[sinkspur]

Noonan jumped the shark last Thursday.

She's compromised her credibility irreparably.

[Texas_Jarhead]

I guessed I missed her press conference.

[Aussie Dasher]

I must admit to wondering a bit about Peggy of late.

If she keeps it, I may have to change my tagline.

[Texas Eagle]

Here's the relevant excerpt, from saddest paragraph in her sad column:

"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.

[Keith in Iowa]

I like the article's final line: "I like Peggy Noonan, but I think it's time for an intervention."

On the money.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

A little estrogen and B12 might not hurt.

[Darkwolf377]

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?

[BobS]

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.

[msnimje]

I have been wondering why she said the things she did about the President's inaugural address. It was a "Shinning City upon a Hill goes on the Road" speech. It is really hard for me to believe she did not like the message. Perhaps she doesn't like the messenger or his speech writers. She could even be missing her old job.

[Mr. Mojo]

Peggy Noonan is still looking for her lost mojo.

I'm right here, Peg. Freepmail me anytime.

[John Lenin]

Peggy who ?

[Happygal]

Hate to say, I told you so!

[nopardons]

When Peggy first started to go off track,I called her a HACK here and got yelled at. I was right,they were wrong,and sometimes Peggy writes garbage columns,sticking both feet in her mouth,and jumping.

[nutmeg]

read later bump

[fish hawk]

New-none is going through the change. Period.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

"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.

Well said. God says nothing about spreading liberty and democracy. As a Christian, I can understand that.

[Seaplaner]

I observed in the previous Noonan thread that the "Not written here" issue was her complaint in disguise.

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?)

[Echo Talon]

Noonan needs to get out more, I think she needs to visit middle America and do some real work. Maybe that will bring her back to earth? Maybe Bush could have her clear some brush on his ranch or something? The elitist cocktail parties have been getting to her or something...

[america-rules]

What makes me roll my eyes is why was her comments on Fox a 180 from what she wrote?

[Rockingham]

A number of conservatives are put off by the sweeping nature of Bush's declared foreign policy goals, which are more akin to FDR's "Four Freedoms" and JFK's inaugural speech than traditional Republican "walk softly and carry a big stick" policies of well-armed prudence with an avoidance of large scale military action. In addition, strong isolationist sentiment persists, especially among Midwesterners and paleocons. I think that Noonan has those sorts of reservations about Bush's foreign policy but has not yet thought her way through the issues, so she focused on stylistic criticisms and made herself seem shallow.