…apparently Lanni Davis, Craig Crawford and her publisher have had enough:
I concur with the following response from my agent to Helen Thomas’ lamentable remarks about Israel, and will no longer be working with Helen on our book projects. — Craig Crawford
“It is with a heavy heart that Nine Speakers, Inc. announces its resignation as the agent for Helen Thomas, Dean of the White House Press Corps. Ms. Thomas has had an esteemed career as a journalist, and she has been a trailblazer for women, helping others in her profession, and beyond. However, in light of recent events, Nine Speakers is no longer able to represent Ms. Thomas, nor can we condone her comments on the Middle East. Nine Speakers will continue to enthusiastically represent all of our other current and future clients.”
Meanwhile while I don’t share the insult the woman’s looks bit at the other McCain (hey at that age simply being alive is pretty good) but I do agree with him concerning Rachel Corrie vs Shiri Negari
Shiri died that day, just two weeks before her 22nd birthday, in a blast that ended the lives of 18 other people ranging in age from 11 to 72. They were all killed on orders of Hamas — the same terrorist organization that rules Gaza, where 23-year-old Rachel Corrie arrived to join the anti-Israeli ISM contigent in January 2003, barely seven months after the blast that destroyed Bus No. 32A.
If you want another explanation why I stand with Israel, this is one of them.
…is the comments section of places like the Huffington Post and the fits it is giving people on the left. One example:
You go, Helen! Don’t back off. In fact, given Israel’s out of control aggression, I’ve been having fantasies that the Disney Company will build a giant water slide on the beach at Tel Aviv and hire a piccolo player in a red cape to play “In the Hall of the Mountain King.”
And when we don’t get that we get the moral equivalence card from places like the moderate voice and think progress who conveniently forget that when Israel was formed there was a Palestinian state created at the same time. It’s called “Jordan”. It wasn’t until Israel won the 1967 war that the cause for yet another Arab state in the region took place. Hittingbackiscathartic but the most important function Thomas’ remarks have achieved is the identification of those who dreams are beyond just a Judenrein Middle east. As Captain Ed puts it:
Also, this episode should remind everyone that if it were up to Israel, there would be no war. If it was up to Hamas and Fatah, there would be no Israel. And that’s the main problem with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and one that is irreconcilable.
It’s beyond that. I think the goal isn’t no Israel, I think the goal is no Jews period.
As a general rule I tend to show a bit of charity to people who are very old. They tend to speak their mind with less control and as age starts to overtake you one is very much susceptible to gaffes and embarrassment.
These days however It has become so chic to hate and condemn Israel (not to mention the brownie points you earn from the upset us and we behead you crowd) that people say things aloud that 20-30 years ago would have been impossible to have said in polite company.
1. She has reached the point in life that she will say something she thinks without pausing to think of the consequences for herself.
2. She has reached the point in life that she will say aloud what she thinks and doesn’t care what the consequences are.
3. She has reached the point in life where she is canny enough to know that the press will not call her out for things said so she doesn’t care what she says.
#4. Age has nothing to do with it, She thinks the worm as turned to the point where she can say the most extreme thing she actually believes without any worry.
5. She is senile and talking nonsense.
Thomas has never been a fan of Israel so we can safely assume that her antipathy is genuine. Her writings on this and other subjects is not materially different from many younger people who think the same so we must assume that #5 is not the case. If you look at the statement there seems no level of confusion so #1 is out. Thomas has been not only challenging Israel for decades but her position is consistent with many other people where she came from so #2 is out. That also suggest #3 is wrong however the person with her is clearly nervous.
My guess is #4 but she is aware of #3 and is quite willing to use that advantage to put her fellow journalists in a position where they feel they must be silent.
With the rise of open hatred and violence against Jews worldwide her time has come.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. For years the west has pushed the canard about saving the Jews as part of the reason for the war and why it was just. In my opinion the nations never gave a damn if the Jews were wiped out altogether. It was the average soldier who saw the evil that was done and was repulsed and outraged by what they found. It was their repulsion of an armed free people that caused things to happen and forced nations to acknowledge and memorialize this evil.
As their generation dies away the outrage that spurned it dies with them and the world is able to celebrate that oldest of hatreds and evils that has always kept them warm at night.
I'll wear the Fr O'Malley Badge proudly
I am a Catholic, a person with absolutely no Jewish ancestry, and only one secondary connection (one of 12 Nephews/Nieces married a Jewish girl) I in theory unlike say Yid with Lid, Pam Geller or Meryl Yourish have no dog in this fight. Yet justice demands that I stand with Fr. O’Malley.
Abdul: What is your name?
Father O’Malley: William O’Malley.
Abdul: I did not call you.
Father O’Malley: You called for all the Jews. I’m Jewish, just like Jesus Christ. You take one, you gotta take us all.
I choose to stand with Israel, because they are right! Not perfect, but right, how can I do anything else and live with myself?
Update:That was fast. I still think she was thinking #4 but switched on a dime to #1. I guess that is still a bridge too far..
They have the Israeli minster of public affairs and are pressing him he is not giving one inch and of course keeps referring to the videotape.
I was talking to A friend of mine was saying yesterday that Israel has learned their PR lesson. By filming everything when the Arab side speaks with hyperbole and exaggeration they are able to show actual video of what happened. The video of this is devastating to the attempts to demonize Israel.
This undercuts the “humanitarian” argument of their foes. Will it convince governments or groups that are out for the destruction of Israel? Of course not, it never will, but it will cause individuals who actually watch the video to think.
And as for Gene Robinson and Joe lets do a simple experiment to answer your question about disproportional response: I’ll hand you each a pistol we’ll get 5 guys to beat you with pipes and broomsticks and lets see how long it takes you to ask permission to shoot back.
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