Helen should take up jogging.
Strenuous jogging.
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.”
Where is the outrage???
I am outraged!!!
I am outraged that one of our political parties has chosen to divide the people during a war for their own political benefit. THAT is outrageous.
Helen should take up jogging.
Strenuous jogging.
Come on Cheney, RUN!!!
Can you name one democratic president in the last 46 years that she has treated the way she treats W? Is she married? She needs someone else to push around.
Thanks for the pick, I was looking for that same one LOL!
Helen reveals herself as a card-carrying member of the Dynosaur Media Journalists' Guild. That guild has been smashed to hell by the internet. Get used to it Helen. The days of you and your ilk spoon-feeding the public what you want them to know and think are OVER!
That is an absolutely perverted, disgusting photo!
I suspect the only place she could get married is in Massachusetts.
Who would be foolish/brave enough to be married to that?
I hear she didn't like covering Lincoln either.
....and every creature that wears a dress thinks it's a lady.
Good God man!
maybe........
Speaking of spoon feeding; http://www.barfproducts.com/
I don't normally believe in pointing out how ugly someone is. After all, I'm not exactly a male model myself.
But some people's inner ugliness, with time, overwhelms their physical appearance and leaves them frightening in their old age. A lot of aging Hollywood stars demonstrate this. So does Helen Thomas.
I can handle her liberalism - she's no worse that Couric. I can handle her ugliness. But I cannot handle how someone so STUPID becomes influential.
And it says a lot that she is considered the top of the White House Press Corps!
Freedom of speech scares Helen.
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