[pieceofthepuzzle]

First, although I used to really like Noonan, she has over the past several years proven herself to be more a fan of and commentator on political gamesmanship than a person with clear convictions. Someone needs to wake her up and impress upon her that this is 'real', the stakes are high, and America is not impervious to destruction by its own incompetent government.

That said, I think it is always good to assess if what you are doing is working (i.e. the campaign) and determine ways to do it better. However, articles like this give the impression that the campaign is in disarray, and I don't think that is true at all. The campaign has been the subject of an onslaught of biased media coverage, and they would like nothing better at this point than to be able to report 'disarray' in the Romney campaign. Pieces like this one from Noonan are a bit like 'chum' in the water in that regard. The reality is that despite incredibly biased news coverage Romney is well-positioned, and the democrats are scared.

[pepsionice]

I would agree....in the states that matter, Romney is in a better position than the media admits. Noonan’s commentary doesn’t really deserve to be discussed... irreverent is the term that I’d use.

[abb]

"Peggy, you're nothing to me now. You're not a sister, you're not a friend. I don't want to know you or what you do. I don't want to see you on television, or read what you write. I don't want you near any conservative conferences. When you see my friends, I want to know a day in advance, so I won't be there. You understand?"

With apologies to Michael Corleone.

[personalaccts]

As rush would say she’s part of the beltway, elite club

[SatinDoll]

I’ve noticed this about the Romney campaign: there is a knee-jerk reaction on the part of his employees everytime the ‘conservative’ Romney appears. The recently released videos, for example.

Oh, and I like the idea of “democrats are scared”. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

[expat1000]

I kind of doubt any insiders in the know are confiding in Noonan these days.

Anyway, Romney’s got a pretty good string of successes in his life even if you don’t agree with what he has been successful at. I’m inclined to trust him on how to win this thing.

[MestaMachine]

Miss Piggy must have slept through this past week.

[PhilDragoo]

Peggy Noonan looks through the bottle and sees Maureen Dowd. (hic)

[nathanbedford]

Is unfortunate for a reasoned analysis of the Romney campaign that the criticism here comes from Peggy Noonan whose recent history could not be more calculated to antagonize conservatives. Let us not forget the Peggy Noonan supported Barack Obama four years ago.

But the real question before us is not the faithlessness of Peggy Noonan rather it is the health of the Romney campaign.

This campaign is being conducted by those who believe on one side of an issue and it is being criticized by those of us who believe the other side of the issue. The issue is whether a political campaign should conduct itself to attract uncommitted voters whom we call "independents" or "undecideds." This side of the question is invariably the side favored by Rinos.

The other side of the debate, advanced by conservatives, is that the campaign should energize its base and that pandering to the mushy middle is counterproductive in that it diminishes turnout among the party faithful.

So far, Romney has conducted a campaign designed to appeal to independents and he has disappointed many movement conservatives. Let me move quickly to acknowledge that the selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate put many of us offguard and caused us to believe that Romney was prepared to conduct an aggressive attack on Obama and a full throated endorsement of conservative values. Many of us thought that Romney was capable of an aggressive campaign, questions of ideology aside, as we watched him systematically and even ruthlessly dismantle his conservative opponents in the primaries.

It is in this context that the criticisms outlined by Mr. Lombardo who worked in the 2008 Romney campaign, as quoted by Ms. Noonan, ought to be analyzed.

Please note that neither of these critics of the Romney campaign are criticizing Romney ideologically, to the contrary, they are talking tactics, perceptions, professionalism. We conservatives will instinctively react to say, "the Rinos are laying the predicate to blame Romney and his advisers for incompetence in the event of a loss of the election rather than accept that Romney lost implementing the Rino side of the age old argument."

We conservatives believe that a full throated conservative attack and advancement of conservative values will not only energize the base but will also draw in undecideds and independents. We cite Ronald Reagan as the candidate who could articulate the conservative message and we cite the millions of "Reagan Democrats" who flocked to his banner and gave him landslides as evidence that our side of this argument is correct.

For months now I have been posting on the subject but I have always been careful to note that Romney undoubtedly has the best polling and focus group data that money can buy and these data must undoubtedly be telling him that the Rino side of the argument is statistically sound. After all, we all know that we would all crawl over broken glass to vote against Obama even though we might not cross the street to vote for Romney. But consider, the tape recently released showing Romney conceding 47% of the vote and telling his potential dollars that he must concentrate on the remaining 3% of undecideds and independents could mean that Romney has carried a Rino preconception right from the beginning of the campaign and has refused to abandon it in the face of objective polling data. In other words, Romney is not informed by current polling and focus group data but he is locked into a prejudice.

If Romney loses this election, Peggy Noonan will have no ground upon which to stand and say, "I told you so." Rather, it is we conservatives who will own the high ground but that will be of small comfort as we watch from our elevated height the Republican Party being torn asunder.

[SueRae]

Noonan is one of those ‘chin-pullers’ that Michelle Malkin called out.

[SueRae]

Recall the glowing article she penned aout 0bama around this time in 2008. Now she has buyer’s remorse. Please, Peggy, don’t offer anymore ‘advice’ on how to do it right this time. You’re disqualified.

[gotribe]

Buy more ammo.

[MrDem]

The reality is that despite incredibly biased news coverage Romney is well-positioned, and the democrats are scared.

Dead on! The Marxist and his wicked cohorts were very cocky and self assured that they could kill off Romney early, and when that didn't happen and the real polls show him even or leading in the swing states, they are scared. And this is before Romney has even started firing the heavy guns. Team Empty Chair fired their best shots multiple times and the shots bounced off the side without much damage.

[LibLieSlayer]

Reagan fired the b!tch... there was a reason. Now we too know what it was.

LLS

[FreedomPoster]

Peggy has been inside the Beltway far, far too long. She has lost all perspective on the country.

[Diogenesis]

Ms. Noonan brings conservatives “advice” directly
from the bed of Obama the Undocumented Moslem Marxist.

[tips up]

Wasn’t she part of the Republican smart set that kept telling us that Romney was the only GOP nominee that could beat Obama?

[SeminoleCounty]

Seems like whenever Romney says something truthful and conservative....all the PhonyCon RINOs come out of the closet.

Peggy....time to join the DNC...if you have not already done so

[Georgia Girl 2]

Who died and left Peggy Noonan a political expert? All she ever did is write a few speeches for Ronnie in the 80’s. She’s a smarmy Blanche Dubuois who was gaga over Obama when he was elected. STFU Peggy. Nobody cares.

[Cruising For Freedom]

Okay. Let’s see which liberal columnists are out there talking down Obama...

*crickets chirp*

Dammit, Noonan. Stop your whore mouth. You’re just adding to the MSM narrative. There’s plenty of time after Election Day to talk stuff about Romney all you like.