I read the guys (plus gal Friday) at Power Line and mostly I agree or, in the case of columns on soccer or music, ignore them. Heck, everybody is entitled to his hobby horses, including Scott and Paul.
Today, Scott Johnson beats up on Peggy Noonan, opining:
I don’t understand why the Wall Street Journal continues to turn over valuable editorial page real estate to her on a weekly basis.
He demonstrates that she has been wrong on occasion, and has repeatedly changed her opinion 180° without acknowledging the flip-flop. All of this is true. And he doesn't even mention her dislike of one Donald J. Trump, which was visceral and over the top.
I'd remind Johnson of Emerson's famous quote:
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
Noonan writes what she is currently feeling, and that changes as the times, events and personalities change. And the reason the WSJ keeps giving her space, Scott, is that her writing about those feelings is better than that of almost anybody alive.
It isn't that her opinions are always better or more insightful than yours or mine, although they sometimes are. Rather it is that she combines heart and brain in often beautiful prose that you or I wish we could write.
The WSJ recognizes this rare talent and gives her a platform. If they didn't still believe they were lucky to have her op/ed input, she would be gone like an SR-71 on afterburner.
As noted below, I'll avoid her columns on Trump. She and I will have to disagree at least about his policy preferences, if not about his delivery style. I experienced Trump's policies as exactly what was needed, and the economy reacted accordingly. Whatever his gaucheries, the man spoke for a can-do America that once was and could (I hope) be again.
