Snow Job?
Speaking as the house loony liberal, cheers to CNN for hiring Tony Snow. I don’t even know what they’ll pay him to do, though I’m guessing that conveniently forgetting the indelible link between supporting the president and supporting the troops will play into it. Well enough; every network will have a Kristol or, god save us all, Michelle Malkin to cry on a daily basis about the depredations of Democratic government. At least Snow is a communications professional, engaging and not obviously retarded.
In fact, that is why I think it was a good choice by CNN. I don’t mean that in any ironic snarky way, it just was. Look at it this way: Snow might be the one, singular high-level Bush appointee who showed a basic ability to do his job. He ran the press in circles of bullshit and empty phrases, but one could say that is the Press Secretary’s primary job. He didn’t out any CIA agents. If the cable channels must pay someone to repeat right-slanted nonsense every few hours, and it’s pointless pretending that won’t happen, I honestly prefer Snow to most of the alternatives.
April 21, 2008 9:37 pm
Posted in: Media
39 Comments
39 Responses
Incertus - April 21, 2008 | 9:47 pm · Link
That’s a lot of lipstick for a really fugly pig, dude.
r€nato - April 21, 2008 | 9:56 pm · Link
After the revelation in the New York Times of exactly how the Pentagon propagandizes the American people with the so-called independent military experts, I pretty much will never trust anything that comes from CNN, MSNBC (Fox News should go without saying) or any other mainstream media outlet.
I know, I know: they proved they were untrustworthy in 2002-2003. But the NYT story moved this from vaguely tinfoil hat territory to solid, irrefutable fact.
A functioning democracy depends upon an informed citizenry. It’s bad enough that most folks are too busy shopping or watching American Idol, to be bothered with this boring shit about what their government is up to.
But even those of us who are news and politics nerds can’t get the straight story anywhere it seems, with a very few exceptions like The Guardian or independent journalists like Sy Hersh or Greg Palast. However these guys have their flaws too; Hersh keeps being Chicken Little about Iran and Palast has kind of devolved into a left-wing journalist-activist in my eyes.
There really is no hope for recovering our republic, is there?
Texpope - April 21, 2008 | 10:00 pm · Link
These are guys I use to prove my point that the media has basically become an evolutionary environment whereby any mainstream media journalist, no matter how liberal they may be in their personal convictions, must bend to the corporate message or become an ex-mainstream media journalist.
If that doesn’t convince you, just look at Ashley Banfield.
r€nato - April 21, 2008 | 10:09 pm · Link
I saw Tony Snowjob on Bill Mahe, which was quite interesting to see him on TV when he was not officially shilling for a war criminal or the GOP’s television propaganda arm.
He’s a slick scumbag, but he is still a scumbag who enables the filth of the earth to do their evil deeds. It’s a pity that Snow’s brush with death by cancer didn’t cause him to reflect on what he’s chosen to do with his life and his talents.
I didn’t cut Lee Atwater and his deathbed regrets any slack; I sure won’t do that for Snow if it ever comes to that.
Martin - April 21, 2008 | 10:09 pm · Link
I have an idea. How about news organizations hire objective reporters instead of an endless series of in-the-bag pundits and insiders that are perpetually torn between telling us something to look important and covering up for their former malfeasances.
Just Some Fuckhead - April 21, 2008 | 10:14 pm · Link
If that’s doing one’s job then Ari Fleischer outworked everyone.
oh really - April 21, 2008 | 10:25 pm · Link
A thoroughly unconvincing and pointless post.
jake - April 21, 2008 | 10:28 pm · Link
Hmmph! Typical elitist orange juice drinking liberal thinking. Next you’ll suggest that Katie Couric isn’t a vast improvement on old farts like Cronkite.
Anyways, the honest, hard working, down to earth
rubesAmerican people don’t want objective reporting because that requires them to pay attention and think. The American people want to be told what to be afraid of, that the economy is just fine and which C-list celeb. is schtupping which C-list celeb. In rehab.D-Chance. - April 21, 2008 | 10:29 pm · Link
Shorter Timmeh F.:
Fox hires Snow = “Teh suck, teh worstest, teh Goebbels!”
