OFFICIAL ROSES FOR HELEN THREAD #3 - DONATIONS UNTIL MONDAY 2 PM EST

[helderheid]

Thread #1: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=733987&mesg_id=733987

Thread #2: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=744488&mesg_id=744488

Helen Thomas is getting roses! Donations will be accepted until Monday morning - then I will buy the roses for her which will be fed exed overnight. Vases and buckets are included. They are being purchased at www.organicbouqet.com - they are selling them by the 12 dozen (a dozen dozen) at $180 including shipping.

I will include the names of all on the thank you card which will read something like:

Thank you Helen for bringing up the Project for a New American Century in the corporate media and for asking the President the questions all Americans want answered about Iraq! Thank you for always siding on the side of truth and asking for others to do the same! We've got your back!

Speaking of Helen Thomas and PNAC, check out this link too!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x741853

To donate, go to www.starcampaign.com/donate.htm

[booksenkatz]

1. Done -- it's long overdue, I'm glad to see this! :) nt

[helderheid]

3. WOOT! That makes us $33 shy of 108 dozen! THANKS!

[0007]

12. We have to get to 108 folks!

[helderheid]

2. NEW TOTALS:

$1449 Cleared
$133 Uncleared (does not include paypal fees)
Total: $1582

$38 SHY OF 108 DOZEN ROSES!

[Wickerman]

4. Wow! I hope she has staff to help her find her desk!

108 dozen roses! woot!!

[LibDemAlways]

5. Before you place the order,

I think it's important to check with her office and make absolutely sure she will be in the day the roses are delivered. Just my 2 cents - with a "thank you"for organizing this. I think it's great!

[helderheid]

6. Good idea - I will call and confirm that she'll be there and the very best

place to send to - and to make sure as many of their cameras are there as possible! We'll need to do a press release too! :)

[PearliePoo2]

7. Lovely Roses For A Lovely Lady

Helen is a true Patriot.
Happy to be able to chip in some $$ for this wonderful idea.
Thanks for your work and effort helderheid!
K&R

[helderheid]

8. thank you and welcome to DU!

[helderheid]

9. WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR 108 DOZEN ROSES!

If we raise another 175, we'll have enough for 120 DOZEN!

[Betsy Ross]

10. Donation made. n/t

[helderheid]

11. Thank you! I love your nick! Guys, can we get this on the Greatest page?

[hootinholler]

13. I'm 4, just needs 1 more n/t

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. Done :-)

Always tell the truth. That way, you don't have to remember what you said.~~Mark Twain

Truth is our element.~~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies.~~Noam Chomsky



Thank you, Helen.

[helderheid]

31. Ain't that the Truth! :)

[helderheid]

15. thanks for putting this on the greatest page!

[pstans]

16. No offense, but isn't there a better way to use money

than for roses? How about donating the money to MoveOn, Progressive Democrats of America, DFA, or some media organization.

I agree that Helen Thomas deserves a thank you, but a simple card is a lot cheaper than roses.

Why not send her 1 dozen roses and a thank you card and then donate the rest of the money to the One Campaign.

[Alpharetta]

17. I'm concerned too. But I trust Helen to send the roses on to

Places that they'll be appreciated. Assisted living facilities, for example.

[pstans]

20. Thanks for the explanation

That makes a little more sense.

[helderheid]

24. There was a lot of talk about this on the other 2 threads - post 18 on

this one explains pretty much how I feel about it.

[bvar22]

18. It might appear to be conspicuous consumption and in poor taste,

but there are some good collateral benefits.
The more roses, the bigger the "media" event. 120 dozen roses might even make the commercial news broadcasts, which would draw attention to "The Question", and to the rude treatment of HT by the bush* whitehouse. It will also send a message to the other "journalists (?)" in the press pool.

Helen Thomas will undoubtedly send most of the roses to the local hospitals (after PR shots) to be donated to patients without flowers.

[lostnfound]

19. A small fringe benefit: supporting organic rose growers.

Pesticides on roses are doing serious damage to the health of underpaid rose workers. I think it was In These Times that had an article on it last year.

[dogday]

27. Great Idea

Hope we can get some pictures of her with her roses like you did of Boxer....

[Lisa]

43. excellent point! This is a key crop ....

