Tony Snow On President Bush: ‘An Embarrassment,’ ‘Impotent,’ ‘Doesn’t Seem To Mean What He Says’
Tony Snow On President Bush: ‘An Embarrassment,’ ‘Impotent,’ ‘Doesn’t Seem To Mean What He Says’
[UPDATE: Also see what Tony Snow has to say on the issues.]
Fox News’ Tony Snow is expected to be named White House Press Secretary. Here’s some of what he’s had to say about the President:
– Bush has “lost control of the federal budget and cannot resist the temptation to stop raiding the public fisc.” [3/17/06]
– “George W. Bush and his colleagues have become not merely the custodians of the largest government in the history of humankind, but also exponents of its vigorous expansion.” [3/17/06]
– “President Bush distilled the essence of his presidency in this year’s State of the Union Address: brilliant foreign policy and listless domestic policy.” [2/3/06]
– “George Bush has become something of an embarrassment.” [11/11/05]
– Bush “has a habit of singing from the Political Correctness hymnal.” [10/7/05]
– “No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives.” [9/30/05]
– Bush “has given the impression that [he] is more eager to please than lead, and that political opponents can get their way if they simply dig in their heels and behave like petulant trust-fund brats, demanding money and favor — now!” [9/30/05]
– “When it comes to federal spending, George W. Bush is the boy who can’t say no. In each of his three years at the helm, the president has warned Congress to restrain its spending appetites, but so far nobody has pushed away from the table mainly because the president doesn’t seem to mean what he says.” [The Detroit News, 12/28/03]
– “The president doesn’t seem to give a rip about spending restraint.” [The Detroit News, 12/28/03]
– “Bush, for all his personal appeal, ultimately bolstered his detractors’ claims that he didn’t have the drive and work ethic to succeed.” [11/16/00]
– “Little in the character of demeanor of Al Gore or George Bush makes us say to ourselves: Now, this man is truly special! Little in our present peace and prosperity impels us to say: Give us a great man!” [8/25/00]
– “George W. Bush, meanwhile, talks of a pillowy America, full of niceness and goodwill. Bush has inherited his mother’s attractive feistiness, but he also got his father’s syntax. At one point last week, he stunned a friendly audience by barking out absurd and inappropriate words, like a soul tortured with Tourette’s.” [8/25/00]
– “He recently tried to dazzle reporters by discussing the vagaries of Congressional Budget Office economic forecasts, but his recitation of numbers proved so bewildering that not even his aides could produce a comprehensible translation. The English Language has become a minefield for the man, whose malaprops make him the political heir not of Ronald Reagan, but Norm Crosby.” [8/25/00]
– “On the policy side, he has become a classical dime-store Democrat. He gladly will shovel money into programs that enjoy undeserved prestige, such as Head Start. He seems to consider it mean-spirited to shut down programs that rip-off taxpayers and mislead supposed beneficiaries.” [8/25/00]
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– “George Bush has become something of an embarrassment.â€
I can’t wait for that one to come up in a White House Briefing… Guess, like most things, Bush didn’t do any research on Snow before hiring him.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:50 pmOh man! I hope Helen reads TP.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:51 pmAmid rampant speculation, it is rumored that Fox News and the Bush administration will be collaborating on a new program direct from the White House. An unnamed Fox source has confirmed the speculation and has provided some further information to Thought Theater. Bucking the trend towards reality based programming; the show is expected to be loosely based upon the selective facts surrounding the internal workings of the President and his policy operatives. The source went on to say that the program will have a superficial talk show - game show format where reporters will be allowed to ask questions and then each member of the White House Press Corp will use a hand-held device to vote on whether they believe the answers that Tony provides. Once the question and answer session is completed, the reporter with the most correct votes will enter a soundproof booth with Helen Thomas.
Helen will be wired with a microphone. Tony then turns on Helen’s mic and allows her to ask a question. Once the question has been asked, the Press Corp votes again on whether the question should be allowed or whether the winning reporter in the sound booth should bitch slap Helen and end her questioning. The unnamed source, when pressed, refused to acknowledge that the tabulation system had been provided by Diebold. At that point Brit Hume’s voice was overheard in the background calling for security. The phone then went silent. Efforts to contact (Juan) the source have since failed.
more observations here:
http://www.thoughttheater.com
April 25th, 2006 at 4:52 pmYou mean he is honest after all!!??
April 25th, 2006 at 4:52 pm5/17/06? Better check those dates and facts.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:52 pm– Bush has “lost control of the federal budget and cannot resist the temptation to stop raiding the public fisc.†[5/17/06]
– “George W. Bush and his colleagues have become not merely the custodians of the largest government in the history of humankind, but also exponents of its vigorous expansion.†[5/17/06]
Is this a future edition of TP?
April 25th, 2006 at 4:52 pmNice to see Dubya has such courage choosing a liberal, progressive to represent him. :P
I wonder if Josh Bolten will get fired over this brilliant hiring? As “unbelievable” said, should make for some fun press conferences.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:53 pmFirst two are 3/17 not 5/17
April 25th, 2006 at 4:53 pmIt’s changed. Thanks commenters.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:56 pmGreat post! Excellent catches. You guys are on fire today. Keep at it!
April 25th, 2006 at 4:57 pmFOX News’ Tony Snow Likely to be Press Secretary (Updated)…
Suzanne Malveaux of the CNN Washington Bureau is reporting that sources claim FOX News’ Tony Snow is poised to take over Scott McClellan’s post as White House Press Secretary.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:59 pmWASHINGTON (CNN) — Sources close to the White House said …
[…] It really is just a formality. Tony Snow and his cohorts at FOX News defend and spin for the Bush White House everyday on almost every issue. Might as well get paid for it, too, while he’s at it. The only change coming out of this is that FOX News will have talking points a bit faster than usual. Updated 1:05pm Think Progress has learned that Tony Snow “asked for guaranteed access to the president’s ear and to an unusually large degree of latitude to reconfigure the WH press operation.[…]
April 25th, 2006 at 4:59 pmHe’s perfect, I think he should get the job.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:00 pmHmmm…a blizzard envelopes Bush.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:01 pmForget Tony Snow, the Whitehouse should outsource the Press Secretary job to an educated person in India or China who has an American accent. They could do it via teleconference. The President’s team could email the outsourced talking- head press secretary the administration’s talking points and privately teleconference him or her in advance, for sticky issues.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:02 pmI wonder if and how he’ll deny ever saying any of the things above.
