Posted by Mark Silva at 10:18 am CDT
Tony Snow, press secretary for the president of the United States, says he never goes home at night so frustrated that he feels like kicking the dog -- not that he ever would kick the dog.
And Snow, who leaves the house well before dawn each morning with a sense of motivation that he found difficult to muster during his radio days, says he is delightfully surprised with how much he loves the rigors of this demanding job four months into his stint as White House spokesman. "I suppose if there's an operative philosophy for me, it's 'Flood the Zone,''' says Snow, maintaining he tries to flood reporters with information, not spin. "If we spin you,'' Snow says, "we die.''
(Tony Snow's first gaggle with reporters in his office a few months back: Snow admits being "scared stiff'' his first day. White House photo.)
Snow is handy at stating the obvious sometimes -- such as his assessment today of the fate of the "comprehensive'' immigration reform that Bush wanted to win during this session of Congress.
"It is clear that, in this congressional session, there is not going to be a comprehensive bill,'' Snow said. Yet the president, ready to accept a border-fencing bill if Congress passes it, "is a patient guy'' Snow added. "He is enormously patient. His view is, if you get a fencing bill... he'll sign it. But that's not the end of the matter... It's the beginning.''
"He will certainly continue to press for comprehensive reform'' after the fall elections. "The thing about the president is, he sets strategic goals,'' Snow said of his boss. "He understands tactically sometimes you are going to have to adjust based on the realities on the ground -- whether it be in Iraq or on Capitol Hill... The reality on the ground is that we're not getting a bill' with a temporary worker program as well as border protection. "There just isn't time.''
Asked what's at stake in the fall elections for the president, Snow had a two-word answer:
"Congressional majorities.''
And the upshot of that is the president's ability to pursue an agenda in his remaining two years as president that includes immigration, health care and education -- and even a renewed attempt to get Congress to focus on Social Security reform -- "the opportunity for a much more aggressive final two years than we are accustomed to seeing with a president,'' Snow said. "What the president wants is to have a Congress that is going to be helpful and willing to move forward.''
That means a busy October on the road for Bush, who is campaigning for Republican candidates in Florida today. "He's a Republican guy, and he wants to maintain majorities,'' Snow said. "He's going to be all over the country campaigning for Republicans. The October schedule is really filled with political events.... There are just lots and lots of political events scheduled.''
Snow, who sat down for breakfast with several dozen reporters at a hotel near the White House this morning, also has a way of deflecting questions about ongoing negotiations, such as the debate over interrogation of detainees in the war on terror that has divided the White House and influential Senate Republicans, who demand that the U.S. adhere to the Geneva Convention in its interrogations.
"The status is ongoing,'' Snow said of talks aimed at reaching a compromise, adding: "This is like warm milk on the kitchen counter right now... Whatever news I can give you will turn to yogurt by the time you get back to the office.''
He also knows when not to comment on matters, such as the evolving conflict in Thailand. "The last thing you want to do as a spokesman is get ahead of the facts,'' Snow said.
Declining to share any of the "internal deliberations'' that he has with the president or others inside the White House, he does say there are some issues, such as the debate over the Geneva Convention, in which he knows little enough about the details to know that he needs "to keep my yap shut.'' Snow speaks from the experience of serving as a speechwriter in the previous Bush administration: "Speechwriters should be heard, not seen.''
He says the president is more concerned about the job at hand than how historians may view it.
"The president is not really a legacy guy,'' said Snow, noting that Bush had read three books about George Washington in the last year -- a leader who, 200 years later, "is still subject to reappraisal.''
"The idea that somehow you're going to be able to retire to Crawford knowing what your legacy is is pure folly,'' Snow said.
As outspoken as he can be at times, the former Fox News talk show host and newspaper editorial writer says he has never had his head handed to him by his bosses for comments he has made at the podium of the press secretary -- "no, which has been a surprise.''
"The most pleasant surprise about this job has been how much fun it is,'' said Snow, who delivered his first White House press briefing in May. "I must say, the first day, I was absolutely scared stiff... The biggest challenge is... just trying to make sure that you know enough about the things that are going to be of interest to reporters.
"The press secretary's job is a reporting job,'' said Snow, explaining what he sees when he looks out across the press briefing room. "I don't come out of the political side... What I see is a lot of people trying to get information to write a story.''
And four months into it, he says, he has no regrets. "I have never had a day where I've gone home and kicked the dog out of frustration,'' he said. "Besides, I would never kick the dog.''
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Comments
RIP Mr. Snow. If you have forgotten Mr. Bush is a republican president with a republican house and congress...you telling me he can't get the job done with full support. You're just another DJ Mr. Snow.
Posted by: bill r. | September 21, 2006 11:18 AM
I guess you should be preparing for the end Toney Snowjob.
