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Friday, November 21, 2008

"You Need a Little Bit of Levity In This Job"

Posted by on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 8:51 AM

Sarah Palin pardoned a turkey for Thanksgiving up in Alaska—do governors do that? I thought only presidents did that—and then she held one of her mythical press conferences. The problem is that she decided to have a press conference right in front of some poor guy who has to slaughter turkeys in the background of the shot. You can totally see the guy with the turkey in the killing cone, wondering if he should go on with his job, and ultimately figuring she's never gonna stop talking. I love the way he keeps looking at Palin and the camera, and the way he nods when she says she's happy to promote local business.

 

Comments (57) RSS

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1
Too bad the blood didn't squirt her in the eye
Posted by JJ on November 21, 2008 at 8:57 AM
2
When I hear her speak I wonder . . . did no one ever teach her what a period was? And that one could, in fact, end sentences?
Posted by Levislade on November 21, 2008 at 8:57 AM
3
"Killing cone"? Why use a new-fangled contraption like that when two nails on a stump and a hatchet will do?
Posted by Ben on November 21, 2008 at 9:00 AM
4
Oh my...that's another Palin classic video. Not sure I'm going to be able to eat turkey next Thursday...but, still, that was priceless.

She's just the gift that keeps on giving...
Posted by Timothy on November 21, 2008 at 9:02 AM
5
@2-agreed. Please, just SHUT UP!
Posted by tired... on November 21, 2008 at 9:02 AM
6
Yah, "Killing cone"? I thought it was a chipper. Like in Fargo, and I too was expecting a loud grinding noise accompanied by much spraying of blood.
That would have been cooler. Way cooler.
Posted by Dr_Awesome on November 21, 2008 at 9:03 AM
7
Americablog has the MSNBC captions that ran with this story. Awesome. What a buffoon. Also.
Posted by Balt-O-Matt on November 21, 2008 at 9:06 AM
8
What goes on in this "killing cone"? Are the turkey's drowned? decapitated? MSNBC blurred out the "gore", but when I watched an uncensored version, I couldn't really tell what was going on. Anyway, great example of typical Palin. You could tell she hated pardoning even one turkey.
Posted by spencer on November 21, 2008 at 9:06 AM
9
Now that I no longer have to go to sleep nights wondering if that woman will be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, I feel like I too have been issued a pardon.
Posted by flamingbanjo on November 21, 2008 at 9:07 AM
10
She began by saying she traveled the country and came away with an appreciation for those Americans who share her values. Full stop.

Right there is why she will lead the Republican party to smaller and smaller things, becoming a regional third party that plays spoiler in some local and state level races.

Plus awesome moments like this. Thank you Sarah Palin. Thank you.
Posted by elenchos on November 21, 2008 at 9:07 AM
11
@3:

Seriously, and really you don't even need the nails, which are just more of a convenience than anything else. Although I suppose being able to bleed them that way is a little less messy than tossing decapitated turkeys neck-first into a hole in the ground, like we used to do.
Posted by COMTE on November 21, 2008 at 9:07 AM
12
she is so lame.

but that is totally classic, the death throes of the turkey were perfectly timed, to the point where i'm starting to think sarah palin might be the greatest ambush comic of all time. like she's the female sasha baron cohen and we've all been had.
Posted by douglas on November 21, 2008 at 9:09 AM
13
Killing Cone is the new name of my pretend band.

I was also disappointed in the relative lack of blood and struggling.
Posted by Banna on November 21, 2008 at 9:10 AM
14
She's magnificent, like something out of Sinclair Lewis. Maybe a female Elmer Gantry.
Posted by it'smark mitchell on November 21, 2008 at 9:10 AM
15
Nice to see that she returned the burberry scarf she bought with RNC money...
Posted by UC on November 21, 2008 at 9:12 AM
16
Please run in 2012, Sarah Palin.
Posted by DOUG. on November 21, 2008 at 9:13 AM
17
Also, when she says "My son's Striker Brigade," I thought she said "My son, Striker Brigade," and I thought, "Oh, shit, she had another kid?"
Posted by Paul Constant on November 21, 2008 at 9:14 AM
18
Could her voice be any more annoying?
Posted by SeattleBrad on November 21, 2008 at 9:17 AM
19
geek love.
Posted by reverend dr dj riz on November 21, 2008 at 9:22 AM
20
@9 you just slit their throat.
Posted by mickey in AR on November 21, 2008 at 9:24 AM
21
Sorry it was for 8
Posted by mickey in AR on November 21, 2008 at 9:25 AM
22
Oh my. I need to collect myself here, I'm dying. That guy in the background.... I just loved how he kept looking at her and the camera. Could they have framed that shot any better? You know the cameraman did that on purpose.
Posted by Julie in Chicago on November 21, 2008 at 9:26 AM
23
At first I thought she was totally oblivious about what was going on behind her, but now I think she knew. Could she really have not known? And none of her people noticed?
Posted by Patti on November 21, 2008 at 9:28 AM
24
For a second, I thought that she said her son's name was Striker Brigade.
Posted by Tom on November 21, 2008 at 9:32 AM
25
at 1:15 or so... "are you concerned about any plans being on the chopping block?" as another poor turkey gets it's head stuck in the Cone of Doom.

