Peggy Noonan: Since You Asked . . .

Opinion Journal ^ | 02/03/03 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

Wasn't it surprising that at a time like this Mr. Bush didn't limit his State of the Union address to the two great issues, Iraq and the economy?

It surprised me when I learned of it, which was the morning of the speech. I was one of the columnists invited to meet with a high government official with intimate knowledge of the president's thinking, as they say, on background. We met in his office, which has no corners. He told us he would be presenting his domestic agenda, a blueprint for the coming year, in his speech.

[olliemb]

NO, aiding with the AIDS problem is our problem. God did not give us all that we have so as not to help out our neighbor. It is our obligation to help out and I am glad the president has committed us.

[Publius Maximus]

I wouldn't go that far, but he certainly isn't a small government conservative.

I think it's pretty safe to say that after 9/11, the very idea of limited government is over. The era's been over for a long, long time.

[MissAmericanPie]

Liberals are not the only ones that "spin". To call Bush a conservative is laughable. Rove's invitation to conservatives to leave the "big tent" if they don't like it may haunt the party in 2004. It certainly was a splash of cold water on my plans to ever vote for the show pony they put forward as presidential material. I'll write in whom ever displays integrity to the Constitution and our sovereignty.

[xsmommy]

So she was in the Oval Office with other columnists? I wonder who they were? Any ideas? Was this the ballyhooed meeting with Jennings/Steffie, Brokaw/Russert, etc? Was Dan there? Was Wolfie there? Tony and Brit? NYT? WP? Time

Robert Novak mentioned the fact that he was at this meeting, during his debate with Sam Donaldson at CPAC this past Saturday.

[RJCogburn]

It is our obligation to help out

No, it is not.

[olliemb]

Moral obligation, yes. Read your bible.

[chatham]

Mr Bush refuses to bring up the Borders even thouhg they are a source of real danger to our country because they are afraid they will lose the Hispanic vote.
They believe the border issue to be the third rail of Politics!

[Teacher317]

It is not the government's job to take my money and give it to those that are in the current spotlight to satisfy "my moral obligation." If I want to give it, I'll do it myself... and far more efficiently, directly, and effectively where most charities and churches are involved.

Also, the Bible is not a binding document on the government of the United States. If you want to back up the "obligation" idea, you'll need to cite the Constitution.

[jeremiah]

It seems to me, certain elements of the right, were making this same criticism of Reagan, after his first two years in office.

I'm sure that is true, and still making that same point. Reagan presided over record deficits, his legacy of national debt may never be topped. RR was many things, and is remembered fondly by the vast majority of peoples, but figure out how much you owe to the service of debt, just from his 8 years in office.

Just because it is constantly repeated that someone is a conservative, does not make it true. Conservatism has as its main plank, the importance of de-centralized govt, a strict interpretation of the constitution, and a balanced budget. Under RR, Bush, and now GW, the govt is more centralized, the constitution is more broadly interpreted, and of course the budget is further out of balance, than under a Clinton administration. Those are facts, although I don't cite sources as proof, I am sure they will stand up to scrutiny. I know that Al Gore would be different, and may not be what this country needed in '02, but never again will I believe that the Republicans are the party of smaller govt etc.....That lie has been outed consistently.

[jeremiah]

The only thing wrong with your opinion of positioning the party and himself, for bigger changes after '04, is that his political capital will never be higher than it is right now. He could make drastic cuts to federal spending, slash govt programs, and blame it all on the need to fight terrorism. He could propose elimination of entire programs and agencies, challenge the Republican controlled Senate, to live up the mantle of greatness, and streamline the workings of govt. Eliminate corporate welfare, dept of education, or many other unconstitutional workings. Of course, that would go against his personal beliefs. He believes in the power of a centralized govt, he worries not one whit about the constitutional restrictions placed upon it. I base my statement on his actions, not some made for the public press release, or campaign promise. Now is the time to strike a blow for conservatism. We don't need to spend $2.4 Trillion dollars of the publics money. I know this has been said before, and the nation is still here, but nearly a Trillion dollars, before any money is spent on the Social programs that are still growing and feeding? No nation can long support that kind of spending, and a Pollyanna attitude of "its morning in America" will not save the peoples bankbook from this fiscal irresponsibility.

