Patterico's Pontifications

6/7/2010

Jonah Goldberg: Helen Thomas’s Last Straw Looks Like the Rest of Them

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:10 am



Jonah Goldberg:

Spare me Lanny Davis’s wounded outrage. Everyone knows [Helen Thomas] is a nasty piece of work and has been a nasty piece of work for decades.

And when I say a nasty piece of work, I don’t simply mean her opinions on Israel. She’s been full-spectrum awful. I’ve known a few people who knew her 40 years ago, and she was slimy then too. . . . All of these condemnations, equivocations, repudiations and protestations are all fundamentally silly because they are part of a DC Kabuki that treats the last straw as if it was wholly different than the million other straws everyone was happy to carry.

On one hand, I get what he’s saying. Nobody who has paid attention to Helen Thomas over the years is surprised by what she said. Many of us who viewed the video were less than shocked, and I am actually surprised that she’s actually receiving a backlash for the same kind of crap she has spewed for years.

Then again, the last straw is the last straw precisely because it’s a lot like the others — yet is somehow also just a little worse. And Thomas has never before been quite this clear in expressing her support for ethnic cleansing. Yeah, she has said similar things, but not quite this shamelessly.

The harrumphs of former respect are indeed ridiculous, but let’s let the backlash play out, Jonah.

Thanks to Allahpundit.

62 Responses to “Jonah Goldberg: Helen Thomas’s Last Straw Looks Like the Rest of Them”

  1. Well, now i am reading that the “last straw” might turn out to be the pentultimate straw. That’s right, like James O’Keefe at his best, there might be another video. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OGQzMzUzOTMwMzA4NTRiNWExNjgxZGM4N2Y5MzMwODA=

    (pulls up popcorn and gets ready to watch the fireworks.)

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  2. Gosh I thought Helen spoke the truth to power. Those who are charter member of the racist and tribal elite don’t like that however.

    David Brown (69f4e8)

  3. People who type “sp*ke twoof to powder” should be banned from the innertubes. David is an imbecile.

    I am with Jonah, this Gollum creature has been spewing this kind of vile for decades. The Left has tolerated her because they tend to agree with her, and the right, especially Tony Snow, tolerated her because she was a useful foil. But make no mistake, this creature has been spitting this kind of cr#p out of her piehole for decades.

    JD (b537f4)

  4. Indeed, David Brown is an imbecile. In a previous thread he lauded Helen Thomas’ “courage” for speaking out but seemed unaware that she’s “apologized” for her comments – thereby negating all of David Browns’ vapid comment. Hilarious in fact, but typical of the brain power of the anti-semites.

    JD, Tony Snow tolerated her because the White House Press Corps protects her.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  5. SPQR – He was likely lauding her because he knew that she was only apologizing because she was caught, not because she holds such noxious views. Agreed on the protection, but Snow managed to wallop her upside the head on a consistent basis, ie. thank you for the Hezbollah position, Helen.

    JD (b537f4)

  6. Gosh I thought Helen spoke the truth to power. Those who are charter member of the racist and tribal elite don’t like that however.

    Someone who’s been prominent in the media complex for 40-odd years and is given a front-row seat at press briefings due to her position is part of the elite, not an outsider.

    If Helen Thomas is receiving backlash now, it’s because she committed the cardinal sin of openly revealing her hatreds outside of the political-academic-media cocktail party circuit, where your real opinions aren’t recorded for the entire country to see, during a time when it’s not politically expedient to do so.

    Howard Dean can get away with saying that he hates Republicans and everything they stand for, and Alec Baldwin can call for Henry Hyde and his family to be stoned to death, and no one bats an eye at the time because it won’t cause political damage at the time it’s said.

    If her publicist is dropping her that fast, they’ve probably been thinking about breaking off ties with her for a while and this incident just provided a convenient excuse. As Goldberg pointed out, it’s not like they haven’t known about her opinions all these years–there’s a whole archive of her work going back decades.

    Another Chris (2d8013)

  7. I liked it when Tony Snow thanked her during one press briefing for “the Hezbollah perspective.”

    Eric Blair (e2121c)

  8. Last straw or not her ugly whore face will remain emblematic of journalism in our country I think.

    She is them and them is she.

    happyfeet (682797)

  9. #8–which is why the FTC feels compelled to try to rescue journalism–any industry with Helen Thomas as a face deserves to die a slow, agonizing death.

