Peggy Noonan: The Paragraph- Help the White House make the case for re-election

Opinion Journal ^ | 02/12/04 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

When you are a conservative and tend to support conservatives, it will come as a surprise, and an unwelcome one, when you ding one, as I dinged President Bush the other day about his "Meet the Press" performance. Of those who responded, about 60% disagreed with me, and the rest were more or less in agreement. Many of those who disagreed with me said they thought the president had done well with Tim Russert, that the interview made clear his decency and sincerity. Others said I was kicking the president when he's down and that's the problem with conservative pundits, they can't be trusted. My answer is the obvious one: It is the job of a writer to write the truth as he sees it, and if it's an uncomfortable truth, then so be it.

[7thson]

Why should you be afraid when you have God as your master and guide?

[GraceCoolidge]

Has anyone seen any television or print stories re. the group Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry? I haven't seen a single one, wouldn't even know such a group existed but for having read it here. The only reference to the group (I think) might have been in the Washington Times yesterday, when they ran the Fonda/Kerry photo. The bias of this CNN story could be a good lead in for a Fox story on Vietnam Veterans Against Kerry and on Senator Kerry's post war activism, don't you think?

[thesummerwind]

hence the slow leaking of Guard info to keep them crazy, the waiting for them to bring up Vietnam so as to open up Kerry for his antiwar stances. Things are starting to roll...

Brilliant. You are either completely right on this or, think of this possibility..... Who started all this hubbub about Bush and AWOL? --- Michael Moore/Wesley Clark/McAuliffe/THE CLINTONS !!!!

I think the Clintons want Kerry to be injured coming into the Democrat Convention so The Beast, Hillary can walk in to save the day. Why would they be making a stink about this AWOL crap this early? Why/ - because it has succeeded in drawning out all this dirt on Kerry and VVAW very early in the year!

BTW, Peggy Noonan is a great woman, a little too whispy and affected on TV, but all in all, she is a great positive to Bush and the Republican cause, and anyone who says otherwise is a fool, IMO.

****

By the way again just to loosen things up a little - Tom DeLay got in a beauty last night on one of the TV political talkshows (I watch them all, so I just think it was Scarborough Country) They werre talking about the sick halftime show at the Super Bowl, and DeLay said, "That halftime show makes me yearn for the days when the only thing obscene on TV was Dan Rather." LOL!!!

[thesummerwind]

Yeh, that sounds good.

[thesummerwind]

I would just say he wasn't prepared for that interview and Noonan was right on in saying so. Any organization that suppresses bad news won't last. Noonan was telling the truth about Bush's performance. It was not only bad- but unsettling.

I agree. When I was done watching the interview, rightly or wrongly on my part, I had a slight sinking suspicion that G.W. didn't care much anymore about being President. He looked like he had lost some zeal. It was very strange. But the prosecuting attorney-type demeanor of the liberal/sycophant Russert did not help at all. I wanted Bush to reach over and slap Mr. Potato Head around a little.

[RinaseaofDs]

I want to agree with you.

Andrea Mitchell, Imus, Fonda, Kerry, the incident with the staffer shaking his head behind his RAT boss while Powell was testifying - I have no idea what they could possibly want to accomplish here.

I do know this: I come from a family of RATS. Almost all blue collar. My brother is an HVAC guy, and he said that in the end it comes down to jobs. Liveable wages.

Most RATS will vote that way. There isn't an intellectual or moral component to their vote. RATS seem to be single issue people. My wife will vote RAT because of education. She's convinced conservatives don't have a better plan than what is in place now, while fully admitting that what is there now is badly broken.

Abortion? The War? Non-factors. Education reform means radical changes to HER JOB, and there is at least a devil she knows. Conservatives are selling 'rip up and re try', and for teachers it doesn't play. One issue.

Now consider that my wife and I ADOPTED. We have another in-vitro, and another that was just plain miraculous. You'd think abortion would be just a deal breaker - no.

Clinton's power comes from the fact that he knows this, and knows where the uncrossable line is. As long as the economy was pumping, his sole focus was to minimize debate on anything else. WTC happened, but the buildings were still standing - let's move on. OKC - two cracker-ass peckerwoods did it, case closed, and Rush instigated the whole thing - next.

Bush is facing the most bizarre buzz saw in history: He successfully prosecuted two wars that had to happen, and has prevented another 9-11. All of this protection has made the 'life and death' issue fall to about 3rd place in people's short list of reasons to re-elect Bush.

What my brother and family are telling me is that the economy is booming for people who have stock, but if you are looking for a job, the economy still sucks. Everyone is reading the unemployment figure and is convinced that the figure is not taking into account the people who have stopped looking. Everyone seems to know someone who is that bad off. (Everyone also knows someone who was infertile until they adopted, and then all of a sudden got pregnant too - though there are almost nobody out there like that)

Jobs and outsourcing - that's going to be the issue. Kerry really hasn't seized on it yet, but if Rove wants RATS to vote R, then he needs to lead on this issue. He can stop with immigration, and stop with spending, and stop with pandering to Kennedy and his poisoned ilk.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. That is the only issue besides national security that has any traction.

