Peggy Noonan Goes Off On Sarah Palin In Column: "Horrifying"

One of the most refreshingly honest moments of the 2008 campaign came when Peggy Noonan, a columnist and former Republican speechwriter, was caught on a live mike calling the choice of Sarah Palin to run on the Republican ticket "political bullshit." She smoothed over her harsh remarks in a subsequent column, saying she liked Palin even if she wasn't sure the selection would be successful. But now that Palin has announced her plan to resign as Alaska Governor, Noonan apparently feels free to speak openly.

In television interviews she was out of her depth in a shallow pool. She was limited in her ability to explain and defend her positions, and sometimes in knowing them. She couldn't say what she read because she didn't read anything. She was utterly unconcerned by all this and seemed in fact rather proud of it: It was evidence of her authenticity. She experienced criticism as both partisan and cruel because she could see no truth in any of it. She wasn't thoughtful enough to know she wasn't thoughtful enough. Her presentation up to the end has been scattered, illogical, manipulative and self-referential to the point of self-reverence. "I'm not wired that way," "I'm not a quitter," "I'm standing up for our values." I'm, I'm, I'm.

In another age it might not have been terrible, but here and now it was actually rather horrifying.

Noonan goes on to refute the most popular conservative arguments in Palin's favor, from her supposed working-class credentials to the idea that she upsets the mainstream media.

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Comments

[Michigan-Woman]

While the torture debate was going strong, Ms. Noonan said something to the effect as, walk on by and turn away. What I take it she meant was, there are some things we just shouldn't examine too closely. Forget about it. Let it go.

I'm surprised that she didn't use the same thought process here. Could it be that she is just an arm-chair quarterback on this one? Now she will speak out because she's sure that Palin is all washed up.

She has said so many ridulous things in the past that I don't imagine anyone listens to her any more.

[Michigan-Woman]

Meant to type ridiculous in the last sentence.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Buttercup, what's up? No really. That durn ole housegateThingy gotcha? Or just shutterbug withdrawl?

Just wondering.­..

[DSOTM]

More people need to be as honest as Peggy Noonan, I am eager to see what SHannity has to say about a respected right-wing journalist as Peggy.

Sarah loved to be interviewed by SHannity only because every question was rehearsed and he was willing to lick the dirt tracks from her soiled P@nt!es.

[sonomarc]

Peggy Noonan, a monday morning quarterback.

[lillibelle]

Not really. Peggy was vocal (albeit sometimes inadvertently) about her disdain for Sarah. Looks like the times "they are a-changin' " even for Peggy.

[Hammerofthor]

Arrrrrrrr, shiver me timbers. Keel-haul the wench! says Peggy the pirate.

[proudliberalmommie]

True conservative republicans aren't the problem with the party... it's the fake conservatives, the palins, hannity and limbaughs that do not understand the true meaning of conservatism, that choose to divide instead of bringing people together like reagan did that are causing the demise of the republican party. these fake conservatives are going to learn the hard way once again in 2010 and 2012 that with the browning of America, they can not continue to think that they are superior than everyone else.

[breakingnews3]

Teddy Roosevelt weeps.....­.......

[DSOTM]

Reagan did not bring us together, it was his idea of conservatism that got us into this mess to begin with.

[teron678]

One thing i gotta commend Raygun for, he was an effective Snake Oil Salesman

[slim1921]

Peggy Noonan is spot-on in her comments. She describes Palin in the most truthful and yet brutal terms (though a few months too late).

You should go to the Wall-Street Journal website (the link in the article above is: " Noonan apparently feels free to speak openly"). The comments there are about 90% in favor of Palin, and this is truly bizarre.

As a left-leaning moderate, having Palin as the standard bearer for the Republican party is the gift that keeps on giving. The problem for the Republican party that the Palinites honestly don't see (they are totally blind to this!!) is how Palin pushes away independents and moderate or center-right Democrats. Sure, she's a god-send for the 20% that worship her kind of "know-nothing" mentality, her "home-spun" intellect, but when it comes to national elections, 20% is still 20%. Yeah!!

I love every second of this. I'm wondering when folks like Noonan, Christie Whitman, John Danforth, Tom Ridge, Richard Lugar and Chuck Hagel are going to get their Republican party back. It would really be nice to have a second party that's not "the party of God."

Keep Sarah Alive!! Guarantees democratic majorities for years.

[DLazar1]

The problem I have with critics of Sarah Palin is purely in terms of a double standard for women and a triple standard if they happen to be Republican. I did not think that Palin was ready to be President . . . but she was a VP nominee . . . and frankly, by the Obama standard, she was just as ready as he was with more time on the job to get there. You can not judge a female one way - and a man in softer terms without millions of women noting it. This has been a bad year for American Women.

[johnmorgan]

"She was just as ready as he [Obama] was..."

No, she wasn't. Obama has intellect and education. Palin must have something going for her since she became governor, but she's NOT capable of leading the United States.

[helpusa]

I'm constantly mystified by the assertions of right wingers saying that Palin was as qualified as Obama, either by actual political experience or intellect. I'm a women, and the minute I knew of her positions and affiliations and her lack of knowledge of world events and history and of her religious connections, I was horrified by her, I don't care if she had had four breasts. My disdain of her had nothing to do with that I didn't want a women in power, on the contrary, if she had been qualified for such a high position, and she wasn't such a selfish narcissist, feigning offense when she was criticized, we might have had a different result in the elections. Never have we witnessed such blatant personification of a hypocrite as Sarah Palin has been. A true lier and quitter.

