By Britt

Nov 25, 2009 8:34am

Free Bird

President Obama is preparing to pardon a turkey today: Courage, a 20-week-old, 45-pound turkey from Princeton, NC, a state the president won in last year's presidential race.

You can read more about this tradition — and about Courage — in this story from Karen Travers.

Or you can watch this film from the White House about "one lone turkey" seeking clemency, narrated by spokesman Ben LaBolt.

It is not yet known if any of the president's opponents will accuse him of being soft on fowl, or if any will note the close ties between turkeys and acorns.

-jpt

User Comments

Time for the obligatory, the “turkey” is still in the White House post.
Thank you, try the veal! Tip your waitstaff and have a Happy Thsnksgiving Jake, moderaters who sometimes delete my posts and occasionally ban me, and fellow posters who make me mad and make me laugh. I am thankful for my family, friends, freedom of speech, my country including the military who keep us safe and free, stuffing and pumpkin pie.

Posted by: Krakatoa | November 25, 2009, 9:16 am 9:16 am

Pardon the turkey?….What has Joe Biden done wrong now?………………

Posted by: mickey maoist | November 25, 2009, 9:29 am 9:29 am

This is possibly one of the silliest traditions in the White House.

Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 25, 2009, 9:43 am 9:43 am

For @jaketapper and his hilarious Glenn Beck-esque connections on Twitter between the turkey and the liberal left: pardoning a turkey named “Courage” brings to mind the sign-off of Dan Rather, a journalist well-known for his liberal bias. COINCIDENCE??????

Posted by: Abel Pharmboy | November 25, 2009, 9:45 am 9:45 am

here’s a good ‘turkey’ story:
Dana Perino said on Fox, that there were no terrorist attacks on America during Bush’s terms,
gotta love it…. cue: ‘turkey in the straw’

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am

Climategate anyone? This reminds me of the ACORN tapes that no one wanted to cover. Geez!

Posted by: Jenny | November 25, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am

Ok usually I groan at the NY Post headline homages but this one made me laugh.

Posted by: Ryan C | November 25, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am

…this one made me laugh.
Posted by: Ryan C | Nov 25, 2009 11:25:12 AM
Me too.
I also like YO’s “cue turkey in the straw.”

Posted by: Cara | November 25, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am

“Climategate anyone?”
I would hope for some coverage of this but I guess its too much to ask.
NYT:”The lobbying firm that sent forged letters opposing the House climate bill to at least three members of Congress was working on behalf of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, one of the top Washington, D.C.-based coal industry advocacy groups.
A total of 12 forged letters were sent out to three House Democrats — Reps. Tom Perriello of Virginia and Kathy Dahlkemper and Chris Carney of Pennsylvania. Both Carney and Dahlkemper voted against the House climate bill (H.R. 2454 (pdf)), while Perriello supported the measure and has faced a storm of criticism from Washington Republicans and some constituents in the wake of its passage.”
Or this
VoteVets “Today, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry front group sent a message to their e-mail list that, under the guise of honoring Veterans’ Day, that hijacks the efforts of Veterans working against climate change and advocating a transition to clean energy”
The lesson as always?

Posted by: Ryan C | November 25, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am

I like Ryan C’s version of Climategate, but I’m noticing a steady drumbeat on several blog posts here regarding the hacking of emails at E. Anglia, so here’s what I think is worth talking about Jake. Clearly, the hackers hope the emails will derail the upcoming negotiations in Copenhagen– I’m glad the President is making that trip, btw. But as pointed out at the SF Chronicle, the hacking of emails also shows that climate skeptics and deniers are willing to resort not just to sleights of statistical hand, as they accuse the scientists of, or cherry picking, distortion, bad arguments and dishonesty, but to criminal behavior.
They also consistently “discredit” science by slapping simplistic interpretations on complicated data.
Most importantly, the pressure that denialists’ search for a smoking gun puts on scientists may be actually be causing the work to suffer– which is detrimental to ALL of us. It’s no wonder in some of the emails the real scientists refer to the deniers as “idiots.”
Please, Jake, if you report on this, take the time to report on the timing, agenda and criminality– and how little actually turned up– and how what little that showed up doesn’t call into question the vast majority of the evidence which supports global warming theory.
And if you quote the flake Inhofe, please balance that with a quote from a smart pro-science person.
Thanks

Posted by: Cara | November 25, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

Tapper breaking News – Courage’s dream of season tickets for all NC Duke basketball games is fulfilled. Courage is also a fan of Reggie Love. Reggie is a part of President Obama’s team and played on the 2001 NC Dukes championship basketball team.
Tapper Gibbs, Helen Thomas and Carlos Boozer can verify this earth shattering sports news in case you what to follow up on it!

