Maggie says:
Helen Thomas is one of my heroes. There are countless examples of why this woman rocks. She's tough, she's brilliant, she's fascinating, she's bold, and she doesn't take any shit from anybody, as most recently evidenced by a testy Dec 1 White House Briefing Room exchange where she tore apart Bush lackey Dana Perino regarding Iraq.
Go Helen, go! (Transcript underneath the clip... Commentary is mine and in green.)
Helen Thomas: No troops out from Iraq on his watch. I know. I’m talking about all troops.
Dana Perino: Well, 5700 troops will be home by the end of the year so that is some troops coming home. The President said the troop levels are going to be made by the commanders on the ground and we are going to have to talk about return on success. (Would love to hear a full definition of "success," by the way...)
Helen Thomas: Why should it be? Why don’t the American people have a say?
Dana Perino: The American people have had a say. They elected a President (um, really?) who is their commander in chief and is making decisions based on what his commanders on the ground are telling him.
Helen Thomas: Do you think that was the vote from the American people? (Ha!)
Dana Perino: They elected a commander in chief and the President is bringing home 5700 troops based on the recommendations of his commanders on the ground and based on return on success. Hopefully in the future we can bring home more but it’s going to depend on what General Petraeus reports and remember he will come back in March.
Helen Thomas: Why should we depend on him? (Soooo love her!!!)
Dana Perino: Because he is the commander on the ground, Helen. He’s the one who is making sure that the situation is moving —
Helen Thomas: You mean how many more people we kill? (OMG, swoon!!!!!!!!)
Dana Perino: (The look on her face here is priceless.) Helen, I find it really unfortunate that you use your front row position bestowed upon you by your colleagues to make such statements. It is an honor and a privilege to be in the briefing room, and to suggest that we, as the United States, are killing innocent people is just absurd and very offensive. (I almost can't believe someone could actually say this with a straight face. We all know the power and cojones of the press corps have diminished hugely since Bush took office, so the "honor and privilege" line completely embodies the corps' now-token role. Helen is the standout there, no question, and always has been. But to actually believe that it's 'absurd and offensive' to think that the US has killed innocent people? Are you kidding me? What is she drinking?!)
Helen Thomas: Do you know how many we have since the start of this war?
Dana Perino: How many… (Again with the priceless expression.) We are going after the enemy, Helen. To the extent that any innocent Iraqis have been killed, we have expressed regret for it.
Helen Thomas: Oh, regret. It doesn’t bring back a life. (Slam!)
PS: For more Helen, read her book... I highly recommend it.
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