We were at lunch today and heard this exchange between Tony Snow and Helen Thomas, American journalism’s crazy old aunt in the attic (thanks, Taranto):
HELEN THOMAS: Can you say something is happening?
TONY SNOW: I’m saying that the United States has been expressing its concerns to the government of Israel, and also been talking to our friends and allies in the region.
HELEN THOMAS: But not very out loud.
TONY SNOW: Well, again, the thing is, do they want to make you happy, or do they want to get something done?
Slam! He got her a couple of days ago, too:
HELEN THOMAS: The United States is not that helpless. It could have stopped the bombardment of Lebanon. We have that much control with the Israelis.
TONY SNOW: I don’t think so, Helen.
HELEN THOMAS: We have gone for collective punishment against all of Lebanon and Palestine.
TONY SNOW: What’s interesting, Helen —
HELEN THOMAS: And this is what’s happening, and that’s the perception of the United States.
TONY SNOW: Well, thank you for the Hezbollah view, …
I really like Tony Snow.
Update by sammy: Here is the clip (hat tip Outside the Beltway:)