# Bush to Baghdad troops: "Here's a nice turkey for you to look at." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 4, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979 "2003-12-04T17:53:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/1 "2003-12-04T17:53:25Z")
[But no, you can’t have any of it!](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33090-2003Dec3.html) There isn’t any debate here, so I’m not posting in GD. There isn’t even a rant, because I can’t possibly figure out what to say. I’m just kinda sitting here, laughing my ass off in stupefied amazement. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/2 "2003-12-04T17:57:23Z")
> [@](#): > > “This was effective, because it captured something about the president that people know is true, that he really cares about the soldiers and gets emotional when he sees them,” Mary Matalin, a former administration official, said about the trip to Baghdad. “You have to figure out how to capture the Bush we know, even if it doesn’t come through in a speech situation or a press conference. He regularly rejects anything that is not him.” “If the illusion is real, let it be on your side…” – The Cars ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/3 "2003-12-04T18:01:33Z")
IMO, the accompanying photo should have been captioned, “Roast turkey being held by jive turkey.” ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/4 "2003-12-04T18:09:40Z")
And it should be viewed side by side with [this one](http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/graphics/bush_turkey.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/5 "2003-12-04T18:20:08Z")
I can’t believe they wrote a news story about this. In the Post, no less. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/6 "2003-12-04T18:29:57Z")
When his turkey is done, and his goose is cooked, we will have good reason to give thanks. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/7 "2003-12-04T18:31:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Bush’s standing rose in a poll conducted immediately after the trip. Administration officials said the presidential stop provided a morale boost that troops in Iraq are still talking about, and helped reassure Iraqis about U.S. intentions. I don’t get it. Maybe I’m just being overly cynical in this case, but I don’t quite understand why morale went up (if indeed it did)\*. Does the average soldier blindly think that the simple act of his president showing up is a Good Thing? Don’t they at least wonder if they’re being used for political purposes? I wonder what the average soldier actually thinks. \*Although I have no doubt that whatever they’re thinking, they’re still “talking about” it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/8 "2003-12-04T18:43:56Z")
When your superior officer advises you that the Commander in Chief has informed _him_ that your morale has improved, it has. If you disagree, you are entirely at liberty to discuss the matter with the chaplain. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/9 "2003-12-04T18:54:23Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*I don’t get it. Maybe I’m just being overly cynical in this case, but I don’t quite understand why morale went up (if indeed it did)_. Does the average soldier blindly think that the simple act of his president showing up is a Good Thing? Don’t they at least wonder if they’re being used for political purposes? > > I wonder what the average soldier actually thinks. > \*Although I have no doubt that whatever they’re thinking, they’re still “talking about” it. \*\* I’m with you, this makes no sense to me either. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/10 "2003-12-04T19:00:48Z")
From your article: “Officials said they did not know the turkey would be there or that Bush would pick it up. A contractor had roasted and primped the turkey to adorn the buffet line, while the 600 soldiers were served from cafeteria-style steam trays, the officials said. They said the bird was not placed there in anticipation of Bush’s stealthy visit, and military sources said a trophy turkey is a standard feature of holiday chow lines.” Somebody enlighten me about just what’s so terrible here. These are politicians acting like politicians acting just like the other side would give the same opportunity. This is a story? **Attryant** … hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/11 "2003-12-04T19:09:54Z")
Yeah, I don’t see what the big deal is either, and I’m no Bush lover. The soldiers ate from steam trays, instead of being hand-served by Bush? Is that the outrage here? After Bush causing them to die over lies, this is like saying you don’t like the color of his socks. ---
**Author:** ![wakimika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@wakimika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wakimika)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/12 "2003-12-04T19:10:50Z")
It’s time for an official investigation into P.U.M.A. (Props Unexpectedly, Magically Appearing) ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/13 "2003-12-04T19:15:51Z")
**Dantheman** , I’m sure that some of the troops suspect that they’re being used for political purposes, but when their top boss takes the risk to come see them it makes them feel that he actually does care about them and they’re not forgotten back home. Even if they still feel that they’re being used after that at least a visit from the Prez could make them feel that they’re not complete tools. Not saying it’s logical, just human. As for the whole turkey shenanigans: > [@](#): > > A contractor had roasted and primped the turkey to adorn the buffet line, while the 600 soldiers were served from cafeteria-style steam trays, the officials said. They said the bird was not placed there in anticipation of Bush’s stealthy visit, and military sources said a trophy turkey is a standard feature of holiday chow lines. The turkey was real and the article gives no evidence that Bush was unaware that it wasn’t going to be served. Furthermore, even if Bush was unaware that the turkey was going to be served his grabbing it to make a photo op is completely in line with media savvy politicians the world over. Bush was in Iraq to have Thanksgiving with US troops, and that picture sums it up far better than the words do, and give more of spin that’s positive to the White House than just about any article would ever do. It was a prop, and it’s not as if the troops suddenly thought they were going to get a cut of it (all some-odd thousand of them? Yeah, right). You don’t see people getting upset about the President using binoculars to look over the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea, do you? What the hell is gonna see that the military doesn’t? It’s a fucking prop for a photo op. **RT** , we’ve met and you know I like you personally, think you’re a salt-of-the-Earth guy, but in the thread about the supposed sighting of AF1 you said: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by RTFirefly_ > **Nonetheless, I agree with the basic point that it’s silly to go after Bush over penny-ante stuff like this, when he’s given us so many nontrivial targets.** So what was the point of this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/14 "2003-12-04T19:21:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Furthermore, even if Bush was _unaware_ that the turkey _was_ going to be served Oops. Change that unaware to aware and that was to wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/15 "2003-12-04T19:27:41Z")
I agree it’s no big deal – it’s just kind of funny, in a “doesn’t this symbolize something?” way. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/16 "2003-12-04T19:30:12Z")
So what happened to the turkey? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/17 "2003-12-04T19:47:15Z")
For national security reasons the turkey was moved to a non-disclosed location. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/18 "2003-12-04T19:50:02Z")
It was pardoned. 😉 Can’t remember where I heard it, but someone once pointed out that Bush has pardoned more turkeys from executions than humans… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/19 "2003-12-04T20:01:09Z")
See, that’s what happens when you grow up to be good little turkeys and don’t murder anyone. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979/20 "2003-12-04T20:01:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asylum \* > \*\ ***Dantheman** , I’m sure that some of the troops suspect that they’re being used for political purposes, but when their top boss takes the risk to come see them it makes them feel that he actually does care about them and they’re not forgotten back home. Even if they still feel that they’re being used after that at least a visit from the Prez could make them feel that they’re not complete tools. Not saying it’s logical, just human. \*\* I’m not sure I completely buy that. A visit from the president is going to make them feel that they’re not complete tools? I think it could have the opposite effect, that they are indeed tools. Are there any current or former soldiers here now who have seen combat action and can regale us with firsthand anecdotes about this? That is, have any of you served overseas during a time of conflict and been visited by your CINC? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-to-baghdad-troops-heres-a-nice-turkey-for-you-to-look-at/216979.md?page=2)