Helen Thomas says to DUers who wished her happy birthday, THANK YOU ALL!

[DFW]

She said, by the way, that Obama did not extend her any birthday wishes this year.

It's OK, a LOT of other people did.

And now DU is part of that list, and she said specifically to thank all who posted.

Soooooooooooo, to all who posted, from Helen: THANK YOU!

[stray cat]

1. Obama didn't wish me a happy birthday this year either

[DFW]

6. That makes two of us.

But has forgotten my birthday more than once.

As a matter of fact, the ONLY time I ever got a presidential birthday note, it was when I was 11, and my
dad put Pierre Salinger up to getting it. I still have that pic--a photo of JFK made out to me in his hand
"with best wishes."

Those were the days, eh?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. Did he USE to in years previous? -nt

[Hekate]

9. He gave her a cupcake last year and she was rather churlish about it, iirc.

She wanted him to know this wasn't going to earn him any brownie points in her articles. :eyes: okay, okay, we got the point

Still, from this private citizen: Happy Birthday Helen, many more, and good health as long as you live!

Hekate

[earth mom]

20. Helen was probably "churlish" because Obama didn't seem sincere about it. nt

[Hekate]

35. I wasn't in the room, but I saw the film clip. I think they were both sincere.

sheesh--lol

[DFW]

11. I was not being serious--I hope you weren't either

I have gotten exactly one presidential birthday greeting. I posted about it elsewhere on the thread.

And churlish???

She was flattered by Obama's gesture.

I was the one who asked her, a month later, if she was going to go easy on him because of the cupcake.
She laughed and said "oh, he'll have to offer me a lot more than that." She was joking about it, and we
all laughed at her comment. She does have a sense of humor, believe it or not. This was a comment made to
me and my brother at dinner a month after her birthday, 2009. She said nothing about it at all to Obama
personally. Not really churlish the way I see it.

[Forkboy]

21. And who can blame him?

[WillyT]

2. Much Love To Helen !!! - K & R !!!

:loveya:

:kick::

:hi:

[elleng]

3. THANKS FOR THE CONVEYANCE, DFW!

[EFerrari]

4. Did she have a good day?

Thanks, DFW. :)

[DFW]

7. Yes, she did, and thanks for asking

I got off the phone with her about half an hour ago, and she had just had a visit from
a former "rival" from the AP back when she was UPI, and the AP and UPI were serious rivals.

[EFerrari]

19. Ha! I hope she enjoyed it and got some licks in.

Helen reminds a lot of my mother who is 79. They just LOOK little. I wouldn't get in their way for love or money, not without full body armor and decent life insurance. :hi:

[LostinVA]

5. Happy birthday to one of the most heroic people I have ever met

[bigwillq]

10. K and R (nt)

[hootinholler]

12. Thanks for being the middledude! n/t

[DFW]

14. Hey, I TRIED to get her to post here

She said no, thanks, but I was welcome to be the "middledude," as you so aptly put it.

I pressed her on when she was going to begin writing stuff again, and she said she was contemplating
writing for public consumption again "very soon."

[Forkboy]

22. i like the idea of her being freelance. It opens up some avenues she might have had to avoid before.

[DFW]

25. Very astute

That idea hadn't escaped her either :thumbsup:

[Ignis]

24. That's a pity. As soon as she becomes a DUer...

...assholes can no longer lob vile personal attacks at her here.

[DFW]

26. She has built up a certain immunity anyway

You wouldn't believe the vile stuff she has had to endure in the last 2 months. If she can
weather that, she can weather the worst DU has to offer. The negative stuff against her on
DU has been tame compared to what some of her former "friends" have tossed at her.

[Ignis]

27. That's so sad.

But then, that whole industry is filled with fickle friends, I fear. :(

Here's wishing Helen the belated best. :party: Thanks again for being the middledude.

[DFW]

28. Always a pleasure

When my dad passed away ten years ago, a memorial was held at the National Press Club in DC.
I flew over for it, as I was asked to speak.

Who was the first of his colleagues in the press to arrive? Helen Thomas, of course.

[hootinholler]

33. She is an amazing woman

I'm looking forward to her analysis.

-Hoot

[Lugnut]

37. Oh, how I hope she continues to write.

She's so good at cutting through the nonsense and telling it like it is. I'm so glad to hear that she had a pleasant birthday.

[saracat]

13. I didn't see the Helen Birthday thread so Happy Birthday ,Helen.

Helen is my hero.She always will be! :loveya:

[DFW]

15. Sorry about that--it was from yesterday

Here goes:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8869725

[suffragette]

16. I missed the earlier thread so a belated Happy Birthday

to Helen.

:party:

[BeHereNow]

17. Thanks DFW! I can't think of ANY one I would rather wish a happy birthday.

They broke the mold after Helen was born.
She is one in a TRILLION.
BHN

[earth mom]

18. Wow, that's mean that Obama didn't wish Helen a Happy Birthday.

Wonder if Helen returned the favor to Obama since it's his birthday now? :evilgrin:

[DFW]

23. Actually, Helen thought he was in Chicago today

I didn't look it up, but somebody on DU must be from that area and ought to know.

Besides, I'm pretty sure that now that she's "out," that Obama would have a lot
easier time calling her up (if he wanted to) than she would calling him up.

[saracat]

34. He went to Chicago later in the day. He could call.

It would be a nice thing to do, or send a card.

[happy_liberal]

29. Tell Helen Thomas we need her now more than ever!

Now that she has been set free from the chains of mainstream journalism...she can tell us the whole truth behind the scenes like no one else can. She needs a website or something...maybe she should blog at huffingtonpost or HERE!

[political_Dem]

30. Helen Thomas deserves her accolades and the very best. She has given a lot to this country.

[66 dmhlt]

31. Dear Helen -

No one - and I mean NO ONE - will ever be journalistic capable of filling your shoes ... or seat!

[no_hypocrisy]

32. Happy Belated Birthday Helen!

I love you!

[Hekate]

36. Happy Belated Birthday, Helen, from a full-on fan.

:toast: