Peggy Noonan: Way Too Much God

Wall Street Journal ^ | January 21, 2005 | Peggy Noonan

[RWR8189]

Was the president's speech a case of "mission inebriation"?

It was an interesting Inauguration Day. Washington had warmed up, the swift storm of the previous day had passed, the sky was overcast but the air wasn't painful in a wind-chill way, and the capital was full of men in cowboy hats and women in long furs. In fact, the night of the inaugural balls became known this year as The Night of the Long Furs.

Laura Bush's beauty has grown more obvious; she was chic in shades of white, and smiled warmly. The Bush daughters looked exactly as they are, beautiful and young. A well-behaved city was on its best behavior, everyone from cops to doormen to journalists eager to help visitors in any way.

For me there was some unexpected merriness. In my hotel the night before the inauguration, all the guests were evacuated at 1:45 in the morning. There were fire alarms and flashing lights on each floor, and a public address system instructed us to take the stairs, not the elevators. Hundreds of people wound up outside in the slush, eventually gathering inside the lobby, waiting to find out what next.

The staff--kindly, clucking--tried to figure out if the fire existed and, if so, where it was. Hundreds of inaugural revelers wound up observing each other. Over there on the couch was Warren Buffet in bright blue pajamas and a white hotel robe. James Baker was in trench coat and throat scarf. I remembered my keys and eyeglasses but walked out without my shoes. After a while the "all clear" came,

[John Lenin]

Most educated women are not too fond of God talk, at least the ones I know are like that.

[Edit35]

Noonan, I;m afraid, seems to have joined those elites snobs of whom she has so often spoken against.

Would she rather have heard President Bush rattling on about tax revenue projections in the out years of Social Security??

The President's speech was inspiring, not to mention vital to the future of this great nation.

After reading this snobbish Wall Street Journal column, I can only surmise that Noonan has joined that elite group of conceited analysts who inhabit the detatched halls of insider punditry.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"simple, non-aggressive questions."

Oh yes, quite. It isn't like I haven't seen it before.

[Mo1]

She's a drama queen

[redrock]

Maybe it's just from living in Utah...but MOST women here (educated...most WELL educated)..all seem to have a fondness for hearing God mentioned in public.

Especially by those IN public service.

redrock

[Jrabbit]

I agree. Just like Joe Biden.

[I_dmc]

Perhaps Peggy fears a President that exhibits signs of being a man with a Mission From God. I have a bit of a sense of that, have for some time, but then, I'm a realist and my greatest interest is in watching the show.

[John Lenin]

You live in Utah that's why. Northern, West Coast college women all read the same brainwashing books and magazines about how the church keeps women down. It's total nonsense but they eat it up like cavier.

[garjog]

I tend to agree with Peggy. This was not a great speech, although it is historic for setting a new foreign policy. I love Bush and am 100 percent behind him. But, we all know that he isn't known for his eloquence and he didn't change his reputation today.

This speech lacks a central image to give it coherence and terms like "freedom" are not made vivid enough to make the language memorable. No one will be quoting lines from this speech to illustrate profound expression.

"Liberty is a fire in men's minds," seems to be a weak image because a fire without adding the light and warmth that it gives, can be destructive and irrational.

Most of you dislike Peggy's comments, but in my humble opinion she may have a point. We love our president and this was a fine and acceptable speech. It was a wonderful day and we are all quite happy and thankful to have this man up there taking the oath. But, this speech will not rank as one of the best presidential inaugural speeches. (Way better than Clinton or Carter, hands down, of course.)

[Petronski]

Obviously Peggy feels dissed by the Bush White House. Her reaction here is barely believable. What a ghastly display of envy this is.

Sucks to be on the outside, I guess, once one has been on the inside.

[Lancey Howard]

I disagree with Peggy.
(Doctor to patient: "Don't worry about a thing. I will get rid of most of your cancer.")

Bush may be dreaming the impossible dream, but so what? Dreaming the impossible dream and striving for perfection is the way most people throughout history who are now considered "great" achieved their greatness.

[Mo1]

Obviously Peggy feels dissed by the Bush White House.

Peggy thinks no one can right a speech but her

[windchime]

Hannity & Colmes rerun should have Noonan up in a few minutes, if you want to hear her 'grating' comments. On now!

[Jrabbit]

Speak of the devil.....she's on....Fox re-run

[veritas3]

I don't recall what time, just saw her in the background, but I don't recall anything negative. That why the WSJ piece surprised me.

[Mo1]

Thanks

[Jrabbit]

Well....

I have no idea what her complaint is. What she considered "grating" was something Alan Colmes was prattling about.....

Actually, I found her to be quite condescending toward President Bush.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I heard Alan Colmes say tonight that he didn't think Democrats were being nearly hard enough on Condi Rice. He's harmless, but a nut nonetheless.

[Petronski]

I'm willing to bet the barn that Noonan is still a compassionate moral conservative.

...which tells me her criticism "too much God" is not her real issue here, but merely a proxy for something else she won't say....something like "it was better in my day." It's a very disingenuous, prideful critique, and it disappoints me deeply.