Are you serious?

I was relating an experience I had 40 years ago.

The world has changed enormously since then, especially data processing wise.

I didn't mean to offend you.

It feels as if our ration of intellectual honesty has been on backorder since I can remember, and I'm much older than you are. How cavalier to suggest that just because this particular person's intellectual honesty comes packaged in the body of an older woman that it's obviously dispensable. That a woman who has lived so fully and given so much of herself to this country is now merely expendable. Because she is older. How utilitarian of you.

I had been thinking better of you lately, omooex, but now you remind me of some of those misogynistic pundit-types I (used to) see on TV all of the time (until digital TV killed our reception)... the majority of whom have none of Thomas's grit.

I believe that Glenn mentioned some of them in a post today... they're going to be teaching at Georgetown, IIRC.

* * *

When I read comments like that one, I can't help but wonder what such a person thinks of his own grandmother. Mothers are different... there's often too much emotional baggage, but grandmothers are often in a different (better) class of relationship.

Stop digging.

When reporters have to qualify for the 100 meter dash at the Olympics, maybe Helen should pass the baton but her mind is as good as any of those slugs currently covering the WH, and better than most of them.

You are flat wrong.

“What are the qualifications for that job? Does she actually write anything anymore? When was the last time you read an article by Helen Thomas?

For 57 years, Helen Thomas reported for United Press International and in her later years she was its Washington Bureau Chief. Only in more recent months has she written a clearly-labeled opinion column for the Hearst newspapers. She writes her column every week.

She is far more qualified and asks far more intelligent, penetrating questions than her WH colleagues. Her intelligence is as sharp as ever. It is not her fault that Gibbs and Obama are afraid to call on her and she has to interrupt to be heard. You are sadly misinformed and have made some very poor guesses instead of doing any research. I'm surprised. That is not your normal mode of operations.

O.M.G. Those guys were/are sooooo old.

Much too old to be doing what they were/are doing so near the end of their lives. Really! Why didn't they just hand over their projects to some younger, more appealing person?

* * *

Of course, they all still had/have a twinkle in the eye...

One experience I had in the Middle East was when it was decided that we would educate some recent university graduates in data processing. The task fell upon me. It was an impossible undertaking. Arabs, prior to the discovery of oil were Bedouins roaming the desert and their aptitude for math or logical reasoning was almost non-existent. Perhaps I was a poor instructor, but the effort failed hugely.

There was nary a peep. But I gave him the benefit of the doubt and gave him a chance to explain it. This is absurd; I didn't single women out--I also mentioned Nader and Paul in the first post. And even added Arafat . That's clear in both posts.

At least one can discuss the issue that Jebbie brings up--whether or not someone has the capacity to fulfill the job at that age. I don't think so personally; I feel I'd be lucky to be able to shave my face at the age of ninety.

The question for me is how does she have this job, and why couldn't anyone else do it? Really, ask yourslef, why there's only one person who asks these questions. AND REALLY ASK YOURSELF WHY THEY ALLOW HER TO! Jeezus, don't we talk here everyday at how well-selected the White House Press Corps is...

I'm off to have a drink and walk my dog, in that order. I meant no offense--its fine that you don't agree with me. I personally don't see the insult, but do know that its hard to see things from other people's shoes. We'll see if you people are big enough to do that as well.

Any one who orders, covers for, advocates, or supports torture is a criminal. It is that simple.

So what are we discussing?

Anyone in my group of friends that defends torture becomes an ex-friend. It do not want to have any relation with a criminal.

Because the rest of them don't have the guts and choose not to.

And why should she need permission from anyone, much less from you? That is how your question sounds-- very presumptuous.

As for her ability to do the job. I thought that was abundantly clear.

Apparently not... but then we do live now in an upside-down world, where only those who have been consistently wrong (many/most of them men?) are allowed to continue to prate their nonsense all over the TV and newsprint... while those who have been consistently correct about most of what's going on in the world (including Helen Thomas) are pretty much shut out of what now passes for the "public" dialog.

I didn't miss anything. I saw the backhanded, after-the-insult "compliments". Is your idea of "standing in awe" of her life referring to her as the butt of a joke for the past decades? Funny concept that.

I saw your gratuitous swipes at Paul and Nader, so maybe you're just ageist. But you didn't name their replacements either. No, I think your words were the only two alternatives to the entrenched two party system.

The elderly woman who is the butt of the jokes should go, but the crazy old uncles? Eh, no one comes to mind. I guess you can't get rid of all the targets at once.

I didn't carve anything out of what you said omooex. You made it plain as day that people you define as old, without making any exceptions whatsoever in your definition, are inferior. Across the board.

And you made a huge assumption that there will be someone new, more vigorous, more lithe and less wrinkled, who will waltz in and have the same knowledge, wisdom and flat out spunk that Helen Thomas still shows.

I don't think anyone else, sparkly or otherwise, will be allowed to do what she does. While you believe that Helen's aura is somehow suppressing all the young, liberal talent out there?

Being a ceremonial 90 year old leftist, however, is nothing to be proud of.

Not my fault you have no aspirations. Women in my family live a long time so I'll get there. And I'll be proud. Since I won't be "ceremonial" in the least, you can just kiss my shriveled ass if you haven't learned respect for your elders by that time.

Helen Thomas isn't a "keepsake". She's a national treasure. And what she represents is being destroyed, not renewed. Would that our society, like wiser ones, recognized and valued our elders.

Instead we label them obsolete and push them to the sides accordingly. Now that is really something to be proud of.