Peggy Noonan blames GOP corruption on a steamroller metaphor

[Cocoa]

Peggy waxes abstract on this not-so-abstract scandal...

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110007767

<snip>

People in government--people in a huge, sprawling government--often get carried away. And they don't always even mean to. But they are little tiny parts of a large and overwhelming thing. If government is a steamroller, and that is in good part how I see it, the individuals who work in it are the atoms in the steel. The force of forward motion carries them along. There is inevitably an unaccountability, and in time often an indifference about what the steamroller rolls over. All the busy little atoms are watching each other, competing with each other, winning one for their little cluster. And no one is looking out and being protective of what the steamroller is rolling over--traditions, shared beliefs, individual rights, old assumptions, whatever is being rolled over today.

<snip>

There's a lot of talk among Republicans that since the Abramoff scandal involves politicians and staff on both sides of the aisle, the public will not punish the Republicans. This assertion is countered by the argument that while the public will likely see the story as one of government corruption, Congress and the White House are run by Republicans, so Republicans will pay the price. I think this is true, but I think it misses a larger point: In some rough way the public expects the party that loves big government to be pretty good at finagling government, playing with it, using it for its own ends. That's kind of what they do. They love the steamroller, of course they love the grease that makes it run. But the anti-big-government party isn't supposed to be so good at it, so enmeshed in it. The antigovernment party isn't supposed to be so good at oiling the steamroller's parts and pushing its levers. And so happy doing the oiling and pushing.

It isn't good to love the steamroller. In the end it can roll right over you, and all you stand for, or stood for.

Is there a way for Republicans to go? Stop trying to fit in. Stop being another atom in the steel. It does no good trying to run a better steamroller. It won't work. Steamrollers are not your friend.


edit with a priceless Freeper response:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1552228/posts

Thank you Peggy for keeping it real.

:rofl:

[MrModerate]

1. But then, Noonan is absolutely batshit crazy and has been for years.

I think there must have been lead-based paints in her childhood home.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Oh yes

Not like they were corrupt before. :sarcasm:

I remember seeing this documentary on the Sundance Channel. It was either "God in the White House" or "God On Our Side" and one part showed this guy who's last name is Robinson. He has a tv show on a religious network. He seems like an okay guy and all, and he said how a lot of the time politicians get close to power and it overcomes them. He said that he had that happen to him almost and it really scared him. I'm sure it happens to some people but if that happens you should learn how to step away. Nobody ever makes a person do anything. You still have freewill and nobody ever learns personal responsibility. Tsk. I'm so tired of excuses from people like Noonan.

[Cocoa]

3. they're only human

:cry:

[CarbonDate]

4. Wishful thinking.

Her entire premise is based on the idea that Republican talk of smaller government is something other than bullshit for the masses.

[johnfunk]

5. Peggy "The Loons" Noonan: moonbat Opus Dei dolphin woman

I'd call her batshit crazy, but that would be an insult to batshit crazy people.

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. What a delightfully idiotic piece of crap

I beleive that most of the steamroller's victims will be the folks trying to figure what in the Sam Hell this woman is trying to say. Noonan wears the mark of the "W".

[KittyWampus]

10. Nononono, she wears the mark of the "R". She probably fell over the edge

when Ronnie finally went to that Big Ranch In The Sky.

[LiviaOlivia]

7. Ah Peggy Peggy Peggy

The sickly sweet Romance fiction writer for the GOP. Fuck her.

[KittyWampus]

8. God, it's like she's writing for a 5 year old.

[fooj]

9. I'm gonna be sick..........

People in government--people in a huge, sprawling government--often get carried away. And they don't always even mean to.

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[johnfunk]

11. "People in a huge, sprawling government--often get carried away..."

... just as, f'rinstance, Ronald Reagan (Nooner's former client) and George H. Bush did with that little Iran-Contrabrouhaha... Yeah... THAT's the ticket...

[fooj]

13. Can you believe the audacity of these people?

:mad:

[Chimichurri]

12. Now they're "The blame the government crowd"

Boy they like to emulate their own slogans when it's convenient for them.

So she's pinning the neocona and the reich wingers as the anti-government folks. How could this be? Bush has ballooned our government with new departments and more red tape then any other president in history.

This woman is worse the crazy, she's an opportunist of the highest order. What a filthy pig she is.

[fooj]

14. Welcome to DU!!!

Peace.

[Chimichurri]

15. why thank you

[NanceGreggs]

16. "Since the Abramoff scandal involves politicians and staff ...

... on both sides of the aisle."

I'm sure you're right, Peggy -- you'd never say it, if it wasn't true.

Could you please enlighten us all, and NAME the Democrats who are involved?

Thanks so much, I KNEW I could count on your integrity ...

[Cocoa]

17. I like how she slips that in

she's a pro.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

18. That is the stupidest shite I ever read. And Noonan was s'posed to be

some kind of brilliant speechwriter because the phrase "points of light" occurred to her once? Sheesh.

[yknot]

19. I GET IT, the reason the poor republicans are in such deep shit isn't

because they're criminals, it's because they are acting like democrats!

God I hate this fucking bitch!

[missouri dem 2]

20. I wish that Peggy would stop eating downers so that she could write a

coherent article.
Someone steamrolled her into accepting cash from Enron if memory serves.

[Jade Fox]

23. I think the Republicans view her as.....

some sort of poet. That's why you can't understand her, doncha know! :rofl:

[dgauss]

21. She reminds me of Blanche DuBois...

Fragile, delusional, desperately needing to believe her own GOP fairy tales. I feel really uncomfortable when I see her on talk shows - all dreamy and far-away as she conjures up some vapid crap like this.

[mitchum]

22. I see that she is still crazy and a terrible writer

some things never change

[bluestateguy]

24. Of course such lattitude was not granted to Bill Clinton by these peope

Never. Not once.

[sandnsea]

25. Noonan, a Reagan Republican

But people insist on telling me it's just this current batch of neocons who are corrupt. :eyes:

Good gobbeldy Peggy, the steamroller done squashed your brains out.

[gumby]

26. The Banal Fantasies of Evil

Noonan is the epitome of fantasizing evil. Like Limbaugh, Noonan twists the most venal of human degradation and romanticizes it into some Americana Virtuosity Play.

Noonan puts the Smiley Face on political psychopathy.

[bpilgrim]

27. that sounds like my 12 year old wrote that - WTF nytimes?!?

does this BS actually work on some people?

the reTHUGs are toast, i notice how she conveniently left out the legislative branch in admitting republic control over 2 branches of GOV :eyes:

these thugs are never satisfied and demand more, more, MORE, all the while blaming the poor and 'liberal' for all the countries woes, like the bag laddies are pushing gold bricks around in their shopping carts :argh:

well, there is a political typhon on the horizon... whoever doesn't heed the warnings and take for higher ground will be swept away by it's fury.

cause we the people are gonna start taking back.

We're Here...

peace