Peggy Noonan: The Other Shoe

Opinion Journal ^ | 06/07/2002 | Peggy Noonan

[MissAmericanPie]

Because they are dear trusted friends of the Presidents? I know he says they are OUR dear friends, but I always prefer to pick my own friends.

[RobFromGa]

"The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

Why did you have to bring Europe (except the UK) into it?

:-)

[Luis Gonzalez]

WOW!

Wow!

wow...

What she said...

[Steve0113]

Could you answer the question, please?

[Marysecretary]

GREAT post! Go, Peggy, go! Keep preaching it, girl!

[Marysecretary]

You're absolutely right. God is the only one who can give us that protection. The government isn't able to do that. Yes, they can stop some things from happening but they can't be everywhere at once. Things ARE going to happen and they will be big and hurtful but we can still have peace in our hearts when they do because God IS in control and He cares about us. We need to pray like never before for God to move in the Islamic nations. For him to move in Cuba and the Phillipines, the Middle East, in America! We need a change of heart or we will destroy ourselves as well.

[bfree]

This should be mandatory reading for every American.

[Motherhood IS a career]

I watched--we all watched--as an elderly couple, a man and woman in their 70s or 80s, were ordered out of line to be searched. They were old, frail, embarrassed. They stood 40 feet away from us, their shaky arms held wide as they were wanded by a low-wage worker not endowed with enough human grace to show them sympathy or respect. The old man and the old woman were forced to take their shoes off when everyone knew--we could see it--that it was hard for them. It is a great regret of my life, and I am ashamed of it, that I did not attempt to intervene. I knew that if I did I, dangerous middle-aged American female terror threat that I am, would cause myself the kind of trouble that would mean missing the plane and disappointing my son, who was at home waiting.

This touched a place in me of such sadness.

THIS touched a place in me of such utter rage, that I'd like to take Mr. Mineta and shake him like a rag doll until he comes to his f*#($&ing senses! What an idiot!

To ignore basic common sense and safety measures in the name of "political correctness" has to be right up there with the Darwin Awards. Which, as far as I'm concerned, would be just fine, IF it was his own safety that he was compromising. But unfortunately, he's compromising the safety of all American citizens, and THAT is unacceptable.

[Stand Watch Listen]

Related article

The Next 'Day of Infamy'?
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: June 03, 2002;
Author: Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.

Bill Clinton would have said, I feel your pain. A phone call I received Sunday afternoon gave me a chilling first-hand experience of what President Bush and his subordinates have been going through as they have received warnings of various kinds about future terrorist attacks -- and considered what, if anything, to do about them.

The call relayed a message from someone knowledgeable about Vedic astrology. His assessment is that the planetary alignment for June 10 is nothing short of cataclysmic, portending, in his words, events that will cause "the earth to shudder."

What does one do with such information? Discount it on the grounds that those who are steeped in Verdic astrological techniques (not to be confused with the pop versions that appear on cartoon pages) may be revered in Eastern cultures, but are generally regarded as kooks by Westerners and particularly the smart people in Washington? ......................."

[neutrino]

Bump!

[flamefront]

Thanks for what likely is the original source of Noonan's friend's swami reference (rather than appearing as a coincidence).

[summer]

bttt

[Libertina]

I am angry at the measures too, but very sad and embarrassed for the older couple.

[Libertina]

Agreed. The left has never cared how I felt either.

[Libertina]

I would have called that my mom's finest hour.
You are right, and Peggy knew she made a mistake. When I think it can't get more ridiculous, it does. Every time...

[tear_down_this_wall]

Thanks for the ping, Pokey!

[independentmind]

A great article.

[section9]

Good take. You may be on to something.

Remember, the people always tend to be ahead of the leaders on the events curve.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[habs4ever]

Are you aware that one Freeper, Chris in NJ, lost his father on that flight, and told FR that he listened to the cockpit tapes?.He assured all that a fight did take place for control of the plane, but it doesn't sound as good as you spinning the yarn that maybe, sorta, like...the plane was shot down...

You should learn to think before you open your mouth, you bright spark you...

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I watched--we all watched--as an elderly couple, a man and woman in their 70s or 80s, were ordered out of line to be searched. They were old, frail, embarrassed. They stood 40 feet away from us, their shaky arms held wide as they were wanded by a low-wage worker not endowed with enough human grace to show them sympathy or respect. The old man and the old woman were forced to take their shoes off when everyone knew--we could see it--that it was hard for them.

There are many people to blame for this situation at airports where elderly Americans are being searched. Democrats and the ACLU have been vehemently against racial and ethnic profiling for years. I don't think Democrats will give up their opposition to profiling until the Capitol Building in Washington is bombed.

They're against racial and ethnic profiling but complain that nothing was done when an FBI agent in Phoenix reported that Arabs were enrolled in flight schools. They want it both ways.