Helen Thomas: Obama “Lacks Courage”

Thomas has criticized Obama already for attempting to manage press conferences, as part of overreach in trying to control or to shape (manipulate) public opinion and his aura. "Even Nixon didn't do that."

Obama has aligned himself more than once with lib Dems (which is part of why he has been faltering as far as the mainstream US public is concerned), while at the same time, any hesitation or concession to real moderation exposes him to criticism from the far Left (including his original campaign-faithful foot soldiers or trench warriors). They're particularly upset with him about this health care failure and lack of support specifically for a "robust" (their favorite word) public option.

The so-called reporter didnt give context of Thomas' quote. Till we see that, cant take a measure.

I like Helen Thomas although I don't always agree with her.

Courage is not what Obama lacks, IMHO, he lacks moderate democrat support.

HERESY!! Stone the witch! Burn her at the stake!

AR - Are you talking about Helen Thomas or Olympia Snowe? :-)

Your comment made me laugh. Thanks.

Like any great artist, I leave it for each observer to decide how my art speaks to them as an individual. I do not want to create preconceived notions that set boundaries upon the interpretive experience.

I can't imagine any 'context' that would make this a positive assessment of Mr. Obama.

The courage of the last administration did wonders for this country, right? Took a lot of courage to stand up for the Georgians, the Palestinians, the Lebanese, the Sudanese, the starving North Koreans, and so forth. Took a lot of courage to lie to the world for oil contracts and the death of 4000+ American soldiers and 100000+ civilians and and more courage was needed to go against human decency by using torture only to lie again to everyone that nothing wrong is happening. Like archangel says, it depends on context. Staying your hand can be just as powerful as an iron fist when used properly. The last thing I want Obama to do is start acting on impulse so that those with a delusional understanding of courage can be appeased.

Perhaps Thomas (and others) aren't used to Obama's style?

AR, "Like any great artist, I leave it for each observer to decide how my art speaks to them as an individual...."

LOL, love it!

I thought art was about something different. ;)

In many tribal society Helen Thomas would be truly classified as Elder. . .and when one is an Elder it is not proper for those younger to critize anything an Elder has to say. . .the tribal member can disagree but they cannot backtalk the Elder or her voice. . .

I do not think this Elder Women needs apology for either her accumulated power and wisdom or the words that come from her mouth after all these years. . . .

for me she has a pass, she is an Elder Woman that has lived among one of the most hostile and waring tribes known to mankind. . .and still can throw some spears. . .

her accumulated power and wisdom

Society in the US, having gotten past the tribal stage of development, and due to advances in medicine and geriatrics, no longer has any relationship between old age and wisdom.

Weird philosophy you espouse - simple old age provides the right to say anything, no matter how inane, with no expectation of rebuttal.

Oh really Austin?. . .Washington D.C. has gotten past the tribal stage of development?

Austin are you having a senior moment friend? " Due to advances in medicine and geriatrics, no longer has any relationship between old age and wisdom". . Oh mercy!. . .it is really hard to agree with that premise Austin. . .one of the sadness statements i have heard espoused by a TMV commenter. . .Many of our elder people still have wisdom, but so many are moving too fast to listen to them. . .

And Helen Thomas life and career experience is so far beyond "simple old age". . .and yes, i would like a world where the Elderly can have " the Right to say anything, no matter how inane, with no expectation of rebuttal". . . that is not so much about the Elder but a society that could honor Elders whether they agree or not. . .Not everything is about right or wrong. . .

So bring on the rebuttal. So far we've got "the quote was out of context," "she's an old woman," and "George Bush sucked."

ordinarysparrow -

So you are sticking with the obviously faulty premise that all old people are wise? That was your stated position; I simply showed the fatuity of it.

At no point did I say or imply that all or even most old people are addled - I made no overarching statement such as yours. I simply made the absolutely correct and unassailable statement of fact that there is no relationship between old age and wisdom.

