Peggy Noonan: A Rebellion and an Awkward Embrace

Wall St Journal ^ | 2/3/08 | Peggy Noonan

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

In the most exciting and confounding election cycle of my lifetime, Rudy Giuliani, the Prince of the City, is out because he was about to lose New York, John Edwards is out, the Clintons are...

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Noonan offers her insight, have at it.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

I used to enjoy Peggy Noonan’s editorials.

[stocksthatgoup]

McCain/Hagel'08
Because They Deserve Each Other

[listenhillary]

Can I have the 1993 McCain?

[jalisco555]

Wow, Peggy just makes less and less sense. I’m not even sure what the point of this article is.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

I used to enjoy Peggy Noonan’s editorials.

Me too. I'd retire before I'd say anything nice about Ted Kennedy.

[markomalley]

Love this line:

Mr. McCain seems to me to have two immediate problems, both of which he might address. One is that he doesn't seem to much like conservatives, and never has. They can't help admire him, but they've disagreed with him on so many issues, and when they bring this up his demeanor tends to morph into the second problem: He radiates, he telegraphs, a certain indignation at being questioned by people who've never had to vote in Congress and make a deal. He's like Moe Greene in "The Godfather," when Michael Corleone tells him he's going to buy him out. "Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Greene. I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders." I've been on the firing line, punk. I am the voice of surviving conservatism.

This doesn't always go over so well. Mr. Giuliani seems to know Mr. McCain is Moe Greene. Mr. Huckabee probably thought "The Godfather" was kinda violent. Mr. Romney may be thinking to himself, But Michael Corleone won in the end, and had better suits.

Sounds like she has McLame down cold.

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

everyone who knows Teddy Kennedy knows that he holds a deep love for his country, that he feels a reverence for the presidency and a desire that America be represented with grace abroad and stature at home.

Noonan's ignorant.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Isn’t that the truth? Yes, I’m glad Teddy has (for the moment) turned against the Clinton mafia. But what did he turn to? An empty suit who will destroy this nation if selected President. But there is NO nobility in this choice, IMHO.

As for her opinions about McCain. Sick.

[Bahbah]

It's like the man-hug the pol at the podium now feels he must give to the man he's just introduced. They used to just shake and say, "Thanks, Bob," and go to the podium. Now they embrace....

I'll grant her this point. I wish they would just go back to shaking hands.

[Tigen]

Love this line; Michael Corleone tells him he’s going to buy him out.

[1rudeboy]

This doesn't always go over so well. Mr. Giuliani seems to know Mr. McCain is Moe Greene. Mr. Huckabee probably thought "The Godfather" was kinda violent. Mr. Romney may be thinking to himself, But Michael Corleone won in the end, and had better suits.

LOL

[PatrickF4]

Yeah, Michael Corleone? Moe Green?... is she saying the Republicans are a bunch of thug gangsters with nice suits? Is Mike Huckabee, therefore, Luca Brazi?

[PatrickF4]

“I am the voice of surviving conservatism.” Well, I think she should have said “I am the voice of one who has survived conservatism.” Unfortunately.

[Kay Syrah]

Mr. McCain seems to me to have two immediate problems, both of which he might address. One is that he doesn't seem to much like conservatives, and never has. They can't help admire him, but they've disagreed with him on so many issues, and when they bring this up his demeanor tends to morph into the second problem: He radiates, he telegraphs, a certain indignation at being questioned by people who've never had to vote in Congress and make a deal. He's like Moe Greene in "The Godfather," when Michael Corleone tells him he's going to buy him out. "Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Greene. I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders." I've been on the firing line, punk. I am the voice of surviving conservatism.

Mr. McCain is proud of his irascibility and says he's never been called "Miss congeniality." OK

Some questions for Sen. McCain.

1. Have you ever taken after members of the Democrat Party like you have your own, Like John Cornyn for example. Are you on record of calling anyone across the aisle an a$$-h*** or worse when they disagreed with you?

2. You took on the Swift Boat Veterans did you ever take on Move On for the Petraeus ad? Did you do it in the Senate? Did you speak to it at all?

