Peggy Noonan: The Paragraph- Help the White House make the case for re-election

Opinion Journal ^ | 02/12/04 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

When you are a conservative and tend to support conservatives, it will come as a surprise, and an unwelcome one, when you ding one, as I dinged President Bush the other day about his "Meet the Press" performance. Of those who responded, about 60% disagreed with me, and the rest were more or less in agreement. Many of those who disagreed with me said they thought the president had done well with Tim Russert, that the interview made clear his decency and sincerity. Others said I was kicking the president when he's down and that's the problem with conservative pundits, they can't be trusted. My answer is the obvious one: It is the job of a writer to write the truth as he sees it, and if it's an uncomfortable truth, then so be it.

[Burkeman1]

Get Lost. The WMD was the reason this administration used as to why we are went to Iraq. So to say you "dont care about WMD" might upset some widows, parents, and relatives. Or were they just too stupid to understand your world view? In fact you disgust me.

[Prodigal Son]

Why are you so hostile?

We went to war because Saddam invaded Kuwait did we not? I don't recall WMD ever being a big issue in 1990. We have been at war ever since. We have been at war ever since.

I believe it was the right time to end that war. For a large number of reasons. The WMD being one among those. But we couldn't just go on being at war with Saddam for all eternity. How did you think we were going to end the war without going in and taking him down?

[Prodigal Son]

And again, what has this to do with the article?

[Burkeman1]

Repellent

And on so many levels it is scary.

How and why you ever called yourself conservative is beyond me.

[Prodigal Son]

What are you talking about? I'm serious. I've always found you to be a poster who's comments I liked to read. I'm commenting on where Noonan mentions nervousness and you start calling me names.

Did I do something to you of which I am not aware? What's up with this?

I have no clue why you are being so abusive. I don't even know what subject you're talking about here.

Is there something I can help you with- within reason I'd be glad to. I just don't understand what's going on with you.

If you could tell me what it is you're talking about without blowing a fuse, we can go from there. Are you sure you haven't confused me with someone else that you are having difficulties with?

[Prodigal Son]

BTW, I'm willing to treat this as 'one of those things'. I don't mind corresponding with you. When you catch your breath and settle down, please, feel free to reply to any post you see me make- or even this one. I don't bear you any ill will. Whatever's going on with you, I hope you get it sorted.

Cheers ;-)

[Prodigal Son]

One last question- more to help me get my bearings with you than anything else.

Were you as bent out of shape about Operation Desert Fox as you were about Operation Iraqi Freedom?

I'm just curious. I had only used the internet sparsely when Desert Fox was happening and was living out of a rucksack in Africa and France. The truth be told, I didn't follow American politics then. So, I'm a bit out of touch about how people felt during that aspect of the war.

Was there a lot of outcry? Did you oppose that as much as you did O. Iraqi Freedom? And I guess, if you answer yes, the obvious question would be- did you oppose the opening operations of the war? Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm?

Fair enough, if you were totally against all the operations during the war then it makes sense that you would oppose this latest one- no matter who the president was.

So- in lieu of you answering- perhaps this is where our differences lie. You have been opposed to the war since 1990. Every operation- regardless of who was president. That's cool I respect that. But you have to understand, many of us felt that going to war was the right thing to do after Saddam invaded Kuwait. Many of us. Even France (and Germany too I might add). That says something. Many people only think about Germany and France as having opposed the ending act of the war but they forget that just 12 years ago, they agreed with the war starting.

The thing is, war is often easier to get into than it is to get out. Pacifists would just have us surrender and go home without thinking of the consequences. That wasn't an option with Iraq- not even under Clinton. The only way the war with Saddam was ever going to end was with Saddam being taken down.

Which part of that do you not agree with? You DO see that simply surrendering to Saddam would've had more long range repurcussions that were bad than good yes? Regardless of whether you thought it was right for the war to begin in 1990 or not- that's fair enough- but regardless, it did. It did start. You can't go back and undo that.

But how was it going to END? This is the key. How else did you think the war would end without something like Operation Iraqi Freedom? Did you want the war to go on forever? It makes no sense. I get the sense that you are a pacifist- which I have nothing against per se- but why would a pacifist want the war to continue? Dubya moved to end the war and I think that's a good thing. If Clinton had wanted to end the war in 1996- also a good thing.

