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?

[thepitts]

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.

So basically the whole thing was scripted?

[kayak]

She definitely has some soul-mates here ...... ;-)

[small voice in the wilderness]

Didn't she die??

Nah, even the Grim Reaper has standards. And unless she somehow catches a glimpse of herself in a mirror and kills over, she'll be around for years. She's a living poltergeist.

[Mr. Mojo]

That's what Les Kinsolving was saying.

[syriacus]

If we don't hear from Helen again, it would appear that the following (based Ari's response mentioning her by name) is her final question at a WH press conference, from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030305-7.html

Thanks for providing the summary and the link. From the way Helen was ranting at the earlier press conference, it sounds like she was becoming a runaway train that really needed to be stopped.

[floriduh voter]

Helen dyed her hair dark brown and she's harder to spot now, especially when they don't call on her. I wouldn't call on her either - annoying and wrong 100% of the time.

[floriduh voter]

There was no traditional seating last night. The front row was the President's admin - Condi, Ari, etc. I think it was like wedding seating. Dubya's group was on the right side and the lefties where they belonged.

[DreamWeaver]

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

You can't be serious can you ? You are not hoping or wanting to have a New World Order or to be included in it are you ???

[CarolAnn]

You have a soft heart and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Just don't let it trump your brain.

Last night may have ended half a century of some kind of tradition, but as I recall, reporters used to be a little more respectful.

Just for kicks (or a need to raise my blood pressure)I visited DU, and those pin heads think she was snubbed because she said at some dinner that Bush was the worst president ever. Shows how much they know. They probably never watch a press conference, or they would know it's because she asks questions like 'why does Bush want to bomb Iraqi women & children?' And she does stuff like that at just about EVERY press conference.

No President needs to stand in front the country he leads and submit to an unintelligent, misleading, and downright hateful attack. Criticism is one thing, but she goes way past criticism straight to hate.

[CarolAnn]

By the way, I wasn't implying that your heart had trumped your brain. I've got mush for a heart too. That comes from being a recovering liberal. I may feel a little sorry for her, but she brought it on herself. We all have to live with the consequences of our actions - or words. But I'm a realist first, which sometimes makes me seem like a hardass.

[Ann Archy]

You are DELUSIONAL if you think that those Bush-hater pressitudes gave Bush the questions in advance!!!

I guess you think Bush is dumb.

[thepitts]

I guess this is evidence of my political naivety, I expected better than a presidential infomercial.

[John Lenin]

Helen wast't there today ?
I'm verklempt !

[thepitts]

You are DELUSIONAL if you think that those Bush-hater pressitudes gave Bush the questions in advance!!!

The way that I understand it is that the questions were given to the "reporters".

[sweetliberty]

"I think she's in a snit and purposefully didn't show up just to 'teach the White House a lesson'

Well, I guess she showed them! I expect that the president is having difficulty keeping his mind on the war what with worrying about Helen's whereabouts and all. ROTFL!

[Ann Archy]

Questions were given to reporters??hahhahahahha...WHAT PLANET DO YOU LIVE ON?? That's why every question was a softball....right?? Hello....is anyone home there???

[sweetliberty]

"I'm not sure what the etymology of "bitch slap" is, but I suggest that last night was an example of it."

This has the Bush kind of classy "bitch slap" all over it too...a subtle yet effective direct hit.

[thepitts]

So I guess you'r saying (in an a-holy kinda way) that isn't the case?

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Helen went OUT TO PASTURE, and hopefully, she'll like it and stay there.

[Mr. Mojo]

Ann is right; Lester's statement was outrageous, and of course false.