I worship that woman more than almost any other in the world. Seriously, she is one tough old bird I'd love to meet. And sit down with and have a giant cup of coffee and talk about EVERYTHING.

I love how uncomfortable she made Dana Perrino, too. Watching that poor press secretary squirm her way out of that question was lovely.

Helen Thomas is like the real live version of Hildy Johnson.

Can we declare her a saint? Pleez?

She scares the bejesus out of Stephen Colbert.

She's a saint, but not of any religion. She's an American saint. Oooh. Her face should be on money and postage stamps.

Yeah, she kicks ass. I love her.

The problem is, she wouldn't have to ask these question if the white house press corp wasn't made up of complete soulless money bagging whores.

It's like watching Jon Stewart for the news because it's more informative than the actual news on matters of substance.

*Sighs*

Agreed. She is one of my heroes. The sad thing, as -t said, is that she is an exception to the white house press rule.

She is genuinely a hero for what she does.

♥

Oh, awesome. I'm so sad I had to miss her talk when she came to my campus. Watching her take down Perino is like watching a vicious experienced cat with a young brainless toxoplasmodic(?) mouse.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe she is one of the very few, if not sole press member that never stopped asking those questions that needed to be asked. I'd love to buy her a Sanka.
*stands up, does slow clap thing*

I love Helen Thomas so much. I bet she has some of the most amazing life stories.

I've never heard of her before. She is one feisty old bird, that's for sure.

I have seen her for years, raising "holy hell" over issues far more trivial than this with Presidential Press Secretaries and Presidents. I think she learned that she was so far out of step with the herd that many so-called journalists considered the issues she raised as "off limits" just because she raised them. But still, why did it take HER so long to bring this up? Deviancy is defined further downward.

But still, why did it take HER so long to bring this up?

I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that she isn't called on that often. At least, that's the impression that I get from interviews I've seen with POTUS Press Secretaries and other white house correspondents.

...which is sad, because, in the past, she was always, by tradition, the one who asked the first question at Presidential press conferences, and always the one who said "Thank you, Mister President," at the close of the conference.

I'd never seen her given any measure of disrespect at all--and I remember her going back to Nixon's trip to China, where she was the only print journalist to accompany him--until the current administration, shortly after 9/11 I believe. Ari Fleischer told her, essentially, to shut the hell up with all her impertinent questions.

I got a really bad feeling, right then, about the future.

"We in the press have a special role since there is no other institution in our society ... that can hold the President accountable. I do believe that our democracy can endure and prevail only if the American people are informed". (From Thomas' autobiography, "Front Row at the White House: My Life and Times").

Yeah, I remember when Ari freaked out on suddenly she wasn't the one called on first anymore. That hurt.

Also, damn hell YES she should be on money! Lets start a petition!

You can chip in to buy Helen Thomas some flowers.

Where do I chip in to buy her a medal?