"But he wasn't a guest. It was occupied." We love you Helen!

[uppityperson]

I didn't listen, but reading the transcript of today's WH press briefing, came across this...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081216-2.html
(clip)
Does the President think that, had the gentleman thrown something other than a shoe, or thrown his shoe more accurately, that he was well enough protected, standing as he was, at that news conference?

MS. PERINO: Well, it was just a shoe, and the President saw it from his vantage point. He felt fine about it. I think you saw he let the Secret Service know he thought he was okay, and the Secret Service jumped in as quickly as they thought they needed to. And then they were able to back off and let the Prime Minister of a duly -- the duly elected Prime Minister of a sovereign Iraq taking questions from journalists there who never would have been able to do that five years ago. And the President just thinks it was just a -- it was just a shoe.

People express themselves in lots of different ways. Obviously he was very angry. I can't think -- I don't -- I can't tell you exactly what the shoe thrower was thinking, but I can tell what the President thought, was that he was fine. And he said immediately -- you saw his reaction was, don't worry about it; it was okay.

So we hold no hard feelings about it, and we've really moved on.

Q And he's satisfied with the -- satisfied with the protection -- had it been something other than a shoe?

MS. PERINO: Look -- yes, he is satisfied that he was well protected by the Secret Service, as he always has been.

Q Dana, specifically, does the President --

Q -- in the aftermath concerning the punishment?

MS. PERINO: No, the only thing that he's -- what he said publicly is what he said privately to Prime Minister, was, don't worry about it, that he was fine.

Q Why not worry about it? Doesn't it reflect the feelings of the people?

MS. PERINO: I don't think that you can take one guy throwing his shoe as representative of the people of Iraq. And I will tell you that Prime Minister Maliki and the journalists who were there in the room, who apologized on behalf of the Iraqis, saying this is not how they would treat a guest -- I know that there are people in Iraq who are angry -- angry at their situation. It's been a very rough five years. What we were there talking about, though, is how much progress Iraq has made because of our troops and because of the wonderful work of the Iraqi security forces and their military, and how their economy is coming back. And they've grown in leaps and bounds, and so the country is on its way to becoming a wonderful country that can govern, sustain and defend itself, and they will be an ally of ours in the war on terror.

Q But he wasn't a guest. It was occupied.

MS. PERINO: No, we're not, Helen. We are absolutely a guest.

Q It was occupied.

MS. PERINO: We all went there and he signed the agreement, the status of forces agreement. If the Iraqis didn't want us there, we wouldn't have been signing that agreement that allows our troops to operate there for the next three years.

Q -- a bunch of people self-picked by us who run the country.

MS. PERINO: Are you suggesting that Prime Minister Maliki was not elected by the people of Iraq? That's preposterous.

Q Why?

MS. PERINO: Because there was an election and they -- he was elected.

Q When you have an occupation, can you really have a free election?

MS. PERINO: I have never once heard somebody suggest that that was not a free and fair election in Iraq. It was one of the highlights of the last several years that they were able to pull off an election like that, and how many people came out to vote. And absolutely, Prime Minister Maliki is their duly elected Prime Minister.

[IndyOp]

1. We are NOT guests. Jeebuz Freakin' Christ and ALL THE SAINTS above. Deliver us. (n/t)

[uppityperson]

2. way. eom

[felinetta]

26. Who's dumber: Perino or Palin? Their level of stupidity is stupefying!

[RoadRage]

64. Palin...

Perino is hired to argue the administrations points. Palin completely belives them. Perhaps Perino does too.. but she's at least getting a nice chunk of change to argue them.

And, FWIW - i'm not sure which is worse.. doing it because you believe it, or doing it because you're paid to.

[baldguy]

3. Ms Perino will not be swayed from the Bush Regimes line of propaganda.

[uppityperson]

4. "I have never once heard somebody suggest that that was not a free and fair election in Iraq."

Um, I am suggesting that. Now you have heard that.

