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Melania Trump Orders Removal of Near-200-Year-Old Tree From White House [W:451]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/melania-trump-orders-removal-near-145141513.html


Nothing is sacred. I would build a stone support for it. A wall to keep the tree up. This tree is 200 years old!!! I guess nothing is sacred....

If you read about the tree -- it's been declining regularly over the past few decades and the tree experts recommend that it be removed. A typical magnolia only lasts about 120 years, so this tree, while truly valuable, is on its way out.

You can't force something to remain alive if it's determined to go.

They are going to salvage any usable wood, however, in order to make something that will commorate the history of the beautiful tree.

Your stone wall, while a nice idea, wouldn't keep the tree from dying.
 
A tree? Really?
 
A tree? Really?

have-you-no-sense-of-decency-sir.jpg
 
The tree was there during obama so trump decided to remove it.
 
The tree has out lived its natural life span.
The tree is on life support, and has been for some time already.
The tree experts have weighed in that it's not going to get any better, and I'm sure they are aware of the historical significance of the tree, and would rather save it if at all possible.
If the tree experts say it is a safety hazard, it's a safety hazard.
If the tree experts say it should be removed, then it should be removed.

Do you have more expertise than the White House retained tree experts?
Have you been on site to examine the tree?

Its a circle of life thing here, this time with a tree. You can't beat the circle of life no matter how badly you may want to, you just can't escape it.
 
The tree is past it's life and should be removed and if something could be done with some of it, that would be cool. The question then becomes, what to replace it with. Perhaps a big gold fountain with a statue of Donald in the middle.? He could be shooting something out of his wherever.
 
How about we have an honest back story to this.

A large portion of an iconic tree planted by President Jackson in the 1800s is slated to be cut down this week.

First Lady Melania Trump made the decision to uproot the Jackson Magnolia after experts determined that it was beyond saving and posed a safety hazard, her spokeswoman said Tuesday.

After reviewing the reports, she trusted that every effort had been made to preserve the historic tree, and was concerned about the safety of visitors and members of the press who are often standing right in front of the tree during Marine One lifts,” said Stephanie Grisham.

Wood from the tree will be preserved, Grisham added. The First Lady has also requested that its seedlings be maintained in the event that a new Magnolia tree can be planted in the same area.
White House to remove centuries-old Jackson Magnolia tree - NY Daily News

Now if this had been Michelle Obama making the same decision, would you honestly be saying "nothing is sacred?"

Agreed. Melania did what has to be done. In my area in the deep south there are many of those 100 to 200 year old trees. Many are still left, however once they get to the point to where they are a risk to pedestrians, residents or passing traffic, the city has them removed. I hate to see them go, however it beats people getting hurt.
 
The tree is past it's life and should be removed and if something could be done with some of it, that would be cool. The question then becomes, what to replace it with. Perhaps a big gold fountain with a statue of Donald in the middle.? He could be shooting something out of his wherever.

LOLz. MUST . . . . . SCRUB . . . . . MENTAL . . . . . IMAGE!!!
 
We had hanging gardens in the past and many great wonders. It couldnt cost more than 1,000 bucks to figure out a way to make this tree exist. For at least another 100 years. Hell its in a pretty prime part of america im sure they could spend 10,000 and make it even cooler. Why wouldnt you wanna own a 300 year old tree?!?!

The tree was a hazard. Have some seedlings from the tree,

Make some furniture and plaques from the wood.
 
Trump's "tree specialists" who worked at Burger King last week?

Probably the same experts who worked for "Obama Bin Laden". It's not a cabinet position.
 
We should all know by now that nothing CNN says should be considered news or the truth until it checks out.

It was presented as another one of those news stories with just enough facts omitted to turn it into fake news. But it was not CNN but the OP itself that did that. CNN's reporting was a good honest story as well.

But kudos to the CNN and the NY Daily News who presented the facts, nothing but the facts, and didn't editorialize or attempt to make a political statement with it. Such honest and competent journalism is rare but more refreshing these days.
 
Right. Far longer than our country will be standing.

