Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Peggy Noonan: The Right Man
Opinion Journal ^ | 01/30/03 | Peggy Noonan

Posted on 01/29/2003 9:08:19 PM PST by Pokey78

Edited on 04/23/2004 12:05:09 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

You always hope a State of the Union address will be a sleek and handsome ocean liner cutting through the sea. Often they start that way and then turn, inevitably, into a greasy old barge riding low in the water, weighed down by policy cargo. It blows its horn proudly but the sound is more impressive than the ship; in fact it highlights the ship's inadequacy.


(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: peggynoonanlist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

1 posted on 01/29/2003 9:08:19 PM PST by Pokey78
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Howlin; Miss Marple; mombonn; Sabertooth; beckett; BlueAngel; JohnHuang2; *Peggy Noonan list; ...
Pinging Peggy's list.
2 posted on 01/29/2003 9:08:42 PM PST by Pokey78
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
A steady hand on the helm in high seas, a knowledge of where we must go and why, a resolve to achieve safe harbor. More and more this presidency is feeling like a gift.

Yep. I tried to say the same thing with my reactions yesterday, but well, the way I said it was more prosaic. What we need, and what we have, is calm and courageous resolve, that will not be deflected from steering the ship where it must go by the cacaphonous noise of those without the responsibility of steering any ship of consequence, or more typically, any ship at all.

3 posted on 01/29/2003 9:13:40 PM PST by Torie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
Ah, Peggy, I love to hear you sing.
4 posted on 01/29/2003 9:17:01 PM PST by auboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
In a pre-speech meeting with reporters on Tuesday, a high administration official with intimate knowledge of the president's thinking said that the president did not intend for the speech to be the last word on Iraq.

I take it the high governmental official with intimate knowledge of the president's thinking is GWB.

5 posted on 01/29/2003 9:17:39 PM PST by vbmoneyspender
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
And this, from one of the great speechwriters of all time.
6 posted on 01/29/2003 9:17:44 PM PST by Paradox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
The part of his speech that made me appreciate what our President is doing is when he said this:

"There are days when our fellow citizens do not hear news about the war on terror. There's never a day when I do not learn of another threat, or receive reports of operations in progress, or give an order in this global war against a scattered network of killers. The war goes on, and we are winning."

He never goes in front of the camera's looking for credit, (unlike his predicessor). He seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders and never complains. No matter what policy differences we have with him, He is a good man and the right man for the times

7 posted on 01/29/2003 9:23:29 PM PST by MJY1288 (The State of the Union is Strong and in Good Hands)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
One incredible moment in that great speech, which I have not seen emphasized much, is when he spoke to the people of Iraq. He said that after we liberate your country, we will "bring to the Iraqi people food, and medicine, and supplies... and freedom." When he spoke the word "freedom," his face and voice changed, revealing the deep convictions, compassions, and sincerity he meant by that word. It seemed to me that the moment lasted an eternity, and I think a shiver ran down my spine at what I was seeing. It was a direct promise made by a great leader to those persecuted by a madman, and the message it conveyed was powerful beyond measure.
8 posted on 01/29/2003 9:35:57 PM PST by gbunch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MJY1288
Thank you for re-posting this quote.It was one of my favorites as well,but I couldn't remember it exactly.I just wish the RAT _*stsard* would shut up and pretend like this is real.There is not a night I don't go to bed worried about what I might wake up to the next day. All the 'Rats" want to do is win elections by any means available.
9 posted on 01/29/2003 9:36:34 PM PST by sissyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Torie
My daughter called me today to ask if I had watched the SOTU. I said, of course I did, as she well knew I would.

She and her husband have three children under four years old and they are busy. And really, they are not political junkies as I am.

But, she told me that they watched. I asked her what she thought of Bush and she said "I have never felt more proud to be an American".

Also, my four year old grand daughter came in to watch and said "Is that President Bush talking?" LOL Yes, I have taught her well.

