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HOW SPEAKER J. DENNIS HASTERT RESCUED THE CAPITOL "CHRISTMAS" TREE FROM PC AIRHEADS
email from Hastert's Asst. press secretary | 11-29-05 | J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House

Posted on 11/29/2005 1:05:39 PM PST by doug from upland

A great big thank you and Merry Christmas to the Speaker of the House, J. Dennis Hastert. In this era of PC gone wild, the Speaker stepped up to the plate to save the Capitol Christmas tree.

The Christmas tree is under the control of the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect reports to the Speaker. On Nov. 19, 2005, the Speaker sent the following letter to the Architect. Chris Taylor, Asst. Press Secretary to the Speaker was kind enough to email me a copy. Upon receipt of the letter, the Architect phoned the Speaker and asked if he really wanted to do this. The Speaker answered that indeed he did. And so, it was done. The Speaker had the power to order it done, but he made the suggestion and the Architect got the idea.



J. Dennis Hastert
Fourteenth District
Illinois

Office of the Speaker
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

November 16, 2005

The Honorable Alan M. Hantman
Architect of the Capitol
SB-15 of the Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Alan,

I am writing to suggest that the annual Capitol Holiday Tree be renamed the Capitol Christmas Tree. The first Capitol tree in 1964 was designated a Christmas tree, as were most subsequent trees. I strongly urge that we return to this tradition and join the White House, countless other public institutions and millions of American families in celebrating the holiday season with a Christmas tree.

I fully understand your desire to make all holiday displays as inclusive as possible. There are many ways to accomplish this, and the Supreme Court has ruled that such displays in public buildings are fully permissible under the Constitution.

I look forward to working with you on this issue and hope you will consider my suggestion to restore this great tradition.

Sincerely,

J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; christmas; christmastree; culturewars; hastert; merrychristmas; uscapitol; yetanotherdfuthread
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To: Sam's Army
Thank you.
61 posted on 11/29/2005 4:31:47 PM PST by Churchillspirit (Anaheim Angels - 2002 World Series Champions)
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To: Sam's Army; doug from upland; Liz; Jay777; Coleus

Our company's "Holiday party" 2 years ago featured an unfortunate incident in which a member of our Human Resources division stood on stage with the hired DJ and looked over playlists to ensure that no "Christmas" songs were played.



Stories like this need to be be TOLD to company newsletter editors and newspaper religion reporters--naming NAMES so that the full scorn of public indignation can come to bear on these cowards/minitotalitarians.

Please do it.



62 posted on 11/29/2005 5:01:50 PM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (SAVE THE BRAINFOREST! Boycott the RED Dead Tree Media & NUKE the DNC Class Action Temper Tantrum!)
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To: Blurblogger

It's coming to a head soon, believe me.


63 posted on 11/29/2005 5:04:59 PM PST by Sam's Army ("Terrorism is a matter for the police" MurryMom 11/28/05)
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To: Sam's Army

Praise the Lord and definitely pass the ammunition....


64 posted on 11/29/2005 5:12:26 PM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (SAVE THE BRAINFOREST! Boycott the RED Dead Tree Media & NUKE the DNC Class Action Temper Tantrum!)
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To: Blurblogger

Should be designated a "hate crime".......against Christians.


65 posted on 11/29/2005 5:20:15 PM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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To: doug from upland

Good for him.

I know of no one that celebrates sacred "Holiday".

It's a Christmas tree. Period.


66 posted on 11/29/2005 5:34:43 PM PST by Soul Seeker (Mr. President: It is now time to turn over the money changers' tables.)
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To: doug from upland

Yea!! Merry Christmas Everyone!! And may all your hearts be filled with joy joy joy and more joy!!


67 posted on 11/29/2005 5:49:12 PM PST by GloriaJane (http://music.download.com/gloriajane "Merry Christmas To Our Troops In Iraq (My Hero's)")
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To: doug from upland

68 posted on 11/29/2005 6:55:06 PM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan (/strike>)
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To: Michael.SF.

