Tony Snow stepping down

SETIsLady · Post by **SETIsLady** » 08-17-2007 08:35 PM

Sources: White House spokesman Snow to step down

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- White House press secretary Tony Snow will step down from his position as early as next month, sources inside and outside the Bush administration told CNN on Friday.

When contacted by CNN about his possible departure, Snow said, "I'm not making any announcement."

Snow told conservative talk-show host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday that "financial reasons" may prevent him for serving the remainder of his boss's presidency.

"I'm not going to be able to go the distance, but that's primarily for financial reasons." Snow said. "I've told people when my money runs out, then I've got to go."

According to The Washington Post, Snow makes $168,000 as the White House spokesman.

CNN has previously reported that Chief of Staff Josh Bolten told senior White House staffers that unless they could commit to staying until President Bush leaves office in January 2009, they should leave by Labor Day.

Snow, 52, had been treated for colon cancer in 2005. In March, during surgery to remove a growth from his abdomen, doctors discovered that the cancer had returned and spread to his liver.

Five weeks later, Snow returned to the White House podium and continued to work as the president's chief spokesman as he underwent chemotherapy. In recent interviews, he indicated that his health situation had stabilized.

Before coming to the White House in April 2006, Snow had worked for the Fox News Channel and hosted his own nationally syndicated radio show.

He took a significant pay cut to take the job of press secretary and has talked publicly in the past about the financial sacrifices, as well as his passion for the post.

People close to Snow said that he felt he needed to make some more money to help his family, which includes children readying for college.

Speculation on who might replace Snow has centered on his deputy, Dana Perino. When asked about Snow's plans to leave, Perino told CNN, "I've got nothing on that, nor would I speculate."

Also on Friday, Rep. Dennis Hastert of Illinois announced that he would not seek another term in 2008. Hastert stepped down from his Republican leadership post but remained in Congress when Democrats took back control of Congress in November 2006.

And earlier this week, Karl Rove, Bush's senior political adviser, announced he would step down at the end of the month. He characterized his tenure in the White House as a "witness to history" as he announced his resignation Monday.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/17/ ... index.html

Shirleypal · Post by **Shirleypal** » 08-17-2007 08:45 PM

Another one bites the dust.

Biker · Post by **Biker** » 08-17-2007 08:53 PM

Agree with his politics or not, I've always liked and respected Tony Snow.
I wish him well.

Biker

Shimmering Auro · Post by **Shimmering Auro** » 08-17-2007 08:53 PM

More resignations to come? Wonder who will be next to bail from this sinking ship.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/16/mor ... s-to-come/

Tony Snow Signals His Resignation, Plus ‘A Couple’ More ‘Coming Up In The Next Month’

After the recent resignation of Karl Rove, media outlets speculated on what the rest of President Bush’s term will look like without “the Architect.” The President is “fighting lame duck status,” reported the AP. In response, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow shot back: “As the president has said many times, he’s going to sprint to the tape.”

But even Tony Snow doesn’t want to be around for that sprint. In an interview with the conservative Hugh Hewitt show, Snow signaled that he will not stay until the end of the term. He also mentioned that there are “probably a couple” of other high-level resignations “coming up in the next month or so.”

HEWITT: Are there any other resignations upcoming, Tony Snow?

SNOW: I think that probably…as Josh said the other day, he thinks there are probably a couple coming up in the next month or so. […]

HEWITT: Your intention to go the distance, Tony Snow?

SNOW: No, I’m not going to be…I’ve already made it clear I’m not going to be able to go the distance, but that’s primarily for financial reasons. I’ve told people when my money runs out, then I’ve got to go.

Snow’s upcoming departure makes him one of a bevy of top administration officials who, since November, have left their posts. ThinkProgress has compiled a list of some of the key resignations:

- White House Senior Political Adviser Karl Rove
- White House Counselor Dan Bartlett
- White House Budget Director Rob Portman
- White House Counsel Harriet Miers
- White House Political Director Sara Taylor
- White House Director of Strategic Initiatives Pete Wehner
- White House Deputy National Security Adviser J.D. Crouch
- Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty
- Acting Associate Attorney General William Mercer
- Justice Department White House liaison Monica Goodling
- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
- Army Secretary Francis Harvey
- Joint Chief of Staffs Chairman Peter Pace
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson
- U.N. Ambassador John Bolton
- USAID Director Randall Tobias

With so many key staff departures, the AP reports that “Bush has decided he might get more done in his final months by going it alone,” making increased use of executive orders and veto power.

Shirleypal · Post by **Shirleypal** » 08-17-2007 08:57 PM

I do wish Tony Snow the best, I know he has cancer, I hope he isn't resigning because of that.

Biker · Post by **Biker** » 08-17-2007 09:17 PM

The cancer was my guess, Miss Shirley.

Biker

Shimmering Auro · Post by **Shimmering Auro** » 08-17-2007 09:21 PM

According to Snow (article above) he is resigning due to financial reasons.

Shirleypal · Post by **Shirleypal** » 08-17-2007 09:24 PM

Shimmering Auro wrote: According to Snow (article above) he is resigning due to financial reasons.

I heard him say that today S.A., it just doesn't make sense.

Divinorumus · Post by **Divinorumus** » 08-17-2007 09:56 PM

Yup, he is quitting because he needs to find a better job to pay for his way through life. Go figure! You would think, being so close to the national treasure and all, he would just help himself to what he figures he needs and deserves. What a dope he is, huh? He just doesn't get it, does he.

racehorse · Post by **racehorse** » 08-17-2007 10:33 PM

Shirleypal wrote: I do wish Tony Snow the best, I know he has cancer, I hope he isn't resigning because of that.

I have always liked Tony Snow and wish him the very best. I don't believe that he would be leaving his post if it were not for his health. I hope that I am wrong.

Shirleypal · Post by **Shirleypal** » 08-17-2007 10:41 PM

racehorse wrote: I have always liked Tony Snow and wish him the very best. I don't believe that he would be leaving his post if it were not for his health. I hope that I am wrong.

Hope you are wrong also Racehorse, sending healing prayers to Tony.

racehorse · Post by **racehorse** » 08-17-2007 10:44 PM

Shirleypal wrote: sending healing prayers to Tony.

Me, too.

OMG · Post by **OMG** » 08-18-2007 02:32 AM

Can't say I'm a fan of his, I thought Dana Perino was a nice relief when she stepped, even though I would not wish ill will on anyone.

SETIsLady · Post by **SETIsLady** » 08-18-2007 08:30 AM

I can't say that I am sorry to see him leave. However,I do think he is leaving because of his health, he doesn't look well and you can see the chemo treatment is weighing on him. I mentioned that to my husband the other day while watching him on TV. I hope whatever the reasons, that his health improves. Cancer is a horrible thing to go through and a horrible thing to watch someone go through.

Live365 · Post by **Live365** » 08-18-2007 06:39 PM

Shirleypal wrote: Another one bites the dust.

Yes. But if I were you, I'd be ready for the hell to break loose. The hell of Hillary, that is.

Otherwise, I am so happy to see this thread!!

Last time (though NONE of the Pirates here were involved), I seem to recall posts like "Good!" "Glad he has Cancer!" "Get rid of him!" "Die soon!"

God Almighty. Let what divides us, unite us.

I, too, am a big fan of Tony Snow. So his hair is grey now. So what. He's still a hot guy.

Prayers.