Powell to Rush, Cheney: Room for me among 'emerging' Republican Party

The republican party is cracked and splintered and drifting into the abyss.
They do not believe in evolution(even if it was done by God's hand)
They do not believe in global warming(you must believe in science first)
They do not believe in two adult people getting married(these people might be the same sex).
They do not believe in equal health care for all citizens(only those who can afford it)
They do not believe in a woman's right to choose(her choice might not mesh with their beliefs.... There's nowhere to go but down

To poster 87. There are a lot more qualities required of an American military officer than just two. Loyalty is to the U.S. Constitution and the oath of office, not an individual. Sometimes resigning and then speaking out may be required. A 2 star Army general (John Shacknow, I think) under Pres. Carter had to do that when Pres. Carter was going to withdraw the 2nd Inf Div from Korea. Even today you don't have to be a genius to see how loonie that would have been, or would be today.

Limbaugh is a buffoon, Cheney is a coward and Powell is a statesman. That is really all you need to know to decide what kind of Republican Party you would prefer.

If the GOP becomes the party thta Gen. Powell seems to want it to be, how will they be any different from the Democrats? He's pro-choice, for affirmative action, and wants to expand the size of government. Also, when the GOP runs a so-called moderate, it loses (Ford, Dole, McCain, etc.). When the GOP runs candidates who support conservatism, it wins (Reagan, Bush, etc.). Does Powell just like to lose?

Powell deserves more respect than this. Just because he is a moderate Republican [as he has always been], they are allowed to attack him? I am a democrat but it saddens me when the republican party goes so viciously after General Powell for not compling 100% with the party ranks. The republicans have to realize that they are losing ground by doing this.

Rush isn't 1/4 the man that Powell is, nor the leader I am not a republican but I know that this is unacceptable.

Rush Limbaugh has no idea what it is to be a man; his job is to rally the ignorant around their prejudice and fear. He must do this every day to keep his ratings in the stratosphere. He has no concept of policy; he proposes no solutions. Rush is like the fire-eater in the circus - he finds flickering flames of impotent rage then spritzes them with gasoline, The fires he starts lead to no great conflagration; the victims of the Rush Limbaugh Show are the listeners; he fans their delusions by raising their blood-pressure. At the end of his daily diatribe, no one has learned anything; they have merely had their ignorance redirected so the Rush can sell expensive air ads. P.T. Barnum would have love the Limbaugh side-show.

If they choose to be the party of Rush Limbaugh rather than than the party of Colin Powell, this GOP would deserve a place in the trash-heap of history. Let us hope that they fail. The success of Rush Limbaugh's clueless and hopeless Republican Party would finish the mission that the last Bush Administration almost accomplished.

Powell is a racist who picks his presidents based on race! Ha you libs are so afraid of Limbaugh and he cleans your clocks all the time!! Better Republican than Powell any day! GO PALIN 2012!!!!

I would rather have a thinking man in the GOP than a torturer and an idiot. Since I am a moderate, I could consider supporting a GOP party that included Powell, Crist, Swazzenegger, etc. But the Cheneys, Gingrichs and Limbaughs are ridiculous!

High taxes, cap and trade, the Gov't running business is not what the GOP is about it's what obama is about

Colin Powell may represent a more elitist segment of the GOP, but there were always Republicans from that group who were more willing to cooperate and work with the President, whomever that might have been, for the good of the nation. What amazes me about the GOP, in general, is that they would apparently allow their own homes and neighborhoods, their own towns and cities, to fall apart, rather than raise some taxes to pay for rehabilitation and improvement. The infrastructure of our nation would represent "home," and "home town" here. It would appear that the most sacrosanct tenet of Republicanism is: it always comes down to saying "no" on additional taxes, for just about anything.

Being a "moderate" does not mean that our views are held lightly, and we will abandon our convicts at the drop of a hat. A "moderate" conservative holds their beliefs just as strongly as an "extreme" conservative. In fact, those beliefs are more important to us than a party designation, and thus we will vote for a different party if that party's candidate better reflects our views. This is not weakness of character or a lapse in faith. It is staying true to our principles even if that requires us to vote against a party that we have long identified with, as is our right as Americans and human beings.

LOL!!!
Rush Limpnutz' comments amount to a pile of beans.
Hey Rush, have another doughnut, d00d!
1 in 5 Americans consider themselves republican, with the likes of Bush's, Cheney's, McCain's, Limbaugh, Steele, Gingrich, Bobby J., Sanford, Palin, etc. I can understand it. I see no evidence that the G.O.P. has a clue as to how to reinvent themselves at this point in time. However, politics tend to run in cycles and they (GOP) should figure something out as to how to stop the bleeding of people leaving party.

To win back the GOP, Yes; the real Republicans should push for an investigation of Cheney, Rumsfield, Bush, and the Bush lawyers Yoo, Bybee etc.

"The version of the party that he's waiting to emerge is not the Reagan wing of the party. "

Colin Powell knows Reagan, he worked for Reagan, he's a friend of Reagan. Who the hell is Rush Limbaugh?

