Comparing and contrasting Presidential Turkey pardons

From President Bush, his last year in office:

President Obama, just a few days ago:

H/T to Kathy Schiffer, who writes:

The difference in these two pardons was a metaphor for the stark difference in their presidencies.  One is self-absorbed, clownish, mocking of faith, jokes about “luck” but forgets to mention “thanks.”  The other—well, see for yourself.  I’m including the video, which makes me really yearn for bygone days.

ONE WAY TO GRANT A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON TO THANKSGIVING TURKEYS:

• Talk about the spared turkey as “lucky.”  Note that your family, in a photo op, will deliver “unlucky” turkeys to a food bank.
• Make a mocking, “funny” Sign of the Cross over the pardoned bird—an obvious disregard for the importance of this sacred symbol for Catholics and people of faith.
• Disregard your daughters, standing beside you in bored complacency.  Instead, focus your attention on the cameras.
• Use the opportunity to obliquely criticize the United States Congress.  Say things like “Some of you know that recently I’ve been taking a series of executive actions that don’t require congressional approval.  Well, here’s another one.”
• Use the opportunity to criticize the media.  Say things like “They received the most important part of media training, which involves learning to gobble without saying anything.”
• Never mention God, or thanks, or grace, or the American people.  Never mention anything noble.  Keep the attention on yourself.

ANOTHER WAY TO GRANT A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON TO THANKSGIVING TURKEYS:

• Thank the men and women in uniform and talk about how proud you are of them.
• Thank the armies of compassion—volunteers who feed the hungry and shelter the poor, teachers and nurses and pastors and firefighters, and others who serve their neighbors and better their communities.
• Thank your wonderful and supportive family, and talk about the blessing they have been in your life.
• Thank your wife for her love.
• Thank your two daughters, “Thanksgiving blessings” some 27 years ago.
• Express your thanks that your mother is doing well.
• Express your thanks for a new son-in-law at the dinner table this year.
• Thank the American people for the tremendous privilege of serving as President.
• Wish all Americans a Happy Thanksgiving, and ask God to bless them.

The contrast is stark.

Comments

[Locutisprime]

To which I will add, the stark irony of one turkey pardoning others.

I remember the eight years of Bush and everything that he did somehow was immediately transformed into a moment to hate by those who espoused their tolerance of all things except opposing viewpoints.

As it stands now, I have no hatred for this man. Only an ongoing sickening feeling of fear, worry and embarrassment every time he mounts a stage or is near a microphone or a camera.

Clownish? Without a doubt. America is suffering through the administration of a harlequin jester. A very dangerous clown to say the least.

[proof]

"We can't wait...to pardon these turkeys." Yet when it comes to jobs, even though he says, "we can't wait", when it comes to a Canadian pipeline or drilling oil shale in Ohio, he says the jobs will not disappear, they will only be "delayed".

Delayed by whom, Mr. President? I thought we couldn't wait?

[Iron Mike]

I was going to say it was ironic that we have some jive talking turkey pardoning a turkey! Someone beat me to it!

Also, was that canned laughter at his attempts to be funny!

I don't know what is worse, the president's lack of common sense or his staff's lack of common sense. It seems the White House thinks the Americans are idiots and we will believe the words Barack Obama reads from the teleprompter.

It seems the Barack Obama reelection campaign plans to make Barack and Michelle, people like us. Michelle shops at Target, Michelle and Jill go to a NASCAR race to say "Start Your Engines" and now the White House will have Country Music Night with COWBOY Barack mc'ing! I can't wait for it! I can see COWBOY Barack riding a shetland pony (similar to his bicycle picture except wearing a big ole cowboy hat instead of his girlish bicycle helmet).

[Patricia]

Wow - loads of food for thought here! Thanks so very much for this contrast of class vs. ?? - sorry, I still can't classify the body that took over our government with the express purpose of destroying it.