November 26, 2004

HAPPY FAKE TURKEY DAY!

"It's been a year since Bush's fake turkey run," notes Moderate Independent, still getting it wrong. AFP celebrates Fake Turkey Day's first anniversary by recycling the turkey myth, in much the same way as the old New York Sun used to run its "Yes, Virginia" editorial every Christmas:

It was one year ago that Bush slipped away from the ranch -- and the army of journalists deployed to nearby Waco -- to make a surprise, lightning visit to lift the spirits of US troops serving in Iraq.

Once in Baghdad, Bush helped serve troops and posed for cameras carrying a fake turkey, before returning immediately to Texas.

It’s interesting to revisit immediate media reaction to Turkeygate; Bush was said to be "haunted" and "embarrassed" over "credibility questions" arising from the alleged plastic poultry incident. One year on, the only haunted and embarrassed people facing credibility questions are these guys:

Mark Lawson, the BBC, Antonia Zerbisias, Alan Ramsey, Phillip Adams, Matt Taibbi, Mark Morford, A.L. Kennedy, Heather Wokusch, Ian McNamara, Gregg Easterbrook, Saul Landau, W. David Jenkins, David Lindorff, Babes against Bush, Naomi Klein, Howard Dean, Daniel Patrick Welch, Yamin Sakaria, Collins Ezeanyim, Marc Perkel, David Sirota, William Saletan, Jon Bon Jovi, Buddy Grizzard, Patricia Earnest, Kevin Dawson, Mark Engler, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, John Kerry, Colleen Redman, Linwood Barclay, Mark Lawson (again), Antonio Yegles, Nick Grimm, Mick Youther, Michael Organ, Suzanne Malveaux, Ben Tripp, Neil Mitchell, Richard L. Berke, Michael Moore, Evelyn Pringle, and Charles P. Pierce.

To all US readers: have a wonderful Fake Turkey Day, and take it easy with the polystyrene sauce and fibreglass beer.

(AFP link via Franco Aleman)

Posted by Tim Blair at November 26, 2004 02:16 AM
Comments

That fiberglass beer can give one a wicked hangover. I prefer polyester wine.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 26, 2004 at 02:21 AM

Paper vodka. Oh, wait, that's real.

Tim: I'll eat a second turkey just for you today, and may Allah grant us victory in our Jihad against the infidel bird.

Posted by: Aaron at November 26, 2004 at 02:28 AM

I'll be eating enough turkey for all of you! (Die, infidel bird! Die!)

And I'll be giving thanks for the blogosphere too, without which I would have little idea of what was really going on in the world. Today is definitely a day of thankfulness for Tim Blair and Andrea Harris, and the work they do in keeping us informed (and amused).

Posted by: Kimberly at November 26, 2004 at 04:04 AM

The turkey was real, the documents were fake.
Please review, then MoveOn

Posted by: Diggsc at November 26, 2004 at 04:20 AM

What is great about plastic turkey is the leftovers do not require refrigeration.

Posted by: perfectsense at November 26, 2004 at 04:51 AM

Don't forget the American Prospect!

“a president who could fly halfway around the world to pose for a photo op with a fake turkey”, Charles B. Pierce, 11/18/04

Posted by: Bruce Rheinstein at November 26, 2004 at 05:05 AM

You know, even Islamic fundamentalist, US despising, infidel-hater Osama Bin Ladin was smart enough to avoid the whole "fake" turkey nonsense. It's quite sad when Western moonbats are less informed than a guy who spends half his time shuttling between tiny villages and caves.

P.S: The fumes from the plastic turkey will be responsible for Gulf War Syndrome II

Posted by: Cpl. Menno at November 26, 2004 at 05:55 AM

I prefer polypropylene turkey with polystyrene stuffing and a delicate iso-methybutyl-ketone gravy. Mmmmmm, Dee-Lish!

I wonder whether any of the credibility-challenged "opinion makers" listed above bothered to notice that the troops in Iraq were absolutely elated with the President's visit. The man could hardly get a word in edgewise, for all the Whoo-Ahh!s from the troops. But I don't suppose the President was in Iraq to pay his respects to Babes Against Bush, was he?

