Steven Spruiell of NRO Media Blog offered a few thoughts on Tony Snow's apology to David Gregory for suggesting a question about how Bush is a failure was partisan in character. (To me, it had a bit of a "sorry I said the sky is blue" logic to it.) I'm more in line with Steve's POV than Noel Sheppard's praise for Snow's decency:
Snow's smart enough to realize that the White House simply doesn't enjoy the kind of popularity it would need to survive a war with the beltway media right now, and the last thing he needs is the Milbanks of the world attacking his credibility on the eve of a major policy change in Iraq.
One thing's for sure: Gregory was not owed an apology. His question was designed purely as an attack, not a serious inquiry into administration policy. So given that A) Snow must know that, and B) he went on Reliable Sources on Sunday and defending his handling of Gregory, his about-face today was a call for a truce before things get even uglier. A sad state of affairs in the White House briefing room.
In fact, I'd be stronger. David Gregory can be a completely petulant whiner, something the White House reporters would never tolerate in a briefer. How is Snow expected to have elephant-tough skin and then face reporters like Gregory trying out for 'The Princess and the Pea'? Snow has been much stronger in facing down reporters than I think Scott McClellan was, and his (polite) combativeness just what the Bush team needs -- when reporters start every day with the assumption that everything continues to fall apart inevitably for the White House.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Tim
December 17, 2006 - 23:31 ET by Noel SheppardTim,
For what it's worth, I also agree with Steven. To me, Snow's apology was a political maneuver. However, I don't think that diminishes the grace and character it took to do so, especially given how sincerely it was delivered. ns
I'm cool with all of that Noe
December 18, 2006 - 03:33 ET by tracheostomyI'm cool with all of that Noel. But what completely baffles me is. . .what exactly was Snow trying to avert? What could be worse than another Helen Thomas?
:scratches head:
Or was Snow even trying to anticipate something worse? How much worse could it be? What am I missing?
-PJ
http://www.draftcondi.us/
Trach--went to the draft Cond
December 18, 2006 - 06:49 ET by Andrew H.Trach--went to the draft Condi website--I want to add my name to the effort. I have wanted her to run for two years... please let us know what we can do. Thanks, Andy
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
The one thing that people a
December 18, 2006 - 00:02 ET by liberal_bug_zapperThe one thing that people are going to have to learn is that, unless you've egregiously injured someone with a false claim or statement.... never apologize!
You either mean what you say or you don't! Please, no more politick double speak from Snow or the President. Straight talk is what we want.
Once you start apologizing to the beltway crowd, they'll know you're on the ropes and they'll go in for the kill. Treat them like the petulant children they are and scold them as often as possible.
But for the LOVE OF MIKE..... don't apologize.
zapper....Thank You for a lot
December 18, 2006 - 00:18 ET by bigtimerzapper....
Thank You for a lot of us out here for your post. I have posted the same thing too...I was very disappointed and disgusted that another conservative folded to the leftists....I am sick and tired of it....(I know he works for the President and speaks for him, but I would of drawn the line, just me that is when it comes to apologizing for something I need not apologize for, what Snow said was the truth and now he is apologizing for it...))
For people who think we are going to get ahead by kissing rear ends for political reasons on the right side of the aisle...it is not going to work, it has never worked and it will never work.
Fight fire with fire or better yet the truth and the facts...let them speak for themselves, leave it at that and the chips fall where they may.
"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland
Its funny it seems a lot of
December 18, 2006 - 05:46 ET by troublemakerIts funny it seems a lot of "conservatives" have been a bit weak and folded to the leftists. I use air quotes because i know many will deny their conservative bona fides. Colin Powell, David Brooks and Tom Friedman (leftist who's leaned right on the war). The facts and truth in an idela world should always speak for themselves.
http://movies.crooks...
http://movies.crooks...
I second this emotion.....
December 18, 2006 - 01:16 ET by spiderdanI second this emotion.....
I must agree with LBZ also. S
December 18, 2006 - 05:42 ET by Indiana JoeI must agree with LBZ also. SInce the Reps won the House in '94, they've been trying to "make nice" with the Dems, the libs, and the media. It's gotten them nowhere. Zero, zilch, bupkus! Things are WORSE now than ever before. Not to wear out the phrase, but it IS time to fight fire with fire.
