Posted on 11/26/2008 5:10:40 PM PST by silent_jonny
Today President Bush took part in the 61st National Thanksgiving Turkey Ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. (Transcript)
This is my final Thanksgiving as the President. Over the past eight years, I have been given many reasons to be thankful. I'm thankful to our men and women in uniform and I am incredibly proud to have been their Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.) I am thankful for the armies of compassion volunteers who feed the hungry and shelter the poor. I am thankful for the teachers and nurses and pastors police officers and firefighters, and others who serve their neighbors and better their communities.I'm thankful for the wonderful and supporting family that I have been blessed with. I'm grateful to Laura for her love. I'm grateful for two Thanksgiving miracles who were blessed -- who we were blessed with 27 years ago: Barbara and Jenna. I'm thankful for the fact that my mother is doing well. (Applause.) And this year we're looking forward to having another place at our Thanksgiving table with a son-in-law, and I'm thankful for Henry.
President & Mrs. Bush and their daughter Barbara departed the White House this afternoon for Camp David, where they will stay this Thanksgiving weekend.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a news conference at the State Department in Washington.
Viewers will go where only the most elite insiders from the highest levels of the US government are allowed--on board Air Force One. Discover what makes this uniquely modified Boeing 747 faster, more secure, more comfortable and more capable than any other comparable plane. Take a 20,000-mile voyage through the heart of Africa and join the crew and privileged passengers on one of Air Force One's most challenging missions. 60 min.
The White House: It's a museum where tourists come to see our country's history, a place of business where some of the greatest decisions of democracy have been made and, to the families of 41 presidents, it has also been a home. The White House is perhaps the most photographed location in the United States but those images rarely get beyond the exterior.Now, President and Mrs. Bush invite viewers to join them on the first in-depth televised tour of this grand residence since Jacqueline Kennedy invited cameras inside in 1962. President and Mrs. Bush share their own personal insights into what it has been like to live in this historic house.
Special guests, the brothers Leslie and Leigh Keno, well known from television's Antiques Roadshow, join Mrs. Bush to offer their engaging insights to the journey. All new. 90 min.
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island 
Quote of the Day:
President Bush: This is an election year, so it is fitting that the names of these two birds were chosen through the democratic process. After a long, drawn out election season, when the people finally spoke, the name of the ticket sent here to the White House was Pumpkin and Pecan. (Laughter and applause.) Pumpkin is right there. (Laughter.) Pecan is in an undisclosed location. (Laughter.)
Photo of the Day:
President George W. Bush gathers with children and National Turkey Federation officials as he pardons "Pumpkin", the 2008 Thanksgiving turkey, during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington November 26, 2008.
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Hello!
Hi!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
:)
You won!
The silly clapping turkey has me cracking up.
Hi! Happy Thanksgiving :)
Cute name for the pardoned turkey!
& Cute pic too!
LOL!!
Pumpkin, the 2008 national Thanksgiving turkey, is pictured before being pardoned by U.S. President George W. Bush during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, November 26, 2008.
"Pumpkin", the National Thanksgiving Turkey, is surrounded by the media moments before U.S. President George W. Bush pardons him in the Rose Garden of the White House, November 26, 2008. Pumpkin will travel to Disneyland later today to participate in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in California.
Hi! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone at Freerepublic! Have a great weekend!
President George W. Bush speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, during a ceremony to pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey, Pumpkin.
President Bush: Thank you, all. Please be seated. Welcome to the Rose Garden for the pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey.This is a tradition that dates back to the presidency of Harry Truman. Just to be safe, I will be pardoning a second bird -- (laughter) -- in the unlikely event the main act chickens out. (Laughter.) Turkeys are not only the ones on edge this morning -- you see, it turns out the Rose Garden is Barney's turf. (Laughter.) So the press corps is a little nervous, as well. (Laughter.)
Hi and thanks for the ping. I am watching Air Force One as I type. I am also recording it
President Bush: This is an election year, so it is fitting that the names of these two birds were chosen through the democratic process. After a long, drawn out election season, when the people finally spoke, the name of the ticket sent here to the White House was Pumpkin and Pecan. (Laughter and applause.) Pumpkin is right there. (Laughter.) Pecan is in an undisclosed location. (Laughter.)Pumpkin and Pecan have an exciting trip ahead of them: Later today, they will fly to Disneyland aboard "Turkey One." (Laughter.) Pumpkin will be the honorary Grand Marshal of Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Together these birds will gobble the rest of their days in "The Happiest Place on Earth." I just hope they stay humble there. (Laughter.)
Yea!
I love trying for T’s, especially on Your Dose Day’s!!
This makes #11!!!!!!!!!!!
OH! Speaking of Cuteness!! T Y!
LOL!
:)
I’m posing my gif gift find after “all clear.”
President Bush: This is my final Thanksgiving as the President. Over the past eight years, I have been given many reasons to be thankful. I'm thankful to our men and women in uniform and I am incredibly proud to have been their Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.) I am thankful for the armies of compassion volunteers who feed the hungry and shelter the poor. I am thankful for the teachers and nurses and pastors police officers and firefighters, and others who serve their neighbors and better their communities.I'm thankful for the wonderful and supporting family that I have been blessed with. I'm grateful to Laura for her love. I'm grateful for two Thanksgiving miracles who were blessed -- who we were blessed with 27 years ago: Barbara and Jenna. I'm thankful for the fact that my mother is doing well. (Applause.) And this year we're looking forward to having another place at our Thanksgiving table with a son-in-law, and I'm thankful for Henry.
Most of all, I thank the American people for the tremendous privilege of serving as the President. In recent weeks, I've talked a lot about sprinting to the finish. Yet I've assured these turkeys they will not be trotting to their finish. (Laughter.) That's because in keeping with a longstanding tradition, Pumpkin and Pecan are hereby granted a full and unconditional -- unconditional presidential pardon.
I wish all Americans a happy Thanksgiving, and may God bless you. (Applause.)
Yup! Thanks!
I know,lol!
Me too!
:)
Great & Touching speech by Pres. B.!
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