"8) Tony Snow to Helen Thomas: “Thank you for the Hezbollah view.” (July 18)"
Is it funny if its true? And what makes this funny? That a White House press secretary finally called Helen Thomas on her utterly inane commentary posing as a question? Does anyone anywhere really think Helen Thomas is a professional journalist? I suppose its funny the White House media office still provides her a press pass, but maybe that's for everyone else's comic relief.
Communication with the dead (or perhaps soon to be dead) was a common theme last week. Two days after Senator Sessions said he talks to those who've lost their lives, the President said something similar.
Ann: I agree that the truth is especially funny, and this example nicely demonstrates that although sarcasm may not win an argument, it sure can be funny.
THOMAS: The United States is not that helpless. It could have stopped the bombardments of Lebanon. We have that much control with the Israelis. We have gone for collective punishment against all of Lebanon and Palestine. And what’s happening — and that’s the perception of the United States.
Ramsey Clark consistently voices the perspective of, for example, Saddam Hussein. Ramsey Clark is an American. That does not change the fact that the perspective he voices is Saddam's. Similarly, just because Thomas is an American does not mean that the perspective she voices is not Hezbollah's.
"You don't have to be a member of, or even sympathetic to Hezbollah to say what Ms. Thomas said."
True, but it helps. Further, one does not need to be a member of Hezbollah to share their perspectives. Thomas is not a member of Hezbollah, but she does share their perspective. Similarly, one does not need to sympathize with Hezbollah to share their perspective.
That said, I think if one infers that she is sympathetic to them, one probably would have inferred correctly.
Because the person voicing it is an American. You don't have to be a member of, or even sympathetic to Hezbollah to say what Ms. Thomas said
Snow didn't say Thomas was a member of Hezbollah. He said she was presenting Hezbollah's view, which she was. If sharing Hezbollah's view of the recent war in Lebannon bothers you that much, you should consider changing your view. :)
"You don't have to be a member of, or even sympathetic to Hezbollah to say what Ms. Thomas said."
Huh?? Did you even read the transcript? Thomas was barely asking a question, she was ranting the Hezbollah talking points!
You're right in principle - people don't have to be a member of that group or sympathetic to just talk about their views - but you're mistaken in this specific case. Helen Thomas wasn't questioning, she was haranguing and indulging in advocacy.
12 comments:
"8) Tony Snow to Helen Thomas: “Thank you for the Hezbollah view.” (July 18)"
Is it funny if its true? And what makes this funny? That a White House press secretary finally called Helen Thomas on her utterly inane commentary posing as a question? Does anyone anywhere really think Helen Thomas is a professional journalist? I suppose its funny the White House media office still provides her a press pass, but maybe that's for everyone else's comic relief.
The truth is especially funny.
I object to Wexler's inclusion. All of the others were said in seriousness. He was playing along with a gag. Big difference.
Not that I like Wexler, per se, but he earned the laughter with intent, and the laughter was as he intended. The rest of the list is not like that.
Communication with the dead (or perhaps soon to be dead) was a common theme last week. Two days after Senator Sessions said he talks to those who've lost their lives, the President said something similar.
"I talk to families who die." - President Bush, Dec. 7
Ann: I agree that the truth is especially funny, and this example nicely demonstrates that although sarcasm may not win an argument, it sure can be funny.
Ohmygawd. Did Ann just endorse Tony Snow’s disgusting Hezbollah joke as being funny because it’s true?!
In a less insane country, you could not do that and be elected Best Centrist Blogger in the same week.
You’re Powerline without the honesty.
Here was Thomas' "question":
THOMAS: The United States is not that helpless. It could have stopped the bombardments of Lebanon. We have that much control with the Israelis. We have gone for collective punishment against all of Lebanon and Palestine. And what’s happening — and that’s the perception of the United States.
How is that not the Hezbollah view, Doyle?
Because the person voicing it is an American. You don't have to be a member of, or even sympathetic to Hezbollah to say what Ms. Thomas said.
You just have to be willing to ask hard questions of the Bush administration's scumbag press secretary.
Hey give Tony Snowflake a few minutes to parse....
I parse
I have parsed
I will parse
Parse the bullshit.
"Because the person voicing it is an American."
Ramsey Clark consistently voices the perspective of, for example, Saddam Hussein. Ramsey Clark is an American. That does not change the fact that the perspective he voices is Saddam's. Similarly, just because Thomas is an American does not mean that the perspective she voices is not Hezbollah's.
"You don't have to be a member of, or even sympathetic to Hezbollah to say what Ms. Thomas said."
True, but it helps. Further, one does not need to be a member of Hezbollah to share their perspectives. Thomas is not a member of Hezbollah, but she does share their perspective. Similarly, one does not need to sympathize with Hezbollah to share their perspective.
That said, I think if one infers that she is sympathetic to them, one probably would have inferred correctly.
Because the person voicing it is an American. You don't have to be a member of, or even sympathetic to Hezbollah to say what Ms. Thomas said
Snow didn't say Thomas was a member of Hezbollah. He said she was presenting Hezbollah's view, which she was. If sharing Hezbollah's view of the recent war in Lebannon bothers you that much, you should consider changing your view. :)
"You don't have to be a member of, or even sympathetic to Hezbollah to say what Ms. Thomas said."
Huh?? Did you even read the transcript? Thomas was barely asking a question, she was ranting the Hezbollah talking points!
You're right in principle - people don't have to be a member of that group or sympathetic to just talk about their views - but you're mistaken in this specific case. Helen Thomas wasn't questioning, she was haranguing and indulging in advocacy.
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