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Economic adviser burned by Christmas tree (Pres. Bush, X41 administration)
Bakersfield Californian ^ | 2/9/05 | AP

Posted on 02/09/2005 2:24:01 PM PST by NormsRevenge

PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) - A Princeton economics professor and former presidential adviser lay in critical condition after being burned while carrying a blazing Christmas tree from his home.

David Bradford, who served as a top economic adviser to former President Bush, suffered third-degree burns over half his body early Tuesday, police said. He was being treated at a hospital in Philadelphia.

The fire was caused by one of about 10 lit candles on the tree, which had been in the house since December, police said.

Bradford was a member of the President's Council of Economic Advisers from 1991 to 1993.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: bradford; burned; christmastree; darwinaward; economicadvisor; princeton
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1 posted on 02/09/2005 2:24:03 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

yikes


2 posted on 02/09/2005 2:25:08 PM PST by Texas_Jarhead (I believe in American Exceptionalism! Do you?)
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To: NormsRevenge

There is something seriously wrong with the Princeton Economics department.


3 posted on 02/09/2005 2:25:46 PM PST by blanknoone (Steyn: "The Dems are all exit and no strategy")
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To: NormsRevenge

Sounds like a scene from "War of the Roses."


4 posted on 02/09/2005 2:25:49 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Economists sometimes aren't so bright in the common sense dept.

Get well soon.

5 posted on 02/09/2005 2:26:13 PM PST by conserv13
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To: NormsRevenge

"The fire was caused by one of about 10 lit candles on the tree, which had been in the house since December"

Certainly sorry about the injury but this was clearly preventable with some common sense.


6 posted on 02/09/2005 2:26:16 PM PST by KansasConservative1
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To: NormsRevenge

Damn near a Darwin nominee!!


7 posted on 02/09/2005 2:28:22 PM PST by pissant
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To: NormsRevenge

I'm sorry to hear that, but there's a reason people don't put real candles on their Christmas Trees anymore: fires, burns, and deaths.


8 posted on 02/09/2005 2:28:35 PM PST by theDentist (Jerry Springer: PBS for White Trash)
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To: KansasConservative1

A Presidential Adviser? ..Houston? We have a problem!

Sorry for him because of the fire.


9 posted on 02/09/2005 2:29:19 PM PST by snapperjk (If you are a terror to many, then beware of many.)
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To: blanknoone

"Common sense" is an elective and not a required class in the econ dept.


10 posted on 02/09/2005 2:29:38 PM PST by NorCalRepub
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To: NormsRevenge

The Christmas tree had been in the house since December, and he put LIT CANDLES on it? Oh, my. That goes beyond a lack of common sense. The poor man has 3rd degree burns on more than 50% of his body? That's quite a price to pay for his lack of judgement.


11 posted on 02/09/2005 2:29:55 PM PST by .38sw
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To: KansasConservative1
The fire was caused by one of about 10 lit candles on the tree, which had been in the house since December, police said.

This professor may be well educated but does show a lack of common sense.

Darwin award nominee?

12 posted on 02/09/2005 2:30:12 PM PST by rocksblues (Liberalism is a sickness not a political ideology)
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To: NormsRevenge

Geeez, when the heck did he celebrate Christmas? On Groundhog's Day???


13 posted on 02/09/2005 2:30:49 PM PST by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge
Common sense means having multiple fire extinguishers on hand. I have two in the kitchen, near each doorway. A couple in the garage. One in each car. Etc. Use a fire extinguisher to attempt smothering a fire. If unsuccessful, then get out and abandon your material stuff. Your family's health is more important!

Oh, and don't put lit candles on a tree!

14 posted on 02/09/2005 2:31:14 PM PST by roadcat
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To: blanknoone

Number-of-lit-candles-on-tree X Number-of-days-after-Christmas = Severity-of-burn


15 posted on 02/09/2005 2:31:15 PM PST by woofie
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To: KansasConservative1
maybe he was celebrating Santa Lucia ?
16 posted on 02/09/2005 2:33:25 PM PST by Rakkasan1 (no government program is ever a failure-it's just 'underfunded'...)
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To: woofie
Number-of-lit-candles-on-tree X Number-of-days-after-Christmas = Severity-of-burn

He must've been practicing "Voodoo Economics"

17 posted on 02/09/2005 2:33:57 PM PST by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: woofie

I have to wonder if I was too hard on him. Maybe he made an entirely rational economic judgement that the cost of treatment for his burns was less than the cost of burning his house down with his stupidity. I wonder how or if he accounted for physical pain in his calculation.


18 posted on 02/09/2005 2:34:46 PM PST by blanknoone (Steyn: "The Dems are all exit and no strategy")
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To: NormsRevenge

Kinda late to be carrying out a Christmas tree.


19 posted on 02/09/2005 2:35:16 PM PST by Buck W. (Yesterday's Intelligentsia are today's Irrelevantsia.)
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To: NormsRevenge
MarineBrat Tip #1: Don't put lit candles on or anywhere near your Christmas tree!

MarineBrat Tip #2: If your Christmas tree catches on fire, knock it over and PULL it out of the house. DO NOT pick it up and carry! PULL!!!

MarineBrat's Dad's Tip #1: If you leave your Christmas tree or outdoor lights up past the second full weekend after New Years, you are a slacker and your siblings will shun you! Addendum: You may only bypass the first full weekend after New Years with a goooood reason, such as being out of town or dead.

20 posted on 02/09/2005 2:35:36 PM PST by MarineBrat ("God is dead"- Nietzsche,1886. "Nietzsche is dead"- God,1901)
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