Sorry FRiend, but you are incorrect. This is GovSpeak. The wording you and I would have preferred, while well within the right of the Speaker to use, will likely be used by Dim committee members as condemnation in future confirmation hearings.

Sen Kennedy: "Mr. Hastert, is it not true that in December of 2005 you ORDERED the Architect of the Capitol to replace the long accepted designation of 'Holiday Tree,' with the discredited and offensive term 'Christmas' tree?"


69 posted on 11/29/2005 7:18:22 PM PST by j_tull (Merry Christmas to all!)
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To: GloriaJane

Merry Christmas, GloriaJane!


70 posted on 11/29/2005 10:10:13 PM PST by AZ_Cowboy ("Be ever vigilant, for you know not when the master is coming")
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To: nicmarlo; Borax Queen; VeniVidiVici

Good News Ping!


71 posted on 11/29/2005 10:15:06 PM PST by AZ_Cowboy ("Be ever vigilant, for you know not when the master is coming")
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To: AZ_Cowboy

I may actually drive up there just to look at it :-) Well, I do have a ticket I need to take care of in VA ;-)

My son got a job at Lowes just over a month ago as a loader. He came home all excited today because he is working in the CHRISTMAS tree tent. And, not only that, but to everyone who buys a tree from him, he loads it up and wishes them a MERRY CHRISTMAS! :-)


72 posted on 11/29/2005 10:45:14 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: AZ_Cowboy

Fabulous - thanks for news!


73 posted on 11/30/2005 7:35:48 AM PST by Borax Queen
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To: doug from upland

PC is Pure Crap.


74 posted on 11/30/2005 7:36:18 AM PST by Lazamataz (Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article Since 1999)
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To: newfrpr04
If you want to make the pointy-headed nimrods at the ACLU heads explode, go out and get the most un-PC Christmas Card you can find, and send it to:
American Civil Liberties Union
915 15th Street, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Someone on Rush's show yesterday suggested it...
75 posted on 11/30/2005 7:46:35 AM PST by COBOL2Java (The Katrina Media never gets anything right, so why should I believe them?)
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To: j_tull
This is GovSpeak

Good point.

I have to admit that my language ability is limited to English, a smattering of Spanish and 'BizSpeak', where we say what we mean or simply keep our mouths shut.

76 posted on 11/30/2005 7:59:58 AM PST by Michael.SF. (Paris Hilton - Living proof that one need not be poor to be White Trash)
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To: COBOL2Java

We flooded various ACLU offices with Very MERRY CHRISTMAS cards last year. A fellow freeper started it last year. I already brought a box of 100 Christmas cards and will be mailing, and faxing Merry Christian Christmas wishes.


77 posted on 11/30/2005 8:08:50 AM PST by newfrpr04
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To: doug from upland

Thanks for the number. Just called.


78 posted on 11/30/2005 8:11:55 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: doug from upland

Nope. I was expecting an answering machine... not a real person to answer.


79 posted on 11/30/2005 8:18:12 AM PST by Mathews (Shot... Splash... Out!)
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To: doug from upland

FROM "THE HILL" --


Christmas Tree to arrive on Hill Nov. 28
By Jackie Kucinich

The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will arrive on the West Front on Nov. 28 at 10 a.m., the Architect of the Capitol has announced.

The 65-foot Engelmann Spruce will be adorned with more than 10,000 lights, large baubles and 3,000 decorations made by children, community groups, artisans and Native Americans to reflect the cultural heritage of New Mexico.

The tree is from Santa Fe National Forest and was harvested on Nov. 7. It traveled through 16 cities in New Mexico before continuing its journey cross-country to Washington.

Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman will preside over the Dec. 8 tree lighting ceremony, starting at 5 p.m., and Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) will flip the switch.


80 posted on 11/30/2005 9:17:41 AM PST by doug from upland (The troops will come home when the mission is complete)
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