Awesome.
Posted by Arboreality on November 21, 2008 at 9:36 AM
26
Personally I loved how she referred to herself as, "... a friend to all creatures great and small" when reading the pardon. I know of a moose or two who would beg to differ.
Posted by hilarious on November 21, 2008 at 9:58 AM
27
Did she pick up that $300 Burberry scarf at her favorite Wasilla consigment store, or did it mysteriously go missing from the RNC clothes and just now re-appear?
Posted by Jessica on November 21, 2008 at 9:58 AM
28
she needs to SHUT THE FUCK UP.
Posted by meg on November 21, 2008 at 10:02 AM
29
I see she's still toting around her "elitist" grande mochas.
Posted by Mahtli69 on November 21, 2008 at 10:07 AM
30
can't stand Palin, but gotta say that the only people who should have reason to be upset are vegetarians. for meat eaters - our turkey comes from somewhere, and the killing part of that small business is the most necessary part - bird's gotta be dead for us to to eat it.
shooting wolves from helicopters is one thing, but this makes us look like sissy city folk to diss it.
Posted by onion on November 21, 2008 at 10:11 AM
31
Why do I keep hearing the Red Queen in Alice In Wonderland, screaming "Off with his head!"?
Posted by Andy Niable on November 21, 2008 at 10:14 AM
32
@3 - Because you don't have to hold the turkey still if it's in a cone.

I used to raise my own birds for eating, but I have to admit, we took them to someone else to kill and prep. I recognize the necessity, but I don't really want to do it myself.
Posted by wench on November 21, 2008 at 10:21 AM
33
@29 That "elitist" grande mocha is her way of supporting the local Wasilla small business called Starbucks. (that totally looks like a SB Holiday cup)
Posted by Jeremy from Seattle on November 21, 2008 at 10:24 AM
34
@30 - This isn't really about being upset that a turkey was being killed. It's about the fact that it's freakin' hilarious that it was being done right behind Palin as she was doing an interview. After pardoning a turkey. And the guy doing the killing totally has no idea what to do when he's on camera. I think I'm going to watch it again...
Posted by Julie in Chicago on November 21, 2008 at 10:26 AM
35
If, instead of a turkey, you were to picture John McCain with his feet sticking out of that cone, you'd pretty much have the perfect visual analogue of the McCain/Palin campaign.
Posted by The Artist Formerly Known As Sigourney Beaver on November 21, 2008 at 10:29 AM
36
I'm going to giggle periodically all through Thanksgiving dinner now, remembering this video.

Thanks Sarah!
Posted by Reverse Polarity on November 21, 2008 at 10:32 AM
37
I heard she was completely aware of what was going on behind her but she didn't think it was a big deal because, duh, this is where your food comes from people.
And she's right, but that doesn't mean she's not gonna get criticized like hell for it.
Posted by Urgutha Forka on November 21, 2008 at 10:45 AM
38
My god, I couldn't watch 15 seconds of that without having to hit the mute button. She is so awful, yet so grand at the same time.
Posted by laterite on November 21, 2008 at 10:50 AM
39
Okay, what I REALLY want to know is - how the HELL did comment #9 above end up AFTER comment #10?
Posted by COMTE on November 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM
40
MSNBC's coverage is even better than the raw video. the rotating breaking news captions are AMAZING.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8DTSPzU0…

i can't stop watching it.

Posted by brandon on November 21, 2008 at 10:54 AM
41
@27 - I zeroed in on that scarf too. Burberry + Carhart - she's going for the Bears
Posted by jackseattle on November 21, 2008 at 11:11 AM
42
I still can not believe this is for realz, like, WHY is she actin' all Presidential-like, did she think this would convince us that she really is a serious contender for 2012? LOOK, she can pardon a turkey! and then talk while other turkeys are being slaughtered! and she didn't blink!!

Next up is her recipe for turkey stuffed with moose on Martha.
Posted by mama4obama on November 21, 2008 at 11:18 AM
43
Palin is the gift that keeps on giving, it's true. I guess we should all be "thankful" for her! HAHAHA!


I'm sorry. :-(

Posted by Matt Fuckin' Hickey (is in New Orleans) on November 21, 2008 at 11:26 AM
44
44 comments, and no angry Vege-Nazis. Hooray for SLOG!
Posted by uncle baggy on November 21, 2008 at 11:39 AM
45
Turkeys, other than those elected to office, are not native to Alaska, fwiw.
Posted by Will in Seattle on November 21, 2008 at 11:43 AM
46
It was disappointing that she didn't bite the heads off a few of those turkeys.
Posted by eliza on November 21, 2008 at 11:52 AM
47
She IS a living SNL skit. Amazingly clueless or stunningly narcissistic.

That being said, I'd take that scary old turkey rancher for a backup in a bar fight. Nothing much is gonna shake him up. Not after killing turkeys all day in the Cone of Death.
Posted by Bob on November 21, 2008 at 12:29 PM
48
Well somebody had to go there.

Being opposed to killing animals does not make you a sissy. In fact, it takes real courage to stand up for animals in the face of the complacent self-indulgence of meat eaters.

Nobody in the modern world hunts in a way that takes a shred of courage. Even not hunting from a helicopter, no animal stands a chance against a high powered rifle, and you'd have to be a drunk or a spaz to miss with one of those things. No courage, and no skill. Nothing but a desperately pathetic need to show off and prove yourself in the face of overpowering insecurity.

And bragging about hunting or meat eating to gain political points? Well that would be John Kerry in his embarrassing 2004 hunting trip cum campaign stunt. That was the height of political cowardice.

So there.

(Cue "Meat is tasty!" in 3... 2... 1... )
Posted by elenchos on November 21, 2008 at 12:33 PM
49
Yes, meat comes from dead animals. And babies come from fucking. She seems to like babies, so why doesn't she do a press conference in front of a man and a woman (legally married, of course) getting it on?
Posted by cattywampus on November 21, 2008 at 12:34 PM
50
Joe the Turkey Killer! I wish they had interviewed him instead.
Posted by snakes on November 21, 2008 at 12:53 PM
51
35 FTW!


Posted by merry on November 21, 2008 at 1:43 PM
52
"Being opposed to killing animals does not make you a sissy. In fact, it takes real courage to stand up for animals in the face of the complacent self-indulgence of meat eaters."

@48 - hey did you get what I meant?
I suggested that MEAT EATERS who are "opposed" to killing are sissies; not the vegetarians. I'm all for vegetarians being opposed to killing. Being against killing is a great reason for going veg.

It's just not right for meat-eaters to be squeamish.

And yah, it would be cool if we had to all go out and hunt our Tday turkey personally. However, the wild turkey would pretty quickly go extinct if we did that. There are wild turkey hunters out there now, but it's got to remain a smallish (relative to our total population) group.
We gotta farm 'em. Captive conditions could be better though.
Posted by onion on November 21, 2008 at 2:02 PM
53
Onion? Who are you? Why do you think I was taking notice of what you said?

I think it is right for meat eaters to be squeamish. It's their conscience telling them to reflect on what they're doing. Even the cruelest person has some part of them that recoils from the cruelty.
Posted by elenchos on November 21, 2008 at 2:13 PM
54
LOL @ 50
Posted by Jebber on November 21, 2008 at 2:25 PM
55
Elenchos -
bc you picked up on the word "sissy." I didn't think anyone else had used that word in this thread. see my first post. And your comments seemed to debate mine.
I guess it was a coincidence then.
Posted by onion on November 21, 2008 at 2:26 PM
56
Well I need to be mean to you for quite some time before I'll consider being nice to you, Onion. Just relax and enjoy it.
Posted by elenchos on November 21, 2008 at 2:30 PM
57
Ugh. that is just horrible that the turkey had to be in the death position (and thereby surely terrified) for an extended period of time just because some whacko was being interviewed.
Posted by call me a snot on November 23, 2008 at 7:59 PM

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