Think Progress

Highlights From Tony Snow’s First Press Gaggle

snowgaggle.jpgNew White House Press Secretary Tony Snow held his first gaggle this morning. Here are some highlights:

Can’t comment on national security issues.”

“You’ll forgive me, but I’ll do the talking points on this as the new kid on the block. I’m not fully briefed into everything. I hate to read from a sheet of paper.”

For today, I am not going to handle international issues or currency issues. I do not wish to set off global tempests. I frankly just don’t know enough on those.”

“I thought this would be nice and congenial and it is obviously just a mess.”

After his performance, ABC’s Chief White House correspondent, Martha Raddatz, described Snow as “a smoothie.”

UPDATE: TPMmucracker has the full transcript.



65 Responses to “Highlights From Tony Snow’s First Press Gaggle”

  1. Bruce Gorton says:

    Yep, the “I don’t know, why can’t you leave me alooone?” and curling up in a fetal position defence. Real smooth.


  2. Krazny says:

    Why not put up a furby, that is programmed to say

    “I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation” and save the tax payers some money?


  3. lib4 says:

    ABCNews.com is really in the backpocket of this Adminstration

    from “The Note” blog being a complete joke (basically a clearinghouse for Repub talking points) to this mornings ridiculous phone records poll (2/3 in favor????) to this nonsensical “he’s a smoothie comment”…

    I generally ignore them….


  4. Manuel says:

    JUST IN CIA Official’s Home, Office Searched

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cia_foggo

    Law enforcement officials executed search warrants Friday on the house and office of
    CIA’s outgoing executive director, the FBI said.


  5. Zookeeper says:

    #2 – Ok, this may sound silly, but what the hell is a “furby?”


  6. Zookeeper says:

    Snowie seems a bit out of his element. Love that picture. Looks like he swallowed a Scottie. :-D


  7. Drew Mackenzie says:

    I can just see it now: FOX’s apologies for Rove’s spin on Bush’s comments on Snow’s answers about Foggo’s troubles….

    There’s no end to this mess, and the man in the middle is not a good scarecrow.

    The worst part of this for Bush is that TV people don’t quit, they have to be fired. When this one quits we’ll know exactly what a Bush firing looks like.


  8. squegeeboo says:

    Krazny
    “Why not put up a furby, that is programmed to say

    “I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation” and save the tax payers some money? ”

    Furbies are banned from Federal buildings, (or at least they used to be) due to their ability to record.

    Zoo
    They were a kids stuffed animal thing, that also acted sort of like a tape recorder, at least thats what I remeber them like.


  9. Krazny says:

    Furbys are a little talking toy that were popular a few years ago. Kinda looked like Gizmo from gremlins. they can speak, and can learn language. furbys were banned from High security places because of the potentiol of overhearing and repeating classified information. See the link below.

    http://www.hasbro.com/furby/


  10. dlet says:

    But boy is he a smoothie… Managing not to tell us anything: “Can’t comment on national security issues.” But he did it in such a skillful way.

    So the White House correspondent for ABCNews is in awe of this guy because he can give the press no answers with flair? What drugs is she on? She should not only be fired but lose her press license. Pathetic reporting.


  11. Krazny says:

    that is alot of people interested in one guy. I am guessing that Mr. Foggo better get a really good lawyer.


  12. Badmoodman says:

    “…Martha Raddatz, described Snow as “a smoothie.” – - Ummm, more like “smarmy.”


  13. Zookeeper says:

    #8 & #9 – Squeegy & Krazny,

    1. God damn it, I feel old right now, even though I’m not.
    2. Furby (an alleged toy) giving away national secrets? That’s killing me, it’s so funny.

    Thanks guys!


  14. Nix says:

    Martha Raddatz also calls a bed of nails,” a smoothie”.


  15. unbelievable says:

    He’s really off to a good start. (sarcasm)

    What’s he gonna do when the pressure is on him for real? This could get funny. I mean Bush is at 29% approval rating, half the neocons are under investigation or indicted for something unethical, Dick-tator shot a guy in the face, and Rummy has a Vietnam in Iraq. Good luck Snow. I’d hate to be you.


  16. Zookeeper says:

    Judd, just so you know, I liked it better when it was Snowie’s “frist gaggle.”


  17. Marley, Brooklyn, NY says:

    Zookeeper.. Sorry to jump in… Google Furby Images… You’ll laugh!


  18. katy says:

    “I frankly just don’t know enough on those.”

    whaaa!?! why hasn’t he been doing his homework these past few weeks?!?


  19. Krazny says:

    Its true Zoo no joke. Furbys can record conversation, and the worry was they would overhear something and spill national secrets.


  20. Zookeeper says:

    #15 – Good luck Snow. I’d hate to be you.
    Comment by unbelievable

    Sucks for him, but SO much fun for us. We deserve this kind of fun, after all. ;)


  21. bobcat_grad says:

    #20

    I beg to disagree. We don’t deserve any more from this ‘administration.’ I, at least, have had just about enough.


  22. Krazny says:

    We deserve resignations and an apologys.


