Helen Thomas retires … from what?

Helen Thomas’ comment that Jews should get the hell out of Palestine “led” to her decision to retire today.

Thomas, who was considered the dean of the White House press corps, had come under fire since late last week when a YouTube video surfaced showing her saying that Israel should “get the hell out of Palestine,” and that the Jewish people should go home to “Poland, Germany … and America and everywhere else.”

In a posting on her website last Friday, Thomas apologized for her remarks. “They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon,” she wrote.

But the apology was not enough to silence critics who began a rising chorus of calls for Thomas either to be terminated or suspended by Hearst.

I’m sure plenty will find in this a Jewish conspiracy, though you can imagine the same consequences if Thomas had made an analogous comment about another minority group.

None of this should really matter much. I mean, when was the last time Helen Thomas was relevant? She’s like a caricature of old, crotchety liberal journalism. Joel Stein, whom I once competed against for a spot on “The Apprentice,” said it best:

Helen Thomas retires…. from what? Sitting through White House press conferences? Has anyone ever read a Helen Thomas story?