A trip Down Memory Lane. When DU sent Helen Thomas roses!

[saracat]

Pictures at link!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x799674




GOPFighter (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-31-06 12:55 AM
Original message
More pictures - Roses for Helen Thomas
What a thrill it was to meet Helen Thomas today. She was so gracious. She was visbly moved when she walked in the room and saw the roses.

As you know a few days ago DUer Helderheid posted a suggestion that we send roses to Helen Thomas to show our appreciation for her gutsy questioning of the President last week. The suggestion soon became action and dozens of DUers opened their hearts (and wallets/purses), and the money started rolling in. Before she knew it she had enough money to buy 100 dozen roses for Helen Thomas! Be sure to give a standing O to Helderheid - she worked her butt off to make this happen!

The roses were delivered to a conference room near her office. Six volunteers: Rainer, Paula, Malissa (DUer MiniMe), Chris, Neal, and Skip (GOPFighter) spent the afternoon cutting and arrainging them in vases (A big THANK YOU goes to Kristen Collie, Hearst Bureau Manager, who made sure we had everything we needed!).

Rainer has worked in a florist shop and did a great job showing us how to trin, cut and arrainge the flowers.

The highlight of the day came at 6:15 when Kristen led Helen into the conference room filled with roses. Helen couldn't beleive it and she kept saying "Thank You, Thank You" and we kept saying "No, Thank YOU!" Then to our delight, Helen stayed and talked to us for almost an hour (talking to Helen is like talking to another DUer. She knows all the issues we discuss here and feels the same as we do. Her heart goes out to all those who have been killed - it really bothers her. I love that woman!

Here are a few pictures...

Malissa (MiniMe), Rainer, and Paula


Paula, Malissa, GOPFighter


Paula, Rainer


A few of the roses!


Helen Thomas, reading the names of all of you who contributed to buy the flowers
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/TrakkerToo/P101030...

Helen, surrounded by her admirers

Historians will mark the election of George Bush as the begining of the new Democratic majority.

[earth mom]

1. Yay for Helen!

:woohoo:

:yourock:

:loveya:

[gateley]

2. That was such a lovely and fitting tribute to one of the last REAL journalists

our country has! Thanks for posting this!!

[saracat]

3. This was one of DU's proudest moments. That and helping Andy.

Times have changed.But one thing i know is we will never have another Helen Thomas and the world will be much poorer for it when she is no longer with us.

[gateley]

4. Agree - I was thinking that when I saw a bit of her on TV the other day. When

Helen is gone, there is no one (that I can think of) to fill her shoes, to hold those in power accountable, to be OUR voice! It makes me sad.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

5. I know that meant so much to her. She was treated terribly during the Bush years.

She speaks truth even when she is bashed for doing so.


Go Helen!

[flyarm]

6. Oh my how i remember that and those days here at DU..when "TRUTH" mattered!!!

this place anymore reminds me of freeperville..doesn't matter what the fuck our employee in the white house does..hell he can shit all over them and they will clap with sheer joy ..it seems!

Helen is a true patriot ..she is a gem among rotten eggs.

And Helen has my utmost respect..and is probably the only one in Washington that still has my respect!

[ProSense]

7. A trip down memory lane, when 69 million Americans, including Democrats, elected Obama.

How silly.

[tekisui]

9. Pancake on head post of the day.

[ProSense]

10. Yes, before we criticize Helen Thomas, stop to think of the flowers. n/t

[saracat]

14. We need to stop and think of who we were and who we are. Civility

in dissent used to be what separated us from the Bushies.

[ProSense]

16. Civility is saying the President lacks courage because he wants to work with Republicans?

Huh?

[redqueen]

17. Unity and the left and right needing each other are only good when Kucinich says it. (nt)

[saracat]

20. I don't support bipartisanship as a reality when anyone says it.

[saracat]

18. Civility is respecting someon's right to have that opinion.Civility is respecting someone who has

supported a liberal agenda for more years than most have many have walked the earth. One doesn't have to agree but one should respect the credibility Helen brings to her opinions.I believe that helen has been involved in DC politics long enough to know that bipartisanship does not work.

[ProSense]

21. She is a member of the media, I have a right to call her opinion BS.

Where did you learn your version of Democracy?

[saracat]

Where do I say you don't have any "right " to express an opinion?

You have the right to say whatever you please. I also have the right to disagree and to value Helen's opinion more.

[frylock]

22. ..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6775354#6776811

[saracat]

12. You do realize there was life before Obama Or do you think history begins

with his election? do you date everything 2009 AO ?

[RetroLounge]

24. Cheerleaders just can't help themselves...

:rofl:

RL

[Raine]

8. That was just WONDERFUL

such a perfect thing to do for a great lady, THANKS for the reminder! :-)

[Individualist]

11. Thank you for posting this!

:thumbsup:

[proud patriot]

13. I love trips down memory lane

:hi:

[saracat]

15. Thanks. I hope I brought a smile to some DUers who remember.

[enigmatic]

19. I remember

Helen is a treasure and I hope she continues to ask tough questions to whoever is in the WH, no matter the party.

[Greybnk48]

23. That was really fun! Didn't we send roses to Barbara Boxer too?

I seem to remember honoring her as well.

[saracat]

27. Yes , we did. We got the idea from having sent roses to Helen! We got a lot of press for the

roses to Helen. It was very positive for DU. i see many of those folks aren't here anymore. it is very sad.

[Greybnk48]

28. Yes. It's been negative here lately for sure. Thanks for reminding me and

others why we love DU.

[waiting for hope]

25. Thanks saracat -

That was a wonderful day ... :)

[helderheid]

39. What a WONDERFUL day! I got the chance to meet her later. I fear she thought I was a stalker. :)

[RetroLounge]

26. Tossed under the bus by the Pom Pon squad...

Helen is a treasure.

RL

[Bonobo]

31. Criticizing one thing she says out of a million = Pom Pom Squad?

B, but you are defending the right to criticize Obama and you can't see that is also ok to criticize someone else you generally have great respect for?

Can you say "blatant hypocrisy"?

[RetroLounge]

34. Try reading a few threads from today...

educate yourself.

Can you say "willful ignorance?"

RL

[Bonobo]

35. Well, I can't read your mind and I'm not going to go dredging for posts.

Post an example if you feel it would make your point.

Me? I love Helen, but I don't think she can look into Obama's heart and judge whether or not he has "enough courage" and I am never impressed by trite phrases like "Pom Pom Squad". It is the kind of shorthand, lazy-ass substitute for valid commentary that leads to the crappy dialog on this site and in modern politics.

[RetroLounge]

36. Well, since linking to a specific post is calling out

and probably would get deleted, I guess you'll have to do your own homework.

RL

[Bonobo]

37. I have a few more important things to do than that, so I will trust you that some went overboard

in their attacks on a wonderful treasure like Helen Thomas. And I sincerely mean that.

However, if you take one thing away from this post, it is that the term "Pom Pom Squad" is offensive-sounding. No biggie, but is really is. Really.

[RetroLounge]

38. Well, I happen to think "Pom Pom Squad" is accurate.

The same people toss Kucinich under the bus, Helen Thomas, and anyone else who dares question or challenge Obama.

It's laughably cult-like at times.

RL

[Nikki Stone1]

29. K& R

:kick:

[rosesaylavee]

30. DUers are great people. n/t

[EFerrari]

32. Yes, they really are.

[helderheid]

33. !

:grouphug:

[saracat]

40. Hey helderheid!

How are ya? Good to see you. I have never forgotten those roses! :grouphug: