HELEN FIRST!

[asdjrocky]

Check in here if you think Helen should get the very first question at the first press conference.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. hell ya!

as it should be

[asdjrocky]

3. Thanks.

I never do these "check in" threads, but I really love Helen.

[liberal N proud]

2. Just as another rebuke of bu$h

If for no other reason.

But there are many. She is the first lady of the Press Corps

[Tennessee Gal]

4. I bet Obama respects Helen.

I know I do!

[bunkerbuster1]

20. I think Obama's reasoning would be like that which lead to First Gramma living in the WH

"I'm not stupid. That's why I got elected president, man."

[emlev]

5. I assume this will happen, as it should. n/t

[oldtime dfl_er]

6. yes

yes yes yes

[redirish28]

7. Let's face it anyone who respects Helen also fears getting asked a

question by her.


I know I would.

[asdjrocky]

That's a good point.

I'm not so sure I'd want Helen finding things out about me. She's too good.

[Career Prole]

61. That's as it should be.

And hopefully one day it will be that way again.
:)

[Maru Kitteh]

8. Absolutely!

[Lugnut]

9. It would be fitting.

If we're putting away childish things this would be a good place to start.

[nini]

10. when is the first press conference?

?

[asdjrocky]

13. I heard maybe today.

But I'm thinking it might just be something that I dreamed. I've been dreaming about goverment a lot these days.

[midnight]

11. Darn right! Helen Thomas "Where is everbody" should

get to ask the first question.... Poor women. Must of been a horrible thing to listen to all the nonsense of the last eight years. No wonder she was reduced to asking, "Where is everbody" Nobody was doing there job.

[asdjrocky]

16. "Where is everybody"-

Wow, I forgot about that.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. She absolutely should.

[Supply Side Jesus]

14. K & R

Hell ya

[DebJ]

15. Absolutely! I had thought of that too!

[beac]

17. Of course! And I have NO doubt Obama agrees and will make it happen. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

18. Obama will honor her by calling on her and will welcome her challenging, probative questions.

IMHO

[asdjrocky]

19. Hey AK!

Good to see you and thanks for checking in.

[AtomicKitten]

31. Cheers!

Happy America!

* Andrew Sullivan's new greeting that I have hijacked.

[asdjrocky]

41. I love it!

Happy America!

[Forkboy]

21. That's a great idea.

And Obama is the type who will welcome her questions. Well, maybe. Helen is pretty tough. :)

[Metric System]

22. I saw her on TV the other day and she said that she's now an opinion columnist so she couldn't get

the first question anyway.

[asdjrocky]

26. I didn't realize that.

You may have a good point there. And grats on the SOS appointment by the way.

[Ichingcarpenter]

23. 1:30 eastern time and Let's hope Helen gets first question and

her seat of honor.

I would be surprised if she didn't

[Beaverhausen]

24. K&R and HEY ROCKY!!!

:hi:

[asdjrocky]

32. Wow, great to see you!

Wanna hear something funny? I actually had a dream last night and Chuck Todd was in the dream.

[asdjrocky]

33. dupe

[FloridaJudy]

25. Absolutely! eom

[lumberjack_jeff]

27. Absolutely. But don't be surprised if she asks a tough question.

She's no sycophant.

[asdjrocky]

29. I would expect no less.

[Dinger]

28. Check

:)

[mopinko]

30. oh hell ya

I'd bet money

[Tesla]

34. K&R for Helen!!

Ask a good one!

[FourScore]

35. HELEN FIRST!!!

[bleever]

36. K&R!

[BattyDem]

37. He MUST call her first!

It will send a strong signal to the White House press corps that the adults are back in charge and all is right with the universe. :-)

[Hepburn]

38. Hell yes!

Put her seat up front where she belongs! :thumbsup:

[Infinite Hope]

39. What press conference...what time? Or is it over...n/t

[asdjrocky]

40. 1:30 eastern time. Look up-thread for reply #23.

[asdjrocky]

42. We will soon know.

[asdjrocky]

43. Oh well.

[Gregorian]

44. Of course! Is there any doubt that will be the case? This will be beautiful.

:)

[asdjrocky]

45. At least she got a question.

And it was a good one.

[polichick]

46. I missed it - what did she ask?

[asdjrocky]

47. Does the President believe that torture is wrong.

And some follow up stuff to that. It was wonderful, and it made me feel like America is coming back.

[polichick]

48. Oh good - thanks!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

49. Damn right - Helen is an institution unto herself. She should be shown that kind of respect.

[Karenina]

50. Did she get the FIRST question? If not, where was she

in the lineup? THX in advance.

[asdjrocky]

51. Not the first, but she did get a question.

As for the order, I don't know because I was going in and out of the room with the TV.

[vanboggie]

52. Recent interview with Helen

One of our local newscasters is Helen's niece. Here's a link to an interview she did with Helen yesterday:
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/Helen_Thomas_covering_10th_president

Geha: When he holds his first news conference, what will you ask?

Thomas: "If he calls on me, I'll ask why can't you get out of the war now."

[asdjrocky]

53. Thanks for including this.

I just love that woman.

