Peggy Noonan Returns to Form in Her Weekly WSJ Opinion Piece

Good to Have You Back Ms. Noonan

The Dismal Political Economist has often praised Peggy Noonan who writes a regular Saturday opinion article for the Wall Street Journal.  Ms. Noonan has her lapses into the blind, irrational rhetoric of the right wing,  and she is enthralled with the mythic version of Ronald Reagan, not the real version, but when she is calm and rational and thoughtful she is very good and very instructive.

This week Ms. Noonan opines on two subjects.  The first is the inaugural debate of Texas Gov. Rick Perry who comes up against former front runner Mitt Romney on Wednesday night.  She succinctly summarizes what the debate means for Mr. Perry.

Rick Perry will be the object of all eyes. He's new, it's his debate debut. He has to show he's not a two-week wonder, his appeal is not overblown, he's a formidable presence.

As for Mr. Romney and his strategy, she also offers insightful insight.

Mr. Romney has to regain his footing. Up to now in debates he has pretty much coasted—he's big, radiant and smiling, the others were small, yappy and querulous. He can continue that way, as if he's unruffled by an Austin interloper who'll do himself in with his mouth or get done in by good oppo. Or he can conclude that new circumstances dictate new strategies, and fight

Her main message though concerns Mr. Obama.  Instead of her previous and uncharacteristic vitriol she accurately analyzes his coming speech on jobs this way

The night after the debate, President Obama will outline his long-awaited—too-long-awaited—jobs plan. The speech will have to be very good not to be called very bad. (emphasis added) The White House has talked about it too much for too long and built expectations too high. They've put too much weight on the back of a single address.

Instead of the usual WSJ opinion articles bashing Mr. Obama, she offers advice seemingly in the mode (at least this week) that she would like to see the country prosper under Mr. Obama.

Mr. Obama's plan is . . . what? It's still, after all this time, unclear.

He should go to the meaning of things, to his view of that meaning. He should attempt a new frankness, a new candor, a broad clarity.

The benefits of this approach? He would appear to be thinking, not only calculating. He would seem aware of the big picture, of this moment in history. It might lift him beyond the platitudes and out of the smallness. And who knows, it just might spark the debate we often say we are having, but so far are not, about the size, role, purpose and responsibilities of government. That wouldn't be bad.

And finally she puts in a few words what a large number of Americans are thinking.

the problem with the speech Thursday night, a national mood of, "Nothing personal, but we don't think you can help in this area."

Hopefully someone close to Mr. Obama will read this and take heed.  Otherwise reporters and voters will start calling the winner of those Republican debates “The Next President”.