Edgewise

Flip-floppering, part II

Cecil Vortex

Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan made an interesting observation on the TV tonight. Instead of calling General Clark an outright flip-flopper, she hit a related but distinct theme, saying: never trust a man who tells you he's on a journey. Her concern is that Clark doesn't appear to have a fixed political philosophy. He's learning and changing as he goes. To Noonan, this is a critical weakness. Which puts her, I believe, at odds with the majority of American voters.

Judging by the last twenty or thirty years, on the list of things Americans care about in their Presidents, an iron-clad political ideology is about as important as a tap-dance routine. As in: If they have one, neat. If not, oh well.

Reagan did. Hurray! Clinton didn't. Hurray!

Most of us are looking for a leader with a good heart, a good head, and a tolerable personality. A fixed ideology? Whatever.

So sure, Clark is on a journey. For many voters, that's a good thing. Only statues stand still.