CNN hires Snow = “you know, that Snow fellow is really quite an amazing gentleman…”
Tim F. - April 21, 2008 | 10:33 pm · Link
Shorter D-Chance:
You people have no idea how many things I can pull completely out of my ass. It’s a magic ass. Seriously, you guys should worship it.
Pb - April 21, 2008 | 10:38 pm · Link
After the revelation in the New York Times of exactly how the Pentagon propagandizes the American people with the so-called independent military experts, I pretty much will never trust anything that comes from CNN, MSNBC (Fox News should go without saying) or any other mainstream media outlet.
I know, I know: they proved they were untrustworthy in 2002-2003. But the NYT story moved this from vaguely tinfoil hat territory to solid, irrefutable fact.
You know who else proved they were untrustworthy in 2002-2003? The New York Times. Judy Miller ring a bell? So, yeah, sure, don’t trust the networks. But don’t go overboard and start trusting the newspapers…
nightjar - April 21, 2008 | 10:44 pm · Link
Snow is a world class liar, but it’s good to see him working somewhere. When he left the WH, he was showing a serious case of the death rattles.
Aaron - April 21, 2008 | 11:12 pm · Link
Tony “Baghdad Bob” Snow
Conservatively Liberal - April 21, 2008 | 11:19 pm · Link
Clinton campaign material? Regarding the word ‘completely’, that is a relief. I just hate to think that you are walking around with something half-assed hanging out.
I will pass on that suggestion as my wife has a solid lock on my admiration.
scarshapedstar - April 21, 2008 | 11:24 pm · Link
Mm… this man sold his soul long ago. That ain’t changed a bit.
johninpt - April 22, 2008 | 12:33 am · Link
slicker = more dangerous
johninpt - April 22, 2008 | 12:34 am · Link
slicker = more dangerous
AnneLaurie - April 22, 2008 | 1:57 am · Link
And if Snow’s still got his ostomy, he can fling fresh shite on-camera without violating any FCC codes!...
Tasteless, yeah, but Tony Snow is a vile, shameless liar who’s made a tidy fortune celebrating kleptocracy and ruining decent (non-Republican) peoples’ lives. The fact that he can smile pretty on camera while doing so does not make him any less culpable.
However these guys have their flaws too; Hersh keeps being Chicken Little about Iran and Palast has kind of devolved into a left-wing journalist-activist in my eyes.
Yeah, well, keep in mind: The day Hersh & his few honest fellows stop yelling about the neocons’ longing to ‘stovepipe’ America into yet another pointless war is the day Cheney’s sockpuppet announces that we’re going to “reclaim” Iran for democracy. And Greg Palast is a textbook example of what happens to reporters who take their work seriously when the Overton Window has shifted so far to the right that Barry Goldwater would be considered a dangerous homo-loving dirty effin’ hippie.
racrecir - April 22, 2008 | 2:20 am · Link
LOADS OF STUFF on tomorrow’s Pennsylvania primary, at TalkLeft.
Conservatively Liberal - April 22, 2008 | 3:19 am · Link
Corrected.
No thanks, I will pass.
Martin - April 22, 2008 | 3:26 am · Link
This is somebody’s idea of competent governance.
TenguPhule - April 22, 2008 | 3:35 am · Link
Syphilis instead of AIDS.
What a world.
slippy hussein toad - April 22, 2008 | 6:20 am · Link
A really high-class whore is still a whore.
Tony Snow is just another reason to not watch network TV. Ever.
RSA - April 22, 2008 | 7:02 am · Link
Whenever he gets in a fix // He reaches into his ass of tricks. . .
The only plus, as far as I can see, is that it might take market share away from Bill O’Reilly.
Paul - April 22, 2008 | 7:24 am · Link
LOADS OF STUFF on tomorrow’s Pennsylvania primary, at TalkLeft.
Waffles. They are slamming Obama over a “controversy” involving Waffles.
The character in Interstate 60 who says that everything is “High School” got it right. This whole primary race is “just another High School”.
Willy T Patriot - April 22, 2008 | 7:32 am · Link
A hardcore propogandist and schill for a failed political movement. CNN, WTF? Peace, Willy T Patriot
calipygian - April 22, 2008 | 7:50 am · Link
I believe my moniker speaks volumes about whose ass needs to be worshipped around here.