Know what I'D like to see? A White House press release juxtaposing quotes from Dems that contradict themselves on the whole WMD issue, with a list of the WMDs that HAVE been found in Iraq, INCLUDING the infamous "yellowcake" uranium. Together with a list of ALL the people in Congress that voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq. These are the two "Big Lies" that won't go away, "no WMDs," and "it's Bush's war." It's long past time to come out of the corner and start swinging. What harm could it possibly do NOW?
How could anyone in the MSM not cover a White House press release? They'd have to know it WOULD get out there, and ignoring it would just point out their own bias. Let them try to defend themselves against the charge of partisanship then. Let the Dems hem and haw and try to explain their hypocrisy about the whole WOT. And it's high time to drive a stake through the heart of the "no WMDs found" bullsh*t, too.
We have two years to try to dismantle the liberal MSM "spin machine." The time to start is NOW. I repeat, what harm could it possibly do? How much worse can the vitriol and lies get? I mean, once you've called the President a "Nazi," how do you up the ante? How can the MSM get anymore hateful than THAT? I think it's worth the shot.
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"
Right, Indianna--how many tim
December 18, 2006 - 05:48 ET by Andrew H.Right, Indianna--how many times have these thieves had photo ops with Republican leaders only to walk outside and hold a press conference where they tear them down?
The dems are the enemy! Treat them like they deserve! If we'd have done that, maybe we wouldn't have lost the majority. Playing nice with snakes will only get you bitten. Hear that Dewine?
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
David Gregory
December 18, 2006 - 07:35 ET by Senior ChiefI have a solution to this incident, maybe next time Gregory ask a question, Tony will just say, "thank you for that question, next please...". Or maybe just completely ignore him and his likes and get questions from foreign reporters instead.
Actually, Tim, from where I'm
December 18, 2006 - 08:49 ET by Dave RActually, Tim, from where I'm sitting it appears this administration has been at war with the beltway media since day one.
Even before then
December 18, 2006 - 08:54 ET by dagdaThe MSM has been at war with Bush since he started to consider running.
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow. Dwight Eisenhower
dagda,Yeah, I'm not sure wher
December 18, 2006 - 09:10 ET by Indiana Joedagda,
Yeah, I'm not sure where Dave R. is sitting, but I think my seat is in the same section you're in..... ;^)
It is too bad Tony Snow apo
December 18, 2006 - 08:54 ET by Red JeepIt is too bad Tony Snow apologized. It is time to stop the practice of news briefings with the Washington press corps.
In today’s computer world Tony Snow should be having his news briefings with the editors and reporters of your local newspaper and mine via computers/telecommunications. Over the course of a year by rotating the city news agencies involved he could have news briefings with most of the nation’s major city newspapers, and try to concentrate on cities with less than a quarter million population.
I am sure local newspaper editors will ask more down to earth and relevant questions than preening peacocks with an agenda like NBC’s David Gregory.
Using email
December 18, 2006 - 09:00 ET by dagdaThey could send them the press release by email and let it go. Think of the money a news organization would save by not having a DG they have to support in Washington, DC.
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow. Dwight Eisenhower
DC Press Declared War when Drudge Outed Monica
December 18, 2006 - 14:02 ET by PSPCplThe DC press corps has a long and evil memory when their favorite people are made to pay the piper. Anytime they can stick a fork into a Republican in retaliation, they will whether the story is true or not. This is nothing more than an ongoing battle they are waging in response to what happened to Bubba Clinton (because of the blue stained dress) and al-Gore (because the Supreme Court forced Florida to obey its own laws laid down before the election).
It is time to bypass this group of patisan (yes, Tony was right to call that braying jack-hole a Democratic partisan) liberal hacks and start making use of the Internet . The only risk one runs is that which occurs when you ignore a child throwing a tantrum: ignore it and it will grow increasingly shrill until they calm down out of exhaustion.
Tony needs to appeal directly to the people through their own hometown television news shows.
White House graciousness on d
December 18, 2006 - 10:07 ET by Chris NormanWhite House graciousness on display, "Thank you for the kick, Mr. Gregory. May I have another?"...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb