DOJ: The incredible disappearing Tony Snow
by flo58
Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 01:53:21 PM PDT
How many potential witnesses have disappeared since the US Attorney scandal began? The list is already long: Michael Battle (resigned after makning notification phone calls to fired AGs), Monica Goodling (leave of absence but still on payroll), Kyle Sampson (forced resignation).

But when a big fish disappears before our eyes, nobody pays attention. Or rather, no one questions his departure -- for "elective surgery" on a tumor that he has known about since September and which has already tested benign. No one would dare question it in light of Elizabeth Edwards' revelation of the day before? Exactly the cynical calculation this administration Karl Rove is counting on.

My theory...

flo58's diary :: ::
Tony Snow's disappearance from the press room is no more an unfortunate coincidence than any of the other disappearances. According to the International Herald Tribune his decision to undergo surgery was "elective".

These scans revealed the growth in September. Though it has grown in size since, blood tests and further PET scans have not indicated a return of his cancer. He said it could merely be biopsied to see if it is cancerous, and then periodically checked afterward if not, but that he would rather just have it out. (emphasis mine)

In other words there was no urgency for his surgery. Yet he apparently sprung it on the press corp at the last minute. (Upon Googling, I found no earlier mentions in the press.) Why suddenly deal with something that he has know about since September? Did Elizabeth Edwards' recurrence freak him out that bad? Maybe, but my guess is not.

I think Tony Snow is removing himself from the scene when hard questions need to be asked of him. Last week's March 15, 2007 Gaggle has the following exchange

Questions.

Q The Judiciary Committee today approved subpoenas -- authorized subpoenas for five Justice Department officials as they look into the prosecutors case. What's the administration's reaction?

MR. SNOW: Well, I refer you to the Department of Justice on that. I know that they've had some conversations, but I'll refer you to DOJ on that.

Q Why would that be? Why wouldn't the White House --

MR. SNOW: Because it's subpoenas for the DOJ, and the Department of Justice will respond. The Department of Justice has also had ongoing conversations with people on Capitol Hill. I don't want to be their fact witness on this one, but, again, I suggest you give their office a call.

I remember hearing this because it puzzled me. Fact Witness? Where did that come in? It is a term that lawyers use -- and a reality which litigators want to avoid becoming. Lawyers present evidence (of others), they don't give it (under oath). Tony Snow was talking about becoming a fact witness? Did he know more than he said?

"The penny dropped" for me when I read through some of the produced emails that were produced on March 23 -- Friday, late in the day. Specifically, an email dated Decamber 4, 2006 (three days before the firings). Document No. DAG000002023. The email is part of string entitled "US Atty Plan". It was written by Harriet Miers' minion William Kelley to Kyle Sampson. Miers was CC'd. Kelley said:

We're a go for the US Atty plan. WH leg, political, and communications have signed off and acknowledged that we have to be committed to following through once the pressure comes. (emphasis mine)

Now I have not read every email that has been produced since the beginning, so I don't know if this email was produced before. (Anybody know?) But if it wasn't, then the whole reason for Tony's sudden surgery seems calculated to keep him away from reporters rather than "aggressive caution" in his treatment.

Email implicating Tony released Friday, surgery Monday? It does not pass my smell test. How about yours?

Update based on comments below: I am sorry a number of you believe that I don't wish Tony Snow well. That is incorrect. I do, as I stated in the comments, wish cancer on NO ONE! It is frightening, horrible and life-altering. My diary deals with the TIMING of the surgery and not the surgery, itself. And thanks for recommending, but it makes me nervous when that happens.
medicinal Reviewed by medicinal on . Snowing in washington? DOJ: The incredible disappearing Tony Snow by flo58 Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 01:53:21 PM PDT How many potential witnesses have disappeared since the US Attorney scandal began? The list is already long: Michael Battle (resigned after makning notification phone calls to fired AGs), Monica Goodling (leave of absence but still on payroll), Kyle Sampson (forced resignation). But when a big fish disappears before our eyes, nobody pays attention. Or rather, no one questions his departure -- Rating: 5