Also, this is the guy they went with? How bad were the things the rejected people said?
April 25th, 2006 at 5:03 pmI think the Bush people are losing their minds. there is no rhyme or reason to what they do anymore at all, its mixed up crazy and nobody seems to know what the other says.
But then agaian when you lie for forty plus years, I can see why they would be having problems with the future, because the past has crumbled under the cons feet.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:10 pmWhy can’t this be considered a GOOD thing? I’m actually impressed by a gutsy move by the White House. The Bush administration has hired a person capable of independent thought and personal scruples rather than a brainless mouthpiece. I figure Snow will actually believe what he’s saying.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:11 pmSo basically, this is a lateral move for Tony.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:19 pmOf course, being the hypocrite he is, ( a job requirement to work for Faux News) Snow will deny he ever said these things or claim they have been distorted by the left-wing media which is non-existent. Obviously the Bushcovites realize he was only saying these things to fool some of the brain dead who watch Faux religiously, into believing and telling their like-minded friends how “fair and balanced” that network is. Snow and Bush deserve each other.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:20 pmWhy can’t this be considered a GOOD thing?
Comment by knickerbocker
I guess you’re new here. Allow me to explain why this is BAD. This site is the premier mouthpiece for the Clintonista Counter-Revolution and headquarters for the Transnational Progressive movement in the Western hemisphere. Repeat after me; “THERE CAN BE NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THE BUSH REGIME” (never mind that they are the most liberal administration the country has ever seen since LBJ’s)
There ya go. It’s all better now.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:25 pmThe comments above show that Snow is more a PUNDIT than a JOURNALIST. If the White House wanted to restore credibility they should have gone with someone who was a professional (conservative) journalist. A missed opportunity. Snow will be seen for what he is - a spinmeister.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:27 pmI can’t imagine a lower job to have. How would you like to look back at this career move in a couple of years? At least give the man a 10 foot pole.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:30 pmYou know, Tony blabbs for hours a day, is unscripted, and critically analyzes everything. If this is the harshest stuff he had to say about Bush, that ain’t half bad…
April 25th, 2006 at 5:30 pmHa! Would love to know what inspired this comment!
Let me just check my Bushisms….
April 25th, 2006 at 5:31 pmAnd all done without stooping to excavating his posts from caches of freeperdom flatulence, where he has been erased and nonpersoned. You are gentlepeople and scholars.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/ discuss/ duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1019313&mesg_id=1019313
April 25th, 2006 at 5:32 pm-
This is going to be like that West Wing episode when Josh subbed for C.J. for the daily gaggle. Lyman was so arrogant and superior, like he was going to impose some discipline on the WH press corps, and they just chewed him up and spat him out.
Snow is smug, arrogant, and unaccustomed to debate save for the Globetrotters/Generals contests on the Fox News Network. If he doesn’t reveal himself to be totally out of his depth, I’ll be very surprised. The Bushies would have been better off bringing back ARi.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:34 pm15
the Whitehouse should outsource the Press Secretary job to an educated person in India or China who has an American accent. They could do it via teleconference.
Yeah hehe, Don’t get me started on that one grrrrrrrrr.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:36 pmFor everyone who’s hailing this potential change as a great move, as well as for people who believe that Snow will deny his past remarks, I think you have to remember just how crafty and clever the people behind the President are. Your reactions are exactly what the administration is hoping for, they’re thinking, if we can get someone who appears to be objective and unafraid to criticize the President, it’ll give us more credibility. He’s from FOX for heaven’s sake. You have to be suspicious of everything that this administration does; its record of deception and manipulation of the media are reason enough to be doubtful of any “good” thing that it appears to endorse or advocate for.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:37 pmTP - you raised too soon. The WH will now likely fold.
Should have waited until after the appointment was announced.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:40 pmWhat an appropriate choice for press secretary! This administration has been giving us a “SNOW JOB” for years. Now we have an authentic Snow-jobber to “hold the course.”
April 25th, 2006 at 5:41 pmTony really is not going to be the new press secretary. Mark the words
April 25th, 2006 at 5:42 pmFirst, Bush unleashed Bagdad Bob I. He quit after helping to out Valeri Plame, so Bush hired Bagdad Bob II. He quit after he couldn’t lie as well as Bagdad Bob I.
The circle is complete. Fox New is loose inside the WhiteHouse, but it has no teeth to expose the Madness of King George (nor any desire, for that matter).
All rise and please welcome Bagdad Bob III.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:44 pmWell, I know Tony wants to have access because he’s practicing for his MONICA LEWINSKY impression!!!
Get out the knee pads TONY and make sure your lipstick is the right shade! We wouldn’t want LAURA getting jealous!
April 25th, 2006 at 5:47 pmI predict his doctors say he can’t take the job.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:47 pmCome on Helen Thomas…nail him good! and cut thoes puppet strings off him leading to cheney/rove….bush can’t pull a string without help.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:47 pm#34 - Get out the knee pads TONY and make sure your lipstick is the right shade! We wouldn’t want LAURA getting jealous!
Reminds me of a great sign I recently saw. It said:
Someone please give George W. Bush a blowjob so we can impeach him!
April 25th, 2006 at 5:48 pmOh please, oh please, oh please, oh please, let this mook get the job.
Realistically, whoever does it is just going to be parroting the administrations lies and spin, so it really doesn’t matter a bit in terms of getting any real information out of the WH. For our sake, it may as well be someone we can have some fun ridiculing. Scotty was just getting to be an entertaining freak show when they pulled the plug on him. Smart money says Snow will be unintentionally hilarious from jump.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:49 pmTONY SNOW CONT’D
April 25th, 2006 at 5:58 pmI guess that means from now on lies will be called “Snow Jobs.”
