National turkeys flee California for a red state

President Obama is expected to pardon the national turkey today.

Actually, the ex-state senator from Illinois will also let the national turkey’s backup off scot-free as well. 

Of course, every president does the same and has for 63 straight years now at the bipartisan day-before-Thanksgiving photo op. The outdoor White House ceremony allows the chief executive to wish the country a Happy Thanksgiving and spare the lives of a couple of puzzled birds while millions of others have been slaughtered and are thawing in kitchen sinks across the land.

This year’s two turkeys — Apple and Cider — were raised on Foster Farms Wellsford Ranch in California.  They fled their homestate with the imminent inauguration of another liberal Democrat, Jerry Brown, as governor.

Obama, however, would have no amnesty. He sentenced the fowl — Apple and Cider — to spend the rest of their natural lives behind wire at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens in Virginia, which has a Republican governor.

(Malcolm is the Top of the Ticket blogger at latimes.com/ticket  )