Our girl Helen has to move to the back. It aint right. It just aint right.

[ourbluenation]

Politico blog Shenanigans is reporting that Helen Thomas, long-time Presidential correspondent, may be about to lose her front row seat in the Press Briefing Room.

Apparently, being the first woman officer of the National Press Club, the first woman member(and president) of the White House Correspondents Association, and the first woman member of the Gridiron Club, not to mention covering every president since John F Kennedy, does not necessarily entitle Thomas to a front row seat. But at this point it' s up in the air; White House Correspondents' Association President Steve Scully says only "I can tell you categorically no decisions have been made."

snip

The rationale for such a move? It seems the latest White House Press Room renovations will only create one extra seat per row but many of the cable news networks having been hankering after a front row seat for some time. Who will be the winner in this reverse game of musicals chairs? Well, if it's between CNN or Fox, then, a Politico source wondered, "how do you choose between the two?" (Hmmm, how, indeed.)

This isn't the first time Thomas has been moved to the back of the room. A number of years ago she was given back row status for Press Conferences because she gave Bush a hard time no longer worked for a wire service (she's technically a columnist now).
According to Thomas it makes no difference where she sits, "I know how to shout".

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eat-the-press/2007/02/13/helen-thomas-losing-her-s_e_41156.html

[PDJane]

1. If you are

old and smart, and disagree with Bush, you get kicked out if they can manage it.....or moved to the back if they can't.

[ourbluenation]

2. sonsofbitches....n/t

[Cabcere]

3. Helen Thomas rocks.

(Also, ourbluenation, you may want to edit your post heading...right now it says "I just ain't right," and I doubt very much that's true. ;) Just thought I'd point that out.) :hi:

[ourbluenation]

5. thx sugar - done.

:)

[dflprincess]

4. It's amusing to think these thugs are afraid of an 85 year old woman

who can't be more than 5 feet tall.

[magellan]

6. There really should be no question about her deserving the front row

But it doesn't sound like she minds where she sits -- it's BushCo who minds because they can't bear her tough questions. What a bunch of wusses they are.

Helen rocks no matter where she sits!

[CrazyOrangeCat]

10. That's right.

She's been shouting across rooms since before Pissypants was born.

They aren't going to stop her now. Chickenshit bastards.:mad:

[Sydnie]

7. Please let her live long enough to cover the next

Dem President and have the damn press room named in her honor BEFORE she retires!

[ourbluenation]

9. That would be awesome - the Helen Thomas Press Room

I like it.

[WillyT]

8. Hell... By Merit Alone She Deserves The Entire Room...

Let alone a seat in the front row.

:wtf:

[frebrd]

11. K&R n/t

[Monk06]

12. I sent an email to Helen to give her a cheer on one of her columns and got a personal reply.

That's class. Long may she live an blow smoke
up Bush's ass.

[ourbluenation]

17. What's the email addy?

[ray of light]

18. She is one tough, honest lady!

And I got a reply from her too.

She appreciates all of our letters of support.

Remember the roses though? That was great!

[DeSwiss]

13. So when the Dems win in 08'.....

....I'm sure there won't be any complaints when CNN and Fox are moved out next to the WH dumpsters.

Where they belong.
:grr:

[ContraBass Black]

14. Even if they put her outside, they will not escape.

[FredScuttle]

15. "I know how to shout"

That woman has more balls in her little finger than * has in his flightsuit codpiece.

God bless Helen Thomas

[tjwash]

16. That's because she asks too many questions.

What does she think she is a reporter or something? Everyone knows that the front rows are reserved for the Jeff Gannons of the reporting world.