So - the White House has replaced McClellan, who replaced Fleisher. They're bringing in Tony Snow, most recently of the "Foul and Biased" coverage over at the Fox News Network. He's a commentator, not a journalist, first an anchor, then the main guy on his own radio show. He's a committed conservative, but it's difficult to know whether or not he's a true believer. He's certainly had some colorful things to say about President Monkeyface in recent times - but then, that was his job. As much as Fox claims to be a News outlet, we also know that they exist to entertain, and a radio host who just agrees with the power structure all the time would be boring. This is a guy who used to record the "conservative POV" spots for NPR, even. He's a mouthpiece, capable of falling into the required groove, and he's a calculated move for this administration.
McClellan was beginning to exude the air of a man who's explaining where the lifeboats are to a roomful of people who want to know why there are so few lifeboats. We knew he wouldn't last. Snow, on the other hand, is a consummate professional talker, capable of coming off as likable, funny, and even upbeat to "Pollyannaish," hard as that is to picture. (She breaks her fucking neck at the end, so there's always hope, I guess.) He's anxious to work the press corps, and I think we're going to see the Administration try to be subtle, now. "We're still not telling you anything, and we're still toeing the line as far as the President's daily message, but here's a better talk monkey. Ask him questions, and you'll smell far less desperation. He might even tell a joke. Tell a joke, talk monkey!"
I know. You're wondering how I think this can be a move towards subtlety after they blatantly turn the press briefings into the Fox Network. It seems to me that the collective mindset of this administration can be boiled down into three tenets: Do What You Must, Give Nothing Up, and Never Admit Fault, now amended to (unless You Shoot a Guy In the Face, then Admit a Little). If you can slap a smiley sugar coating on that, I think that's Monkeyface Subtlety for you. When the Prez does his goofy grin and "aw-shucks" thing while he's fucking us? I think this is like that.