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Where is ‘the center’ on Powell’s political map?

And how did Sarah Palin move the entire GOP to the right?

By: Josh Painter (Diary)  |  May 5th, 2009 at 08:55 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

For Secretary of State Colin Powell, who in 2008 actively supported the ticket National Journal listed as 2007′s two most liberal senators, is once again advising the Republican Party to move to the center. I wonder if he means that if the GOP had moved even more to the center than it has, he would not have worked for a ticket that is moving the country so far to the left. Or perhaps the former Army general assumes that where the two most  liberal guys in the Senate are on the political map is the new center. He doesn’t elaborate.

Powell is in denial of polling data (here and here):

“Americans do want to pay taxes for services,” he said. “Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less.”

Anyway, there’s not much new in what he had to say. He’s still attacking Gov. Sarah Palin, although he preferenced his latest criticism with a backhanded compliment. And he doesn’t put the “blame” on the governor herself this time:

He also said that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain’s running mate last year, is “a very accomplished person” but became “a very polarizing figure.” He said the polarization was created by Palin’s advisers.

I guess Gov. Palin’s supporters should consider that an improvement over what Powell had to say in December, when he accused her of pushing the party to the right. I mean, we all know Alaska’s governor is a strong woman, but who knew that she could push an entire political party so far in any direction?

- JP

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COMMENTS

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  • 6eorge Jetson

    There, I said it.

  • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

    …and liberal means more government. Moderate means pro-choice? and liberal means pro-choice. Moderate means appeasement? Liberal means appeasement.

    So what’s the difference between moderate and liberal?

    Why doesn’t Colin Powell just hire a plane to skywrite “Surrender Dorothy”. He’d at least be honest.

  • DerKrieger

    to define what “far right” means and what “moderate” means. They just throw out the terms to demonize Conservatives because we oppose Big Government. IMO this is all a push by those with a vested interest in government to expand it.

    And I’m sure the 40+% of Americans that don’t pay federal income taxes are only too happy to say the rest of us should pay more taxes and that they want more government services.

    I want to see a poll of only those that pay net income taxes to the government on issues of taxation and more government.

  • DONTREADONME

    why should we expect anything else from him. Maybe the man got too close to the chemical factories he blew up in ’91. He should have stayed out of politics… BTW he should have finished the job in ’91. I never liked the guy period, ever. Former Generals can be idiots too!

    Anyway, does what he say really matter anymore?

    • DerKrieger

      Maybe not to me or you but it matters because the MSM will take his opinions and broadcast them to the country to bolster their narrative and we have to respond. This is their game. Keep us continually on the defensive.

      • DONTREADONME

        ignore him. No point in front paging Powell at redstate that is just my opinion, let the man go the way of the dodo.

        • http://www.scottbomb.com scottbomb

          Nobody cares about Powell except the Dems who love him because he claims to be a Republican but endorsed Obama and attacks the GOP. He’s a troll who should be ignored.

          I often feel the same way when a Redstate front-pager goes wringing their hands over what the NYT says. Nobody reads the NYTanymore except other “journnalists” and maybe a few New Yorkers.

  • Marcus_Traianus

    Not for his views, but the posturing, politicizing and attempts to promote policies based on a scaled methodology.

    Our policies should be based on broad principals that appeal to a majority of Americans. That should not be hard for Republicans given our primary beliefs which a plurality share.

    It is in our own faulty articulation, unorganized manner and mischaracterization by those we oppose which creates the illusion we are out of step with the populace.

    The enemy is slashing at our flanks and all General Powell can do is stand and point out how bad our position is as the ranks are decimated. I can’t tell you how empty and hopeless that makes me feel.

    But respectfully, the general is not only wrong but completely disingenuous. When he had a chance to promote the standard bearer of moderate Republican politics, who did he choose?

    Here is a man that benefited his entire life from the type of policies we promote along with the goodwill of principled Republican benefactors. Yet all he can seem to muster is ingratitude, scorn and criticism. Then he abandons the line, retreats, comforts our enemy and writes tomes in exile lecturing us about how we abandoned him. Hardly; and what shameful, disreputable behavior of this once great man.

    Yes, we should listen. For somewhere in the articulation we may find the real reason for such bitter contempt and resentment.

    • skorrent1

      One reason for Powell’s current attitude can be seen in side-by-side photos of him and Obama.

      As for his resentment, think of the likely personal response of someone who has experienced the obvious “Peter Principle” results of his stint as SecState. It either destroys his self-regard, or creates an enormous resentment against those who placed him in the position where he failed so completely. Powell’s self esteem has not faltered.

  • JSobieski

    Another word for the “political center” is triangulation. The center in 1994 is surely different than the center in 2008. Powell is advocating policy without regards for objective reality—whether something is a good idea or a bad idea. Did the political center ever do anything helpful like end slavery, protect civil rights, or win a war?

    D: Push for $1T stimulus package
    R: Oppose
    “Center”: Push for $500B-$800B stimulus package

    R: Reduce highest marginal tax rate from 70% to 29%
    D: Oppose
    “Center”: Reduce highest marginal tax rate from 70% to 50% and add a whole bunch of tax credits for people who don’t pay taxes

    For a military person to embrace triangulation is surprising and disappointing. If the military ever triangulated on something like D-Day, thousands of lives would be lost, not to mention the war.