The world is full of young wise people, and old stupid ones. It is also full of the opposite as well, of course. It is only you that seems to have a problem with the reality of that, and wish to live in some fairytale where every elderly person is a fount of Wisdom; reaching an elderly age is an indication of the wisdom necessary to survive to that old age. But that is just not so.

It is there that my point about the advances in medicine and geriatrics becomes clear. You no longer need to be among the wisest to be among the eldest. And, IMHO, specifically not so for Helen Thomas, who has been senile since her 30's.

Isn't that pretty much the entire liberal verbal arsenal?
LOL

I personally think Obama has plenty of courage. Any moron that takes that job has courage in my book. I don't envy any of them. Of course, we all try to armchair quarterback. I'm sure the job is plenty difficult.
It doesn't have to be though. As was alluded to above, if you spend so much time on image and perseption, as most presidents have done since Kennedy; the job becomes harder than merely being Executive of State.

Isn't that pretty much the entire liberal verbal arsenal?

That, and "Polls show 64% of We The People think Helen Thomas is a baggy old harpy."

Dr J - um, none of those was from me, except for maybe the old woman, but I did not raise that issue. And if you are asking me to rebut the contention that Obama is a wuss, you have a long wait ahead of you!.

Sorry Austin i could not express what i was saying clearly for your ears. . .What you heard is not what i said or implied. . .but people hear what they want to hear. . .don't we all. . .don't we all?. . .

With the reaction to the right or wrong of Helen Thomas. . . my comment was coming from another frame. The view that honor is a terrain beyond right and wrong and honoring the Elders is as good as a place as any to incorporate honor. . . . The level of discourse that always says;" people who thinks like me are right, or people that do not think like me are wrong" . . .or as someone said, "if they are not for us they are against us," becomes old and stale. . . The splitting right/wrong divisiveness and disregard seems juvenile and non-productive often these days. . . .

I agree with you Austin wisdom can come through all ages. . . imho wisdom and honor are in the same circle. . .

As long as we're honoring Elders, let's honor Bush and Cheney, both of whom are older than Obama. And of course there's Fidel Castro and Kim Jong-il, both of whom have so much wisdom due to their age it's pulling them into their graves.

Being an Elder only counts if one has a lifetime of life experience of studying life's lessons and teaching them to others. The narrow pursuit of self-serving goals in life, or going senile, does not make an Elder.

Not that I'm basking Thomas directly, I think she does have some insights. I'm just not sure she rises to the level of "Elder".

I think I understand what Sparrow is saying. Having shared a stage with Kronkite and Helen Thomas, (and Mrs. H.W. Bush, Molly Ivins, Catherine McKinnon and Phyllis Shafly, all of whom, were authentically gracious with one another.) I'd have to say that they both have seen first person more than one in a million ever have and ever will. Their perspectives, along with those of many pols in their 70s, 80s, and 80s, even if I dont agree with their interpretations, their stories of their lives and what they've seen others do and not do, are illuminating. But, and, I think it takes a certain kind of interest to listen to those who have lived a long time. Often, when I've worked at VA when it used to be called 'old soldiers' home', the most abandoned and neglected by their families were the elderly soldiers who had, to my heart, the most interesting lives and stories to tell, funny and wise in so many ways, vulnerable and brave also.

In my two cents worth experience, the chances of developing a useful kind of wisdom seem to come to those who have suffered pretty deeply and spent time sifting through it all at depth. There are young people who are wise. And old people too. And middle-aged people. And dogs. Cats too.

Although I see that some turn in another direction, I liked having elders very much. They were blessers, difficult and beloved. I am sad that the last of my elders passed just a few months ago. Were they perfect? Of course not. But being an elder doesnt reside on that, nor on perfect sight, but having lived a lot longer than most, having seen the ends of eras, made adaptations, having many many stories to tell that might, just might act as point men for those younger. Just my two cent's worth.

As one approaching elderdom, I claim no wisdom, but I do wish I could be 19 again.