I Come to Praise Helen Thomas, Not to Bury Her-by: William Rivers Pitt

[Carl]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8523764

kpete  (1000+ posts)          Wed Jun-09-10 05:30 PM
Original message
I Come to Praise Helen Thomas, Not to Bury Her-by: William Rivers Pitt   
   
Edited on Wed Jun-09-10 05:30 PM by kpete
I Come to Praise Helen Thomas, Not to Bury Her

Wednesday 09 June 2010

by: William Rivers Pitt, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

......................

Had the press and the Bush administration paid heed to Helen Thomas, there would not be 5,000 new graves at Arlington National Cemetery. There would not be 40,000 plus wounded American soldiers. There would not be thousands and thousands more suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments, who are unable to get proper treatment from an over-stressed Veterans Affairs' system. There would not have been soldiers left to rot in Walter Reed. There would not be more than a million dead and maimed Iraqis. The Sunnis would not have been massacred, and Iran would not now be in full control of Iraq. There would not have been hundreds of billions of our tax dollars poured into the sand and into the coffers of Bush-friendly "defense" contractors; they call our current economic situation the "Great Recession," but by rights, it should be called the "Iraq Recession," and it would not be as bad as it is had we listened to Helen Thomas.

Perhaps, these things were inevitable. Bush and his crew wanted a war, and if the entire press corps had been made up of Helen Thomas clones, it is entirely possible we would have wound up mired in that filthy conflict anyway. But Thomas tried when her colleagues did not. Thomas asked sharp questions when her colleagues refused. Thomas wrote the truth when her colleagues reprinted Bush administration talking points to protect their seats in the press room. Helen Thomas was right, did right, just as she has done with every administration since John F. Kennedy.

One stupid comment cannot wash away 60 years of credibility and honor. One stupid comment cannot wash away the fight she waged against the Bush administration's criminal campaign in Iraq. One stupid comment cannot wash away the fact that, by her very existence, Helen Thomas exposed the mainstream media for what they are, and no matter how vigorously they jump on her today, they all know the blood remains on their hands.

I am sorry she said what she did. It was very stupid, and perhaps even justifies the termination of her six-decade career. That, as I said, is for others to decide. I stand today to remind any and all that one bad act does not erase a lifetime of excellence. She is gone, and perhaps rightly so, but we were a better country while she labored for us, when she asked the tough questions, when she stood before the powerful and called them liars to their faces.

Thank you, Helen Thomas. For everything.




more:
http://www.truthout.org/i-come-praise-helen-thomas-not-...

From the copy and paste master at the DUmp.

Just for the comedic value though.

Oregone  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jun-09-10 05:31 PM
Response to Original message
2. After all, she was poised to break the sealed Rove indictment
   Thats why they canned her I bet

Commie Pinko Dirtbag  (1000+ posts)          Wed Jun-09-10 06:18 PM
Response to Reply #2
28. And in just more 24 business hours she would have done it too if not for those meddling kids! -nt

Cronus Protagonist  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jun-09-10 05:35 PM
Response to Original message
6. Gosh, he's still writing this kind of pish tosh?
   I can't wait for the day he either figures out how to write or quits.

Missy Vixen  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jun-09-10 06:13 PM
Response to Reply #8
26. Where's your bestselling book, HFPS?
   If you can do better, we're all waiting with bated breath to read it.

Now that was just uncalled for.

HiFructosePronSyrup  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jun-09-10 06:15 PM
Response to Reply #26
27. It's out of print.
   I'm having trouble getting it picked up again after I drunk dialed my publisher and threatened to kill him, and it turned out my co-author was a child molestor.

madinmaryland  (1000+ posts)          Wed Jun-09-10 07:56 PM
Response to Reply #8
61. Conference call in 15 business minutes!

Then a bunch of leftist idolatry over the personification of what the left truly is.

[Mike220]

Even though Willie the Pitt has eaten the granite pizza...

I stand today to remind any and all that one bad act does not erase a lifetime of excellence.

We had a saying in the Confused Group (and I'm sure the other services have something like it) that went: "One 'oh shit' erases a thousand 'atta-boys.'" Hate to break it to you DUmbasses, but yes, one bad act can erase a lifetime of excellence. Though with THamas, that doesn't really work since there wasn't a lifetime of excellence.

