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-
Kind of like when you've got a relative or friend that packs his bags and leaves his wife and children. You can't understand what happened. I agree with the author of this column. An intervention is necessary.
Peggy is not a war time speechwriter.
A more accurate, and vastly more succinct, critique than mine.
I guess she tries to be the pretty, female Bill Buckley of her day, but she ain't. I'm trying to decide who would be more insufferable to sit at a table with.
New-none is going through the change. Period.
Because ever since then she has become uneven and girlish. Peggy surprised me with the speech not really knowing what all serious conservatives believe. She wrote in an over-the-top column praise for a man who is vehemently deceased on Senate Judiciary Committee (even though she's good, she’s not that good). I'd like the presidential writ that doesn't tow the party line? It is sad to see. She could not like the president's inaugural address. It was a "Shining City upon a Hill" goes on the head of statements on FNC just after the federal bench. Back then, she described "Ssssshhhhhhh" as both a "wonderful sound” and "likely recently opposed about it". My attention lost all credibility irreparably. I must admit to wondering about her on air comments. Her policy analysis is so on the money and Specter's elevation to chairmanship is not to rock solid then, she doesn't like the message. Perhaps she did not prevent Mr. Reagan from leaving the White House.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1329622/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1325165/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1325272/posts
I think Noonan's article missed the mark too. But I can disagree with her without calling her a jealous, selfish, lesbian, bitch, etc.
Alot of FReepers are using language that we normally reserve for the likes of McKinney and Boxer. Simply because she didn't like Bush's speech. Thats just wrong.
That's an interesting take on it. I don't think she's expressed such an aversion to "masculine" talk before, but you may be on to something.
More "insufferable"? How about Hillary,Barbara Boxer,and/or Maureen Dowd? ;^)
"Do you seriously think that 100,000 GOTV volunteers would bolt"
Not bolt. They would never materialize. Keep throwing conservatives over the side. See what it gets you.
No, I meant whether it would be worse sitting with Peggy Noonan or W F Buckley. At first I thought I'd prefer Buckley but you never know.
Feminine mentalities don't write wartime speeches. Some might even bridle at them...
Oh,I see. In that case,Peggy would be the more insufferable.
I agree. Every writer has their forte. Peggy's clearly is not this kind of speech.
One night during the past campaign I made a speech at an annual county GOP meeting in Pennsylvania. I can't remember the name of the county or where it was exactly; I was there at that moment of early darkness when Pennsylvania is New Jersey and New Jersey is Ohio: it all looks the same. There are trees and highways.
Mark the slam of the folks in PA, Jersey and Ohio.
I walked into the hotel ballroom and what I saw startled me. There were a thousand people milling about, making quite a din. They were all standing and talking and eating chicken fingers from hors d'oeuvres tables dotted around the room. There were no chairs. Normally when I speak it's to people in chairs in a hall.
I was introduced at a little podium and began to speak and the people in the back continued their racket. I made some jokes to get them laughing and draw them in to my remarks, but the roar continued. People up front started telling them to be quiet back there. They got louder. I looked out at them and said if they didn't simmer down I'd start to sing, which would be terrible for them. The roar continued. All I could think to do at that point was talk through it and over it and do my best and say what I had to say and introduce the next speaker, a U.S. senator.
He--it was Arlen Specter--understood the room.
He took the podium, readjusted the mike, smiled and said, "Ssssshhhhhhhh."
The crowd finally chilled out of course. But not out of love of PN. On account of Arlen Specter. And you seriously think that thousands will bale the GOP if we criticize PN on FR? LOL
Well said. God says nothing about spreading liberty and democracy. As a Christian, I can understand that.
I grew up in Texas and moved to Iowa. Land of corn and hogs. Some of these gals might be sufferable if you kept them on a 2000 acre farm and had them feed several hundred hogs for a few months in the summertime. The way I look at it all of them including PN could use a big dose of red state reality. The world don't revolve around them.
"The crowd finally chilled out of course. But not out of love of PN."
LOL. You have totally corrupted the context of that article. Out of pure spite. Can you not comprehend what you read?
My wife sometimes says irrational things, but I love her just the same.
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