As much as I worship the ground Helen Thomas walks on...

[choie]

I have to say that her performance today was a tad disappointing. Firstly, I can't believe that she laughed along with the others in the press when Bush made feeble attempts at humour. It makes me absolutely sick when they do that - but to see Helen laugh as well.... Additionally, although she asked a kick-ass question, she allowed him to bulldoze her with a lie-filled filibuster full of 9/11 references. I know she tried to interrupt him, but I feel like she could have done a little more to stand up and say that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

[FSogol]

1. They are laughing at him, not with him. n/t

[Beetwasher]

2. Her Mic Was Shut Off

Yeesh, give me a friggin' break. You think you can do better? :eyes:

[Name removed]

5. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MADem]

3. I thought she did great

At 85 years old, she was the wisest and oldest one in the room, and she had more balls than anyone else there, as well.

[NewInNewJ.]

4. What more would you have liked her to do?

Helen has proved herself over and over and over again and again.Please tell us what you want her to do.

[choie]

7. simple.

not join the other ninneys and their ass-kissing.

[NewInNewJ.]

9. Wow! Guess you could have done better then Helen.

[SteppingRazor]

11. The fact that she laughs along doesn't mean she likes the guy...

Political operatives -- and that includes political reporters -- have a notoriously gallows humor, and tend to laugh even in the face of jokes they should find offensive. The ability to separate what is said from who says it is paramount in the business of course. You could tell the old joke "James Carville set Lee Atwater's heart on fire and then refused to piss down his throat to save his life" to both Republican and Democratic campaign ops, and both sides would find it funny.

Basically, when things get as serious and agonizing as they do in politics, you either laugh or you cry. And the people who cry don't last long in D.C.

[Rude Horner]

6. I guess I look at it like

...what is she supposed to do? I mean, she can't FORCE him to tell the truth. She can only ask the tough questions and force him to lie. Hopefully, everybody sees his answers for what they are - total b.s.

At least she ASKS tough questions. Not like the softballs a lot of them toss.

[choie]

10. I agree, she rocks

but to watch her laugh while bush insinuated himself by joking about her performance at the correspondent's dinner, or whatever the hell it was, when she has been vociferous in her lack of respect for him, is disappointing.

[Catchawave]

8. He kept "shushing" her ?

I recall she kept trying to follow-up his dodges and he began talking down to her.

[JuniperLea]

12. Helen rules.

You can talk but you can't be heard when your mic is turned off. As far as I can see, her mic was turned off as soon as her question left her lips... and from my POV, she was laughing at him, not with him.

She is a gutsy lady and deserves mass props.

[blogslut]

13. She got him to lie

...and gave him some rope. Helen did just fine

[AlCzervik]

14. What would you have her do, rush the podium? Helen is the best thing in

that room and all the while she's disrespected she maintains her dignity.

[choie]

15. Jesus, people -- I can't express disappointment with people I like??

Look guys -- all I said is that I was disappointed with one day's performance by a woman whom I hold in the highest respect -- as I said, I normally worship her. But instantly people respond with the ever-so-useful retorts, "oh yeah, YOU try and do better!"

Give me a break. By that token, I suppose no one who's not an established politician should dare express disappointment in Pelosi, Reid, Feinstein, Biden, Clinton, or even Kerry at times -- any Democrat who sometimes doesn't do as good a job as we'd like them to do. If this became a real rule, GDP would sure get a lot less activity!

Believe it or not, it's not only permissable, it's sometimes necessary to express sincere disappointment with people you admire when you're troubled by something they did. Otherwise we become as bad as the Repug assholes who refuse to admit the slightest error on the part of their Nazi leadership.

Honestly, sometimes I think many of you have no idea how much your kneejerk, overdefensive reactions resemble those of the echo chamber over in freeperville, where no one may DARE insult his holiness Bunnypants and the rest of the BFEE.

There's nNo need for you guys to start flaring up and make with the usual circular firing squad. I expect better of my fellow DUers.

[Beetwasher]

16. Express All You Want

But don't get all whiny when people disagree w/ you and point out FACTS that you don't even address, like her mic was cut off and she couldn't DO or SAY anything else after her initial question.

