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Peggy Noonan: What I Saw at the Evacuation
The Wall Street Journal ^ | Thursday, June 24, 2004 | Peggy Noonan

Posted on 06/24/2004 5:02:59 AM PDT by presidio9

What I was thinking was: they brought their souls. We are all these physical repositories of ourselves, of our characters and personalities and ambitions. But everybody is a soul, has a soul, and all these people gathered for the funeral of a great man, and their souls came.

I tell you this because it somehow has to do with something that followed.

Many, not all, were aging or old. They had run the country 20 and 30 years ago. They had lived lives of import and meaning. But they were not this afternoon their official selves, their old formal selves, but something else.

We were in the Mansfield room, just off the Capitol Rotunda, a big tall gold-trimmed room ringed with old oil portraits of great men--Jefferson, Adams. As I stood near the entrance looking out at them, I had a visual memory of a book party long ago, in 1990 I think, in the sizeable outdoor yard of William Safire's house in suburban Maryland. It was late springtime or early summer. A sudden breeze came up, strong and out of nowhere, and hundreds, thousands, of small petals and pieces of pollen filled the air, and fell upon our heads. Like a benediction. It seemed barely noticed by the busy talkers, who laughed and shook their heads and continued talking. But it was beautiful. God is here. At the Capitol, there were 100 or so of us in the room, friends and colleagues and co-workers of Ronald Reagan. Air Force One would soon bring back to Washington his flag draped coffin. From Andrews Air Force Base a cortege would take him to the Capitol. The senators and congressmen were already massing in the Rotunda, where they would receive him. There would be a ceremony, and speeches. Then the politicians would leave, and the friends and colleagues of Reagan would leave the Mansfield Room to enter the Rotunda and say goodbye to him. A day of high state, of dignity and tradition.

In that room were a laughing Jack and Joanne Kemp, leaders of the 1970s revolution that became part of the '80s revolution. Richard Allen, Reagan's first national security adviser. Judge William Clark, his second. Ed and Ursula Meese, who were there from the early days, in California. Paul and Carol Laxalt--Paul probably Reagan's best friend in the Senate, Carol bubbly as champagne. Jim Miller, his budget director, still a big man in a gray suit, and his wife.

Jeane Kirkpatrick, dignified, straight standing, with great cheekbones and saucy or potentially saucy eyes. Somewhere along the way, I have always felt, she made a decision. She chose to follow the academic and analytical part of her nature--"There is a difference between totalitarian governments and authoritarian governments and we must acknowledge it"--and not perhaps other parts of her inner self, parts perhaps less definitive and constructive, and maybe more fun. But that kind of decision was true of a lot of people there, and always is when leaders are gathered. The pope felt the promptings of an artist, and followed another type of spiritual call.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: class; peggynoonan; peggynoonanlist; reagan; surlybonds
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To: Badeye
Still asking myself why I didn't surf on by when I saw who the guest was.

But then I watched a good part of unReagan on Larry King last night too.

Kind of like watching a snake slither around the lawn is all I can think of.

21 posted on 06/24/2004 7:36:50 AM PDT by OldFriend (IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.......AND SINCE IT'S IN ENGLISH, THANK A SOLDIER)
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To: Corporate Law

Anyone willing to bash the republicans is a welcome queen when it comes to NY.....


22 posted on 06/24/2004 7:37:37 AM PDT by OldFriend (IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.......AND SINCE IT'S IN ENGLISH, THANK A SOLDIER)
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To: Sybeck1

dont waste your time buying clintons book...you heard all his excuses for 8 yrs...


23 posted on 06/24/2004 7:41:42 AM PDT by treeclimber ("We will hunt the terrorists in every dark corner of the earth. We will be relentless." GWB)
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To: presidio9

I love reading Peggy, she's just so serene.


24 posted on 06/24/2004 7:52:20 AM PDT by McGavin999 (If Kerry can't deal with the "Republican Attack Machine" how is he going to deal with Al Qaeda)
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To: OldFriend

yes, and it seems the media loves "these personality disorders", doesn't it?


25 posted on 06/24/2004 7:55:39 AM PDT by daybreakcoming
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To: daybreakcoming

People who hate America are by definition disordered IMO.


26 posted on 06/24/2004 8:36:33 AM PDT by OldFriend (IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.......AND SINCE IT'S IN ENGLISH, THANK A SOLDIER)
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To: OldFriend
Wonder what Peggy will think of the IMUS show this morning.Frank Rich attacking the week of memorial for President Reagan. IMUS egging him on in total disrespect.

Who is this IMUS?

Just kidding, seriously, I am just so confused on this radio program. Drudge quotes him alot too, and I sometimes feel like I'm missing out on a big joke. The joke being how can anyone listen to that profoundly unfunny, boring show? I mean, the endless low mumbling, the long pauses, the stale jokes. I turned on his show about 5-10 times and I am convinced he was the single worst radio host I had ever heard in my life end of story.

Am I missing something? Is there some aspect of him that makes him worthwhile because this is like Survivor or Friends, or Who Wants To Be A Millionare because I try to like it like it seems others do and I just can't deny that its unbearable crap-- and I am just baffled.

27 posted on 06/24/2004 8:45:40 AM PDT by PeoplesRep_of_LA (I am no longer afraid to publicly say I love Jesus, thanks Mel)
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To: PeoplesRep_of_LA
I agree. Imus sounds like "Mumbles" from the Dick Tracy comics.

I don't care what this Imus guy says or does. Or Howard Stern either for that matter.

