To Boldly Go . . . A peppery peep at the postelection players. by Peggy Noonan

Wall Street Journal ^ | 20051110 | Peggy Noonan

[Nicholas Conradin]

This column, and the world, have been very serious lately. Let's take a not-too-solemn look at postelection players. Warren Beatty has been all over the news as the leader of the anti-Schwarzenegger forces in California. He has emerged, and good for him. He's been making heavily covered speeches and shadowing GOP rallies along with his wife, Annette Bening, a truly great actress. But Wednesday Beatty told reporters, "I don't want to run for governor." Which left me scratching my head. This is politics, not showbiz. It has nothing to do with what you want.

[Nicholas Conradin]

Nice light item with a great punchline.

[ModelBreaker]

When they ran against each other for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, George W. Bush was the conservative and McCain the moderate maverick. Now, five years later, who looks more conservative? McCain, who worries about spending, regulation and immigration, or Bush? Funny how things change.

Peggy is smarter than this. To begin with, the notion that either of them is a conservative is silly. Further, McCain is obviously only making conservative sounding grunts today because he is running in '08 and badly needs to repair a broken relationship with the right. He won't sound like that if he is elected. Finally, my biggest concern is that, in comparing W and McCain, one of them is borderline insane. The other isn't. That's not a 'seems.' McCain clearly has a screw loose and should never be president.

[Russ]

When writing about Warren Beatty Peggy sounds like a star-struck teenager. I can't stand her when she gets smarmy...

[ModelBreaker]

When writing about Warren Beatty Peggy sounds like a star-struck teenager. I can't stand her when she gets smarmy..

Normally, I get a lot out of her columns. But when she writes the occasional clunker, it's a doozie.

[DmBarch]

John McCain IS too old to run for President. People don't bother to talk about it because its clear as day once his age is noted. Just because he bounces around getting his face out means nothing.