I trust Obama (mostly) with an active, fiscally intrusive government but fear the DEMs will return it in to welfare state after he is gone. We need responsible fiscal conservatism and honest debate to get the right-sized government for the global show-down we'll soon face. The GOP cannot fill that role because they got us in to this mess. I hope people like Powell can help rebuild true conservatism.

William F. Buckley Jr. also voted for democrats when the Republican Party didn't have a viable candidate. Instead of doing the usual shooting the messenger the Good Ol' Political party should admit they're marginalizing themselves and set a new course.

Lindsey Graham's ousting of Libertarian ideals tells you where the party is going.

High taxes, cap and trade, the Gov't running business is not what the GOP is about it's what obama is about
Why does the GOP need to move tothe right look what happened what happened to Sent john mccain was to center to win

Kevin from Boston does Barney Frank (D-Mass.) deserve any blame

I'm a Democrat but I really think the country needs the Colin Powell's of this world. I have no problems with a responsible Republican Party that is trying to win based on superiority of ideas. Nobody has a monopoly of wisdom and the core values - even the Reagan core values - of the traditional GOP are ones that I can respect. President Obama has also said as much.

What we do NOT need is the intolerant, "You're and idiot (or worse) if you don't see the world completely identically to me", back biting, narrow , morally bankrupt, make political every little thing, try to win by lies, distortions and deceptions of the Cheney / Limbough Republican Party.

Colin Powell is so dead on on so many things including this one. When will the GOP wake up and realize that their once great party has been as surely gate crashed and usurped by the bigoted Christian right as the great religion of Islam has been gate crashed and usurped by the bigoted Islamic terrorists.

Dick Cheney did not say, "He's already out," about Colin Powell. The direct excerpt from Fox News below. It is interesting how the Left quickly seeks to discredit Dick Cheney by their constant lying, and here they are again continuing their lying machine...

"I think my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican," Cheney said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Asked to clarify, Cheney noted that Powell endorsed Barack Obama, a Democrat, for president shortly before the general election.

"I assumed that that is some indication of his loyalty and his interest," Cheney said.

Rush is a talk show host that does not want to run for office. Why so much hate?

I just pray we have someone emerge for a party, any party, or a new party who will stand on the principalities, morals and values that founded our once great nation. No radicalism, no socialism, no racism, no classism and no parti-ism! I'm so sick and tired of hearing about Democrats and Republicans it makes me sick to my stomach. He said she said all day long! Just stop it! We're all citizens of the United States (excluding 12.75 million illegals but who's counting?). I am leading a grassroots effort in my town that will lead to a new way of politics. Yes, legally and legitmately and best of all for the people, by the people!!! God bless us all!

If Obama was Pro-life would he be the president? or would he still be working for ACorn

I THOUGHT THAT REPUBLICANS WERE CHRISTIANS BUT I FOUND OUT DIFFERENTLY, YOU LET A LEGAL DRUG ADDICT AS RUSH LIMBAUGH,DISRESPECT THE PRESIDENT, I NEVER WITNESS ANOTHER PRESIDENT EVER TO BE DISRESPECTED LIKE THIS MAN, BUT WE ALL KNOW ITS ONLY BECAUSE HE IS BLACK. YOU DON"T WANT TO EXCEPT THE FACT THAT BLACKS ARE JUST AS INTELLIGENT AS THE WHITE RACE,YOU CAN LOW RATE HIM BUT YOU CANNOT TAKE WHAT GOD HAS PUT INSIDE OF HIM. YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT GOD IS NOT IGNORANT HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING WETHER THE PRESIDENT IS RIGHT ARE WRONG GOD ORDAIN THEHIM TO BE THE PRESDENT OF THE USA

if you people love powell so much take him to your side let him run against obama b/c the GOP does not wont him

Colin Powell is reviled by conservative repubs because he and his flunky Richard Armatage through their treachery allowed the Valerie Plame "lie" to go on for over 2 years and let the Bush administration twist in the wind. Powell knows what he did and he knows that Armatage should have paid the price. Powell is nothing more than a Judas who wore 4 stars....Stars given to him by GHWB. An "Affirmative Action" 4 star general.
As for a party of White Males...just remember we white males are the most productive members of this society. It won't be long before we pick up our marbles and leave. And you can be a country of uneducated illegals.

Powell has a problem in that he does not want to be called an "uncle tom", so he will do what Arlen Specter did and throw away his principles to be on a winning team. Is that the kind of leader we need in the Republican Party? No! We need people with values and clear moral principles that want to be good stewarts of the greatest nation in the world. We do not need people that want to subvert America and change it into a European nation of welfare recipients. The US Constitution must be preserved, protected and defended by all of our leaders. Leading a nation is not a cheerleading contest. It is a serious matter that requires serious leaders, thinking about future generations of Americans and the impact that their changes will have on them.

Wasn't this supposed to be an article about Powell's response to Limp & Dick? Then why does Limp get four times the coverage? I really wanted to know what Powell had to say and this story does an exceptionally poor job of telling me. Instead I get to see a lot more of Limbaugh's ranting against him.

Thanks a lot David. (not)

So, if Colin Powell becomes the GOP presidential candidate in 2012, will Limbaugh support him? Limbaugh flip-flopped on McCain during the campaign, calling him McGenius, and showed that he's just a tool of the Republican Party. Will he do the same for Powell?