April 25th, 2006 at 5:59 pmAri is busy cooperating with Fitzgerald’s investigation.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:03 pmOddly enough, this was the most supportive candidate they could find for the job!
April 25th, 2006 at 6:04 pmYour reactions are exactly what the administration is hoping for, they’re thinking, if we can get someone who appears to be objective and unafraid to criticize the President, it’ll give us more credibility.
Nah. What is so amusing about Snow’s remarks is that they come from a worldview that is actually to the right of the current Strangelove/snake-handler regime. The point isn’t that Snow is “honest” about Bush, it’s how far outside the mainstream he is. Though to be sure, it’s also funny to see someone on Bush’s side so piqued at not getting the whole apocalypse right here, right now, that he actually acknowledges Bush’s obvious personal shortcomings.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:05 pmTHIS IS GREAT.
I ONLY WISH YOU’D WAITED ‘TIL AFTER THE APPOINTMENT TO POST IT.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:14 pm#3 Thought Theater - now that’s a good one. LOL I didn’t realize that thoughts actually happened in this White House.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:17 pmThat’s perfect. Using Snow’s comments against Bush is classic. He is the man for the job though. He already works for a government-run news organization. It’s really like a transfer from one department to another within the same firm.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:24 pmWell, I guess these quotes provide the proof will put an end to all the silly bashing of Fox News as nothing more than a mouthpiece for the administration. Thanks “Think Progress!” You have helped expose one of the great canards of the left-wing.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:26 pmWell, I guess these quotes provide the proof that will put an end to all the silly bashing of Fox News as nothing more than a mouthpiece for the administration. Thanks “Think Progress!†You have helped expose one of the great canards of the left-wing.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:27 pmGreat post! I can’t wait for Helen’s first question to him:
“Tony, does the President mean what he says”
April 25th, 2006 at 6:29 pmI LOVE IT!!!
If Snow gets the job, we may get to see Bush actually heckled by his OWN press secretary!!!
April 25th, 2006 at 6:29 pmShoveling shit behind elephants has got to be a better job than WH Press Secretary for Bush&Co. This is the end of Snow’s career, if you can call what he does a career.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:30 pmOops - Snow’s new job is shoveling shit behind elephants. Didn’t think of that with my previous post ;)
April 25th, 2006 at 6:34 pmThis is great and all, but wouldn’t it be more embarassing for Bush if all these quotes started making the rounds after Snow had the job?
April 25th, 2006 at 6:39 pmSay it ain’t so, Snow!
April 25th, 2006 at 6:45 pmYou guys are all missing the point. In his new job, Tony the Tiger will no longer be permitted to speak the TRUTH.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:50 pmYou guys are all missing the point. In his new job, Tony the Tiger will no longer be permitted to speak the TRUTH. It’s good he had an opportunity to get it all out of him before heading up to the WH!
April 25th, 2006 at 6:51 pmAs the mouthpiece of a hubristic, arrogant administration, Snow’s very palpable arrogance will only serve as an amplifier.
Ari’s persona - ‘I know the answer to that question but I’m going to toy with you before telling you I can’t answer that question.’ seemed to work better than
McClelland’s “Nobody tells me anything but I’m going to look and behave as though I’m holding back information from you before telling you that a) I don’t know as of this moment, b) I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, or c) I spoke to them and they told me they’re not involved.’
Scotty was a terrible liar, or maybe a great one - he looked like he was lying even when he was telling the truth, which is almost as good as someone who looks like their telling the truth when they’re lying.
Now that he’s made the short walk down the hall from Pravda to the White House, Snow will certainly be a liar of the first degree, but I do wonder how the WH will react when he gets off-message, which seems inevitable given his abundant ego and the high opinion he has of his own opinions. Scotty never had the balls to speak his own mind, we’ll find out if Snow has the brains not to.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:53 pmOh great - nice move, Snow, Bushy’s going to take you off the list of “people that believe my lies at Fox news” to the “CIA terror suspect” list. If you had waited one more day, you could’ve been immune to any and all laws of the United States of America - but now you’re going to Guantanimo.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:59 pmWhat a lite news day , OK so I suppose this will be one of those really stupid moves that some will call a shrewd move for one reason or another that will eventually become painfully although comically obviously a stupid move .
April 25th, 2006 at 7:07 pmWell that would make it official. Fox News is the official voice of this Bush Administration.
But I’d have thought that the Neocons would have preferred someone more ideologically “pure” like Sean ‘Insanity’ Hannity.
It would be such fun to see Hannity being pummeled by tough questions, outside of his political climate controlled studio, by the White House press corps. It be full of action adventure, sort of like an Evil Frankenstein being hounded by angry villagers carrying torches.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:35 pm[…] Think Progress » Tony Snow On President Bush: ‘An Embarrassment,’ ‘Impotent,’ ‘Doesn’t Seem To Mean What He Says’: Fox News’ Tony Snow is expected to be named White House Press Secretary. Here’s some of what he’s had to say about the President: […]
April 25th, 2006 at 7:47 pmOlberman is running through this list right now..
April 25th, 2006 at 8:06 pmKeith Oblermann is doing the list on air right now……………………………sorry Tony.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:06 pmDon’t worry, when Snow is pressed about his comments, he’ll deny he ever said them, or say that he is misquoted. Remember, the press briefings will soon become The Daily Snow Job.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:07 pmSome thoughts. It would be great to see that smug jerk snow being left out to hang by bush, and having the press corp abuse him. How long until snows critical comments about bush are expunged 1984 style? Will snow address all questions to guckert? (off topic) Although g will professes to love baseball, he looks like the kind of asshole that would take a kids baseball if it rolled into his yard. g will also has the expression that would be perfect for a hemerhoid ad. Lastly, I saw a bumper sticker that said “We’re all wearing the blue dress now.” There done venting thanks.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:26 pmI personally like Tony Snow. Give him a chance to excel at what he does best…..being an independent-minded jounalist with a libertarian mindset. He will NOT tow the line and I believe you’ll notice this very quickly. If you want someone who’ll hold the GOP’s feet to the fire with reason, clarity, conviction and honesty, leave it to a libertarian.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:27 pmI’m confused. Is this an endorsement for Snow to be press secretary? A FOX commentator speaking negatively of president Bush? Surely you must be joking.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:37 pmI just saw something shocking on the crawl on CNN. Hopelully I misread it or got it wrong but… Iran signed a defense agreement with Russia and China. If this is so (hopefully it isn’t), it is at least as scary as the revelation that bush is thinking of nuking Iran.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:38 pmTO ALL OF THE THINKPROGRESS PEOPLE:
Please write an article about this: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/ westmoreland/ 8531795/ detail.html
DERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Students at a public school are being invited to take part in activities next week that recognize Jesus Christ, WTAE Channel 4 Action News has learned.
