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-
Attacking me,because I can see through her rather tarnished veneer,and you can't,doesn't help you any;rather the reverse.
"because I can see through her rather tarnished veneer"
LMAO. Listen to yourself. Your hatred and envy discredits you more than I ever could. Post again, please.
But your posts show exactly who and what you are. I don't have to lift a finger...you out yourself. :-)
"But your posts show exactly who and what you are."
This should be good.
Please, exercise your mighty telepathic powers to strip away my veener. I tremble under the aura of your true sight and discernment, knowing that my identity will be revealed to all.
LOL.
Hehe. You just couldn't resist, could you? Not even 5 minutes? Your criticism of Noonan is *so* much more credible than it was before.
Keep posting.
but...but..I won't have the privilege of being exposed to your Gweat & Tewwible telepathic aura. Please don't go!
[snicker]
Sorry to derail from your post - I had to dispatch a few trolls.
I think you are spot on re the weakness of Noonan's position. Here is what Bush gets that Noonan doesn't:
There is some justice in the charge that is frequently leveled against the United States, and more generally against the West: Middle Easterners frequently complain that the West judges them by different and lower standards than it does Europeans and Americans, both in what is expected of them and what they may expect, in terms of their economic well-being and their political freedom. They assert that Western spokesmen repeatedly overlook or even defend actions and support rulers that they would not tolerate in their own countries.
...there is nevertheless a widespread perception [in the West] that there are significant differences between the advanced Western world and the rest, notably the peoples of Islam, and that these latter are in some ways different, with the tacit assumption that they are inferior. The most flagrant violations of civil rights, political freedom, and even human decency are disregarded or glossed over; and crimes against humanity, which in a European or American country would evoke a storm of outrage, are seen as normal and even acceptable.
...The underlying assumption in all this is that these people are incapable of running a democratic society and have neither concern nor capacity for human decency - The Crisis of Islam, p104-5, Bernard Lewis.
I agreed with Peggy. Guess that means I'm an awful person too.
Well, you don't have a her pic on your profile like I do... maybe they'll let you choose between Ostracism and Banishment.
Good luck.
Wayyyyyyyy too late. Blackbird.
> 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? <
That's the Freeper way. No criticism of George "Chauncy Gardiner" Bush is allowed.
I've been following the Peggy Noonan flap since Inauguration Day, and she reminds me very much of my mother (another northeastern urban Irish woman) as she approached the big 5-0.
In other words, I think Peggy's hit menopause, bless her heart.
ping
Peggy Noonan was right on target with her criticism. In fact, there are criticism of the tone in that speech that Peggy never even brought up.
George Bush needs to have a real critique of that speech handed to him; even Peggy Noonan failed to deliver it.
Thank God there are Peggy Noonans out there in the conservative ranks who care more about America's agenda than they do blindly cheerleading the Republicans.
There have been several columns she has written in this similar vein. She appears to have a pattern of admiring President Bush, and just when one thinks she is a supporter, she will drop one of these columns on us at a most inopportune time.
I have participated in other discussions about other columns and pointed out her strange behavior. This is the most prominent example yet.
Your complaints about "throwing Peggy overboard" is silly. It seems to me that Peggy has marched up to the gangplank and dived off, while we all stood dumbstruck at her behavior.
Also, knock off the attacks on people of this current thread for the vulgar comments some made on another. Not all who oppose her opinion behaved like that, and your reiterating it is calling attention to the juvenile behavior of a few.
Fair enough. Strive to maintain a civil discourse here of Noonan's failings, without resorting to vulgar character attacks on her, and I will have nothing to reflect.
which party are you referring to in your tagline? Noonan replacing Hillary as the Dem candidate?
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.