Gone are the days when the GOP enjoyed some relevance. It has deteriorated very fast, just in the last eight years. Most college educated white collar workers have always belonged to the Democratic Party. The better educated blue collar workers are leaving the GOP by the hoards. The ones left are the poorly educated blue collar workers and the mentally screwed up rednecks both clinging to their bible and hatred of any one who is different from them.

There have been a lot of underpinnings about the demise of the Republican
Party. The Whigs are gone ; the no nothings and the first party the Federalists Have gone the way of political irrelevancy. However, there is now a remobilization effort to bring back the Federalist party. This party is called the National Federalist Party, web site www.thefederalistparty.org

It is rumored That some prominent citizens and elected Republicans are part Of the Federalist movement. Supreme court judge Scalia is a strong believer in Federalist principals, embodying his view, that the Constitution is a dead document. He believes the Constitution has to be interpreted not as an ever changing documents but as the founders created it. The Federalist Papers are the Best guide to interpreting the constitution. Vice president Cheney espouses the theory of Unitary Executive which came out of the Federalist paper No 74,and grants supreme power to the president in time of war

The Republican party has developed an ideological quagmire. This convergence of different agendas, have lead to the in ability to govern. In the last administration Everybody had their own agenda. These ultra-regressive stances were Both inflexible and unpopular; signaling the death knell of the Republican Party. Abandoning the center for the fringes
Has left The fiscal and moderate voting majorities disillusioned.
\
The social conservatives, insisted their fringe issues , abortion, gays, stem cell research, capital punishment, nationalism , school prayer , intelligent design took precedence over Governance. The neocons, hawks and other ideologues hated change; loved the military, hated immigration, abhorred environmental issues, Loved guns ,disliked foreign nations, never negotiate and Offered no solutions other than their inflexible issues; only the fiscal conservatives and moderates thought about governance ; however, Even if they could govern their hands were tied by Polarizing policy. The government of the unwilling became the party of no. Many reasonable Republicans decided the problems insolvable; as long as the social conservatives and other radical groups aggrandized issues were the motivating policies; yet, there was no way to depose them. A mutable alternative was to join a party that offers solutions and also embodies their principals, the Federalist party.

I believe that there is room in the middle for a third party- an authentically conservative party- small government, fiscal responsibility , scientific, believes in state's rights and has a live and let live attitude, It would need to dump the social/theocratic conservatives. Fiscal conservatives made common cause with the social conservatives but that has turned out to be Faustian bargain.

When Arlen Specter switched parties a few weeks ago, I chimed in on local newspaper's blog saying that I thought Specter (my senator) had generally done a good job. I added that I myself had left the Republican party ten years ago mainly and become independent, because of the Gingrich / Ken Starr style of tactics of the day. Within minutes of the post, my comments were blisteringly attacked by someone in the Rush mold, presumably, saying I was pro-abortion, radically feminist, anti everything "conservative" -- making my point better than I ever could have. I am phisophically closer to tradictional / moderate Repulbicans than I am to Democrats. But the Republicans will not even allow someone like me to have a say.

Colin Powell is a Democrat!

It is really amazing how many smart idiots there are. All those middle income GOPrs whose quality of life has been trashed by "trickel down economics". Remember when one person in a household worked and you could own a house? remember when most jobs had pensions and medical benefilts?? Yet I have wingnuts in my family who only think about gay marriage as if its a big threat while our country hijacked and bleed dry by haliburtons and Blackwaters protecting us from "ominus Jihadists" It has not "trickled down" in decades...

big dave.. u r about as ignorant as they come !!! I think u might have been hanging out with the sheep a little more than u should have. A intellect such as big davy would have a little more statue behind his remarks than what davy boy had. Keep it up, and get back with me in 10 years when u r waiting in the food line for ur food stamps. it's ok the USA is being destroyed and berated by sheep hunters like u. Have a good night,and don"t forget to put your rubbers on when you feed those sheep tonight !!!!!!!!!

If the USA wasn't facing such dire economic problems amplified by this liberal government (Socialist) policies these mind numbed Pea Brained little idiot liberal's comments on this board would be amusing. Instead its utterly shocking to see such stupidity. Do you people even have jobs are you already mooching off of us people who are working our **** off just to stay afloat and survive the Obama Storm. Just because you people have no ambition and are happy mooching off us why punish me. I work 6 days a freaking week. I AM the middle class and we are getting screwed the worse in this recession. You people will eventually figure it out when you find yourself begging on thes treet for for food.

to all repubs and dems, if u voted for that joke that u all still seem to support named bush or cheney, u deserve to be locked up just as much as bush for taking this country as a joke. and u idiots call yourself patriots? for all of u who do not know how to read or write, or cannot comprehend the english language, stay off the web because u f__c_in teabaggers are nothing but bunch of s&@t starting punks that has the power of a vote, thats it. rethugs are nothing more than terrorist that terrorize this country, and don't have a clue how to run a country, this includes the so called golden boy ronny reagen....to dems, u r so weak that i'm not sure who wears the pants in any of your houses. it's time, it's been time to start a forth party, a peoples party that no a$$hole in washington represents. everyone in washington is lost.
Posted by still not proud of this country May 20, 09 12:56 PM
______________________________________________________________

You, sir, are an ignorant b_st_rd (your lingo, not mine). If you aren't proud of your country...MOVE THE FU#^ OUT! (again, your lingo)

You can take a guess who MOST SANE Republicans support.

