Whoever succeeds outgoing White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan will have a lot to live up to. Few media relations professionals in recent memory have found quite so many ways to say so little. Below, a guide to McClellan’s most frequent evasive tactics, with one sample application for each. Start studying now, Tony Snow.

“I don't know the answers to all of these serious questions that have been raised. I have no reason to believe that at this point. But there are a number of serious questions that have been raised.”

— Sept. 20, 2004, on forged National Guard records, purportedly about Bush, aired by CBS

“I’m just not going to talk about an ongoing investigation. You're asking that question in the light of an ongoing investigation; it’s something that continues at this point.”

— Nov. 8, 2005, on the inquiry into the Valerie Plame leak

“I don't have any update. It’s something that we always continue to look at, and we will continue to do so.”

— Jan. 19, 2006, on the terror threat level

“I appreciate you asking me to speculate. I’ll leave it to our commanders on the ground to talk about the progress that’s being made and talk about the circumstances on the ground.”

— Oct. 19, 2005, on the Iraqi occupation

“That would be news to everybody in this room. No, I haven’t heard anything — haven't heard anything like that.”

— Feb. 20, 2004, on capturing Osama bin Laden

“Well, if you’re asking me to talk about classified programs, I can't do that. You know that I'm prohibited from doing that.”

— Jan. 3, 2006, on anti-terror executive orders

“I think you’re referring to a specific wording in a memo. You might want to ask the Department of Defense about some of the specific wording in the memo.”

— Dec. 10, 2003, on a military contract

“Yes, there's — and I don't recall off the top of my head — there’s some specific things outlined there.”

— Dec. 18, 2003, on non-citizens in the military

“I wish you would attack yourselves, instead of me.”

— Feb. 18, 2004, on the press corps