Posted on 04/29/2006 6:28:38 AM PDT by oxcart
Legendary White House correspondent Helen Thomas has sharply questioned U.S. presidents for 46 years, but when she spoke at Centre College Thursday, she had a question for the American people.
“Where is the outrage?”
The subject of that outrage, Thomas said, should be the war in Iraq and President George W. Bush.
She made a plea for peace and suggested Bush do as President Lyndon Johnson was advised in Vietnam, “Declare a victory and leave.”
Thomas, a Winchester native, said she was glad to come home to find the word “liberal isn't demonized” here.
The 85-year-old was quick on her feet, passing out wit and witticism to a packed house at Weisiger Theatre. She was invited to be the sixth speaker in the Press Distinguished Lecture Series, named in honor of Kentucky civic leaders O. Leonard and Lillian H. Press.
Thomas has covered every president since John F. Kennedy, who she said was her favorite. She started in Washington D.C. as a copy girl making $17.50 a week and worked her way up to a position at United Press International, which she kept until 2000. Thomas still works as a White House correspondent for Hearst Newspapers.
“There is truth in the papers,” she said. “It's in the comic strips.”
Each president, she said, has come with his own disdain of the press. Kennedy said as president he was reading more and enjoying it less. What Johnson said about the press was “unprintable,” Thomas said.
When President Reagan was told a press helicopter in Honduras had been fired upon, he said, “There is some good in everyone.” President Clinton was asked why the press corps followed him on his morning jogs and he said they just wanted to see him drop dead.
After razzing both presidents and press, Thomas answered questions.
Asked who was her favorite president and why, she said Kennedy because he knew the difference between war and peace.
Asked if there was ever a justifiable reason for America to go to war, she said conflicts should be resolved through the United Nations and non-violent pressure. Thomas agreed with the decision to invade Afghanistan but said that bombing Iraq has just been on the agenda of neo-conservatives to secure oil and posturing in case of a third World War.
Asked what has been Bush's greatest accomplishment, she quoted Eisenhower, who on the occasion of being asked what policy decisions then Vice President Richard Nixon participated in, said, “Give me a week and I'll think of something.”
She was asked if the media is doing its job, a reference to an earlier comment Thomas made about how the press hadn't asked hard questions after 9/11 because they feared being called unpatriotic. Thomas answered the question by saying, “I think the media is coming out of their coma.”
Asked if there was anyone in the political arena today with the same qualities as Kennedy, Thomas said, “No.” She said presidents come into themselves once they are in office. “There is no such thing as an instant president.”
Asked who she thought would get the Democrat and Republican nominations for president in 2008, Thomas said Hillary Clinton and John McCain. She added that she is always wrong.
Asked if bloggers have had any impact on journalism, she said there has been a tremendous effect, putting some politicians out of business. However, she said, “We have reached the stage where everyone with a laptop thinks they're a journalist. ... It's very frightening.”
The face that sank a thousand ships.
Doesn't this silly old b*tch realize that she has outlived her relevance?
The outrage is in the MSM and their phony polls.
Wonder if Bill nailed her?
"I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Thomas."
Of course he did. Considering his contempt for women, he probably used a nail instead of a cigar.
“There is truth in the papers,” she said. “It's in the comic strips.”
Even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then.
“We have reached the stage where everyone with a laptop thinks they're a journalist. ... It's very frightening.”
Be AFRAID Helen, VERY AFRAID!
Why isn't the public outraged?
It's simple you demented old hag.
The public is smarter then you think, we know the world is a very dangerous place, history has spoken to us untold times: we must be vigilant against tyranny, we must be prepared to defend ourselves, we will not be taken by surprise again.
The outrage is you think we are too stupid to understand your outrage, which is based on your elitist D.C. beltway attitude
No. Helen go away and retire already. Go blog somewhere and rant all you want till the moonbats take you away to your troll cave.
WELL SAID!!!
"Troll Cave" LOL, that is a KEEPER!
Who says you can't find common ground with the enemy?
The question is: Why doesn't this old woman who is far past her prime (assuming that she had a prime) retire before the grim reaper hauls her off?
The new is supposed to replace the old in the grand scheme of things.
I was close. I thought it was "Moon Bat Alert."
The people showing the most outrage about Iraq, dear Helen, is the governing faction of Iran. So long as the US is sitting on their doorstep, and clearly in a position to move in on Tehran should negotiations concerning Iranian nuclear ambitions go badly, and they will, the Iranian ayatollahs and their "civilian" government lackeys will raise all kinds of outrage.
This is uncertain and tricky terrain, Helen, so be very, very careful whom you choose to express your outrage upon.
gook thing she wasn't around after WWII (or was she??) - she would have had us declare victory and leave Germany and Japan in shambles.
Want to see her head explode, ask her why Hillary voted to authorize the Iraq war.
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