speaking of ....
(from post #62)
Posted on 02/02/2006 9:00:22 PM PST by presidio9
With 57 years of White House reporting, Helen Thomas is commonly referred to as “The First Lady of the Press.” She talked to Adbusters associate editor Deborah Campbell about the state of journalism today.
Adbusters: You’ve had a front row seat on the White House press gallery since Kennedy, and now you’ve been moved to the back of the room . . .
Helen Thomas: Only for press conferences with Bush. He doesn’t want to call on me.
AB: What does that say about his view of the press?
HT: I’m reluctant to personalize it. No president likes the press, period. But Bush in particular wants to sanitize who he talks to. They give him a list of reporters to call on – which I’ve never seen done before – and he sticks to the script. He’s afraid of my questions. On the one hand it makes me laugh, but it’s also sad. A president of the United States ought to be able to handle any question. If they can’t, then why are they there? My requests are very simple. Usually it’s like “why?” Why did you do it? What’s it all about? If you’re putting people’s lives at risk, you should be able to answer questions like that.
AB: Do you think the US press is tough enough on monitoring the centers of power at this point?
HT: No, I think they fell down on the job. But I sense that they’re getting their sea legs, gradually coming out of their coma in light of the hurricane and Karl Rove and a few other things. So they might get back to being real reporters again. I think they’re beginning to realize they let too many opportunities pass, that it’s okay to get angry and to really challenge, which is their job. Reporters represent the last frontier in terms of questioning public officials. If we don’t do it, it doesn’t happen.
AB: Do you recall a time or a moment in history when journalism was more heroic than it has been in recent years?
HT: Every other time but this time. And it’s because of 9/11. People wanted to be more patriotic and were afraid of rocking the boat. From there, we segued into a war where reporters were worried about jeopardizing the troops. So there was a heavy cloud and reporters had to fall in line for awhile. But they’re coming out of it, thank goodness.
AB: What are some of the main obstacles to doing good journalism at the moment?
HT: Fear. Lack of courage. You want to keep your job. Maybe some corporate heads are breathing down your neck. You’ve got to feed the family and send the kids to college. There might be financial reasons and others, and maybe some reporters genuinely feel they shouldn’t raise uncomfortable questions at a time when patriotism is demanded. But our job is to find out the truth. That’s our only job.
AB: At the moment it seems there are some cracks in the US foreign policy. Do you speculate as to where any of that is going?
HT: Well, I think that we’ve got to pull the troops out of Iraq. We’ve got to stop killing. This is ridiculous. It’s more than ridiculous, it’s tragic. Wanton killing, killing and being killed – for what? I think the administration wants to hang in there because they actually believe they can win. But I think that’s a long shot, if anything. And what is winning anyway? Winning what? A Shia theocracy? Is that what American soldiers are dying for? Furthermore, we’ve got to find out what terrorism is really about, find out the root causes. I think that it was right to go into Afghanistan and right to go after Bin Laden. But what about the bigger picture? Is it a religious war? Is it American policy that is motivating these people? What is it? Figure that out, and deal with it.
There's a big difference between asking for information and constantly setting straw-man argument traps, Helen, you old reprobate!
This is further proof that Helen Thomas cannot be relied upon to report any favorable news about Bush or anyone in his administration. She is a left-wing hack (hag) and has no interest in truth or facts. She doesn't deserve to be in the same room with the President. She's another Cindy Sheehan -- she's only interested in embarrassing the President, and her fifteen minutes of fame has long been over. She's destroyed any respect a Conservative could ever have of her because of hatefulness and unfairness.
agreed
"He could look at her, but to be safe he should only look at her reflection in a mirror."
That's for sure. Someone should tell her Halloween is only one night a year and make her change out of her costume.
Hi onyx, I was just about to turn off the computer for the night when I saw your ping. That's hilarious.
That's the point! I don't think I have ever heard Helen Thomas ASK a question. She spews propaganda and venom rather than report.
I once called in to Barry Farber's old radio show and discussed a Helen Thomas episode. Poor Barry almost swallowed his tongue laughing about Helen's behavior. Barry has had more than one debate with ol' Helen and seems to enjoy getting her bile up.
The socialist media genuflects to her because she's spewing the crap that they wish they had the balls to say.
Psssssst... Helen, baby, maybe he's afraid of your bad karma... Or your bad breath...
A few observations.
#1. She is a mean drunk. Most nights, she gets that way very quickly on a cheap red wine she loves.
#2. She is Middle Eastern. Her parents here immigrants from Lebanon.
#3. She is virulently antisemitic, especially anti-Israel.
#4. She hates, absolutely hates the entire Bush family, from Barbara on down.
#5. Her nose is so big it looks like the arresting hook on an F-14 Tomcat.
Helen, he's not afraid of your questions, he's just afraid of having to look at you when he answers them.
Bush is impatient with your tired questions, you toad. Just finish rotting away why don't you.
Well then can there be any doubt she has the face she deserves.
Wow!
What a beautiful couple!!
Knee pads ready!!!
She was simply a "fat, old, drunk broad."
What a sad way to finish life, fat, old , drunk, looking like a clown.
I have no sympathy.
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