As for Tony Snow joining the hated, liebrul CNN: he must really be desperate for the health insurance.
SteveinSC - April 22, 2008 | 7:56 am · Link
Accepting a Hobb’s Choice is all Tim can muster? How many more fucking right-wingers can they stuff on TV? That is the issue.
Jamey - April 22, 2008 | 8:19 am · Link
I second Renato, and add to it: For all that Tony has done to send soldiers and Iraqi citizens to their graves, I’m rooting for the cancer. Yeah, I’m that evil.
Digital Amish - April 22, 2008 | 8:38 am · Link
I echo Renato. I used to be blessed with having to endure Snows radio show inorder to get some local news. He was then and still is a liar and scumbag of the highest order.
He may not be retarded but I suspect he operates on the assumption that his audience is.
Zifnab - April 22, 2008 | 9:13 am · Link
I’m rather tired of the American Idol cop out complaint. You think the hordes of drooling Republi-drones voted for Bush in 2004 because of Simon Cowell? Or that people wouldn’t find politics so boring if only they’d cancel Deal or No Deal (the gods-almighty WORST tv show ever created)? That’s the sort of backwards logic that leaves us attacking Pokemon for school violence and gays for a rising divorce rate. At least pretend to link cause and effect.
Sorry, Tim. He’s got a point. Either Tony Snow is a giant right-wing hack or he’s not. Saying he is somehow better than Glenn Beck or Michelle Malkin because he’s got a bachelor’s degree and doesn’t froth at the mouth seems to indicate that you’re not looking for better journalism, just better liars.
Honestly, I’d much rather see them pick up Medved or Savage or John Gibson. No one takes those people seriously anyway, and we can basically guarantee ratings will tank as these people get more air coverage. If CNN approaches conservative bullshit peddling with the snake-tongued elegance of Buckley or Reagen, it just means they’re returning to their former rhetorical skill of the early 90s and 80s. I’d much prefer if they stayed dull-tongued and dim-witted, like the current FOX News crop. I can’t imagine why you’d prefer Snow over a more transparent hack.
Gus - April 22, 2008 | 9:43 am · Link
I am honestly happy that Snow’s cancer appears to be in remission. That doesn’t mean I wish him well, necessarily, just that I don’t wish him a slow painful death.
feral1 - April 22, 2008 | 10:34 am · Link
Why should you want someone who is more competent at spinning the bullshit? I’d much rather have a crazy, over the top, right wing loon in that position. Wingnuts with the patina of sanity and intelligence are particularly dangerous.
4jkb4ia - April 22, 2008 | 11:17 am · Link
Chag Kosher v’Sameach
4jkb4ia - April 22, 2008 | 11:21 am · Link
I think this means CNN still thinks they have to compete with Fox.
Cheesy News Network « The Opinion Mill - April 22, 2008 | 12:10 pm · Link
[...] April 22, 2008 Cheesy News Network just added another rat to the staff. Tim F thinks that this means CNN will have at least one bought-and-paid-for pundit who can sling wingnut b.s. with a bit of style. I say it’s Rattus norvegicus and the hell with it. [...]
DBrown - April 22, 2008 | 12:29 pm · Link
As to CNN hiring ex-bushwhach snow: better known as the hand and blow job expert for bloody-hands cheney, I prefer my CNN liar’s being their normal stupid – it adds laughs and is less confusing; snowjob the blowjob being a proffesional at lying will just add stress and eliminate the laugh factor -g reat.
Birdzilla - April 22, 2008 | 2:34 pm · Link
The COMMUNISTS NEWS NETWORK owned by self proclaimed socalits RED TED TURNER the nations most prominate leftist and big time eco-freak and brainwasher of kids with his left-wing eco program CAPTIAN PLANET
tofubo - April 22, 2008 | 4:20 pm · Link
just what we need, another conservative white guy, there just isn’t enougth of them on the teevee
i’d honestly prefer they wouldn’t repeat right-slanted nonsense, but hey, they don’t call it the complicit.corporate.controlled.press for nothing