Daily Polichicks - Thursday

The president and his family light the National Chritmas Tree on December 3, 2009. Photo Credit: The Washington Post

Across the nation, stores have had holiday decorations up since summer, holiday sales since September, and spirited customers buying "gifts" for themselves since the day after Turkey day.

But here in Washington, the holiday season doesn't really start until the President lights the National Christmas Tree.  Thursday night he did just that.

So it's on now.

Happy Holidays and here's your Daily Polichicks:

* It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...and Hannukah and Kwanzaa and so forth.  The Obama family lights the National Christmas Tree Thursday evening, following a star studded tree lighting ceremony with Jordin Sparks, Cheryl Crow, Common, Randy Jackson and the First Couple of Christmas: Santa and Mrs. Claus.

* Leave Desiree alooooooooone!  Leave her aloooooone!  The White House warns critics that they best back up off of their girl, Social Secretary Desiree Rogers.

* Now here's a nice early holiday present: the national unemployment rate unexpectedly falls from 10.2% in October to "just" 10% in November.  Then again, maybe that's not much of a gift.

* Newsweek names Obama Girl one of the Top 10 Internet Memes of the Decade.  (If you haven't seen the Obama Girl videos, created by former ad exec Ben Relles, you must do that over here.  They are hilarious.)  

* Jasmina, a 6 year old girl fighting leukemia, meets President Obama at the White House.  She tells the President that she would like a violin for Christmas.  We hope she gets it.

That's all for now.  We've got shopping to do!

xo xo