[Ballygrl]

Oregone  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jun-09-10 05:31 PM
Response to Original message
2. After all, she was poised to break the sealed Rove indictment
   Thats why they canned her I bet

[PatriotGame]

One stupid comment cannot wash away 60 years of credibility and honor. One stupid comment cannot wash away the fight she waged against the Bush administration's criminal campaign in Iraq. One stupid comment cannot wash away the fact that, by her very existence, Helen Thomas exposed the mainstream media for what they are, and no matter how vigorously they jump on her today, they all know the blood remains on their hands.

Ah...apparently "One stupid comment" did just ALL of that! As I stated in another post, her C A R E E R and her
L E G A C Y were devoured by the very monster Thomas and her ilk created. If there was any blood laying around, it is blood of redemption for all those whom Thomas victimized with her leftist biased half-truths and downright embellished rhetoric. No matter how you mental midgets and moral lightweights on the left try to spin Thomas LOSING her career, the simple fact remains that Thomas is a partisan biased liar, a hard-core leftist, has zero journalistic integrity, and is a bigot. And a Democrat, and I repeat myself.

Spin that wee wittle Willy....

[Ballygrl]

Hardly any Pitt love at the DU.

[The Village Idiot]

wow, that is piling on.

You guys with moles should K&R it.

lol

[soleil]

Hardly any Pitt love at the DU.

Unless you look at the K&Rs. Not sure about the whole Helen Thomas thing. What she said was revolting, and I don't want to be "ageist", but she probably needed to take it to the house anyway.

[PatriotGame]

HiFructosePronSyrup  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jun-09-10 06:15 PM
Response to Reply #26
27. It's out of print.
   I'm having trouble getting it picked up again after I drunk dialed my publisher and threatened to kill him, and it turned out my co-author was a child molestor.

The broiler plate profile for the majority of the DUmp monkeys. Funny as hell if ya ask me. The DUmp is the comedic gift that just keeps on giving.

[Ballygrl]

Unless you look at the K&Rs. Not sure about the whole Helen Thomas thing. What she said was revolting, and I don't want to be "ageist", but she probably needed to take it to the house anyway.

I miss the ability to unrec threads.

[Carl]

Unless you look at the K&Rs. Not sure about the whole Helen Thomas thing. What she said was revolting, and I don't want to be "ageist", but she probably needed to take it to the house anyway.

Helen openly said what the hard left has believed for decades now...that Israel has no right to exist.

Much can be debated as to why the left took up for the arab (that is what it is) cause against Israel in the Carter years but my answer is that it is because they are Marxists.
Marxism holds dearly an atheistic believe and a presumption that humankind can forever evolve to betterment.

Nothing in real life agrees and since the existence of Israel lends credence to the Bible they hate it with a passion.

[soleil]

Helen openly said what the hard left has believed for decades now...that Israel has no right to exist.

Much can be debated as to why the left took up for the arab (that is what it is) cause against Israel in the Carter years but my answer is that it is because they are Marxists.
Marxism holds dearly an atheistic believe and a presumption that humankind can forever evolve to betterment.

Nothing in real life agrees and since the existence of Israel lends credence to the Bible they hate it with a passion.

There are several DUers that are atheists, but several are also Christians. There are some agnostics (a lot), Buddhists, etc. I am not sure about the Israel thing and DU. Some side with the Palestinians. Some side with the Israelis, and some like controversy, so they pick whoever will get the most. My honest thought is that it will never be a peaceful state. This has been going on for almost forever. No side will give in, and it will continue to cause turmoil in the middle east, as if there isn't enough. But this was a "first" turmoil, so the speak. The Christian me tends to side with the Israelis.

[The Village Idiot]

There are several DUers that are atheists, but several are also Christians. There are some agnostics (a lot), Buddhists, etc

Bhuddists I'm sure. Like Tiger Woods and Steven Seagal are Bhuddists. lol.

[soleil]

Bhuddists I'm sure. Like Tiger Woods and Steven Seagal are Bhuddists. lol.

Maybe not a hardcore Buddhist, but follow his philosphy. I know one very well who does follow Buddha.

[PatriotGame]

There are several DUers that are atheists, but several are also Christians. There are some agnostics (a lot), Buddhists, etc. I am not sure about the Israel thing and DU. Some side with the Palestinians. Some side with the Israelis, and some like controversy, so they pick whoever will get the most. My honest thought is that it will never be a peaceful state. This has been going on for almost forever. No side will give in, and it will continue to cause turmoil in the middle east, as if there isn't enough. But this was a "first" turmoil, so the speak. The Christian me tends to side with the Israelis.