On Friday morning, Westmoreland County Bureau Chief Jennifer Miele reported that the so-called “Jesus Week” at Derry Area High School is being organized by an after-school club called Kids for Christ or Teens of Flame.
According to an assistant in the superintendent’s office, the group came up with the idea and pitched it to the school district, which approved it. Everyone in the school is invited to take part.
Events for the week include wearing sandals on one day and togas on another, and wearing camouflage to signify that they are in “God’s army,” Miele reported.
On another day, students may wear red to signify the blood of Christ if they wish, Miele reported.
One teacher told Miele that he is uncomfortable with the situation. He said he feels pressure to answer questions from students who are asking about religion and the upcoming activities.
Principal Kathy Perry told Miele that the school has been doing Jesus Week for four years and has not received a complaint from the community, parents, teachers or students.
Citing a federal law that instructs school districts to allow open access to school activities, Perry said she doesn’t think school officials can legally prevent Jesus Week from happening, even if they wanted to.
When asked about the teacher who approached Miele with concerns, Perry said she would encourage him to direct students with questions toward members of the after-school group for answers.
I graduated from this high school in 1987. It’s going the way of Dover!
April 25th, 2006 at 8:39 pmNice spam. Stick with the topic.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:45 pmSnow not always a Bush fan…
Today we learned that Tony Snow fancies himself a presidential right-hand man:In the meantime, Fox Newser Tony Snow is said by Republicans familiar with the negotiations to have asked for guaranteed access to the president’s ear and to an unusually…
April 25th, 2006 at 8:57 pm“Nice spam. Stick with the topic.”
It’s not spam, sorry if it came off that way. I post here quite a bit, I’m not a troll. I guess I could have sent it through the e-mail, but I posted it here. Read the story, it’s really retarded. I did graduate from this school in 1987 — no shite!
April 25th, 2006 at 8:59 pmI think Mr. Snow would make be an excellent choice.
April 25th, 2006 at 9:05 pmI think Mr. Snow would be an excellent choice.
April 25th, 2006 at 9:05 pmThat’s quite a collection of quotes! You’d think the Whitehouse was hiring Ted Rall!
April 25th, 2006 at 9:10 pm[…] Fox News has confirmed that Tony Snow — who months ago called President Bush “impotent” and “an embarassment” — will succeed Scott McClellan as White House press secretary. 9:10 pm | Comment (2) […]
April 25th, 2006 at 9:15 pmI wonder how long and how many tax payer dollars it will take till this fellow starts to recant his previous statements?
April 25th, 2006 at 9:25 pmAnd…. let me help out those who still make apologies for Bush……. it’s only “Swiftboating” if it involves lies. The source doesn’t matter as much as the accuracy of the facts. And the “But Clinton” distraction has run totally out of steam.
This is what as known as telling the truth and let the consequences fall where they may.
April 25th, 2006 at 9:36 pmHe won’t because he’s correct, you’ll see. Just don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater just because he worked for FOX news. If you’re progressive-minded you should be able to give everyone an honest chance regardless of who they are or who they work or worked for. I thought progressives pride themselves on being open-minded. If Tony Snow becomes a blind, unquestioning Bush loyalist, then jump on his ass like I will. Until then, give the guy a chance to excel and set an excellent example of what a press secretary should.
April 25th, 2006 at 9:37 pmTony Snow said those things, but do NOT expect him to ridicule Bush is any way now! He will spin the praises of the Bush Regime no matter what! He will smile more than Scotty ever did!
April 25th, 2006 at 9:41 pmCorrection > IN any way now! (Not IS)
April 25th, 2006 at 9:43 pmMy guess here is that Mr. Snow will simply not be asked about any of the above quotes since they were not made in his capacity as White House Press Secretary. To some extent, I think he will be able to begin this position with a ‘clean slate’. What he says and does after that point is another matter entirely though…
-x-
April 25th, 2006 at 9:44 pmThe point of all the questions from the Press corps should be: Make Tony Snow the issue — make him explain his inconsistency; make Snow explain his comments; make Snow justify why we should believe him.
Every time that Snow opens his mouth, the press corps and public should be asking questions about what Snow has or hasn’t said before; and how what he is saying now squares with what we wants us to believe.
It’s time to hijack the Press Corps briefing and ignore the President’s agenda — make Tony Snow the issue, and his hypocrisy something he consistently has to answer for. No need to bother wasting your time listening to him talk about the President. He’s already given us his position in the quotes above. Drill him on his inconsistencies.
April 25th, 2006 at 9:47 pmWhy should we given him an “honest chance” — this is the same President. He’s decided to jump in bed with someone he despises. Snow has no credibility. He’s a hypocrite. We should throw Snow out with the bathwater.
Don’t give us this “if you’re progressive we should. . .”-non-sense– hay, that’s just an excuse to put up with non-sense. He has no credibility. Don’t say this, “I though progressives prided themselves on . . .” what a load of RNC-nonsense. Hay, I thought the RNC took an oath to the Constitution– what has that given us? Nothing. NO reason anyone should feel bound to some illusory “promise” — the RNC doesn’t pay attention to real promises: their oath.
It’s already known: Snow hates Bush, despises him — he’s in a no-win situation. If he supports the President he’s wrong and not consistent; if he says what he honestly believes — he’s in trouble. No reason to given him any chances. He’s already “not given us a chance” by being hypocritical.