Posted by: cooday | November 25, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am

Tapper breaking News – Courage’s dream of season tickets for all NC Duke basketball games is fulfilled. Courage is also a fan of Reggie Love. Reggie is a part of President Obama’s team and played on the 2001 NC Dukes championship basketball team.
Tapper Gibbs, Helen Thomas and Carlos Boozer can verify this earth shattering sports news in case you what to follow up on it!

Posted by: cooday | November 25, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am

“But as pointed out at the SF Chronicle, the hacking of emails also shows that climate skeptics and deniers are willing to resort not just to sleights of statistical hand, as they accuse the scientists of, or cherry picking, distortion, bad arguments and dishonesty, but to criminal behavior.”
Exactly.

Posted by: Ryan C | November 25, 2009, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm

Yo, yes Dana did say that on FOX< remember—Bamy doesn't use the word "terrorist", and wants to try them like American citizens……he's an idiot

Posted by: lyineyes1956 | November 25, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm

Yes, let us look at all sides of the issue regarding climate change. Let us look at the evidence on both sides of the story. Did all the liberals have a conference call this morning on how to respond to this in the blogosphere? It’s been quiet everywhere until around 12pm… Did George Soros hold a meeting on how to respond?

Posted by: Jenny | November 25, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm

Did George Soros hold a meeting on how to respond?
Posted by: Jenny
nope, it was really the ‘clean coal’ people, the rest of us were getting the ‘clean’ soot out of our throats…..
remember the ‘sensitive’ corporations, that brought you ‘Love Canal’, Coal Sludge in Tenn…… trust business, bring back sweat shops for children….. no gov’t regulation on anything

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm

Dana did say that on FOX
Posted by: lyineyes1956
so you agree with her statement….?
wow, revisionism is taking hold on the rightwing fringe…..

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm

And then our economy can be as great as China’s again. Posted by: Jenny
maybe China will outsource it’s jobs just like those true blue american biz

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm

maybe China will outsource it’s jobs just like those true blue american biz
Posted by: YO | Nov 25, 2009 1:14:30 PM
********
Maybe we can bring them back home to America where they belong.

Posted by: Jenny | November 25, 2009, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm

Maybe we can bring them back home to America where they belong.
____________________________________
If you really care, start buying American-made products and encouraging your friends to do the same.
You can do a net search for ‘american made products’ and get a LOT of information. There are American made products of almost every sort.

Posted by: tierra | November 25, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm

Maybe we can bring them back home to America where they belong.
Posted by: Jenny
call your ‘tea party’ buddies ,and have them protest corps that ship jobs overseas..

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm

If you really care, start buying American-made products and encouraging your friends to do the same.
You can do a net search for ‘american made products’ and get a LOT of information. There are American made products of almost every sort.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 25, 2009 1:22:57 PM
*****
You are preaching to the choir!

Posted by: Jenny | November 25, 2009, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm

call your ‘tea party’ buddies ,and have them protest corps that ship jobs overseas..
Posted by: YO | Nov 25, 2009 1:25:02 PM
******
Can you also call your movon, ACORN, organizing for America buddies and we can all go together?

Posted by: Jenny | November 25, 2009, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm

btw: I hate the song ‘Free Bird’…

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm

“Maybe we can bring them back home to America where they belong.”
But then Walmart would collapse as the depend on the virtual slave labor abroad to get their cheap goods.

Posted by: Ryan C | November 25, 2009, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm

Did George Soros hold a meeting on how to respond?
The DCCC gives them cheat sheets by email. Google “The DCCC Thanksgiving Cheat Sheet” for an eye opener.