OK, one hint: he is NOT whacked out on ILLEGAL prescription pills!

Any questions? OsiSpeaks[dot]com

First off, for someone of his magnitude, Colonel Powell does not need to be “wanted” by anyone, much less Mr. Cheney or Mr. Limbaugh. In fact, Colonel, my only comment to you is that you should not be getting into a spitting contest with these guys. That is beneath you. I would never in a million years vote Republican, so if you do run under the banner of the GOP, I’d be very disappointed. Please do it as an independent so I can vote for you.

As for whether the Republican Party will be back, well, it never went away, and if it did, it’ll surely be back because la mauvaise herbe a la dent dure. Some of them are just obnoxious and shameless enough to survive and act like the whole OxyContin and inexistent WMDs debacles never happened.

McCain chose a bimbo ("Mat, I'll have to back to ya on that one") for his running mate and the Repubs fell all over themselves, sure that cute and clueless would balance old and clueless to topple my "chosen one". Why would any thinking man support a party that gave us Palin/McCain?

Colin Powell for Democrat! Yeah! If he wants to rock the Republican Party so the Democrats can enjoy the show. Well, then boot this liberal out to the Democrats! Let the Democrats have Colon Powell. See if the Democrats like them like Arlen Sleazy Specter. Kick out all liberal Republicans to the Democrats so they can have the headaches we don't want.

Rush Limbaugh's version of the Republican Party is a complete disaster.
The only Loyal Bushies who are left in the GOP proudly call themselves Ditto Heads. That's all any independent thinker needs to know.

Did the Bush CIA lie to Nancy Pelosi about torture?
Heck, the Bush CIA lied to Colin Powell about aluminum tubes and yellow cake, thereby rushing our nation into unnecessary combat, under Christian Crusader Donald Rumsfield.
Get these people in jail.
Only a fool would be led by Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh or Newt Gingrich.

This is to Mr. Richard Terrell:About that elephant in the room? Mr. Terrell I've been a Republican since 1972...very active in the NY State Republican party, moved to North Carolina and very active there until 1991. I've voted for more white men than Blacks, even when there were Black opponents. I'm a fiscal conservative. It is so small-minded to assume that the ONLY reason someone Black could vote for a Black man is because of his color. Wasn't that your cries before about why WE vote for Democrats" (only because party affiliation).Could it have to do with compentency? If you check the numbers a great # of independents who normally vote Republican voted for Obama too!!! BTW, should I assume all whites that voted for McCain did it because he was white?

D

When people start bandying about names like "the abortionist" and "socialist" and say that Colon Powell voted for Obama because he, too, was "a black man" they lost the argument without even starting. An "abortionist" is by definition "one who induces abortions". Last I checked, Barack Obama has not performed any abortions, and no one says he has. Hyperbole adds nothing to your argument. Colon Powell scares the right wing because he is a viable Republican Candidate for President who could change the face of the Republican Party. Rush would miss his $20,000,000 a year if people stopped listening.

Let's see hundreds of military commendations, two tours of Vietnam, a Purple Heart against a guy who got 5 deferments and said he was too busy to go fight for his country in Vietnam. I think folks better be careful talking about Collin Powell

It is interesiting to me, a veteran and moderate republican, that anyone still listens to Lush at all. Here we have an individual who "claims" he had a football injury, so in effect he was not drafted for the Vietnam War. In addition, if you look at his pedigree, he comes from a long line of very successful litigators and jurists. What did they get from him, a guy who dropped out of college that's what. Last, time I checked he has never held public office but yet knows what government and the people who run it need to do? Hmmm, I think I would rather take my advice from a former "decorated" four-star general and secretary of state then a disc jockey. What about you?

If Rush is the "druggy" the Leftists keep implying, then he should be in their camp as a mascot. Anyone with two brain cells left know that the lions share of the drug abuse in this nation is by those affiliated with the Drugocrats.

In the article, his ironclad evidence is referred to not being true. Still can't use the word lie in mainstream media, when refencing the previous administration

Rush is a first name...Powell and Cheney are not. That is a really poorly written headline.

I love, love, love, LOVE LIMBAUGH and Cheney!!!!! They show, on a daily basis, that the Republicans are too beholden to their ugliest characteristics to do anything about it!! It's really hilarious.

I'm an independent.. I vote for the guy I think has the best plan and head on his shoulders. It doesn't matter what party he is from. Those of you who self-identify with a political party, are, in my opinion, pathetic droids incapable of thinking on your own two feet.

But MAN, the power Rush has on the Republicans is fascinating!

Rush, baby, keep it up. You are like the virus that culls the flock until there is almost nothing left.. and then the survivors build anew, stronger, smarter. I'll wrap my arms around that group when their time comes.

To Truth: Stop the hate!

see you later POWEL be sure you register democrat

Fear is the opposite of Faith. I have Faith in the Republican party, and I have Faith in the Democratic party. My Faith in the Republican party is that it will do what is right for ALL citizens of the USA. My Faith in the Democrat party is it will do what is right for DEMOCRATS.

