[Fenris6]

"Constructive criticism in the political world is done in private communications, not in a column in the Wall Street Journal."

I disagree. I've been reading the WSJ almost as long as I have Noonan. Conservative columnists routinely disagree with Conservative Presidents on those pages. As they should.

You appear to have a premise that Noonan's criticism hurt the President's message. If so, I respectfully ask that you provide a bit more detail.

"I can appreciate your loyalty to Ms. Noonan. I am loyal to the President. I believe he knows a bit more about world politics that she does..."

But of course. And I remain loyal to both.

[Miss Marple]

Yes, critical columns by conservatives often appear in the Wall Street Journal. Those columns are not meant as "constructive criticism." They are public disagreements with the administration, and they are an effort to change the course of policy.

This is also an effort to change the course of policy. Peggy isn't simply criticizing the speech. She is undercutting it and calling the policy full of hubris, unrealistic, and fraught with dangers. She opposes it...although she has managed to cleverly hide this with soft words.

As I said to livius, of all weeks to say that some people cannot self-govern, she chose the week of the Iraqi national elections. This is not constructive criticism.