    Rochf (ae9c58)

  10. Hezbollah perspective indeed. Best line I’ve heard on Helen Thomas in this affair is that when she spoke, she revealed that she is as ugly on the inside as she is on the outside.

    Mike Myers (3c9845)

  11. #4 SPQR:

    JD, Tony Snow tolerated her because the White House Press Corps protects her.

    I don’t think that he did, really.

    I do believe that he was so uncommonly gentlemanly, for either side of the aisle, that his disdain for her went over the heads of the masses, washed or not, and myself often included.

    EW1(SG) (edc268)

  12. Ace has a headline up two minutes ago. announcing her retirement. And FOX just came up with the same.

    Have Blue (854a6e)

  13. breaking news. cnn reports that helen thomas has retired!

    Which means she was about to be fired, i assume.

    Got that via an email alert.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  14. It’s true! “Ding dong . . .!”

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C. O.R. (a18ddc)

  15. still literally can’t see any of my comments, sigh.

    but notice, the initial email said she retired “after controversial remarks about jews.”

    But right now at cnn’s website http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/07/breaking-helen-thomas-has-retired-hearst-announces/?fbid=wXHU7gwskKM

    They say:

    Longtime White House correspondent Helen Thomas, who recently made controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians, has retired, Hearst Corporation said Monday.

    Notice how they soften it.

    sheesh.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  16. Now that Ms. Thomas is “retiring”, how will the LAT – who have had virtually no coverage on this controversy – spin this outcome to their readers?

    AD - RtR/OS! (f11dd4)

  17. Is it just me, or does anybody else note the strange facial similarity between (the just-retired) Helen Thomas and the Emperor Palpatine?

    Joel Rosenberg (ab94ff)

  18. Four comments just disappeared form this thread (including 21 by nk lamenting not genociding the German people after WWII). Cleared cookies but they are still gone. Some gone from other threads as well but don’t know how many.

    Have Blue (854a6e)

  19. I’m sorry, nk, did i just see you wish the germans were genocided?

    Hey, no love for the nation of germany, circa 1945. But that’s a bit over the top.

    That being said, i am out tricks to view comments in this thread, so whatever you say in return, i probably won’t see. Indeed, if you are having the same problem, you might not even see this.

    Let me give you the benefit of the doubt by sayign maybe you were just making a joke. i hope so.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  20. #16 beat me to the punch – somewhere in the bowels of the LAT building, a real-life Winston Smith is scratching his head over this very question.

    sherlock (34a40e)

  21. Four comments just disappeared form this thread (including 21 by nk lamenting not genociding the German people after WWII).
    Comment by Have Blue — 6/7/2010 @ 10:18 am

    That one was done by me. It was only up for a few minutes and I pulled it until Patterico or DRJ can look at it. Sorry for the confusion and any other comments that seem to be AWOL are probably just artifacts of the techs continuing to work the site issues. A lot of the ad-hoc fixes over the years were probably lost when the site moved because the new hosting company updated all the software and templates. They are working hard to get things back to what we’re used to and everyone’s comments are looked at and helpful. So is everyone’s patience. 😉

    Stashiu3 (44da70)

  22. Btw, is it wrong that the first thing that popped into my head when i heard she retired is…

    “Ding dong! The witch is dead! The witch is dead!”

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  23. Has Helen Thomas written any recent columns? I can’t seem to find any.

    I realize they’ll be characterized by moral vapidity, but I’d like to see her writing capabilities, if any.

    Richard Romano (5cff42)

  24. btw, this piece in reason is, well, reasonable. okay, joking aside, they’ve got an interesting argument about how when reporters are never allowed to express opinions, that results in disconnected craziness.

    http://reason.com/blog/2010/06/07/helen-thomas-and-the-awkward-t

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  25. The German people were uncommon evil, that’s for sure.

    Startlingly evil. Like oh my God I can’t believe how evil they were evil. Someone should make a movie.