The issue isn’t whether he is or isn’t an “excellent” anything — the issue is whether he is or is not going to support a war criminal. He’s chosen to support a war criminal. So we should not have any respect for him.
This “problem over Snow” could easily be resolved if Bush resigned; then Snow wouldn’t have to defend a war criminal with his hypocrisy.
It doesn’t matter whether Snow did or didn’t say what he did — his words he says now can be contrasted with what he actually thought, and the public can made adverse inferences, “This guy said the opposite when he wasn’t working for a war criminal.” Why should we believe him now? No answer from the White House war criminals.
April 25th, 2006 at 9:56 pmPure comedy. Big laughs. Total entertainment: A Fox News commentator working in the White House.
April 25th, 2006 at 10:05 pm[…] Tony Snow is the new WH Press Secretary, replacing the aging Scott McClellan. I was rather enjoying McClellan’s press conferences of late - McClellan reminds me very much of Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf, the brilliant Iraqi spin-meister, but with much less character. Hopefully Snow will actually answer questions. This is quite an interesting choice by W, considering all the negativity thrown his way by Snow in the past. Think Progress has a little overview on a few of Snow’s comments. […]
April 25th, 2006 at 10:07 pmRNC nonsense?! I am not a republican. Gawd you’re judgemental!
April 25th, 2006 at 10:08 pm[…] Via Think Progress: […]
April 25th, 2006 at 10:10 pm[…] Via Think Progress: […]
April 25th, 2006 at 10:10 pmThanks for the laugh I-RIGHT-I.
If Bush is liberal and you hate liberals, then why do you like Bush?
I don’t expect an answer from Mr. Contradiction.
April 25th, 2006 at 10:21 pm[…] One would think that a Fox News employee would make the perfect replacement for McClellan. After all, they are pre-trained in the art of lying. Mr. Snow, however, has made some comments that have been critical of Bush. […]
April 25th, 2006 at 10:30 pmWhat an efficient way of stifling criticism from a high profile voicebox - make him your press secretary!
April 25th, 2006 at 10:33 pmTo “Comment by Kirk Smith” the press secretrary explains policy and doesn’t formulate policy. Still, Snow will be OK in the job but Bush would do better to have Snow on his staff of advisors.
April 25th, 2006 at 10:44 pmThe moment Tony Snow agreed to take the Bush Regime job he lost his credibility! Bush and Cheney are the scum of the planet, but Snow will kiss their asses and lie bigtime for them now! Tony has joined the voyage of the damned, so his soul awaits the fire of Hades someday!
April 25th, 2006 at 10:57 pmTony Snow received his masters in Philosophy and Economics at University of Chicago. Why is this important? Because The U of C philisophy department is pretty much the birth place of neo-conservatism. Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz both went there. Strauss taught there. The major crux of Straussian political philosophy, in a very small nutshell, is that democracy created fascism in Germany (Hitler was voted into office) and that, therefore, the people can’t be trusted to make the correct political desicions. The difficult, and sometimes immoral, decisions need to be made out of veiw from the public by wise men, who are fronted by a figure-head who essentially lies to them, and tells them what they want to hear. Keep that in mind, when Bush is talking about God or baseball and Tony Snow is giving us inarguable reasons for the necessity of Iran invasion.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:00 pmInvade Iran?! We are already in Iran!! Our special forces are in there under cloak and dagger trying to stir up crap in Iran’s outter regions. So much for congressional approval. It is all secret presidential decree.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:13 pmWow, these comments cracked me up. I never thought I’d see the day a bunch of liberals are applauding someone critical of massive increases in government spending. Keep it up! Let’s get rid of those unnecessary, expensive government programs. Here’s to lower taxes and smaller government!
April 25th, 2006 at 11:18 pmHolly, you aren’t paying attention. The Bush administration is outspending every prior administration by triple digits. The presedent OK’s every porkbarrel bill and bridge to nowhere that comes across his desk. And were you under a rock when Bush and Co. created the prescription drug plan. The goverment under these guys is only getting bigger and bigger. Add tax cuts to that and you get massive federal and trade deficits that can only grow larger. We could always renig on our European debt because they needed our military to ward off the Commies, but that doesn’t work with China. So you just keep laughing when your kids have to learn to speak Mandarin to get a job.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:32 pmThis is hilarious. Someone already called it a lateral move for Snow. Wonder if Bush knows about those bad things he said? Probably not. Bush doesn’t like to work too hard, you know.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:35 pmto kirk smith:
are you a libertarian? if so, have you noticed an influx of “frustrated republicans” joining the ranks of libertarians? this is exactly why i left the libertarian party recently: because of all the new disgruntled repub members, the lp chapter i belonged to started getting caught up in the ‘culture wars’ and the agenda of social conservatives. i was getting uber right-wing, anti-gay, anti-abortion emails forwarded to me by none other than the chairman of the county chapter.
the problem with the libertarian party is that it, by definition, can’t be a ‘big tent’ party, because it pretty much advocates a ‘no tent’ solution! not that i disagree with that solution, but really, people who have any issue other than reducing gov’t can’t or won’t join, simply because it doesn’t take them too long to realize that they actually want gov’t as the instrument to deal with their issue.
hence the social conservatives hijacking the republican party to try and use gov’t to enforce a religious agenda (or should i say, heh, “moral”, heh)… hence bush never vetoing a budget… hence the out-of-control deficits and national debt… etc.
and please don’t try to refute me with libertarian power points (ask mary ruwart…!) - i know them too well. as someone who still claims jefferson as my favorite president, i still think it’s a good idea. however, it is my belief that americans actually WANT everything SUV-sized, including their government.
as this relates to tony snow: whether he’s a libertarian or not, this administration has displayed NO willingness whatsoever to cooperate with the press or keep the public informed. i don’t expect that to change one bit. if snow’s as principled as you suggest, then i wouldn’t expect him to be press secretary for too long!
April 25th, 2006 at 11:41 pmWhy can’t they make a car that runs on bullshit? If so, we’d be energy dependent like Brazil within a year.
