Peggy Noonan wants the viewers of Meet the Press to believe that if George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush just spoke up in favor of ratifying the START Treaty, that the Republicans in the Senate would quit playing political games and ratify it.
Sure Peggy. Even though Henry Kissinger, George Schultz, James Baker, and Brent Scowcroft have all spoken out on the treaty, if those Bushies would just come join them, Republicans will quit obstructing everything and finally vote to pass it. Yeah... that's the ticket.
Noonan knows full well it wouldn't make an ounce of difference if they did speak out. She also knows that there's no way either of them would. George W. Bush had an opportunity to speak out and might have actually made a difference when right wingers were going crazy over the ginned up "Ground Zero Mosque" malarkey and he remained silent. He's not going to do the Democrats any political favors on this issue either.
GREGORY: But it’s also leadership, Peggy Noonan. Where are his leadership moments? Where has he connected with the American public? Where did they maintain faith in him? It’s worth pointing out when he meets with Republican Leaders, he will be the most popular political figure in the room, which still stands for something. But he faces a lot of challenges.
NOONAN: He does. I-- I think the way to get beyond the trouble he is in now, the way to show responsiveness, to show he is in touch with the feeling of the American People is to act as if the 2010 election happened. Do you know what I mean? A big message was sent in that big wave. Don’t make believe it didn’t happen. Say, "I’m hearing you. I know it’s happening."
Start sort of-- a bipartisan moderation to the extent that you can. I think he can move forward with the Republicans on taxes in a way that makes the public say, "Wow, that’s pretty good." Extend it. He could do the same thing it seems to me on START if he brings in the past Republican leaders who have supported START in the past. George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush. Be bipartisan. Be big. Receive the message of 2010 and transcend it as a bipartisan figure.