    So people remember.

    happyfeet (682797)

  26. In times of trouble a charismatic leader told people their problems were not their fault, that Jews and businessmen were exploiting them and causing their problems while they got rich and fat. He promised that if the people voted him into power he would give them jobs, educations, and a fuel efficient car in every garage. When opponents tried to point out the lies he used organized thugs to disrupt their gatherings and silence hecklers at his own. He bought or intimidated the press to feed the people his BS. In a short time he ruined his country’s international relations and led them to ruin.

    The German people fell for the same line.

    Machinist (497786)

  27. Joel, Palpatine wasn’t that ugly. Now she has time to chase Mack Trucks on the freeway to improve her looks.

    PCD (1d8b6d)

  28. The German people fell for the same line.
    Comment by Machinist — 6/7/2010 @ 11:27 am

    Extremely well-played Sir. 😉

    Stashiu3 (44da70)

  29. You don’t have to be evil to fall for pie-in-the-sky promises, just gullible, and people of any nation can be gullible.

    DRJ (d43dcd)

  30. Dumped cookies, etc, and got to see 25 of 29 comments. Came back a second time (immediately) and can only see the first 14.
    Still W-7/IE-8, and wondering why I even bother.

    AD - RtR/OS! (f11dd4)

  31. That’s weird because all the comments are loading for me for the first time since we moved. At least I think they are. Is this #31?

    DRJ (d43dcd)

  32. I certainly don’t mean to Godwin this and Obama lacks the ability to do what Hitler did but when backed by truly evil people such as our leaders in the legislature the danger is increased greatly.

    We lost the right to turn up our noses at Mexican corruption when Clinton was elected. As bad as it is there the President of Mexico has more dignity than to rent out the Presidential mansion with a price ;list and check out times and he did not sell out his peoples safety and security to their worst enemy for money. Obama so far seems more driven by ideology and vanity than greed but it is early yet and with both the media and the oversight organs in the Legislature in control of the Democrats there is little way to look into it.

    I dearly hope the American people wake up this year and throw the Democrats and most of the Republican incumbents out of office. We would be better off with idealistic and enthusiastic beginners than with the old guard of the political class that just want the old leaders out so they can be the new Ch’aka and wear the white suit.

    Machinist (497786)

  33. It’s ok until I comment. Then I get sent back to three days ago. I’m sure it’s the cookie that remembers me on the sign-in field. It fixes when I delete cookies.

    nk (db4a41)

  34. I dearly hope the American people wake up this year and throw the Democrats and most of the Republican incumbents out of office.
    Comment by Machinist — 6/7/2010 @ 12:38 pm

    “Professional Politician” is not only an oxymoron, it should be a criminal offense. ‘Politician’ should not be a career-choice and certainly should not get a government pension for any length of service, whether it’s 5 days or 5 decades.

    Stashiu3 (44da70)

  35. Stashiu3,
    I hate the idea of term limits for representatives but I am thinking you are right and it is a necessity. Our political class is our biggest threat as a Republic. Their interests are against the peoples so they begin to see the people as their enemy or at least their true adversary. The peoples’ resources end up being used against them.

    Machinist (497786)

  36. testing one two three

    test (9548cd)

  37. Mac,

    I understand the arguments against term limits but have come to believe that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. We have a two-term limit for President. Make this the norm for all levels. Two terms at any level for life, no pension. Move up or out and if they get caught doing something corrupt, automatic jail sentence with permanent forfeiture of voting rights. Public servants should serve, not become public masters.

    Stashiu3 (44da70)

  38. I agree, Sir. I am thinking we need accountability for our judges as well or this would give them even more power than they have already seized.

    Machinist (497786)

  39. things

    enoch_root (9548cd)

  40. stuff

    enoch_root (9548cd)

  41. other things

    enoch_root (9548cd)

  42. Stashiu3,

    Unless you remove the permanent bureaucracy that supports governmental staff, all term limits do is pass the power along to the unelected bureaucracy. The proper term limit is a diligent constituency who hold their representatives accountable.

    Sadly, far too many elderly will be bought off with $250 checks, and too many families are bought off with $$$ brought by politicians for local projects.

    Shifting power to the bureaucracy, whose permanency makes them even more accessible to influential lobbyists and the unions (which they are members of), would be the greatest tragedy this Republic could ever commit.

    I am sorry, but you are so far from right that you are not even wrong.

