in the wrong era. Soundly refuting
liberals online since 2000. NOTE: That is NOT
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Audacity of Truth
"Diplomacy":
"People are saying what in the world is going on with North Carolina, we look like Mississippi." - NC Gov. Bev Perdue (D) on the passage of Amendment One, 5-11-12
Informal poll: Should Colin Powell switch parties?
CNN is reporting on Rush Limbaugh’s suggestion yesterday that Colin Powell make the move and switch parties:
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Rush Limbaugh fired back at Colin Powell for his critical comments earlier this week, saying Wednesday that the former secretary of state should join the Democratic Party.
“What Colin Powell needs to do is close the loop and become a Democrat instead of claiming to be a Republican interested in reforming the Republican Party,” Limbaugh said on his radio show Wednesday.
Limbaugh also took aim at Powell’s decision to endorse President Obama over John McCain during the presidential election, repeating his earlier sentiment that Powell’s move was “solely based on race.”
[...]
During a speech on Monday, Powell said the “the Republican Party is in deep trouble” and said the GOP would be better off without Limbaugh, according to a report by the National Journal.
“I think what Rush does as an entertainer diminishes the party and intrudes or inserts into our public life a kind of nastiness that we would be better to do without,” Powell said.
What else did Powell say about the GOP?
“The Republican Party is in deep trouble,” said Colin Powell, former secretary of state for one Republican president and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff for another, speaking this week at a conference in Washington sponsored by Fortify Software Inc. The party has to reconcile with the fact that the mood of the voters has changed, he said: “Americans do want to pay taxes for services… Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less.”
A couple of things: Regarding Rush’s comments about Powell’s voting for Obama based solely on race, Powell – while a seriously overrated Sec. of State, in my view – does not strike me as someone who would make race his “sole factor” when voting for someone. It might be “a” factor, but not “the” factor. Powell is a lot deeper than that. Second, I don’t care what Powell said about Rush, but I have a serious issue with his statement about Americans “looking for more government in their lives, not less” and I especially disagree with his implication that “because” of things like that that the GOP should move more to the center.
Flashback to what I wrote about party principles a couple of weeks ago:
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard over the last several weeks from supposedly “concerned” liberals about how the Republican party is going to “fade into obsurity” if it doesn’t “fall more in line” with the views of the American people. Now, I don’t think the core philosophy of conservative Republicans is out of step with the American people, but instead believe that conservatives in DC lost their way over the course of the Bush years with the massive, mostly unchecked spending, and with the various corruption scandals. That said, let’s assume for a minute for the sake of argument that the principles of smaller government and lower taxes were “out of touch” with what mainstream Americans wanted. Is that any reason to “modify” our stance on bigger government and higher taxes? Let’s say for the sake of argument that the principles of desiring a strong national defense were “out of step” with mainstream America. Should we therefore “change” what we believe on that in order to gain popularity with the American people?
The answer, in my view, is no. If conservatives abandoned their principles on those issues, our party as we know it would cease to exist. In fact, we saw what happened when conservatives in Congress started acting like moderate liberals on spending, for example – it didn’t do us any good. Certainly there are issues that we can find common ground on with the left on, like on card check, supporting our returning veterans, and on regulation/deregulation. At this point, we don’t have a choice, but in the end there are core principles that should never be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. Even if it means in the end the party would die out.
What Powell is advocating is the GOP turning away from those core principles in favor of the way the tide is supposedly turning in this country with more people allegedly wanting more government in their lives. If he truly believes this, then the Democratic party is indeed where he needs to be because that’s much more in step with their principles than ours.
Am I advocating a “party purge” of everyone who doesn’t march lock step with the GOP platform? Absolutely not – there’s room for debate on any number of issues, but on the core principle of less government intrusion into our lives? Well, that is not one that is up for debate – not to me it isn’t, at least. Assuming what Powell says is true in that more people want more government in their lives, the GOP have just got to work harder at persuading people on how less government intrusion into their lives is better. Again, from my principles post:
The jobs conservatives have to do in order to ensure [the demise of the party] doesn’t happen is to explain their conservative positions to their respective constituencies (or in the case of those running for office, explain their positions to their potential respective constituencies) clearly and articulately – and make their case for how a Congress and WH controlled by fiscally conservative Republicans is better overall for our country’s future than one controlled by fiscally irresponsible liberals. And at the same time, they shouldn’t be afraid to tackle the tougher social issues like illegal immigration, gay marriage, and the right to life. These issues can be framed in ways that have the potential to win over potential young conservatives and independents of all ages alike. We shouldn’t cede ground on the “green” issue, either. We don’t have to fall for the phony “man-made” global warming arguments to be able to make persuasive arguments for less dependency on foreign oil via more offshore drilling and exploring alternative forms of energy. It is, after all a national security issue more than anything else, and even after all the last two elections where conservatives have lost considerable ground, national security is still one of the few issues more people trust us on than they do the left.
Your thoughts?
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For me, there are only two things that LEAP off the page. National Defense and Economics, neither of which do either party have a handle on, even with directions on the heel……I’ll spare y’all the gory details, as I’d be preachin to the choir.
