Old Man, Look at My Life

Tony Snow is resigning from the White House, which reminds me...

Pictured left is Snow, aged 50, starting out as press secretary. Pictured right is Snow, aged 52, leaving the job. A lesson to anyone who wants to balance cancer with flacking for an endangered presidency.

Tony Snow's column on immigration, printed in reason, is here.

UPDATE: Kudos to everyone who realized I was mocking "a dying man" with no trace of sympathy whatsoever. You've caught me: I hate sick people.

Comments

Stephen the Goldberger | August 31, 2007, 1:15pm | #

whos the new guy, brit hume or sean hannity?

i kind of liked snow i hope he recovers completely.

Warren | August 31, 2007, 1:21pm | #

Does anybody else here Patrick Warburton's voice when Tony Snow speaks?

de stijl | August 31, 2007, 1:24pm | #

Cancer or Cheney's blood "donor?"

Warren,

Feels like an Arby's night.

ed | August 31, 2007, 1:28pm | #

I'd say it's pretty much the cancer and the worries of providing for his family that have aged Snow, not the admittedly difficult job of press secretary. But it does give one the opportunity of being snarky at the expense of a dying man.

joe | August 31, 2007, 1:34pm | #

Um, Dave?

I think something must have slipped your mind.

At least I hope so.

Gilbert Martin | August 31, 2007, 1:35pm | #

"A lesson to anyone who wants to balance cancer with flacking for an endangered presidency."

Congratulations.

You have just won 1st prize in the most obnoxious post of the week contest.

Dave Weigel | August 31, 2007, 1:35pm | #

I think something must have slipped your mind.

Must have. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Dan T. | August 31, 2007, 1:37pm | #

Hmm...for once there's nothing I can add here that will out-troll the original post.

Warren | August 31, 2007, 1:42pm | #

de stijl,

Try this one: "Well, he's not as dead
as we would've hoped."

Ross | August 31, 2007, 1:43pm | #

Hmm...for once there's nothing I can add here that will out-troll the original post.

So you admit you're a troll?

semm | August 31, 2007, 1:44pm | #

I'm glad this guy's cancer makes your job as a political commentator easier Dave.

I really wish this blog had a way to not see posts by certain authors like Slashdot does. I mean in the past I've just disagreed with Mr Weigel, but at this point I'd rather just not see his trash.

The Owner's Manual | August 31, 2007, 1:45pm | #

" an endangered presidency.'

In danger of what? Expiring at the end of eight years? I think your gene pool is more at the Nation than Reason, Dave.

Dave Weigel | August 31, 2007, 1:46pm | #

Seriously, how hard is it for people to find this?

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.info?_id=wOO4F4rO2xGYqJOTqGIyXQ

mk | August 31, 2007, 1:46pm | #

David,
You are going about this all wrong. You are supposed to wait until he dies then post a picture of his crying children so everyone can make fun of how fat they are.

Episiarch | August 31, 2007, 1:47pm | #

Hey, it's pile on Dave day!

Episiarch | August 31, 2007, 1:49pm | #

Maybe Dave could hire Andrew W.K. to cheer Tony up?

Dan T. | August 31, 2007, 1:49pm | #

Regarding the "update": Dave, when you find yourself in a hole, the best thing to do is stop digging.

Dave Weigel | August 31, 2007, 1:53pm | #

Hey, it's pile on Dave day!

Every day is pile on Dave day, man. Get with the game.

jkp | August 31, 2007, 1:53pm | #

Jesus Christ, I can't even disagree with Dan T. on this....

de stijl | August 31, 2007, 1:55pm | #

Warren,

High five!

Dan T. | August 31, 2007, 2:02pm | #

Every day is pile on Dave day, man. Get with the game.

You should change your handle to "Dave T."

Jake Boone | August 31, 2007, 2:03pm | #

Let he who has never told a Christa McAuliffe joke cast the first stone.

