Okay I just watched this interview with Mrs. Palin and even though they blurred the actual offensive stuff going on behind her, I know feel very sick to my stomach about having turkey. I guess I just never really thought about how they do it. Ewwww!

Okay I guess the link I tried to embed didn't work. Let me try this again.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/27838743#27838743

?? What offensive stuff Violet? Turkey slaughtering?

Yeah - that was totally disgusting. I saw that last night. She's nucking futtz!

Ah. Well, they say patience is a virtue - guess I'm not very virtuous.

Yikes. Though the tv crew should have been aware of what was going on and should not have filmed right there. I'm guessing Palin wasn't aware of what was going on (though she should have had at least a clue) and would not have chosen to have that in the background.

Consider the source, but MSNBC reported that Palin was asked about the background and replied "no worries."

You know, I have a very specific opinion on this. (Disclaimer: opinions are like assholes, every body has got one.)
Personally, I think if folks can't handle the fact that a living animal had to die in order for them to consume it, then they probably shouldn't eat it. It's disrespectful to the animal that one consumes to not honor the fact that it lived and died to feed them. I am not one for saying that folks shouldn't eat meat, but if someone does, it's just wrong to me if they can't face the fact that it had to be killed to be brought to thier plate. I think that it's this denial of the actual reality of how animals are raised and how they are slaughterd that inadvertantly supports a lot of the abuses we see in factory farming. When folks become aware of the conditions of raising and slaughtering, they are much more likely to pass laws to change such practices to make them more ethical. A perfect example of this is the recent passing or Proposition 2 in California. At the very least, when we sit down to our Turkey dinners, we should take a moment and thank the life that went into the meal that will nourish ourselves and our families. I thought that this interview was actually a good thing, it didn't gross me out at all. I understand that animals die in order for us to eat them. I grew up in a family where we raised chickens for eggs, and turkeys to eat. I've participated in plucking and gutting. There was a time, before factory farming, when many of us weren't so seperated from this reality. It's a harsh reality I know, but we are a participant in it, so I think awareness can only be a good thing. I hope I don't offend.

ok, WHY was she there in the first place? is this what happens at the alaska state capitol? how can you be at a place that is slaughtering turkeys and NOT know that they slaughter turkeys? i'm confused.

FP - did she say no "worries" or no "words" as in "there are no words for...". I thought they said "words" but then my speakers aren't at top volume here at work.

PBM - I heard no worries.

DM- I agree that we should be more aware of where our food comes from and how it gets to our table. I hardly eat much meat anyways, but if I had to kill it and prepare it, I probably wouldn't eat it at all. I don't have a stomach for that kind of thing. So I guess watching that made me think twice about whether I really wanted to have a turkey for thanksgiving.

pbm - MSNBC reported "worries." (But again, it was on Olbermann, so consider the source.)

Andromeda - Palin was there to "pardon" a turkey.

DM - I'm not offended by what you said at all. It's a valid point. I'm a vegetarian myself, and that's a big reason why I started in the first place. But I really appreciated that MSNBC gave a big fat warning before airing the footage last night, because I could not have handled it. (I just put the "Guide" screen on and listened.)

For me, it's the same as those visceral images the pro-fetus people hold up in front of clinics. Yes, that's what abortion looks like. Why do I have to have it shoved in my face on my walk to work every morning?

I seldom use internet speak, and the following is just about the clip, not about the posts above.

LOLZ!

FP- Don't even get me started on the pro-fetus people outside PP. As if it wasn't already hard enough for a women to make the decision to end a pregnancy, they have to have people shove those signs in their face on the way in. They know what they are in for, they are the ones who have to go through it, not the people outside with their damn signs.

Sorry, end rant!

No argument here, Danger Muffin. I grew up on and around farms and with hunters; when I finally went veggie, I knew exactly what I was leaving behind.

I guess I should divulge that I am veggie, too, but that I didn't state that in my original reply since I felt that way when I wasn't veggie, as well. I will still actually eat meat if someone went out and hunted it, because the biggest reason why I am veggie is because I don't want to support the practices in factory farming, and the adverse environmental affects, as well. Hunters, if respectful of hunting limits, the animals and land, are a part of the eco-system. And if the animal lived it's natural life, and was killed by a hunter, than I am OK with that. However, if a cow or bull was zapped and shoved around by a forklift, and made to live in it's own shit, than not so OK with that. I am not one to tell people that they shouldn't eat meat, though. I want to make that totally clear. I just think it's important to know how it ends up in your fridge and on your table.
You folks are alright! I have never encountered such a thoughtful and respectful group of folks online - I really mean it! Thanks for being rad.

Maybe she thought it added to her folksy, Alaskan charm that worked so well for her during the campaign. ::wink, wink::

Her comment of, "you need a little levity" while standing in front of a trough of blood was priceless.

And I agree with DangerMuffin, we should all know and appreciate where all of our food comes from. Now I'm off to lunch...

What's funny is how unpolished that was, how unconcerned with image. Mostly politicians make sure that the background is on message, with flags, and slogans on the wallpaper. That was way more reality than we usually get from politicians.

After reading this I was expecting something horrible and I have to admit it wasn't nearly as gruesome as it could have been. I'm not sure I would want to have that job, but it looked a lot easier than an axe.

The look on the farmers face was priceless!

The slaughtering of animals for human consumption doesn't bother me. I spent enough time on farms and my family of hunters not to.

I am bothered by the lack of planning and sensitivity on Palin's part. Kinda dumb.

I would have thought that this was a kind of stupid move on the part of a politician too -- who really wants to associate their elected leaders with slaughtered turkeys? -- but she does seem to want to position herself as a kind of Diana, Goddess of the Hunt type so maybe this is of a piece with that.

BTW, I'm not even watching this clip. Already veggie, don't need the visuals tx.

Does no one else think the dude killing the birds in the "turkey juicer" was epic? Did you see the look on his face? He kept staring at the camera like a creepy uncle waiting to pounce.

I'm hungry now.

Oh, gross. I don't even like birds, and that was gruesome. I unfortunately found an uncensored version on Shakesville. Vile.

I have to admit, if I had to kill my own food, I'd be vegetarian. I really don't like chickens, but I don't think I could kill one. I get that something gives it's life force for me to eat a roasted chicken, and I appreciate that, but I just couldn't do it myself. I'd also never eat dairy, because my milk has to go through machines before I'll touch it.