"1, 2, 3, 4, I Declare a Turf War"

After Scott McClellan resigned, word was that Fox News' Tony Snow was ready to step up to the podium. Hotline clues us in on why that hasn't happened yet:

In the meantime, Fox Newser Tony Snow is said by Republicans familiar with the negotiations to have asked for guaranteed access to the president's ear and to an unusually large degree of latitude to reconfigure the WH press operation. That pleases the new chief of staff, who wants to relegitimize the press podium in the Brady briefing room.

But Snow, not content to be a herald, also wants near-complete control over what he says from the podium, be it bromides, platitudes or substance. That would encroach on the broad portfolio of responsibilities that Dan Bartlett claims for himself.

I'm not sure how all this will shake out. Bolton's clearly got the momentum. But Bartlett is an old hand, and while every other West Wing insider has taken a full dose of criticism recently, he seems to have been the exception.

Echoing PZ Myers, I have to admit, though, that I'm pulling for Tony Snow. His arrogance alone guarantees that he will continue to bully the truth at the White House just as he does at Fox News. Of course, lying by a Bush press secretary is nothing new, but Snow's record shows he is a fan of personal attacks as well. All he needs to do is call someone an idiot, and the resulting firestorm will make McClellan's last few gaggles look like a tea party. If he gets the blank check he's asking for from Bolton, I give him 6 months max.

Update: According to the WaPo, it's Snow.