I have nothing to fear. I have faith, in party, in God and in the average Nancy's and Joe's of the USA...not the Pelosi's or the Biden's. I have faith in the average people of this great country. I have faith that 4 years from now, when we as a nation of individuals will come together again to judge our leaders, and we will cast our vote. And it is then that we will see who is fearful and who is full of faith.

Instead of whining about Rush why don't you liberals get you own radio host.... oh akward I for got you already tried that I forgot about Al Frankenstein and air Amerika.
Oh well you still have CNN MSNBC CBS ABC MTV BET Comedy Central HBO and etc.

This reply is for Bruce and any other Liberal Loser reading this. What happened in California is only the beginning, a trickle if you will, in our National Economy.
"We The People", I know i have seen those words somewhere before? Are saying NO!!!!! To Taxazation w/o Representation! "We the People", are saying "No" , to bigger Government! "We the People" are saying "Taxed Enough Already"! And only now are the powers that be opening their ears. It's time PPL. Time to take Our Country Back! The result will be disasterous if we don't, California was the first state to fall. I believe there will be others, Their economy was too Large not to fail.

To Tom Stover:
"As for a party of White Males...just remember we white males are the most productive members of this society."
Show me your statistics. I have some that say that you are not, and cause a disproportionate majority of heinous crimes.

Very simply put: The highest compliment and the nicest thing that the Republicans could do to Colin Powell would be to disassociate themselves from him.

I think what Powell means is he belongs to a less corrupt and more compassionate version of the Republicans - not the hard-right Neo-Con types like Cheney,Limbaugh,Bush,Rumsfeld,Rove etc.

The anger of the Leftists is expected. Just follow along like good little sycophants,
hating everyone who questions, challenges or criticizes your anointed " leader", that's the way of the Left. 2010 is coming, and you're going.

A self serving Dope addict, a has been demagogue, baying at the moon. Who cares what they say? Well according to polls, at least 20% of the population cares. Lets see 20% opposed to 80%.

I enjoy watching Kieth and Rachel for pretty much the same reason the burned out crack heads watch Radio's most popular Dope fiend. W hat spokesmen for the GOP, Skinny Minnie, and Crack Head.

As a Conservative Independent I believe the GOP has a lot of work to do (and I'm hoping Steele can take them there!).. however... Powell does not uphold Conservative values if what Limbaugh said is true (I have no idea, I'd have to research) - Conservatives are not about big spending, nanny state governments, enabling people to generationally suck off the teet of the taxpayers etc etc - those are liberal ideas. If Powell has them, he's not even a Conservative nevermind Republican. And Powell backing Obama WAS a bad move - since Obama's ideologies have not even a minute inkling of anything conservative in them!

As for you Truth - there is not ONE ounce of truth in your hateful, ignorant, lying rants. You are the epitome of what people like me despise about liberals. Tell the actual TRUTH and you have credibility. Name calling and lying about the 'other side' does nothing for you... just makes you look completely 'out there'.

Rush is right.
EVERY black of EVERY political persuasion jumped on the Obama bandwagon, showing their TRUE political beliefs.

That guy's entertainment; pandering to fringe elements of the GOP. The Republican elite are too smart to take him seriously and to wise to allow his "brand" of conservatism to infect the party at large. He's a political side-show...
Rush Limbaugh's rants are like an old man farting in a busy, crowded elevator due to his indifference and slow sphincter "shutter-speed". We're slightly aghast and mildly tickled at what spews out of his mouth. Laughing afterwards though; at him of course. Some people will do and say anything for money...
Intolerance and exclusion will strangle the GOP to a state of complete impotence. If they're not there already.While Rush gets paid. I consider him a method-actor with a bad drug habbit.
We forgive you old man; kickin pills I hear is tough...

Oh yeah, that's the way to retain the prized endorsement of a retired war hero who is very popular with the country he served. Set him up to be made a liar in front of that country of well informed citizens who want the truth about everything. And then have him attacked by that fat queen of mean limbaugh. Throw in a dose of the military industrial complex spokesman, back shootin' thug cheney. And there you have the recipe for disaster for the rethugs (not mine) and a major boost for the demos. By the way, weren't Hitler's henchmen called "Jackbooted thugs" you're not in good company rethugs! Maybe the idiots didn't realize that General Powell's endorsement carried so much power. What does this tell you about their comprehensive knowledge of the world around them? Leaders???
Damn,this is too easy!

Powell voted for Obama. Powell says larger government is the answer. Powell is a Democrat and is not welcome to rejoin the Republican party. Now get over it, Colin.

Thank you ES #144! I couldn't have said it better myself. It is amazing to read all these hate-filled words spewing forth against republicans condemning "hate"! How ironic is that? These people claim Republicans are bigots, hypocrites, racist and so forth, but just read their words! I've never read such anger and hate before! Who are the real "haters" here?