28 posted on 06/24/2004 9:04:04 AM PDT by isthisnickcool (Strategery - "W" plays poker with one hand and chess with the other.)
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To: PeoplesRep_of_LA
You are missing nothing. Some of us happen to listen now and then because we channel surf. The morning radio fare is disgusting and so we keep switching stations.

Frankly, even the morning fare is pretty lame.

Oh, if only someone would syndicate a morning show run by Jim Robinson.

29 posted on 06/24/2004 9:17:44 AM PDT by OldFriend (IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.......AND SINCE IT'S IN ENGLISH, THANK A SOLDIER)
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To: OldFriend

Well I see you are in the Eastern time zone, have you listened to Bill Bennet's new radio show? http://www.bennettmornings.com/ I enjoy it when I can, but in the Pacific time zone it gets done at 6am and that's too early for me.

I listen to Laura Ingrahm in the morning...its ok because she is a total conservative, but she is so multitopical and can't seem to finish a point before going nonlinear to another topic or "joke" that I can't say I really enjoy it, its just the best thing on in the mornings. Certainly better than Mushmouth.

If Bennet were on then though, I would be a loyal listener.


30 posted on 06/24/2004 9:39:17 AM PDT by PeoplesRep_of_LA (I am no longer afraid to publicly say I love Jesus, thanks Mel)
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To: PeoplesRep_of_LA
Had no idea Bennett had a show. Thanks for the info.

We get Laura in the evening here on the east coast. Never can tell if it's a live show or not. She's gotten better, altho whining is part of her schtick.

Her lie of the day is hilarious and often has stuff the mainstream media would rather not broadcast. Such as Terraaayyyyzzaaa saying she wanted to be a dog.......

31 posted on 06/24/2004 10:12:03 AM PDT by OldFriend (IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.......AND SINCE IT'S IN ENGLISH, THANK A SOLDIER)
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To: OldFriend
Had no idea Bennett had a show. Thanks for the info.

That's great, I think your days of surfing into Mushmouth will end soon.

Never can tell if it's a live show or not. She's gotten better, altho whining is part of her schtick.

Yeah, I wish it wasn't, although I have to admit I am significantly less "tolerant" of things that annoy me in the morning. That why I so enjoyed Bennett when I used to get up earlier--no BS.

Such as Terraaayyyyzzaaa saying she wanted to be a dog.......

Yes, the press is afraid to quote her too much, the word is out that she is an unstable loose cannon...if only Dean could have gotten the nomination and picked her as his VP. We can dream... At least we'll have her to kick around during the convention.

32 posted on 06/24/2004 11:04:07 AM PDT by PeoplesRep_of_LA (I am no longer afraid to publicly say I love Jesus, thanks Mel)
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To: PeoplesRep_of_LA

I am just curious...how can you listen to someone who p-d away $8 million on the slots and saw no problem with that???!!!


33 posted on 06/24/2004 11:12:10 AM PDT by paulat
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To: paulat
I am just curious...how can you listen to someone who p-d away $8 million on the slots and saw no problem with that???!!!

Quite easily, actually. If you are sincerely curious (which I doubt) I will say that while I don't gamble and actually have refused numerous offers to go to Vegas with friends because I have long viewed gambling as a voluntary tax, I think that is a small aspect of Mr Bennett. One of the most articulate speakers and writers of the intellectual wing of the modern conservatives, his voice on issues not relating to the wisdom of gambling is profound. From taxes to any social issue we face he has consistently been able to articulate the reasons conservatives oppose liberals better than almost anyone out there.

Naturally that gives you alot of enemies in the media, so they relished the opportunity to dump on him because he wasted so much money, and many of the more naive conservatives were happy to jump on the bandwagon. Its not like wasting that money was wrong, but the truth never mattered much to those motivated by emotion.

34 posted on 06/24/2004 11:27:19 AM PDT by PeoplesRep_of_LA (I am no longer afraid to publicly say I love Jesus, thanks Mel)
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To: presidio9

I'm in love with Peggy Noonan but please don't tell Ann Coulter.


35 posted on 06/24/2004 11:35:46 AM PDT by fish hawk
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To: PeoplesRep_of_LA
You never heard a word about slick willie saying he felt like a pickle walking into history........whatever that meant.

The media was too busy trying to find more ways to harm our national security.

36 posted on 06/24/2004 11:38:42 AM PDT by OldFriend (IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.......AND SINCE IT'S IN ENGLISH, THANK A SOLDIER)
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To: McGavin999
I love reading Peggy, she's just so serene.

Hmmmm, maybe there is something to that Catholicism thing after all...

37 posted on 06/24/2004 11:43:16 AM PDT by presidio9 (Islam Is As Islam Does)
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To: paulat

I am just as curious as to why anybody would have a problem with how Bill Bennett spends his money. Money can be considered wasted on so many things other than outright recreational gambling. A private airplane, or yacht, multiple homes, multiple spouses etc. can be just as indulgent. Many casino employees benefited from Bennett patronizing their business establishment. I would love to have the kind of money he has but I do not begrudge him his wealth or worry about how he spends what is his to spend. George Sorros is a billionaire who is buying the RAT party in hopes of controlling the US government and that is the type of use of private money that worries me.


38 posted on 06/24/2004 11:45:11 AM PDT by mountainfolk (God bless President George Bush)
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To: T'wit

That's the first time I ever saw pond scum insulted.


39 posted on 06/24/2004 11:45:45 AM PDT by Tribune7
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To: mountainfolk

Are you proud of what Bill Bennett has done?


40 posted on 06/24/2004 12:30:32 PM PDT by paulat
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