Subway serves the turkeys that Bush didn't pardon
Filed under: Food
Turkey Day Traditions
In this image released by Disneyland, Pumpkin, the National Thanksgiving Day Turkey that was pardoned by President George W. Bush is shown Thursday, Nov. 27, 2007, at his new home at Santas Reindeer Ranch in the Frontierland section of Disneyland, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Disneyland, Paul Hiffmeyer)
AP
In this image released by Disneyland, Pumpkin, the National Thanksgiving Day Turkey that was pardoned by President George W. Bush is shown Thursday, Nov. 27, 2007, at his new home at Santas Reindeer Ranch in the Frontierland section of Disneyland, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Disneyland, Paul Hiffmeyer)
AP
"Pumpkin", the National Thanksgiving Turkey, is surrounded by hands moments after U.S. President George W. Bush pardoned him in the Rose Garden of the White House, November 26, 2008. Pumpkin will travel to Disneyland later today to participate in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in California. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
**FILE** This file photo provided by Disney shows one of the turkeys pardoned by President Bush making his grand entrance Nov. 22, 2007, in the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. as the Grand Marshal of the parade. Last year's birds are currently living the good life at Disney World in Florida, where they were flown by a United Airlines flight that was renamed "Turkey One" for the occasion. (AP Photo/Disney, Gene Duncan, FILE) **NO SALES**
AP
**FILE** This Friday, Nov. 16, 2007 file photo provided by Disney shows Pilgrim Mickey Mouse at Ten Star Ranch in Dubois, Ind., unveiling the two turkeys that received presidential pardons from President Bush at the White House on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, in the 60th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation. (AP Photo/Disney, Diana Zalucky, FILE) **NO SALES**
AP
**FILE** This file photo provided by Disney shows President Bush as he pardons one of two turkeys Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, during the 60th annual Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation ceremony at the White House. Last year's birds are currently living the good life at Disney World in Florida, where they were flown by a United Airlines flight that was renamed "Turkey One" for the occasion. (AP Photo/Disney, Kent Phillips) **NO SALES**
AP
U.S. President George W. Bush (C) gathers with children and National Turkey Federation officials as he pardons "Pumpkin", the 2008 Thanksgiving turkey, during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington November 26, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
"Pumpkin", the National Thanksgiving Turkey, is surrounded by students from Cloverly Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland, after U.S. President George W. Bush pardoned him in the Rose Garden of the White House, November 26, 2008. Pumpkin will travel to Disneyland later today to participate in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in California. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
"Pumpkin", the National Thanksgiving Turkey, is surrounded by students from Cloverly Elementary School in Silver Springs, Maryland, after U.S. President George W. Bush pardoned him in the Rose Garden of the White House, November 26, 2008. Pumpkin will travel to Disneyland later today to participate in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in California. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
US President George W. Bush and turkey farmer Nathan Hill(R) from Elsworth, Iowa, pet "Pumpkin", one of two turkeys pardoned by Bush at the annual turkey pardoning ceremony November 26, 2008, at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
This year, the turkeys that didn't make the cut will be be made into slices in a sandwich at a Subway chain store near you. Yes, the farm that supplied this year's winners is one of the sub-franchise's main suppliers, and by the time the flightless birds were winging their way to Dubya, the rejects were already being processed into foot-longs.
At the White House, the audition process went like this: Birds from an Iowa farm (each year, a different place provides them) were assessed for their attractiveness and their decorum (meaning they wouldn't be likely to peck the president's eyes out in front of the cameras). The winning pair were given names, something they never had before, stowed in a room at the luxury Willard InterContinental hotel, and after the press parade was done, they were flown by commercial aircraft to Disneyland. Frontierland, to be exact.
Even going to Disneyland may not make for a long retirement. One animal protection group, Farm Sanctuary, launched a campaign designed to convince the White House to send the pardoned poultry to its facility instead of Disney's. The birds, having been raised expressly for quick slaughter and rich meat, are in such poor health that they tend to die quickly -- the ones delivered to Disney in 2005 were dead by the end of 2006, it says. That the birds are in lousy health is something Disney confirms -- when ones arrived at Walt Disney World a few years ago, they were so infirm they could barely stand (which may account in part for that compliant decorum that won them pardons to begin with).
The explanation of the birds' destiny may ruffle some feathers, but knowing the dark side of the pardoning ceremony may be the only shred of reality to this hollow exercise that seems to both apologize for and legitimize our important meat industries.
After all, Bush "liberated" Pumpkin and Pecan this year, but he ate another turkey on Thanksgiving. And Sarah Palin has perhaps ruined the symbolic tradition forevermore. She unwittingly converted untold numbers of people to vegetarianism at her own pardoning photo op in Alaska, at which she lectured the press on brutality directly in front of a contraption where the unluckier birds were being systematically slaughtered. The hypocrisy of the enterprise doesn't stop there: One of the most popular snack items at the Disney parks is the brine-injected, roasted turkey leg. Disney World sells some 1.5 million a year. I'm not exactly sure what the message of the annual pardoning ritual is supposed to be. Does anyone know?
Well, maybe we should ask the group that organizes this whole foolish consumer news event--the turkey lobby.
Stay tuned for more of President Bush's powers of forgiveness, As this lame duck president winds up his term, expect him to pardon a few more turkeys, only this time, the press may be more likely to notice any hypocrisies.
