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Former Bush Press Secretary Tony Snow has died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.
Snow earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Davidson College in 1977, and he studies economics and philosophy at the University of Chicago.
Snow had a varied career in journalism, that involved expressing his conservative views. He was the been the editorial editor for a number of papers before moving to Washington DC in 1987 to be the editorial page editor of The Washington Times. In 1991, he left journalism to join the first Bush administration as the director of speechwriting and deputy assistant to the president for media affairs. Following Bush’s term, he joined the media again to write syndicated columns for the Detroit News and USA Today.
From 1996 to 2003, he was the first host of “Fox News Sunday,” before joining the current Bush Administration as press secretary. His quick-lipped style and ability to play to the cameras often had him sparring with reporters. He was press secretary for just 17 months when his tenure was interrupted by his second bout with colon cancer. He left the White House last September, joining CNN as a commenter.
Snow is survived by his wife of 30 years, and three children. [S-T]
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He was by far my favorite of Bush's press secretaries. I always had respect for the guy, even when I didn't like what was coming out of his mouth.
Nope. I supposed I can say I'm sorry he has died, as he had a family and all. But, in reality my only thoughts are "what a douchebag he was." He was part of the problem. Fox is part of the problem. The problem is the Bush Administration. I'm not sorry he is gone and I only look forward to the day when this entire administration is gone.
Cold, perhaps, but honest.
Nicholas: You are part of the problem of people in America being so partisan that they forget their basic humanity. I don't expect one to have fake grief for some distant figure who supports policies one might disagree with, but to cross the line and all but celebrate his passing--which you do without trying to appear to do so, as though you can retain some class through being real and honest--is undignified and uncivilized, and is more partisan than human.
But hey, if you are happy with being that way, rock you, you crazy diamond. Just know that you are part of the problem as well, along with those people and institutions you list.
agreed, matilda. wouldn't it just be so nice if we all could just easily point fingers and identify people & the news networks they work for as the actual root of the so-called problem with this country (way too subjective anyway)??? blech
Not "all but celebrating" -- just not caring. The difference between me and Snow was that I am just a citizen. His job was Press Secretary to the President of the United States. We may both be part of the problem, but he was in much more of a position to change that than I. But instead, we now have the position of Press Secretary as one where the person does more to spin the press than to clearly communicate to the press the President's message. When on Fox, he was even worse.
Nicholas: So, I assume this means you don't like any press secretaries, right? Or all partisans who appear on stupid cable-news shows? I mean, this isn't just limited to Snow, right? And your outrage extends as well to other PR people and even copywriters, right--after all, they are more about spin than truth, and have great influence over our society.
And you cared enough to write you don't care, so I think you are learning toward an attitude of, at least, satisfaction. At the least, you are trying to have it both ways.
You interpret my mere writing as satisfaction. I have none at writing this, but I also feel no sorrow for his passing.
And yes, I do feel much the same way about press secretaries (at least the ones in modern cable-news era) and partisan cable "news" show/pundits who feel it is their job to spin rather than report.
Gotta go with Tankboy - loved Snow amongst all the Bush press secretaries. Snow was as much as a conservative hard-ass as anyone else, but he could take it as much as he dished it out, and that takes balls when you're the liaison between the American media and the most corrupted White House administration EVER.
Snow was much smarter and better than the Fox News Channel. He lacked FNC's overall condescension, and that's why Snow never rose to stardom there. Political discussions need more conservatives like him, and the national dialogue is worse for wear when all we have are egomaniacs like Bill O'Reilly and Michael Moore. I would probably disagree with Snow more than I would agree with him, but at least he always made his point without foaming at the mouth.