On the one hand, the Bushes will accommodate significantly more guests in their home during the holiday season (60,000, up 15,000 from last year) but there will be fewer feet of garland (862 this year, 1,089 in 2006), fewer wreaths (232, down from 269) and less shrimp to eat (only 1,000 pounds served this year, compared with 4,000 pounds in 2006). But, fear not: Guests can expect more asparagus (600 pounds served, compared to 400 from last year) and the same amount of Christmas cookies (20,000).

Perhaps part of the reason for the leaner decorations is because the White House is shooting to be more eco-friendly. In response to a reporter’s question about making the decorations more “green,” Laura Bush said, “We always recycle some ornaments, like every family does.”

At Wednesday’s media preview for the holiday decorations and food, you could count on the White House’s resident scrooge — columnist Helen Thomas — to rain on the first lady’s parade. As Laura was busy waxing poetic about the holiday decorations (“the beautiful gingerbread house” and the “347 national parks represented on the tree”), the Grinch-y reporter fired off her questions: “What about the war?” “Do you have a candidate for ’08?”

Bah humbug.

Laura, by the numbers

Part and parcel to the White House’s unveiling of its holiday decorations and food Wednesday was a media blitz to promote it. In addition to taking journalists on a tour of the place, first lady Laura Bush had a busy day, giving interviews to CNN, NBC, ABC, Fox and CBS. This, of course, meant that lots of catchphrases were used … and used … and used throughout the day, leading to some interesting juxtapositions:

Number of times:

» “Barney” was mentioned vs. “Miss Beazley”: 12, 11

» “Jenna” vs. “Barbara”: 5, 1

» “Cookies” vs. “chocolate”: 7, 6

» “National Parks” vs. “Gingerbread houses”: 82, 2

» “Happy Holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas”: 7, 2