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Blessings arrive in unexpected packages, - in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases - and there are millions in America today - find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God's will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence 'What It All Means,' Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations. The first is that we shouldn't spend too much time trying to answer the 'why' questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can't someone else get sick? Why can't I answer such things? The...

Today President Bush participated in a private fundraiser for Congressional candidate Aaron Schock in Peoria, Illinois. The family of Tony Snow traveled with the President today on board Air Force One. Press Secretary Dana Perino: The President invited them to come on a trip with him if they ever wanted to and the family decided that they would like to, so they're on board. They got a tour of the plane and they're up with the President now, and they'll be coming with -- just coming along for the ride, for the event. And hopefully we'll be able to show...

Tony Snow may be gone, but his legacy will live on in The Villages. The Buffalo Scholarship Foundation established a fund in his name to be awarded to graduates of The Villages High School. “The scholarship is just really heartwarming for us. What a wonderful way to commemorate someone’s life and what an example it represents,” said John Davis, a member of the foundation’s board of directors. An anonymous donor contributed $20,000 to the Tony Snow scholarship fund; all scholarships presented from these donations will be done in Snow’s name. The most important part of the scholarship is the significance...

Who was Tony Snow? His four profound contributions to conservatism. This past year has been a saddening one for many conservatives, who lost William F. Buckley, Jr. in February and then United States Senator Jesse Helms earlier this month, on Independence Day. The former was, in many respects, the founder of modern conservatism and its most articulate voice for over four decades. The latter was conservatives' most reliable leader in the United States Senate for just about as long, never afraid to fight the battles that needed to be fought to hold liberal initiatives at bay, including ending the Senate's...

It’s only been a week or so since Tony Snow’s passing, and I can still hear him speaking to me. Snow was an outstanding fill-in host for Rush Limbaugh a decade or so ago, and at times he seemed to be a superior host to “El Rushbo” himself. Snow explained and defended his conservative views with a clarity and skill that was as effective as it was entertaining. Like fellow Limbaugh fill-in Dr. Walter E. Williams, Snow made conservatism intellectually as well as emotionally appealing. I’m sure that he convinced some liberal listeners to reconsider their views. Cancer has not...

Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush's press secretary, died July 12 of colon cancer. He was 53. The following was apparently written by Tony a couple of years ago. What a strong testimony to the faith of one person. Oh, that we all could be this strong. Blessings arrive in unexpected packages — in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases — and there are millions in America today — find ourselves in the odd position of coping with...

Some people ask me, usually vehement liberal Americans, how I could count amongst my few real friends, an arch-Republican spokesman for the Bush administration. Well, Tony and I disagreed on most things political and came to robust verbal blows on the subject of climate change but that’s the charm of friendship. Life would indeed be a bore if all of your buddies agreed with everything you said and tap-danced to the same tired riff. I like to think that Tony was a professional journalist and political commentator first and White House spokesman second. He could, I rather think, have filled...

I have always loved the words of the chorus of Steve Green’s classic song Find Us Faithful. The chorus says, Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. May the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe. And the lives we live inspire them to obey. Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful. Tony Snow left faithful footprints and a fire of devotion that obviously lit the way for many of his colleagues. I didn’t get word of Tony’s passing until almost 9:30am on Saturday...

(Washington, D.C.) — Tony Snow was remembered as “a man of uncommon decency and compassion” by President George W. Bush at his funeral Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of the Catholic University of America on a picture-perfect July Thursday morning this week. The president said it in tribute to Snow, his former press secretary, but he also set an underlying theme for the send-off for Tony: “Why so uncommon?” Call it “Tony’s challenge.” Say what you will about the president, he is a man of faith who speaks with an...

The recent death of Tony Snow brought sadness to millions of Americans who admired the man's public service and optimism about his country. But not everybody felt the need to honor him. Just hours after he died from cancer, the Associated Press released an obituary that has shocked some people and badly damaged the AP's image, at least in the conservative community. AP reporter Douglass Daniel began the article by listing some of Tony's accomplishments, but then suddenly veered into ideological territory, writing: "With a quick-from-the-lip repartee, broadcaster's good looks and a relentlessly bright outlook -- if not always a...

