NYT: Fear of nutroots ire leaves reporters “queasy” about attending Bush ceremony
posted at 12:45 pm on July 11, 2007 by Allahpundit
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It looks like most were willing to brave the turgid Greenwaldian screed that’s sure to follow and showed up anyway. This is really what the fightin’ nutroots is aiming for when they mau-mau the exceedingly leftist media for not being leftist enough: they don’t just want the coverage tilted further left, they want the press on a war footing so belligerent as to make attendance at dopey ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the president tantamount to fraternizing with the enemy. Ironically, it ends up proving the truth of their own droning about the media’s spinelessness. Queasiness about confronting the government means you need a new profession; queasiness about being named “Wanker of the Day” means you need rehab.
Evidently some of them do. Thank Newsbusters for digging this out of the bottom of the Times’s piece:
Mrs. Bush will help cut the ribbon. Yet with the White House press corps under attack from liberal bloggers as being too cozy with the Bush administration, some reporters say they feel a little bit queasy about attending. Mr. Snow said the president would not take questions, which poses a quandary for journalists uneasy about being seen with him at a purely ceremonial affair.
One of the bitter pleasures of having a Democrat back in the White House will be watching the nutroots’ “truth to power” mandate for the press become increasingly nuanced as time wears on. Investigations into administration malfeasance will transform magically from heroic crusades to hold government accountable into right-wing smear jobs orchestrated by the “so-called” liberal media. Good thing their whining is all archived. It’ll be fun using it against them.
Meanwhile, the room clears out around Helen. Respectful deference for an eminent colleague? Or just the smell? Or did she have the shrimp salad?
Update: Thanks to Jim Treacher for punching up my closer!
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You’ll be accused of doctoring the evidence.
As for HT, I believe that odor is embalming fluid.
JammieWearingFool on July 11, 2007 at 12:49 PM
It’ll be fun up to a point, but proof of their own shameless hypocrisy never bothers liberals. If it did, they wouldn’t be liberals.
Helen just needs to lay off the Taco Bell.
ReubenJCogburn on July 11, 2007 at 12:54 PM
I’m hoping that won’t happen for at least 5 more years…
ricer1 on July 11, 2007 at 12:57 PM
He should have built them the pigpen they deserve.
TheBigOldDog on July 11, 2007 at 1:01 PM
The smell of that old windbag would empty most any room.
oilbertan on July 11, 2007 at 1:04 PM
She appears to be quite pleased about sitting in her own pew.
RushBaby on July 11, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Helen Thomas “crazy aunt in the attic” comments are fine, since her rambling questions and oddball behavior all but invite the diagnosis.
The “smell” comment, however, is beneath you, AllahP. Leave that stuff for Kossacs and HuffPo, OK?
Anton on July 11, 2007 at 1:09 PM
Rarely a thread goes by anymore, eh, Allahpundit.
RushBaby on July 11, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Instead of “Or just the smell,” how about “Or did she have the shrimp salad”? Better, Anton?
Jim Treacher on July 11, 2007 at 1:14 PM
Sorry, I have trouble gauging where the faux-outrage line is sometimes. Maybe Jane Hamsher or someone will make a big pretend stink about my fart joke here (pun intended!) and it’ll help me recalibrate.
There’s nothing like Internet standards of sensitivity that are completely divorced from reality to remind me why I love blogging.
Allahpundit on July 11, 2007 at 1:18 PM
heh-Do a piece detailing the “Internet standards of sensitivity”… That will definitely smell worse than Helen.
mojowire on July 11, 2007 at 1:27 PM
Allahpundit on July 11, 2007 at 1:18 PM
But AP far jokes are soooo politically incorrect…….Sigh, I’m going to miss all those crude jokes…..
doriangrey on July 11, 2007 at 1:30 PM
Opp’s thats suppose to be fart jokes……
doriangrey on July 11, 2007 at 1:31 PM
I thought it was funny…
Bad Candy on July 11, 2007 at 1:35 PM
We’ll see the emergence of the “Iraq shield”. It’s already a liberal catch all. We saw it with Michael Moore on CNN with Blitzer the other day, and I see it almost daily in my forum arguments.
“So what Hillary pardoned Marc Rich again (for good measure) this, is that as bad as Bush LYING and killing bajillions of innocent iraqi babies in their sleep with rusty spoons?? is it???”
Dash on July 11, 2007 at 1:37 PM
Sounds like an idolized vision only right-wingers support. Bloggers on the left might give Democrats a pass in the beginning like bloggers on the left did for Bush or they might not. Until we have evidence though, it’s just a straw man.