Dan T. | August 31, 2007, 2:05pm | #

Back to Snow for a second, it's interesting to me that Tony's reason for resigning, he insists, is totally financial. A guy can only get by on $168,000/year for so long!

TrickyVic | August 31, 2007, 2:07pm | #

I think we are missing the bigger point which is why he is leaving. His reason, to make more money. I take that to mean, I don't get paid enought for this shit.

I'll cut Dave some slack since Snow knew he was walking into the killing fields when he took the job, no pun intended.

jimmydageek | August 31, 2007, 2:08pm | #

My motto in life: Someone, somewhere is or will be making fun of you. Why not get your share of the kicks as well? When you finally kick the bucket you can be sure that someone will make some funny comment about it...get over it...life's too short to get all worked up over shit like this.

Shannon Chamberlain | August 31, 2007, 2:08pm | #

It alarms me to say this, Dan T., but you and I were on the same wavelength. $168,000? Really?

I guess those private school tuition bills add up.

Stevo Darkly | August 31, 2007, 2:09pm | #

For the record, I've had members of my immediate family die of cancer, and Weigel's post failed to offend me.

Dan T. | August 31, 2007, 2:12pm | #

I'd do Snow's job for $168k. All he does is argue politics all day, which is what we're doing here for free anyway.

Akira MacKenzie | August 31, 2007, 2:13pm | #

You have just won 1st prize in the most obnoxious post of the week contest.

I'm glad this guy's cancer makes your job as a political commentator easier Dave.

WSS | August 31, 2007, 2:14pm | #

Do you post anything that isn't snarky? Ceaseless sarcasm. You behave like a jerk. But then again, it could just be the hard-core Libertarian in you. What is it about so many Libertarians that makes them act this way?

Akira MacKenzie | August 31, 2007, 2:15pm | #

Hmmm... the latter half of my pithy, snarky, post was cut off. Let's try that again:

You have just won 1st prize in the most obnoxious post of the week contest.

I'm glad this guy's cancer makes your job as a political commentator easier Dave.

jimmydageek | August 31, 2007, 2:15pm | #

What is it about so many Libertarians that makes them act this way?

Do we drink?

Akira MacKenzie | August 31, 2007, 2:16pm | #

Let's try that one more time....

You have just won 1st prize in the most obnoxious post of the week contest.

I'm glad this guy's cancer makes your job as a political commentator easier Dave.

Gotta love the update too. you don't mock all dying people's symptoms of cancer, just the ones you disagree with. That is much more classy.

Jeebus. What's all the bitching and moaning about? Tony Snow is a Republican for fuck's sake. It's not as if we're talking about a human being here.

Taktix® | August 31, 2007, 2:22pm | #

What is it about so many Libertarians that makes them act this way?

I don't get all bent out of sorts because I understand human mortality and don't hide from the fact that death is a part of life.

Also, unlike the religious, I don't believe the fairy tale that dead people can hear us after they die. Feel free to piss on my grave all you want, I'll be worm food by then.

But I really don't think the graying is from the illness, it came from Snow's daily ritual:

He woke up each morning and looked at the briefing prepared for him, and shouted, "You want me to say WHAT???"

After two years, that grinds on a man...

nothinghead | August 31, 2007, 2:23pm | #

I hope Bush appoints you, Dan T. Having a blatant troll as White House press secretary is the greatest idea I have heard in a long time.

Taktix® | August 31, 2007, 2:25pm | #

Dan T as press secretary:

Reporter: "Does the President plan to end this was at any time in the near future."

Press Secretary Dan T: "Snarl! Growl! Snort, snort! Growl! Next question."




No seriously guys, give Dan a break, he's been doing good for a while now. Focus the effort toward Edward and the like.

Rick Barton | August 31, 2007, 2:31pm | #

They say that people in their 50's look as good as they deserve to look. Making excuses for neocon slime might do that to you...

(some folks might never guess that I'm a Republican)

Thomas Paine's Goiter | August 31, 2007, 2:31pm | #

You people are all a bunch of whiny sniveling bitches trying to find something to offend you.