[hippywife]

54. I already emailed whitehouse.gov

last night and asked that she be returned to the front of the room. And, yes, she deserves the honor. :hi:

[MasonJar]

55. Let Obama know what we think about Helen!!!!!!!!!! Send this rec to him!

[tbyg52]

56. Helen, Helen, Rah, Rah, RAH!!!!!! :-) nt

[Politicalboi]

57. Oop's

Guess I was too late.

[mt13]

58. I love Helen.

she reminds me of my mother, same work ethic, never going to retire, smart as a whip.

[asdjrocky]

60. To me she's always been the grandmother I never had.

Sounds weird, but it's the way I've always looked at her.

[mt13]

65. that makes perfect sense to me!

she has that wonderful maternal/grandmotherly quality.

[Ken Burch]

59. Yeah!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump:

[MrMickeysMom]

62. Fuck, yeah

Helen! :bounce:
Helen! :bounce:
Helen! :bounce:
Helen! :bounce:
Helen! :bounce:
Helen! :bounce:
Helen! :bounce:
Helen! :bounce:

[windbreeze]

63. damn straight!! Helen FIRST...!!n/t

[rhett o rick]

64. And the front row. nm

[saltpoint]

66. (Loud thump of fist on tavern table, accompanied by

a gruff 'Damn right!')

[Captain Hilts]

67. What no Helen Wait jokes yet? What a bunch of losers!

[8 track mind]

68. Helen DESERVES the 1st!!!!! n/t

[madmax]

69. Oh HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rhythm]

70. Damn right...

The grand dame of the Press Corps was so mistreated during the last administration that she has earned the honor of the first question..

[Demoiselle]

71. YES YES YES. (eom)

[wildbilln864]

72. yes! nt

[Sailing]

73. Absotively posilutely!

[Oldtimeralso]

74. Absotivly & Posilutly N/T

[Muttocracy]

75. I love how Helen introduced herself to the White House press

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/reporting-for-duty/

Press Office Opens | 9:50 a.m. The lower press office on the first floor of the West Wing was locked until about 9 a.m., when Bill Burton, a deputy White House press secretary opened the doors. He sat in the office alone as a line of reporters waited for any morsel of information about the president’s day.

“If you guys give me 15 minutes, I will send something out,” said Mr. Burton, who wore a patient smile as he greeted a new correspondent from French TV and shook hands with veteran reporters like Ann Compton from ABC News who dropped by to say hello.

Fresh coats of paint – a buttery yellow – are covering the walls in some of the West Wing offices. The computers are freshly cleaned. (No, the “Os” are not missing from the keyboards.) And new members of the Obama administration are still trying to make it through security, even as others arrive with a few boxes and things for their desks.

“Welcome,” reads a red note card – with the presidential seal – that is placed on the computers. “For assistance with facility service issues, office layout and furniture please contact the Facilities Management Office.”

The new offices are designated not by nameplates, but by pieces of paper taped to the outside of the doors. The people who will be speaking for the president, who work in a small office just outside the press briefing room, include: Bill Burton, Josh Earnest, Jen Psaki, Tommy Vietor, Reid Cherlin, Ben LaBolt and Nick Shapiro.

At 9:46 a.m., another reporter walked into the press office.

“Good morning,” Mr. Burton said.

“I came to introduce myself,” the woman said. “I’m Helen Thomas.”

[orleans]

76. was she called on first? n/t

[L. Coyote]

77. This is her TENTH President!!

[road2000]

78. Helen of Joy!

Launch a thousand ships of truth, Kentucky native!

[Night_Nurse]

79. Got my vote! nt

[dysfunctionalmother]

80. Absolutely!!!

[trocar]

81. Oh Yeah n/t

[DUlover2909]

82. Of course she should. Check in here if you don't like to kill kittens.

[jules1962]

84. No question about it.

Gotta love her.

[stlsaxman]

83. Damned Right! It's only proper! n/t

[PassingFair]

85. No brainer!

Helen first forever!

[4_TN_TITANS]

86. This crossed my mind too the other day.

It would be a no-brainer for anyone wanting to win over the press corps. God knows she deserves at least that, and it would be a great ice-breaker to lead off the pressers with their heaviest hitter.

[Broadslidin]

87. Never again, a back seat for Helen,,,, Never...!

:patriot:

[lunatica]

88. Helen Thomas is the Diva of Presidential Kick Ass

:spank: :thumbsup:

[waiting for hope]

89. Hey Rocky!

Yes, she should!

:hi:

[asdjrocky]

90. Hiya Hope!

Always great to see you.

[waiting for hope]

91. You too darlin -

I just got a warm and fuzzy feeling - hope you are well.

[kenfrequed]

92. Yes, absolutely

Now that said we should bear in mind that Helen Thomas does not throw softballs and she has no problem at all of speaking truth to power.

[HOLOS]

93. Helen is our flame of Truth - Justice-Accountability and Morality....

[Kajsa]

94. Yes!

Helen deserves to go first.

:kick: and R

[antimatter98]

95. Yes, let freedom of the press return and also Helen's participation! n/t

[swimmernsecretsea]

96. Excuse me, I believe the lady is next.

Now, everyone, please be quiet while she speaks.

[geekgrrl]

97. HELL YEAH!!! HELEN FIRST!!!