Peggy Noonan: Way Too Much God

Wall Street Journal ^ | January 21, 2005 | Peggy Noonan

[RWR8189]

Was the president's speech a case of "mission inebriation"?

It was an interesting Inauguration Day. Washington had warmed up, the swift storm of the previous day had passed, the sky was overcast but the air wasn't painful in a wind-chill way, and the capital was full of men in cowboy hats and women in long furs. In fact, the night of the inaugural balls became known this year as The Night of the Long Furs.

Laura Bush's beauty has grown more obvious; she was chic in shades of white, and smiled warmly. The Bush daughters looked exactly as they are, beautiful and young. A well-behaved city was on its best behavior, everyone from cops to doormen to journalists eager to help visitors in any way.

For me there was some unexpected merriness. In my hotel the night before the inauguration, all the guests were evacuated at 1:45 in the morning. There were fire alarms and flashing lights on each floor, and a public address system instructed us to take the stairs, not the elevators. Hundreds of people wound up outside in the slush, eventually gathering inside the lobby, waiting to find out what next.

The staff--kindly, clucking--tried to figure out if the fire existed and, if so, where it was. Hundreds of inaugural revelers wound up observing each other. Over there on the couch was Warren Buffet in bright blue pajamas and a white hotel robe. James Baker was in trench coat and throat scarf. I remembered my keys and eyeglasses but walked out without my shoes. After a while the "all clear" came,

[thoughtomator]

I agree... the thousand points of light only emphasized how small the Bush Sr. agenda was.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Interdependency is the highest stage of personal development. People still stuck at the lower stages have difficulty with the concept.

Compartmentalizing another person into an easy-to-label little box is the hallmark of fools. There are indeed many fools around who are prepared to knock Mr.Bush at every opportunity.

[AnnaZ]

Thanks for that characterization.

It wasn't a characterization, it was a question. (The squiggle and dot at the end should have given that away.)

Handily used frequently among those who support the President, so.....lukewarmly.

What does that mean? To whom are you referring?

 

No. I find Peggy to be a bloody hypocrite. "Conservatives receive a lot from Noonan"......well Peggy's in it for Peggy, and tonight she's made it perfectly blatant.

Yes. Banish her! Banish her to hell!

[Red Sea Swimmer]

"Children" by Robert Miles in the mid-1990's is one of the most uplifting, spiritual pieces of music ever made.

[dano1]

I somewhat agree with Noonan. There are times when I think the Bush people are mistaken with their rhetoric of "spreading freedom". For example the President said in his speech:
"Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom." as if to imply that our history is about liberating other people.

I felt the same way listening to the Republican convention when at times this "freedom spreading" rhetoric was also espoused from the podium.

IMHO, if we are in Iraq because it's a breeding ground for problems for us, that makes sense to me. If we are there because of some idealistic notion that the Iraqis should be free, that does not make sense. They have to do that for themselves. We can't do it for them.

On the other hand W did say some things I liked in his speech, such as:
"This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary. "

and I liked the line about how "Liberty will come to those who love it." That I think is true and well said.

[veritas3]

I was surprised too. I saw her on Fox today and don't recall any of this she wrote in her WSJ piece, but I wasn't listening very closely. I think if she had been this negative, it would have caught my attention.

[Howlin]

as if to imply that our history is about liberating other people.

You think it's not?

[woofie]

God.."Way too much Noonan"

[A Citizen Reporter]

Trite can be cute, but it hardly carries an argument.

I'm sorry that Noonan has exposed herself as being as petty as she seems to be.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Sorry about the reference. Jenny's over 30 years of age all around the world around must get it all the time.

In my home city, when that track was put out, I think in the mid 80's, it was very popular. A number one with a smash I think. Anyway all the smart kids of the time would ring the number and ask for Jenny. The phone company had to disconnect the number and the person who's number it was, had to be put into the Rock Music Witness Protection Program.

[two134711]

Thanks for the reminder. I'm listening to it on Rhapsody right now. I remember "Fable" from my freshman year at college...what a year that was!

[A Citizen Reporter]

"I saw her on Fox today"

Which time? She made two terribly different appearances on Fox. The one right after the speech, in which she did refer to the speech as "God drenched", and then one this evening. Obviously, by that time she had writen her column for the WSJ, and was much more critical.

[John Lenin]

The way he was saying it I took it as a thousand new government programs ...

[Red Sea Swimmer]

It's a cosmic track par excellence.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Oh, and I forgot to add, that knowing how much Peggy has written about her Catholicism, how was I to know when she said the speech was "God drenched" this morning, that she meant it as a bad thing?

[Red Sea Swimmer]

For interested readers, visit...

http://www.funs.co.uk/midi/23.html

It is only a midi file. But the sound is o.k.

[redrock]

She's wrong.

It was actually very nice to hear God mentioned so many times.

redrock

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Poor Peggy, this petty pouting is so pitifully puerile.

[AnnaZ]

Trite can be cute, but it hardly carries an argument.

Interesting rhetoric from one who refuses to answer simple, non-aggressive questions.

 

I'm sorry that Noonan has exposed herself as being as petty as she seems to be.

Normally I'd say, "Pot, meet kettle", but that might be too easy.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Peter Piper Picked a Punnet of Peggy Noonans.