Pardoning The Turkey Cute or Annoying?

I was curious about the history of pardoning the turkey and came across This article. This year is the 20th anniversary of the presidential pardoning of the turkey. According the the article, President Kennedy was the first president to pardon the turkey given to him as a "gift" to eat for his thanksgiving dinner. President Bush in 1988 was the first to start the tradition that Clinton and George W carried on and recently it has been 2 turkeys, the original turkey and the first runner up ("in case the first turkey is unable to carry out their turkey duties") I guess it's cute that they "pardon" the turkey. Does that mean that they go without Turkey on Thanksgiving or do they eat a different turkey? I bet they eat another turkey!! I think that the first time it happened it was probably cute but now I think it's kind of an annoying tradition. But, the presidents are now destined til eternity to pardon the turkey on Thanksgiving because who wants to be the first president to eat the turkey instead of letting it live on? That would be bad PR!! almost as bad as Sarah Palin's interview in front of a turkey being slaughtered after her pardoning. So what do you think? Annoying or Cute?