Posted by: CranBarry | November 25, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm

movon, ACORN, organizing for America buddies and we can all go together?
Posted by: Jenny
no probs, as the organizations you mentioned have a history of fighting for american workers and their and rights…..’tea party’ folks so far, are good at making nonsensical signage….

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm

If you really care, start buying American-made products and encouraging your friends to do the same.
You can do a net search for ‘american made products’ and get a LOT of information. There are American made products of almost every sort.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 25, 2009 1:22:57 PM
*****
You are preaching to the choir!
__________________________________
Actually, I was preaching to the hypocrites. And those who hadn’t given it much real thought, but just mouth cliches.

Posted by: tierra | November 25, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

Just like the Black Panther’s got a free pass from Obama’s justice department for voter intimidation.

Posted by: Que guevera? | November 25, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm

your self worth

Posted by: CranBarry | November 25, 2009, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm

Imagine that! President Obama in a rare photo-op!
Hehh, I had almost forgotten what he looks like.

Posted by: dave | November 25, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm

Love the presidential turkey pardon every year. It’s a sweet, silly tradition and it always makes me smile. This year is no exception. Nicely done, Mr. President.
“Free Bird”—- crack me up. Thanks for the laugh, Mr. Tapper. And thank you for all the good work you do, both in your regular reporting and in your willingness to give us all this lovely outlet for venting and sharing opinions. Solid journalism and the internet are both things I am grateful for this Thanksgiving.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow, gang. I especially send warm wishes to those with whom I seldom agree politically, like Ryan C and jhw. Everybody have a great time and stay safe. I would say I’ll think of you tomorrow, but that would be a lie. I’ll be knee-deep in family, food, and fun and the folks who hang out at Political Punch will not cross my mind. But today, I’m thinking of you all and I send you my thanks for the entertainment and conversation you have provided me this year.

Posted by: moderatet | November 25, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm

The tactics used by the hacker are exactly the same that were used by that college student who hacked Sarah Palin’s private email account and posted it all over the web.

Posted by: Trisha | November 25, 2009, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm

A Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too moderate.

Posted by: Ryan C | November 25, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm

Just like the Black Panther’s got a free pass from Obama’s justice department for voter intimidation.
Posted by: Que guevera?
does this ‘turkey’ ever get tired of repeating the same lies …. we are way too stuffed with the lies by the ‘right’…

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm

Sacrilege! I’ll give ya three steps…
Posted by: Alyson
to each his own.. but, give me jazz,
altho’ as far as ‘southern rock’..I can listen to early
Allman Bros.

Posted by: YO | November 25, 2009, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm

sound familiar? …. an insight into where ‘turkeys’ like Rush and Palin get their material from…..the wheel goes round and round..
1965 broadcast dealing with the Civil Rights Movement.
C.W. Burpo: “I’m talking about real, red-blooded patriotic Americans, and I say there’s no doubt in the minds of those Americans that Nazism and Fascism are evil, and that we want no part of it. And yet with increasing intensity, we observe references in the press to Nazis and Fascist activities in our country. Now there’ve been no exposures of such activity, just references veiled insular references, as far as we’ve been able to learn there is no real Nazi or Fascist threat within America, but we have during the course of investigation learned something very revealing. And that is, that there is a Communist conspiracy against this nation, against the churches, against the homes, against the schools and against your very life. And as a major tactic of this conspiracy – well AS a major tactic of this conspiracy is to smear the opposition with a Nazi or Fascist label. But let’s look at the real trouble that we’re facing today. Communist infiltration into the Race Revolution is becoming evident as investigation exposes leaders and organizations. A partial list of organizations involved in the Civil Rights Movement, which reportedly has Communist or Communist frontiers in its leadership are . . .now I have a copy of this so I’m going to give it and I want every station to hold steady because we’re not going to incriminate you.

Posted by: YO | November 26, 2009, 12:43 am 12:43 am

Not all turkeys have beaks and feathers. Look at the one running this country. One turkey pardoning another!

Posted by: JV | November 26, 2009, 2:58 am 2:58 am

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