How Bush can save Bush (Peggy Noonan)

wsj ^ | OCtober 20, 2005 | PEggy Noonan

[freedomdefender]

In 1986, George W. Bush reached a crisis point in his life and changed what wasn't working. He dug deep and got serious. He got humble. He questioned himself. He can do it again, and should.

[Cboldt]

Thanks for at least awarding my insult with the adjective "novel"! And people accuse us Republicans (or in your words, bush-bots) as having neither imagination nor creativity. Pfft! :-)

From the dark side, I can tell you with utmost sincerity (which alas, I can only pledge for myself), that at this moment, I am involved in nothing but mirth and good cheer.

[Howlin]

BS. Just utter tripe.

[Howlin]

LOL!

[al_again]

I haven't mentioned it - one aspect I really like about the act is that we are finally introducing standard measurements which makes it easy for parents to see how their school system is performing - the rath of parents almost equals accountability in these cases!

However, being a true competitionalist, I'd like to see the reform go much further; allow parents to spend their allocated tax dollars on whatever school they want to send their kids to. In a very short time - you would see the US leading the world in education.

[Maynerd]

As President of Miss Peggy's fan club, could you mention to her that the column was in very Poor Taste

FYI Peggy Noon took a sabbatical from the WSJ and worked for the Bush campaign in 2004. Did you?

[A Citizen Reporter]

" I'm just playing games with insults. Lighten up. Geez. This is fun!"

Oh, then forgive me if I don't enjoy your fun. I don't like to "play games" with insults as you do.

[McGavin999]

That's fine, I have no problem with that. However, that's not what has been happening here lately.

By all means criticize him when you think he has done wrong, but be fair about it. This piling on when the man is carrying a totally unreasonable burden is just plain tacky. You expect common behavior from democrats, it's startling to see it coming from republicans.

People around here lately have been going into hysterics and it's nauseating to watch.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I'm afraid I can no longer agree 100% that he is doing a good job overall. He seems off stride for some reason...certainly he didn't create Ronnie Earl and the Delay problem, but things just seem fragmented in Washington right now.

I think Roberts may have been a brilliant move, Miers was not a brilliant move at all and I have this gut feeling that she was chosen at the First Ladies nudging and the President thinking (incorrectly) he could name her and satisfy his base and not get into a battle with the left... a huge misunderstanding on his or Rove's part because if he had gone for a true, known, conservative the base would have come out of the woodwork in support of his decision.

Now this stupid tax panel is coming out with back door tax increases and that's already setting the base reeling -- and -- I suspect -- it will the middle-roaders, too...

These are just off the top of my head... but basically, I'm tired of the turn the other cheek and would be thrilled if the President would get mad and come out swinging like he did after 9/11 (which Laura chastised him for at the time)....

[Vision Thing]

Here's a toast to mirth and good cheer!

[A Citizen Reporter]

I remember you.

[McGavin999]

I'm for that too, I think vouchers would solve most of the problems. We are one step closer to that, thanks to President Bush. If it wasn't for the terror attacks, we'd be there now. If you want to direct your anger at someone, or something, aim it at congress who have been behaving like school kids when the teacher is out of the room.

[al_again]

Just looked at your home page - are you from the UK? If so, where abouts are you from?

[Maynerd]

BWHAHAH. You wish. Not in my informal poll. Not in a long shot.

Reality check. Why don't you get out of your cocoon and look at the polling data. Even the online Freeper poll is deeply split.

BTW - I don't wish for Bush to fail that's why I and most other Mier opponents want him to drop her like a bad habit.

[Cboldt]

Here's a toast to mirth and good cheer!

Cheers! God bless. Like it or not, we truly are on this planet together. Might as well make the most of it, eh?

/ -- slides beverage of choice to Vision Thing -- /

[Vision Thing]

but things just seem fragmented in Washington right now.

Better now than in Nov 2006 and Nov 2008.

[nopardons]

Peggy has been writing hit pieces, about this president, since his second inaugural address; which she hated.

[falpro]

FYI Peggy Noon took a sabbatical from the WSJ and worked for the Bush campaign in 2004. Did you?

I know. Bless her little heart, and without pay.

Who cares that she ripped him a new one in Jan 05'.

Bless her little heart.

The fact that she knows him and used his drinking as a metaphor is beyond reproach. POOR TASTE amongst friends.

She comes off as an older wiser Big Sis or worse - a nagging Ex-wife. JMO.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"Peggy has been writing hit pieces, about this president, since his second inaugural address; which she hated."

"TOO MUCH GOD"

from a woman who had written a lot about her own Catholicism.

Total hypocrite.

[Howlin]

Ah, I'm from North Carolina; don't you see the state flag?

[al_again]

This is where I think it is all about leadership! Explain to me how Bush can get the Prescription Drug benefit through congress but can't get Social Security reform passed?

You need strong leadership to advance these causes. As Bush has split his base and severely weakened his position, his Republican detractors will become even more emboldened and cause more grief.

I really think Bush has hurt himself and he will not be able to advance any of his major initiatives. It could have so easily been avoided.