Peggy Noonan: Palin's Failin'

Wall Street Journal:

"Sometimes the leak is so bad that even a plumber can't fix it." This was the concise summation of a cable political strategist the other day, after the third and final presidential debate. That sounds about right, and yet the race in its final days retains a feeling of dynamism. I think it is going to burst open or tighten, not just mosey along. I can well imagine hearing, the day after Election Day, a lot of "You won't believe it but I was literally in line at the polling station when I decided."

John McCain won the debate, and he did it by making the case more effectively than he has in the past that Barack Obama will raise taxes, when "now, of all times in America, we need to cut people's taxes." He also scored Mr. Obama on his eloquence, using it against him more effectively than Hillary Clinton ever did. When she said he was "just words," it sounded like a bitter complaint. Mr. McCain made it a charge: Young man, you attempt to obscure truth with the mellifluous power of your words. From Mrs. Clinton it sounded jealous, but when Mr. McCain said it, you looked at Mr. Obama and wondered if you'd just heard something that was true. For the first time, Mr. Obama's unruffled demeanor didn't really work for him. His cool made him seem hidden.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[kellygrrrl]

perhaps Peggy should address the nasty Robocalls the McCain camp is sending out. Or maybe she should talk about the KKKfliers that were delivered in Oklahoma newspapers yesterday. Maybe if Peggy would denounce the disgusting tactics of the WingNuts, she could actually do some good for her Party

[koyak23]

Has there ever been a more unctuous and supercilious nitwit ?

[Colmore]

Was she drunk when she watched the debate? It was Obama all the way. McCain's faces were laughable, and he looked ready to explode. His left cheek is getting larger all the time. We need to know what is wrong.

[copernikus]

She must still be drunk. All you have to do is read the polls and you'd know Obama won the debate.

[gevan]

Magic could sustain the voodoo promise of Reaganomics for far longer than most people imagined. But all good things must come to an end. For these Republican quibblers to quarrel over whether a rise in the top tax rate for those clearing more than $250,000 in annual income from 36 to 39 percent would cause our financial system to melt down is ludicrous. Mr. Plumber is looked at as a victim now because the light of truth has been shown on his situation by the national media. True facts are an attack on what I guess is the Republicans' self appointed moral rectitude. Face it, Mr. Plumber was trying to sandbag Senator Obama last week in Ohio. Nothing unfair about that, but don't be crying foul if you're hit by the spray when your bag is burst.

[missette]

Ms.Noonan'­s piece is an exercise in contradictions. She rightfully expresses alarmed over Palin's lack of qualificaitons and her practice of exciting rather than inspiring, but at the same time claims that the McCain who air-quoted the health of women, who sneered and rolled and eyes and eyebrows throughout the debate, and who resorted to bizarre outbursts while Obama was calmly speaking, somehow won the debate. The more unflappable and confident Obama was, the more agitated McCain became - this from on man who prides himself on his bipartisanship. He made it evident he can barely stand to be on the same stage with someone who so much as disagrees with him, and that as president he would require constant adulation. No, Peggy. Americans were right. Obama, with his usual displays of grace, poise and "presidentialism" handily won the debate.

An aside: Notice how when Obama is attacked for guilt by associattion, rather than attack his opponent in kind, he instead elevates the discussion at hand?

[harriscrl3]

SArah Palin is a reflection of what's wrong with democracy in America. She is proof that we ABSOLUTELY NEED Civics in our schools in order to have a more informed electorate so that we may strengthen our democracy. Sarah Palin represent the CROSSROAD for America. We've come to a fork in the road we know we can't go back because that is a deadend option and so we must pick one of these paths. Perhaps if we did not have a leader like Barack who incidentally have been spending nearly two years telling us we can't go back to the way things are even if he is elected in November that he is going ot be counting on us to be engaged from this point on. Democracy in an Obama administration is not going to be a walk in the park. Its hard work. McCain and Palin's democracy will be easy we wont have to work hard we just go vote and thats the end of it. Thats the dilemma do we want to work and be active in our democracy or do we just want to go back to being low information voters who vote on single issue that is defined for us while we see our freedoms and our economic futures slip away and just believe well thats the way things are.

Palin for all her talk about being a maverick represents democracy of the PAST. Obama is democracy of the future but it will NOT be easy.

[lovable]

miss noonan in my views has no credibility !!!!!!!!!! she said the same thing on fallin off camera but on morning joe she says different and now she says different again

[Unrepentant]

"In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It's no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism."

This is essentially the same thing that David Brooks said last week and it is exactly the truth.

[Undecidedly]

While I disagree with her view that Mccain won the debate (certainly it was his strongest performance of the three, but to criticize Obama as being overly calm is to overlook the bellicose, often bug eyed with anger mannerisms of Mccain which were far less appealing to any but a devoted republican­.) I do think the break down of Palin was interesting. Perhaps Palin has been, in one sense, a unifying force in the election as liberals (who ofcourse would not like her) and many conservatives alike denounce her as unworthy, overly ambitous and transparently appealing to the lowest denominator of the electorate. Since when was ignorance and lack of education a sign of American character? The nomination of Palin seems to define "small town" minded people as being more American, more patriotic than those often democratic leaning "city folk." As someone who's lived in both a city and a small town, I can attest that there are ignorant people in all walks of life -- often not through their own fault. The problems within public education, family life, and the expenses of college deter many americans from a proper understanding of national issues. But this is not a situation that should be glorified as somehow more "pro-America," by Palin and Mccain. These people are indivuals who have been failed by America in some of the most fundamental ways. If they become the base of an electorate, there is no incentive to improve their situations.

[FatherWolf]

The Palin candidacy seems to be separating the intellectual mainstream (right and left) from the yahoos.

The Noonans, the Brookses, the Buckleys, the Parkers, are still conservatives, and are trying their best to excuse everything about John McCain. But they're not willing to step over the line and side with the the willfully ignorant yahoos.

But there's also a third way. My wife read speculation somewhere that the hardcore neocons like Bill Kristol see Gov. Palin as the new empty-vessel puppet whom they can program and control to continue their agenda. Bush goes out, Palin comes in.

[old lady]

Look around, Peggy - you're the only intellect left in what is left of your party. Thinking conservatives, who killed the party with their complacency, are or have jumped ship. Not much future for a speech writer for the dregs that remain...t­hey don't use actual- thought based speeches..­. they're ADD and can't go beyond ZINGY oneliners and jingos - and truth be damned.
No Peggy, Sarah did not spoil it for McCain - he picked her. He piloted this nosedive - he can't share the blame.

[FaceYourFears]

Why didn't JMC choose Pawlenty or Romney....

[tablesedge]

As usual, Peggy Noonan displays courage grace and balance. In this case, she is right on the money about Palin. Gutsy move, bravo for the country, first.

[FaceYourFears]

After Peggy was caught on tape....I don't believe a word that comes out of her mouth.

[Unrepentant]

Even when she speaks the obvious?

[YellerDawg]

Thank you.

[gigi09]

We are talking about things of substance, while the McCain group has offered very little by way of anything significan­t...they have concentrated only on "hate mongering, and negative campaigning. We can continue to debate the issues at this point...bu­t the real dividing factor is race and division! For I do not believe that anybody in their right mind would want Sarah Palin to be one heartbeat away from being the President of the United States, I just refuse to believe that anyone with any intelligence believe that Sarah Palin is qualified for the position. On that note, to me a vote for McCain/Palin is really a vote against Obama. I do believe that there are more Americans that have risen above the hate mongering and are looking at the things that affects all of us, like the economy, housing, health care, etc., now they are misleading the poor plummers..­.I heard that "Joe the plummer is a son-in law of Keating", let me research it, I'll get back with you!

[Rapid Ray]

Noonan's position is clearly one of an "on the fence" patient opportunist.

She has always balanced her remarks in the hopes that she will not be connected to the losing candidate.

I would find it much more pertanent is she would stop injecting generalisms and address specifics, but, given her rhetoric to date, I'm not holding my breath waiting for it.

if anyone is appreciative that you can refrain from choosing sides until the moment you step into a ballot booth, It's Peggy Noonan. When she emerges, she will certainly wait until the declaration of a winner to say that she cast a vote for them and continue her self motivated blathering.

[DaOne]

Talk about rippin' gov a new one. I love it.