He’s had his turn in the White House, made all the right noises, and now, improving a bit, he’s heading into a quiet retirement.
Unfortunately for the millions of voters who tell pollsters that they want him to make way for someone younger, it’s not Joe Biden, but a turkey named Liberty who is about to lift the votes. feet.
The US president spent part of his 81st birthday on Monday observing the White House tradition of pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys. Liberty received executive clemency along with another gobbler named Bell.
After their moment in the sun, Liberty and Bell will be returned to their home state to be cared for by the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences. Meanwhile, Biden will continue to battle two intractable wars, border unrest and a bitterly divided nation.
While past presidents took this opportunity to tell their father jokes, Biden made jokes to his grandfather. His seven-minute remarks on the South Lawn of the White House on a chilly Monday were light on the puns favored by Barack Obama that made his daughters cringe, or the funny, not funny, gags about pardons being granted by Donald Trump which made the nation cringe. But they made plenty of self-deprecating references to Biden’s age, enough to draw groans from any campaign aides who still believe the topic can be dodged.
The president thanked the president of the National Turkey Federation and said that when he met him and his family, they sang “Happy Birthday.” America’s first octogenarian president joked, “I just want you to know that it’s hard being 60.” Difficult. »
He laughs at his own joke.
The tradition dates back to 1947, when the federation, which represents turkey breeders and producers, first presented a national Thanksgiving turkey to President Harry Truman. Biden joked: “It’s the 76th anniversary of this event. I want you to know that I wasn’t there (for) the first one; I was too young to catch up.
He laughs again at his own joke, then, a little worried, he laughs again. It wasn’t a vintage comedy.
The president said he was used to chickens in Delaware. Referencing the origin of their names from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, he suggested that the 20-week-old, 42-pound birds had a new appreciation for the words “Let Freedom Ring.” As for the turkeys’ home in Minnesota, he said he would like to see them play ice hockey.
Things really got ugly when Biden said the turkeys beat odds and tough competition to reach the White House, comparing the feat to getting tickets to Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour or the Eras Taylor Swift’s turn, but calling the latter Britney, probably confusing Swift with Britney Spears.
“They had to work hard to be patient and ready to travel over a thousand kilometers. You could say it’s even harder than getting a ticket for the Renaissance tour or – or the Britney tour. She’s here… it’s pretty hot in Brazil at the moment.
In short, this is a president who flies into war zones but failed the Swiftie test.
There was a mystified silence from Biden’s audience, including a group of schoolchildren, who might have thought Grandpa would walk away. The internet may have collapsed as Republican operatives and right-wing media types rushed to release the clip. Things could only have gotten worse if the president’s biting German shepherd, Commander, had shown up with a taste for turkey.
One of the gobblers was then brought to a podium decorated with pumpkins and fall colors. “That’s a big bird, man, I’m impressed,” Biden observed, raising his right hand and declaring, “I hereby forgive Liberty and Bell!” All right. Congratulations, birds.
There were cheers from a crowd of a few hundred people, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his family. Biden concluded “on a serious note” about Thanksgiving — “we have so much to be thankful for as a nation” — and went to greet schoolchildren while a band played joyful, festive tunes. When a reporter asked him if a hostage deal was near in Israel, he replied, “I believe so” and crossed his fingers.
A few minutes later, he half-trotted and went back inside, returning to a world of worries and likely election revenge with Trump. No one seemed to have thought to bring him a birthday cake. Perhaps they feared it would look bad for Biden in these corners of the media where 81 candles is an impeachable offense but 91 indictments? Not really.
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