Peggy's Picks

High Noonan

Peggy Noonan has gravitas because, unlike me, she doesn't dismiss all Democrats as lying. scheming, traitorous assholes. Nope, she's circumspect when evaluating the Iowa primary candidates. Because of that, her observations re Her Filthiness are not only correct, but may change some minds that, and don't ask me how this is possible, are undecided over this sinister entity.  I also think she's dead-on re the Republicans, although anyone but Duncan Hunter and Fred would be another sellout to  establishment Republicans everyone hates. “ Hillary Clinton? No, not reasonable. I concede her sturdy mind, deep sophistication, and seriousness of intent. I see her as a triangulator like her husband, not a radical but a maneuverer in the direction of a vague, half-forgotten but always remembered, leftism. It is also true that she has a command-and-control mentality, an urgent, insistent and grating sense of destiny, and she appears to believe that any act that benefits Clintons is a virtuous act, because Clintons are good and deserve to be benefited. But this is not, actually, my central problem with her candidacy. My central problem is that the next American president will very likely face another big bad thing, a terrible day, or days, and in that time it will be crucial--crucial--that our nation be led by a man or woman who can be, at least for the moment and at least in general, trusted. Mrs. Clinton is the most dramatically polarizing, the most instinctively distrusted, political figure of my lifetime. Yes, I include Nixon. Would she be able to speak the nation through the trauma? I do not think so. And if I am right, that simple fact would do as much damage to America as the terrible thing itself. Duncan Hunter, Fred Thompson, and Bill Richardson are all reasonable--mature, accomplished, nonradical. Mike Huckabee gets enough demerits to fall into my not-reasonable column. John Edwards is not reasonable. All the Democrats would raise taxes as president, but Mr. Edwards's populism is the worst of both worlds, both intemperate and insincere. Also we can't have a president who spent two minutes on YouTube staring in a mirror and poofing his hair. Really, we just can't. I forgot Rudy Giuliani. That must say something. He is reasonable but not desirable. If he wins somewhere, I'll explain.  [Complete] ” One more thing.  I cede grammar to Noonan, but why does she use "Edwards's populism," instead of "Edwards' populism?"  It smacks of smarmy affectation. Professionals only, please.