BUSH PARDONS A TURKEY ON THANKSGIVING

// November 30th, 2008 // Hott Look@Politics

slim chance for a rare pardon

Just yesterday, the fattened turkey was set to lose its head

By John Charles Reedburg

Earlier this week Bush pardoned convicted rapper John Forte.

So I guess he figured, might as well save a turkey named Pumpkin, in the process, too.

PUMPKIN’s life is about to get a whole lot better.

Just yesterday, the fattened turkey was set to lose its head because that’s how we do in America on Thanksgiving. Now Pumpkin is a free bird on its way to Disneyland to be the grand marshal in Disney’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in California.

Pumpkin was pardoned today by President George W. Bush — a tradition dating back to 1947 with Harry Truman. Soon after arriving at Disneyland, Pumpkin will receive some very special attention, including a personalized enclosure and a specialized diet.

Turkeys fattened for slaughter are often so fat that if they weren’t killed, they would soon face debilitating physical conditions, such as problems with their feet, which are not accustomed to supporting so much weight.

According to AP, last year’s birds — named May and Flower via online poll — 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…

“They arrived very heavy,” says Matt Hohne, acting animal operations director for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “They were immediately put on our conditioning program.”

Turkeys get the same attention to their nutritional and health needs as any more exotic species at Animal Kingdom. Excess weight is unhealthy for animals as well as people. Dieting, exercise and sunny Southern California weather… sounds like that turkey has some good days ahead of him. Good job on the pardoning Mr. President. Now if only you could get those darn Kwanzaa party invitations right.