Years ago, I read something about her, a book? an article? Who knows! But she
was one of a kind and had enough of an interesting history to be written about.
But the thing is, presidential press conferences used to involved challenging
questions and presidential attempts to answer them, without really answering
them. The press conferences were a contest of wits, whether for the President
or his representative. This thing that I heard the other day, was a pre
programmed dramatic presentation with a less than gifted star.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2021 10:59 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Biden's press conference
It was a time like any time. Lots was going on, but I think Helen Thomas' open
criticism of George Bush II, pointing out that he was lying to the American
Public, was a center stage reason for her removal. She did regain her seat in
the White House press corp, but not her front row seat, nor her preferential
treatment.
I always waited to hear her sharp and direct questions. I can't recall the
name of a single other member of the press corp.
Carl Jarvis
On 3/26/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
But she didn't stay there, did she? And can you remember which
president got rid of her because I can't. Was it Obama?
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2021 2:34 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Biden's press conference
Helen Thomas, whether you agreed or disagreed with her, spoke her
mind. She was especially critical, to his face, with George Bush II.
But she lost her privileged place in the White House Press Corp, for a
variety of reasons. Personally I thought the President had been
looking for solid reasons to silence her. When the Reverand Sun
Moon...or whatever his name was...bought the paper Helen worked for,
she quit and later went to work for Hearst Publications. For me,
Hearst represented Yellow Journalism at its ugliest. For years I read
the Seattle PI just so I could get indigestion reading Westbrook
Peglar. He wrote for Hearst, and held a one man crusade against
Eleanor Roosevelt, even after her death. From my biased perch I could
never forgive Helen Thomas for going to work for what I considered the Fox
news of the day.
Carl Jarvis
On 3/25/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I wouldn't have heard it, had it not been for Useful Idiots. MattHelen Thomas, whether you agreed or disagreed with her, spoke her
Taibi and Katie Halpern connected with it and commented on it while
it was going on so I watched the stream. They thought, given his
limitations, he rated a B plus. I, on the other hand, was horrified.
It was obvious to them and to me that the reporters were pre selected.
For the most part, it was a show with predetermined questions. Only
in two cases did reporters step out of line and ask demanding questions.
Biden functions with all kinds of behind the scenes assistance, drugs
and cheat sheets and God knows what else. His ability to speak with
clarity and spontaneity is limited, to say the least.
Everything that he says is, of course, propaganda fashioned to
support US policy and to obscure truth. I do remember a time when
presidents were bombarded with hardball questions by reporters. What
happened today was a mere pretense. It wasn't a real press conference
at all. I think the last honest press conference took place before
Helen Thomas was thrown out of the White House press corps for
angering a president, perhaps Obama, perhaps Bush. But this travesty
that occurred today demonstrates how far from a Democracy with press
freedom, we are.
Miriam
mind. She was especially critical, to his facke, with George Bush II.
But she lost her privileged place in the White House Press Corp, for a
variet of reasons. Personally I thought the President had been
looking for solid reasons to silence her. When the Reverand Sun
Moon...or whatever his name was...bought the paper Helen worked for,
she quit and later went to work for Hearst Publications. For me,
Hearst represented Yellow Journalism at its ugliest. For years I read
the Seatttle PI just so I could get indigestion reading Westbrook
Peglar. He wrote for Hearst, and held a one man crusade against
Eleanor Roosevelt, even after her death. From my biased perch I could
never forgive Helen Thomas for going to work for what I considered the Fox
news of the day.
Carl Jarvis