What's wrong with ending the war? I think this is where you and I differ. I wanted the war to end and acknowledge that this was going to happen one way or the other. You wanted the war to end- perhaps- in a way that was not realistic- ie, our surrender.

But this isn't something to have a falling out about is it?

[NYCVirago]

Well said. Peggy had to write something. Peggy wanted some more attention. Peggy is impatient for the "paragraph." Peggy is hanging with Chrissy to often. Peggy is the voice for the nervous conservatives (how sweet). Peggy is helping us understand. Peggy. Peggy. Peggy.

I think all the plastic surgery Peggy's had done lately (cheek implants, Botox, facelift) have affected her brain. Have you seen her lately? Who does she think she's kidding with that bad plastic surgery?

[Miss Marple]

I am late to this thread, but I can't resist weighing in.

Peggy Noonan cannot get past her time with Reagan, in some aspects. She holds President Bush to the communication standards of the Gipper, and of course he usually fails. I am reminded that she also criticized several of President Bush's speeches in the panel on MSNBC, including one State of the Union that I thought particularly good.

Of COURSE the president's supporters are upset, when people that we count as allies write wordds that are used against the President, as she did. Of COURSE people are going to write her! She should take it as a sign that she misstepped in her comments, NOT that the Republicans are nervous.

When President Bush gets letters from constituents criticizing one of his actions, he doesn't think "the base is nervous." He knows the base is upset at him!

In the same way, Ms. Noonan should realize the Bush supporters aren't nervous....they are PO'd!

[Burkeman1]

Desert Fox? or Sudan? I and this site was extemely bent out of shape. And then again where were you? And then Clinton's disgusting Kosvo war went off at just the right time for Clinton right? You were where again?

[Prodigal Son]

Well all right. Let's start with this:

Desert Fox or Sudan.

You have to admit, you haven't been like this in the past. It's a bit hard to follow.

Operation Desert Fox. Iraq. Ok so far.

But then you throw in Sudan. That's a bit confusing.

I asked about Operation Desert Fox because it was specifically a part of the Iraqi War that had to do with WMD. It doesn't help me to understand where you're coming from if you suddenly go off about Sudan.

The Iraq war- or better put- the war with Saddam started in 1990. Operation Desert Fox was one aspect of that war.

To help me out here- were you opposed to the entire war or just the latter operations? In other words, did you oppose Desert Shield? If so, your response is understandable.

If you agreed with the war up to Desert Fox, this is only somewhat understandbable.

But again, how did you believe the war was ever going to end without taking Saddam down? Did you seriously entertain that we would siege him out? I mean, I knew this would not work back in 1991.

Kosovo. My unit went to Kosovo. I had only recently left the military at that point. I spent a year of my life in the Balkans on different US military operations- yes. Had I stayed in, my time in the Balkans would've increased no doubt. I'm not sure what this has to do with the matter at hand.

I spent eight years as an infantryman. What has this to do with anything that's being discussed in this article?

You're right to question where I was. I read responses from Americans nowadays and sometimes feel I have no relation to them whatsoever. I haven't been in the US in over 13 years. I have no idea what's going on there- really. Sometimes, American ideas about world problems and situations seems somewhat bizarre to me.

But, still, why is this a reason to argue? I'm not against you here. Your point of view is interesting (up till today). Today, I feel like I'm speaking a foreign language. It's really weird. What is it that has you worked up about what I've said to this point?

[ChadGore]

"Ended the recession in the first year of his first term, defeated 2 of our declared enemies."

[Amelia]

The only reason the base is restless is because of the 2 months of dem advertisement for their candidate and the lib press humping its own leg. The fact is this, Bush keeps his powder dry until the dem nominee gets his footing and starts his own momentum. Then Bush the baseball player, the fighter pilot, the Texas hunter, nails his target right in the heart. Lay low in the bush and let the prey come to you, don't shoot wildly.

From reading the latest posts over the past few weeks, most at FR don't have your confidence.

I saw a most telling thing yesterday...when Dems were asked "who expresses what you believe & want" Kerry didn't win, but when they were asked "who do you think can beat George Bush" he did.

He's the flavor of the month for the media, but there's no way Kerry would be winning these Southern states if people were voting for the candidate they liked. That's oddly encouraging to me.

[.30Carbine]

Dear Peggy Noonan,

Thank you for this article.

Dear President Bush and advisors,

Re: The Paragraph

We are a nation of individuals. From the moment of our inception as a nation to this day it is the indivdual and the belief in human independence which has made our country strong. Because of our Constitution, our economic system, and our firm belief in freedom governed by divine providence, America has produced in the past and continues to provide today cures, careers, capital; inventors, inovations, and industry; democracy, debate, and defense. By defending and supporting the freedoms and capacities of the individual, according to the precepts of our charters, this administration looks to the future of America with faith in human freedom, with hope in unhindered human potential, and love that welcomes every human life.

[arasina]

I have always appreciated Peggy Noonan's brilliant gift for writing. I admire her for coming to her senses at some point in her life and walking away from her liberal Democrat roots. Heck, why else would I ask to be put on the "Peggy Ping List" except to read her well-written thoughts and opinions?

I just happen to disagree with her on whether or not President Bush did a good job in his interview grilling on MTP. I think he did an admirable job. He was not just fending off the derogatory interrogation of one man, Tim Russert; he saw in Tim's "aura" the multitude of snarling dogs that make up the majority of the media. What would you have him do, Peggy? Rise to the bait and go all Deanian?

[Always Right]

Sir- it makes a difference to many people in this country who now tend the graves of the dead or will nurse the wounded for years.

Actually finding WMD makes no difference. Go back to Bush's adress to the nation on national TV where he outlined the case for war. We went to war for four reasons:

1. Saddam's refusal to live up to peace agreement and UN resolutions.
2. We can not afford to wait till Saddam becomes an imminent threat with WMD.
3. Saddam's support of terrorists including Al Qaeda.
4. Saddam's a madman who brutilizes his people and threatens peace in the region.

Actually finding WMD makes no difference to the case for war as originally laid out by Bush. The imminent threat of WMD was a media creation and Bush's biggest fault is letting the media get away with it. The war with Iraq was a just war.

[thesummerwind]

The White House reads this site.

I guess Peggy is talking about Opinion Journal, but she might as well have been talking about this site.

So I invite all good writers and good people here to write 'the paragraph' here, or write to Peggy or write to the White House. Make the arguement, make the claim for G.W.

[thesummerwind]

Noonan just wants to hear only one thing from the White House: "You're hired, when can you start?"

That would be one of the smartest things The White House could do.

Hi, Peg, go for it.

[isthisnickcool]

I must be coming here to FreeRepublic too much. I read what Peggy Noonan wrote here and it makes me YAWN! Why? I've already figured out just about everthing she wrote. The parts that give me any information anyway.

Peggy thinks that there is some need for "W & Company" to have a slogan? Something like "Where's the beef?", "Like a Rock"? (pun intended), "With a Name like Smuckers.....", etc.

Hey Noonan, you overlook a couple of things that are in most people's heads. One, the images from 9/11. The planes hitting buildings, the people jumping out of the windows, the Pentagon, the WTC buildings falling falling falling. And the second thing, IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN!. And it's the second thing people have in their heads that cuts away anything else the Bush administration has done. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN!

Hey Peggy. It's not "it's the economy stupid", it's not about "soccer mom's" anymore. And it's certainly not about military service (except for maybe Killer Kerry). No, it's about protecting Americans. And that on the Bush watch -

IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN!

[ontos-on]

Also, we now have a beachhead for the first time in our history right in the middle east. But why does the price of oil keep going up? A high price for oil acts like a tax on the US economy as well as the global economy. Why cant Iraq produce more oil and get the price down. Also we should exert major pressure on the Saudis to produce more oil and get the price down. The fact that this is not happening is astounding and tragic. And the Bush people say vote for me because we must fight terrorism. Well fine but do the other things too.

You nailed it. If those Arabs are so friendly, guys, then make them act like it, not like they just did the other day at OPEC. I want to see some nails and results. Is this the best Jum Baker and his crowd can do???