Here we are, the 8th of December, 17 days from Christmas. Christmas shoppers will be hitting the stores today…and/or putting up Christmas Decorations…including their Christmas tree.

An American Tradition, you say? Not according to these Liberal idiots:

Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I-R.I.) told CNSNews.com on Wednesday that his administration calls the decorated evergreen tree erected in the Rhode Island State House in December a “holiday tree”–rather than a “Christmas tree”–because that is what the tree is traditionally called.

CNSNews.com spoke with Chafee following his remarks at the National Governors Association national summit in Arlington, Va.

“You have taken some recent criticism about changing the name of the State House tree to a holiday tree,” asked CNSNews.com. “Would you say that you believe in Christmas?”

“Well, first of all, get your facts straight,” said Chafee. “You said that I changed the name. That is not accurate. When last year–my first year in office–when the whole–”

“But it’s called a ‘holiday tree,’ correct?” asked CNSnews.com.

“Yes. Let’s be accurate, now. Let me finish,” said Chafee. “When the holiday season approached, they said what do you want to do in the State House. My instructions were very simple: Do whatever the previous governor did. No more, no less. Just do what they did. And that is what we did.

“And the previous governor called it a holiday’s tree,” said Chafee. “That was the tradition.

“I don’t know whether it goes back before him, the governor that preceded me, Gov. [Donald] Carcieri [R.]. Some say it goes back to the governor before him, Gov. [Lincoln] Almond [R.],” said Chafee. “But this has been the tradition of Rhode Island. I didn’t change anything.”

CNSNews.com asked: “And what in your view is Christmas?”

“Well, obviously,” said Chafee, “it’s a religious holiday.”

“Is it the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in your view?” asked CNSNews.com.

“Yes, of course,” said Chafee.

“Then why not call it a Christmas tree instead of a holiday tree?” asked CNSNews.com.

“I’m just taking the same program that previous governors have done before me, nothing different,” said Chafee. “If you have a question, ask the previous governors.”

Uh huh.

Governor, here are some facts you don’t seem to be aware of, courtesy of history.com:

Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.

In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.

Between 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the Christmas Ship would tie up at the Clark Street bridge and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.

The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began in 1933. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president, brought the Christmas tree tradition to the White House.

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony now held every year on the White House lawn.

Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.

Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet.

In 1912, the first community Christmas tree in the United States was erected in New York City.

The problem is, Liberals seem to be gleeful in robbing Americans of the joy of Christmas, like a bunch of Grinches about to descend of their respective Whovilles.

However, just like in the famous fable by Dr. Seuss, that Unseen Hand moves things in the right direction:

A day after residents in a Newhall (CA) senior apartment complex protested what they said was an order by management to remove a Christmas tree from their community room because it was a religious symbol, the property operators said the tree could stay. In fact, they chalked it all up to a miscommunication.

As of Thursday afternoon, a tree was standing in the community room, lit, ready to be decorated – and monitored by a security guard to ensure it stays up.

“We accomplished what we set out to do,” said a defiant Marjorie Lenenberg, who has lived in the complex for four years. “It’s gotten to the point where they hired a security guard.”

The story of the senior effort to save their Christmas tree caused a national Internet uproar, with social media sites and messages from people blaming everyone from atheists to progressive to a war on Christmas. The story got more than 600,000 page views on the Daily News website – the most ever for a single story in one day on the site – and was passed around on Facebook and other social media at a rapid pace. Dozens of people from around the country also called and emailed the paper, as well as the apartment complex itself.

“This is ridiculous,” said Mary Ward, of Memphis, Tenn., who called the Daily News. “A decorated tree is not a religious symbol. Now if it was a Nativity Scene, maybe they can say it’s religious. But it’s a tree.”

Residents at The Willows senior complex said the management sent a memo to staff on Tuesday ordering them to take down Christmas trees and menorahs in communal areas.

One resident told the Daily News Wednesday that she’d spoken to a property supervisor, who told her the tree had to be taken down because it was a religious symbol.

What is it about the fact that 78% of Americans are Christians that Liberals don’t understand?

Ahhh…but, that’s a whole ‘nother Blog.

Merry Christmas, Ebeneezers!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

How lovely are your branches!

In beauty green will always grow

Through summer sun and winter snow.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

How lovely are your branches!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

You are the tree most loved!

How often you give us delight

In brightly shining Christmas light!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

You are the tree most loved!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

Your beauty green will teach me

That hope and love will ever be

The way to joy and peace for me.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

Your beauty green will teach me.