[rowzeer]

You can't compare someone with a journalism degree that took 6 yrs. to get, who served as governor of one of the least populated states to a constitutional law professor who graduated with honors. Intelligent and education trumps on the job training for less than two years any day.

[truthorsnare]

The GOP is like Sanford, and Palin is the mistress in Argentina (or Alaska in this case)...sh­e's their soulmate (yet they are hoping to fall in love with common sense again one day soon, but it's not looking good).

It amazes me that so many otherwise intelligent Americans have gotten caught up in the Palin phenomenon to the point that they are willing to suspend all common sense to defend her lack of preparedness for high office. "All she needs is time to bone up on the issues"...­yet they were willing to put her in office in November with all of her naivete. Sound like another walk down the Appalachian Trail to me...

[DLazar1]

And I suppose Obama's four months as a US Senator totally qualified him to be President of the United States? I think we are finding out how wrong we were. The problem is this crazy double standard. For many women, it is why we find ourselves defending Sarah Palin. Its sad, how so many otherwise intelligent Americans are willing to suspend all common sense and defend Obama's lack of prepardness for high office. Americans who are losing their jobs through naive policies that are killing more and more jobs is becoming evident. I am sick of having Presidents who get on the job training. We got that with George Bush - now Obama - and all you do is complain about Sarah Palin who is out of the game?

[Chuck Warnock]

Actually, Barack Obama served 4 years, not 4 months, in the US Senate. And, yes, I would think that his education from Columbia University and Harvard Law School would put him a little bit up on Sarah Palin's thin education resume. It's not a double standard when it comes to Palin -- she doesn't even rise to a single standard. Inexperienced, unqualified, inarticulate, and I could go on, but I won't. President Obama was handed the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression; two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; a dysfunctional bureaucracy which had failed to regulate food safety, drug safety, and airline safety; a failed foreign policy that gave us a nuclear North Korea and Iran; and, complete lack of faith in the federal government. I think President Obama is doing pretty well, and 62% of the American people think so, too. Will things get worse economically? Probably, Larry Summers said as much today. But, most respected economists think the President is doing quite well, and see a recovery beginning in 2010. I do agree that Palin is a distraction, and I certainly hope, out of the game.

[rowzeer]

A Harvard eduction professor of constitutional law is a little better than someone whose aspiration was to become a news anchor.

[rowzeer]

oops meant Harvard-educated

[asta1968]

Thank you Peggy.....­reality is reality.
The right needs it as badly as the left got it 81/2 years ago.

[DLazar1]

New reality check coming 2010 . . . and 2012 . . . especially if the debt continues to rise(can't keep spending money we don't have without it), inflation sets in (can't keep printing money without it) . . . more job losses (can't keep taxing without that happening). . . and more American corporations are sold to Europeans and China for small parts (can't keep raising US business taxes higher than the rest of the world, without it)! Maybe its time to just send them all home and elect a full House and Senate of Freshmen who actually are willing to DO the right thing instead of playing politics with Americans right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It doesn't matter which party you are in. The policies that are being enacted right now will truly Change America forever. By 2010, Americans will be living the nightmare.

[Alcove-One]

The left need a boogey man to act as a smoke screen. They think they are fooling everyone.

[ProbStat]

What's nice for Noonan about writing her criticism is that there's no reason to worry about offending Palin: Palin will never read it.

[asta1968]

Even if she did, she would need a capable adviser to explain it, she doesn't have one of those.

[longislandlol]

Peggy is more an indie than a repub-- she is a great deal like Mayor Bloomberg - they started with a party label, but it was apparent that they grew into an independent political maturity--- a maturity that takes keen intelligence-- Palin and Dubya could never evolve this way--- never, ever, ever......

[Elagins]

Brava! What an extraordinary, incisive and insightful tour de force. The GOP needs more Peggy Noonans and fewer John Ensigns, Eric Cantors, Mike Pences, John Boehner/Kyl/Cornyns ... and certainly fewer of the Limbaugh/Beck ilk.

BTW, I'm a lefty Dem, and I believe that a robust two-party system -- consisting of two *responsible* and thoughtful parties -- is the best guarantee for the strength of our democracy.

[averygard]

Thank God no one can level an unfounded sexism comment at Noonan, anyway.

[ObamaEdwards]

Noonan: You know what? If you are going to serve a purpose as a columnist, it would be great if you told what you know when you know it, instead of waiting until a situation blows over, then rolling out your opinion as if it will help someone.

You're a day late and a dollar short, and in your line of work, that means that you have nothing to offer the public.

[Anonani]

It does no one any good to criticize Sarah Palin. Her loyal followers will follow her to the precipice and jump off. They believe that she has a shot at the becoming POTUS. I believe that the only way that will happen is if everyone except her supporters stay home on Election Day.

[DLazar1]

Just like it does no good to crticize Obama. His loyal followers will follow him to the precipice and jump off. But wait , . . . they already did that and made the rest of us go with them! By 2010 we will see inflation, higher taxes, more job losses, more american corporations leave the United States (can't tax them out of competing globally and expect them to stay in the United States) By the way . . . thanks for that.

[Anonani]

I am flattered by your plagiarism­....you are welcome. BTW you've been Bushed on the economy...­make no mistake about why we are in that particular fix.

[johnmorgan]

But it's so much fun to watch her mess up again and again. After eight years of a national nightmare, yes, I feel schadenfreude.

[T Pol]

Actually, Noonan, for all her faults, WAS one of the Republicans early on to say Palin was a crappy choice by McCain.