  23. AvengingAngel says:

    A new poll from the Washington Post suggests that the President Bush may be winning a double victory with his illegal NSA domestic surveillance programs. Americans seem willing to buy the White House’s “tough on terrorism” hype at the expense of the law and their own civil liberties. And as an added ironic bonus, the President gets another opportunity to decry leaks that supposedly jeopardize national security.

    For the dismal details, see:
    “Poll: Double Win for Bush on NSA Phone Records”


  24. unbelievable says:

    Sucks for him, but SO much fun for us. We deserve this kind of fun, after all. ;)
    Comment by Zookeeper — May 12, 2006 @ 1:15 pm

    I’m usually not sadistic at all, but in this case, I wholly agree. These people have become fodder for the late nigt comedians, and have no one to blame but themselves. And it’s hilarious.


  25. Zookeeper says:

    #17 – Marley, you are right, I laughed. Those are the ugliest things I’ve ever seen. What kind of sick bastard of a parent would buy something like that for their little darling? Good god…

    Thanks!


  26. unbelievable says:

    We deserve resignations and an apologys.
    Comment by Krazny — May 12, 2006 @ 1:19 pm

    Ever hear that you teach people how to treat you? Every day that We The People collectively allow their antics to endure, we’re telling them that their behavior is acceptable to us.

    I know many in here would do and would love to do more. We just don’t have the strength in numbers yet. And as long as the fear outweighs the pain, we will watch the apathetic masses tolarate even more heinous behaviour from these clowns.


  27. wisedup says:

    nice job tony, anyone else screwing up this bad on THE FIRST DAY. would be fired. Can you get your ’safe’ job back at fox? You can be replaced with a looped tape that repeats the same thing over and over…”I can’t comment on ANYTHING because EVERYTHING is under investigation.” ABC, smoothie is a paint additive to eliminate ‘fish eyes’ in paint. It is pure silicone,slick as snot and hard to get off your hands. Now I get what your saying.


  28. Zookeeper says:

    #19 – Ok, Krazny, I googled the furby thing like Marley suggested, and they are real. Ugly things. Slip that under the closet door and scare the kidlets, I say. I guess they don’t have to worry about furbies anymore, now that they have Rove and Libby. ;)


  29. ZooKeeper says:

    So, furbys can speak, and can learn language. furbys were banned from High security places because of the potentiol of overhearing and repeating classified information…

    Sounds like furbys and LIBs have a lot in common!


  30. Styve says:

    He’ll be wearing cement overshoes in Chesapeake Bay soon enough! Poor jamoke!!


  31. Zookeeper says:

    #21 & #22 – Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound flippant. I’m hanging on to my sense of humor by my fingernails.


  32. Krazny says:

    Zoo did you post #30, or did someone steal your screen name?


  33. Styve says:

    No, why does Zoo use my handle? I don’t believe that I have ever seen that on any boards, and I have been using Styve as my nom de guerre since 2000.

    Styve
    (short for Stuyvesant, the name of an uncle that died on Guadalcanal at age 20)


  34. MXXLENT says:

    nice graphic http://f3.yahoofs.com/blog/433d24dbz187ae184/94/__sr_/750c.jpg?mgo3MZEBECwgMpe5

    Sadly I can imagine seeing this graphic in the future on Crooks n liars or the most liberal site available the Huffington Post

    I think conservatives are more upset about this spying program than liberals


  35. katy says:

    then again – there’s dusty springfield: “i only want to be with you”, “wishin’ and hopin’”, the telling “son of a preacher man” and many more…
    yea – an exception to every rule…


  36. katy says:

    oops! disregard #35 – obviously wrong thread…


  37. left-over says:

    Way to go “Oliver” Snow. Nice first Gaggle! CAn’t wait for the televised briefing on Tuesday.


  38. Zookeeper says:

    #33 – No, I didn’t post #29, hence my post #32. ;)


  39. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    Post numbers are getting weird again. If it helps to clear up some confusion (and how could it possibly?), I see Zookeeper at comment #29, Styve at #30, Zookeeper again at #31 referencing #s21 & 22, and then Krazny at #32 asking Zoo if she was at #30 (which she isn’t on my screen), and then Styve again at #33 asking about Zoo.

    Perhaps the fine folks at ThinkProgress can explain and straighten out.


  40. NewNameAcquired says:

    “Martha adds that she isn’t sure that she got any of the quotes verbatim… She couldn’t hear.” That last line really tickles me.


  41. Grand Moff Texan says:

    He blew it. Big surprise.
    .


  42. Krazny says:

    here is comment #30 as it appears to me. this is really wierd.

    #

    So, furbys can speak, and can learn language. furbys were banned from High security places because of the potentiol of overhearing and repeating classified information…

    Sounds like furbys and LIBs have a lot in common!

    Comment by ZooKeeper — May 12, 2006 @ 1:28 pm


  43. Krazny says:

    and the ZooKeeper tag is a link, back to this page?


  44. Zookeeper says:

    #40 – Wayne, that’s not me at #29. On my screen #32 is me telling whoever commented with my name at #29 to f*ck off.