Only decisive action and committment will get it done, period! Speeches and endless campaigning (read – LIES) are for the EQ deranged and the IQ challenged!
I am sorry but I do believe that race was a major factor as to why Powell voted for Obama. It absolutely was the deciding factor. If not then why not vote for your “brother in arms”?? Outside of the war, there was very little difference between McCain and Obama. Also, Rush is right, if this change in the Republican party that Powell is advocating, then why not back McCain, he is absolutely everything that Powell wants now.
My problem with Powell is I see a man who has little to no honor. He helped cover Richard Armitage when he leaked Valarie Plame’s name to the press, and now he didn’t vote for what he considers the perfect party candidate. As far as I am concerned he is an un-indicted co-conspirator against the Bush adminstration, and if he made it official that he was leaving the Republcian Party, I would be ok with that. But here again he is a man without honor. What kind of individual would basically do everything in his power to destroy that which he says he cares about??? – Lorica
There isn’t a person alive that doesn’t know that Powell is a scheming, cover your butt, stick your finger in the wind kind of guy. Not a person in the world.
And everyone knows that the only reason the democrats are fine with playing this latest maneuver up is because it benefits them.
Like I said, not a person alive doesn’t know this.
Anybody sick of all the idiots trying to tell us what to think, how to live, who to vote for, how screwed up our party is? Obama has taken this country to a place I never thought I’d see in my lifetime … a time when everyone’s fighting about BS and not paying attention to reality. The damage he and his buddies are doing to this country may be impossible to undo.
so, he is neither fiscally conservative nor socially conservative. what portion of the tent is he representative of other than the Democratic portion?
Yes, I think Powell should seriously consider switching over to the other party. It seems to be more in line with his philosophies and he has certainly has done more in the recent past to help the Democrats than the Republicans.
He can better serve this country by being a good apple in the other basket rather a rotting one in this basket.
I look forward to seeing the Republican party shrink in numbers but with a more solid and cohesive agenda that can inspire large numbers of independents and cross-over votes. That’s seems to be a better path to success than a mish-mash of confusion and in-fighting.
Rush has it right on the money. Powell wants the GOP to be more moderate/liberal. We just ran the most moderate/liberal candidate in history and Powell didn’t vote for him. We lost by playing fair, they won at any cost including lying. The GOP needs to be better liars??? Powell is a has been, a RINO maybe, a Democrat for sure.
All the talk of GOP should change is nonsense, we lost by 6 million out of 127 mil votes. We need not to change one bit, stay on the message. Change motto of BHO was just talk, liberalism his agenda. We just have to sit back and watch him fail.
Colin Powell is no Republican. Certainly no Conservative.
He should leave the Party as its platforms don’t represent his values. I don’t want squishes like him thinking it is okay to redefine our values for the sake of political expediency.
Values are called values because we VALUE them.
Colin Powell and Armitage were covert Democrats all along. As for policy, what does Powell stand for? More government, not less. Hey, Colin, don’t you think Democrats have the more government voter already?
Adios and good riddance. Please take Armitage with you.
I posted this, in other places, about Arlen Specter.
Anyone think it also appropriate for Powell?…
The Devil he blew upon his nails, and the little devils ran,
And he said: “Go husk this whimpering thief that comes in the guise of a man:
“Winnow him out ‘twixt star and star, and sieve his proper worth:
“There’s sore decline in Adam’s line if this be spawn of Earth.”
Empusa’s crew, so naked-new they may not face the fire,
But weep that they bin too small to sin to the height of their desire,
Over the coal they chased the Soul, and racked it all abroad,
As children rifle a caddis-case or the raven’s foolish hoard.
And back they came with the tattered Thing, as children after play,
And they said: “The soul that he got from God he has bartered clean away.
“We have threshed a stook of print and book, and winnowed a chattering wind,
“And many a soul wherefrom he stole, but his we cannot find.
“We have handled him, we have dandled him, we have seared him to the bone,
“And, Sire, if tooth and nail show truth he has no soul of his own.”
Rudyard Kipling – “Tomlinson” – 1891
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Best GOP Political Strategy since Jimmy Carter: DO NOTHING and vote NO on everything let the Jackasses build the GOP Big Tent.
Evidence that Republican Big Tent is expanding proportionate to false premise set forth by Big Media’s colluding, corruption and electioneering of Democratics.
1) Faux News parent: Phenomenal Growth of News Corporation and Cable Network #1 in all time slots for all shows post Obama Inauguration. This ain’t liberal viewers I bet.
2) Tea Parties: Over 500,000 non-party affiliated protesters show up on April 15th, 2008 does not bode well for Democratics.
3) Post Election Big Media hate-mongering vitriol against Sarah Palin, Miss California, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. The elections been over for more than 6 months and the Big Medias false premise machine is working overtime against anybody and everybody with conservative positions.
4) In the resoundingly conservative State of Georgia GOP paid party membership is expanding by nearly 50% more than any previous time in the history of the State GOP. Home of the Red State Strike Force, Community Organizing Southern Gentleman Style is on the agenda for 2010.
