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Rest In Peace Tony Snow July 12, 2008

Posted by nicedeb in Heroes.
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It was the first thing I heard this (already gloomy, drizzly) morning. My husband announced the news before I even got out of bed. And all I could say was, “oh nooooo,” fighting tears. I was so hoping he’d beat it.

What a transparently good and decent man Tony Snow was. That came through to anyone with an ounce of discernment, whether you were listening to him on his radio show, on Fox News, or as Bush’s Press Secretary.

Ed Morrissey has a nice memorial post at Hot Air along with Brit Hume’s tribute video.

Michelle Malkin’s post includes this poignant column written by Snow for Christianity Today, well worth the read.

RightWingSparkle got to meet Tony Snow at a Media Research Research Center event last March; her impressions are here.

And here are some thoughts from NRO thus far from: Shannen Coffin, Byron York, and Kathryn Jean Lopez.

More tributes will be trickling in at Memorandum throughout the weekend.

Now from the dark side. Not surprisingly, there are some who would waste no time to use the death of a political opponent to slam him. That Daily Kos would allow such a vile diary to stand, is unconscionable. Even the folks at The Democratic Underground had more class than that. And Huffington Post had the sense and decency to close comments on their Tony Snow Post. FireDogLake hasn’t seen fit to put up a post, yet.

I don’t understand the mentality behind the need some have to viciously attack people after they’ve died. There are only a few people who deserve that kind of treatment, and they belong to a special club of bloody tyrants, mass murderers, and the like. Not political opponents. If someone you didn’t necessarily like dies, you can always express sympathy for the family, or just say nothing. But there is this disturbing pathology on display every time someone on the right dies. It happens every time, and it’s truly despicable.

Cross posted at Nice Deb

Comments»

1. daveintexas - July 12, 2008

That was really sweet Deb. Thanks.

2. kevlarchick - July 12, 2008

Nice tribute.

I loved him. He went to high school here in my town.

I also finally realized how short Dana Perino is!

3. Michael - July 12, 2008

Great post Deb.

God’s blessings on all of Tony’s family and friends.

4. eddiebear - July 12, 2008

Jennifer Loven of the AP was no better.

But then again, her husband was a Kerry aide, and she makes Ron Fournier look neutral.

5. BrewFan - July 12, 2008

Thanks for putting this up here nicedeb. I am touched by the man’s courage in facing death.

6. daveintexas - July 12, 2008

He lived his life like a man should.

Requiescat in pace, Tony. Welcome to the arms of our Savior. I am glad your pain in this life is over.

May the Father grant your loved ones peace, and comfort in this hard time.

7. eddiebear - July 12, 2008

One other thing I noticed from recent events:

I cannot speak for all righty sites, and/or their comments, so I preface my comment with that.

When Ted Kennedy had his brain tumor revealed, few if any righty blogs that I know of danced on his illness. Few if any said “HAHAHA!”, and most either said nothing or wished him well.

Contrast that to the KOS comments and AP story today.

8. nicedeb - July 12, 2008

Exactly. That’s just not the sort of thing a decent person revels in.

A reoccurring theme I encountered when visiting the dark side this morning as some commenters tried to dissuade the slimier ones from slamming Tony too much was, “we’re better than them”. They actually believe this, even though the right has no track history of this sort of thing.

9. Muslihoon - July 12, 2008

May he rest in eternal peace in a room prepared by the Lord.

And may He comfort and grant solace to those who mourn him.

10. eddiebear - July 12, 2008

Deb:

And many Kossacks were claiming that they should blast Snow simply because to do otherwise would not be “genuine”.

11. GrumpyUnk - July 12, 2008

Nice post and comments. He was one of the good guys.

12. lauraw - July 13, 2008

No, really and for true: WE are better than them.

http://minx.cc/?post=262712

Uhhh…for the most part.

13. mesablue - July 13, 2008

Yes, there was some slimy stuff in that thread.

And, one of the few times I cringed at AoS.

But, two completely different human beings.

If/when Ted succumbs, I’ll be the first to stand up for his service.

Disagreement about politics is one thing. Respect for a life dedicated to country is something that I think most of us on the right can agree on.

And, when Ace used to actually read the comments — he would take people to task for being too crass.

Such is the blogosphere.

For all it has done and grown, it’s still fairly amateur.

Fred Barnes summed it up just the other day — “who cares what the bloggers think.”

I was surprised to hear him say that.

But, it’s fairly put.

And, the netroots proved it in the Lamont race — after a hugely dismal record before that.

I just like the fact that people care enough to talk about it online.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t know you folks.

Good enough for me.

14. Pupster - July 13, 2008

Ahhhhh, Mesa’s drunk and sloppy.

C’mere big fella, gimme a hug.

*assgrab*

15. nicedeb - July 13, 2008

I’m sloppy even when I’m not drunk.

16. eddiebear - July 13, 2008

As I stated earlier, I don’t read all the comments.

17. Michael - July 13, 2008

I read all the comments, except I skip over anything by Pupster, cuz he gets weird.

18. eddiebear - July 13, 2008

I guess one distinction is the fact that the Kennedy thing was in the comments, while KOS had a vile post up as a Main Post by an authorized poster/diarist, not some comments buried somewhere.

19. daveintexas - July 13, 2008

I had forgotten that Kennedy thread.

I think me and bbeck disagreed a little.

20. Muslihoon - July 13, 2008

I was still surprised how civil many people on the Right were with regard to Kennedy. I don’t like him very much and refrained from forming an opinion about what happened because I know what my baser instincts would lead me to, and I didn’t like it. But I was impressed how many people on the Right actually wished him well. Which is impressive considering how much many on the Right loathe him (and rightfully so).

Another thing I have seen is an element I never understood: not speaking ill of the dead. On the whole, and there are obvious exceptions, we are respectful of the dead, whether they are good or bad. (This doesn’t apply to certain people, such as Saddam, obviously.)

Furthermore, going along with what Eddie said, such sentiments that are offensive are usually challenged and even disallowed on/by the Right. Most Rightwingers would not allow such sentiments to be officially and publicly expressed. On the other hand, there is no such decorum on the Left.

Consider how we characterize people we don’t like (Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Obama, Putin) and how they characterize people they don’t like (Bush, Cheney, Rummy). I become genuinely offended by the Left. (And what’s more, we don’t say anything while they sit in sackcloth and ashes with great gnashing of teeth if we offend them!)

21. Muslihoon - July 13, 2008

I miss Rummy.

22. Michael - July 13, 2008

I think me and bbeck disagreed a little.

That is not a hard thing to accomplish.