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'

[Bahbah]

LOL. Yup.

[sarasota]

ping and pass it on!

[Chuck54]

You're the best.

Thanks for the ping. I am setting the DVR as we speak.

Thanks,
Chuck

[California Patriot]

Blogs are ineffective partly because most conservatives have little nerve. If conservatives used the knowledge they got from blogs to DO and SAY more in the public arena, I'd say blogs were very important. But they don't and they aren't.

[luvie]

Thanks for the ping, Dina!

I was hoping for a briefing, too, since I am off today, but will settle for him being on John Gibson's show this afternoon.

He of all people in the administration understands how blogs have changed the whole landscape of news....no matter what SOME PEOPLE might say.

Go, Tony!!!!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[SWEETSUNNYSOUTH]

Call me crazy, but I would vote for Tony for president over anyone else I have heard mentioned for 08. He is one who can turn the tables on the MSM and smile while doing it.

[MonicaG]

Point well taken. I agree about "newspeak" weapon, and agree about the need to be diligent in resisting their power. Thanks Maica.

[Proverbs 3-5]

I find them quite useful in getting info for discussions with my liberal brother and acquaintances. I also find them useful for backup info when I write letters to the editor and my congressmen.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

[GoldwaterChick]

Thanks for the ping, dinasour. Where would we be without our Snowman?

[luvie]

Tony for President in '08

[California Patriot]

I agree that blogs can make our letters to the editor, our conversations with liberals, etc., better informed. But I don't see that more conservatives are speaking up or speaking out than formerly. That's what matters most. And presumably the liberal blogs are matching us by providing the liberals with more info, too.

[Texagirl4W]

Thank God for Tony Snow. I wish he had been working for President Bush 6 years ago. (thanks for the ping, d)

[Salvation]

Thank God for FR!

[Salvation]

Tony Snow or someone with that name used to be on the forum.

[Jim Robinson]

Tell that to President Senator Kerry or mr. Gore.

[Chena]

Call me crazy, but I would vote for Tony for president over anyone else I have heard mentioned for 08. He is one who can turn the tables on the MSM and smile while doing it.

I've been gone for a few days so I just now saw your post to me. If you're crazy, I'm crazy...and THAT is simply NOT acceptable. LOL I have often thought about what a great president he would be. He's as pure as the driven snow as far as I know (pardon the "snow" pun). He's educated and intelligent (there IS a difference between the two), and he's a well-spoken, sincere man who knows what's right in our world and what's wrong with it. If he were to run for office, I'd vote for him too.