Nonfactor on July 11, 2007 at 1:43 PM
Basically, what the Left has done is make elections irrelevant. IE, if a Rethug wins, they’ll see to it that their OUTRAGE!™ is supported by the MSM and cripples the victorious
Nazicryptofascistmurdererofficial. And if they win, well, they know we won’t respond in kind, thanks to still possessing both a functioning conscience and an abiding faith in our system of government — both of which they seem to lack, or which they at least don’t allow to interfere with their Brobdingnagian lust for power.They can’t lose. Literally.
Mike H on July 11, 2007 at 1:45 PM
Yes, well, having lived through the Dan Rather memo thing three years ago and watched multiple left-wing bloggers attempt to prove the veracity of the documents for no better reason than that the right was questioning them, forgive me for being skeptical about their integrity.
Allahpundit on July 11, 2007 at 1:46 PM
So where is all the left-wing blog outrage against the culture of corruption in the Democratic congress?
Slublog on July 11, 2007 at 1:46 PM
Helen: Where’s my pudding!
Dusty on July 11, 2007 at 1:49 PM
You have to understand that the liberal media ARE the nutroots. They don’t just skim DU and KOS from time to time, picking up a suggestion or two. They’re in there right along with the rest of the moonbats.
logis on July 11, 2007 at 1:56 PM
That’s not corruption. It’s payback. It’s not enough for them to have seized power once again- like Lord John Whorfin, they also have to “get even” with everyone who dissed them during the 12 years they were in the minority. Their motto being “Living well (at everyone’s else’s expense) is only the second-best revenge. Doing that plus playing the Inquisition is the best.”
As for why everyone is staying out of Helen Thomas’ reach, they may not be able to escape her whinging-voiced screeds, but they can at least stay beyond the reach of her Dim Mak Death Touch.
cheers
eon
eon on July 11, 2007 at 1:59 PM
How ridiculous that they wouldn’t even want to attend even a ceremony w/o Q&A. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
congsan on July 11, 2007 at 2:14 PM
I’m not outraged. I just prefer the kind of humor that can dub Baker-Hamilton the “Cut and Jog” strategy instead of cracking fart jokes.
Anton on July 11, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Anton – AP is multi-faceted like a six-bean salad. Get it, six bean?
*ducks and runs*
RushBaby on July 11, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Is it me, or does Helen look like she’s shrinking?
“I’m melllltingggg, I’m melllltingggg!!!!”
lan astaslem on July 11, 2007 at 2:34 PM
Amen, brother.
baldilocks on July 11, 2007 at 2:35 PM
It’s not as if the entire facility was built for the Press Corps, right?
Oh.
James on July 11, 2007 at 2:35 PM
Well if it’s any consolation, my first thought at seeing that pic was that she musta cut one loose.
infidel4life on July 11, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Absolutely…look, even with three rows of separation the guy on the left appears to be gagging.
James on July 11, 2007 at 2:46 PM
AP…you’re on fire today, thanks for the laughs. When I read your last line, an austin powers quote came to mind.
“everyone likes their own brand”. Helen looks pretty happy to me.
swami on July 11, 2007 at 3:40 PM
Dang. You make it sound like a given, and I’m not ready to hear it yet.
IrishEi on July 11, 2007 at 3:44 PM
That picture of Queen Helen screams for a caption contest.
Doesn’t she kinda look like that Beano commercial? “I’ve been silent but deadly on this!”
BigOrangeAxe on July 11, 2007 at 3:57 PM
Looks to me like she’s in her own “Happy Place” and just forgot where she was!
Ann on July 11, 2007 at 4:03 PM
That’s the same look my 1 year old niece gets when she’s crapping herself.
krabbas on July 11, 2007 at 8:13 PM
*hears crickets*
Ryan Gandy on July 11, 2007 at 9:35 PM
I’m sure they could have wall-to-walled the place with [fill in latest fantasy name for Future-Republicans/illegal-aliens] in minutes if they were serious.
profitsbeard on July 11, 2007 at 11:00 PM
AP, you are doing great!! I come home from work every evening and relish your puns for a good laugh after stressful day.
I keep sensing this emote from you though that doesn’t quite comprehend or appreciate the influence you are having.
The fact that the LAT changed their shtick on Fred Thompson after you quoted it here proves that you have influence!!
However a little self-effacing doesn’t hurt in reaching for the stars. Keep up the good work!!!!
Mcguyver on July 11, 2007 at 11:27 PM
Have to say, that was my first thought too, looking at the picture. Then I thought, maybe she just doesn’t know it’s time to leave.
PowWow on July 11, 2007 at 11:45 PM
Mike H: “And if they win, well, they know we won’t respond in kind,…”
Wanna bet?
I have no intention of being “civil” or nice to Democrats. Not anymore. I intend to “throw stones” at them.
“Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.” H. L. Mencken
georgej on July 12, 2007 at 5:06 AM
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