Please, End the White House Turkey Pardon

OK, this presidential turkey pardon thing is getting ridiculous: This year, the tradition involves two birds, a contest, and Facebook profiles including details about the fowl (like a love of Carly Simon one of the turkeys supposedly has). "This isn’t a lighter moment in a president’s otherwise heavy schedule, it’s an over-produced reality show," writes Peter Grier in the Christian Science Monitor, where he wonders whether the whole thing has "jumped the shark."

"The ceremony has become more and more Hollywood," writes Grier, who also wonders which "overachieving White House official" was tasked with the oh-so-important duty of coming up with Facebook profiles for the birds. "It seems to us they’re being ironic about the whole ceremony instead of straightforward," he writes. "If it’s not worth doing it without a subtext, maybe it’s not worth doing at all." (Oh, and don't worry: Both birds will be pardoned.) Click for Grier's full column. (More pardon stories.)