5) Arlen Specter & Colin Powell are the litmus test for the future of national RINO politicians: Falsely framed by the big Media and the Democratics talking head pundits whom always are giving their opinions on what Republicans should do to win elections. Yeah right! These inclinations are going to drive the expansion of the GOP Big Tent.
Smart Strategy for 2010 and 2012: Flood the Nations primaries from top to bottom with qualified popular conservative women candidates, which will dilute and skew the vitriol and expose the fraudulent agenda of the local and national Big Media.
Allow the Democratics Culture of Corruption explosion by their supporter’s fraudulent usage of TARP and Recovery Act funds will lay the foundation for the demise, diminishment and destruction of the Obama Agenda and their majorities in the Congress and Senate.
The GOP does not need one defined national leader at this time that person will rise to the top of the heap bolstered by the Big Media’s fraud and the imminent failure of the Obama Agenda, Doctrine and Vision.
This is so easy to read and visualize our National Council for a New America listening pandering tour needs immediate disbanding.
The Jackasses domination and overreach IMPLOSION will skyrocket the expansion of the GOP BIG TENT! Where else will the discontents migrate?
He doesn’t need to switch. He is already a rat. He always keeps from saying what party he belongs. He voted for BO because he is black and consequently outed himself. He made a lot of money in the lecture series to mostly Rep audiences. He had to keep quiet to keep making the $$$. 100k per appearance.
Nobody is going to seriously think of Colin Powell as a Republican in the future. He has shown his true color (black democrat) and nobody with an ounce of sense will trust him to be anything else from here on out. He was an Affirmative Action success story throughout his career, but now we see the real man. There is a lot more here than just Colin Powell, if we will take the lesson.
At this point, Powell is neither Republican nor Democrat. What he has become, by degrees over the years, is a Washington insider. His loyalty isn’t to either party as much it is to the entrenched buddy system in place in D.C. Once you’re a member, the other members always have your back, regardless of party. So it doesn’t make one bit of difference whether he changes his party affiliation or not.
As to ST’s main point, however, I’m in complete agreement. The GOP – or more accurately, the GOP office-holders and candidates – MUST rediscover the bedrock conservative principles, MUST articulate them loudly and often, and (when elected) MUST live by them in office. Given the choice between an authentic no-doubt-about-it liberal and a watered-down, unconvincing semi-apologist for the conservative brand, voters will almost always choose the real thing. At least they then know what to expect. Last November’s election returns bear that out.
Powell is a jerk. Obama is the most far left loon in our government, has never served, and has never led anything and you want to tell me Powell, a military man and a Republican, chose to support him when we have troops at war on two fronts in a very dangerous world?
Bullcrap. Powell is a fake and a racist.
I wasn’t a Powell supporter even before he endorsed Obama. He was on Larry King and said he wouldn’t run for president because he was afraid he’d be killed because he’s black. That’s how much faith this militant has in his fellow Americans. Screw him.
I can’t take anyone seriously who says Republicans should stop shouting after the unprecedented hatred the liberals shouted for 8 years. He’s a condescending loser.
The old adage, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck….it’s a duck….Collin just leave now before you embarrass yourself any further. The only folks who want you to stay in the Republican Party are democrats. You are their shill….even more so now that they seem to have a complete handle on the powers that be in Washington, DC.
Play taps. Lower the flag. Then just go away, General.
Part of the slash and burn tactic of the left. Get a Trojan horse type embedded in the Republican party and have them supply the media with fresh Republican attack pieces. I see Colleen as an old Johnson type Democrat. Go back to the Democrats (if you ever left) Mr. Powell, it’s OK. You don’t have to worry about not getting promoted if people think you are a Democrat. Your not in the army anymore. Good riddance to you. The door can even hit you on the way out. Move in with Wesley Clark and live your life in peace.
I don’t much care about Powell. At this point I don’t see that he matters much. All he is right now is another “Republican” who the left can use to slam the GOP. He’s being used and I can’t believe he’s letting it happen.
As to the rest, I totally agree that holding fast to conservative principles and articulating them to the general public as often as possible is an absolute necessity. After all, they always work.
But more than that, conservative voters need to hold to the fire the feet of our elected representatives and even more so, party officials, so that they know what we want and expect. This needs to be done for every level of gov’t and even in things like school boards(maybe especially so). Along with that, demand that our opponent justify their positions on everything. Make them hear their own words as they flail about trying to defend the indefensible.
The problem with the Republican party is us. We weren’t on the phones raggin’ on our reps when they voted for every spending measure that came down the pike. We didn’t stay on their cases while they allowed the left to define who they were. If the GOP is to return to prominence, our involvement is mandatory. We can’t just sit around and be waitin’ for the world to change (I hate that song).
Powells’s real focus is increasing his speaking fees. Anyone who has become as irrelevant as powell needs attention more than anything. switching parties means nothing, except to the fools that would actually pay the guy to come and deliver his wishy washy message of suckupedness.