"The True Measure of a Man Lies in His Efforts to Please God" WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the homily preached Thursday by Father David O'Connell, president of Catholic University of America, at the funeral Mass for Tony Snow, held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.Snow, a Catholic journalist and former White House press secretary, died of colon cancer Saturday at age 53. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington presided at the Mass.* * *Archbishop Wuerl, President and Mrs. Bush, Vice President and Mrs. Cheney, distinguished guests, Mrs. Snow,...

I'd love to see the funeral service that was held for Tony Snow yesterday. Anyone have a link?

Today the President and First Lady attended Tony Snow's funeral, the President made a wonderful speech about how special Tony was and I have chosen these words to be the quote of the day as the content does much in putting things into perspective. We may get tied up on the minutiae of life but Tony Snow showed where our priorities should be never compromising his beliefs but always bearing in mind what was important and treating the rest with good humour and a smile. After attending the funeral the President travelled to California to view some of the damaged...

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 17, 2008 President Bush Attends Funeral Service for Tony Snow Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Washington, D.C. 10:16 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Archbishop Wuerl, Father O'Connell, Mr. Vice President, members of the Cabinet and my administration, members of Congress, distinguished guests; most importantly, the Snow family, Jill, Robbie, Kendall, Kristi and Jim, and other family members; former colleagues of Tony. Laura and I are privileged to join you today to pay our final respects to a cherished friend. Tony Snow was a man of uncommon decency and...

While reading the Associated Press' story and updated versions about the funeral of former White House spokesman Tony Snow today, I noticed a curious ommission in their reports: the presence of Vice President Cheney at the funeral.The AP's Ben Feller wrote the article about Snow's funeral that has been transmitted around the country. He reported that President Bush spoke at the funeral and noted the presence of former Bush administration officials Karl Rove and Andy Card, but not Vice President Cheney.A phone call to the AP's Washington, D.C. bureau led to my being connected to reporter Terrence Hunt. Hunt excused...

The toxic Fred Phelps brigade known as "God Hates Fags" invaded the Tony Snow Funeral in Washington, DC. Video

      Thursday, 17 July 2008 10:00 am - Funeral Mass - Great Upper Church Open to the Public Doors open at 8:00 a.m. (Will Need to Pass through Security Checkpoint Magnetometers) The Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl Archbishop of Washington Presider Reverend David O’Connell, CM President of The Catholic University of America Celebrant & Homilist Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 400 Michigan Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20017 Metro: Red Line – Brookland/CUA In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Tony Snow: The President's DefenderBy Dr. Paul KengorFrontPageMagazine.com | 7/17/2008 The first time I encountered Tony Snow was through his columns for the Detroit News in the 1980s, when I was an undergraduate subscribing to a forgotten but quite good publication called Conservative Chronicle. His articles were like his later work for Fox News: a combination of reliable research and lively commentary, with the latter grounded in the former, making his arguments cogent and convincing. When you read Tony Snow’s op-ed pieces, you were engaged and learned something; you came away with the assurance that the case you just...

I would hope that Fox, the govt., etc., provided benefits...but maybe not, if Rush has to ask. Rush wouldn't ask if he didn't have to.

For all who may be interested in a link to a collection of Tony Snow's columns from January 8, 1999 to April 21, 2006: Tony Snow Archives

He was dedicated to the domestic church of his family, loved the Lord and His Church and was committed to pursuing excellence in his chosen profession. To him, there was no conflict. All of this he saw as a part of his Baptismal vocation. A convert to the Catholic Christian faith, Tony Snow came into the full communion of the Catholic Church during his years in College. Among those who influenced him was the now well know “Evangelizer” of so many leaders at the intersection of faith and culture, my friend Fr. C. J. McCloskey III. His evangelistic and pastoral...

Tony Snow and I traveled parallel paths through Washington. We are a year apart in age –Tony is a year younger at 53 –and both loved politics and debate. Our love of debate may have been due to the fact that we both studied philosophy in college (Tony went to Davidson, I went to Haverford). And before joining FOX News we both spent time as editorial writers. ..... We got together when he came to Washington to be the editorial page editor of The Washington Times. I was working as a White House correspondent, editorial writer and columnist for The...

It was the best decision in my 62 years of professional life as a journalist. I was the Washington Times' editor in chief and looking for a new editorial page editor. Tony Snow was the first and last recommended name I interviewed. The year was 1987. ..... Tony was 32 years old. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner the same day in a secluded beach location, away from...

Two Men of Character Cal Thomas Two longtime friends of mine died last week. One was the renowned cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey. I first met him as a young reporter in Houston in the late '60s and we kept up over the years. He lobbied me to write about health issues and the importance of research. I occasionally asked him for medical advice, which he was always happy to give. A brilliant man with fingers so long he might have been a concert pianist, Dr. DeBakey invented many of the instruments now used in operating rooms and pioneered procedures...

Tony is going to be buried on Thursday. Bush will attend Tony Snow's funeral Thursday I am not sure that everyone on FR is aware of Tony Snow's membership and contribution to this wonderful forum. I am posting the link in the hopes that more people read his posts, and get a sense of what an incredible guy he was. http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:tonysnow/index?brevity=full;tab=comments His last post on Free Republic was May 29th, 2008. I know you are with God Tony. See ya.

The first time I encountered Tony Snow was through his columns for the Detroit News in the 1980s, when I was an undergraduate subscribing to a forgotten but quite good publication called Conservative Chronicle. His articles were like his later work for Fox News: a combination of reliable research and lively commentary, with the latter grounded in the former, making his arguments cogent and convincing. When you read Tony Snow’s op-ed pieces, you were engaged and learned something; you came away with the assurance that the case you just heard was rational and reasoned. He advanced his particular point and,...

When media personality Tim Russert, once a top adviser to leading Democratic officeholders in New York, died of a heart attack in June, editors at YouTube rightly paid tribute to him by promoting videos that celebrated his work and life.They didn't extend the same courtesy to conservative journalist Tony Snow over the weekend. Instead, YouTube chose to mark Snow's passing by featuring a liberal rant that blamed Snow for "hundreds of thousands of deaths," including those of innocent children, because he briefly served as President Bush's spokesman.The video was one of two promoted in YouTube's news and politics section...

A Kansas church well-known for its protests at the funerals of fallen American soldiers plans to picket at this week's funeral of former Press Secretary Tony Snow, declaring that Snow is "a very bad monkey" who is "now burning in hell." "He had a platform, he was given some small talent by his Creator. He was an unfaithful steward, and is now residing in hell," says a schedule on the website of the Westboro Baptist Church. "Each opportunity he had to faithfully report what the servants at WBC had to tell this country/world, Tony Snow besmirched and vilified the words...

The Tony Snow International Appreciation Society [Mark Steyn] I was about to tell my own Tony Snow story when I realized it was the same as so many others - that of meeting the guy when you're an obscure peripheral fellow of no consequence and being amazed that he's familiar with your work and is gracious and affable and collegial and full of generous advice. So I thought instead, as an illustration of the range of his generosity, I'd pen a PS to this Corner post from six months ago about the great Australian wag Tim Blair being stricken by...

Vets Tribute to Tony Snow [Pete Hegseth] I never had the good fortune of meeting Tony Snow. Our organization—Vets for Freedom—however, was fortunate enough to cross paths with Mr. Snow during our early days. In December of 2005, while hosting his daily Fox News Radio program, Mr. Snow read an op-ed live on the air that was written from a returning soldier. The soldier, David Bellavia—now the VFF Vice Chairman—felt that his leadership in Washington was failing our efforts to win the war in Iraq. Mr. Snow would later write a follow up piece on this topic. Wade Zirkle, the...