"I expect better of my fellow DUers."

Again, w/ YOUR expectations. Get over it. The world doesn't live up to YOUR expectations and it never will. You need to get thick skin if you're going to post here and be ready to back up your bullshit.

[choie]

18. You're one angry little person, aren't you?

Then again, it must be tough living under bridges waiting for billygoats to come trotting by.

"The world doesn't live up to your expectations and it never will." LOL. With that attitude, you must make one hell of an activist. :rolleyes: I suppose you don't do much complaining about Bush or protesting the war, huh? The world doesn't live up to your expectations... oh, forget it, why am I bothering with you?

By the way, let me assure you -- I have NO expectations of anything where you are concerned, except that you'll provide DU's recommended daily allowance of inanity and vitriol. You have yet to disappoint me, chumly.

Rant away, little man. I'm done with you.

P.S. You are right about one thing: I didn't respond re: the mic issue. I am not certain whether her mic was cut off or not. If so, then yes, of course there's nothing else she could've done. That said, she was still laughing with the rest of them, and I don't care whether it's "gallows humor" or not -- that kind of inside-the-beltway "oh we're all comrades here" bullshit makes me wanna throw up.

[Beetwasher]

19. I Thought You Were Done W/ Me Already?

I'm not the whiny brat who can't take someone criticizing their idiotic post. That would be you.

Hey Einstein, activists don't expect the world to live up to their expectations, they expect that through hard work they can change the world and/or CONVINCE others that their view is correct, using things like valid arguments and sound policy implementation. Not whining when someone doesn't do something the way they want it. That would be Republicans, all talk and whining, no action. Activists ACT, they don't whine like children.

[Stephanie]

17. And I am sincerely disappointed in YOU

You seem to have a very thin skin. You want to hear a chorus of agreement when you attack a valiant 85-year-old woman who asked the question of the day while grown men in their prime cowered beside her, then when all of DU disagrees with you, you start name-calling. Very disappointing. I expected better of you.

*edited for spelling

[choie]

20. ATTACK???

Now I've ATTACKED her? Christ on a cracker, I said I was disappointed about one single press conference, one of thousands she's participated in, for God's sake.

And I'M the one with a thin skin? If you think a fighting tough ol' broad like Helen "brass balls" Thomas ain't up to a little honest feedback regarding a single press conference, you must think she's a veritable china doll.

I'm curious, Stephanie -- have you never once, ever, expressed disappointment towards any of public figure whom you ordinarily admire? Me, I'd vote Bill Clinton in for a third term in a heartbeat if it weren't for that pesky Constitutional issue, but I still don't like him cozying up to Bush I. John Kerry? I voted for him but hated that he gave up so quickly; I cheered him on when he tried to filibuster ... but can't stand how he sucked up to Bush re: the line item veto. Love Ted Kennedy for his tireless fight for those less privileged than himself, but I'll be damned if I don't complain when he suddenly goes quiet on censure.

People make mistakes. Even people we like, people with good intentions, people with long histories of fighting the good fight. They can make errors in judgment -- maybe small ones, true, but still an error just the same. And I see nothing wrong with sharing my reactions regarding what I saw as, well, ickyness -- Helen's chiming in with the rest of the press corps in laughing at *'s nonjoke.

Come on. Do you really really think even someone as kickassingly wonderful as Helen Thomas hasn't ever made a mistake, and is beyond even the slight criticism I expressed about her?

Sigh. Sometimes DU makes me very sad.

[Stephanie]

21. I don't think Helen Thomas made a mistake today. I think you're WRONG.

And so does everyone else in this thread. We all disagree with you. Your criticism is uncalled for, in my opinion. Uncalled for and disrespectful to someone who deserves our utmost respect. In my opinion. Can I be any clearer? WE DISAGREE. I think you're WRONG.

[WI_DEM]

22. How disappointing that she isn't perfect

and laughed with the WH clowns at the WH clown. she's head and shoulders above any of them and at 85 she still is the only one who consistently asks the hard questions.