Count me now among those in the president's own natural constituency who, as Noonan reports, are "no longer confident about what he does...no longer fully comfortable in their judgment of his policies and actions, or the root thoughts behind them."
If anyone can tell me the president's political philosophy, I'd be fascinated to learn what it is. Is it intellectually coherent? Or is it, as all the evidence of actions seems to indicate, just a situational hodgepodge sprouting from his own personality, subject to strong influence from the better read intellects surrounding him?
George W. Bush once joked at a dinner for William F. Buckley that at Yale, Buckley wrote a book, and he, the president, read one. He never jokes about such matters anymore. He knows, I think, that advertising yourself as a lightweight thinker is not only unseemly for the most powerful man in the world, but also harmful to the nation's prestige for so high an office to be filled by a man who doesn't have an honest intellectual grounding in the political philosophy he purports to espouse.
It's a term of endearment. They are personally very close.
Ya know, Libs just don't have a sense of humor or an understanding of friendship and informality. Sad.
It's the same way the British talked about Field Marshall Montgomery ("Monty"); or the Americans talked about Eisenhower ("Ike").
My idea of hell would be to have to read a book by Peggy Noonan, full of this kind of crapola.
I would point out that Jimmy Carter doesn't call himself James, so what's the relevance?
Peggy, honey bunny, he uses first names and nick names for many people that he works closely with or likes. Obviously, you're not one of them. Get over it.
I have to say as a recovering intellectual and wannabe philosopher, I sympathize. But leaders and philosophers are different creatures. I think Churchill—a great reader, writer, and leader—would have loved Bush.
If you really like guys who read a lot, you would have loved Adlai Stevenson (but I'm going to guess you didn't).
The idea, as Peggy (excuse me—"Margaret") Noonan says in her column that Buckley carried the intellectual heft of the conservative movement is way overblown. Buckley was pro-contraception and claimed to be a Catholic. Buckley in his later years won't back the War on Terror, but backed the Vietnam War (and I agree with him there).
Buckley is a very smart man, but in the end, is primarily a media creature. He's wonderfully wise considering that, but sorry, he's dead wrong on the War on the Islamo-Nazis, and dead wrong on Bush.
I love the Bush quote about reading a book at Yale . . .
You are correct. Bush is terminally stupid. Maybe even a tool of the neocons/trilateralists/bilderbergers/fillinyouownconspiracynutgroup.
Here is a place you can appreciate: http://democratsunderground.com or http://dailykos.com
I, for one, am sick of Noonan's mewling and free flow punditry.
Noonan (dare I call her Peggy?), used to have something to say. Now,she writes like Andy Rooney talks: "Did'ya ever notice that Dubya calls the Secretary of State 'Condi'? Why is that?" I could almost hear Joe Piscapo reading the column in a Rooneyesque voice.
I usually don't think of what women shout during bouts of passion, but I laugh when I think of Madame Noonan in this regard. It would have to have a prithee somehere...
RE your post #1, and Noonan's drivel: A word to both of you. Get over yourselves. Sheesh, what nonsense.
Since when did Peggy Noonan turn into Peggy Rooney? What a whiner!
Sounds like somebody really needs a bit more roughage in her diet...
Nope. It is small.
This is a matter to be set between two perfectly capable adults. It isn't a matter to be judged as inappropriate by someone who doesn't know one party and doesn't like the other. IMHO, of course.
[warning . . . a rant re one of my FR peeves]
A QUESTION.
= = = = = = = =
Ah, an intellectually stimulating question on FR. How fine.
Oh, wait. I don't know what it's about. Should I pause or rush along to more interesting and higher priorities.
A question.
Perhaps it's about the % of poisonous gas flowing out of Shrillery's mouth?
Maybe it's about when Israel is project to end their security efforts.
Maybe it's a curiosity about how many scales Helen Thomasss has busted compared to how many Scuba Teddy has busted.
Or, perhaps, it's about how many pinheaded traitorous Sentators can stand on the top of Scuba Teddy's martini glass while drunk.
Maybe it's about whether Ann Coulter sleeps with a teddy bear or a blowup hubby doll.
Perhaps it's about the price of tea in China or whether NK will attack Hawaii this week.
Maybe it's a totally important study about how many college students eat their boogers.
Guess I'll have to pause if I want to find out. Sure hope it's of interest.
Sigh.
WRONG. Not interesting. GRRRR. What a waste of time clueless titles are.
Would sure be nice if posters would add some [meaningful info] in brackets when posting clueless titles.
LOL, why don't all you smart guys run for office?
Chicken?
I have nothing deep or intellectual to offer. I just like Bush and am glad he is my president. I trust and admire him. As a good American, I hope, I would have supported Kerry, but I'm sure glad he didn't win. I like a real person and not all that phony stuff.