Palin's Failin' (So Says Noonan)

WSJ.com ^ | October 17, 2008 | Peggy Noonan

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

"Sometimes the leak is so bad that even a plumber can't fix it." This was the concise summation of a cable political strategist the other day, after the third and final presidential debate. That sounds about right, and yet the race in its final days retains a feeling of dynamism. I think it is going to burst open or tighten, not just mosey along.

(snip)

But we have seen Mrs. Palin on the national stage for seven weeks now, and there is little sign that she has the tools, the equipment, the knowledge or the philosophical grounding one hopes for, and expects, in a holder of high office. She is a person of great ambition, but the question remains: What is the purpose of the ambition? She wants to rise, but what for? For seven weeks I've listened to her, trying to understand if she is Bushian or Reaganite—a spender, to speak briefly, whose political decisions seem untethered to a political philosophy, and whose foreign policy is shaped by a certain emotionalism, or a conservative whose principles are rooted in philosophy, and whose foreign policy leans more toward what might be called romantic realism, and that is speak truth, know America, be America, move diplomatically, respect public opinion, and move within an awareness and appreciation of reality.

But it's unclear whether she is Bushian or Reaganite. She doesn't think aloud. She just . . . says things.

(snip)

In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It's no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism.

[BreitbartSentMe]

I can just see Peggy, clutching her pearls, tut-tutting about the fresh, “upstart chippy” who doesn’t know her place, tsk-tsk

[Travis McGee]

Noonan, Brooks and the rest of the Manhattan salon neocons need to just go away.

Too much upper east side koolaid in their cocktails.

[4rcane]

peggy on laura ingram radio show praised obama
I think she will vote for obama, thats the only reason why she’s trying her best to derail mccain campaign before the election

I can understand if you have problem with x candidate, but why is she also going about attacking the movement as well. She has turned left imho

[mimaw]

Sarah has everything poor spiteful catty nasty Peggy doesn't. Peggy got lucky with a few speeches..... Sarah has the ability to connect with people Peggy doesn't. Sarah has a wonderful marriage Peggy doesn't. Sarah has real star power Peggy doesn't. Sarah has a real career and power Peggy doesn't. Sarah is a real Governor and has cameras following her everywhere poor plain washed out Peggy has only PMSNBC cameras on her every word. Sarah doesn't own back taxes Peggy....... It's called sour grapes. Ronald Reagan would have loved Sarah I doubt he even remembered Peggy Noname Nobody.

[bboop]

I cannot STAND Peggy Noonan. Go ahead and vote for Obama, just save us all, please, your inane, snide rattlings on. TOO lame.

[nathanbedford]

The irony of this piece is that Peggy Noonan is guilty of the sin she deplores.

She sees Sarah Palin as the embodiment of that which is wrong in American politics, pandering after sensationalism at the price of substance. In doing so, Ms. Noonan misses entirely the essence of Sarah Palin. The secret of Sarah Palin's connection to the American people is that it is a moral connection. She is the figure of an authentic moral creature. Both characteristics are essential: Palin is moral and Palin is authentic.

Noonan misses all of this. She faults Palin for being from "nowhere." She faults her for failing to have the outward trappings of gravitas. Noonan wants Palin to be more like Noonan. For a pundit who calls herself out as an observer with lofty detachment, Peggy Noonan has missed the significance of a real phenomenon. I think there is very little lofty detachment to be found in the salons of Manhattan and certainly very little recognition of what is essential in life and what is not.

To someone whose penthouse view of America barely extends across the Hudson, Alaska is indeed "nowhere." Unfortunately, moral truth is also nowhere for one whose worldview is so shortsighted. Put the other end of the telescope to your eye, Peggy. ultimately, Noonan has betrayed its use in overheard depth.

Of course, Noonan does not put it that way. She says she deplores Palin for elevating pandering over substance. She says that Palin trivializes politics. But Noonan's complaints about Noonan are all about appearance and not about substance. Yes, she deplores the absence of substance, but what she really means is that Palin is not Noonan.

To charge that Palin is guilty of the "vulgarization" of American politics is simply grotesque. What was done to Palin was grotesque and vulgar. Ms. Noonan could better spend her time deploring that.

Noonan does not understand that Sarah Palin's connection to about half of America is essentially moral, authentic, and uniquely American. Noonan has turned reality on its head and shown that she is herself a hypocrite, or a fool, or both. She pretends to be a pundit who rises above partisanship and speaks to the very essence of things. But here she betrays that she just doesn't get it. Professionally, she is an empty suit.

[arasina]

From the WSJ Opinion Archives
PEGGY NOONAN

Dem Problems
A great political party can't thrive on snob appeal.

Monday, March 3, 2003 12:01 A.M. EST

Recently Andrew Cuomo asked me to contribute to a book of essays on the future of the Democratic Party. I thought I would send it to Andrew through OpinionJournal.com. That way he will be able to see your responses pro and con and perhaps include a few of them in the book, too.

Dear Andrew,

As a former Democrat I'm happy to talk to my old party about its future. Some of my words may sting a little, but I send them to you in hopes your party will see in them food for thought, and for progress.

---

Ironic. That "snob appeal" thing she wrote about. Peggy started out as a Dim and has returned to her former way of thinking. She never quit being a snob, though.