[JuniperLea]

6. Ms. Perino must have beans in her ears... eom

[bdamomma]

18. now remember this woman had no clue about the Bay of Pigs.

[JuniperLea]

24. There oughta be a law...

Nothing close to vapid should come close to DC.

[uppityperson]

41. as god is my witness, I thought pigs could swim.

I mean, what's the big deal about having a bunch of pigs in a bay? I mean, I know, like it would TOTALLY be dirty to swim there, and they would just RUIN the view, but, like, really, what's the problem?

[louis-t]

72. And what's all this talk about violins on tv.

It's a very nice instrument.

[Sequoia]

71. What !!! Are you serious? She didn't know THAT?!!!

Why do people like her get jobs? Clueless bimbo. When will she start hating herself for pandering to fools? I won't hold my breath on this one. Iraquis and we should open up our windows and yell: I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. (Network)

[LiberalFighter]

77. That woman needs a dressing down to the point that the room floods when she cries.

[Robb]

13. That one jumped out at me, too

Good grief. How much longer will these people walk around with their hands over their ears going "La la la la...." :wtf:

[mlevans]

74. That's not easy either.

Just try getting your hands over your ears with your head up your ass.

[undeterred]

15. She doesn't get out of the bubble much.

[riqster]

29. Obfuscation is her job nt

[lpbk2713]

5. Oh shit. That Perrino is such a dumbass tool.

Who the fuck does this asshole really think she's talking to ...

"I have never once heard somebody suggest that that was not a free and fair election in Iraq.'

Anyone who has not been in a coma for the past several years knows better.

[Octafish]

19. Perino didn't know the difference between the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

‘Wasn’t that, like, the Bay of Pigs thing?’

She really does say a lot about the Bush "administration."

[bdamomma]

21. what a stupid beetch.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Helen understand the truth of this situation

I wish more of my fellow citizens did.

Don

[arcadian]

8. Dana Perino = idiot extrordinaire

[Laelth]

9. k&r for good journalism. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[yardwork]

10. Helen Thomas, I love you! I love you, Helen!

If anybody reading this knows Helen Thomas, please tell her that I love her.

[Pastiche423]

42. Tell her yourself...

[e-mail]

Every time I have emailed to Helen, she has always emailed me back. (Yes, I have printed them out and kept them.)

I :loveya: Helen!

[bdamomma]

60. thanks for her e-mail address I just e-mailed Helen a note.

[FloridaJudy]

11. One of the first things President Obama should do

Is declare Helen Thomas a national treasure.

You go, girlfriend! K&R.

[bdamomma]

20. she should get the medal of freedom!!!

[FloridaJudy]

23. Damned right: she's earned it. eom

[lpbk2713]

27. If one of the Watergate Conspirators like Chuck Colson is worthy of the MoF ....

... then Helen Thomas certainly is. IMHO Shit-for-Brains cheapened the MoF by recently awarding
it to this crook. He'll probably dispense a few more to RWer crooks before January 20th is here.





Ed to add link for background info: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/watergate/charles.html

[lunatica]

35. Then he'll have to laugh at himself when she holds his feet to the fire

Because I'm sure she will.

[FloridaJudy]

36. Good.

He's not perfect. It's the job of a good journalist to point out where he needs improvement - and Helen can do it.

And I think he has the class to recognize when she's right.

[lunatica]

39. Yeah! Many Presidents have been held accountable by Helen...

And I hope she breaks every record in the books and lives long enough to hold at least one more accountable.

[ogneopasno]

12. I love how Perino forgets Rule No. 1 for spokeswomen:

You don't have to answer. You really don't.

[Melissa G]

14. Helen Rocks! Perino is sooo out of her depth. n/t

[hamsterjill]

34. A national treasure

Helen is a national treasure, and it rates Perino NO POINTS with me when she is sarcastic and condescending to Helen.

Helen has more class in her little pinkie than Perino could ever have.