This is why Clinton can get hummer, rape, party, down play national security, lie, murder, and get re-elected. There were more jobs than people to fill them - that's all RATS remember of the Clinton years. The rest is academic for them, and makes their heads hurt.

[MissAmericanPie]

This is what most short sighted Bush supporters don't realize, Bush having amnesty with that illegal is far and away more damning than Clinton not having sex with Monica.

Clinton did not insist that we all have sex with Monica, Bush insists that we all have amnesty with that illegal and the attendent massacre of conservatism that must neccessarily follow such an event.

[gobucks]

I'm disappointed in most of you. For the most part, this entire thread poorly reflects on the incredible Freeper minds out there. Only a few of you 'got' it. What is so hard about providing a paragraph? Come on folks - try again.

Paragraph:

"9-11 forced the United States to plant democracy in the Middle East. This upcoming election is simply a referendum whether or not you, the voters, agree with that need.

And, if so, then judge my job performance for the progress to that objective. I trust you to choose the right man for the job, and have been privileged to have earned your trust these previous 4 years. Thank you, and God Bless America."

End Paragraph.

See folks .... not that hard. Now most of you need to try again, except for the following:
JasonC #119
Ronald Magnus #95
isthisniccool #179
taliesan #190 major ditto there...
mcgavin999 #83 ... pure and to the point
valin #79 (and thanks for the huge list validating just why W has been unbelievably awesome so far.)

(Sar1, burkman1, ontos-on ... you three just aren't helping much here....I especially encourage you three to try again)

fwiw, noonan knows a thing or two about the pen. I'm not a huge noonan lover, but this column was very clever.

All that said, I'm a conservative, and I'm not a bit nervous. The 'mommies' are the key swing block. Kerry doesn't have a chance of winning them compared to tough-guy Bush. This election is over before it's begun, barring some weird surprise.

And the reaction to the mtp interview actually validates how much this man is feared by the leftist commies in the media. Folks, relax. Have faith in Rush's prediction yesterday.

[Conspiracy Guy]

when the only thing obscene on TV was Dan Rather

ROTFLMAO

[Always Right]

My paragraph:

Continue the momentum we have built with the economy. Finish what we started in Iraq. Continue to hunt down terrorists. Reign in spending and get the deficit under control. Restore the “We the People” from the “We the Judges”, who have usurped the rights of the people through their judicial activism.

[Bluntpoint]

"I promise not to leak sensitive FBI files concerning members of the media if I am re-elected."

[thesummerwind]

What do you think the people over at the enron window think and how do they feel? What about world com and all the rest.

Those were on the Rubin, Clinton watch! But, unfortunately 80 to 90% of the somnambulant, uninformed American voters will blame it on Bush, thanks to the sickening, destructive liberal mainstream media!

[Porterville]

Sniff,sniff, me thinketh you stinketh... how was that for sophmoric??? You been here for how long??? 3 months??? You haven't even been her but for a summer wind. Stick around for a while and you'll really see some sophmoric stunts... where else can you clear your mind about panty waist DC snobs??

Considering the last administration jam packed full of sluts, I think the word is apt.... By the way,tongue and cheek, is what it be. Don't mail me anymore.

[Prodigal Son]

and I'm not a bit nervous.

Aye, this was all I ever commented upon (before getting sidetracked). Personally, I think it's healthy. I think we should provide a united front to the opposition but to ignore where we are weak among ourselves is folly.

[gobucks]

Ah, I was holding my breath, and now I'm grinning. :0) Thanks!!

[rocky88]

"Come with me if you want to live" (in Austrian accent, of course)

[Conspiracy Guy]

Bush has my full support and my vote. I actively seek new and renewed Bush supporters all day long. I spend much of my time getting a few confused disenchanted supporters back on track.

I do this on FreeRepublic, face to face, on the phone, email, mail, etc. By the time I posted here all the real info was posted. So I'll add my Bush 2004 poem, instead of a paragraph.

Focus

Keep the faith and hang in there,
We need you, don’t lose sight.
Your support and yes your vote,
Will make this come out right.
It’s early yet but time moves fast,
So please don’t wait too long.
Let’s pull together once again,
To keep our country strong.
Kerry, Edwards, Howard Dean,
Who knows which one will be.
The one the democrats will pick,
To be their nominee.
The lucky winner gets to run,
A race he must not win.
Yes come November Oh Oh Four,
George Bush it is again!

Conspiracy Guy 1/27/04

[gobucks]

LOL!!!

[Prodigal Son]

Clinton did not insist that we all have sex with Monica, Bush insists that we all have amnesty with that illegal and the attendent massacre of conservatism that must neccessarily follow such an event.

OK. But what's the bottom line here? Does this mean we should vote for Kerry?

[thesummerwind]

(Sometimes I really wish Peggy would keep her wistful, descriptive thoughts to herself.)

Read her essay from November 24, 2000 - "Now We Must Fight For Our Country", and then let me know how you think about Peggy keeping her thoughts to herself!