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 left the speech not really knowing what to think about it. My attention was lost several times due to people jumping over the fence, protesters, and whatnot.
It wasn't until I got home from DC, and replayed the speech and got to enjoy it. I had a much better opinion of the speech at that point.
I don't agree with Peggy's column, but I do enjoy her writing, and I agree with her most of the time.
"The battle for the mind of Ronald Reagan was like the trench warfare of World War I: never have so many fought so hard for such barren terrain."
PN is known as such a great admirer of RR. Funny. It seems to me that in this quote she equates the mind of RR to barren terrain. Would you say that this quote of PN's from Chapter 14 of "What I Saw at the Revolution" is laudatory or an insult of President Reagan?
I heard that Nancy Reagan was highly suspicious of Miss Noonan. Given this quotation, I could understand why.
By the way the quote can be found at this link:
http://www.aol.bartleby.com/66/17/42617.html
Another quote from Chapter 14 of "What I Saw At the Revolution:" "...when I thought of him in those days, it was as a gigantic heroic balloon floating in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, right up there between Superman and Big Bird. I felt like the kids in the apartments on Central Park West,watching the giant heads bob by."
We should not be concerned about her opinion of GWB. She was seriously flawed in her assessment of Ronaldus Magnus.
I agree, it can get pretty rough. I have just always enjoyed Peggy (especially the way she handles Alan Comes) and was taken aback with her dislike of this speech.
Your claim to be able to detach "100,000 GOTV volunteers" from the Republican party is disturbing for two reasons.
One, if an ostracism of Peggy Noonan is reason enough for you to ruin our party's chances in the next election, you are intellectually incapable of distinguishing big things from tiny ones.
And two, if you think you can actually deprive the party of "100,000 GOTV volunteers" in a fit of anger, your ego is so huge that you probably need professional help.
I liiked at your home page and I deduce that you have a serious crush on the zaftig Ms. Noonan.
Look, she's not the heart and soul of the GOP and she smeared some gratuitous stink on Dubya and his team.
That's her right.
It is also our right to say that in our opinion she's tilted about half a bubble off plumb lately.
I heard she has had mental problems in the past. Beauty is only skin deep.
No. I've already stated elsewhere that I disagree with her analysis. The problem I have is not with criticism of her, but of shameless personal attacks on her. You can do one without the other.
"oh look, here come more asshats to pile on Noonan."
Noonan dug her own pit, and things do run downhill.
I think she has a tendency toward high drama. She's kind of like the right's Chris Matthews, who so often goes all soft in the head over the grand gesture, over style over substance. Noonan can do that, too, but if you just keep that in mind it's easy to find worth in much of what she writes. I go for stretches where I don't find her stuff interesting but when she's on, she's good. I'd like to know any conservative thinker who's always right, and many writers have their annoying habits.
see #48
Do you seriously think that 100,000 GOTV volunteers would bolt if the flap of the tent hit Noonan on her way out? LOL! You are delusional.
Who's attacking her personally?
I also think she's a babe, but a seriously-flawed, intellectually-impaired babe if she actually believes what she said about Bush's inaugural speech.
No wonder she got snubbed at the White House.
"Too much God" at the inauguration? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
See my #43
Well I don't know about that. Everyone has their issues, sure. I think something is causing her to lash out tho...what it is I have no real idea.
Here's the link, be sure to read the responses they are quite good. Alicea Lingenfelt, a mild mannered woman, really gives old Peg quite the tongue lashing.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110006211
Right you are. :-)
Seems to me that all too often she sees a burning paper bag on her front porch and ends up tracking dog poop into the house.
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