Robert Anthony "Tony" Snow

I think that we all knew from watching the guy's seemingly swift physical deterioration that this day would come soon. At least the guy is out of pain.

After a long, candid and public battle with cancer, former White House press secretary and radio talk-show host Tony Snow died early this morning.

Immediate details were sketchy, but Fox News, his employer, reported the bulletin shortly after 7 a.m. Eastern time. Snow was 53.

He previously served as chief speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush and served as a frequent host on the Fox News Channel.

See ya later, Tony.

UPDATE: From President Bush:

All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith - and Laura and I join people across our country in praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.

Fox News Tributes here.

UPDATE:

The moment you enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft. Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, and epiphanies. Think of Paul, traipsing though the known world and contemplating trips to what must have seemed the antipodes (Spain), shaking the dust from his sandals, worrying not about the morrow, but only about the moment.

There's nothing wilder than a life of humble virtue—for it is through selflessness and service that God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do.

--Cancer's Unexpected Blessing by Tony Snow

Reading that makes it difficult to be sad for him and all of the other believers who pass on. Their families and friends, however, need our prayers.

(Thanks to Michelle Malkin)

Comments

[Hacks Abound]

Tony Snow was a partisan political hack, much like yourself, and he never met a right-wing mistake he didn't enjoy avoiding, while spinning it for positive. Not a difficult task given that Americans are so stupid and believe all come from the monochrome metronome.

baldilocks sez: You leftists are such pathetic people. I'm sad for Mr. Snow's family. However, they don't have my pity. Creatures like you do.

[IronMike]

I was so sad to hear about Mr. Snow's passing. I thought he was a nice guy, at least what I could tell by watching him on tv. And I knew he was a speech writer, but had NO IDEA how well he wrote til I read the excerpt from his book. WOW! What a great writer.

[David Block]

Way to stay classy, "Hacks."

This is a sad day for American Journalism. Seeing that it is already in such sad shape, it is a double blow.

See ya later, Tony.

[Ellen Weddendorf]

I am also saddened to hear about the passing of Tony Snow. I pray for his family. It was a joy to read his column and later, watch him as President Bush's Press Secretary. He will definitely be missed. He is now with the Lord.

[notropis]

I sent this e-mail over to "The Corner" at National Review, but I'm guessing they're flooded with similar ones:

*********

Tony Snow is one of the few famous people I've ever had the good fortune to meet personally. This was when he already had his syndicated radio show. One of my high school classmates happened to work with him in the first Bush Administration, and introduced us, telling Tony: "Here's another guy who got his start teaching school in Africa." Well, we spent the next half hour sharing experiences, observations, hopes and concerns. I left thinking, "I must be something special, if a famous guy like Tony Snow values my conversation so much."

But now, reading all the tributes at the Corner, I find out what I suppose I always knew: that, no, it was Tony who was special, because he gave everyone he met that same respect; he genuinely believed the Christian piety that "each of us is special."

What's that book about people you want to meet in Heaven? Tony Snow is high up on my list, and the good news is, I know he'll be there. But, given the number of people like me, and the time Tony takes with everyone, it's a good thing that Heaven is eternal -- I may have to wait in a very long line.

***************

And by the way, to trolls like H. Abound: The one thing Tony Snow was not, was a hack.