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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...
1 posted on 01/06/2003 6:23:31 AM PST by WaveThatFlag
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To: WaveThatFlag
Some people have a gift using their hands - Peggy has a gift using words!

DID THIS PICTURE INSPIRE PEGGY?

2 posted on 01/06/2003 6:33:06 AM PST by stlrocket
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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
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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
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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
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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.

6 posted on 01/06/2003 7:01:06 AM PST by Real Cynic No More
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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.

7 posted on 01/06/2003 7:01:30 AM PST by Savage Beast
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To: beckett
You're right, Beck. From all accounts Bush was completely steady.
8 posted on 01/06/2003 7:04:47 AM PST by Savage Beast
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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.
9 posted on 01/06/2003 7:07:34 AM PST by Savage Beast
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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.

10 posted on 01/06/2003 7:08:17 AM PST by Kevin Curry
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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
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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
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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.
13 posted on 01/06/2003 7:23:07 AM PST by Marysecretary
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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.

14 posted on 01/06/2003 7:27:23 AM PST by Iowa Granny
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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
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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).
16 posted on 01/06/2003 7:45:43 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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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!
17 posted on 01/06/2003 7:48:02 AM PST by Miss Marple
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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
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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
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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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