Mr. Narcissus Goes to Washington (Peggy Noonan)

The Opinion Journal ^ | May 26, 2005 | Peggy Noonan

[Irish Rose]

Mr. Narcissus Goes to Washington It's springtime, love is in the air, and 14 senators are gazing at the mirror.

Thursday, May 26, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT

You've heard the mindless braying and fruitless arguments, but I'm here to tell you the facts, no matter what brickbats and catcalls may come my way. Lindsey Graham defied the biases of his constituency to do what was right, not what was easy. Robert Byrd put aside personal gain to save our Republic. David Pryor ignored the counsels of hate to stand firm for our hopes and dreams. Mike DeWine protected our way of life. These men are uniters, not dividers.

How do I know?

Because they told me. Again and again, and at great length, as they announced The Deal. And I believed them, because I am an idiot. Or as they might put it, your basic "folk" from "back home."

Listening to them I thought of some of the great and hallowed phrases of our Republic. "The rooster who thought he brought the dawn." "The only man who can strut sitting down."

I know they're centrists, but there is nothing moderate about their self-regard. And why should there be? I personally was dazzled by their refusal to bow to the counsels of common sense and proportion, and stirred that they had no fear of justified insult ("blowhard," "puffed up popinjay") as they moved forward in the halls of the United States Senate to bravely proclaim their excellence.

[Irish Rose]

Actually, for the first few lines, she was scaring me. This turned out to be a very good article. Most politicians need their inflated egos pricked.

[Waco]

Now if Pubbies just had a leader with some KKK experience,,,,,,,

[ambrose]

Peggy Noonan writing about inflated egos?

Pot... Kettle... Black...

[Hildy]

She is so right on the mark.

[drt1]

She hit this right on the head! The endless photo ops and tiresome pontificating by these blow-hards about how the 'Traditions' of the Frat, masquerading as some sort of quasi legislative body called the Senate of the United States, had been preserved and that somehow we were all the better for it, were truly and utterly nauseating.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

This is the sort of article that Maureen Dowd tries to write twice a week.

I'm glad that most of the talent is on our side.

[DeFault User]

But my favorite was Lindsey Graham, who said, "I know there will be folks 'back home' who will be angry, but that's only because they're not as sophisticated and high-minded as I am. Actually they're rather stupid, which is why they're not in the Senate and I am. But I have 3 1/2 years to charm them out of their narrow-minded resentments, and watch me, baby." Oh, excuse me, that's not what he said. That's only what he meant.

Most accurate. Senator Graham is following the path of our unlamented former Senator John Edwards, whose ego far exceeded his political talent.

[winner3000]

Wow, is this sweet Peggy Noonan? I thought I was reading Ann Coulter for a while. Give them hell Peggy!

[Zivasmate]

As usual Peggy Noonan nails it. She sees these self-serving egomaniacs for what they are. And it's always the same handful of them who hog the cameras and try to pass themselves off as heroes.

A humble Senator like James Inhofe - you just don't see
his mug all over the cameras. The same holds true for Senator Brownback.

[GeorgeW23225]

Bravo to Peggy for hitting the nail on the head!!

It just goes to prove that the REAL brains are on OUR side!!

[GeorgeW23225]

Watch it!! I'm a Peggy Noonan fan. She is a national treasure, and far from an egotist.

If you don't care for her, fine. But, don't label her for something she isn't. That is a typical left wing trick.

[international american]

"Public figures use the press to laud themselves with no embarrassment, no sense of what is important, and no sense of modesty. If Jack Webb were here he would deck these guys. Broderick Crawford would bark "10-4" and hit them on the head with his Highway Patrol walkie-talkie."



R O T F L M A O

[onyx]

YEP, I had to read the whole thang, or I'd have gone stark raving mad nuclear. A very good column. One that I know three friends will enjoy, so I;m pinging 'em now.

[what's up]

I have never liked Noonan's fluffy, airy, style of writing.

However, in this one she has taken out a lot of the fat and is telling it more like it is.

This one's pretty good.

[onyx]

Do you like to bitch too?

[international american]

Thank you.

[stylin19a]

Actually, what Mr. Graham said was, "People at home are gonna be mad at me for a while." He said he decided to support the deal because "kids are dyin' " in Iraq, "Social Security is comin' up," and "this is a lot bigger than me."

What does any of this have to do with what he did ?

[international american]

: )

[SoCalPol]

An article only Peggy Noonan could write

[ambrose]

I guess. I am just stunned at what a fickle bunch we have here. Just a few months ago, Peggy Noonan was the devil incarnate around here.

Remember this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1329622/posts