[olliemb]

I am not talking about the "binding law" of man. I am talking about a human beings obligation to help out another human being. I am talking about God's law. The AIDS epidemic is not only for charities to tend to b/c it is so monumental in its scope. Millions of people are dying b/c of this. Why would you not feel compassion for these people? The monies that you or I individually or collectively could donate to charities for this problem won't even put a dent in solving this problem. Humanity has an obligation to take care of humanity.

[Teacher317]

I am not talking about the "binding law" of man. I am talking about a human beings obligation to help out another human being. I am talking about God's law.

Yet you cite it as an excuse for further government interference. Care to cite the chapter and verse where the Bible directs us to have our government do our charitable works for us? I thought the whole point was for each individual to do good works, not to subordinate the responsibilities to other agents to do it for us.

The monies that you or I individually or collectively could donate to charities for this problem won't even put a dent in solving this problem.

Where do you think the government collects those revenues from? Government doesn't have a dime that it does not take from you and I.

Why would you not feel compassion for these people?

Why do you assume that I don't? Once again, private individuals and charities do the same work FAR more efficiently, with less waste, with less "accounting losses", and with greater effect (since the majority of the large-scale government gifts are hoarded by the receiving governments, and not used as intended). My way, there are FAR greater benefits to the suffering for the same amount of money. With this in mind, should we ask why YOU don't feel compassion for these people?

The AIDS epidemic is not only for charities to tend to b/c it is so monumental in its scope. Millions of people are dying b/c of this.

While monumental in scope, it is also 100% preventable, most especially by following those same Biblical admonitions and suggestions. Why must I feel obligated to help out someone who has intentionally ignores wisdom, engages in a dangerous activity, and sees consequences for it? Should we feel similar obligations towards those who walk into a polar bear's cage? Finally, since Americans can't cure every ill on the planet (although we're doing a rather good job of it anyway), why is it such a bad idea to allow me to decide which causes to support, rather than taking my money and making the decision for me?

[Mr. Mojo]

NO, aiding with the AIDS problem is our problem. God did not give us all that we have so as not to help out our neighbor.

You didn't read my post too carefully, did you? I never said that AIDS "wasn't our problem," nor did I say that humans shouldn't help their neighbor(s). I merely said that these types of problems are more appropriately left to private charities, not government. Capiche?

[Mr. Mojo]

Why would you not feel compassion for these people?

You have a nasty habit of putting words in peoples' mouths. Who on this thread has said that they don't feel compassion for African AIDS victims?

[Mr. Mojo]

Well argued.

[Wait4Truth]

Isn't it true that in 1986 President Reagan signed a bill giving amnesty to 3 million illegal immigrants?

[RJCogburn]

Moral obligation, yes. Read your bible.

No, you may decide that it is your obligation, and that is fine.

You said our obligation....

I am may choose to wish to assist, but I do not need to be told what others decide my obligation is.

[Mr. Mojo]

The President has given every indication that he wants Illegals in this country, unless it too obviously inconveniences the War on Terror.

He has made it painfully clear that pandering for votes and supplying cheap labor to corporations (probably as a payback for campaign funds) is significantly more important than seeing to our national defense, and it's fairly obvious by now that only a nuked American city or two will change his position. God bless the few American citizens who have the guts to take up the fight at our southern border that our government should be responsible for waging.

[Zack Nguyen]

Oh, barf. A conservative believes in limited federal government. Bush is anything but. Spending under Bush is exploding, and he is proposing huge spending increases across the board.

I am also somewhat distressed to see that economic conservatism has died unmourned. Yet folks should have known what was coming. Bush ran for President as anything but an economic conservative. He spent huge amounts of money in Texas, and now the current Governor must deal with a huge budget shortfall directly related to it.

Having said that, the SOTU bits on Iraq were superb, and Bush will fight the coming war with a great deal of domestic support.

[Mr. Mojo]

Isn't it true that in 1986 President Reagan signed a bill giving amnesty to 3 million illegal immigrants?

He did indeed. Reagan made some huge mistakes, and that was one of them.