I am truly worried for my country for the first time in my 45 years. The level of hate against each other is alarming. I am a registered Independent. I have voted for Democrats and Republicans. I vote according to my beliefs -- not a party. I am also a conservative Christian. I believe abortion is murder, I believe marriage to be between one man and one woman. However, I have gay friends, I would have dated a black man had he asked, I would not condem a woman for telling me she had an abortion for that's not my business or job. I love ALL people. However, there are some things that are just "morally" wrong: Murder, theft, lying, etc.

My beliefs do not make me biggoted, a hater, or racist. I don't "shove" my way of thinking down anyone's throat either. If I'm asked I share, but if not I don't. Remember, those of you who claim to be "tolerant" - the definition of tolerance is: "a sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting from one's own." - Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. From the comments I'm reading on this blog - you need to start practicing what you preach!

I don't agree with your "hate", but I won't dispute your right to feel the way you do and I won't dispute your right to have your views. I just retain my right to disagree with you and be "tolerant" of your point of view. That doesn't make me ignorant, racist, biggoted, or any of the other colorful metaphors you choose to apply.

All of you liberal nuts have the nerve to say conservatives live in a fake world, look at all those hollywood liberals who suck up to our enemies. thats what liberals do. You idiots can keep your socialist,GODLESS, weakness,gay lifestyle anything goes, abortionist policies. We conservatives are the party of lincoln and we and the founding fathers have the same ideas on how to run this country. Obamination has no idea what hes doing, he goes with the polls or move on .org. People are fed up with tax and spend, huge government takeovers and cradle to the grave entitlements. The days of Reid , Pelosi,Biden,and the rest are numbered.

reading the few displayed comments I find a lot of "scrap the only law of the US. "the Constitution!! any action by any group ( read dems. ) that is not strictly constitutional is not legal,period !! no discussion allowed!!!!!!!! review all you want facts are facts.

To all the liberals making their comments about Rush and Cheney, enjoy your time at the top. It is going to be short lived. The real Republican party has lost its voice for a while. Trust me when I say IT IS COMING BACK. It may not be the Republican Party that rises to power, it could be a third party. Patriots like Cheney and Limbaugh are leading the way. Washington will be reformed. It is time that we elect someone with the same values and principals that our Founding Fathers had. We need officials that will uphold the laws of the Constitution. That is what made this country the greatest in the world. There are movements today that are growing and gaining momentum--"tea parties", "the912project.com", "we the people", and many more. The internet is loaded with them. The next election will prove my point. So liberals enjoy it while you can and believe me WE THE PEOPLE will be heard.

Interesting all the foul mouthed hate here. I only wish I could be around for the end..to see all those who deny the ultimate TRUTH, and what HE will bring with HIM when HE comes[and I believe the community organizer is one of them,] but by then it will be too late folks. You continue in your own futile thinking and idolize and set a man up as an idol,your messiah,continue to mock sound doctrine and truth and replace it for lies and evil. Jesus can not come too quickly,and obama has set that up already with his "transforming" our country. THAT you can take to the bank!

Colin Powell does not represent the Republican party. He along with John McCain, in some cases, have very left leaning views. Instead of trying to impose them on the rest of us, they should just change their party like Arlen Spector. We won't mind. Remember, we had a left leaning candidate last time and look where that got us. I feel the majority of the Republican party is conservative and think it is those basic values that will win us elections.

Colin Powell is a fake, a phoney and a fraud! He obviously reached his high army position through the EEO and not ability. He declared himself a Republican to further his army career because most of the military favors the Right. He exposed his true feelings in this last election when color won over ideology. He backed this would-be dictator simply because he is black! Is Powell a racist? You bet your sweet bippy he is! He should be thrown out of the Republican party. He is a disgrace! Rush Limbaugh is a true patriot and a threat to the Left and that is why they demonize him. They will not succeed!

For those of you who are maligning Americans for not supporting Powell, an honorable veteran, just remember who this 'honorable veteran' supported in last year's election. Powell, this 'honorable veteran' supported a community organizer thug from Chicago who never even registered for the draft when he could have supported another honorable veteran but chose the draft dodger instead..

I really don't understand how any one can think that what is happening in this country now is good. Stop all the blaming this administration or that administration. The truth is that the American people have been spoiled and became apathetic. They continued to let the country be run by crooks for over 100 years. Little by little our freedom and liberty have been eroded until you began to wake up. Every president and most all of congress has been working against the people for a long time. If you think that socialism and or communism is ok, then why are you here. This country is a Republic and unlike any other nation in the world. Most people in this country believe that you should be able to live your life your way as long as you are not hurting anyone or infringing on any one's rights. Most people don't care if you are gay or not. Most people think that abortion is not a government issue, but a personal issue between you and God. Most people believe in God and hope that you do, but again that is a personal choice. All this talk of hatred is just to keep us, the people divided. Together we can make real change, not Obama change. Divided we are going to fail and loose a great nation. Wake up people. We agree on more than we disagree, as a whole.

What get's me is right wing conservatives, like Limbaugh and Cheney don't have the insight to see that their conservatism is motivated purely from and by anger. The question is who are they angry at? if they look deep enough, they will see it is themselves they so throughly hate. I mean can you imagine what it must be like to be Limbaugh or Cheney and have to face every living moment dealing with that level of self contempt. Wow!!! Relax gentlemen

idiots in massachusetts keep supporting these democrat libs. perfect place for powell to give a speech...get your wallets ready boston.you will be paying for all this government

First, Powell removed himself when he endorsed, and campaigned for a radical, left wing Democrat! Simply look at waht the "big tent' democrat party did to Joe Lieberman because he differed with them on ONE issue! Which Republican issue does Powell agree with? Which Democrat issues does he agree with? Most of them! Powell is a Republican like Specter was a Republican!