The first time I spoke with Tony Snow, he was the newly-minted host of "Fox News Sunday," I was the newly-minted television critic of the Star, and KPHN afternoon host Mike Shanin was kind enough to invite me to stay for an additional segment so I could join in his weekly chat with Snow, who was phoning in from Washington. Tony stayed on the line for what strikes me now as an inordinately long time to be talking to an AM radio station in Kansas City. Only later did I learn that "Fox News Sunday" was (and might still be)...

Like many Americans I am mourning the passing of Tony Snow, the journalist and White House spokesman who lost his battle with colon cancer on Saturday. Tony and I had many friends in common and knew each other a bit. Years ago, before he joined Fox News, I met him in Washington and bumped into him occasionally on the road at functions and conferences. He was a class act and a passionate journalist. He was also a committed and practicing Catholic; though I hear little mention of it in the scant media remembrances. Over the last few weeks another Sunday...

Usually it bugs me when he knocks lefty bloggers for foul comments, just because if you have a site with any kind of traffic you’re bound to have a crank infestation to some degree. This time is different. For one thing, as chronicled by Patterico in excruciating detail this weekend, the LAT moderates all comments; everything that appears is apparently read and approved by an editor — or disapproved, in the case of Patterico himself chiming in to call the cretins over there dicks. Beyond that, it’s no secret per the sheer volume of death-wish crap after a prominent conservative...

U.S. President George Bush Monday paid a condolence call on the family of former White House spokesman Tony Snow, who died during the weekend. Bush, accompanied by first lady Laura Bush, went by motorcade to Snow's Virginia home shortly after a Rose Garden appearance during which he rescinded an executive order banning new offshore oil drilling. Snow died of colon cancer Saturday. He was 53. Bush said Sunday he was saddened by Snow's death. Snow served as White House press secretary from May 2006 to last September when he revealed his cancer had recurred. Before joining the administration he worked...

Tony Snow: An Integrated Life July 14th, 2008 by Mary Kochan The news that Tony Snow, a Catholic convert and national media figure, had lost his battle with colon cancer in the wee hours of Saturday morning was not a surprise, but it was still a sad disappointment. He is survived by his wife Jill and three children. God comfort them.Tony Snow always considered himself a very lucky man — even during his years of struggle with the same cancer that had taken his mother when he was 17.  His gratitude for his many blessings bubbled out of him like a...

The funeral service for former White House spokesman Tony Snow will be open to the public. The service will be held Thursday morning at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of Catholic University in Washington, D.C.The White House announced earlier today that President and Mrs. Bush would attend the service.Details as announced by the Shrine:Mass of Christian Burial for Tony Snow Thursday, 17 July 2008 10:00 am - Funeral Mass - Great Upper Church Open to the Public Doors open at 8:00 a.m. (Will Need to Pass through Security Checkpoint Magnetometers) The Most...

Obituary: Former White House spokesman and longtime journalist Tony Snow died Saturday, taking with him a measure of decency that Washington and American politics in general could use more of.Snow fought the fatal colon cancer with the same grace and dignity that he brought to the blood sport of politics. At 53, the man with the eternally sunny disposition and notably deep faith left far too early for both his family and for a political system that could use a little more civility and lot less of the derangement that drives the hatred we've seen the past eight years. No...

Today is Tony Snow’s last day as White House press secretary. There’s no way you can remember Snow’s service to this country without revisiting his edgy exchanges with Helen Thomas.Here then are the Top Ten Tony Snow/Helen Thomas moments from his White House press briefings:

I can't pinpoint the precise date I met Tony Snow, but I remember it was over the telephone. We talked about one of his passions: radio. And we became fast friends. From that point on, we talked every few months, until about three or four months ago when I could only get his voice mail. I knew something was up because he was always good about returning calls. Still, I probably would have chalked it up to his busy schedule, except that I read news reports that he was forced to cancel a number of speeches because of illness. I...

Obviously one of Tony's last appearances on CNN, he talks with Wolf Blitzer about the election and his health. God bless Tony and his family.

