The Tony Snow Gambit: A New Bush Strategery

With all due respect to fellow Kossacks who instinctively dismiss Tony Snow as a tool and a fool, I believe his ascension to McClellans post is a shrewd move by the White House and could represent a dramatic shift in visibility of WH positions and message control. Join me on the flip side for some disturbing thoughts...

First of all, I implore fellow progressives and Bush Non-Enthusiasts to reject the idea that Tony Snow is not capable, smart, confident, and or able to effectively do this job. Regardless of what you think of his politics, Snow has a track record as a media voice and political commentator that is undeniably successful. He understands and is effectually able to promote his ideas on radio and on TV with class and charisma. He is extremely right wing and extremely disarming. His comes across as rational, his combativeness is couched in "thoughtful" discourse. He is more than willing to entertain (and shoot down) contrary ideas. In my opinion, he is everything Rush, Hannity, Savage, and the rest are not. As a voice for his cause, Snow is much more mainstream in delivery, and that translates well in the broader media.

Why this Matters

Even at the low ebb of dysfunction we see now in Bush's second term, the major media outlets are loathe to attack as the sharks circle.  They seek reasons to not attack, to not bite the hand that feeds them. We all know the Clinton analogy: if this were President Clinton (or HILLARY!) spying, lying, cronying, etc., how would the media react? How would the Republicans react as the Minority party, how would America react to their reactions? The answer is, very badly and Clintons would suffer constant abuse, impeachment, legal threat. Nothing they say or do could change the assault. The media is complicit in protecting this administration and any win we have is like gravy, a secondary benefit but not deliberate. We fight like hell for folks to notice how bad things are. Wolf, Brit, Joe and whoever it is they have on the Networks are doing a pretty poor job of feigning Cronkite. The point is, they are predisposed to embrace someone like Snow. He speaks their language, knows their moods, and can network backstage like nobodies business.

The Gambit

When I saw him on FOX tonight I knew what the plan was, and I am sure others did too. When was the last time you saw Scotty on a nightly? (not in a nighty, get your heads out of the gutter!)Who was the last WH spokesman you saw on a nightly? Can you remember. Sure, it is logical he went to FOX because, hey, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. That's not what I am after. This isn't about post-ascent ion base-running or whacking his laurels. This is the Gambit, and we're fixing to see it a whole lot more.

Follow me, if you will, to a time and place where the White House Press Secretary gives daily briefings, has lunch, performers his duties in house, then makes his rounds to the nightlies, nightly.

I don't mean every night, but many. Some. Mostly. He says  (and I believe him) that his family is important. He will have tough days. But he can be home by 8, put the kids in bed, start again. Brit 3 times a week, even for 15 min. Larry King on Fridays. Anderson a little bit. Keith...never.

This is the beginning of a new White House strategery of preemptive reporting. Get him out there, disarm the hurtful questions, make the "briefings" a relic of what your positions used to be. In effect, "catapult the propaganda"...directly to the evening news.

Mark my words, you will see Tony Snow most nights, exuberant in all of his sincerity that he is there because he believes in what the President is trying to do. On FOX (mostly, because of the base, on MSNCB, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, the morning shows, the mid day shows, probably on local broadcasts in important states. He will be there. And people will like him.

Some Detractions

Well, there could be many, but Bush disarmed the media today with his "you should have heard what he said about the other guy" comment. That was smart. People will buy that crap because it's relatable. Everybody has an old friend who talked shit about them and later made up. And anything Snow says about Bush that is not favorable can be written off for most of the public simply because, Jesus Christ, he hired a guy who said that bad shit about him? Talk about: (take your pick): says a lot about Bush's character to get past that. What a big man.forgive and forget/water under the bridge just shows how fair and balanced Snow and Bush both are, to be able to get from "incompetent" to I praise you like you were the Lord.
Go figure.

A Big Press Cockswallow on Snow

Anticipate this question, like, 50 times until it takes on mythical proportion:

"Tony, you were diagnosed with colon cancer and had you colon removed. You hinted repeatedly that you would not take the job unless your doctors approved the move. Obviously you beat the cancer and are healthy, we all pray, but do you ever worry that the stress of this position could be more than your body can bear? (think Wolf in his best reach around mode on a random Wednesday evening).

Or this one: "Critics charged early on that you would be a "tool" (their word, not mine)for the Administration and the likes of supposed conservatives and channels like FOX News. You have been incredibly forthcoming since you took this post, and much more than your predecessors, from this Administration and previous ones, have accommodated the press to an unprecedented degree in regards to access and just plain interaction. I know you can't betray Administration confidences or talk out of school, but everyone is wondering: have you ever considered running for President, and if so, would you tell us if you did?

Tony Snow: If I told you I would have to kill you...

Wolf: We'll be right back...