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-
I've been doing it here,on FR,for quite a while now. At least others are seeing her for what she really is;at last. Welcome to the club,my FRiend. :-)
"The crowd finally chilled out of course. But not out of love of PN. On account of Arlen Specter"
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110005907
There's the full article. Others can judge for themselves how you are taking Noonan out of context merely to slam her. You're not criticizing in good faith. You are a shill - others who would rally to your side should be made aware of this.
I have, at times, enjoyed Noonan's work; however,
-she tends to lecture her readers,
-she tends toward floral pretentiousness,
-her use of metaphor, while not hamhanded, can be a bit clumsey, and
-she tends to vamp long after she reaches a rational conclusion.
(And she called the Bush speech grating?)
Bag ladies like Peggy Noonan may howl at the moon because rough men stand guard upon the city's walls. Here's to them.
As to the rest,are you being schizzy ?
I know she was using that incident as an illustration to prove something in Peggy's rambling kind of way. I am using the same incident to show something else about Peggy and about how she apparently has very little gravitas in the party. It's called recasting and reinterpretation. Besides, I don't hate her. I pity how she has lost her mojo.
She is bipolar and her meds may not be working right. My oldest son is bipolar and she has been showing the signs of either being off her meds or they are not working, have seen it happen to him several times. In fact the last time it was because he was taking massive doses of ibuprofen for pain and it diminished the effects his medication so bad he almost died.
Then why did you omit the follow-up:
The senator's wife leaned toward me and explained, consolingly, "You didn't know, but when the crowd won't stop you have to go 'Ssssshhhhhhhh.' It's the only thing that works."
"It's called recasting and reinterpretation"
No, its called context. You are deliberately misrepresenting her to score cheap shots.
Are you serious? She's bipolar?
What makes me roll my eyes is why was her comments on Fox a 180 from what she wrote?
No misrepresentation my friend. Arlen is better at working a crowd than Peggy. You indicated that thousands, 100s of thousands of republicans, moderates and indies would sit out the 06 elections if PN is given a sound thrashing on FR. If Arlen Specter is better at working a crowd than PN in a hotel ballroom, how would she ever be able to cause HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of voters to sit out an election?
"You indicated that thousands, 100s of thousands of republicans, moderates and indies would sit out the 06 elections if PN is given a sound thrashing on FR"
There's that reading comprehension issue again. How are we to take your analysis seriously when you can't even get the last half-hour right? This is what I said:
post #15
Apparently. If so, I'll be going over the side with her. And I'm taking 100,000 GOTV volunteers with me
post #63
Ostracism of the likes of Noonan will just be the beginning. You cannot maintain a majority by pissing off people (like Noonan fans) who admire the majority of her work and remember her fondly as a Daughter of the Reagan Revolution. Today its Noonan, tomorrow its Indepedents, then Moderates.
We need more congress-criters in 06 so Bush can get his nominees to SCOTUS. This kind of BS is not the way to do it. Learn to maintain a Majority Party by disagreeing with, not attacking, your own. I've seen this kind of behavior from Republicans before - knock it off before it becomes a pattern
Thank you. Her voice grates on my nerves. It's so phony.
Item two: Noonan is free to rant because U.S. troops preserve freedom.
Schizzy would be Noonan.
Okay,and thanks for clearing up my confusion re the other post. We're back to being in complete agreement. Phew...I feel much better. :-)
"We're back to being in complete agreement. Phew...I feel much better."
Have another swig of kool-aide. The DUmmies swear by it...
Strawman. I've already said I disagree with her last article.
Maybe you and DontMessWithTexas can take your Tweedle-dee & dummer act onstage?
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