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Tony Snow: A Tribute -- by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull
j-tull.com ^ | 07.09.08

Posted on 07/19/2008 5:45:14 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch

Some people ask me, usually vehement liberal Americans, how I could count amongst my few real friends, an arch-Republican spokesman for the Bush administration.

Well, Tony and I disagreed on most things political and came to robust verbal blows on the subject of climate change but that’s the charm of friendship. Life would indeed be a bore if all of your buddies agreed with everything you said and tap-danced to the same tired riff.

I like to think that Tony was a professional journalist and political commentator first and White House spokesman second. He could, I rather think, have filled the post of Press Secretary for an Obama or McCain administration with equal aplomb, dignity and bonhommie.

“An old-fashioned gentleman” is how my wife described him. Once, after Shona’s harassment by long-distance phone to his office in the White House, I asked Tony, “Did you ever get to meet Margaret Thatcher? “No, he replied. “Well, you just did,” I offered, to his great amusement.

With a family history of associated genetic risk, the long battle with colon cancer finally proved too much for even the ever-optimistic, ambitious T. Snow. His last email to me, less than three months before his death spoke of a planned family summer vacation in Italy, book deal, lecture tours and meeting up in August at our concert where I really wanted to get Tony up on stage at Wolftrap to have a flutey moment together, if only for one last time. Sadly, that will not now happen. But the memories of a good American, loyal to citizen and nation, will remain a treasure.

Tony badgered me for a couple of years to get a colonoscopy after my brother’s death from liver failure following his own colon cancer. I finally did just that and, although I never discussed the results with Tony, I am glad that I took his stern advice, not to put too fine a point on it. Good, solid advice to all middle-aged gents, especially where such cancer has been the unfortunately bountiful fruit of the family tree. Think on it, brothers. I shall renew my acquaintance with the one-eyed camera-snake later this year to check out that wondrous organ once again and will be thinking of the Snowman as I drift off into the land of nod, invitational buttocks gently parted. And, on waking, I will be all the better prepared for the outcome, whether good or not-so-good, having known and learned a little of life from Robert Anthony Snow. June 1, 1955 – July 12, 2008


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iananderson; jethrotull; tonysnow; toooldtorockandroll; tooyoungtodie; tribute
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To: InvisibleChurch

Tonight on O’Reilly’s program he had a tribute to Tony.

Some wonderfully moving clips of Tony playing the flute.

We have lost a dear dear friend when we lost Tony and the world is so much poorer for his loss.

RIP, Mr. Snow.


41 posted on 07/19/2008 6:34:32 PM PDT by Carley
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To: null and void

The next time you try to make me listen to Jethro Tull on the phone, from 2400 miles away, I’ll listen, just because of his good taste in friends.
At least, this friend.


42 posted on 07/19/2008 6:35:51 PM PDT by DeLaine
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To: InvisibleChurch

I’ll admit that my opinion of Ian Anderson was negative. Until now.

Classy tribute. Unlike many liberals, Mr. Anderson knows that everything in life isn’t about politics.


43 posted on 07/19/2008 6:36:37 PM PDT by Ticonderoga34
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To: InvisibleChurch

classy...


44 posted on 07/19/2008 6:37:37 PM PDT by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
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To: compound w
Lets go living in the past...
45 posted on 07/19/2008 6:42:38 PM PDT by bill1952 (Obama-the only one who can make me vote McCain McCain-the only one who can make me stay at home)
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To: fkabuckeyesrule

Most liberals have been taught that anyone who disagrees with them is a hateful person to be scorned.

I believe Mr. Anderson’s liberalism does not run as deep as he would like to think.


46 posted on 07/19/2008 6:47:28 PM PDT by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
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To: La Enchiladita; retrokitten; Schwarzeneger; Poetgal26; Exit148; PROCON; baa39; cleveland gop; ...
Snowflake ping.

A very nice tribute to Tony from Ian Anderson.

47 posted on 07/19/2008 6:50:14 PM PDT by saveliberty (Prayer blizzard for the Snow family. Tony was a blessing unto us all. We will miss him.)
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To: Bahbah

Bupm for later.


48 posted on 07/19/2008 6:54:16 PM PDT by Springman
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To: 1riot1ranger; Action-America; Aggie Mama; Alkhin; Allegra; American72; antivenom; Antoninus II; ...

Rock and Roll PING


49 posted on 07/19/2008 6:54:40 PM PDT by weegee (Obama loves America like Bill loves Hillary.)
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To: InvisibleChurch

I sat in the audience a couple of years ago at a Ian Anderson concert in Washington, DC, emceed by Tony.

Tony played several pieces with Ian...including a couple of great flute duets.


50 posted on 07/19/2008 6:58:53 PM PDT by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon))
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Comment #51 Removed by Moderator

To: InvisibleChurch
God's peace for your soul and your family, Tony. We will miss you. And thanks for the kind words for our friend, Ian. You, too are "an old-fashioned gentleman".

(mind drifting off to "Aqualung" ...)

'Night, FReepers.

52 posted on 07/19/2008 7:08:07 PM PDT by LiberConservative ("Typical" white guy)
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To: FormerLib
I believe Mr. Anderson’s liberalism does not run as deep as he would like to think.

OK, I wanted to get to the end of the posts before saying anything, until I came to yours. Ian has been making music for over 40 years under the Tull banner. I would urge all of you to give it a listen. The musicianship is unsurpassed (which album? Pick one! Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses are my current faves, but I own all 40 albums.) Good man, good mind, good music. By UK standards probably a conservative, just my guess. He is in my top three of people I would like to meet before I move on.

53 posted on 07/19/2008 7:08:13 PM PDT by j_tull (Massachusetts, the Gay State. Once leader of the American Revolution, now leading its demise.)
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To: saveliberty; Bahbah
Thanks.

Tony's gone, but he's still with us.

Woof.


54 posted on 07/19/2008 7:08:36 PM PDT by rdb3 (Upward, onward, beyond...)
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To: saveliberty

Thanks for the ping. You know that the Snowflakes are always
ready to hear wonderful things about their Tony! :D


55 posted on 07/19/2008 7:12:22 PM PDT by luvie (Rest in Peace, Tony Snow...fellow FReeper and FRiend....woof......)
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To: rdb3

Yes, he is, my friend.

That is a happy thought and a good thing.


56 posted on 07/19/2008 7:17:57 PM PDT by Bahbah (Typical white person-Snow white)
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To: gorush

Saw him in concert in the 70s and it was one of the most memorable I’ve seen and that includes Elvis.


57 posted on 07/19/2008 7:20:50 PM PDT by traderrob6
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission; noname07718

Just read “Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric, the primary ingredient in curry powder. Laboratory tests have shown that curcumin helps dissolve the abnormal amyloid formations of Alzheimer’s disease.”.
Eat lots of curry; doctor (Mojid Fotuij at Johns Hopkins)also recommended curcumin 200mg per day capsules.

Look after yourself, noname, and stay strong.


58 posted on 07/19/2008 8:31:36 PM PDT by GoldwaterChick (We Snowflakes will always remember our beloved Snowman with the incandescent smile.)
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To: saveliberty

Thank you for those 2 wonderful words “Snowflake Ping”, saveliberty! Hope we see them for many days to come.


59 posted on 07/19/2008 8:34:30 PM PDT by GoldwaterChick (We Snowflakes will always remember our beloved Snowman with the incandescent smile.)
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To: noname07718

a good-n-healthy bump for you


60 posted on 07/19/2008 8:35:41 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch (H2OLY: The chemical formula for holy water.)
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