[Melissa G]

47. True, That! n/t

[pleah]

16. K&R for Helen. n/t

[bdamomma]

17. oh my Dana Purina is sure deluded isn't she?

another accomplice.

Thank you Helen for presenting the facts, to that crazy bitch.

[Javaman]

22. Pullstring doll perino continues on with her prerecorded blathering. nt

Thank you, Helen. You are indeed a national treasure. :)

[Mari333]

25. dang!! I wish more journalists were like Helen n/t

[surrealAmerican]

67. Just what I was about to say.

A few dozen more like her, and it would be a whole different country.

[pacalo]

28. "It was occupied -- a bunch of people self-picked by us who run the country."

Darn right we love Helen -- she tells it like it is.

[malaise]

30. I saw it live

Helen was fabulous. Love you Helen Thomas.

sp.

[AmyCamus]

31. "MS. PERINO: No, we're not, Helen. We are absolutely a guest."

Dana Perino should go Christmas shopping at an outdoor market in Mosul.
As a "guest" of the Iraqi people.

[crikkett]

32. oops

sorry

[Uncle Joe]

33. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, uppityperson.:thumbsup:

[rhett o rick]

37. Does anyone have a email for Dana?? nm

[slipslidingaway]

38. Great K&R n/t

[rhett o rick]

40. Wonder what it would take for Helen to throw her shoes at Dingy Dana? nm

[Obamanaut]

43. Seems like if we're guests, bombing the crap out of our host is

extremely rude.

[quiet.american]

44. Dana Perino - Stepford Spokesperson. She's a disgrace. nt

[csziggy]

46. DC Dana - in the tradition of Baghdad Bob

[awoke_in_2003]

69. One good thing about Bob...

he could give you a chuckle.

[csziggy]

70. Yes and like Palin he gave us fodder for a lot of jokes without having to do re-writes

http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com/

"There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!"

"My feelings - as usual - we will slaughter them all"

"Our initial assessment is that they will all die"

"I blame Al-Jazeera - they are marketing for the Americans!"

"God will roast their stomachs in hell at the hands of Iraqis."

"They're coming to surrender or be burned in their tanks."

"No I am not scared, and neither should you be!"

"Be assured. Baghdad is safe, protected"

"Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!"

"We are not afraid of the Americans. Allah has condemned them. They are stupid. They are stupid" (dramatic pause) "and they are condemned."

"The Americans, they always depend on a method what I call ... stupid, silly. All I ask is check yourself. Do not in fact repeat their lies."

"I can say, and I am responsible for what I am saying, that they have
started to commit suicide under the walls of Baghdad. We
will encourage them to commit more suicides quickly."

"I can assure you that those villains will recognize, will discover in appropriate time in the future how stupid they are and how they are pretending things which have never taken place."

"We have destroyed 2 tanks, fighter planes, 2 helicopters and their shovels - We have driven them back."

[Bluebear]

45. 'I have never once heard somebody suggest that that was not a free and fair election in Iraq.'

Holy moly.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

48. I wonder how long Obama will continue the occupation.

[Rhiannon12866]

51. I've wondered that, too. I was shocked that Bush* would sneak into Iraq

and push this through in his waning days... But he's doing quite a bit of these sneaky last-minute things... Leaving an even bigger mess for Obama to clean up... :grr:

[Rhiannon12866]

49. Thank you, Helen, the voice of the people! K&R.

And nobody can tell me that "MS. PERINO" isn't a robot. Nobody in their right mind could possibly believe what she's spewing... :eyes:

[madeline_con]

50. "I have never once heard somebody suggest that ...

that was not a free and fair election in Iraq."

Sheltered life, or living in a cave? You decide. :evilgrin:

[Hekate]

52. Please God, let Helen be there to ask President Obama the first press question...

She so much deserves that honor.

Hekate

[Hannah Bell]

53. Perino's not "dumb". She gets paid to lie. Why people keep saying these folks are "dumb,"

I'll never understand.

They're paid liars & obfuscators. Anyone who doesn't understand that is "dumb". You expect sincerity & truth from a White House briefing? Please.

[acmavm]

54. You know what's really galling? This stupid, duplicitous, phoney sad

excuse for a human being will end up with a nice cushy position somewhere. Detroit is dying and that pathetically undereducated liar will end up living a life of ease.

What the fuck??? Let me spell it out again, WHAT THE FUCK???

[mwooldri]

55. I guess time for a new site: we love the whitehouse press secretary.com

( obviously without the spaces... DU software insists I put them in ;P )

Remember this guy? http://welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com/

Yep the site is still up and running but certainly serves to remind us something: official spokespeople can say some silly stuff.

Mark.

[Mad_Dem_X]

56. Helen is the best!

Imagine, a journalist doing their job, asking the hard questions and not settling for the run-around!

[pitchforksandtorches]

57. Sooo nice to have Helen back

she is a God send.

[Vinca]

58. Helen doesn't abide fools. I love her. nt

[Pacifist Patriot]

59. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant woman!

[Roland99]

61. Perino: "Like, OMG, Helen. Like, whatever. I mean, like, totally!"

[shellgame26]

62. But Maliki didn't win

It was some other guy, I forget who now, but the Bushies didn't like him so they installed Maliki, even though he was not the winner.

[happygoluckytoyou]

63. ONE PERSON THROWING A SHOE?? if they understood how many people are buying the reporter new shoes!!

The saddest thing about Resident Bush is his lack of understanding or acceptance of his POLL NUMBERS.
He single-handedly (or you might include his choices for rice cheney etc) has been the most hated president in history.... divided OUR nation... but beyond that brought in massive WORLD HATE against him and his policies.

As "racially charged" as this remark might be.... BUSH IS THE ONLY PERSON OF SO DIVIDING THE NATION THAT A WOMAN OR A BLACK MAN COULD BEAT HIS PARTY

The Democrats could have nominated ANYONE and won the election. Barack Obama is a great man--- this is NOT to detract from his abilities--- but he could have been a lot less, could have faced a more racially biased population, could have misspoken, could have been caught anything short of raping sheep..... and WON.

He may have "avenged daddy bush" against saddam... but he dragged the GOP so far down--->
that in 2016 they'll be singing with Nancy Sinatra "I've been down so long it looks like up to me"

IT IS THE ONLY REDEEMING FACTOR OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION---- THEY SO BROUGHT IN HATE THAT THE PENDULUM HAD TO SWING BACK ! ! ! !

thank you Dubya.... now Please Go Home

[L0oniX]

65. It is a shame upon us all that we have allowed these asscarrots to continue to rule over us.

[kentuck]

66. What happened to the election they were supposed to have in October?

Did they postpone that at Bush's request also?

[jeff30997]

68. "No, we're not, Helen. We are absolutely a guest."

Yeah,sure.And Germany was just paying a friendly visit to Poland.

[Overseas]

73. K&R!! Yes indeed it is great to have Helen back !! //nt

[DFW]

75. 88½ years old and about five feet tall, and she still KO's them in the first round

But then, intellectually, it's like fighting a dandelion. Not a lot of substance
to their counter-argument, if you know what I mean.

Helen gives NO quarter, and always speaks so plainly, they have no refuge in double-
talk without seeming cowardly and foolish. Hmmm, granted, Perino has a master's degree
in appearing cowardly and foolish. But, then, look who she works for. She was taught
by acknowledged grand masters of the art.

[4 t 4]

76. I sure wish there were more around like her-God bless her

she is outstanding! FYI she says this is a depression.

[DFW]

79. I've known Helen for about forty years

She says a LOT worse than that when the mike is off!

[October]

78. Was this Helen? The transcript seems to indicate someone named "Ann"

Did I read it incorrectly?

(I checked the link.)