Candid Peggy Noonan on Sarah Palin

Peggy Noonan, columnist for the Wall Street Journal and former Reagan speechwriter, has learned the 21st century lesson: all microphones are hot; the camera is always on; there are no closed door meetings; there is no “backstage.”

After some live political commentary with Chuck Todd on NBC, Ms. Noonan discussed Republican Vice Presidential hopeful Governor Sarah Palin with Republican consultant Mike Murphy and another “mic” — the studio microphone, which was still live. It can be heard in the background of this video (after about 30 seconds; contains unladylike language):

 

Murphy: [at 35 seconds] It’s not gonna work.

Noonan: [at 37 seconds] It’s over.

Murphy: [at 51 seconds]  I mean, is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?

Noonan: [at 58 seconds] The most qualified? No. I think they went for this – excuse me – political bullsh** about narratives . . . . Every time Republicans do that … because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at and they blow it.

Murphy: [at 108 seconds] You know what’s really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.

Ms. Noonan’s statements are in sharp contrast to her recent Wall Street Journal column, points out Politico’s Ben Smith, in which she says Governor Palin “could become a transformative political presence.”