You have joined an administration that knows nothing but spin,distort,confuse,and then hope,that you have scared the American people into voting Republican.
I'm sure this is a much harder job for you than filling in for comedian Rush Limbaugh.
Remember Tony,if you fail,W. will be getting some well deserved investigations in the near future.
Posted by: John E. | September 21, 2006 11:37 AM
It would be nice if this administration actually LOOKED at the "facts" before any of them spoke or proposed a policy.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | September 21, 2006 11:54 AM
John E wrote: Remember Tony,if you fail,W. will be getting some well deserved investigations in the near future.
Anyone else getting a strange feeling of warmth and well-being at that thought?
Maybe the next Reality TV outing could involve choosing cellmates for Dubbya.
"George, meet Thunderdick - 400 lbs, all man and very very lonely".
Anyone got Simon Cowell's phone number?
Posted by: OHCD | September 21, 2006 12:30 PM
Tony,
Remember Ari, and Scott?
They are now laughing stock; nearly everything they said in the daily routine of their job ended up in a joke book.
Same with their boss.
Poor Tony; are you clearly receiving the dreadful download from Mephistopheles today?
Posted by: C.Morris | September 21, 2006 12:49 PM
my favorite qoute:
"What the president wants is a Congress willing to move forward.''
Translation for everyone:
What the President wants is a congress who will agree with everything he does like the previous 6 years.
It's comments like these that tell even more why we need a balance of power in this gov't. Congress has been rubber stamping this admin's failed policies for 6 years and where has it gotten us?
Posted by: G | September 21, 2006 12:54 PM
Get Ready Mr. Snow GAO report shows your President and Sec. Nicholson have been lying to Congress the VA is now $6 Billion short.
http://www.vawatchdog.org
Read the reports there
Posted by: Dale Peters | September 21, 2006 1:02 PM
My, the left-wing loons are alive and kicking today aren't they??
Posted by: John D | September 21, 2006 1:44 PM
...don't forget...
...for a loon to fly...it needs both a left and a right wing...
Posted by: BZ | September 21, 2006 2:16 PM
John D,
They do reprsent the 4.8% unemployed. Would you hire them?
Posted by: Terry | September 21, 2006 3:12 PM
'My,the left wing loons are alive and kicking today aren't they??
Posted by John D. Sept.21,2006 1:44:34 PM
Sniveling little Johnny D.,
Have you, or your buddie St.Paulie Girl ever made a post that actually makes a point??
Answer- NO!!
Little Johnny,earlier in your posts you claimed to be protesting the Vietnam war while you were getting your "phoney" Masters degree,this makes you a DRAFT DODGER little Johnny,just like your heros Dubya,and Cheney.
You also claim to go on frequent "business" trips,this to is false because you have to be employed,and you have to have friends in order to go on a business trip. From your posts I can tell you have neither,and you definitly don't have a Masters degree.
Give me your address lamb Johnny,the car is running,we are waiting to meet you for some "coffee".
Tell me how to get to your parents basement,and I'm there,....Bada Bing,Bada Boom.,I'm the real deal Johhny, I'm your worst nightmare.
I have a feeling that you,and the other Stooge, St.Paulie Girl are sitting in your mom's basement,in Canada,smoking a doobie,and watching cartoons.
Which brings me to you Paulie girl,your claim of working at the stock exchange is a pipe dream,you have far to much time on your hands to be doing that,and your posts NEVER make any political statement whatsoever.
I do believe your claim of being a Vietnam Vet thou,you are far to stupid to have figured out how to dodge the draft.
I enjoy getting hate mail from you two bozo's
As your hero George W. Bush would say "Bring em On"
Game, set, match boys,don't mess with vets. See Ya!!!
Posted by: John E. | September 21, 2006 3:42 PM
Terry...your like Henny Youngman! King of the one liners. If you really want to talk about income I will be glad to embarrass you.
Posted by: bill r. | September 21, 2006 4:36 PM
John E., actually it's you who continually posts things they have no point. You really think your post above has a point other than showing what a mental institution case you are.
By the way, I never said I protested the Vietnam War, or that I was getting my master's degree then. Sorry, but I was born in 1962. I was in grammar school and junior high during the Vietnam War. Tough to dodge the draft when you're too young to be drafted.
As far as my master's degree. Well, it's as real as the fact that you are seriously deranged. And as far as my business trips, yes, I do make about 6-8 of them a year. I have the frequent flier miles to prove it.
As far as you being my worst nightmare, i actually find you comical. However, I would be willing to bet there might be some libs on here who are really scared knowing that you are on their side.
Really, dude, get some HELP!!
Posted by: John D | September 21, 2006 4:51 PM
John E....Your memory is very bad.I never said I worked at the stock exchange.I worked at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.There is a difference.
Now take your pills and go to bed.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 21, 2006 9:58 PM
A Day in the Life of Tony Snow
3rd Circle of Hell to Tony, come in.... Tony come in.
This is Mephisto Control, come in. Make this one fly or the pain will start again.
Instruction set 3254.667 ready for download in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, mark;
'The bombing and torture are regrettable, but bad things happen. Some of the victims may be perfectly innocent, but 9/11 changed everything. I was praying just this morning and received word that everything is fine. What would Jesus do? Why this, of course.'
Tony, this is Mephisto! They aren't buying it! Come on! Rev it up! That's all you can come up with? WE ARE NOT HAPPY, TONY!
Here it comes.
Posted by: C.Morris | September 22, 2006 9:28 AM
John E.,
Sorry, but for once I do have to agree with John D. (Yikes, I can't believe I said that.) Your post at 3:42 yesterday was quite immature. You are capable of better than that.
Posted by: Dienne | September 22, 2006 10:17 AM
Hey Monitor! Is there a blockage??
Posted by: C.Morris | September 22, 2006 1:03 PM
Dienne,
You're right,I have let those two Bozo's sidetrack me,I'll get back to the issues now......sorry to you,and my fellow dems.....
Posted by: John E. | September 22, 2006 1:38 PM
Dienne, first, thanks the support :). But you must take a look at several of John E., posts sprinkled throughout the Swamp. If you think any of them show he is more capable than the one at 3:42, please inform me. Frankly, I've never seen a post from him that has ever had a coherent thought and didn't name call. Now you can say I name call with Loony Left, but that phrase goes to the likes of John E., Raving Loon and a few others. There is a huge difference between a Loony Lefter and someone who is just a liberal. Major difference!!
Posted by: JohnD | September 22, 2006 2:07 PM
dienne...careful, I've been down that road with
JohnD. He actually seems like he is trying to be friends and then the next thing you know...he's saying you were the one flying planes into buildings. I'm sure he can be friendly..untill
he finds out your a democrat..then you are the
loony lefty devil!
Posted by: bill r. | September 22, 2006 4:46 PM
In keeping with the spirit of John D, and his clever 'Loony Leftie' handle for Democrats, here is another of my loved and much anticipated Top Ten lists:
Top Ten Funny Nicknames for Conservatives!
10. Rapture Ready Republicans
9. End Timer Toe Tappers
8. Apprentices of the Apocalypse
7. Comptrollers for Christ
6. The Devil's Debtors
5. Mussolini's Mad Men
4. Pinnochet's Point Men
3. Franco's Frolickers
2. Santoum's Sandinistas
And the No. 1 Funny Nickname for Conservatives!
1. Bush Supporters!!
Posted by: C.Morris | September 22, 2006 5:01 PM
Tony? ....... Tony? Had enough yet? The pain? The facade is cracking. You have to suck it up buddy. The pain will stop when you deliver, so deliver. The cover can't fail!
DO YOU UNDERSTAND!!??
There are things happening you don't even fathom. You are a very small, unimportant part of this thing.
Why do you think you are there? Integrity? Credibility? You are there to sell the slime, a%$h*&@!!
It's ok. Take a few breaths and put on the nice guy smile and march on. Get the hair fixed. The slow plod beats the sprint any day.
OK! Go for it!
Instruction set Mephisto, 3254.668 ending in 3, 2, 1, mark, out.
Posted by: C.Morris | September 22, 2006 6:11 PM
John D.,
I wasn't actually supporting you, I just happened to agree with you. Once.
bill r.,
It doesn't really matter to me whether John D. is being polite or insulting - his posts speak for themselves. My problem comes when people that I happen to agree with express themselves in ways which detract from their arguments, which thereby allows opponents to classify the whole argument as "Loony lefty nonsense".
It's sort of like most of the arguments that I've seen in favor of torture (or "coercive interrogation methods", if you will) - our enemies don't worry about niceties, why should we? The problem is that if we behave like our enemies, we are no different from them.
Posted by: Dienne | September 22, 2006 6:35 PM
C. Morris,
I like No's 1,2,and 4 best....nice list again.
Posted by: John E. | September 22, 2006 10:09 PM
John E,
I actually like 7 best.
It really captures the balance sheet mentality the RR applies to religion, morality, ethics when attacking their opponents.
Plus, they have the bonus feature of keeping a separate set of books for themselves and allies.
win win for them.
Posted by: C.Morris | September 23, 2006 2:39 PM
I'll go for 7 too, although 4 has a lot going for it.
Posted by: OHCD | September 23, 2006 6:36 PM
All,
Glad you liked the list. Could have kept going. I was on a roll!
Posted by: C.Morris | September 24, 2006 11:15 AM