[PJBlogger]

Peggy Noonan is all wrong on this one I am sorry to say.

Peggy, a Roman Catholic is obviously uncomfortable with
Protestants, especially Evangelicals.

She should have slept on this one, given it some more thought, and then opened her mouth.

[Dat Mon]

From Peggys article...

"And yet such promising moments were followed by this, the ending of the speech. "Renewed in our strength--tested, but not weary--we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom."

This is--how else to put it?--over the top. It is the kind of sentence that makes you wonder if this White House did not, in the preparation period, have a case of what I have called in the past "mission inebriation." A sense that there are few legitimate boundaries to the desires born in the goodness of their good hearts."

Ive always liked Peggy Noonan. She has a solid track record as a conservative woman, with strong moral convictions, who has championed the cause of the unborn. Being attractive and intelligent doesnt hurt either!

Seriously, I think this is not one of Peggys best articles. Having said that, I also think she has a valid point. I think, with all due respects, since I'm not a published author like she is, that she doesn't state her key thesis particularly well. The point about the invocation of God is a distraction from her main thesis, which IMHO can be recast as follows:

George Bushs speech is an inspirational, emotional exposition of a deeply held conviction for human freedom...borne out of a strong moral conviction. It represents unbridled idealism, and optimism. But lurking in the shadows is a harsh reality associated with that idealism.

Bush is writing a mighty big check with his idealism. The people who will be cashing that check are our men and women in uniform, and the American taxpayers who will be footing the bill.

Is the price worth it to defend American freedom and the American way of life...absolutely. Is it worth it to defend other peoples freedom and culture...maybe..maybe not.

I fully support our invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. I will fully support our efforts should we go into Iran, or Syria, or wherever...provided it is necessary to secure OUR peace and freedom.

I think that an open ended call to abolish tyranny can also cast our foreign policy into a realm we don't particularly want to go.

Example...Kosovo, Bosnia...the Clinton quagmire. We were there to liberate the Bosnians from the Serbs. It was a regional, ethnic conflict. Should we have gotten involved? Its a judgment call. I was against that war, as were others on this site.

Would we want to send our troops to defend another countries freedom if it was a UN sponsored mission?

All legitimate questions.

Don't use WWII as an example...we were attacked on Dec7 1941, and drawn into a war many American people were resisting. Should we have fought...absolutely. Were we there to liberate France...not particularly...we were there to defeat the Axis powers, who had declared war on us.

While McArthur felt a particular responsibility to return to the Philippines...our Marine grunts fought like hell to defeat the Japanese, not to liberate the Philippines per se. Its a distinction that I feel is important.

To dismiss these types of questions under the guise of Peggys deduced motives...is she jealous, bad hair day, etc...is doing this site and the conservative movement a disservice, in my view.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

From Bush's speech -- "God moves and chooses as He wills."

Amen, Mr. President.

Noonan's always been a prig.

[Caipirabob]

Peggy Noonan: Way Too Much God

Wrong, Peggy. It's ALL about GOD.

[dennisw]

God can and should be mentioned (invoked) many times in an inaugural speech in a time a war. GW was not speaking to the Businesss Roundtable

[bvw]

She was tired -- that fire drill in the overnight and the long day that followed account for that. She was with a couple of lukewarm men -- Warren Buffet and James Baker. Men that she thought enough of to mention by name -- whether she talked to them or intereacted with them matters little -- the projection of their established public persona clearly forced itself onto her tired pysche. BTW, I use "lukewarm" in the old Books of the Prophets sense.

Fleas and mangy dogs.

Just have to see how this goes with her, but she's old enough that her troubling should be given an account.

Both Lincoln and Washington at war were both under constant and long oppression by the lukewarm.

[anton]

She said it gave her hot flashes and her skin was itchy and she couldn't sleep last night. Hey, wait a minute! She has female trouble, not speech envy.

[Cindy]

I disagree with Ms. Noonan's commentary.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion even
when they are wrong. Ms. Noonan is very wrong.

Her commentary is way off the mark.

Does she have a bad case of PMS and/or writer's envy?

Only God knows.

[joyful1]

Noonen should be thanking Bush this morning that she has her head on her shoulders today.

If our military does not kill the terrorists, then militant Islam will take over America. If that happens, then anyone like Noonen who says there is too much God (Allah, or whatever the terrorists want to call God) will suffer beheading.

[Just mythoughts]

Somebody else with a "God" problem.

[Samizdat]

It always irritates me that our own people don't think we are slaves to the tax man. The IRS is the slave boss and we are the slaves.

[kittymyrib]

Way too much Peggy Noonan. She actually thinks she was responsible for Pres. Reagan's fantastic ability to communicate, thus taking credit for a God-given talent. She needs to live off her royalties and not trash those who have taken the reins after her. This betrays a smaller, meaner character than I thought she had. And besides, her affected voice drives me crazy.

[Tax-chick]

You've missed the boat, Peggy. The train has left the station, but the timid and quivery still standing on the platform will be happy to listen to your orotund phrases. (Metaphors were on sale at Wal-mart this week.)

I don't recall your complaining when President Reagan's speeches expressed big themes and dramatic ambitions ... oh that's write, you wrote those, didn't you?

Or is the problem that you think the *ordinary* people of America, and the world, already have all the freedom you *special* people think we can handle? You don't want all those screamingly-average Wal-mart shoppers to get away from their "natural rulers," do you?

Get over it, sweetie. You're not that hot.

[Soul Seeker]

Peggy believes God was too much a part of the ceremonies? She believes this vision is too idealistic, we should be realists and accept limitations on freedom?

Sad. Sad the woman would descend to petty jealousy and that is exactly what I believe occured. her commentary will be welcomed by the elites, though not by the heart and soul of America that re-elected thia man to office. It will be G.W. words that are remembered with fondness, not this catty column. It will be his speechwriter acknowledged in the footnotes of history for a new Doctrine of Freedom.

[Vision]

I will say this, the prayer ending the ceremony was hokey. Praying for our personal "bills to be paid" or whatever phrasing used was strange.

[BibChr]

1. He didn't say anything as offensive as Noonan applying the phrase "mission inebriation" to a very famously — and oft-pilloried — reformed drunk.

2. Speaking of "offensive," I have a very offensive guess as to why Noonan was offended, but I'll only write it if asked, so I can blame the person for asking me, when I am (inevitably) flamed.

(c;

Dan

[July 4th]

Free Republic: Way Too Much Peggy

[Bryher1]

Peggy Noonan as Brutus... Et tu?

[Logic n' Reason]

Peggy wrote nary a line of this speech, tho she wanted to do the whole thing.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

I believe she thought she'd be thrown this plum after taking an unpaid leave of absence to help on the Bush campaign.

Now...Bush has a gifted writer after him!

Better throw her a bone...quick!

[ohioWfan]

This is what I figure. Nobody in the middle or to the left gives a rip what Peggy thinks.

The only people who have any respect for her (or did, anyway) are conservatives, and WE all know this column is garbage.

GREAT speech.......God-drenched is a GOOD thing.

Watching the National Prayer Service now. After "How Great Thou Art" was sung, Laura said, "Thank You, God!"

Prayers continuing for this Godly couple residing in the White House for the next four years....