The White House Correspondents Association announced today that they will receive cards and letters of condolence for the family of Tony Snow at their Washington, D.C. office.Given the nature of some liberals who have been known to send hurtful letters to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, it is hoped that a screening process will be set up to shield the Snow family from those who would send such nasty letters.The address to send condolences is: The Snow Family c/o White House Correspondents' Association 600 New Hampshire Ave. NW Washington, DC 20037

Last time I checked the calendar, it was still not 6/6/6 -- which means we're more than a month shy of the apocalypse. Yet when you see the political left and right coalesce on anything having to do with the White House, you're left to wonder: What could cause such an event of biblical proportions? Two words: Tony Snow. Snow is the Bush administration's new press secretary. So let the gravitas flow freely: Apparently one man is seen as worthy -- and, get this, from both sides of the aisle.

The creeps from the Westboro Baptist Church are planning to protest Tony Snow's funeral:

"Goebbels With Better Hair"By Ben JohnsonFrontPageMagazine.com | 7/14/2008 When I referenced Tony Snow last Friday as one example of the Left’s death wish against itstheir enemies, I had no idea he would be dead before the weekend was over. Snow served as the model for all future White House spokesmen, in addition to his accomplishments as a television journalist. His loss saddens everyone at FrontPage Magazine. Unfortunately, it has gladdened the hearts of many on the Left. An L.A. Times editor approved hateful comments on Snow’s obituary. CNN’s iReport quickly filled with bile. However, the left-wing “alternate media” (so named...

The late Tony Snow — how odd it is to write “late” before Tony’s name, and how sad — was an editorial writer and columnist, the host of “Fox News Sunday” for seven years and of a radio talk show for three, and a speechwriter in the White House of the first president Bush and press secretary for the second. We were twice colleagues (at the first Bush White House and at Fox), and throughout our two decades together in Washington compatriots and friends. I could easily dilate on Tony’s impressive achievements in journalism and government, and on the remarkable...

Free Republic Exclusive Fred Phelps, leader of the "God-hates-faXs" movement, is planning on crashing the funeral of one of our War Dead on July 4th. Why? To spread his message of anti-homosexual SPAM in the most inappropriate way imaginable. There's a time and a place for everything. He's a publicity whore, as far as I'm concerned. Here are snips from an earlier FR Report: "A SF SGT E-5, James Stewart, will be buried in St. Petersburg, Florida on July 4, 2005. It's wholly appropriate that he be buried on our nation's birthday, because Sergeant Stewart gave his life for our...

Dear God, please let the Patriot Guard Riders know about this ahead of time. The Phelps gang is ready to strike, and they outline their intent here.

When it comes to Ronald Reagan, we are all pointillists, hoping to create a whole portrait from dots of experience. Consider four scenes from late in his public career: Scene One: President George H. W. Bush is sitting in the presidential limousine after visiting the Reagan office in Los Angeles. "He's such a great guy," Bush says, smiling and shaking his head in wonderment. He describes a private meeting — just the two presidents and Bush's national-security adviser, Brent Scowcroft. Reagan broke the ice with a joke, leavened a conversation with a few stories, and afterward treated the entire entourage...

Tony Snow Dead at 53, A Tribute to a Catholic Journalist By Deacon Keith Fournier7/12/2008 Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)"It’s trendy to reject religious reflection as a grave offense against decency. That’s not only cowardly. That’s false. Faith and reason are knitted together in the human soul. So don’t leave home without either one." President George W. Bush (L) and White House Press Secretary Tony Snow return from an event at the Quantico Marine Base to the White House in Washington, September 14, 2007. Snow, who battled colon cancer, has died. CHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) – Tony Snow, whose Catholic faith, superb...

Naval Observatory Washington, D.C. 4:26 P.M. EDT Q Mr. Vice President, thank you so much for talking with us. How important was Tony Snow's voice over the past two decades in the conservative movement? THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, he was a major player in the conservative movement, and the way I think of Tony is he's unique in terms of the extent to which he knew the news side of the business; then as a commentator and -- but also somebody who worked as part of the White House staff as a speechwriter and of course as press secretary. And...