Who cares whether the press secretary is Snow, Scotty, or anyone else?

[Cyrano]

As long as the Great Decider and Shotgun Dick are in the White House, they're going to keep feeding us the same crap, regardless of who they send out to play make believe for the media.

It doesn't matter if Snow can spin like a whirling dervish. Whatever comes out of his mouth isn't going to fool anyone except those with Kool-aid rotted brain cells.

IMO, the only ones who pay any attention to the press secretary are political junkies like us. My guess is that if you asked most people who Tony Snow is, they'd probably say it was some kind of new Slurpee flavor from 7/Eleven.

[rodeodance]

1. I think Bush will get a bump in the polls for this 'change"/window dressin

g.

[madame defarge]

4. Only on Faux polls...

I don't think the real world gives a shit.

[rodeodance]

2. Tony Snow has a commanding 'TV presence"---he is not a carpet like

little Scot is/was. He will make a difference- and only people like Helen will hold him accountable.

On the other hand, he will now have to defend Bush polices (those he, himslf dissed)---that should be most interesting.

[Shipwack]

14. "commanding 'TV presence"... Hmmm That might work against him.

Normally, this would only be an issue of concern only for political geeks. The press secretary's job is to read off the talking points crib sheets provided. Press Secretary::leader as Anchorperson::Reporter

This case gets mildly more interesting because supposedly, he wouldn't take the job unless he could be "an active participant in administration policy debates." Ah well, probably nothing more than promising the local kid that he can be a deputy fire marshall who gets to sound the fire truck siren on parades.

But on to my main point. One of Scott's strength was that he was a carpet. Even when he was making fascist threats to the press corps, or stonewalling, most Americans didn't take it personally. I don't think Snow, being more aggressive and colorful, will get the same forgiveness.

Plus, things might be more entertaining. Every time I've seen these right wing wind bags out of a completely controlled environment, it is greatly entertaining, especially with the inevitable melt down as the neo-cons "constructed reality" clashes with the real thing.

I don't have any high hopes though. From comments he's made, he wants to "restructure" the press briefings, so I doubt he'll let anyone ask a question that might puncture his serenity bubble.

[spanone]

17. He also has a HUGE ego. So meltdowns will ensue.

[bdamomma]

3. they all lie anyway

I wonder if snow signed a loyalty pledge to bushie.

[warrens]

5. Speaking for myself

I'm thrilled to see a new punching bag on the scene. Otherwise, I agree, who cares.

[One Honest Guy]

6. You got a point there.

It is exactly these kind of non-issues that Democrats like to debate. They do it because it's safe. You start debating any serious issues like the Iraq War or foreign policy they run like scared rabbits. They will talk about fuel prices (directly related to Iraq War and/or foreign policy), failing economy (directly related to Iraq War and/or foreign policy), immigration reforms (directly related to Iraq War and/or foreign policy), they will talk about anything but the Iraq War and/or foreign policy.

Yammering on and on about who's the next press secretary is just safe.

[babylonsister]

9. If you're bashing Dems, I think you're on the wrong forum. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Honest, huh?

[MadHound]

19. So, you want to talk about the Iraq war or foreign policy?

How about our economy, or the encroaching theocracy in this country, or the crimes of the Bush administration, or this country's energy policy, or our rapid slide into fascism? Are those "real" enough for you?

Seriously, if this is your perception of Democrats, then you haven't been paying attention, either to the threads on this board, or in real life.

[babylonsister]

20. A 'hit and run', MadHound. Be on the lookout for

'one honest guy'.

[MadHound]

21. LOL, oh I know

But hey, I thought I would at least give him a chance

[MADem]

7. I do--Snow is going to have one helluva time going from pontificating

to parroting. It's gonna drive him NUTS. Not right away, of course--he'll be high as a kite breathing the rarified air once again, for a bit--but eventually. When you work in a palace, even, as time marches on it just becomes your workcenter. The things that once impressed, after seeing them day in, and day out...well, they become rather pedestrian.

He has visibility, and that works against the White House over the long haul. He's no Scotty or Ari--he actually thinks that HIS viewpoint is IMPORTANT. Having to 'stuff it' and repeat White House bullshit, and knowing full well that he is out of the loop (for his own protection, of course, so he can't be said to be lying) is going to grate on him, eventually.

Especially when his former colleagues call him on it. And we know they will....

[exlrrp]

8. Why this matters

You HAVE to understand what the enemy is doing in any kind of adversarial scenario. Failure to do so loses the war, every time.
I think that this change signifies a further "get tough" policy with the media. Scotty was wilting under the strain of supporting all the Bush lies, you could see it.
Now they have a fresh face and one thats sure to go on the attack. This means a further Agrresiveness to the media with a new press secretary thats just eetching like a bug on a fuzzy tree to go on the offensive.
Scotty was kind of a bumbling script reader but look for Snow to go on a much more sophisticated attack, he's smarter, more verbal. Years of primping on TV makes Snow a whole lot more media savvy than Scotty who looks like someone's underachiever nephew.
This is bad news for anyone who was hoping for a more honest press secretary or a more open dialog. I think you'll see a lot more swifboating of journalists

[Steve55]

11. The new cliche will be that the White House Press Briefing

can be called the White House Snow Job.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. The job of the Press Secretary is to...

spin the Administration, no matter whose it is, and everyone in in the DC press corps knows that and doesn't take those daily briefings seriously at all. They get their real info from their other contacts and sources.

It's a silly game and the face on the podium means little.

[tammywammy]

15. exactly

I agree completely. The Press Secretary is there to make the administration look good...just like it was during Clinton, Bush I, Regan, etc.

[shenmue]

13. True.

But, Mike Malloy has to make up a new song to make fun of Tony! So it's a win-win situation!

[Protagoras]

16. I'm very interested in the change for several reason

First, I am very intrigued to see how the "People" accept an overt Fox Shill pimping for the WH. The mask is off with this one and I want to see if it changes ANYONE's attitude.

Second, and even more important imho, I want to see how the likes of David Gregory get treated and deal with this latest deception disseminator. Will they keep with the status quo, treating him about like they did Scotty? Will they treat him like a buddy from another media outlet? Or will they go for blood, knowing he's one of those responsible for the trashing of their profession?

I await with baited breath.

[bullimiami]

18. i cant see snow being as entertaining as simple scotty or as brilliant

devious and charming as ari.

we'll see.

[seabeyond]

22. i dont care. i dont care that scotty left. so irrelevent in the scheme

of things. that bushco felt there was any signifance to changing scotty out like that would be helping hte perception of his administration was silly to me. who cares. out of all the people in his administration that matters, scotty matters not

[Avalux]

23. It doesn't matter, even though they want us to think it does.

The WH, with help from the media, is desperately trying to build Snow up as a outsider, an intellectual, a dissenting voice (because he - gasp! - criticized Bush). As if he will speak his mind and be truthful to his colleagues in the press and the American people.

It's a big joke and as you say, the only ones who will listen to Snow and believe him are those already so far sucked in they'll never get out.