Your entire post was very well stated. I believe the reaction to Peggy Noonan's column and comments about President Bush's Inaugural speech are no different than the way Conservatives react to John McCain, who has done much the same thing. We don't want vocalized 'support' via subtle backstabbing, particularly in the MSM where it can be twisted and deviously used to undermine the administration.
The Republican Party is fragile enough as it is (with plenty of RINOs and spineless reps); it now appears we are on the threshhold of a splintering off such as was experienced during GHW Bush's presidency with the Ross Perot supporters, only this time it's the 'Too Much God' adherents. I can only assume we will once again be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. This is especially troublesome, considering the nomination of SCOTUS justices is on the horizon and we all know there are 'God issues' to be addressed there. Will Peggy be complaining about that as well?
Justice Scalia recently spoke of the need for Christians to be "fools" for Christ and not to be ashamed of their faith or their expressions of faith. Would Noonan suggest that Justice Scalia is over the top, grating, or guilty of "too much God?"