Former Bush Press Secretary, Tony Snow, Dead at 53

From the New York Times via AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush's press secretary, died early Saturday of colon cancer. Snow was 53 years old.

''Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow,'' Bush said in a statement. ''The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character.''

Snow, who served as the first host of the television news program ''Fox News Sunday'' from 1996 to 2003, would later say that in the Bush administration he was enjoying ''the most exciting, intellectually aerobic job I'm ever going to have.''

Snow was working for Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio when he replaced Scott McClellan as press secretary in May 2006 during a White House shake-up. Unlike McClellan, who came to define caution and bland delivery from the White House podium, Snow was never shy about playing to the cameras.

I didn't know what stage his cancer was in but since we hadn't heard much from him lately, this isn't terribly surprising.

Unlike Wingnutdaily, I saw no evidence that any "lefties" wished Tony Snow anymore harm than they've wished me on other boards and blogs. He did represent Fox's partisan bent on the news which was irritating but I believe most Progressives wished him well.

My condolences to his friends and family. 53 is much too young to lose anyone.