Posted on 01/27/2005 9:16:49 PM PST by quidnunc
Because her idiosyncratic take on George W. Bush's Second Inaugural Address did not go unnoticed, Peggy Noonan decided she had some splainin' to do. Okay by me. But then she went and threw a press conference. For herself. Asking and answering her own questions. If that isn't a symptom of Olympian presumption, I'm not sure what is.
Fans of her writing may remember that Noonan is the columnist who three months ago told fellow conservatives not to rock the boat over Arlen Specter's elevation to chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee (even though she's Catholic and Specter has been hostile to pro-life nominees for positions on the federal bench). Back then, she described "Ssssshhhhhhhh" as both a "wonderful sound" and "good advice for our country" something to keep in mind while we breathe deeply and "build a great silence" on issues that matter.
I hate to start thinking of her as Peggy "turn down the volume" Noonan, but her newfound enthusiasm for quietude at any cost would explain her adverse reaction to GWB's second inaugural. She wants oboes and clarinets. The guy in Air Force One whom she voted for prefers trumpets and cymbals.
"Life is layered, complex, not always most needful of political action. For many people in the world the most important extrafamilial relationship is not with the state but with the God," Noonan writes.
That's blessedly true, as far as it goes, but borderline lunatic when used to criticize a head of state who can only meet the demands of his office by engaging in political action. While the presidential writ doesn't extend to priesthood (thank God!), and the troubles of this world will pass away, it's hard to fault GWB's ode to freedom as "perplexing and disturbing," the way Noonan does.
In a crowning irony, Noonan gives thanks for the fact that timid staffers in the Reagan White House could not prevent Mr. Reagan from saying "tear down this wall," and calling the Soviet Union an "evil empire." Four administrations and one Laura Ingraham-style "but monkey" later, however, Noonan laments the lack of defensive thinking that in her youth she would have eviscerated.
-snip-
She's compromised her credibility irreparably.
I must admit to wondering a bit about Peggy of late.
If she keeps it, I may have to change my tagline.
"In other White Houses there were always too many people eager to show their worth by removing the meaning of the speech, or warning the president that such and such shouldn't be said. I get the impression no one in this White House wants to be the person in the speechwriter's memoir who tried to remove "Tear down this wall" or "evil empire." So often such people are defensive, anxious, unhelpful. They often lost the battle in the Reagan White House, to the benefit of history. But for this speech there seemed no one who wanted to think defensively and wield the editing stick."
Had I been the one wielding the editing stick, I'd have struck GWB's gratuitous and wholly unnecessary reference to the Koran as one of several influences on the development of American principles.
Amen.
A little estrogen and B12 might not hurt.
I agreed with some of her criticisms of W's speech but found the meat of it to be outstanding in terms of our place in the world. I can imagine Buchanan hating it. But man, people are turning on Noonan as quickly as the dems did on Kerry when he recognized reality and didn't pursue endless recounts. Even if she is wrong, do we have to toss her over the side of the boat so reflexively when someone doesn't tow the party line?
Peggy Noonan needs an intervention before something bad happens. Dr. Rice should pay her a visit to tell her why the world has changed recently. Peggy is upset by something and she isn't the same.
Mr. O'Hannigan deserves mega-dittoes for his on-the-money sendup of this overrated cupcake. Peggy's writings have long since become uneven and girlish.
Spread this great little column far and wide, I say.
For a brief while after 9/11 she went all maudlin. She will come about again, botch it, and come about again.
"Even if she is wrong, do we have to toss her over the side of the boat so reflexively when someone doesn't tow the party line?"
Apparently. If so, I'll be going over the side with her. And I'm taking 100,000 GOTV volunteers with me.
Here's what I think may be the burr under her saddle:
Peggy surprised me with her comments. Her statements on FNC just after the speech were more flattering of the president. She liked it and said it was a good speech. The next day in her column it was 180.
"I wouldn't call it piling on"
Fair enough. But you should see the last two threads on her speech here at FR. Mostly character attacks along the lines of "STFU, you jealous stupid b*tch". Its an embarrassment.
Wait and see, they'll be swarming here shortly.
Well, then, look away, jerkweed. You happen to be in the minority here, and are dead wrong.
Noonan, somehow, does not appreciate the irony of not being able to muzzle Reagan and thinking that's a good thing, and wanting to muzzle Bush, who is saying the same thing Reagan did.
She also praised Kennedy's 1961 inaugural as the "last great inaugural address". In it, he said "we would bear any burden, oppose any foe to advance the cause of liberty."
IMO, Peggy Noonan is consumed with petty jealousy.
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