On the Pulse of the People
This is a first for Senator George Allen, a complete paragraph without a single football metaphor. But take out the football, and he inadvertently speaks the truth. Allen on Tony Snow, speaking on Snow’s network:
The best thing that Tony's going to do is bring the pulse of the American people into the White House in those deliberations. People like Laura Ingraham and Tony and Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, they understand what's going on in the real world, and I think that's going to be very helpful for the White House as they develop policy to move this country forward....I think it will be good for the American people, too, to have one of their advocates clearly in the White House who's on the pulse of the people in the real world.
In case you thought that the problem with the White House was that they needed a dose of the Hannity/Limbaugh understanding of the real world, Tony’s the man.
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What makes no sense to me is Snow taking the job. It may be that he is so loyal that he is aborting his show-biz career for principle, but it's hard to swallow. What will he do after this job? I suppose he could be a freelance talking head but the market for former press sectretaries is pretty weak. Maybe an insider's book after the investigations?
It's a good job for a nobody; you come away with name recognition and, with luck, a reputation for discretion and quick thinking. But it seems like a good way to ruin a public reputation if you are already well-known. Especially now, how desperate to get back inside the White House would Snow have to be to walk into a fairly likely storm of investigations, indictments, and trials?
April 27, 2006 5:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Allen made this comment on Hardball, where David Gregory was substituting for Chris Mathews. Once again, Gregory proved that he is incapabale of thinking on his feet. Allen's comment cried out for a follow-up question: "Then you believe that Hannity, Ingram, Limbaugh, et. al.are the ones who really have their fingers on the pulse of the American pjeople?"
Instead, Gregory looked down at his pre-scripted questions and asked the next question. He's done this before.
Gregory "cleans up real good" and looks statesmanlike on TV, but he seems more interested in himself than he does the issues under discussion.
April 27, 2006 5:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just what the Bush Administration and the American people need so desperately now: a Snow Job.
April 27, 2006 5:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
it's called sacrifice. people do it everyday. i like him.(snow stupid)
April 27, 2006 5:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
The biggest problem in delivering the WH message is The Decider himself. I have a friend who in the past has wondered why I have been so critical of GW. However, she told me yesterday that now when she looks at her TV and sees Bush, he looks like a clown who has no clue as to what to do. He may gain a few percentage points in his approval rating, but his trust factor with most of the public is gone. Even if he reduces troop levels in Iraq, it will be confirmation of a flawed policy.
As for Laura Ingraham et al.I am reminded that she appeared on the Today Show and chastised reporters for not telling the real story of Iraq by going out in the streets. The male host of Today did not respond by saying that the picture shown of her in Iraq was taken beside an armored vehicle and armed troops suggesting that some danger was anticipated in her travels. The host did not mention that NBC's David Blum and ABC's evening news anchor had died or been injured covering the war. The fact that Jill Carroll had been kidnapped was also absent from the discussion. I think the public is ahead of the press and would be more aggressive in the questions they would ask and responses they would have to such rantings then is the actual MSM news core.
GWs situaton is one no press secratary can cure.
Tony Snow is lipstick on a pig.
April 27, 2006 5:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tom
Tony Snow is a very reputable pundit who has contacts all across the radio and television spectrum. I would suspect that in 2008 Fox News will be quick to offer him a job and the conservative AM radio stations will not hesitate to re-hire him. Indeed, they may be fighting to lure him back.
April 27, 2006 7:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was struck by the same thing, but it's not a question that many are asking, AFAIK.
I did find one item that said his radio show was not doing well. If his media career has stalled, the move makes more sense.
I wouldn't think a pundit would make a good press secretary. Pundits aren't selfless, rather the opposite, but who knows maybe the Bushies are so floundering that they'll take direction from this guy. Not to mention that pundits have the luxury of hindsight. Interesting development.
April 27, 2006 7:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
In the old days, that other George (the son of the football coach), used to let the the conservative think tanks in Virginia do his thinking for him. I thought that was a big danger. But now I can see, it is even more dangerous when he tries to think for himself.
If it's good for me it must be Good 4 A MericaApril 27, 2006 8:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
How does anyone use Hannity, Limbaugh and "real world" in the same sentence with a straight face?
They may represent a slice of American life and perspectives (although "shape" may be a more accurate word than represent), but it's got nothing to do with the real world.
Curious -- has Fox's ratings gone down in parallel with Bush and the GOPs popularity? Does any site/group track this?
Dissent Protects Democracy
April 27, 2006 8:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Horatio
Tony Snow mentioned on Bill O'Reilly that he would certainly have a much different role than anything he has ever done before. Rather than opining on policy, which is the job of a pundit, it is now his responsibility to elaborate and justify it. It should be an interesting spectacle if nothing else.
April 27, 2006 8:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gettysburg may be right. If he is, it makes sense, but argues these guys are really in dreamland.
April 27, 2006 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
My feeling is that he's not going to have the room he thinks he's going to have. I question how much he can elaborate without straying off the reservation.
The problem with the press secretary position is that he can't control the facts.
He does have a lot of people curious, including me.
April 27, 2006 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
The press secretary not only can't control the facts, he doesn't even know the facts. He is told what he can say, and left to figure out how to dodge further questions artfully.
April 27, 2006 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
If this is going to be viewed as a coming-of-age for RW talk radio, I hope he crashes and burns. It's easy for Snow to still have the hubris that Bush & Co have lost; he hasn't been on the front lines.
April 27, 2006 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink