Colin Powell fires back at Cheney & Limbaugh

[MattusMaximus]

Powell fires back

In the latest round of the increasingly heated intra-GOP feud, former Secretary of State Colin Powell Sunday defended his Republican credentials and fired back at radio host Rush Limbaugh and former Vice President Dick Cheney, saying the party had to expand beyond its conservative base.

“Rush will not get his wish and Mr. Cheney was misinformed – I am still a Republican,” Powell said in a much-anticipated interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” two weeks after Cheney suggested on the same show that the retired general had left the party by endorsing Barack Obama last fall.

Powell outlined his party bona fides, noting his votes for and services under a string of Republican presidents, and said it was not up to Cheney and Limbaugh – the radio host has kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism since Powell's cross-party endorsement last year – to determine who belonged in the GOP.

“Neither [Cheney] nor Rush Limbaugh are members of the membership committee of the Republican Party,” Powell said.

Powell suggested that there were a number of moderates in the party who shared his concerns but were hesitant to speak out “because if you are vocal you’re going to get your voice mail filled up and get lots of e-mails like I did.”

One such Republican did seem to take Powell's side of the fight today, as Former Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge also joined in the criticism of Limbaugh Sunday. ...

It's nice to see that Powell and other GOP moderates are stepping up to take the fight to the hardcore right-wingers. I hope this emboldens the "silent minority" of reasonable Republicans to stand up and speak out. We'll see...

 

[Marc39]

Someone is trying to secure a position in the Obama administration.

 

[Tricky]

Someone is trying to secure a position in the Obama administration.

If that were the case, I suspect Obama would have fallen down on his knees saying "thank you thank you thank you..." That this hasn't happened suggests that Powell has had enough of being part of a presidential adminsistration. He feels he can accomplish more as a stray cannon.

 

[hgc]

I guess Powell has unpleasant memories of being Cheney's hand puppet in front of the UN. He'll spend the rest of his life trying to recover his reputation, but it'll never fly if he doesn't first own up to what he did.

It doesn't help that he's being treated with kid gloves in the media, where he doesn't receive direct questions about what he knew and when he knew it, or is allowed to skate by such queries with obfuscatory tut-tuts.

His 11th hour endorsement of Obama doesn't cut it. If he had broken with Bush in '04 and backed Kerry, that would have been evidence of real sefl-knowledge and repentance.

 

[Alt+F4]

Moderate Republicans are afraid of getting angry emails and voice messages? Bunch of babies.....

 

[hgc]

Of course, Powell is just a bit confused to think that he will have any infuence in Republican party building.

First, he was never a real Republican politico. Never ran for office, and until joining BushCo as Sec. State, never held any politically designated position in government or in the party.

Second, he just endorsed the Democrat for president. That's seriously the end of the line for political ambitions within the party structure. Sure, Lieberman, who as a former/quasi-current Democrat who did the same thing on the other side, got to keep his committee chairmanship, but that's a temporary holding pattern. His political influence within the party has long evaporated.

For all the outrageous things uttered by Dick Cheney, I don't get the uproar over how he chose Limbaugh over Powell. He expressly qualified his answer as relating to political/party considerations, and it's Limbaugh who has demonstrated his unbending fealty to party (to the point of admitting that he'd been "carrying water"), not Powell.

 

[Wolfman]

For all the outrageous things uttered by Dick Cheney, I don't get the uproar over how he chose Limbaugh over Powell. He expressly qualified his answer as relating to political/party considerations, and it's Limbaugh who has demonstrated his unbending fealty to party (to the point of admitting that he'd been "carrying water"), not Powell.

i guess its a question of loyalty to the party, and loyalty to the country. Limbaugh has more than adequately demonstrated that he puts loyalty to the party ahead of the country, going so far as to state outright that he wants Obama to fail. I am quite confident that, even if Obama's policies were proven outright to benefit the nation, Limbaugh would never support them.

Powell has, in my opinion, demonstrated a great deal of moral integrity, putting loyalty to his country first. Now, I'm no huge Powell fan; but the fact that he broke with the Bush inner circle, when he knew the damage it would do to his career, speaks a lot to his character. As does the fact that when he could look at two presidential candidates, and select the one that he felt was best regardless of the party that candidate belonged to.

There's a lot of talk about how wonderful it is that so many Americans have become 'blind' to race, and elected America's first black President. But what of the ideal of being blind to one's party, also...of choosing a candidate based purely on their merits, rather than on the name of the party they belong to?

Given a choice between a Powell and a Limbaugh as an example to others -- not just Republicans, but Americans as a whole -- Powell wins hands down, no contest.

 

[hgc]

i guess its a question of loyalty to the party, and loyalty to the country. Limbaugh has more than adequately demonstrated that he puts loyalty to the party ahead of the country, going so far as to state outright that he wants Obama to fail. I am quite confident that, even if Obama's policies were proven outright to benefit the nation, Limbaugh would never support them.

Powell has, in my opinion, demonstrated a great deal of moral integrity, putting loyalty to his country first. Now, I'm no huge Powell fan; but the fact that he broke with the Bush inner circle, when he knew the damage it would do to his career, speaks a lot to his character. As does the fact that when he could look at two presidential candidates, and select the one that he felt was best regardless of the party that candidate belonged to.

There's a lot of talk about how wonderful it is that so many Americans have become 'blind' to race, and elected America's first black President. But what of the ideal of being blind to one's party, also...of choosing a candidate based purely on their merits, rather than on the name of the party they belong to?

Given a choice between a Powell and a Limbaugh as an example to others -- not just Republicans, but Americans as a whole -- Powell wins hands down, no contest.

Of couse I agree with you that Powell is the go-to choice than Limbaugh for who's better for this country in their respective public roles.

But Cheney said expressly, ".. as a Republican, I choose Rush Limbaugh." Elections, governance and policy-making happen within the context of political parties. It's inevitable. I don't question that the Republican program of governance has been a disaster for this country in many, many ways. But for a Republican party loyalist choose Powell over Limbaugh, at this moment in time, is equivalent to giving the kiss-off to the party. Perhaps that will change as those Republicans who see the cul-de-sac their policy prescriptions are leading them into gain more sway.

 

[corplinx]

Limbaugh has more than adequately demonstrated that he puts loyalty to the party ahead of the country, going so far as to state outright that he wants Obama to fail.

You need a meme vaccination to prevent you from ruining an otherwise great post with rote spin. Other than that, I agree with your post.

 

[CapelDodger]

i guess its a question of loyalty to the party, and loyalty to the country. Limbaugh has more than adequately demonstrated that he puts loyalty to the party ahead of the country, going so far as to state outright that he wants Obama to fail. I am quite confident that, even if Obama's policies were proven outright to benefit the nation, Limbaugh would never support them.

Liimbaugh has demonstrated his ambition to define the Republican party around himself. Not because that's good for the "party" (let alone the nation) but because he's a raving egomaniac. The smaller the pool the bigger the fish he appears to be.

Powell has, in my opinion, demonstrated a great deal of moral integrity, putting loyalty to his country first. Now, I'm no huge Powell fan; but the fact that he broke with the Bush inner circle, when he knew the damage it would do to his career, speaks a lot to his character. As does the fact that when he could look at two presidential candidates, and select the one that he felt was best regardless of the party that candidate belonged to.

I'm not convinced that Powell actually sought a career beyond his stellar military career. I suspect that he took on Secretary of State because it was offered and he thought he could limit the damage by taking it.

I predict that Powell and his role will be a rich source of future history papers - not to say controversy .

Given a choice between a Powell and a Limbaugh as an example to others -- not just Republicans, but Americans as a whole -- Powell wins hands down, no contest.

But will he and his ilk win the soul of the Republican party against the Limbaugh shout-mob? I doubt it. The lunatics are taking over the asylum.

 

[CapelDodger]

But Cheney said expressly, ".. as a Republican, I choose Rush Limbaugh." Elections, governance and policy-making happen within the context of political parties. It's inevitable. I don't question that the Republican program of governance has been a disaster for this country in many, many ways. But for a Republican party loyalist choose Powell over Limbaugh, at this moment in time, is equivalent to giving the kiss-off to the party. Perhaps that will change as those Republicans who see the cul-de-sac their policy prescriptions are leading them into gain more sway.

Cheney goes with Limbaugh because otherwise he's nothing. There'll be a face-off for leadership between those two once the heretics have been eradicated. It's a toss-up which of them will die first. In actuarial terms they're both dodgy bets.

 

[corplinx]

. I don't question that the Republican program of governance has been a disaster for this country in many, many ways. But for a Republican party loyalist choose Powell over Limbaugh, at this moment in time, is equivalent to giving the kiss-off to the party.

The party felt like Powell had given the kiss-off by backing the other parties' candidate. Unlike Lieberman who just has to vote for a few earmarks here and there to get out of the doghouse, Powell has nothing to offer. Powell can't bring black votes into the party away from Obama in 2012. Powell doesn't appeal to the primary voters as far as we know.

The only way I see Powell getting out of the doghouse is to get Michael Bloomberg back in the party, take it over, and run Bloomberg in 2012. If Powell wants to remain a Republican in more than name, he needs to do something to steer. As Cheney put it, "what, he's still a Republican? i heard he voted for the other guy".

Right now the GOP is on its way to a McGovernesque loss running someone like a Jindal or Palin. They've run most of the bonafide leaders away. McCain was a leader, they picked Bush over him. Then when he got his shot, it was against history in the making (Obama).

Honestly, I am not sure how much it matters now. The SEIU has so much influence now in getting out the vote (reminder, long before Beck or O'Reilly had starting attacking the SEIU, I had pointed out their money bags and influence on this forum). I am not even sure a bonafide presidential blue chipper like Bloomberg could beat Obama with the SEIU mobilizing the door-to-door.

If Powell wants to be relevant, maybe he should join the Democrat party. I don't see the Republican party being relevant for quite a while.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Liimbaugh has demonstrated his ambition to define the Republican party around himself. Not because that's good for the "party" (let alone the nation) but because he's a raving egomaniac. The smaller the pool the bigger the fish he appears to be.

Somehow I have always thought that no matter the size of the pool, El Rushbo has always been a pretty damn big fish!

Thank you folks. I'm here all night

 

[kallsop]

The republicans ran a pro illegal immigration pro bailout cross the aisle "moderate" for President, and Powell did not support him. He's quite some "republican" isn't he. Don't dare say he made a decision based on race though, LOL. If he wants the republican party to be democrat-lite, why doesn't he just come clean and identify himself as a democrat?

Oh that's right, this is the same Powell that made an ass of himself at the UN and wouldn't know a worthless French commitment from a hole in the ground.

 

[Dr Adequate]

Oh that's right, this is the same Powell that made an ass of himself at the UN ...

Making an ass of oneself is the usual consequence of following the Republican Party line.

Can you point out one Republican who didn't make an ass of himself over WMDs?

How about Cheney and Limbaugh?

That's Dick "We believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons" Cheney and Rush "We're discovering WMDs all over Iraq" Limbaugh.

 

[hgc]

Making an ass of oneself is the usual consequence of following the Republican Party line.

Can you point out one Republican who didn't make an ass of himself over WMDs?

How about Cheney and Limbaugh?

That's Dick "We believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons" Cheney and Rush "We're discovering WMDs all over Iraq" Limbaugh.

Nah, here's the best, from Rummy: "We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat..."

Talk about making it up as you go. Good grief! It's the perfect metaphor for how the entire Iraq war was prosecuted: half-assed, haphazard, torturous.

 

[GreyICE]

You need a meme vaccination to prevent you from ruining an otherwise great post with rote spin. Other than that, I agree with your post.

I don't get how you spin "I hope he fails." It's reasonably obvious to any observer that Limbaugh holds the success of the Republican party and its ideals as more important than the general success of the President and the current government, which is pretty much the definition of placing party above country.

 

[CapelDodger]

I don't get how you spin "I hope he fails." It's reasonably obvious to any observer that Limbaugh holds the success of the Republican party and its ideals as more important than the general success of the President and the current government, which is pretty much the definition of placing party above country.

Not if you take the long view. In the long view it's better for Obama to disappoint so that the electorate recognise their error and flock back to the natural party of Government and rejoin Real America - the Republican Party. Starting with next year's mid-terms.

In the meantime it's important to clean house in the party. Weed out the heretics that so weakened it (Powell and the like) and get back to true Republican ideals, firmly based on the Holy Bible and the Frontier Spirit. As exemplified by Limbaugh, Cheney, and Rove.

 

[CapelDodger]

The republicans ran a pro illegal immigration pro bailout cross the aisle "moderate" for President ...

And right beside him, one dodgy heartbeat away from a real job, was Sarah Palin.

... and Powell did not support him.

Perhaps Powell isn't "pro illegal immigration"? Has he ever said he is?

I strikes me that McCain will have lost a lot of votes simply by being in favour of illegal immigration. Let alone the President Palin prospect, with Cheney and Rove pulling the strings of another brainless puppet.

He's quite some "republican" isn't he.

That rather depends on what you think "Republican" means. Is it blind obedience to the party hierarchy, like the Communist Party? Or what?

McCain was a disastrous choice even without Palin, which was just

Don't dare say he made a decision based on race though, LOL. If he wants the republican party to be democrat-lite, why doesn't he just come clean and identify himself as a democrat?

What does race have to do with anything?

Oh that's right, this is the same Powell that made an ass of himself at the UN and wouldn't know a worthless French commitment from a hole in the ground.

The French didn't make a commitment, and Powell handled his brief extremely well at the UN. He by no means made an ass of himself. He presented the case of the Administration he served, dutifully and to the best of his considerable ability. That's Powell for you.

He only appears to be a patsy in retrospect because the brief he was given was a pack of lies. OK, he must have known some of it was at best highly suspect, but he had no reason to believe it was as fabricated as it was. He was at State, cut well out of the loop.

You believed it, didn't you? Did you watch his presentation and think "He's making an ass of himself, Rumsfeld would have done it much better (don't dare say I based that opinion on race)"? I didn't. He had a slideshow and everything, it was most impressive.

 

[CapelDodger]

Nah, here's the best, from Rummy: "We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat..."

And some people say Powell made an ass of himself at the UN? Imagine that Rumsfeld gem being presented to the UN - it wouldn't just be the French who were rolling about.

Talk about making it up as you go. Good grief! It's the perfect metaphor for how the entire Iraq war was prosecuted: half-assed, haphazard, torturous.

I think the initial military operation was bloody impressive when you consider the constraints imposed by the Rumsfeld vision of a New Model Army. The problems came later.

They did things differently in Powell's day. For good reasons.