The Feld-Blog

Rumors in Washington scurry about with lives of their own, yet as Scott McClellan's resignation begins to fade into the distance, reports that Fox News correspondent Tony Snow may accept a position as the new Press Secretary seem increasingly likely. Moreover, reports of Snow's bargaining power have bubbled to the surface. Many have reported that Snow predicated his acceptance of the position on being given more latitude to actually craft the President's message rather than merely act as the administrations mouthpiece.

Well, my initial inclination was to gawk at how this administration was extending its hand to someone outside the administration. Knowing Bush's proclivity for cronyism, many originally expected an internal promotion. What I quickly realized, however, is that Mr. Snow is a crony. In 1991 he served as chief speechwriter and deputy communications director for Bush Bush 41. Bolton wants to give more weight to White House Communications and setting up a Press Secretary with more powers is a good step, but don't be fooled, Snow has some practice with this.

As a side note, however, I would question Snow's talent. Here is the opening of Bush 41's 1992 State of the Union Address,

I mean to speak tonight of big things, of big changes and the promises they hold and of some big problems and how together we can solve them and move our country forward as the undisputed leader of the age.

We gather tonight at a dramatic and deeply promising time in our history,and in the history of man on earth. For in the past 12 months, the world has known changes of almost biblical proportions. And even now, months after the failed coup that doomed a failed system, I am not sure we have absorbed the full impact, the full import of what happened.

Wow. That is some pretty bland speech. I know we don't always have the most articulate Presidents, but speechwriters traditionally pull out all the stops to make the President's words glimmer for inaugural addresses and States of the Union (just think of Bush 41's inaugural address and "1000 points of light" written by Snows predecessor).

Many have said Snow's job title will change, but not his job description - he has been and will remain a mouthpiece for the administration, but this is simplistic. I am sure that both pubilcly and privately snow has been a Bush supporter, but now he will actually have a hand in forming the President's message. This is fairly significant change. The bottom line is Snow represents a new, yet experienced face, but don't look for newly shining rhetoric. If the above SoTU is any indication, this administration seems quite comfortable and complicit in its bumbling, inarticulate public face.