This is the money quote:

She wasn't thoughtful enough to know she wasn't thoughtful enough.
Deborah | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 6:38 am | #

Peggy really is, of course (an elitist snob), but that doesn't mean she isn't right about Palin. Every now and then she writes a fairly decent column; this is one of those times.
Tom Hilton | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 7:45 am | #

What does this mean or what is Noonan's meaning "a gifted retail politician"?
Donna | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 7:51 am | #

What does this mean or what is Noonan's meaning "a gifted retail politician"?

Able to come across as not an elitist snob.
ahab | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 7:58 am | #

Good at going out into crowds to shake hands and kiss babies. It's true -- (some) people like her in that mode.
Steve M. | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 8:08 am | #

"retail politician" sounds like it just means that she's been bought/is owned by lobbyists or maybe just Neiman Marcus -- to me anyway.
Donna | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 8:36 am | #

Blue Texan has a pretty good takedown of Nooners at both instaputz and FDL.
HumboldtBlue | 07.10.09 - 3:53 pm | #

Noonan has gone from Democrat to Reagan Democrat to staunch Republican. In this case that transition has given her some decent insight. She mentions the necessity of "knowing how other people think, and why." Palin appeals to a crowd that says, "I know I'm right. Why should I care what anyone else thinks?"
Ben | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 6:10 pm | #