Tony Snow: 'Thank God for Blogs!'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"Thank God for blogs," said White House Press Secretary Tony Snow this afternoon, commenting on the Bush administration's communications efforts. The comment came in the course of conference call for bloggers in which I participated, conducted by Snow and Brett McGurk [pictured here], the National Security Council's Director for Iraq, giving a preview of President Bush's speech of tonight on Iraq.

Snow described the problem with the traditional media - generously I would say - not in terms of bias but as a function of the "if it bleeds it leads" tendency.

In any case, it's clear that the White House sees blogs such as NewsBusters playing an important role in cutting through the MSM clutter. Snow also described the frustration of military people in Iraq with media coverage that does not comport with the reality they experience in the field. Snow predicted that service people would begin using their own video cameras and sites such as YouTube and LiveLeak to get the word out. Along those lines, I can say that one of the most empowering aspects of my recent trip to Iraq was the ability to put video up on NewsBusters, at times within an hour of events in the field, as with this report on a training exercise of Iraqi soldiers on the Euphrates river in Anbar province.

Among the encouraging details emerging from the conference call was the plan to have combined Iraqi and US forces remain in Baghdad neighborhoods "24/7" once they had been pacified, to ensure that security gains would be enduring.

Those interested in an advance look at what the President will be discussing tonight are encouraged to review this Q & A on the speech released this afternoon by the White House.

Finkelstein was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net Tony Snow: 'Thank God for Blogs'

[bnelson44]

Thank God for Tony Snow!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Governs-conference-call-with-Tony-Snow ping to Today show list.

[samadams2000]

Hey Tony do something for us for a change!!!!

[My2Cents]

the problem with the traditional media - generously I would say - not in terms of bias but as a function of the "if it bleeds it leads" tendency.

There's also, probably, a factor of laziness. Reading some of the MSM's reporting is like reading a "rip-and-read" version of DNC talking points. I wonder how many reporters don't actually do the work of investigating a story, but rely upon the latest propaganda dump from their allies on the left?

[jazusamo]

Ping for Tony Snow.

[Bahbah]

the "if it bleeds it leads" tendency.

Tony would be too diplomatic to point out that if it doesn't bleed enough, we'll make some up.

[Bahbah]

I meant "they'll" make some of, of course.

[beyond the sea]

Tony is doing as well as he can in this job.

I am so proud of him!

[roses of sharon]

Does someone at the WH actually read blogs, or FR, to get a feel of what we are thinking?

Or do they just give you info and such?

I hope they do take our opinions and ideas to heart.

[jazusamo]

Tony Snow ping.

[george76]

"Thank God for blogs,"

[pinz-n-needlez]

Bump for Tony. My tagline says it all. :-)

[SuziQ]

Snow predicted that service people would begin using their own video cameras and sites such as YouTube and LiveLeak to get the word out.

Stryker cams!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Tony mentioned that he reads all of the blogs that were represented in the conference call.

[Lancey Howard]

Great post BUMP!

[jazusamo]

Great tagline, I've noticed it before. :-)

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks, Lancey - glad you enjoyed it.

[Windcatcher]

Bloggers aren't afraid to tell the truth:

LEFTISTS DON'T WANT TO WORK.

They want free health care, free food, free college education, free housing free clothing, and with all of those things, they don't have to work. The screaming college chanters can remain perpetual professional students and the perpetual "victims" in our cities (you know who you are) can sit and wallow in their self-inflicted misery. And the poor saps who DO work get to pay for these parasites. Ann Coulter nailed it when she pointed out that whenever leftists have a temper tantrum they call a "boycott work" day. It's comes natural to them.

I don't want to work either, but I do. The difference is, I save as much as I possibly can so I can retire early. I don't scream, pout, and throw temper tantrums like a spoiled child.

Society demands an incentive to work. For eight thousand years people have "worked", whether it was performing tasks in the village, hunting, farming, or producing valuable goods. The incentives were many: food, shelter, clothing, etc. Perhaps these can be alleviated for the truly destitute, but there must be something. Leftists don't have to like it -- they can decide not to care for themselves and perish if they wish -- but society must not cater to the slothful.

[California Patriot]

The blogs are a drop in the bucket. They influence the handful of people who read them. They do not influence the vast herd of sheeple. The Big Three networks and the big newspapers are still the name of the game, and that's why the liberals still rule.