Peggy Noonan Goes Myopic

Yawn.

This is how I feel about two gratuitous and ill-formed verdicts on Caroline Kennedy from Peggy Noonan, the same one who dissed Palin in private and had to pay for it in public. Noonan is a celebrated wordsmith for Republicans now in the pay of Rupert Murdoch.

Here, regarding Caroline Kennedy, Noonan's exceptionally near-sighted New Year's verdicts:

The difficulty of Caroline Kennedy's hopes for appointment to the U.S. Senate is that she was in, or put herself in, a position demanding of more finesse and sophistication than most political veterans have. To succeed as a candidate for appointment, she needed the talents of an extremely gifted natural, which she's not. She is an intelligent woman who has comported herself with dignity through a quarter-century of private life in Manhattan. She would never steal your money, indulge in dark political dealing, or growl, like Blago, into a tapped line, "I've got this blankin' thing and it's golden," though let's face it, it's a little sad we'll never hear that.

But life is complicated. If you're going to run as the princess of a dynasty, you have to act and be like a princess--something different, rarefied, heightened. Her problem in part has been that she spent a quarter-century trying to blend in and not call attention to herself. She made herself convincingly average--not distinguished. She has her parents' dignity but not their dash. She radiates a certain clueless class. SOURCE

First, not being a natural politician is what this year is about. The less Caroline comes off as a skilled politician, the better.

Second, and this is the bigger zinger of the two, Noonan's "clueless class" slur is a boomerang. It is Noonan, class or not, who is clueless. The clue that Caroline radiates is precisely what she said when she endorsed Barack. She has only felt as inspired in the past as when she was aware of the faith folk put in her dad.

I am among those whose first vote was for JFK. I am not one who felt about JFK as I did about Obama. I was actually for Humphrey and then for JFK. As a student at Union Theological Seminary and editor of the paper there I almost got into trouble for revealing that the students were for Kennedy.

But regardless of this, Caroline's feeliings about Barack have the ring of an authenticity and raison d'etre that turns Noonan's clueless screed into one of the tackiest verdicts of the New Year.

PS: Kennedy will get the nod if most of the current vibes are accurate. The electorate does not think the way Noonan does. Caroline will be a popular choice and will do a bang up job telling the nation why Obama's agenda makes the best sense.

http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/

Comments

[LMPE]

The Wall Street Journal was already a right-wing newspaper even before Rupert Murdoch turned it into the print version of Fox Noise. That Peggy Noonan says this is as much a surprise as it is that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Noonan shows her true Republican cred when she writes, "She would never... growl, like Blago, into a tapped line, "I've got this blankin' thing and it's golden," though let's face it, it's a little sad we'll never hear that."

Why would anyone, of any political affiliation, yearn for corrupt politicians?

Poor Peggy (and by extension the rest of the Republican water-carriers and apologists), there is no 'there' there when it comes to trashing Caroline Kennedy.

[TRYKER]

Yes, a non-typical politician would be refreshing. Caroline is real, that is different right there. More power to her if this is what she wants. She won't be stashing cash for favors and forgetting the citizen's needs. And she isn't a white man...we need more women to represent in congress and everywhere else for that matter.

[ignoranceequalsfear]

C. Kennedy for Prez in 2016!

[kellygrrrl]

"Boomerang" has been one of my favorite words lately. All the Karma coming home to roost is oddly satisfying.
Happy New Year, Stephen.

[Stephen C. Rose - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Robin. Enjoyed your blog. In answer, I am in NY (NYC) and I care to see Carolyn named and so I take things more seriously than I would if I had less of a stake. I think also that journalists need to be called out when they are off base. Just as Huff needs to be when it is off base. Cheers, S

[klondiker]

I would love to see Carolyn named also. Maloney, that is. Caroline, on the other hand, not so much.

[Stefano]

Stephen, you seem to like her as much as I think its a terrible choice and a really bad precedent. I also live in NYC, and you sir seem to be one of the few who do want her. I ask you respectfully, after her Palinesque interviews, what is it that makes you want her. I'm not talking about her extreme lack of eloquence, I am talking about not voting, not supporting demaocrats, and getting abrasive and condescending when asked why now after a lifetime of avoiding the spotlight, she wants to dive in as a senator. (an extremely fair question to ask a neophyte who aspires to one of the top positions in government) As you must have read, NY'ers are rejecting her bid, what is it that you see? Enlighten me, and if possible, refrain from talking about her cushy, a few hours a week fundraising gig. If my last name was kennedy, i could get that kind of cash as well.

[neesy08]

IMO, I think the last person that the GOP want to run for the NY Senate seat is the daughter of the late JFK and Jacqeline Kennedy Onassis! She can raise the bucks and will do for the Senate race what Obama did for the Prez race! As far as I know Caroline has not done anything that is considered bad or evil, but I am sure the GOP will make something out of nothing.

[RobinSeattle]

Why are you even paying attention to Underdog Lady Noonan? She's just another GOP propaganda mouthpiece. Really, who cares what she thinks on anything, let alone Caroline Kennedy?