Powell recently told us that the people want bigger government, anmd more services. That idiotic statement, and the crushing defeat of the Crazyfornia initiatives show ho out of touch Powell is with Republicans!

Some in the media (and the "Powell Wing" of the party) believe the Republican Party is washed up and dying. Leslie Savan wrote in The Nation earlier this month: "What sort of psychological bent would lead people to want to be part of a dead-end political party like the GOP has become?"

But, a new Gallup poll from May 7 – 10 shows it's not quite that bad for the GOP. Thirty-two percent of participants in the survey identified themselves as Republicans, 32 percent as Democrats, and 34 percent Independents. And if you include Independent "leaners," Republicans and Democrats are also tied at 45 percent between May 7 – 10.

Compared to last month, from April 20 — 21, Republican Party identification has risen five percentage points while Democrats have fallen four. With "leaners" included, the GOP gained six and Democrats lost five.

Limbaugh, Cheney and such likes folks are tools that are used by Satan to bring about and keep confusion, separation and division among people. Their message is never for good of the country or for thoes they suppose to represent. Following them is a choice. I ask, who is the bigger fool, the fool or the fool that follows the fool???

Limbaugh is a hateful little man who no one should take seriously.
Cheney is an evil little man who, along with Bush, placed thousands of
our young people at death's door by engaging in a war that didn't have to be fought. Why can't he go back to his Haliburton Mansion on the Eastern Shore and stay there?

Limbaugh and his ilk support the dumbing down of the presidency and America! Powell the statesman represents intelligence, compromise, and empathy!

The current republican party is a corporate fascist group of neo-cons who are in the strict interest of 3 things:
1. Oil.
2. War and weapons.
3. Hegemony and slavery.
Those who support these probably have jobs in them which is why they keep supporting a failing status quo. I'm not a liberal by any means, but Obama is a God send compared to having another 8 years of these guys. If it were their choice, they'd have put their opposition (whoever doesn't hold to their views) into concentration camps and label them as terrorists.

The only time Powell was a Republican was when he was getting a check from the Bush administration....now Obama is paying his tab. Any true Republican saw through this "CHARLATAN" years ago. Supports abortion, supports gay marriage, loves social programs......that's the democrats agenda.

For Commentor #222: Karen: for supposedly being a "saved" individual, you seem like one, scary, hate-filled person yourself. Good luck with that whole being saved thing. Like so many of the far right, religious folks, you come across as very off-putting. For being so sure of yourself, you seem awfully angry, shouldn't you be "rejoicing?"

Dick Cheney and Karl Rove ducked out of serving in the Vietnam War when they had the chance. They define the term "Chickenhawks." No more needs to be said.

marcus2, So did hippies, who were nothing but Canadien border jumping U.S. miltary hating liberals, along with Bubba Clinton.

No more needs to be said.

I respect Collin Powell for his service to our country but disagree with his statements about what the Repulican party should become, the Democrats.
It is interesting how some people believe it is morally wrong to use the enhanced interragation methods, "Torture is never justified" even if it could save thousands of lives BUT it is NOT morally wrong to KILL a baby while it is in the mothers womb and then cut it out and toss it in the trash.

I think the word for people like this is a HYPOCRITE!

Let Rush do some Water boarding on Cheney and have the two go hunting right after.
And a new are will begin.
Two big losers gone, time to go after Bush and clean up this mess once and for all!

I hope Cheney and Limbaugh keep it up. The more they talk, the more they marginalize themselves and what's left of the Republican party. If they think the answer to their complete repudiation at the polls in the special elections and the '06 and '08 national elections is to further "purify" themselves, their delusion is obvious and complete. A clue to who is behind this "purification" is that Rep Paul Broun's (R-Ga) Bible Bill has only been signed on to by Republicans, while Broun is cluelessly saying, "This is not a partisan issue." Could you spell it; "southern white religious zealot?

No Democratic Party, No Republican Party, Give me the TEA Party. As one who is sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution against against all enemys, foreign and DOMESTIC, I will do what I can to end what I see as Washington playing fast and loose with that document.

Who does Powell think he's kidding. The Party didn't leave him, HE left the party. In fact he was always considered to be a RINO. He'll be much more at home with the rest of the Kool-Aid drinkers who put the fool in office! At least until 2012!

He's not a Democrat because he supports higher government spending during a crippling recession, first of all. There's to being a Republican (or at least there should be) than calling for any and all taxes to be cut every day of the week. At the same time, there's to being a Democrat than believing the government should spend more tax money to stimulate the economy. If people realized this we might move past all this silly bickering.

I'd march with Gen. Powell any day of the week, even though I don't agree with all of his politics. Attention Rush: there was a GOP before Reagan was elected in 1980.