And, as a personal aside, I have to say that it’s embarrassing to solicit nine suggestions for a top ten list and get only four all day long. It makes me look bad.
So what would the top 10 suggestions in the WH suggestion box be?
April 25th, 2006 at 11:41 pmthat last one (#101) is for holly as well
April 25th, 2006 at 11:43 pmThe saying goes, when Bush speaks pay no attention to what he says, think the opposite. Same for Snow. That is their MO.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:44 pmenergy independent, I meant to say…
April 25th, 2006 at 11:49 pmIt doesn’t sound like Tony is in good health. He was diagnosed with colon cancer last year and underwent surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy. This means he most likely had a stage III cancer. (Chemotherapy would not typically be given for stage I or stage II disease) His cancer developed in the setting of ulcerative colitis which makes it all the more concerning for him. The chances for recurrence are fairly high. If his cancer does recur it will happen before the end of Bush’s term. He will get lots of sympathy from his colleagues in the press room. It’s hard to be overly aggressive with a guy who may be dying of cancer.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:01 amIt doesn’t sound like Tony is in good health. He was diagnosed with colon cancer last year and underwent surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy. This means he most likely had a stage III cancer. (Chemotherapy would not typically be given for stage I or stage II disease) His cancer developed in the setting of ulcerative colitis which makes it all the more concerning for him. The chances for recurrence are fairly high. If his cancer does recur it will happen before the end of Bush’s term. He will get lots of sympathy from his colleagues in the press room. It’s hard to be overly aggressive with a guy who may be dying of cancer.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:01 am#99 Comment by kingkong — April 25, 2006 @ 11:32 pm
You’re the one who’s not paying attention. Holly pointed to Snow’s criticism of Bush’s overspending (and reveled in liberals’ applause thereof), and then you go and claim that Holly is unaware of Bush’s overspending.
You might try actually reading someone’s post before going into “attack the wingnut kneejerk cheerleaders for teh Bu$hitler” mode.
Of course, that won’t do you any good if you aren’t able to make logical inferences …
April 26th, 2006 at 12:05 amPost 107 sorry to hear Tony has cancer, but by helping the Bush Regime he loses any sympathy by me or Helen Thomas!
April 26th, 2006 at 12:07 amRe: Snow…..this turkey has subbed for Rush Limbaugh. That should tell you why he was hired. You have to be a skillful liar to fill Scotty’s shoes, and he proved that by filling Rush’s shoes.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:13 amTo Progressaurus Rex:
I am a small “l” libertarian. I don’t belong to the LP. Small “l” libertarians have always been part of the republican coalition, until basically during the past ten years or so when influence was purged from the party in favor of the social conservative vote in order to hopefully pick up votes in the south. Today, the social conservatives yield far more power than they deserve and also backs up my assumptions of just how far they’ll go to press their views onto the rest of us like it or not.
I am an economic conservative, and more socially permissive than most democrats or progressives. I am anti-war as it only fuels the growth of the state at the expense of sacrificing the freedom, liberties, and individual wealth of the citizens. I do not believe in coercion and have full-faith the individuals can take care of themselves and should be left alone to live their lives as they please as long as they don’t infringe on the individual right of others to do the same. The GOP is NOT conservative, nor is it republican. It is the part of the same coin as the democrats.
Both parties seek power at all costs without any care for the damage it does to the individual, the country, or the founding principles. I vote my conscience in every election and trust that those whom I vote for will do what they say. This rarely happens. I voted for Gore in ‘04 because I view Bush as a dangerous man both foreign and domestically. I believe my initial asessment was correct. Right now, the GOP is battling for its soul and its survival. Perhaps they’ll listen more to libertarian viewpoints, as they are far better at protecting life, liberty, property and a prosperous country and individual.
I think Tony Snow can help temper the GOP a bit and provide influence beyond his “official” title. Time will tell.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:16 am[…] Think Progress » Tony Snow On President Bush […]
April 26th, 2006 at 12:24 amKirk,
you wrote:
“Right now, the GOP is battling for its soul and its survival. Perhaps they’ll listen more to libertarian viewpoints, as they are far better at protecting life, liberty, property and a prosperous country and individual.”
i’m a bit confused — are the “they” you refer to the GOP, or the libertarian viewpoints? if it’s the latter then i agree. if the former i have to say… wtf? i’m thinking you mean the former, since the latter would pretty much disregard the last 5 years (and every economic recession/depression since the civil war).
April 26th, 2006 at 12:34 amIf that is so, then it is very cynical of Bush to ask Snow to take a high stress job and be the pinata — the Rove mouthpiece and GW Bush apologist.
Do they need the WH Press core to shut up again and play nice for a few more months while they build up a case for invading Iran or for salvaging some GOP seats in Congress?
The problem isn’t with the messenger; it is the half baked message.
Are right-wingers deluding themselves yet again, by thinking that if they just get a fresh face and a different spin, the public & media will go back into zombie/lemming mode and suddenly lick up illogical connections such as:
April 26th, 2006 at 12:35 am911 -> Terrorism -> Middle East -> Iraq
or
Yellowcake -> Fruitcake -> Nukular -> Iraq
or
Vote for Kerry -> Sky will fall
or
Cheney former CEO of Haliburton -> Haliburton raking in billions from the Iraq War -> just a coincidence
Progressaurus Rex:
I am referring to the latter (libertarian viewpoints). LOL, the viewpoints and actions of the current GOP are awful and destructive. Just look around.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:40 ami agree…
April 26th, 2006 at 1:37 amnotice i got my former and latter mixed up…glad you could tell what i meant!
[…] So, what has Snow had to say about George Bush and his administration in recent broadcasts? From Think Progress comes these morsels: – “George W. Bush and his colleagues have become not merely the custodians of the largest government in the history of humankind, but also exponents of its vigorous expansion.†[3/17/06] […]
April 26th, 2006 at 3:14 am[…] P.S. Come on, you have to admit that some of this stuff is sort of endearing. […]
April 26th, 2006 at 3:14 amTony said:
“George Bush has become something of an embarrassment.â€
Nice job Tony! Now as WH Press Secretary you can coverup some of the embarrassment with your skilful lying.