    Christian (f10530)

  43. testing things always

    enoch_root (9548cd)

  44. and always and always

    enoch_root (9548cd)

  45. Wow, Christian. Forgive me, but you seem really, really sure about that.

    Could you please name some of the truly great politicians that have served for decades? As opposed to the many names of empty suits filled with graft and privilege? I think we should do the yellow legal pad test: you write your Champions of Democracy Career Poliiticians on one side. Stashiu3, Machinist, and I will write the names of politicians who have done horrific things while serving for decades.

    And I am curious: is your claim that the bureaucracy associated with a given congresscritter stays in place when the next guy or gal takes office? I doubt that Scott Brown is using Ted Kennedy’s staffers.

    No disrespect intended. Your certitude is odd, given how politics has been working the last few decades.

    Eric Blair (2708f4)

  46. I am sorry, but you are so far from right that you are not even wrong.
    Comment by Christian — 6/7/2010 @ 2:37 pm

    I’ve heard this argument and understand there is some truth to it, but it is not an absolute. As the air traffic controllers learned, nobody is indispensable when they get too big for their britches. Elect the folks who are going to do things right then go back home to their real job. If the staffers, bean counters, and corruptocrats try to take power for themselves, boot’em. You can make chicken&egg arguments all day, but to fix the problem you have to interrupt the cycle somewhere. Elections are the most effective way to do it.

    I’m certainly interested in hearing how you would deal with the “unelected bureaucracy” which already has too much influence over day-to-day operations (as almost anyone who has gotten a letter from the IRS will tell you). I’m just saying you have to start somewhere. If you have a better entry point, I’m more than willing to reconsider my position.

    Stashiu3 (44da70)

  47. Unless you remove the permanent bureaucracy that supports governmental staff, all term limits do is pass the power along to the unelected bureaucracy.

    Actually, the easiest and likely only way to remove the permanent bureaucracy is to term-limit Congress. It is the bureaucracy that allows Congress to wash its hands of the responsibility of governing, so it can get re-elected. With term limits comes the end of the continual re-election campaigning in office. Those who are term-limited out will be more willing to slash the bureaucracy, especially if they have to actually go back and live under the laws they passed.

    John Hitchcock (9e8ad9)

  48. There should be no public employee unions.

    Machinist (497786)

  49. Amen to that, brother.

    Dmac (3d61d9)

  50. Let us not forget that Henry Morgenthau,the Secretary of the Treasury under FDR seriously considered turning Germany into an agricultural nation. DeGaulle thought it was a great idea.
    Also, I think that “sp*ke twoof to powder” would be a really neat thing to do if i knew what sp*king was.

    tony stokes (994039)

  51. Yeah, the world had had enough blood spilled by the end of the war. But we could have carved out a part of Germany/Austria, not just for the Jews but for all the displaced people of Eastern Europe who had to find new homelands, and let the damn Nazis be the boll weevils looking for a home.

    nk (db4a41)

  52. nk – I find your views on this, at best, odd.

    JD (b537f4)

  53. Punishing Germany and rendering them impotent after WW1 did not work out so well. I think rebuilding Germany and Japan proved to be much better for us and for the world.

    Machinist (497786)

  54. tony stokes, Morgenthau’s brilliant idea cost thousands of lives by stiffening resistance in Germany in the last months of the war.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  55. nk – I find your views on this, at best, odd.

    Comment by JD — 6/8/2010 @ 8:14 am

    The Romans burned Carthage to the ground and plowed the ground over with salt so that not even grass would grow there. They had had enough with devil worshippers.

    Hitler and Tojo started a war that killed a 100 million people before it was over. We were kinder than the Romans but I don’t know that it would have been odd (outside human nature) to have imposed a Carthaginian peace on Germany and Japan.

    I also have a personal stake. My grandfather’s brother and his two sons (my namesake only sixteen) were summarily executed by Germans.

    nk (db4a41)

  56. To Helen Thomas, I have only this to say: “You there! Old Woman, your Papers! NOW!” “Don’t worry, we have a place for you…..”

    [Which I’m sure she will happily assent to – given her predilection for forced relocation. Oh. Wait, that is for OTHERS.]

    Californio (03e3cd)


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