Nothing in the original post was offensive, you fucktards.

I hate them too | August 31, 2007, 2:42pm | #

sickness plain to see

too broke to go on flakking

exit mister snow

Daze | August 31, 2007, 2:44pm | #

A bone for all those looking to be offended:

Rosie was Right!

Edward | August 31, 2007, 2:48pm | #

Wow, no sympathy at all for a man suffering the ravages of chemo therapy, but pious reverence for a dead crackpot like Aaron Russo. I'm glad I decided to stop posting in this psycho ward.

Episiarch | August 31, 2007, 2:50pm | #

I'm glad I decided to stop posting in this psycho ward.

I don't think these words mean what you think they mean.

Episiarch | August 31, 2007, 2:51pm | #

So Dave, hate to bug you while you're getting pilloried, but did you understand the Andrew W.K. joke or not?

Akira MacKenzie | August 31, 2007, 2:53pm | #

Wow, no sympathy at all for a man suffering the ravages of chemo therapy...

Please, after what this administration and their loyal followers have done to this country, cancer is a mere wrist slap.

If there were any justice in this unverse. (alas, there sadly isn't) everyone from Dubbya himself down to the Bible-beating, jingoistic, rednecks who voted for that fucker (twice) would all succumb to a slow and agonizing death.

Akira MacKenzie | August 31, 2007, 2:54pm | #

I'm glad I decided to stop posting in this psycho ward.

Then why are you still posting here... moron?

Edward | August 31, 2007, 2:55pm | #

No, I realy have decided to stop posting here. This is absolutely my last post. I just couldn't resist commenting on the hipocricy. It rivals that of all the family-values-anti-gay Republican gays put together. I'll resist commenting in the future because I won't read this garbage anymore. I'm going to read Finnigan's Wake instead.

Dave Weigel | August 31, 2007, 2:59pm | #

So Dave, hate to bug you while you're getting pilloried, but did you understand the Andrew W.K. joke or not?

When it's time to party we will party hard.

Incidentally, AWK's Japan-only album Close Calls With Brick Walls is really quite good.

Episiarch | August 31, 2007, 3:00pm | #

I'm going to read Finnigan's Wake instead.

Dude, if you want to torture tourself, take it easy. You're an asshole and a douche, but that seems a bit much.

Dave Weigel | August 31, 2007, 3:00pm | #

Although the lyrics in that episode of ATHF were more like "PARTY PARTY PARTY!"

Episiarch | August 31, 2007, 3:02pm | #

OK, just checking. Gotta keep the ATHF references flowing.

Now I gotta take an acid so that I can keep on partying.

Syloson of Samos | August 31, 2007, 3:06pm | #

Every day is pile on Dave day, man. Get with the game.

Well, you could always find a different line of work.

Gilbert Martin | August 31, 2007, 3:14pm | #

"Do you post anything that isn't snarky? Ceaseless sarcasm. You behave like a jerk. But then again, it could just be the hard-core Libertarian in you. What is it about so many Libertarians that makes them act this way?"

I don't think Weigel qualifies as a libertarian. He's more like a liberal.

All he does is squeal about the Iraq war - just like all the limp-wristed, pantywaist, wimpy-punk liberals.

mantooth | August 31, 2007, 3:20pm | #

"All he does is squeal about the Iraq war - just like all the limp-wristed, pantywaist, wimpy-punk liberals.

Says the guy posting on the internet. Not exactly a lumberjack yourself, are you?

Dave Weigel | August 31, 2007, 3:22pm | #

Anti-war libertarians? Mythical creatures, obviously, like Hypogriffs and polite blog commenters.

Taktix® | August 31, 2007, 3:29pm | #

Jeez, I didn't know there was a troll convention in town.

SnarkCon 2007?

Warren | August 31, 2007, 3:33pm | #

Anti-war libertarians? Mythical creatures, obviously, like Hypogriffs and polite blog commenters.

