15-foot polyvinyl chloride tree that Speaker Tom Craddick, a Republican from the west Texas town of Midland, had installed on the House floor.
They have supplied the State House with free trees and are ready to bring in a Texas-grown tree to replace the plastic model. "I think people can deduce for themselves about what it means to have a plastic Christmas tree from China in the Texas State House," said Lanny Dreesen, a spokesman for the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association. Texas Christmas tree growers produce about 150,000 trees a year and Dreesen said the trees are crops that are grown for the sole purpose of being harvested for the holidays. There has been a real Texas tree on the House floor for over 20 years.
The Christmas tree in question is a top-of-the-line plastic model that came with 3,500 lights and a retail price of $3,400. It looks like an Oregon fir and was donated to Nadine Craddick, the speaker's wife, by a store in Austin. "It is a beautiful tree. It is well decorated and it is really hard to tell the difference," said Bob Richter, spokesman for the House speaker.
Maintenance crews at the House are happy about the plastic model because they do not have to clean up pine needles or fend off the occasional bug. "It is like a dirty little secret. A lot of people are using artificial trees now," Richter said.
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
Posts: 20588
Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 12/09/03 - 15:53 Post subject:
ouch that is a little bad for business
suck it up by local..it makes a big statement
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Maddies Wench
Flailing Homosapiens
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Joined: 12 Jun 2003
Posts: 6103
Location: Seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go.
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Posted: 12/09/03 - 16:57 Post subject:
Did someone from Texas steal your lunch money once?
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kattzoo
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Location: Happily at the back of the pack
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Posted: 12/09/03 - 17:06 Post subject:
| Maddie's Wench wrote: | | Did someone from Texas steal your lunch money once? |
I've taken it at least twice. 
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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
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Location: hiding out in Philly
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Posted: 12/09/03 - 17:12 Post subject:
| kattzoo wrote: | | I've taken it at least twice. |
 But don't forget that beating I gave you at the bikeracks.... 
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RunTexas
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Joined: 18 Jul 2003
Posts: 233
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: 12/09/03 - 18:48 Post subject:
That damn tree will be replaced within a week If you think our Speaker has nothing better to do than smell trees to make sure they're real...you're mistaken.
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msparks
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Posts: 3182
Location: Jammin' at the Frim Fram, Frippin' in the Krotz
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Posted: 12/09/03 - 19:59 Post subject:
Wow. No offense to the good people of the great state of Texas but what was he thinking?
The Christmas tree in question is a top-of-the-line plastic model that came with 3,500 lights and a retail price of $3,400.
Out of the goodness of their heart, the store donated it? Mrs. Speaker must be a regular customer there. I wonder if she's already put up a live tree in their house?
I don't know but I'll guess that the Speaker has heard the phrase, "Buy American." Even better, how about buying Texan? I imagine that if they offer to buy one from the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, they might get one donated. Well, maybe not now!
And I'm pretty good with languages so I'll take a shot at this: If you think our Speaker has nothing better to do than smell trees to make sure they're real...you're mistaken. Translated: the Democrats are getting ready to bolt and he's got to do something to keep 'em in-state.
It's just a shame that the Speaker's going to catch crap over a small matter. Then again....maybe he needs an assistant to help him with these kinds of things.
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kattzoo
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Posted: 12/09/03 - 20:02 Post subject:
| elkid wrote: | | kattzoo wrote: | | I've taken it at least twice. |
But don't forget that beating I gave you at the bikeracks.... |
How could I? I still have the scars to prove it!
Somehow, I just don't care about this blasted tree. Someone let me know when they fix school finance. I'll care then.
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AlaninTX
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Location: Austin, Texas
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Posted: 12/09/03 - 22:07 Post subject:
I will be in the building tomorrow and will give everyone here a first hand account. Sounds like a big  to me.
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msparks
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Location: Jammin' at the Frim Fram, Frippin' in the Krotz
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Posted: 12/10/03 - 09:45 Post subject:
Depending on the resolution of the tree flap in Austin, here's a story which may prove helpful...in some way -
BEER CAN CHRISTMAS TREE DRAWS PROTESTS IN UTAH
A tree made of emptied beer cans didn't last long at a Salt Lake City, Utah,
Christmas festival. "They called it camouflage, I call it censorship, but
that was the compromise," said Carole Robinson, whose tree of 1,500 neatly
organized Bud Light cans - named "Jingle Buds" - was ordered covered up with
red ribbons. The Festival of Trees is an annual event that raises more than
$1 million for the Primary Children's Medical Center and includes 700 trees,
many decorated by people with poignant stories of life and death. "Jingle
Buds" sold for several hundred dollars at the festival's opening auction
Tuesday, but protests about the tree quickly mounted. Robinson insisted she
meant no harm and that she doesn't advocate irresponsible drinking. She said
she followed festival guidelines. "I don't want this to be a black cloud over
the festival," Robinson said. "Oh my gosh, it was just to do something fun
that would make people laugh and smile. That's just the way I do things, with
a lot of flair." The festival has since changed its rules. Next year, no
entries with themes of alcohol or tobacco will be accepted.
[/i]
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