  • rbdwiggins
  • WarEagle01

    But not disloyalty on this scale. If it wasn’t for Republicans, Powell would have retired as an obscure brigadier general in the early eighties. To turn on those who supported him unconditionally all these years is just plain dishonorable . I agree with Mark Levin. Powell is a superficial clown who doesn’t really know what he is talking about.

    • rbdwiggins

      But, Powell knows exactly what he’s doing.

      • newagegop

        He wants to be liked and told how great he is. Maybe even make some cash along the way. He’s a globalist. Just like every other progressive piece of crap over the last 100 years.

  • The_Rebel

    in the Army to become Ronald Reagan’s National Security Adviser. As such, he had almost daily contact with a staunch conservative, with a cheery optimism that infected everyone around him. Apparently none of this ever wore off on Powell, as he has become more and more ultraliberal and pessimistic in tone since those glory days.

    My only question is why does he continue to claim he is a Republican? He runs from the core principles of the party as fast as he can. He is nothing more than another phony in the mold of Frum and Brooks.

  • bobojake

    The only ?a very polarizing figure.? I seen in the election was obama and his racist remarks about bill clinton.
    obama was and is an inompetent marxist LIAR.

    • gonzo55

      Seems like TheOne is quite effective at implementing Marxism and destroying liberty.

      And come on, you didn’t think HIllary was at least a little bit polarizing?

      • mbecker908

        Obama is probably going to turn out to be the most competent and effective POTUS we’ve ever had in terms of getting his agenda passed.

        And we’ll never, ever roll the clock back. Ever.

        • mbecker908

          Reagan destroyed the USSR, which was essentially a collection of third world countries with nukes who were afraid to use them on us.

          Obama, when he’s done, will have destroyed the world’s only superpower without firing a shot.

  • http://brockwayfamily.spaces.live.com/ Erick Brockway

    We already WERE right and finally someone came out to where we were desperately waiting, our heads hung in despair at our only choice for President.
    Don’t get me wrong, McCain has my respect and admiration for his service, but as a self-professed “Conservative”, hardly!
    Why were we energized, Mr. Powell?
    Because AT LAST there was a Conservative on the ticket. Inexperienced with the federal processes and the DC MSM meatgrinder, you saw what happened next.
    We are NOT moving left, you move right or get out of our way, Sir.

  • http://xmmlbchat.blogspot.com katesmith

    Instead of just criticizing. Mark Levin says the guy has made a clown of himself, that he’s nothing but good buddies with media types.

  • Dencal26

    I have heard this over and over that the GOP has moved far right. Is this to hide the fact that the Dem Party has moved to the extreme left? Can anyone recall a time then Dems were more left than now? Obama is perhaps the most liberal US President ever elected. Reid and Pelosi and Obama make a left wing troika.

    • TNJim

      I think a sort of “optical illusion” must have been created. Since the Dems have gone so far left the illusion is Republicans in general and conservatives in particular are farther right than we were. On the contrary, we haven’t moved, despite what Powell and others like him may think. In fact, I think by the Dems shifting so far left via the policies of Obama and the Democrat majority in Congress they’ve pulled some of the moderates with them so that they are center left. It’s easy to look towards the right from that perspective and see that we at least appear to be farther away than we were.

      Nope, sorry Mr. Powell. It’s you that has moved, sir. We’re right where we’ve always been, embracing the policies of your former boss.

  • chrisie

    Powell was a loyal Republican as long as it would help him advance his career in the military. I doubt if he ever was a true Republican. Powell was an opportunist who knew when in Rome do as the Romans do. Now that Powell has retired, he can be his authentic self. Too bad he doesn’t realize he’s lost credibility and tarnished his image. Perhaps it’s a relief for Powell to stop living the lie.

    • Mike gamecock DeVine

      http://race42008.com/2008/10/19/powell-is-better-at-following-orders-than-making-decisions/

      http://gamecock.blogtownhall.com/2006/09/17/conservative_world_beginning_to_doubt_moral_basis_of_colin_powells_acts_and_omissions.thtml

  • builder20

    What people don’t seem to understand is that when we ask someone to “Change” what we are saying really is “you gotta be more like me”, and thats nothing but raw egotism.

    What is change? The word is so loosely defined, that those who use it (I am speaking generally here) can’t even explain what measuring stick they have used to define your need for Change.

    What is “the center”?

    I take the definition to be sit down, shut-up, give up, and look pretty. “Because Gosh darn it, People Like ME!”

    Thats “be more like me” that they can believe in!

    • http://www.scottbomb.com scottbomb

      And they called McCain, “McSame”.

      Just a play on emotions. No critical thinking needed. It’s like when I asked Obama voters before the election, “what exactly would you like changed?” and all I got were blank stares except for the occasional, “out of Iraq!”.

      • builder20

        They must be shocked that we are not out of Iraq yet. Heck they will be even more shocked if (for the love of God not when) Obama manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of Victory and we have to go back in force into Iraq AGAIN!

        But maybe by that point the Pakistan Pandoras box will be open and the OTHER Hussein will seem like a cake walk compared to what our Hussein let happen in his desperate attempt to have people like him.

  • jimc1969

    Wasn’t he in Vietnam ? Wasn’t the goal there to destroy a goverment that basically believes in the same things as Colin Powell ???
    He probably killed people who were his ideological cousins !!!
    AMAZING……..