:)

Perhaps you libruls should just admit that your gripe is not about the tree coming down, it's about Trump.
 
We should all know by now that nothing CNN says should be considered news or the truth until it checks out.

I saw a CNN story on the tree this morning and it wasn't at all critical of the decision. They showed images of the rot, the supports, interviewed a reporter talking about the WH consulting with experts, the danger of it falling over, etc.
 
We had hanging gardens in the past and many great wonders. It couldnt cost more than 1,000 bucks to figure out a way to make this tree exist. For at least another 100 years. Hell its in a pretty prime part of america im sure they could spend 10,000 and make it even cooler. Why wouldnt you wanna own a 300 year old tree?!?!

80 to 120 years
A Southern magnolia, given a home in rich, moist, well-drained soil and a humid environment and plenty of room to grow to its maximum height of 80 feet tall and 40 feet in diameter, could live 80 to 120 years.

homeguides.sfgate.com/long-takes-magnolia-tree-reach-full-height-86597.html
 
https://www.yahoo.com/news/melania-trump-orders-removal-near-145141513.html


Nothing is sacred. I would build a stone support for it. A wall to keep the tree up. This tree is 200 years old!!! I guess nothing is sacred....

You are not an arborist. This tree, planted by Andy Jackson, from a cutting on his own lands, from a tree which purportedly was a favorite of his wife, has been on artificial life support since 1970. It's been rotting from the inside out. At one point part was filled with cement to stop the rot, a process no longer considered acceptable, and then cleared of the cement. It is held up by a system of cables, and there is no longer sufficient healthy wood to attach more cables. The rot is beginning to spread through the root system to other nearby trees. The ecological health of the Whitehouse grounds is threatened by this tree. Magnolia trees usually have a lifespan of 80-120 years. There is nothing sacred about a Magnolia tree which has lived most twice its natural lifespan at the least. There are 44 known surviving Magnolia trees on Federal and State public lands, and some private properties grown from cuttings off this tree.

Whitehouse arborists have been harvesting cuttings from healthy portions of this tree since 1974. More than 20 of those cuttings are flourishing on a private tree farm in Tennessee which often volunteers to assist Federal Parks Dept. personnel to establish cuttings from heirloom trees. One of those healthy cuttings will be used to replace this tree once this tree is removed, the land underneath it cleaned so as not to reintroduce the rot leading to its demise, and adequate land preparation is completed. Trees from cuttings tend to live healthier and longer than trees from seed. Not always, but more often.

As First Lady of the Whitehouse, the final decision to proceed was and is Melania's. She did the right thing. This was not a political decision. This is not a political cause. This is not a symbol for partisan fights and arguments. Had this tree passed 80 years ago in a forest or on private lands, only creatures and insects who scavenge dead trees as a food source, along with their predators, would have cared. That there is a history to this tree doesn't make it sacred. All things must pass, to make way for the new. Like this tree, both you and I will face our personal end of days. I hope my family and friends celebrate the good in my life when I pass instead of mourning my absence, as we all should for this tree. Part of its legacy will be planted in its place. Let's celebrate the day it is planted, and further celebrate its contributions to history, and its eventual partaking of the cycles of life.
 
I saw a CNN story on the tree this morning and it wasn't at all critical of the decision. They showed images of the rot, the supports, interviewed a reporter talking about the WH consulting with experts, the danger of it falling over, etc.

Elsewhere on DP I have a thread on media bias/dishonesty that leads with an illustration of seven instances that CNN got it seriously wrong this year. Most of us who are intellectually honest and interested in truth have been very aware when CNN and others of the MSM have not been that.

But perhaps failing ratings and loss of advertising revenue has inspired them to clean up their act and become responsible journalists again. I will applaud them every single time that appears to be the case.

If more media and those commenting on it would be 100% objective and honest about what the President, First Lady, et al actually say and/or do, it would totally change the political climate and dynamic in this country.
 
I get it...an old tree being propped up just reminded her too much of Donald without his Viagra. #saggingWiener
 
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