April 26th, 2006 at 4:16 amWhat about these quotes from Tony Snow on Bush:
SOURCE: jewishworldreview.com
April 26th, 2006 at 4:22 amI am done with President Bush~~
~~In the year 2001 before 9-11 ~~ he deeply embarrassed me personally by profusely apologizing to the Chinese ~~ it was REALLY EMBARRASSING to see the two week ~~ rewriting of an apology to the damn Chinese ~~ but after 9-11 I realized President Bush had a good idea to go into Afghanistan with worldwide support ~~ continue our Iraq Policy ~~albeit without world support ~~ but since mid-2004 ~~I started to notice odd quirks and pathetic missteps ~~ Then right now I have serious problems ~~ our foreign policy mirrors that of Israel exactly ~~ North Korea is appeased (maybe because they are not threatening Israel) ~~ so all in all the below poll will give you an idea of what I think of President Bush at this moment:
Judging from his stances and actions, President Bush is actually: (pick 1)
April 26th, 2006 at 4:55 amPresident of Israel
President of Iraq
President of Mexico
President of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait
President of Spending
Vice President of the USA
[…] You may know Tony Snow as a Fox News Channel political “analyst”, or as a JWR columnist, or as a former speechwriter for Bush pere, or as a fill-in for Limbaugh. BuffaloGeek links to some choice quotes that Think Progress found from Tony Snow’s past: – Bush has “lost control of the federal budget and cannot resist the temptation to stop raiding the public fisc.†[3/17/06] […]
April 26th, 2006 at 5:56 amThis was just mentioned on the Imus in the Morning radio show!
April 26th, 2006 at 7:12 am[…] It’s good to see the Bush Administration continue on it’s course to select highly qualified individuals to hold important positions. Tony Snow is a great choice for press secretary, and his selection shows Bush’s willingness to allow for dissent. Sure, as press secretary, Snow will not be allowed to criticize the President, but he apparently has demanded complete access to the President and some latitude on how he presents information. I look forward to seeing someone so skilled in dealing with liberals take on the White House Press Corps. Should make for some interesting sound bites. […]
April 26th, 2006 at 7:42 am[…] It speaks volumes as to the man’s integrity, as well as the fact that the lack of said integrity is a perfect credential for the job, given a recent history of Bush criticisms to being his number one verbal fellator. I find it hard that the man will be able to reconcile his personal beliefs and the requirements of the job, given comments like this in the Jewish World Review regarding the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy: Let’s be practical: In our business, we thrive when we tell you things you didn’t know and need to. If we spout party lines or distort the facts, people will catch on and we’ll fail. […]
April 26th, 2006 at 8:40 amCan’t wait for the debut of Tony Doesn’t Know!
April 26th, 2006 at 9:06 amI trust the comment by “hit_escape” that it’s nice to see W had the courage to choose a “liberal, progressive to represent him” were tongue firmly in cheek, because Snow’s criticisms are clearly coming from W’s right (as if such a place were possible).
* “No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives.†So W should be MORE imperious?
* “The president doesn’t seem to give a rip about spending restraint.†So gutting enforcement of labor, antitrust, and environmental laws while leaving education, transportation, and healthcare underfunded hasn’t happened?
* Bush “has a habit of singing from the Political Correctness hymnal.†So class warfare hasn’t been the lynchpin of W’s policies as the richest .5% have gotten filthily richer while the rest of us have, at best, tread water or more likely been globalized, outsourced and marginalized?
Yes, I take some pleasure knowing Snow has said “Bush has become something of an embarrassment,†but having Snow become a powerful advocate for the neanderthal believes underlying his other reactionary criticisms of W is nothing to cheer.
April 26th, 2006 at 9:33 am#21 “(never mind that they are the most liberal administration the country has ever seen since LBJ’s)”
Comment by I-RIGHT-I
… and you’ve been supporting him, why? You people don’t make a f’ing bit of sense.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:09 amBeing honest 1 to 2% of the time and being a right wing propaganda outlet 98-99% of the other times doesn’t make Faux News or Tony Snow fair and balanced. Having Alan Colmes spend 30 seconds asking how to spell your name and then having Sean Hannity spend 30 minutes spewing venom and lies isn’t “fair and balanced” either.
The mere pointing out of quotes by Snow Job (far less than 1% of 1% of everything he’s ever uttered or done for Fox) does not “destroy the argument” that Faux News is The RW Corporatist Unamerican Network of Talibanism.
My bigger problem is that NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC, along with the Washington POst and NY Times are too far slanted to the Right. (The mere fact that they sometimes print or broadcast honest objective news or maybe even occasionally offer strong liberal opinions does not detract from my argument that each of these 7 entities trumpets RW lies. (Lies are bias, truth is not.)
April 26th, 2006 at 10:30 am[…] I wonder which other guy Snow was referring to this past March when he said Bush has, “lost control of the federal budget and cannot resist the temptation to stop raiding the public fisc.†Or in November 2005 when he said, “George Bush has become something of an embarassment.†[hat tip to ThinkProgress for producing a list of Snow on Bush quotes that will be used ad nauseum from here on out] There was no “other guy” running the country at either of these times, unless you count Cheney. Snow may be a strong Bush supporter employee, but he can’t completely disavow these statements with a bullshit line about them being kinder than his words towards people less powerful or important than our president. […]
April 26th, 2006 at 10:38 am[…] I wonder which other guy Snow was referring to this past March when he said Bush has, “lost control of the federal budget and cannot resist the temptation to stop raiding the public fisc.†Or in November 2005 when he said, “George Bush has become something of an embarassment.†[hat tip to ThinkProgress for producing a list of Snow on Bush quotes that will be used ad nauseum from here on out] There was no “other guy” running the country at either of these times, unless you count Cheney. Snow may be a strong Bush supporter employee, but he can’t completely disavow these statements with a bullshit line about them being kinder than his words towards people less powerful or important than our president. […]
April 26th, 2006 at 10:40 amSome resumé.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:45 amDon’t you wish we could all tell the awful truth about someone and get hired instead of fired?
