Posted on 01/20/2005 9:33:31 PM PST by 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,
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
I don't know where you got the misguided notion that "I don't understand Peggy". Get real. I most likely know her a lot better than you. I've read her life's story, I've read her writings, and I know her.
Understand? She has gotten a big head over the years, but she worked hard to get where she is now. Have you studied her career? She does her breezy "Manhattan thing", enjoys her lunches, and, it is a little bit odd how she has morphed into somewhat of an uppity, arrogant girl. But, I'm willing to give her a break now and then. But on this speech, she's mostly all wet!
Understand Peggy? ......... ROFL!
1. He didn't say anything as offensive as Noonan applying the phrase "mission inebriation" to a very famously — and oft-pilloried — reformed drunk.
2. Speaking of "offensive," I have a very offensive guess as to why Noonan was offended, but I'll only write it if asked, so I can blame the person for asking me, when I am (inevitably) flamed.
(c;
Dan
Free Republic: Way Too Much Peggy
Thank you very much for making this point. My sentiments exactly. I was disappointed in her book, especially afer reading this section and learning that it was fantasy. For me, the book was a total let-down.
I was not trying to be patronizing to you. I was trying to explain those Carl Levin glasses. I would agree with you that she has assumed an attitude that is insufferable, arrogant and uppity.
I agree and you may have put your finger on it.
I don't think she's jealous as others have speculated. I think she's giving her honest opinion, which just happens to be wrong. I am willing to be that she may have thought that Reagan line was grating at the time because, as is her problem here, she did not think it was an attainable goal.
I think she hasn't taken the Bush Doctrine seriously to date. This speech was an affirmation of and more explicit expounding upon that Doctrine which was first invoked after 9/11.
I love Noonan.
I read her stuff all the time, and find it to be --- what?
Sometimes insightful, sometimes thoughtful, always a little bit dreamy -- sort of train of thought.
And Sometimes dead wrong.
She's dead wrong on this.
Wow, you could be more wrong but I'm danged if I know how you could pull it off.
You didn't listen to the speech? Or is it comprehension that is your problem?
What's with those Carl Levin glasses? She gotta get rid of those babies.
:-)
What an idiotic term in this case. It's called "disagreement" and we've a right to voice it, just as she has her right to speak.
Good grief..."marginalizing"....LOL!
Rat commentator won't criticize the speech, but says the devil is in the details. Also mentions Saudi Arabia, which apparently she missed the mention about women's rights.
Rich Galen liked the speech. Says democrats are going to have to choose stability over freedom, which is not what the President wants. Stability often comes only with a dictator.
Sammon says that we are no longer turning a blind eye to places like SA and Egypt.
And her affected, uppity speaking style is way over the top.
"I don't think she's jealous as others have speculated. I think she's giving her honest opinion, which just happens to be wrong. I am willing to be that she may have thought that Reagan line was grating at the time because, as is her problem here, she did not think it was an attainable goal."
The interesting thing here, her writing is completely opposite of her "LIVE" response right after the speech, however, she did say she needed to 'think about it'.
Please provide an exact quote that illustrates this claim.
I saw her LIVE response and even posted on it.
She didn't say much but that she had to chew on it and then after the rest of the Fox panel; Bill Kristol, Mort Kondracke and Fred Barnes commented, she added in the "God-drenched" comment.
I did not discern she had disliked the speech at the time. I thought she said she was stunned. Evidently she was "stunned" by the "over the top" aspect she perceives.
I should have told you that Fox was the station which had Sammon, Galen, and the Rat spokeswoman.
Oh, and for the record, the comments from the rest of the Fox panel:
Bill Kristol: One of the greatest speeches given by an American President ever.
Mort Kondracke: "Breathtaking" and hubristic but not in a bad way. He said if the President can lay the foundation for this vision he will be one of the greatest presidents. Last night I happened to hear him expound that it reminded him of Babe Ruth pointing out where he'd hit the homerun and then did. He said if Ruth hadn't made the promised hit he would have been derided as a blowhard but the fulfillment of delivering on his promise made him great.
Fred Barnes: "Dazzling"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.