But... but... But Dave, you FILMED me. [hysterical weeping]

Episiarch | August 31, 2007, 3:37pm | #

Uh Dave, sorry to geek-correct you, but it is Hippogriff.

John Tabin | August 31, 2007, 3:49pm | #

Geez, calm down people. I'm pretty sure Dave meant his original post to be tinged with sympathy, even if it didn't come across loudly enough.

And by the way, Dave may have been pretty clearly rooting for a Democratic House last election cycle, but in this one he frequently expresses loathing for John Edwards, is appalled by the political dynasticism that electing Hillary Clinton would ratify, and has expressed fear that Barack Obama would be another Jimmy Carter. If he's the partisan attack dog that many people seem to think he is, he's doing a really bad job at it.

Steve | August 31, 2007, 4:09pm | #

I don't think Weigel qualifies as a libertarian. He's more like a liberal.

Yes, lets all enforce orthodoxy.

wondering | August 31, 2007, 4:12pm | #

What happened to the "nebby" posts?

Are they in the Reason memory hole?

Jose Ortega y Gasset | August 31, 2007, 4:26pm | #

Libertarian means never having to say you're sorry.

I don't have to explain this concept to anyone who has spent more than ten minutes talking to a Libertarian at a cocktail party.

Gilbert Martin | August 31, 2007, 4:26pm | #

"Anti-war libertarians? Mythical creatures, obviously, like Hypogriffs and polite blog commenters."

A real libertarian wouldn't be devoting 99% of his time to complaining about the Iraq war vs other things like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. etc. - particulary since vastly greater sums of the taxpayers money has been wasted on those things than has or ever will be spent on the Iraq war.

As for being polite, that's a laugh since your original post was impolite to begin with.

AC | August 31, 2007, 4:32pm | #

A real libertarian wouldn't be devoting 99% of his time to complaining about the Iraq war vs other things like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. etc.

Drink!

Trollaphile | August 31, 2007, 4:34pm | #

"What is it about so many Libertarians that makes them act this way?"

Too much sex?

Charlie (Colorado) | August 31, 2007, 4:34pm | #

Dave, it's not that we think you hate sick people. It's that you're being a dick.

Jake Boone | August 31, 2007, 4:44pm | #

"Waah! Big mean Dave Weigel is picking on poor wittle Tony Snow, the willing mouthpiece for our despotic president!"

I can't say it better than that great statesman and philosopher whose name has, unfortunately, been lost to the ages:

Go cry, emo boy.

Dave Weigel | August 31, 2007, 4:46pm | #

The funny thing is that I'm not even picking on him. I was shocked to see the new picture of Snow and wanted to comment on how much he'd aged, doing so without getting mawkish and maintaining a little humor.

I think everyone is so used to me hating on Bush administration officials that they assumed I was just kicking Snow around.

Wendy | August 31, 2007, 4:48pm | #

God bless Tony, a wonderful, decent man. Obviously he wants to make some money so that if the worst happens his family will be cared for.

A great man, a great father, a great American.

Jake Boone | August 31, 2007, 4:50pm | #

The funny thing is that I'm not even picking on him.

Most of us understand that.

Then there are the vast droves of asshats.

Jon H | August 31, 2007, 5:00pm | #

" It's that you're being a dick."

Well, nobody forced Snow to waste his waning strength on flacking for a schmuck President with approval ratings in the 20s and unlikely to improve.

Bush ain't worth it, Tony. Go home, rest up, focus on getting well.

Alan | August 31, 2007, 5:19pm | #

Libertarian means never having to say you're sorry.

I don't have to explain this concept to anyone who has spent more than ten minutes talking to a Libertarian at a cocktail party.

What kind of asshole goes around looking for apologies at cocktail parties?

Ben in DC | August 31, 2007, 5:21pm | #

I second the comment about most people getting it and vast droves of asshats...

Keep up the good work.

Warren | August 31, 2007, 5:22pm | #

I think everyone is so used to me hating on Bush administration officials that they assumed I was just kicking Snow around.

