My note to Peggy Noonan re: her WSJ OpEd

[npincus]

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/

yeah I know, why bother. I suppose you could call it therapy.

Ms. Noonan,

I notice you gave short shrift to the fact that Bush stacked FEMA with inexperienced political cronies and hacks. Does that not reflect on his contempt for the role and responsibility of the federal gov't under FEMA to assist and coordinate disaster relief when needed here at home? Are the generals running the Iraq occupation Arabian horse Federation managers or are they experienced soldiers? Shame on Bush, Shame on you for glossing over that "minor" (note sarcasm) point.

[calimary]

1. peggy noonan was Reagan's Monica. Hey, just saying...

Turned bush-1's Monica. Now she sounds as though she's positioning to be little bush's Monica.

Just saying...

:evilgrin:

[Missy M]

3. Does anyone really give one damn about Peggy Noonan's opinion?

[ewagner]

2. ability to instill fear?

she said this:

As for fear, it is important for a White House to inspire a certain amount, and this White House has been rather wickedly good at it. The administration has kept a lot of Republicans in line because they were afraid of the personal anger and flip-switching power of the president and his aides. They will be less afraid now. That's not all bad. In fact, it's good.

I don't understand...she contridicts herself that, on one hand, it's important to instill a certain amount of fear, but, on the other hand, Katrina limited this ability of the WH, and that's good....

I think this woman is nuts....

[gratuitous]

7. Noonan IS nuts

Which goes a long way toward understanding how, for her, every development that comes along is good for Republicans and their governance of the country.

Bush getting a free ride? That's good, because he's such a godly, christian man and knows what he's doing.

Bush running into trouble? That's good, no further explanation proffered.

Bush inspires fear because of his "flip-switching power"? That's wickedly good.

The perception that Bush has slipped a notch or two and people are less fearful? Well, son of a gun if that's not a good development, too!

Sure, people are dying by the hundreds and thousands, but everything in Noonan World is peachy keen, as good as it possibly could be, and couldn't be any better. Right up until the moment the angry mob kicks in the door and separates her useless head from her hapless shoulders.

[Benhurst]

4. Noonan is aging hack, whose chief assets are heading south. NT

[Inland]

5. Column was pretty negative although

Noonan's analysis is pretty much limited to what she knows...spin.

The problem with the republicans is that they don't know that they don't know how to govern. All the power has been given to the Noonans, who can only judge and plan on how things LOOK or can be SPUN. Because her only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Therefore the concept of putting competent poeple in charge of FEMA is going to get a big shrug of the shoulders from her. She would think that you mean somebody who has a better sense of making sure things look good.

[npincus]

6. *sigh*