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>>>I don't like the constant comments on her looks. We can't help what we are born with.

But her open and constant negative comments show how black her heart is. She comes out with whatever outrageous statement she wishes, only because she knows that her 'doyenneship-status' lets her get away with it. They are too nice to her.

end of quote

I couldn't agree more. But, I would add that I also believe that looks are a reflection of an inward attitude, and I suspect that her unpleasant face has something to do with her mental state. I've seen a pic of her as a young woman, and you'd never guess that she would wind up looking like she does.

To those who are interested - seating at a Press Conference at the White House is assigned - and the seat of honor has gone to Helen Thomas even though she quit her reporter job and has signed on as a columnist. There was every reason for her to be removed from the front right seat at that time, but, for whatever reasons, they continued to "honor" her.

Her attacks on the President have gotten increasingly specious and she was particularly nasty on Wednesday. I'm not surprised that they seated her in the third row at the televised press conference last night, and that she was not on the list to be called.

The use of the word "scripted" only refers to the fact that Ari Fleischer, as he admitted in his press conference today, made up a list for the President, a list of who to call on and in what order.

It is no accident that HT was not on that list.

I didn't see if she attended today's press conference, but if she was there, she certainly was not called on first, as has been Ari's pattern.

" But, I would add that I also believe that looks are a reflection of an inward attitude, and I suspect that her unpleasant face has something to do with her mental state."

I agree. A smiling face will win more friends than a constant scowl. I guess she resents her limitations --and shows it.

I was watching one of the c-spans, when Ari's press conference broke up. When the camera panned the room I quickly looked around to see if she was there. Didn't see her, but it could have been because the camera didn't show the entire room.

> It is no accident that HT was not on that list.

I wonder if there's some backstory here, like...
* WH drops hints to Press Corp to rein her in (no result).
* WH discretely tells key Press members more directly (no result).
* WH hints to HT personally to stop using WH press
conferences as her personal soapbox (no result)
* WH warns here in no uncertain terms (no result)
* chop

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

"Q Ari, since there is an atmosphere of the imminence of war in this White House, and since we have no direct access to the President, will you state for the record, for the historical record, why he wants to bomb Iraqi people?"

It degenerates into a pointless debate from there.