Sarah Palin’s legendary Thanksgiving interview where she gave a post-mortem on her VP candidacy as a turkey was slaughtered behind her has resurfaced.
As half the country mourned Kamala Harris’ election defeat three weeks ago, they harked back to a simpler time 16 years ago – long before Donald Trump.
The day was November 20, 2008, and Barrack Obama and Joe Biden had just convincingly beaten John McCain at the election after eight years of Republican dominance.
McCain, facing an uphill battle against the future first black president and a country wanting big changes after George W Bush, made the ill-fated decision to pick Palin as his VP.
The unknown governor of Alaska was completely overmatched and produced a gag reel of bizarre statements and garbled interviews.
One of her most famous, and the perfect holiday antidote for Democrats reliving a time when they were winning, was when Palin was licking her wounds back in Alaska.
Palin was at Triple D Farm & Hatchery outside Wasilla, where she pardoned a turkey as part of her duties as governor.
What she, nor the audience, didn’t see coming was that the fate of the unlucky second bird, that everyone knows but never sees, would be immediately apparent behind her.
As Palin answered questions, a farm worker slashed the turkey’s neck, bled it out, and twisted its head off – all while in the camera’s line of sight.
The worker knew what he was doing, even watching Palin talk as he did the deed, and flashing a toothy grin to the cameras.
Reporters appeared unsure if Palin knew what was unfolding behind her, and asked if she was comfortable with the backdrop. She replied, ‘no worries!’
‘I was happy to be invited to participate in, in this, and, uh, and, you know, for one, you need a little bit of levity in this job, especially with a, uh, so much that has gone on in the last couple of months that has been so, um, political, ah, obviously, that it’s nice to get out and, and do something to promote a local business and, and to uh, just participate in something that isn’t so, um, heavy-handed politics that, uh, invites criticism,’ she said in one breath.
‘Certainly we’ll probably invite criticism for even doing this, too, but at least this was fun.’
Palin gave candid answers about her candidacy, now as dead as the turkey behind her, as blood dripped down the farm worker’s hand.
‘I don’t think it’s changed me at all. I have the same values and convictions and positions and policies,’ she said, with the turkey slaughterer staring at her.
‘I’ve just a greater appreciation, I think, for what other candidates go through. You know, it’s it’s pretty brutal that, the the time consumption there and the the energy that has to be spent in order to get out and about with a message on a national level.
‘Great appreciation for other candidates who have gone through this, but also just a a great appreciation for this great country.
‘There are so many good Americans who are just desiring of of their government to kind of get out of the way and allow them to grow and progress and allow our businesses to grow and progress. So great appreciation for those who share that value.
‘And it was a blast. Every day was just a blast out there on the trail.’
By the time Palin finished that answer, the farm worker had finished his grim job and carried the carcass off screen. But it wasn’t over.
Palin was then asked if she had any future plans, with being vice president off the table, as the man returned and loaded the turkey into a slaughter chute for processing.
‘You know, plans just include getting through the budget process that we’re going through right now,’ Palin said.
‘Building the state’s budget based on the price of oil that has plummeted so greatly and reining in the growth of government and plans like that that have to do with helping to govern this state and building this team that is continually being built to provide good service to Alaskans.
‘So in my role as governor, that’s what my plans are all around.’