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Peggy Noonan: Human, But Not To A Fault
The Wall Street Journal ^
| 1/6/3
| Peggy Noonan
Posted on 01/06/2003 6:23:30 AM PST by WaveThatFlag
Edited on 04/23/2004 12:05:05 AM PDT by Jim Robinson.
[history]
Human, but Not to a Fault Why do people like President Bush? It isn't complicated.
I thought I'd start the year with some thoughts on George W. Bush, for he soon reaches his two-year mark as president, and we have learned some things about him. Some people I love, mostly Democrats but some Republicans, have taken to asking: Why do people like Bush? They know the obvious reasons--9/11, an administration suddenly given serious purpose, a president who seemed to wobble a bit like everyone else the first hours and quickly collected himself like most everyone else.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: peggynoonanlist
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Rock on Peggy...
To: WaveThatFlag
2
posted on
01/06/2003 6:33:06 AM PST
by
stlrocket
To: WaveThatFlag
It's irritating that Noonan (a great writer and good conservative who's nonetheless occasionally too saccharine for my taste) would perpetuate the myth that Bush "wobbled" for a few hours after the Twin Towers were hit. He did not wobble! As the leader of the nation he was
forced to be very careful about his personal security at a time when multiple unknown factors existed about the resources and intentions of the enemy.
He behaved prudentially, and exactly as he should have! Noonan should know this.
3
posted on
01/06/2003 6:42:52 AM PST
by
beckett
To: beckett
I think she is referring, not to the security issue, but to his initial statement where he referred to the terrorists as "those folks."
4
posted on
01/06/2003 6:56:06 AM PST
by
07055
To: 07055
I think she is referring, not to the security issue, but to his initial statement where he referred to the terrorists as "those folks."Could be. Since she didn't specify we can't know for sure, but if your take is correct than my criticism would be groundless, as you imply.
5
posted on
01/06/2003 6:58:24 AM PST
by
beckett
To: WaveThatFlag
"... liberals and leftists prefer their leaders complicated, and conservatives prefer their leaders uncomplicated."That's because the liberals try to make things as confusing to the public as they can. They constantly use smoke, mirrors, and spin. The conservatives rely on logic, the bane of any liberal minded pinkie who wants his social agenda to supercede any rational thought the masses may have.
To: WaveThatFlag
"Bill Clinton was the political version of a cow's head in formaldehyde"Oh, Peggy. You're too kind.
"Liberals" like everything complicated, not just their leaders. They love to get bogged down in complications and difficulties and details.
A real leader slashes the Gordian Knot and proceeds forward!
George Bush is a real leader.
To: beckett
You're right, Beck. From all accounts Bush was completely steady.
To: Real Cynic No More
You're right. "Liberals" abhor clarity and simplicity. Rush was correct when he said that "Liberals" are afraid that their message will be understood.
To: Real Cynic No More
The conservatives rely on logic, . . .Acually, Bush seems to rely primarily on common sense (as did Reagan). I'm not suggesting that common sense is illogical. It is a special kind of logic. And liberals have precious little of it.
To: Savage Beast
I was also thinking about this...
A severed cow's head? Comparision to Clinton?
I wonder if Ms. Noonan was specific and intentional in that comparison. It is certainly indicative of the way that the Clinton's operate, though with significantly less honor than La Cosa Nostra.
11
posted on
01/06/2003 7:19:14 AM PST
by
mattdono
To: Savage Beast
Yes, a great leader. One that inspires trust, confidence, security - things we desperately need after 9/11.
12
posted on
01/06/2003 7:20:25 AM PST
by
ClancyJ
To: Kevin Curry
I always say that common sense has flown out the window, so to speak. Colleges aren't rife with it any longer, for darn sure, and neither are the libs. People over 60 still seem to have some but I fear for the youngsters.
To: WaveThatFlag
Mr. Bush also seems slightly afraid of his children. Quite Frankly,,,,, I think everybody who lives their life in a fishbowl has some degree of fear of what their children might do. Kids occasionally make 'miss steps' as they are growing up. Children of public officials have a very tough row to hoe and are not allowed to make these mistakes without the glare of the media looking over their shoulder and reporting such.
When a child of a (Republican) Public Official fails to live up to their parent's and the public's expectations it is strewn all over newspapers and TV and quickly becomes a reflection on the parent. Very few people in this world raise PERFECT children.
I have witnessed normally "focused" parents become very ineffective on the job when dealing with Acting Out teens at home. It gets even worse when the kid breaks the law.
No kid is any better than the crowd they are running with. And kids who are constantly reminded that they must 'toe the line' because of Daddy or Mommy's 'position' become resentful in a hurry. This, in itself, is a prescription for trouble.
Scared of the kids? Perhaps not literally. Scared of what those kids might do? You Bet.
To: beckett
I think that everyone was a little "shaken" by the events. And, as Ms. Noonan points out, Bush is human and an American. It would only make sense that he was shaken some too. If by "wobbled" she more meant shaken by the events of that morning, I could completely understand (and perhaps agree with) that.
Of course, it was Bush that turned Air Force One around and headed back to Washington on the evening of 9/11, despite Secret Service and VP suggestions otherwise. Nothing wobbly about that. Also, nothing wobbly about the President telling the Secret Service, "I'll be up in the residence!", when they insisted that he sleep in the bunker below the White House.
I completely agree that the necessary moves that Bush made, first to Louisana and then to Ouffit AFB in Nebraska, were (rightful) Secret Service concerns.
In fact, the better reason that any observer might have thought the President was "wobbly" was because of that little pr*ck, Penis Jennings dramatically claiming, "Where's the President?" and other completely moronic statements that we heard throughout the day, on 9/11.
15
posted on
01/06/2003 7:43:31 AM PST
by
mattdono
To: Iowa Granny
Too bad a life in politics demands so much time away from the family...
Used to be, an elected position to the statehouse or congress was a part time position. Folks went off to represent their neighbors for two or three months, then came home to resume ordinary life, including raising children. Today, people like the Clintons have turned these jobs into careers and expect the children to raise themselves (and express surprise when the kids get into trouble).
To: Iowa Granny
Watching my own husband walk on egg shells around our 23-year old daughter, I am inclined to think many men are a bit afraid of their daughters once they become young women. LOL!
To: Howlin; Miss Marple; mombonn; Sabertooth; beckett; BlueAngel; JohnHuang2; *Peggy Noonan list; ...
Pinging the Peggy list.
18
posted on
01/06/2003 8:35:46 AM PST
by
Pokey78
To: Real Cynic No More
About liberals wanting their leaders "complicated," I think it stems from the nature of liberalism. The longer I live and observe politics, the more I'm convinced that liberalism is a mental illness, or at least is a dysfunction. Liberals seem to like leaders who create "drama," usually of the personal kind. But, then again, because these leaders are liberal themselves, they tend to be dysfunctional as people.
19
posted on
01/06/2003 8:58:58 AM PST
by
My2Cents
To: Kevin Curry
Common sense is reliable if one's instincts are good. This was true in Reagan's case. And I think it's true in Bush's case.
20
posted on
01/06/2003 9:00:46 AM PST
by
My2Cents
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