Reaction to Tony Snow's appointment as chief flack-catcher.....

Did you know that there is a tradition among White House Press Secretaries that upon getting the job they are given a flack jacket? Sounds appropriate, don't you think? There have been some pretty so-so press secretaries to hold the job but I do not think that Tony Snow is going to be among that group. He will do a tremendous job if he is given the opportunity to do so.

Tony is the type of guy who assesses a situation carefully and whether or not you agree with him, when you walk away from the conversation, at least you know you have spoken your piece. He diffuses bombs well and those that throw them with his calm demeanor. And he will need every one of his skills to do this job well.

Was VERY glad to hear that he will have what is called "walk in" access to the President. Snow knows what his job is as press secretary yet believe this: when he disagrees with the Chief Executive, he will not hesitate to let him know behind closed doors. And he will do it in a way that will not get the President's dander up. That is the greatest skill of any communicator -- not just the external communications battles, but the internal communications trials as well.

Here is the reaction to Tony's new gig (Some of you might be worried when you see positive reactions from the opposition. Let me assure you that is not necessarily a bad sign, friends. His job is to talk to the opposition and if they are not hostile to him and have a morsel of respect for his ability, so much the better for message delivery.):

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL): "The President's very lucky to have a man of Tony Snow's caliber take this job on. I think he's going to do an excellent job at maybe one of the toughest press jobs in America. I am sure that he's up to it based on his experience." (Fox News' "Fox News Live," 5/26/06)

Sen. George Allen (R-VA): "I think [Tony Snow is] a great choice. I like Tony a lot. The best thing that Tony's going to do is bring the pulse of the American people into the White House in those deliberations... Great choice by the President. And I think it will be good for the American people, too, to have one of their advocates clearly in the White House who is on the pulse of the people in the real world." (Fox News' "Fox News Live," 5/26/06)

Former Clinton White House Special Counsel Lanny Davis: "[H]e is a man of integrity and he's a man of fairness and he's a man of substance and I emphasize substance because it's my perception that Tony will have a policy role in discussing facts with the President rather than simply being a conduit. ... I think he will have a great deal of credibility on behalf of President Bush." (Fox News' "Fox News Live," 5/26/06)

The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol: "It will be good to have a fair and balanced press secretary. An outsider with a somewhat happy-go-lucky attitude could help externally, but also internally ..." (Howard Kurtz and Fred Barbash, "Tony Snow Becomes White House Press Secretary," The Washington Post, 4/26/06)

Former White House Aide David Gergen: "Tony Snow is a good man and a good choice." (Fox News' "Fox News Live," 4/26/06)

CNN's Soledad O'Brien: "[Tony Snow] knows how to do TV, and that may be an important plus ..." (CNN's "American Morning," 2/26/06)

Former Texas Democrat Congressman Martin Frost: "[I] think Tony's a straight shooter ... I think Tony obviously has credibility. ... [H]e's somebody that the press respects. ... I think he was a good choice and I think it's good for the President to put somebody out like Tony who has credibility and let's hope that now that things, people can work together in Washington a little bit more." (Fox News' "Fox News Live," 4/26/06)

Republican Strategist Ed Rogers: "He has great familiarity with most of the White House press corps, anyway. Great familiarity with a lot of the people that he will be working with in the White House. So I think he will come in with the wind at his back and have a lot of goodwill both with the public, both with the media, and inside the White House, so I think it's, I think it's great." (Fox News' "Fox News Live," 4/26/06)

NBC's David Gregory: "[Tony Snow] certainly has a good reputation. And yes, look, I think, for people like me in the job that we're doing, somebody like a Tony Snow, who has some sense of what our needs are, where we're coming from, can be very helpful." (MSNBC's "Scarborough Country," 4/25/06)

CNN's Elaine Quijano: "[W]hat this demonstrates, really, is the desire by this administration to reach out very actively to the media." (CNN's "American Morning," 2/26/06)

Democrat Strategist Steve McMahon: "[H]e's a principled, pragmatic conservative ..." (Fox News' "Fox News Live," 5/26/06)

MSNBC's Tucker Carlson: "[F]or what it's worth, [Tony Snow is] a very good guy. ... [c]ongratulations to Tony Snow. He'll be a pleasure to watch. I look forward to it." (MSNBC's "The Situation," 4/25/06)

ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "I think he's going to do very well. He's made his living communicating. He's a smart and very likable guy. So he should lower the temperature in the briefing room and also increase the star power. And also, by picking him, President Bush has already helped himself, by going outside of his circle, picking someone of independent stature. He shows that he's not afraid of having big people with independent opinions in the White House." (ABC's "World News Tonight," 4/26/06)

NBC's Tim Russert: "He is a polished, articulate, conservative commentator." (NBC's "Today," 4/27/06)

President Ford's Former Press Secretary Ron Nessen: "Snow's background gives him 'good insight into what it is reporters need,' Nessen said." (David Jackson and Richard Benedetto, "Bush Touts Spokesman's Media Savvy," USA Today, 4/26/06)

"He Comes To The White House With Extensive Journalistic Experience ..." (Ron Hutcheson, "New White House Spokesman Hasn't Always Agreed With Bush," Knight Ridder, 4/27/06)

"His Voice Is Quiet And Authoritative. Even Critics Concede He Has A Talent For Articulating Policy Issues And Political Philosophy." (Peter Wallsten And Joel Havemann, "Snow Says He Intends To Keep Shooting From The Lip," Chicago Tribune, 4/27/06)

The Detroit News' Nolan Finley: "[Tony Snow's] journalism credentials are outstanding. He's succeeded in every medium. Few newspapermen can stand comfortably in front of the camera ... But Tony made the transition to Fox TV with ease and then went on to conquer radio." (Nolan Finley, Op-Ed, "Ex-Detroiter: From Cancer To White House," The Detroit News, 4/27/06)

The Detroit News' Nolan Finley: "Tony's doing this not for personal glory - he already has that - but because he sincerely wants to serve his country. This is among the best appointments Bush has made." (Nolan Finley, Op-Ed, "Ex-Detroiter: From Cancer To White House," The Detroit News, 4/27/06)

The Detroit News' Nolan Finley: "Tony will be believable, he'll be straightforward, and he'll speak for the administration with the integrity and high ethical standards that have marked his career. Count on that." (Nolan Finley, Op-Ed, "Ex-Detroiter: From Cancer To White House," The Detroit News, 4/27/06)

The [Raleigh, NC] News & Observer's Jim Jenkins: "Snow's a savvy and really smart fellow not likely to be kicked around by the press corps." (Jim Jenkins, Op-Ed, "Tony Snow Won't Melt," The [Raleigh, NC] News & Observer, 4/27/06)

The [Raleigh, NC] News & Observer's Jim Jenkins: "Snow's ... a genuinely nice guy, family man, with a good sense of humor, someone who has come by his political beliefs after a lot of honest contemplation." (Jim Jenkins, Op-Ed, "Tony Snow Won't Melt," The [Raleigh, NC] News & Observer, 4/27/06)

"Mr. Snow Is Well-Regarded Among Reporters In Washington, Having Worked In Newspapers, Television And Radio." (Joseph Curl and Stephen Dinan, "Snow Seen As Key To Improved Press Ties," The Washington Times, 4/27/06)

Time White House Correspondent, Mike Allen: "The logic of offering it to Tony Snow was that it showed confidence, that this president, who has been accused of being in a bubble, is someone who is willing to have someone with their own celebrity, their own authority, their own ideas, come in and be his advocate." (PBS's "The Charlie Rose Show," 4/26/06)