3. When Harry Reid went after Rush did you defend him on the floor of the Senate? Reid was repeating the slur time after time, did you answer him, did you? Or did you think it was a good enought tactic that you used it against Mitt Romney repeatedly accusing him of supporting timetables, even tho he clearly did not.

3. Have you ever spoken about a Democrat position, most notably on the war with the disdain and arrogance you reserve for your own party on other issues?

4. When your gang of fourteen was formed, did you ever take the opportunity to lecture on the floor on the Senate the differences betweent conservative judges and liberal ones. Did you do it with your characteristic straight talk laced with epithets for the other side?

5. Have you ever addressed the clear issues on free speech limitations of CFR ever in any public way. You know what the objections are to it, have you ever attempted to explain how you reconcile these issues? Have you ever had the grace to actually speak to these concerns?

Its no mystery why McCain is disliked by those he disdains, I haven't gotton any "Ready to Make Nice" vibes from him unless He thinks the ones ready to make nice are us. Sorry, he has a long way to go to get me to vote for him.

I am asking these qeustions in good faith, because if he has shown that kind of integrity, and I have missed it I want to know about it. It might change my mind. I hope that someone has examples of McCain being true to principles no matter what side he is opposing.

[Nekman]

I believe that sound you hear is crickets chirping,and thats ALL you can get in response to your questions!

[Happy Rain]

Pegs,conservatives no longer “admire” McCain.He has insulted us,lied to us and is now doing his best to exterminate us.If we vote for him in Nov(as he no doubt will beg us to do with a new cynical lie about suddenly “seeing the light”),he will say,”Suckers!” and then commence,if he wins,to wipe-out the the rest of us.
This Tuesday,if McCain wins,will launch the “final solution” to the “conservative problem” in the RINO controled Republican Party.It will complete the purges which started in 2006 by further disenfranchising the conservative base.
The purges have been long planned by the elite “moderate” Republican blueblood leadership who have a history of being Democrat paramours ever since they discovered the wicked pleasures of avarice that big government provides.Big Media,including Fox News now,drool with Dems and RINOS over the upcomming liberal feast this November.They know the stay-home-on-election-day disgusted conservative voters will not only remove the loose cannon yet fortunately (for them) obtuse Judas goat McCain from the scene,they will cause the removal of many pesky conservative congressmen aka non-team players,from the political playground as well.
Still,this may not being a bad thing—if the purged conservatives unite afterwards.After all,we DO represent mainstream America.There must be some way to manifest the most powerful ideology in America.

[SE Mom]

An excellent list of questions.

[toddlintown]

She’s been out of her mind for about a year now.

[Earthdweller]

"We have our disagreements, we Americans. We contend regularly and enthusiastically over many questions: over the size and purposes of our government; over the social responsibilities we accept in accord with the dictates of our conscience and our faithfulness to the God we pray to; over our role in the world and how to defend our security interests and values in places where they are threatened. These are important questions; worth arguing about. We should contend over them with one another. It is more than appropriate, it is necessary that even in times of crisis, especially in times of crisis, we fight among ourselves for the things we believe in. It is not just our right, but our civic and moral obligation."

"Our country doesn’t depend on the heroism of every citizen. But all of us should be worthy of the sacrifices made on our behalf. We have to love our freedom, not just for the private opportunities it provides, but for the goodness it makes possible. We have to love it as much, even if not as heroically, as the brave Americans who defend us at the risk and often the cost of their lives. We must love it enough to argue about it, and to serve it, in whatever way our abilities permit and our conscience requires, whether it calls us to arms or to altruism or to politics. "~~~U.S. Senator John McCain, Commencement Address to the 2006 graduates at Liberty University.

[I still care]

I read an article yesterday where the point was put forth that McCain ENJOYS dissing people. He’s a contrarian, and he likes doing it. He’s worked many hard years learning to raise hackles on Republicans, and he’s only worried about it now because he wants to be POTUS.

He’ll do it again as soon as he gets in, which I doubt because I think the media has appointed Obama as their new god. He might get in against Hillary. But as far as Obama is concerned, the MSM thinks he walks on water.

