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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Michelle Obama decks the White House with scores of conifers | Michelle Obama decks the White House with scores of conifers |
| (30 days later) | |
| With the US government facing its worst budget crisis in a generation and the whole nation in a tizzy over how to reduce the $16tr (£10tr) national debt, the Obamas have decided to lead from the front this holiday season – by ordering a mere 54 Christmas trees. | With the US government facing its worst budget crisis in a generation and the whole nation in a tizzy over how to reduce the $16tr (£10tr) national debt, the Obamas have decided to lead from the front this holiday season – by ordering a mere 54 Christmas trees. |
| "We have 54 trees in the White House," Michelle Obama blurted out to visitors. "Fifty four: that's a lot of trees." | "We have 54 trees in the White House," Michelle Obama blurted out to visitors. "Fifty four: that's a lot of trees." |
| It sure is. As the Investors Business Daily pointed out, that's about 50% more trees than the Obamas enjoyed in their temporary home last year. | It sure is. As the Investors Business Daily pointed out, that's about 50% more trees than the Obamas enjoyed in their temporary home last year. |
| Why Michelle Obama felt obliged to splurge on quite so many trees remains a mystery. The first lady may have made her name over the past four years fighting the scourge of obesity in America's schools, but she has turned out to be a glutton for conifers. | Why Michelle Obama felt obliged to splurge on quite so many trees remains a mystery. The first lady may have made her name over the past four years fighting the scourge of obesity in America's schools, but she has turned out to be a glutton for conifers. |
| The White House has suggested there is a rationale for the apparent excess, however: there are four large trees in the grand foyer of the White House; the remaining 50 pay homage to a tradition started by that most trendsetting first lady of all, Jackie Kennedy. | The White House has suggested there is a rationale for the apparent excess, however: there are four large trees in the grand foyer of the White House; the remaining 50 pay homage to a tradition started by that most trendsetting first lady of all, Jackie Kennedy. |
| She began the habit of first ladies choosing a theme each year for the holiday season decorations, so each of the 50 trees will be hung with ornaments representing the holiday legacies adopted, all the way back to Kennedy. | She began the habit of first ladies choosing a theme each year for the holiday season decorations, so each of the 50 trees will be hung with ornaments representing the holiday legacies adopted, all the way back to Kennedy. |
| Michelle Obama's chosen theme this year is "joy to all". She said she wanted to celebrate the many joys of the holiday season, including "the joy of giving and service to others" and the "joy of sharing our blessings with one another". | Michelle Obama's chosen theme this year is "joy to all". She said she wanted to celebrate the many joys of the holiday season, including "the joy of giving and service to others" and the "joy of sharing our blessings with one another". |
| She might have added the "joy of wishful thinking". There is precious little spirit of sharing in Washington at present as the White House and Congress prepare, like lemmings, to jump off the fiscal cliff. | She might have added the "joy of wishful thinking". There is precious little spirit of sharing in Washington at present as the White House and Congress prepare, like lemmings, to jump off the fiscal cliff. |
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