Oh Ziiiiing!

Steve | August 31, 2007, 5:34pm | #

A real libertarian wouldn't be devoting 99% of his time to complaining about the Iraq war vs other things like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. etc. - particulary since vastly greater sums of the taxpayers money has been wasted on those things than has or ever will be spent on the Iraq war.

Wow.

Nothing screams "libertarian" quite so much as telling others that they're required to have the same priorities as you if they want to belong to a community clubhouse.

Not to mention Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are non-starters among all politicians (to their infinite discredit), unlike, say, opposing wars fought for the purpose of testing neoconservative (i.e. Trotskyite) academic hypotheses.

James Anderson Merritt | August 31, 2007, 5:59pm | #

"Kudos to everyone who realized I was mocking "a dying man" with no trace of sympathy whatsoever."

We're all dying, but some faster than others. On the other hand, some people are also LIVING faster than others. So perhaps there's a balance.

T. Durden | August 31, 2007, 6:11pm | #

I'm onto you. You're a faker. You're not dying. I mean, sure, in the Sylvia Plath, Tibetan philosophy sense of the word, we're all dying, but you're not dying the way Chloe Bechter Tony Snow is dying.

Happy Jack | August 31, 2007, 6:15pm | #

UPDATE: Kudos to everyone who realized I was mocking "a dying man" with no trace of sympathy whatsoever. You've caught me: I hate sick people.

No need to explain yourself. He's a full-grown hack. Now, if you were making fun of a crying girl...

Someone who Doesn't Want to Lose His Job | August 31, 2007, 6:15pm | #

What kind of asshole goes around looking for apologies at cocktail parties?

That's my new e-mail signature!

Seth | August 31, 2007, 6:21pm | #

If nothing else, the comments on this really made the end of my work day about a hundred times better. Thanks Dave.

As for why we libertarians act this way, I think this site says it perfectly:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2347496354

1984 | August 31, 2007, 6:30pm | #

So now any post that mentions the nebby memory hole also goes down the memory hole?

Quite a ministry of truth you have going on there.

Matthew | August 31, 2007, 6:58pm | #

"What is it about so many Libertarians that makes them act this way?"

They're afraid to love.

highnumber | August 31, 2007, 7:38pm | #

Gilbert Martin,

WTF?!The state actively murdering people is not a bigger deal than every other issue put together?! It's the ultimate power of the state. Goddamn. Really. Goddamn. Anti-war is kind of a big part of libertarianism. You think Social Security is more important. What a great guy you are. A fucking saint. God money.

Big Brother | August 31, 2007, 7:58pm | #

This site always is a great reminder why libertarianism can't even achieve a million votes in national elections. Keep up the good work!

BD | August 31, 2007, 9:42pm | #

I dunno; 99% of the difference I see is hair, which is often (almost always?) a victim of cancer treatment.

In the face (below the hairline), Tony doesn't look all that much different.

James Anderson Merritt | August 31, 2007, 9:48pm | #

# Big Brother | August 31, 2007, 7:58pm | #
# This site always is a great reminder why
# libertarianism can't even achieve a
# million votes in national elections.

Happy Friday, everyone! Drink! (This suggests that our livers are all dying, some faster than others, and some even faster with the help of BB.)

eb | August 31, 2007, 10:55pm | #

Dave, in spite of your pissy update, your post indicates you are a world class asshole and there's no explaining it away. Just admit it was an idiotic post.

Bob | August 31, 2007, 11:16pm | #

Wait... I can't be a lumberjack and post online? Well, crap. Now I have to get a new job, because of course reading these comments is way more important than killing spotted owl habitat.

S.A. Miller | August 31, 2007, 11:40pm | #

I guess I can only hope you get cancer one day, Weigel. I bet that will be a funny day.

Dave Weigel | August 31, 2007, 11:48pm | #

I guess I can only hope you get cancer one day, Weigel. I bet that will be a funny day.

Seriously, how did it take 10 hours for someone to make this point?