And, then my three year old grand son saw the American flag and went to his room and got his little one out to wave. LOL Yes, I gave it to him.

My daughter said that all through the speech the children danced and clapped when they heard applause.

Now, can it get any better than this when even little children recognize a great President and a patriotic spirit in our country?

10 posted on 01/29/2003 9:43:36 PM PST by Conservababe (abridged)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Conservababe
That is so wonderful. Thanks for telling us.

See, little children can see what the liberals cannot see - the true worth of a President like George W. Bush.
11 posted on 01/30/2003 12:02:54 AM PST by ClancyJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: gbunch
we will "bring to the Iraqi people food, and medicine, and supplies... and freedom." When he spoke the word "freedom," his face and voice changed, revealing the deep convictions, compassions, and sincerity he meant by that word. It seemed to me that the moment lasted an eternity, and I think a shiver ran down my spine at what I was seeing. It was a direct promise made by a great leader to those persecuted by a madman, and the message it conveyed was powerful beyond measure.

I saw that too. You know - I wonder if Bush feels he is God's tool to spread God's gift of freedom to the oppressed nations we have to encounter as we fight terrorism.

Although I sometimes worry about his social programs not being conservative - I cannot help but see that this man has the gift of empathy and the ability to see and understand the needs of the people he leads. Of course, he then does all he can to assist in those needs. How much better than a man who only seeks a sexual adventure, a new scam, an under-the-table effort to pad his own pockets.

I would much prefer to worry about helping too much than worrying about what deals had been cut to ensure money and power.

12 posted on 01/30/2003 12:10:33 AM PST by ClancyJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
Thanks for the ping =^)
13 posted on 01/30/2003 1:07:58 AM PST by JohnHuang2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78; xm177e2; mercy; Wait4Truth; hole_n_one; GretchenEE; Clinton's a rapist; buffyt; ...

Peggy Noonan MEGA PING!!


14 posted on 01/30/2003 1:08:33 AM PST by JohnHuang2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: JohnHuang2
Bttt!
15 posted on 01/30/2003 1:36:44 AM PST by lainde
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Conservababe
I told my kids I was late sitting down for dinner 'cuz I was watching the President talk, and asked if they knew his name. I'm a bit ashamed to say my twin 5 yr. old girls said George Washington! I told them he was our first President, and the most important, and probably the best. I said this President is second best! :)

My 8 year old son knew though - even the middle initial "W".

God Bless our President.
16 posted on 01/30/2003 1:55:21 AM PST by geopyg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
I've been meaning to ask this here:

Those of you who watched the SOTU FNC: What did you think of Juan William's response to the speech?

Brit Hume had his panel there, and went to Juan first for comment. I thought Juan was going to cry. It was like he had had an epiphany. He really saw that Bush *was* compassionate, really cared about "little people", and wanted them to have better lives.

It was really interesting to see. I hope this speech had that effect on others like Juan, who I would characterize as "the thinking Left" (there aren't many of them, based on what I see on TV and in print).
17 posted on 01/30/2003 1:58:13 AM PST by FreedomPoster (This space intentionally blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gbunch
See my #17 - I think the part of the SOTU you pointed out is one of the parts that made Juan Williams react the way he did.
18 posted on 01/30/2003 2:00:01 AM PST by FreedomPoster (This space intentionally blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
"This country has many challenges. We will not deny, we will not ignore, we will not pass along our problems to other Congresses, to other presidents, and other generations."


My favorite part. Probably not so for PIAPS. Oh, if only the camera had panned to her immediately after it was spoken.
19 posted on 01/30/2003 2:30:32 AM PST by Clink
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster
... "the thinking Left" (there aren't many of them, based on what I see on TV and in print).

No... there are not many. Most libs have morphed into socialists, who despise capitalism and the military.

They think of themselves as citizens of the world. America is just where they live.

20 posted on 01/30/2003 3:10:36 AM PST by johnny7 (“In my hand, I have a letter from herr Hitler!” -Neville Chamberlain.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson