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.

[Vision Thing]

They watch in awe and desperation as the market climbs back up without them. Many can blame Bush for this.

Uh, no.

The best traders and investors take full responsibility for their trades. Only the losers look to blame others for their failures.

[Bobber58]

"It's not about us, and it's not about them...it's about we."
We are not going to give up the fight.
We are not going to back down or back away.
We are solving the problems created in the past rather than talking about them.
We are doing these things in a way that, while they may create pain and deficits and unsuredness for the short-term,
will instill a solid base upon the rock of peoples own initiative for the future.

[KC Burke]

An imperfect world, that we have been often sheltered from in our great nation, must be met with cool resolve. A government taxation system that has always grown must have someone who will say, No. Honest faith in our nation and its heritage is in our hearts and thank God it is reflected in our chief executive. As the person sworn to execute our laws, the President must help a powerless Congress be restored as the legislative branch in an age where judges have begun to believe that legislation is their responsibility.

[Porterville]

But, seriously, the pundants these days do not have a clue. Not even the fat red headed Irish guy on Meet The Stressed... they are wrong to the core, and they make soo much money. We here at FR know ten times more than all the slobs in the Washington Press Corps combined and we do it for free. That is why Rush, Hannity, and even the DU'mmys come to us to figure out what the hell is going on. I'm poor, but right now, I feel pretty rich knowing the course of our leaders.

[over3Owithabrain]

Uh, if you haven't noticed, the market is going WAY UP. People who yanked out and are afraid of going back in have only themselves to blame, not the president. Oh, and I'm sorry oil is a buck and a half a gallon, how awful. Much better to have high taxes and more terrorist attacks in the USA. Bush is leading in many ways, whiners who can't see all the good and want to nitpick at a leader who has brought us through the darkest moment in modern American history can pound sand.

[Burkeman1]

I don't even like Noonan as I always thought her a Bushbot- and she has been (I will vote for Bush but only holding my nose). But when such a Bush lover, as Noonan offers a realistic critique of Bush's abysmal performance with Russert and she is attacked by "conservatives"? My G*D? What is wrong with you people? She is not "party line" enough for you people? I turned red listening to Bush's stuttering performance on Sunday. It was obvious to the entire nation! He looked scared. Even National Review said Bush should have been better prepared for that interview and had better get his act together! Sycophants Bush doesn't need. Noonan's loyalty to the GOP is not in question and to even suggest it is laughable.

[daviddennis]

I'd start with this, from an Iraqi making fun of the anti-war left.

I laughed so hard I cried; if you haven't read it, you must.

D

[Pedertwin]

I honestly do not know why Peggy gets paid any money at all. 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. ... Bush keeps his powder dry until the dem nominee gets his footing.... Then Bush the baseball player, the fighter pilot, the Texas hunter, nails his target right in the heart....

Agreed and well said. Reading Peggy Noonan's stuff of late is like trying to grab onto air. I get done sifting through the poop only to discover that there's no pony. I wonder why I bothered. It's a long way to November. Bush has one HUGE advantage over Kerry. He knows who he is and he knows what he stands for.

[nopardons]

Nailed in one! Oh yes, and she's a hack.

[Always Right]

Bush is a cool cat, something the elitist press core, including Peggy, have absolutely no concept of; if she was 20 years younger I'd be happy to show her the way, but alas she is too old for me, and too old for the new political game.

LOL, I am sure Peggy is just dying for you to show her the light. Politics are politics, whether today or 20 years ago. Peggy is amoung the best and helped write some of the most rememberable speeches of all time. Peggy is not someone that should be blown off so easily.

[SAR1]

What about all the money lost in mutual funds, wiped out the little guy.Their will be resentment from this is all I am saying.

[AreaMan]

I would start with a joke, you know loosen up the room before you roll on and on about all the pie in the sky crap that every president has to promise...

"Ahem....A priest, a Rabbi and a duck walk into a bar...

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Porterville]

Like I said, she is too old, but if she has a daughter, I am open arms.

[Always Right]

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

Peggy doesn't want or need a job. Anyone who thinks Bush hit a home run on Meet the Depressed is full of it. At best, Bush drew a walk. Bush did not hurt himself, but he missed a chance to score.

[freedumb2003]

Peggy. Peggy. Peggy.

You have to wonder about that. How do they get "Peggy" from "Margaret?" In fact Margaret has more diminuations than any other name I can think of, but "Peggy" bears no resemblence (sans the 'g') to the orignial. "Meg" "Maggie" "Marge" "Margie" "Peg" "Mags" -- the incongruity is killing me!

[nopardons]

Old Wall Street motto : THERE ARE BEARS,THERE ARE BULLS, AND THERE ARE PIGS.

Sounds like you know the last group and stupid ones to boot.

[SAR1]

Look I am republican and just because the europians pay 3 bucks doesnt mean I should. We are in a position to get the price of oil down and we are not taking advantage of our leverage and position. Too bad.

[Always Right]

Like I said, she is too old, but if she has a daughter, I am open arms.

So is Margaratte Thatcher, but she and Peggy are both brilliant ladies.

[mattdono]

Close.

Here's mine (ok, its 3 paragraphs).

Kerry: Turned his back on his soldier buddies as soon as his feet touched ground in the U.S. Buddied-up with Hanoi Jane instead. Told Hanoi to use the POWs however they saw fit. Heat. Kitchen. Kerry knows neither.

Me: Yale Grad. National Guard...not a hero, just a pilot. Harvard MBA. Worked. Learned Disappointment. Worked. Learned Success. Worked for Texas. Did well; people thought so. Ran for President. Won. Worked for American people. Saw my countrymen perish on 9/11. Learned that some people want Americans dead, period. Dems ok with me. Saddam was consorting with those fellas in some way or another (chems, bios, nukes...bad stuff). Dems say get him. Go get him. Can't find all the "stuff" that EVERYONE (dems, Frenchie, Helmut, etc.) thought he had. Election year. Dems not ok, say I'm not good.

Huh?