Those of you disgusted by their Clinton love during the 90’s, where Clinton was given credit for everything good and could do nothing wrong, well, look at Obama. He is Jesus Christ himself, the way some of them are talking. JFK incarnate. Camelot reborn. It’s nauseating.

[csmusaret]

I don’t find one thing in Juan to admire. Never have.

[LibLieSlayer]

Noonan has taken Valium for far too long.

LLS

[ricks_place]

Peggy Noonan - As a conservative I would say Ted Kennedy has spent much of his career being not just wrong about the issues but so deeply wrong, so consistently and reliably wrong that it had a kind of grandeur to it. So wrong that I cannot actually think of a single serious policy question on which I agreed with him. But I remember the night President Reagan spoke of Sen. Kennedy's brother at a fund-raiser for the JFK Library, and I remember the letter Reagan got from Teddy. "Your presence itself was such a magnificent tribute to my brother. . . . The country is well served by your eloquent graceful leadership, Mr. President." He ended it, "With my prayers and thanks for you as you lead us through these difficult times."

[LibLieSlayer]

“everyone who knows Teddy Kennedy knows that he holds a deep love for his country, that he feels a reverence for the presidency and a desire that America be represented with grace abroad and stature at home.”

She is on drugs. She is not even a rino any longer... she is mad.

LLS

[Incorrigible]

The Obamessiah!

[SUSSA]

Peggy has the wrong character comparing McNutjob to Mo Green. He’s more like a cross between Fredo Corleone and Sen. Pat Geary.

[Tax-chick]

I agree that Mitt Romney has great suits.

[NHResident]

Exactly. It was Fatboy’s ‘love of country’ that drove him to collude with the Russians against Reagan, which was documented in KGB files and published (sort of) in the media.

Divorced and living in NYC, Peggy has lost her bearings. Her writing also sucks.

[rabidralph]

Here's your answer, if you ever get close enough to ask McCain anything.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

The Peggster has missed the target again. Teddy the senator made comments about the campaign in Iraq that clearly gave aid and comfort to the enemy. That does not square with her assessment of the Teddy’s patriotism and love of country.

[Mamzelle]

re: 4. When your gang of fourteen was formed, did you ever take the opportunity to lecture on the floor on the Senate the differences betweent conservative judges and liberal ones. Did you do it with your characteristic straight talk laced with epithets for the other side?)))

He didn't have the brains to formulate an argument besides.."I'm a Vietnam War Victim."

Fifth from the bottom in his college years. Old, mean, sick and crazy and stupid.

[GVnana]

Reminds me of a joke I heard last night.

"Ted Kennedy invented waterboarding."

[Just mythoughts]

This reads like a drunk on a horse surveying for a road... every time the drunk falls off the horse, the road has a new curve.

[ScratInTheHat]

Noonan’s anchor came lose a while back. She’s been rolling on the sea of “which way to go” ever since.

I started asking a while back “OK, who are you and what did you do with Peggy!”

[hinckley buzzard]

"Liberals are rarely interested in pointing out, and conservatives by and large may not know, but everyone who knows Teddy Kennedy knows that he holds a deep love for his country"

This bizarre statement seems emblematic of what happens to conservatives after staying too long in Washington. They get to know these scoundrels as people and decide well gee they're not so bad. Maybe we just differ on a few things but that doesn't make them bad people...In the end they identify with the power, and a sort of Stockholm Syndrome takes hold. In the last 40 years Ted Kennedy has done more harm to this nation than any one foreign leader.

[NeoCaveman]

This doesn't always go over so well. Mr. Giuliani seems to know Mr. McCain is Moe Greene. Mr. Huckabee probably thought "The Godfather" was kinda violent. Mr. Romney may be thinking to himself, But Michael Corleone won in the end, and had better suits.

I still love Peggy Noonan. She really knows what's what and she knows how to say it with style.

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

Her writing also sucks.

Beware of anybody who drives you to a dictionary to find out what the hell panjandrum means.

[Cecily]

Did you ever see the movie “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” with Diane Keaton? Noonan reminds me of that character in a sense. Looking for love in all the wrong places.