Peggy Noonan: Human, But Not To A Fault

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 1/6/3 | Peggy Noonan

[WaveThatFlag]

They see a man that is also human...he clears brush, he has a home that is not in D.C.

And that's another thing. Why are liberals so quick to criticize a conservative president for spending time at home? The man can do his job for anywhere in the world, and I like having a leader who can get away from Washington and develop some original thoughts. Because Clinton never had a real job in his life, he didn't have anything like that. So he either took elaborate vacations, or leeched off of celebrity suck-ups like Greg Norman and Steven Spielberg. Ronald Reagan spent 1/3 of his presidency at his ranch. Was he an ineffective president?

[Wait4Truth]

Well, there is not much the liberals do not criticize about this President. They just hate him. However, they are losing the battle and the war. Even with all the carping, the public supports what will be in the President's growth plan and they also still view Iraq as more dangerous than North Korea. The public still supports and trusts George W. Bush and the RATS/media are just fuming. He is a normal man with the heaviest of burdens on his shoulders. I think the American people do not appreciate all the Bush-bashing. The far-left and the far-right like it but I don't think the average American wants to see their burdened leader have to deal with all the ankle-biting by the haters. He's a good man and most people know it. He loves his country, his wife, his kids and his pets. He enjoys his ranch, he loves his flag, he does his job to the best of his ability. What more can people ask?

[Real Cynic No More]

Although I'm not a died-in-the-wool objectivist as espoused by the Ayn Rand followers, she did an excellent job of shedding the light on the socialist path in Atlas Shrugged, one of the most outstanding treatises I've ever encountered re the differences between socialism and capitalism. The issue is presented so clearly in a fictional setting, that few liberals ever admit to having read it.

[SuziQ]

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!

LOL!! You are SO right! Even Sir SuziQ, the PhD Statistician, is clueless when it comes to our 15 yo daughter! He loves her dearly, but he is very intimidated! Luckily, she is a wonderful girl!!

[SuziQ]

.....would any of you like to spend a week at Crawford with Dubya , deep in the woods riding shootgun in the F250 ?

In a NEW YORK MINUTE, I would!!

[Happygal]

Peggy is a gifted writer but I think she assumes too much in many of her articles. She doesn't always do her homework, either.

Peggy Noonan IS a gifted writer. Being an Irish journalist myself (and I've said it on this forum before) what is most engaging about Noonan is her Irish ability to spin a yarn. Sugar coat the facts, make it nice, and homely almost.

I read her Reagan biography and loved it. But I also read Dinesh D'Souza's biography, and while that was a more difficult read, and one which was clinical in it's dialogue, was a much more considered tome than Noonan's.

Maybe Noonan's talent lies in writing easy-to-read novels that spread a conservative message. I don't know.

(Personally speaking, I write a lot like her (lyrically speaking..I think fellow freeper jla can vouch for that) sometimes...and can identify the pitfalls in 'hard facts' that she encounters.

Maybe it's an Irish thing. We all have a loose relationship with REAL reality from time to time! *L* But our readers LOVE IT!!! *LOL*

[Happygal]

I disagree. Dubya is FAR more interesting to me than Clinton EVER was.

Put it this way, I can meet wife-cheating philandering schemers any day of the week. Those who use every means possible, and every person possible to slime their way to power.

Meeting a Christian, who likes to spend time down on the farm with his wife (whom he adores, and a wife who seemingly doesn't throw things around the White House!!!), who has two regular kids (who ALL have a drink before their 21!!!), and who still manages to RUN the free world. Hmmm...I'd find a night talking to Dubya rather fascinating. Actually, I think (as a journalist) I'm going to write him, and see if (to counter Clinton's pro-Irish bullshit) and see if he'll take an Irish girl Freeper down the ranch for a couple of days...and she'll write HER story for the Irish news media.

[tet68]

I was talking to my 76 year old mother last night and we got to talking about GW and she said, "He sounds like us, he sounds like he lived down the block. He talks TO me, as though he were my neighbor not the President."
God bless her grey republican head.

[ohioWfan]

George W. Bush is a far more interesting and complex person than xlinton.

He is both strong and compassionate. He was a ladies' man who is totally and passionately devoted to his wife......the only woman in his life. He is a mature business man with a little devil in his eye. He is a leader who is also a servant.

William Jefferson Clinton is only a slug.

This article is a figment of Noonan's imagination.

I'm disappointed in you, Peggy.

[hillsborofox]

Yes, yes, um...yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and YES!!!

[Teacher317]

That "wobbled" remark at the top bothered me too... I think I'll skip the middle.

LOL, well then you basically saw the happy beginning of "It's a Wonderful Life", the joyous ending, and concluded that it was an upbeat film full of sappy love scenes. ;^)

It's a good read. Tough it out.

[kayak]

Oh, I don't think that George W. Bush is an interesting person ..... that is far too mundane a word for him.

The man is fascinating ..... the way he constantly catches the 'rats off guard ...... the way he does things the way he thinks they should be done rather than the way the media expect .... the way he plays chess when everyone else is playing marbles or something .... the way he maneuvered the UN ..... and on and on and on. It has been quite a study to watch him in action in the last two years.

[hillsborofox]

"would any of you like to spend a week at Crawford with Dubya , deep in the woods"

Oh, yes. For reasons that go way beyond his being interesting and because this is a family forum, I won't explain. Ahem.

[cactusSharp]

yikes....hehehehe

[hillsborofox]

You may have a point. I've successfully avoided seeing "it's a wonderful...ZZZZZ...life" beginning to end for decades.

I love Ms. Noonan but this essay fell flat, to me. I read the entirety and I understand that she translates neurotic and emotionally driven as, in liberal speak, "complicated" and "interesting." But her point is too small and undefined IMveryHO.

[Mo1]

I normally like Peggy Noonan, I think this is a little off-base.

A little? .. I normally like reading Peggy's article also, but she went way over the edge on this one

[Teacher317]

Definitely not one of her best, but since she's world-class, that's not really an insult. Actually, I read this one as written for liberal consumption, featuring many of the assumptions and starting points they accept as givens. I don't think she's fallen to the dark side or anything. ;^)

[Wait4Truth]

I agree! This President is facinating. Every time the Dems think they have him right where they want him, he spins away and crushes them. If that is not interesting, I don't know what is. He is a political master - he stays on message and fights for his principles no matter what. I was thrilled when President Bush called the Dems criticism and jockeying for position in the 04 presidential race "background noise". He said he will continue to do his job and the Dems "will sort themselves out".

[SevenofNine]

I don't get it Peggy

I never consider Dubya as cold father I seen photos of Dubya with his twin daughters most infamous one was is him dancing with Jenna at Ingaration party

Shame on YOU Peggy SHAMEEEE