Today's Ari Fleischer Press Briefing: WHERE WAS HELEN?

The White House | March 7, 2003

[Dont Mention the War]

So several reporters (especially the WorldNetDaily loon, of all people) demanded to know why Queen Helen was not allowed to spew last night, and Ari gave the exact, factual answer: They were looking for REPORTERS last night, not columnists.

But more importantly, Ari himself did not call on The Old Hag today! Was he intentionally snubbing her? Or did she stay home and pout like a little girl instead of coming in to work today?

[expatpat]

She was flight-testing a new broom.

[1Old Pro]

Ari himself did not call on The Old Hag today! Was he intentionally snubbing her? Or did she stay home and pout like a little girl instead of coming in to work today?

I dunno, you tell me.

[Mr. Mojo]

And did you hear that psycho Lester what's-his-name complain about the procedure last night? I believe he outright stated that Bush knew exactly what questions were coming from which reporters. Ari cut him off very quickly.
I believe this Lester fellow is a conservative....and if so, he's the conservative equivalent of Helen Thomas.

[polemikos]

I thought HT served the role of "useful idiot" with her far-left ?'s. However, she may have provided cover for "not-quite-as-far left idiots" at CNN, etc. Cutting her out may very well pull the whole press corp to the right.

[KansasConservative1]

I was thrilled that Helen T was not allowed to disrespect the president in front of the world last night. She is just that, a columnist, not a serious journalist. BRAVO to the WH staff.

[Prysson]

My personal guess is that considering the solemnity of a preware press conference they didnt want to have some whacked out senile moron asking irrelevent but nevertheless leading questions.

Of course that all he got anyway.

[syriacus]

Ari gave the exact, factual answer: They were looking for REPORTERS last night, not columnists.

That was an outstanding answer. He also said he provided the president with the list of reporters to call on during the news conference. (Rove, Hughes didn't provide the list).

[Tamzee]

Wondered the same thing myself....

Ari is a true hero to put up with her the way he does.

[bybybill]

Pay back, some times, can be a bitch

[monkeywrench]

Maybe she was finally declared an enemy comBATant, and is even at this moment being interrogated. :)

[Thebaddog]

This is exactly the message that the muslims will understand and respect. You do not give your enemies the stick to beat you with.

And it's been dog track time for Helen for at least three presidents now.

[bmwcyle]

She is off

trotting to the

They end up there when they have lived too long.

[Hatteras]

She was at home today drowning her sorrows in a pitcher of Manhattans and a carton of Kents.

[thinktwice]

The New World Order, according to George, will include neither the UN or -- apparently -- Helen.

[ttdriver]

The individual you're talking about is Les Kinsolving. Very much the gadfly.

[Nam Vet]

I have no idea if she was there or not. I sure didn't see or hear her. That's good IMHO. Just a guess on my part, but I think she's in a snit and purposefully didn't show up just to 'teach the White House a lesson'. Great! Let her continue a boycott until she's just unceremoniously dropped from the list of invitees.

Nam Vet

[GnL]

And bitches sometimes get a payback.

[avenir]

"You do not give your enemies the stick to beat you with."

Great point. Seems insane not to understand this simple truth.

[Petronski]

When the moon is waxing crescent, sea monsters must return to salt water or be bound on land forever.