How many times have you wished that someone from the White House would reach out and bitch-slap Helen Thomas?

OK, that didn’t happen. But given the contrived terminology and polite facade which Press Secretary Scott McClellan must assume, he very nearly did exactly that. When Thomas started on her usual anti-war path, McClellan called her on it:

McCLELLAN: Well, Helen, the President recognizes that we are engaged in a global war on terrorism. And when you’re engaged in a war, it’s not always pleasant, and it’s certainly a last resort. But when you engage in a war, you take the fight to the enemy, you go on the offense. And that’s exactly what we are doing. We are fighting them there so that we don’t have to fight them here. September 11th taught us –

THOMAS: It has nothing to do with — Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

McCLELLAN: Well, you have a very different view of the war on terrorism, and I’m sure you’re opposed to the broader war on terrorism. The President recognizes this requires a comprehensive strategy, and that this is a broad war, that it is not a law enforcement matter.

Heh! I wish I could send McClellan a bottle of scotch.

And, of course, The Political Teen has it all for your viewing pleasure.