When she writes on politics, I pay attention. She was inside Washington at the highest level, yet she did not have to get into any fights to defend institutional turf. She watched. She thought. Then she wrote speeches.

To write a speech that works with an audience, you must understand the audience. You must then craft your words to gain the support of the audience. Peggy Noonan has understood the Republican audience for three decades better than anyone else I can think of.

OUTSIDERS AND INSIDERS

Her latest article surveys the Republicans running for the nomination for President. She asks the obvious question: Why are two outsiders, Trump and Carson, ahead of the others? She comes up with a plausible answer.