... along with cotton, coffee, and chocolate, which not only accounts for a lot of artificial inputs, but has a major impact on the lives of people in developing countries. Harper's did a story on the effects of rose-growing in South America (for the North American market). (This kind of thing works ... one of the reasons why 1800s abolitionists were able to get policymakers to take them seriously is that large numbers of people in Britain began to demand sugar produced without slave labor, even if it cost more.)

I couldn't find the Harper's article -- it was in a February issue several years ago, I seem to recall. But here's another that mentions the problems.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1594/is_6_15/ai_n8576089

[SoCalDem]

64. LINK TV ran a documentary aout it.. The people were "rose-slaves"

The used to be able to grow their own food, but once the rose people came in, they could no longer havd any land for growing food..just roses..The money they were paid, barely covered their "new" costs to buy food they once grew for themselves..and lots of them got sick or even died from the careless chemical usage..

[wakeme2008]

22. So right Scottie boy and friends will hear all about it

and hopefully will hit the MSM. :) :)

[wakeme2008]

21. Kick so I can find it again

:)

[helderheid]

23. kicking so you can find it again! :)

[malmapus]

25. Done and Kick

Just sent $20. Thanks for setting this up!

[mantis49]

26. Add me to the list!

:kick: K&R!

[troubleinwinter]

28. I wonder if

I wonder if we can get Helen added to the 'Hall of Fame' page of the THANK YOU PATRIOT website. Helen certainly belongs there! http://thankyoupatriot.com/

[helderheid]

29. YES she does!! I tried emailing the "contact" from the website but it

bounced back as a bad address :shrug:

[troubleinwinter]

35. How's about

posting in the Election forum & see if anybody has a contact??? I don't recall who set up the site, but I betcha someone there does!

[helderheid]

30. REMINDER - PLEASE NO E-CHECKS! I HAVE TO COVER THOSE FUNDS!

but THANK YOU ALL for the donations!

[ebayfool]

33. Kicking up - I want to track this for another donation on Monday!

BTW, helderheid - I'm not too clear on what an instant transfer is ... I'll go looky-see at PayPal. Will be sure to do instant on Monday!


on edit:
Checked & I did an Instant Transfer (purely on accident! LOL!). Browsing through their help pages to learn more @ the different methods - you'd think I would have picked up on all this since I've had an account since 2002!

Any way to make donations for other people (my daughter & grandson) that don't have PayPal accounts & have them be credited on the card? Not a big necessity & don't want to over complicate, just wondered if it could be done? 'Specially the boychild ... 14 yr old boys don't offer up their $$$ for just anything, this is a biggie! I really love to encourage him!

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

36. I checked, I did instant transfer with our paypal

Our paypal is under my hubbys name, which will be what's signed on Helens card. He is a Republican sending roses to Helen, he doesn't know this yet. Too funny!

(sidenote: he did not vote for bush in 04. he is pissed at this group of 'neocon/NWO p.o.s. that have infested his party'.)

[NMDemDist2]

32. just kicked in $10 for Helen, woohoo! n/t

[bear425]

34. DU'ers -- Helen Thomas is one of the few journalists who

never back down from this maladministration. Let's let her know how much we love and appreciate her! K&R

[adigal]

37. I just donated - PLEASE post photos!!!

Of the brave journalist, Helen!!!

[helderheid]

38. TOTALS UPDATE

$1559 cleared
$138 uncleard (not including fees to be deducted by paypal)

Total: $1697

$103 shy of 120 DOZEN ROSES!

[helderheid]

39. IS ANYONE HERE IN DC?

Sorry for yelling!

[wakeme2008]

40. try the DC forum. and Va and Md.. :) nt

[helderheid]

41. Ah-HA! (DUH!) Thanks!

[xiamiam]

42. wow...just checked the progress...great job...whats the next plan

helderheid...will they be ordered and shipped this week? tell us about the press release ok..thanks for your work...

[helderheid]

44. Well, we need to work on a press release. I plan on calling the numbers

we found for the various offices in DC and find out which one she is at and when she'll be there, explain she has a huge order of roses from online activists coming as soon as they are ordered and ask her office to not tell her as well as make sure cameras are there to take pictures. So far, that's my plan!

[xiamiam]

45. whats the timeline?..only asking to see if we can maximize attention...

and if we need to email or call, let us know...

[helderheid]

46. I thought I'd order them tomorrow - they ship overnight so they would be

delivered on Tuesday but if you think we should have them delivered a couple days into the week so we have time to alert the press, we should talk about a plan.

