Politico is reporting that President Bush's former homeland security adviser and current intelligence advisory board member Fran Townsend is joining CNN as a contributor. Joining former White House press secretary Tony Snow as the second Bush sycophant to join the network in the last two weeks, Townsend's addition is apparently designed to help make CNN the "right choice" during its election '08 coverage.
While George W. Bush may be most disliked President in modern American history, his one-time mouthpieces are very popular at CNN indeed. For a taste of the "fair and balanced" reporting to come, here's a look back at some of the greatest hits of Fran Townsend and Tony Snow.
Fran Townsend
"In 1937, the playwright Maxwell Anderson wrote of President George Washington: There are some men who lift the age they inhabit, til all men walk on higher ground in their lifetime. Mr. President, you are such a man."
Fran Townsend, in her resignation letter to President George W. Bush, November 19, 2007.
"So our interrogation program is tough - as it should be - but does not include torture, and the Department of Justice has determined that it fully complies with U.S. law and our international obligations."
Fran Townsend, October 10, 2007.
"So that when the President says that al Qaeda in Iraq are the same people who tried to kill us, it's al Qaeda writ large. The same al Qaeda that killed 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11."
Fran Townsend, July 18, 2007.
"I don't know - I wasn't at that briefing."
Fran Townsend, asked if Al Qaeda had no capabilities in Iraq before the war, July 18, 2007.
"Well, I'm not sure -- it's a success that hasn't occurred yet. I don't know that I view that as a failure."
Fran Townsend, responding to CNN's Ed Henry's assertion that President Bush's inability to capture Osama Bin Laden is "a failure," December 28, 2006.
Tony Snow
"You know, it's 130 degrees in Baghdad in August, I'll pass on your recommendation."
Tony Snow, asked if the administration tried to talk the Iraqi parliament out of taking off the month of August, July 13, 2007.
"I don't know if they're going to do a reprinting of the book to try to get the facts straight."
Tony Snow, on Al Gore's book correctly identifying President Bush's deceptions in the run-up to the war in Iraq, May 23, 2007.
"Trying to take advantage of a sick man. Because he had an appendectomy, his brain didn't work?"
Tony Snow, on James Comey's assertion that Alberto Gonzales tried to coerce John Ashcroft, then bed-ridden with a pancreatic condition following gall bladder surgery, May 16, 2007.
"What do you gain from a transcript?"
Tony Snow, on why Karl Rove and Harriet Miers should not testify under oath with transcripts, March 21, 2007.
"Zip it."
Tony Snow, to Ed Henry of CNN, March 19, 2007.
"Anything's possible, but I don't think so."
Tony Snow, on whether President Bush suggested U.S. attorney firings, March 16, 2007.
"At this juncture, people have hazy memories."
Tony Snow, March 16, 2007.
"Well, I don't know."
Tony Snow, asked whether Osama Bin Laden is the head of Al Qaeda, March 1, 2007.
"We didn't create the war in Iraq."
Tony Snow, March 1, 2007.
"It is interesting to me that it seems that some politicians maybe are trying to protect Iran."
Tony Snow, February 18, 2007.
"I'm not sure anything went wrong."
Tony Snow, asked what went wrong in Iraq, February 15, 2007.
"The Iranian people are more pro-American than any American university faculty."
Tony Snow, January 26, 2007.
"It's like looking in a drawer full of diamonds."
Tony Snow on President Bush's 2007 State of the Union address, January 22, 2007.
"I'm not playing the game anymore."
Tony Snow, asked whether the U.S. is winning in Iraq, December 18, 2006.
"What complaint do you have with a man who has been so successful?"
Tony Snow on UN Ambassador John Bolton, November 11, 2006.
"It's a silly question."
Tony Snow, asked whether President Bush had many any mistakes in handling the North Korea crisis, October 10, 2006.
"I hate to tell you, but it's not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill. And there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails."
Tony Snow, on the Mark Foley scandal, October 2, 2006.
"It's not really a reversal of policy."
Tony Snow, on the Bush administration decision after the Hamdan ruling to apply Geneva Conventions to terrorist detainees, July 11, 2006.
"Because he wanted to."
Tony Snow, on why Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta resigned, June 23, 2006.
"I don't want to hug the tar baby of trying to comment on the program."
Tony Snow, May 16, 2006.
"It's a number."
Press Secretary Tony Snow, on President Bush's reaction to U.S. death count reaching 2,500 in Iraq, June 15, 2006.
"George Bush has become something of an embarrassment."
Tony Snow, Townhall.com column, November 11, 2005. (Note: Townhall.com removed Tony Snow's columns from its web site.)
UPDATE: Meanwhile, DNC chairman Howard Dean appeared on Fox News this morning and told Chris Wallace his network is "shockingly biased." Now all Dean needs is a term to describe CNN's infusion of loyal Bushies.