Dear Commenter #238 (and you know who you are): "Enhanced interrogation techniques" isn't torture just like "Indefinite suspended aspiration" isn't murder. Abortion being wrong doesn't make torture right. I have never heard, or heard of, anyone promoting abortion as birth-control or anything other than the abject tragedy that it is; "Pro-Lifers" would add a prison sentence as follow-up to the tragedy. Where is the sense in that? Further, Obama, Democrats, moderate Republicans nor virtually everyone else are "Pro-Abortion". Only the most vile of character among us could possibly be, and to suggest that those who perform or undergo abortions as a matter of necessity, is simple, short-sighted and not very nice.

To "Simon Peetree, Commenter #225": Obama is too young to have dodged the draft. Cheney, Libby, Rush, Rove et al are not. Moron.

You know how you can tell Powell isn't a Republican? When a liberal speaks highly of him. So, no, he is not a Republican and I wish he would just admit it and go join the other party and stop wasting the Republican parties time. Republicans need to stop being weak and supporting this weak administration. Stop caring what the liberals think. They don't know what's best for them anyway. Look at the proof - they want the Government to support them! Besides, they aren't going to agree with anything you say and do, so just stop listening to them. You do what's right for America, and they can either smarten up and live with it or they can move to the other liberal and communist countries around the world.
Peg

So what we are supposed to follow
A) a bully
B) an Ex-Junkie (maybe as he rants he becomes suspect of falling of the wagon)
C) a lier.
D) a proven war hero an man that was excepted into the War collage on his own merits a man willing to voice his own opinion, A man that lost faith when he found out that WMD were nothing but lies.

Civil Rights Act Of 1964 - Voting Record
The Senate Version that became law received only 69% of Senate Democrats while 82% of Republicans voted for it.
The House vote received only 63% of Democratic Party Votes while 80% of Republicans voted for it.
Note also that at the time of the vote on the 1964 Civil Rights Act Southern Congressional representation in the House was 94 D, 10 R and in the Senate was 21 D and 1 R. Can anyone truly imagine that any Civil Rights leader, raised in the south actually ever voted D?

How Can You Vote Democrat?

If you are not an anarchist, communist, illegal immigrant, un-proud to be an American, anti-traditionalist, anti-business or an affirmative action designee, their victim politics leaves you out in the cold. 85% of those who seek affirmative action want your job and to extract entitlements that you will pay for. Their party was founded by slave owners, ruled the south after reformation, established Jim Crow, wanted Rosa Parks in the back of the bus, voted against civil rights until the 1960's and stood in the doorways of countless schools to protest Eisenhower's desegregation achievements. They have pushed the regulations in place that have lost generations of blue collar jobs to more cost effective foreign nations. Bill Clinton signed NAFTA, costing hundreds of thousands more. Their platform and candidate slate embraces a "church" that does not have your best interest at heart.
How can you vote Democrat this fall or any other?

Rush and the GOP keep bringing up Reagan, our president who was elected almost THREE decades ago!!! You know, the guy who was president during when the personal computer STARTED showing up. This is a different time, and a different place than then. I don't care about the political affiliation of a candidate nor do I vote (I don't think that anyone who WANTS to be president should be ALLOWED to be president), but Cheney and Rush are right now killing any chance the GOP has of winning the next election by bashing Powell. Powell is one of the guys you need, and you treat him like this? Keep in mind that Cheney is basically a war-criminal (Geneva Convention? What's that???) and Limbaugh is a highly paid TALK SHOW HOST whose listeners are right-wing lunatics (and isn't he a drug-user??) PEOPLE, get yourselves together and stop listening and watching network radio and news (as a rule: if there are commercials, then it is biased).. if you want facts, do some research!!

During the 2008 Presidential election, Colin Powell proved he was neither a Republican nor a Democrat - He was all about Race. Black candidate with nothing in common with my values - He's got my vote.
Powell has been a hack since his early day. The Vietnam hero saw almost no combat during his first tour as an adviser and got his purple heart by stepping on a punji stake ( I got mine from a land mine) His second tour was as a staff officer (desk job) who made his claim to fame by attempting to cover up a report of the Mai Lai Massacre. What a hero. As secretary od State he whined that he was
deceived into lying to the UN on Iraq's WMD's. In truth, the US and the UN in Iraq have found containers of Brucella, Hemorrhagic Fever, Ricin and Aflatoxin. In addition the ISG have found 500 tons of Yellow Cake ( raw plutonium for use in nukes., 100 metric tons of chemical warfare agents, 120mm mortar shells with warheads containing Blister agent ( ISG) and 3.9 tons of pressurized nerve gas.
Sorry Colin, you were really telling the truth when you thought you were lying.

He did not run for President when asked because he has the world's biggest skeleton closet.

Powell is an opportunist fraud.

Agreed totally...Powell should go ahead and tell the truth stop lying about what agenda he is supporting, be honest and say he is a Deomocrat. STOP trying to pretend he is anything but a Democrat, and liberal.
We tell the truth are are hated, Why can't he tell the truth and feel the love!
“I don’t care what Colin Powell says,” Limbaugh responded soon after. “This kind of stuff is said about me three times a day … and Colin Powell is just another liberal.”
“What Colin Powell needs to do is close the loop and become a Democrat,” Limbaugh said.
I agree!!