In the meantime, you can be a part of presidential history, apparently, simply by ordering a six-incher.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
12-01-2008 @ 4:40PM
okehult said...
Great - a lame duck giving a flightless turkey a pardon.
Reply
12-01-2008 @ 4:54PM
JW said...
I couldn't agree with you more. George W. Bush is the worst president in American History. I would vote Nixon into office before I would vote in another George W.
12-19-2008 @ 2:58AM
Isaac said...
This is absolutely the stupidist story and waste of cyberspace I have seen to date. Rifreakingdicoulis!
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12-01-2008 @ 5:31PM
Zac said...
Too bad...I bet the pardoned turkeys would be the most delicious.
Reply
12-01-2008 @ 5:03PM
Tom said...
Did anyone ever hear of this story when
A Teen Calls Bush’s Secret Phone; And Creates Security Scare?
http://www.curiousread.com/2007/12/teen-calls-bushs-secret-phone-creates.html
Reply
12-01-2008 @ 5:27PM
l said...
Must be one hell of a slow news day.
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12-01-2008 @ 7:06PM
Tim said...
agreed! I got this off of AOL. Is this the best they can do?
I'm surprised they haven't tanked already.
12-01-2008 @ 5:43PM
anvil said...
I'm sure He's going to parden more of his turkey friends before He leaves office
Reply
12-01-2008 @ 6:17PM
bob said...
THE TURKEY MUST BE NAMED SCOOTER LIBBY. THAT'S THE CLASS BUSH SHOWS...PARDONING HIS CONVICTED FEFLON BUDDIES. THANK GOD HE WILL BE A BAD MEMORY REAL SOON!!!
Reply
12-01-2008 @ 6:53PM
CJ said...
Oh...Bobby....
I hope he pardons Scooter. Bush has more character in his pinky finger than the last 5 democratic presidents.
12-01-2008 @ 6:18PM
John Perry said...
Those of you that say President Bush is the worst President history are putting your stupidity or your disengenous partisanship on display for all to see.
When Jimmy Carter was President mortgage interest rates were at 17% to 20% if you could get one. Unemployment was in the double digits. Fuel oil for heating and gas for your car was almost impossible to get and it was about $5.00 a gallon at todays prices. Jimmy told the people that could not afford fuel oil to cut back and put on another sweater. JImmy Carter was the one that founded the MISERY INDEX. It was a numerical scale on how miserable Amearicans and our economy was.
Jimmy Carter was also the only President in history to allow the Muslim extremists to hold many American citizens hostages for over a year.===============If you are going to lie at least put a little effort into making your lies a little less obvious.
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12-01-2008 @ 6:52PM
CJ said...
Amen John Perry!
I really thinking the current populous is uneducated or maybe they don't teach actual American history anymore.
How can so many people hate the president and not know why?
Living proof that TV makes one stupid.
CJ
12-01-2008 @ 8:07PM
John said...
You are right on. Hit the nail on the head. J
12-01-2008 @ 8:07PM
SUSAN said...
You are so right. I have been telling people for months how bad things were with Carter. I also tend to think Americans forget one person did not get us into this situation & one person will not be a savior & get us out of the situation. It takes all politician working together for the country & not for themselves.
12-02-2008 @ 8:31AM
Teresa J said...
I love the tradition of turkey-pardoning! I think it's cute. To turn such a trivial discussion into something more is time-wasting (which is what I am doing waiting for my laundry). I knew they were pardoned to Disney, but I did not know about the turkeys' short life spans, so I did learn something. However, I heartily agree with John Perry's comments, having lived through the long winter Jimmy Carter's administration oversaw and the brutal hostage situation in Iran, which (if anyone remembers) included a fairly well-publicized failed rescue attempt during which 8 servicemen died. As to President Bush, he should be remembered as a 2-term president who was voted into office by many of those voicing such vehement opinions now. Non-voters do not have the right to voice an opinion. I do not think he is or has been a bad president. I think he has shown himself to be a strong president with many weaknesses. As human beings, we recognize this. As a society, weaknesses are not tolerated. Early in his presidency, he had the wisdom to surround himself with some very wise leaders. As they have fallen away, his weaknesses have become more apparent. Give the man a break. He is only going to be our leader for a few more months. Please allow him the dignity of his mistakes.
12-02-2008 @ 10:03AM
Angela said...
You took the words right out of my - uh - keyboard. Carter was FAR worse than Bush.
12-01-2008 @ 6:25PM
John said...
Bill Clinton holds the Presidential record for friends, political appointees, dept. heads and Cabinet members mysteriously dieing, being indicted and being convicted of felonies than any other President in History. I won't menton Clintons Impeachment or convictions while in office.
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12-01-2008 @ 6:30PM
RustyG said...
This "pardon" charade has been going on long before George Dubya so why is it an issue now?
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12-01-2008 @ 6:54PM
marge said...
exactly...ty
12-02-2008 @ 8:46AM
Kris said...
JW . . . are you from America? I mean U.S.A. not any countries south of the border. If you are an American (legal one I hope) how come you are so stupid and ignorant in accussing George W. the worst President? Remember you smiling face James Carter? He was the worst man on earth when he was the President and the worst when he becomes the ex-President. And remember the people that your adorable-horny President Clinton pardoned before leaving office? Before you open you mouth JW, think first. What you are saying only makes you a brainless DEMON-CRAT like the rest of them "liberals".
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