Cranky? Moi?

Far be it from me to rob Peggy Noonan of the fun of running with an inaugural puff-piece today, but I would raise a couple of points of simple geography regarding its opening paragraph:

Washington

Flying in, we take the route over the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson, the Tidal Basin: the signs and symbols of the great republic. And you've seen it all a thousand times but you can't stop looking, and you can't help it, your eyes well. After a minute you realize you must have a moony look on your face, and you lean back. The lady to your right, engrossed in a paperback of "Marley & Me," sees nothing. Your gaze continues across the aisle, and you see another woman looking out the window in the same way, avidly taking it in. Her view includes the Capitol. She leans back.

Um, no Dear. Last time I checked, the Capitol was on the same side of the river as the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. What the other lady was looking at was Arlington.

Also....one gets that view you're describing only when landing to the south. I'd have to go back and check the last couple days' weather to be sure, but I'm pretty sure the prevailing wind in Dee Cee has been out of the north most of the week.

Just thought I'd mention it.