The White House Snow

Further to our 'Helen Thomas Reloading' comes the latest in the White House Press Corps series, 'The White House Gladiator', Tony Snow

 

Well one thing is for sure Tony Snow, the new White House Press Secretary, will give Helen Thomas a good run for her money. I don't think the Press room will be the 'quick sand terrain', that it proved to be during the McClellan reign. Snow is certainly a more eloquent and forthright speaker, as well as having extensive experience not only in speech writing which he did for Bush senior in '91, but debate at short notice , requiting a different skill altogether. He will stand his ground and fight back with a calm and cool demeanor, certainly in a way the MSM have not been used to of late.

Snow, 50, served as a weekend news anchor and political analyst for the Fox News Channel, which he joined in 1996. He also hosted the Tony Snow Show on Fox News Radio. To have given up a lucrative career he would have had to have been assured by the Administration "that the next three years would bring policy efforts for which he could have great enthusiasm".

Although not always agreeing with the Administration (the Cossacks have been busy digging all night) he brings a fresh air of professional confidence, and is "exactly what the White House needs" right now:

Snow has told associates he would like to take the job and he has had serious discussions with White House officials, the Republicans said on condition of anonymity because of President Bush's dislike of news leaks.

As a conservative columnist and commentator, Snow has been sharply critical of Bush and Republicans in Congress at times. The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, circulated unflattering observations by Snow about Bush.

"His (Bush's) wavering conservatism has become an active concern among Republicans, who wish he would stop cowering under the bed and start fighting back against the likes of Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Wilson," Snow wrote last November after Republicans failed to win the governor's race in Virginia. "The newly passive George Bush has become something of an embarrassment."

Last month, Snow wrote that Bush and the Republican Congress had "lost control of the federal budget and cannot resist the temptation to stop raiding the public fisc. (treasury)"

Snow, in an Associated Press interview Wednesday, said: "It's public record. I've written some critical stuff. When you're a columnist, you're going to criticize and you're going to praise."

Thank you to Michelle @ Hot Air  for the quote from Snow's column last week, where he shares some leftie well wishers' comments:

Now that the Great Mentioner has placed me among the candidates to become the next White House press secretary, I have learned things about myself that I never knew.

Helpful correspondents have told me where to go, what to use to fill various orifices, which pack animal I most closely resemble and my next-world destination.

Sages from afar have ascertained that I’m a Brahmin, a trilateralist, a BushBot, a puppet, a force of evil in the modern world, a White House mouthpiece-toady-stenographer merely seeking a change of station (and major cut in pay) and a toothy, well-coifed mediocrity.

One marvels at the vivacity of strangers’ opinions, and the dazzling variety of their venom.

Hot Air has the video. Hugh Hewitt has a thoughtful post: "Tony Snow is going to be a tremendous asset to the president and thus the country. I admire his willingness to serve, as should even his greatest opponents." And the dems are starting the smear campaign, before the man has even uttered a single word on behalf of the White House. Ugh...

More @ Hugh Hewitt, Power Line, Poli Pundit, Pajamas Media, Ed Driscoll, Wizbang, California Conservative, Brian Maloney, Stop The ACLU, Flopping Aces, Gateway Pundit, Liberty & Justice, Patterico's Pontifications, Chez Diva, The RCP Blog, Political Pitbull Atlas Shrugs, Protein Wisdom, Sister Toldjah, CNN, The Democratic Daily Blog, Freedom for Some, The Washington Monthly, Outside The Beltway, The Moderate Voice, The Reaction, Done With Mirrors, Sisu, Riehl World View, Right Winged, Wonkette, TKS on National Review Online

Comments

[brian]

There used to be an underground metal band called "Speak English or Die", I think there could be a lucrative reunion tour ala KISS or The Rolling Stones, given today's debates. They were ahead of their time:)

[sin nombre]

No soy mejicano. Soy norteamericano; yo soy, en hecho, un gringo. En el sudoeste, ese medios que estoy en la minoría. El presidente nos apuñaló en la parte posteriora; su declaración venenosa sobre la amnistía de soporte para estos hijos de putas es, en un sentido, una traición de todas las palabras admirables sobre nuestra seguridad que él ha hablado en los cinco años pasados.

Y ningunos de nosotros que tengan que vivir en las fronteras se olvidarán de ella.

[sin nombre]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/26/AR2006042602191.html

Hace años, le dijimos que el presidente fuera un idiota. Tony Snow no uniforme lo defenderá, puesto que él tomó esta decisión absurda.

Acomódese a usar esta lengua. Será reconocido oficialmente en mi parte del país, después de algunos años.

["Get used to this language. It will be officially recognized in my part of the country, within a few years."

When you wake up from your dream let me know, in the meantime, this is not the official language of the USA, and certainly not of this blog. If you want to be understood make your point in English, especially if you want to slam the Administration as you are doing. And yes you are right, the President is an idiot for trying to be fair to your countrymen, but don't worry you will fix that by your actions. I see you have the right attitude.

If you post again in Spanish it will be deleted. Yours sincerely ATB]

[Darrell]

Finally! Good luck, Tony! I know you will do well. I hope you're given a free hand.

[weekenderman]

Tony Snow is an articulate, hardcore conservative who can think on his feet. I think the next three years will result in more and more Americans watching these White House briefings, listening to a man who is not only articulate but is not afraid to stand up to the liberal MSM.

Finally, a "snow job" we can all enjoy!

[Stefan]

The appointment came out of left field for me...I never would have guessed that one. I am pleased though. I always thought McClellan looked scared. I don’t think Snow will not be intimidated so easily. Yes, the message is more important than the messenger but, if your messenger keeps getting kicked around the briefing room you don't get much of a message out to anybody. I also think (as Fred Barnes noted) that they are going to get him doing the rounds on TV and doing public speeches as a strategy instead of just taking abuse from the WH Press Corp. It should be (at long last) a more aggressive approach to getting the message out instead of the deafening silence that we are used to from the Bush administration.

[epaminondas]

Alexandra, if they replace Rumsfeld with Victor Davis Hanson you're going to end up with Frank Frazetta's work here ! LOL.

Anyone who has listened to Mr. Snow's show recgonizes someone who will not suffer fools, but is also not mean about it, and who is perfectly capable of inducing Mr. D Gregory to make himself into the fool he is again and again.

Snow will make no policy, but ensure that reality enters the oval office at all times

[gringoman]

Or as gringoman.com puts it....

Alexandra at Allthingsbeautiful, with The White House Snow (illustrated with a rush of semi-apocalypto-orgasmic dazzle) shows why new White House Press Secretary probably means a new Bush approach to "Mainstream Max."

[Jeremayakovka]

This image is worth ... two thousand words. Ha-ha!

[KnightErrant]

The messenger is less important than the message. This appointment is trivial.

[RunningRoach]

Alexandra,

I couldn't be happier with Bush's pick of Tony Snow as Pres Sec. I have a great deal of admiration and respect for this guy. I'm sure he will give the WHPC a run for their money. Can't wait to see him in action.

Regards,
JCC