Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/thanksgiving/2006/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.whitehouse.gov/holi day/thanksgiving/2006/index.html</a> Ben and Franklin Plymouth and Rock Washington and Lincoln Corn and Copia Flyer and Fryer
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^Oops, forgot to say, you get to vote for one of the 5 set of names (There is the one turkey, and an alternate).
Originally Posted By wonderingalice I may be alone in this opinion, but I think this is about as distasteful as cutting down a beautiful 150-year-old tree so the President (any President) can have a humongous Christmas display on his front lawn for a month. Can't we just pardon the turkey(s) and let them live out their days WITHOUT having to be drugged and shoved into an airliner and then trucked to Disneyland?
Originally Posted By netenyahoo They aren't wild turkeys. They have been in small confines all their lives. Turkeys are pretty dumb animals anyhow, so they don't know any better.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 <<<Presidents traditionally have granted the National Thanksgiving Turkey a "pardon." After the presentation, the National Turkey and its alternate will be taken to Disneyland Resort and Theme Park in Anaheim, California to be a part of the holiday display and where they will stay the remainder of their natural lives. Both the turkeys will serve as honorary Grand Marshals for Disneyland’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade>>>> <a href="http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/petturkey.htm" target="_blank">http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pe tturkey.htm</a> So where does DL keep these turkeys for 2+ more years?
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I know they display the turkeys that have been pardoned that particular year but then what?
Originally Posted By wonderingalice I know they're not wild turkeys and I know turkeys aren't the brightest bulbs in the box... However, why freak them out by putting them on an airplane and then public display with thousands of excited kids? Let the poor birds live quietly, in peace. Good question, Lisa...
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^The Turkeys have a pen in front of the Big Thunder Ranch. Neither Marshmellow or Yam (the first turkeys to head to Disneyland after the Presidential Pardon) didn't last a year, one died about 6 months after arriving, the other closer to 9 months.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice That's what I was thinking, DB, but I couldn't remember the details. It's a bad idea to begin with... Knowing how soon they died makes it a terrible idea. I can't believe they're doing it again.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>I know they display the turkeys that have been pardoned that particular year but then what?<< As noted, both Marshmallow and Yam lived to a ripe old age for a domesticated turkey. They were given dignified burial services, according to my friends who work at the actual ranch outside the berm. The Presidential turkeys will be coming to Disneyland for the next couple of years, then Walt Disney World gets them. I doubt the turkeys really care where they are, as long as there's food and no one is marinating them.
Originally Posted By debtee <I may be alone in this opinion, but I think this is about as distasteful as cutting down a beautiful 150-year-old tree so the President (any President) can have a humongous Christmas display on his front lawn for a month.> Ohhh no, they DON'T really do this do they wonderingalice? If so, I'm with you it's just wrong, the poor tree!
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Yes, debtee, they do... It's been a 'tradition' forever. I have NO idea why they haven't gone out and purchased a really nice artificial tree for it. Hey Doug... I wouldn't have such a problem with the Disneyland thing if they didn't have to transport them there. Maybe I'm being silly... But I think the stress of the it - especially the airport/airliner portion - can't be a good thing for the poor birds. And the manic kids at Disneyland don't exactly make a delightful surrounding for them.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Considering the short, nasty, brutish existence most food animals endure today, these turkeys are quite lucky birds. And their enclosure in Disneyland has a well protected envelope. My friends at the Big Thunder Ranch were quite devoted to Marshmallow and Yam. They are looking forward to welcoming this year's gobblers.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice ^^Okay then... Can we at least have Bush bring 'em out in a nice, quiet limo? ;-)
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 I picked Plymouth and Rock and my son chose Corn and Copia. I hope one of our choices is picked so we can tell everyone at DL we named them.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think they should send the turkeys home with Cheney. That should keep the turkeys perfectly safe (although Cheney's Thanksgiving guests could be in BIG TROUBLE!). ;-)
