Peggy Noonan: The President Within

Opinion Journal ^ | 11/16/2001 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

He walked into history an obscure, flat footed, bantamy little fellow in a light gray suit, the inhabitant of an eloquence-free zone who gave boring speeches in a flat voice. He was not compelling. This was more obvious because he followed a charismatic leader who did big things and filled the screen. He was quickly defined and dismissed by the opinion elite as "a first-rate second-rate man." And maybe at the beginning he feared the appraisal was correct, for when he became president he said very frankly that he felt the moon and the stars had fallen upon him.

[Roebucks]

God I love this woman. Peggy bump!

[BigWaveBetty]

I used to have a Zorro lunchbox! I can see W on his trusty steed, rearing high into the air with his sword!

[BigWaveBetty]

Is everyone named Baldwin a pain in the bazoo?!

[Timesink]

Mr. Clinton, whose eight years in the presidency could be compressed like an accordion into one inch of meaning...

It is high .... it is far ... it is GONE! Home run!

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[BreitbartSentMe]

Thanx for the ping. Another great one, by dear Peggy. She has such a great command of the language, and always comes up with some great lines, like.....inhabitant of an eloquence-free zone

[Stultis]

The first time I became aware of him, in June of 1999, I thought: This is a great man and he would make a great president. Even Peggy was not convinced - I, on the other hand, had no doubts whatsoever. Either I am crazy or I have wonderful insight...

You're not alone. I began to think the same around the same time. Btw, I was also comparing him to Truman in dicussions with Democrat freinds during the campaign.

[kayak]

bump for later reading

[The Game Hen]

Are you sure he is 6'? I went to see him in 1999 and was struck by how short he is. He seemed just slightly taller than I at 5'5".

I'm not trying to belittle him. I thought he was "nice" and "pleasant" and slightly uncomfortable then. I think he is a Brilliant, Heroic, Giant today.

I like that word bantamy.{:>

[maica]

I bought some copies of Peggy's Reagan book today to give to clients as Christmas presents. The salesman at Borders was not happy - which made me VERY HAPPY!!!!

I enjoy watching the discomfort of the salesclerks when I ask for books by conservative writers. Since they are always hidden, my request seems to make them have unpleasant thoughts. I wonder if they have the same kind of visceral distaste for people who request XXX books. No? I thought not.

[StarFan]

"It was in that remarkable news conference that Mr. Bush displayed once again in public what is reported of him in private--that he has an instinctive command in his private dealings, a way of appealing to his guests with a well-meaning warmth......Mr. Bush was at his best, and I realized there is a way you can tell that he is and knows he is in full command. He signals it by talking the way he talks..... You also know when Mr. Bush is in full command when he's not afraid to let his merriness out ... But life is funny, and what matters is that Mr. Bush has found the president within. I think he knows he's going to be a great one, and that's significant because all the great ones always know it somewhere inside.

Is this woman reading our freepmail, lol? I think the article was a result of her appearance on Hardball several nights ago. Chris Matthews asked her if Dubya is becoming more like Reagan with each passing day. Her response was not Reagan but Truman. Matthews was genuinely impressed when he shouted "Brilliant".

[ohioWfan]

Are you sure he is 6'?

That's his official height, although he might be on the shorter side of the mark. If you see him next to his Dad, who is 6'2", you can see that he's a couple of inches shorter.

"bantamy" is a great word, but for me it conjures up images of roosters and little guys.
The President, IMO, is a giant.

[Stand Watch Listen]

bttt

[Constitution Day]

Thanks for the flag!

I love to hear her speak whenever she appears on Fox.

I also think she's kind of sexy, in a "Mrs. Robinson" sort of way.

[The Game Hen]

I'm in South Carolina. Some of my favorite people (like my husband) are roosters and little guys!

Go Gamecocks!

[ohioWfan]

I couldn't imagine Hitler or Stalin getting any better press than the kind Ms. Noonan pens.

Oh brother!!! Fishing a bit there, don't you think????

Methinks you're not really worried about the balance of power here. You have to know somewhere in the depths of your thought process that President Bush is humble, and has the understanding that he is where he is because God placed him there, and that there is no danger of his abusing power. You just don't like that people admire and respect him so deeply, because you don't.

[Brasil]

Thanks for the ping. Lovely Peggy has done it again.

[ohioWfan]

How about Davy Crockett?? Can you see W in a coonskin cap??..............Nah!
(Though the buckskins would be nice!)

As to the grammar, as long as he doesn't say 'would have went', I'll be OK. :o)

[Stand Watch Listen]

Mr. Clinton, whose eight years in the presidency could be compressed like an accordion into one inch of meaning, was no FDR.

He wasn't even Jimmy Carter.

[NeoCaveman]

Thanks for the ping, another masterpiece from Peggy Noonan.