[xiamiam]

53. wednesday....gives today and tomorrow to get word out...nt

[helderheid]

47. TOTALS UPDATE - Nothing to update - no change for a few hours so still

$103 shy of 120 dozen roses

[helderheid]

48. Same Total

[helderheid]

49. Same total - $103 shy of 120 Dozen

[Renew Deal]

50. There is something unseemly about this.

She is a journalist and was doing her job. She does not deserve anything for that. Sending her roses makes it look like she is being paid off. I don't like it. Give her a plack when she retires.

[wakeme2008]

51. IMHO it i will get DU name out in the MSM

and piss off Bush and his ppl..

Both are good additions to thanking her.

:)

[xiamiam]

54. she asked the president why we really went to war..who else has done this

she brought up pnac on blitzers show...yep she is doing her job..asking for the truth..unfortunately, in america today...that is rare...rewarded for doing a good job by the public instead of an employer because of a desire for truth...now that is a statement...shes way past the age of retirement and if she had retired, no one would have asked that question...

[Senator]

52. "Thank You, Ms. Thomas" (why the card should say this)

From infoplease:

"Thomas was the first woman officer of the National Press Club, the White House Correspondents Association, and the first woman member of the Gridiron Club. She became the first female White House bureau chief of a wire service in 1974. As her career advanced, Thomas came to be considered the “dean of the Washington press corps,” and she was allowed to ask the first question at presidential press conferences. At the end of her first presidential press conference in 1961, Thomas said, “Thank you, Mr. President,” establishing a tradition that continues today."

The importance of this tradition she began goes beyond simple politeness. It was a symbolic recognition that the People (via a free press) had the last word. That "the occupant" was there to provide information as a public servant and was "dismissed" when that duty was performed.

Of course, the neofascist bushkid regime feels no obligation to such traditions. Just as they've never felt an obligation to the American People, having never garnered their consent to govern in the first (or second) place. Hence their refusal to acknowledge Ms. Thomas for over 3 years.

--
www.january6th.org

[helderheid]

57. Thank you, Senator!

[spinbaby]

55. Bump for the morning crew:-)

Let's overwhelm the dear lady with roses.

[nicknameless]

56. Re: Helen being disrespected by "bunnypants".

Even Chris Matthews addressed it in an interview with Imus.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/03/24.html#a7654

Transcribed:

Imus: "So the president now is putting himself out there, answering apparently unscripted questions of people -- and even took on Helen Thomas. Although Jeff Greenfield did have a good analysis of that. And that was that that was fairly calculated. Maybe it’s just ---"

Matthews: "Hey, come on. They used her as a punching bag, Helen Thomas."

Imus: "Yeah."

Matthews: "You know, they never called on her for five years, but they want to have some fun with her. And then they played that little sporting thing of “Don’t interupt”. She wasn’t interrupting. He just used her for fun. You know? And it works with that crowd."

For all that she goes through to expose the truth and get answers out of that corrupt little piss-ant

[helderheid]

58. UPDATE (and email conversation between myself and organic bouquet)

We are $17 shy of 120 DOZEN - I will take us up to whatever level is next!

___________________

:) We can afford 120 DOZEN ROSES! We will stop taking donations as of 2 pm EST - We need to work on a press release - we need to think strategically about when they should arrive as Fridays are horrible press days.

Thanks again for all of your help with this!!


-------Original Message-------

From: Johnny DeBernard
Date: 03/27/06 07:23:22
To: 'Clarity Sanderson, Director of Software Development - Star Campaign Software'
Subject: RE: update

That works out to about 8 ½ boxes! Over 1200 roses! She won’t be able to see over the top of them!

We’re probably going to need a few days notice to fill the order at this point..haha! Please let us know when you’re going to stop taking donations and when you’d like us to ship them!

Thank you very much again!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: update

We're at $1550 right now!

[xiamiam]

60. appreciation for questioning pnacs agenda and war in iraq,,for courage and

tenacity..for maintaining a standard of objectivity and desire for truth in the white house press corp..

[Lisa]

63. this will be good publicity for them, too ...

I never even realized that organic roses were available in such quantities! I am going to recommend to everyone I know who is thinking of getting flowers, that this is a viable option!

Thanks again for all the time and effort you've put into this, helderheid!

[Seedersandleechers]

59. Just made a donation. Are you sure you know if she'll even be

in town to receive them?

[Seedersandleechers]

61. Sorry, just read the entire thread and I get it. Disregard the question

[helderheid]

62. New thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x763484