---

There is another problem. You have become the party of snobs. You have become the party of Americans who think they're better than other Americans.

Let me quickly chart the life of a former Democrat. When I was a teenager in the 1960s, the Democrats seemed to me the party of the working class and middle class--the party of immigrants, strivers and those who adhered to an expansive reading of the American dream. I shared that dream, and saw my home as the Democratic Party. I was swayed by JFK and Bobby, by their implicit sense of honor about being Americans, as if they thought to be an American was a great gift and yet had a price: You had to help your country, you had to have guts and an open mind, you had to care about people others forgot.

---

Well, Peggy, you can be as snobby as you want. A pomp-ass, if you will; you'll never have the class and dignity of down-to-earth Sarah Palin. Oh, by the way, Peggy. Ronald Reagan would love Sarah Palin.

[Herodes]

Those that can, do...those that can’t, write. Peggy is a jealous, dried up has been.

[arasina]

You express yourself so well, nathanbedford. I always enjoy reading your thoughtful and well-written posts.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

noonan is just like the rest of the media elites, intoxicated by the smell of her own emissions.

Time to put the pen down peggy and let the fumes clouding your mind clear a bit.

[areukiddingme1]

“She doesn’t seem to understand the implications of her own thoughts.”

aaaaaaa, isn’t that precious...Peggy Noonan another sycophant in the media.

Peggy, you know it’s true what they say; “those that can do, and those that can’t write about those that can.”

Its okay...we all know what the reality of this situation is.

Peggy, you are jealous of Governor Palin.

She, has won an election (twice - once as a Mayor and once as a Governor) and with her 85% (or is it higher) approval rating as Governor (the highest rating in the US) she is perched on the edge of becoming the first woman Vice President ever, in the history of the United States of America, and while no one is downplaying you contributions to society, certainly you can see through your “green with envy” eyes, that at this stage in your life, especially at your age, you, well you simply will never be able to do what Governor Palin is about to do.

So, I submit to you Mrs. Noonan, instead of being bitter about Governor Palin’s success, I challenge you to look inside yourself, to that person inside of you that always aspired to be more, but settled for less and embrace that person, because it is that person deep down inside you that say’s that you always wanted to be like Governor Palin.

You wanted to achieve what you now know Governor Palin is about to accomplish, you always believed that you could have personally accomplished this yourself one day — but instead, you chose the path of least resistance — the path where you only sit on the side lines and write about those doing great things...”Peggy, you took yourself out of the game, don’t take it out on Governor Palin.”

Remember Peggy, no one, no one in the history of the world — has ever erected a monument in honor of critic.

God Bless America and God Bless Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin and their families and pray for their victory in 2008.

[kcvl]

Peggy doesn’t seem to THINK...she JUST writes....garbage, these days.

She is getting boring. In her new book she wants everyone to 'get along'. That's what is wrong with the Republican party now!

I don't want to 'get along' with liars, cheats and people who don't like me. I don't want to 'get along' with people who want to STEAL MY MONEY and give it to someone else.

I don't like people who put down my values and make fun of my way of life. I don't want to 'get along' with them because that means THEY GET THEIR WAY.

SHUT UP, PEGGY. You can 'get along' with them if you want but don't try to tell us what we should do!

[ari-freedom]

She writes like an Obama supporter. She is incoherent, prefers writing in a stream of consciousness and not an analytical thinker.

[VeniVidiVici]

What is it with these ‘B’ and ‘C’ tier harpies biting Governor Palin’s ankles?

Perhaps they would just rather see Rudy in drag.

[austinaero]

Ever since the real Noonass was revealed on the open mic, I have no regard for anything this two-faced loser has to say. She is no different than Couric or the view witches or the Hacks Parker and Brown.

Noonan could quit writing her ‘opinion’ tomorrow and she would not be missed.

[NetSurfer]

Seriously, Peggy. WTH are you even talking about, lately? Are you so completely washed up that you can't put words together anymore?

You used to write beautifully and be a champion for conservatives. WTH happened to you? Sheesh.

[Jaxmum]

“In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics.” Governor Palin was not the one caught on an open mike spouting vulgarities, eh, Peggy?

[Islander2]

“Eastern Elites have been put on notice and don’t like it.”

BINGO, we have a winner.

Peggy Noonan at one time made sense in what she wrote. When her stuff did not sell for as much as her ego demanded, her only option it seems is to try to sell herself to the non Conservatives....Ala Huffington, and the f*g who used to write for the Weekly Standard. I have watched her on some pundit programs and it is SO obvious that she is very deeply in love with herself.......even though no one else is.
Like athletes who refuse to quit when their prime is long past, she seems to be gasping for the last breath of relevancy.
Enough said. Anyway, Mahalo

[jla]

I’ve always admired, and defended, Peggy Noonan. After this, I am ashamed of her and she should feel ashamed of herself.

[Islander2]

“. Sadly, her usefullness to this campaign circus has boiled down to her being a mere warm-up juggling act for a very courageous but dottering lion tamer.”

Sadly, your comments to the circus of nay-sayers has boiled down to your being a mere warm-up juggling act for those who seem to profess one thing, but hope for the opposite.