by Eric Kelderman, Stateline.org Staff Writer

This year’s seasonal greetings from the nation’s state governors feature a cowboy poem, original artwork, lots of family photos, several pets and even a few mentions of a Merry Christmas.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter (R), spending his first Christmas in the governor’s mansion, chose the poem “A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer” by Squire Omar Barker for the text of his holiday card. “I ain’t much good at prayin’ — Lord, and you may not know me. For I ain’t much seen in Churches, where they preach Thy Holy Word,” writes Barker, a former New Mexico English teacher and state legislator known by the moniker “Lazy S.O.B.”

Tennessee’s Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) continued his tradition of painting the cover art for his card, this year depicting a single, red, snow-covered leaf inspired by a scene he saw while running in a nearby park, according to his spokeswoman.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) of California has painted the cover art for previous holiday cards, but this year chose the work of Golden State artist Hiro Yamagata.

Govs. Kathleen Sebelius (D) of Kansas and M. Jodi Rell (R) of Connecticut also adorned cards with the paintings of artists from their respective home states.

More common this year were holiday cards crammed with photos of family members. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) loads the cover of his card with a portrait of 10 people, including his wife Dawn, their three children, two in-laws and three grandchildren.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D) has a photo of 13 people inside his card, including Manchin and his wife Gayle, their three children, two in-laws and six grandchildren.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) beats that with five photos showing a total 17 people: A portrait of Perdue and wife Mary and separate pictures of each of his four children their spouses and seven grandchildren.

Gov. Ed Rendell (D) of Pennsylvania includes not only the First Lady, their son and his fiancée, but also the younger couples’ two dogs — another popular feature in governors’ greetings.

Bredesen’s and Otter’s cards are two of a handful, out of 20 that Stateline.org acquired, that use the word Christmas — an issue that has raised the hackles of conservatives since 2005, when President Bush’s holiday greeting failed to mention the Christian holiday that marks the birth of Jesus.

In addition to Bredesen and Otter, Govs. Bob Riley (R) of Alabama, Perdue, Dave Heineman (R) of Nebraska, Michael Rounds (R) of South Dakota and Manchin specifically wish readers the joys of Christmas, while others send greetings for a happy nameless holiday.

In the Christmas crowd, Heineman, Perdue, Riley and Rounds all include a Bible verse, bolstering the religious content of their greetings.

South Carolina’s Mark Sanford (R) has a Bible verse, but like the majority of governors, eschews the word Christmas in his greeting card, as well as in the accompanying holiday letter from First Lady Jenny Sanford.

Stateline.org has posted a full collection of holiday cards from governors around the country. Click on any card to get a closer look and see inside the card.

Contributing to this project were Ivan Thomas and Shaleem Thompson