I’d be watching my back with this crowd. This ain’t right.
#32 Tony really is not going to be the new press secretary. Mark the words
Comment by For Truth — April 25, 2006 @ 5:42 pm
Marked.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:47 amI dunno, this seems like one of those reverse spins to me. The vast majority of those “bad” quotes appear to have been written before the Bush/Kerry election. Almost all of the rest deal with the budget deficit and the growth of the Fed Govt (both TRADITIONAL Repub enemies). Could Snow just be a Republican??
But this one gets me: “No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives” Are we talking about Bush? The Bizarro Bush maybe. But not in my galaxy. Unitary Executive. Presidential Signing Statements. War Powers Trumps 4th Amendment. Congress can’t regulate the executive branch. Wtf Tony?? If I didn’t know better, I’d think this one was a Murdoch reverse psych talking point. Tell the Foxies that Bush is a “weak” President and they won’t ever worry about the goosestepping and the internment camps.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:49 am[…] Snow is expected to be named the new White House Press Secretary. You know it's bad for Bush when the most loyal person he could find to fill the job declared: From Think Progress: […]
April 26th, 2006 at 10:54 am[…] Announcing Fox News’ Tony Snow as White House Press Secretary, Bush responded to highly critical comments Snow made about Bush, reported on ThinkProgress yesterday. (ThinkProgress research on Tony Snow’s criticism of Bush was picked up by the Associated Press and the New York Times.) […]
April 26th, 2006 at 10:56 amSnow Day…
Well, the President has named Fox commentator Tony Snow as the new Press Secretary and already the knives are out. Salon has a War Room post dogging Bush and Snow for announcing the appointment in the press room and then……
April 26th, 2006 at 11:06 amGood post 137 I agree completely > Most Americans have become cowards, so they prefer to do nothing about the worst president in United States history!
April 26th, 2006 at 11:38 amMr. Snow job will say he was taken out of context.
http://www.LiberalUnderground.org
April 26th, 2006 at 11:39 amIt looks like you “Progressives” (ratbastardcommies) might want to look around for a new spokesmodel of your own. HA!
From Drudge…
PROGRESSIVE’ MEDIA STALLS: ‘AIR AMERICA’ IN AUDIENCE PLUNG NYC, ‘DAILY KOS’ BOOK ONLY SELLS 3,600 COPIES
Wed Apr 26 2006 11:39:51 ET
Left-leaning new media has hit turbulence at the marketplace, newly released stats show.
A book hyped as documenting a progressive revolution of “blogs” and political power, DAILY KOS ‘CRASHING THE GATE,’ has sold only 3,630 copies since its release last month, according to NIELSEN’s BOOKSCAN.
Meanwhile, the just released radio Winter Book [Jan-Mar] from ARBITRON shows AIR AMERICA in New York City losing more than a third of its audience — in the past year!
Among all listeners 12+, it was a race to the bottom for AIR AMERICA and WLIB as mid-days went from a 1.6 share during winter 2005 to a 1.0 share winter 2006.
During PM drive, host Randi Rhodes plunged to 27,900 listeners every quarter hour, finishing 25th place in her time slot, down from 49,000 listeners every quarter hour last year.
Developing…
April 26th, 2006 at 11:47 am“Clintonista Counter-Revolution ..”
That’s funny.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:00 pmI-R-I you need therapy so go check yourself in at an insane asylum of your choice > lol.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:03 pmIs Bush rightwing or any wing for that matter? That retard exists in a dimension of his own, not easily quantifiable by normal political equations. The appt of Snowjob is Bush’s desperate attempt to at least put a positive spin on the fact he has been taking a dump on every important issue. The way is opinion ratings are going, soon he will be slightly more popular than the Grinch.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:19 pm[…] thanks to the fine people who edit wikipedia.org I found some interesting quotes Snow has said in the past about Bush and issues facing the country. fun stuff. […]
April 26th, 2006 at 12:30 pmBefore everyone gets all orgasmic about Snow’s criticisms of Bush, remember that the recent quotes are all in the same vein: Bush isn’t cruel enough to those in need. If you read the entire article, Snow’s complaint is that Bush won’t shut down “every social welfare program,” and leave the nation’s needy in the hands of the cruel whims of fate.
Tony Snow is not even remotely “progressive.” He wants a return to the robber baron days of the late 19th century, something not even Bush has been willing to publicly endorse. I don’t think “this guy isn’t mean enough to those in need” is exactly the sort of criticism TP’s headlines present.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:35 pm[…] Think Progress has some choice Tony Snow Quotes: Here’s some of what he’s had to say about the President: […]
April 26th, 2006 at 12:36 pm[…] Think Progress - Tony Snow On President Bush:”An Embarrassment,” “Impotent,” “Doesn’t Seem To Mean What He Says” […]
April 26th, 2006 at 1:29 pmTony Snow will “temper” nothing. He’s an extremist who will present extreme views and extreme reations in the press room. One rant about shutting down “every social welfare program” at the podium and they’ll eat him alive. He’ll be lucky to avoid a sanitarium by the time they spit him out. It’s one thing to step in front of a microphone accountable to nobody and spew out crazy, but if he thinks that’s going to fly with the White House Press Corp… I will enjoy the show.
April 26th, 2006 at 1:29 pmTony Snow will “temper” nothing. He’s an extremist who will present extreme views and extreme reactions in the press room. One rant about shutting down “every social welfare program” at the podium and they’ll eat him alive. He’ll be lucky to avoid a sanitarium by the time they spit him out. It’s one thing to step in front of a microphone accountable to nobody and spew out crazy, but if he thinks that’s going to fly with the White House Press Corp… well, I will enjoy the show.
April 26th, 2006 at 1:30 pm[…] Think Progress » Tony Snow On President Bush: ‘An Embarrassment,’ ‘Impotent,’ ‘Doesn’t Seem To Mean What He Says’ – “Little in the character of demeanor of Al Gore or George Bush makes us say to ourselv