Golda Meir said it best: "There will be peace in the middle east when the Arabs love their children as much as we do".

[Ballygrl]

There are several DUers that are atheists, but several are also Christians. There are some agnostics (a lot), Buddhists, etc. I am not sure about the Israel thing and DU. Some side with the Palestinians. Some side with the Israelis, and some like controversy, so they pick whoever will get the most. My honest thought is that it will never be a peaceful state. This has been going on for almost forever. No side will give in, and it will continue to cause turmoil in the middle east, as if there isn't enough. But this was a "first" turmoil, so the speak. The Christian me tends to side with the Israelis.

There won't be peace until 1 side wins, and I think Israel needs to bring the Arab world to their knees begging for peace.

[soleil]

There won't be peace until 1 side wins, and I think Israel needs to bring the Arab world to their knees begging for peace.

But it is a religous war basically. And both sides believe as whole heartedly in their God as the other believes. I don't ever see it coming to an end peacefully unfortunately. I know I wouldn't cave in if it were about Christianity. It ain't gonna happen. And that does make me sad.

[Ballygrl]

Golda Meir said it best: "There will be peace in the middle east when the Arabs love their children as much as we do".

1 of my favorite Golda Meir quotes. Someone at a board I go to has this as her siggy and it always makes me think of that Golda Meir quote:

[soleil]

1 of my favorite Golda Meir quotes. Someone at a board I go to has this as her siggy and it always makes me think of that Golda Meir quote:

There are definitely no rules of war when a terrorist is involved. It is a shame what they will and are proud to do.

[Ballygrl]

But it is a religous war basically. And both sides believe as whole heartedly in their God as the other believes. I don't ever see it coming to an end peacefully unfortunately. I know I wouldn't cave in if it were about Christianity. It ain't gonna happen. And that does make me sad.

The difference though to me is 1 side wanting to impose their God upon everyone and the other side just wants to live in peace. We can't even imagine what Israel goes through, totally surrounded by Countries that want their destruction. Sure it's sad but there has to come a point where the handcuffs need to be taken off Israel and we say you have to do what you have to do.

[soleil]

The difference though to me is 1 side wanting to impose their God upon everyone and the other side just wants to live in peace. We can't even imagine what Israel goes through, totally surrounded by Countries that want their destruction. Sure it's sad but there has to come a point where the handcuffs need to be taken off Israel and we say you have to do what you have to do.

But I am afraid it will end up involving nukes of some kind, and the retaliation will be huge. Kinda like the end of times. And I am not one of those who thinks every hurricane and earthquake signal the end of times. It will come regardless, but I feel it will be when something major happens in the middle east involving Israel. Something like nukes. And that is the only thing IMO that will really be like throwing down the gauntlet.

[The Village Idiot]

But I am afraid it will end up involving nukes of some kind, and the retaliation will be huge. Kinda like the end of times. And I am not one of those who thinks every hurricane and earthquake signal the end of times. It will come regardless, but I feel it will be when something major happens in the middle east involving Israel. Something like nukes. And that is the only thing IMO that will really be like throwing down the gauntlet.

The whole world is pushing Israel into a corner where it will be forced to use nukes to have a chance to survive.

[Ballygrl]

But I am afraid it will end up involving nukes of some kind, and the retaliation will be huge. Kinda like the end of times. And I am not one of those who thinks every hurricane and earthquake signal the end of times. It will come regardless, but I feel it will be when something major happens in the middle east involving Israel. Something like nukes. And that is the only thing IMO that will really be like throwing down the gauntlet.

Which is a reason why I wanted the handcuffs taken off of Israel years ago. With a nuclear Iran around? and basically China and Russia supporting them? it's going to be very difficult now.

[soleil]

Which is a reason why I wanted the handcuffs taken off of Israel years ago. With a nuclear Iran around? and basically China and Russia supporting them? it's going to be very difficult now.

Which, on a whole different point, is why we should have been more concerned about Iran than Iraq. Iran is who we will have problems with (along with North Korea).

Not a whole different point really, but in another direction. They all intermingle.

[PatriotGame]

1 of my favorite Golda Meir quotes. Someone at a board I go to has this as her siggy and it always makes me think of that Golda Meir quote:

I so stole that!
Good job!

[Ballygrl]

I so stole that!
Good job!

Awesome isn't it? and it really shows the difference between the 2 sides.