  45. unbelievable says:

    Post numbers are getting weird again
    Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — May 12, 2006 @ 2:19 pm

    Why I stopped using them and do this… less confusion.

    I would guess Santo’s plagerism and rants must go… reordering the numbers. One guess.


  46. Zookeeper says:

    This is what I’m showing at #30

    He’ll be wearing cement overshoes in Chesapeake Bay soon enough! Poor jamoke!!

    Comment by Styve


  47. Zookeeper says:

    #44 – That’s not me.


  48. Krazny says:

    I didn’t think it was, the tone was all wrong. I don’t know why I have an extra post, but oh well.


  49. KnightErrant says:

    I wonder how long the “I am just an ignorant wanker” dodge will be considered charming.


  50. Zookeeper says:

    #49 – I may be a lunatic, but I’m not batshit insane! ;)


  51. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    Apologies, Zookeeper. I didn’t see the link under one of those names. Perhaps TP will change the screen name on the post that isn’t yours to the e-mail address of the person who impersonated you. I think that would be fair. Then we can all tell that person not to impersonate someone from our community.


  52. roo says:

    However, this is the first time i’ve seen a White House official publically declare his actions resulted in a obvious mess.

    Gotta give him some small credit for self-introspection, a quality sorely lacking.


  53. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    roo,

    He’s new. They’ll let it pass this time, but next time he admits he made a mistake, you can probably bet they’ll be looking to replace him. Admitting mistakes is anathema to these people.


  54. Plunderbund » Tony Snow: “I haven’t memorized the talking points yet” says:

    [...] This one is a hoot (via MSNBC hat tip Think Progress) Fox News Press Secretary Ton Snow has not been quite programmed correctly yet: “You’ll forgive me, but I’ll do the talking points on this as the new kid on the block. I’m not fully briefed into everything.” And then he said, “I hate to read from a sheet of paper.” [...]


  55. mighty aphrodite says:

    I enjoyed reading all of your insightful comments without benefit of any opposing views – if you would all just learn to spell “ditto” …. Have a great weekend, progs!!


  56. Krazny says:

    And despite your post, we still don’t have an opposing view, just the milky crap squirted from you ass MA.


  57. Zookeeper says:

    #52 – No apology necessary, Wayne. Somebody’s being cute. *sigh*


  58. progressive and proud says:

  59. unbelievable says:

    without benefit of any opposing views
    Comment by mighty aphrodite — May 12, 2006 @ 4:25 pm

    You aren’t opposing – you’re controversial. Opposing is when someone can argue on merit.

    You still haven’t shown the relevence between inspirational sources and the correlation between multiple law enforcement agencies and our high incarceration rate. Because you can’t. You weren’t being opposing to my premise. Just controversial. As always.

    Shoo fly!


  60. JIMBO says:

    Tony thinks he’s still with Faux News. The little shit is so arrogant and so stupid he can’t even think like a human being.


  61. Dogger says:

    So Martha Raddatz described Snow as “a smoothie.”

    The dictionary defines “smoothie” as one with an igratiating manner, ususally insincere, a dissembler, or a phony.

    Janeane Garofalo uses the word to describe rat turds.

    Either one works for Tony Snow.


  62. Gregor Samsa says:

    You aren’t opposing – you’re controversial. Opposing is when someone can argue on merit.
    Comment by unbelievable — May 12, 2006 @ 5:28 pm

    Then (s)he cannot be controversial either.

    I think the word you are looking for is blatherskite. Or balderdash. Or jabberwocky. Or preposterous. Or fripper. Or fiddle-faddle.

    Or simply prattling fool.


  63. PretzleNut says:

    Tangent to misleading media;
    •°•°•°•°•°•±•°•°•°•°•°•±•°•°•°•°•°•±•°•°•°•°•°•±
    I know some have seen this before, now given that what we have seen of the Media and others, read this again, it makes alor more sense now eh?
    •°•°•°•°•°•±•°•°•°•°•°•±•°•°•°•°•°•±

    We are grateful to The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity [[Cant have the 'Sheeple' knowing]] of what we are up to during those years. But, the work is now much more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national autodetermination practiced in past centuries.”
    David Rockefeller,
    ( founder of the Trilateral Commission),
    in an address to a meeting of The Trilateral Commission,
    in June, 1991.

    SO what Exactly is an Intellecutal Elite?
    Bush? hahaha
    Cheney? Yeh right.
    Rove? Just a Liar
    Libby? another Liar
    Cunningham? Corrupt
    Delay? hahaha
    Wilkes? Oh Pleez
    Rummy? War Lord
    Perle? Another misleader
    Wolfowitz? Another Liar

    SO where are these ELites hiding?


  64. Cyra Brown says:

    “I hate to read from a sheet of paper.” Yes, I imagine teleprompters are a lot better, and don’t make you look ‘unprepared’. Not as easy as you thought it would be, huh,Tony? What in the hell have you been doing the last few weeks? It’s not like you didn’t know this was coming. And you are supposed to be a “professional”? Hmmm…


  65. Concerned Citizen says:

    You’re doin a heckuva job Snowie!



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