Posted by: Butch at November 26, 2004 at 06:14 AM

Reuters reported that Bush telephoned troops in Iraq to wish them a happy Thanksgiving. Apropos of nothing, the article tacked on this anti-war propaganda at the end:

"The Pentagon (news - web sites)'s latest official count, provided on Wednesday, listed 1,230 U.S. military deaths in the Iraq war. At least 109 U.S. troops were killed in Iraq this month alone, about half of whom died in the Falluja offensive."

Posted by: Floyd McWilliams at November 26, 2004 at 08:50 AM

Happy Thanksgiving, Tim and Andrea!

Posted by: m at November 26, 2004 at 09:55 AM

If that's the best they can do, recycle last year's bogus story about a fake turkey, I think we have nothing to fear.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted by: Rebecca at November 26, 2004 at 10:13 AM

floyd mcwilliams — But he used a PLASTIC phone!

Posted by: richard mcenroe at November 26, 2004 at 12:09 PM

We have a LOT for which to be thankful—thankful for the bravery of our servicemen & servicewomen.

We can also be thankful that Tim & Andrea have helped so much in the common effort to bring the anti-war, post-humanitarian left to fall revealed as a congeries of plastic turkeys. The war is now—or later & at even greater & more grievous cost.

Posted by: ForNow at November 26, 2004 at 12:42 PM

Don't forget the uncooked plastic "turkey" who visited the Aussie troops again for a photo opportunity. 'anything he can do I can do better'
regards,numbat

Posted by: Robert Patterson at November 26, 2004 at 01:52 PM

Hi, folks! I'm posting this because I have no original ideas of my own! [Remark added and "nom de keyboard" altered by the Management.]

Thanks for the wild turkey and the passenger pigeons, destined to be shit out through wholesome American guts.

Thanks for a continent to despoil and poison.

Thanks for Indians to provide a modicum of challenge and danger.

Thanks for vast herds of bison to kill and skin leaving the carcasses to rot.

Thanks for bounties on wolves and coyotes.

Thanks for the American dream, To vulgarize and to falsify until the bare lies shine through.

Thanks for the KKK.

For nigger-killin' lawmen, feelin' their notches.

For decent church-goin' women, with their mean, pinched, bitter, evil faces.

Thanks for "Kill a Queer for Christ" stickers.

Thanks for laboratory AIDS.

Thanks for Prohibition and the war against drugs.

Thanks for a country where nobody's allowed to mind their own business.

Thanks for a nation of finks.

Yes, thanks for all the memories-- all right let's see your arms!

You always were a headache and you always were a bore.

Thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams.

- William S Burroughs.

Posted by: Too Drunk to Fuck at November 26, 2004 at 03:07 PM

And thanks for raving lefties, life wouldn't be as funny without them.

Posted by: Art Vandelay at November 26, 2004 at 03:15 PM

William B.: if you're going to be bitter, at least be original - I thought the appeasement crowd at least had creativity going for it - is that gone, too?

Happy Thanksgiving to the troops, here and at home.

Posted by: MPF at November 26, 2004 at 03:19 PM

Thanks for the KKK.

For nigger-killin' lawmen, feelin' their notches.

Yeah, thanks Democrats!

Posted by: Quentin George at November 26, 2004 at 03:21 PM

mmm...fiberglass beer...hic!

I'm thankful for, among many other things, this site. It brings me peace of mind.

Thanks for bounties on wolves and coyotes.

Yeah, but its still crawling with wolves and coyotes here.

Thanks for the KKK.

Well the Democrat party does have its share of mistakes, just ask Democratic Senator Byrd, Klansman extraordinaire, or as Tip O'Neil (former U.S. House Speaker) used to call him, "Sheets."

This is my second favorite holiday, next to Independence Day, to good to be troubled by moon-bats. Ahhh...

Posted by: Thomas at November 26, 2004 at 03:37 PM

And oh yeah...

Thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams.

Get over yourself William.

Ya big drama Queen.

Posted by: Thomas at November 26, 2004 at 04:18 PM

William S Burroughs...

Now you've summarised your necrophiliac and coprophiliac obsessions into one single name. You clever little poo!

Posted by: underscore at November 26, 2004 at 06:22 PM

Billy Boy,
Better run before the Bu$Hitler gestapo track you down and throw you into Gitmo. Even now, as we speak, the DHS orbital mind control laser satalites have you locked in and located.

Posted by: Mr. Blue at November 26, 2004 at 06:37 PM

Thanks for "Kill a Queer for Christ" stickers

Did you know that "90% of all violence acts towards homosexuals are done by other homosexuals"?

Posted by: Janice at November 26, 2004 at 06:43 PM

Peter Singer judges any number of abhorrent acts as being "moral". Obviously he's using the word in an entirely idiosyncratic manner and, hence, communication fails.

Apparently he's a utilitarian so his pronouncements reveal the arrogance of a mere human being who considers himself capable of judging what will bring the greatest "good" to the greatest number. He thinks he's covered himself by mentioning consent but he has neglected the "informed" part without which there can be no real consent. Who is the person who is so knowledgeable and so wise that He can accurately judge what will result in good and what will not? I believe His name is YHWH.

Which brings me to this: "[Singer] acknowledges that he was 'impressed early on with my grandmother's argument: How could there be a God who would let the Holocaust happen?'" Sounds to me as though Singer's life work has been an exercise in refusal to engage seriously, like an adult should, with this question. His failure has made him inhuman - charming perhaps, but still inhuman.

Posted by: Janice at November 26, 2004 at 07:32 PM

I've slightly altered Mr. Oooh Let's "Shock" Those Right Wingers By Quoting Scary Skeleton-American William S. Burroughs' contribution to this discussion. Next time, loser, have the balls to use your real name and email address when you quote the tired saws of pathetic drug addicts. If you have no balls, borrow some. You borrow your ideas, after all.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 26, 2004 at 11:39 PM

Andrea — I was shooting a short film in the Hotel Chelsea once in the 70's when Burroughs came staggering out of his room and started hitting on our cameraman. The old fart was so wasted the cameraman didn't even realize he was making a pass...

Posted by: richard mcenroe at November 27, 2004 at 05:53 AM

William Tell impersonations, anyone...

Posted by: mojo at November 27, 2004 at 10:54 AM

What I find ridiculous about the "plastic turkey" allegation is that nobody is claiming that President Bush attempted to carve or serve or eat the allegedly plastic turkey -- which would at least be a mistake. All he did was hold it up for display -- so if it had been plastic, that would have been a perfectly appropriate thing to do.

Posted by: Joshua at November 27, 2004 at 11:56 AM

Actually, what's really stupid about the whole thing is that the claim runs like this: "Dubya came to Iraq carrying a plastic turkey!" I rather doubt he carried anything to Iraq. Except maybe his wallet, some pocket lint, a bit of stray change, maybe the extra key to the Oval Office desk drawer...

It was just a stupid theme, and did nothing but display that all the Bush detractors had to offer were tired old clichés. I have yet to see anything new, interesting, or even useful from any of them.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 27, 2004 at 02:15 PM

What the narcissistic fools in the lefty press seem unable to grasp is that Bush didn't travel to Iraq to visit them; he went to visit the troops. I don't think the troops cared one whit about the stinkin' turkey, even if it had been a fake.

Posted by: Butch at November 28, 2004 at 04:31 AM

Finally got around to reading yesterdays newspaper today. On the front page of the local section was a picture of a soldier carrying a platter holding a REAL, whole turkey to the line in the chow hall. It is a tradition in chow halls to display whole (REAL!) turkeys.

Posted by: Kelly at November 28, 2004 at 05:52 AM

Kelley's right about display turkeys. Virtually everyone here must know that the turkey presentation platter is a NORMAL ARMY MESS TRADITION at Thanksgiving, along with other decorations such as ice sculptures (not a good idea for a field tent in Iraq, I suppose. What if Bush had picked up an ice swan platter...?)

The presentation turkey is a real bird cooked up and garnished to look pretty throughout dinner, because the turkeys on the serving line get carved and cannibalized as the meal progresses. The press themselves are real turkeys who show show that they know NOTHING about the military every time they file a story. Tim has seared and served them up quite nicely in the above list.

Posted by: just exercising some futility at November 28, 2004 at 10:29 AM