Posted on 05/24/2009 5:10:27 PM PDT by Baladas
WASHINGTON (May 24) -- The conservative vs. moderate split threatening to rupture the Republican Party played out across the airwaves Sunday, with Colin Powell and Tom Ridge denouncing shrill and judgmental voices they say are steering the GOP too far right. Karl Rove challenged Powell to lay out his vision and "back it up" by helping elect Republicans.
At stake is the GOP's status as a major party, Powell and Ridge suggested
"I believe we should build on the base because the nation needs two parties, two parties debating each other. But what we have to do is debate and define who we are and what we are and not just listen to dictates that come down from the right wing of the party," said Powell, the nation's top military officer under President George H.W. Bush and later secretary of state for President George W. Bush.
Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh have openly mocked Powell as a Republican in name only, citing his endorsement of Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain in last year's presidential race. Limbaugh has called for Powell to join the Democratic Party.
"Rush will not get his wish, and Mr. Cheney was misinformed. I am still a Republican", Powell said during an appearance on CBS' Face the Nation. "I would like to point out that in the course of my 50 years of voting for presidents, I have voted for the person I thought was best qualified at that time to lead the nation. Last year, I thought it was President Barack Obama. For the previous 20 years, I voted solidly for Republican candidates."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.aol.com ...
If you’re in a position to “hit back” at someone, you’re not with them: you’re against them.
Hardly coincidental that Powell and Ridge were both on lefty talk shows on the same day.
He voted for and supported zero.
Case closed.
Rush’s audience should grow another increment now, thanks to all this free PR they’re giving him.
Powell is doing his worst to destroy the Republican Party.
Rockefeller v. Goldwater
Watch out for these compassionate, "middle of the road" dudes. They play for keeps. I remember.
In the words of Nelson Rockefeller's public relations head, Stuart Spencer, "We had to destroy Barry Goldwater as a member of the human race."
“Useful Idiots”
Powell has the distinct odor
Of Pepe La P.U. Powell also resembles his odorous TWIN! Take a long walk off a short pier Powell!
I remember in the 90s while doing a press conference and Powell was asked about his politics . His wife was an acknowledged DemoncRAT, but Powell indicated “we’ll see” attitude. Never trusted him from that point on.
The GOP needs to throw Powell out of the party. He is in no way a Republican and is tied closely to 0bama now while demonizing and throwing tantrums about traditional Republican ideals for his media love-ins. This is infiltration and either the Republican party learns to get these people out or conservatives need to officially revolt. A party like this doesn’t deserve to exist and it shows you where these people are when they direct their dissent and opposition to members of their own alleged party when they are supposed to be voices of dissent against the radicals of the Demonrat party. This cannot continue and Powell is the worst of them. The jerk is total scum.
Pfffft... Hit back? These two?
Isn’t Ridge the weenie that brought us the color coded terror alert? YELLOW ? What kind of message is sent with YELLOW?
Maybe I would be more concerned if Arlen Spector and the Arnold (Terminator) were behind this effort.
What's that supposed to mean? That we are not allowed to disagree with Powell? Doesn't Rush get a say? Isn't what Rush (an others) saying entering into the "debate" and helping to "define" what we are? If not, than why should we listen to what Powell "dictates" to us?
Rockefeller's appearance on Emergency—Starring Megan Marshack was a heart stopper.
Powell and Ridge can have the Republican party. Then it can go the way of the Whigs.
I would say these gentlemen need to start their own party. They can call it the DOP.
Hey Powell and Ridge don’t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out of the Republican party!!
If these two liberal clowns are looking to be the top of the GOP, my vote will go to another third party.
They just plain stink.
Duct tape Ridge also slams those who listen to Rush.
Basically we’re all brain dead morons who live by his every “ divisive “ word.
Powell and Ridge continue to arrogantly describe those who don’t agree with them as intolerant and narrow minded.
I don’t think egotistical blowhards like Ridge and Powell have any idea how loathsome they have become.
Or Pepe Le B.O.
Nope, ain’t gonna let them have it.
I have a serious question to whcih I really would like to know the answer.
I’ll take Powell at his word for now whe he says he’s a Republican. What I’d like to know is WHY?
He is against “limited government.” He said so recently.
He is pro-abortion.
He is pro affirmative-action.
He buys into the Global Warming scam.
Has anyone asked him exactly why he considers himself a Republican?
Hank
Fric and Frac ping.
The CC republicans thought they'd gotten their hold back when it was time for George W. Bush to leave office, but their candidate couldn't get enough votes on his own. He had to bring along a conservative, in order to get the number of votes that he garnered. But even those moderates who had been saying for years that the Republicans NEEDED a moderate candidate to win, didn't support the man who represented their views, and ultimately abandoned him for the 'cool black guy'. They were, and have always been, feckless.
Well, then I’m a pro-life, Christian, pro-2nd amendment, pro-1st amendment for that matter, Palin-supporting, limited-government, pro-military, ammo-stockpiling democrat. What’s in a name? :)
Republican circular firing squad bump for later.........
I’m the Anticolon
WTF?!?! That was frigging George Wallace's party! Are you telling me Alan Keyes walked into that with his eyes open?
America’s Independent Party was formed last June. It is not “George Wallace’s party.”
The last remnant of the American Independent Party is in California. They have maintained ballot access for more than forty years, though little was done with it in that time electorally. After our party’s formation last year, they dropped their sixteen year affiliation with the Constitution Party and affiliated with us.
The leadership is now made up of Reagan conservatives, pro-life, pro-liberty, pro-Constitution, pro-family. AIP in California is now much more republican, in the true American sense, than the Schwarzenegger Republican Party.
Oh, OK. So if I form the North American Zealot Independent party, I'll just recite a 200-word explanation every time someone confuses us with Herr Schickelgruber's party.
Give us conservatives a break, willya? If you're going to run around crusading under the conservative flag, lose the George Wallace innuendo. It is a fact that a Democrat wanting to slam you can trace the lineage of AIP back to George Wallace. If you don't want to get hit by lightning, don't stand under a tree.
For that matter, nobody cares about Alan Keyes. Including me. So go your way in peace. I'll just leave you with one piece of advice: if you go into the food business, don't name your product "Big Bugs Pizza." People may not care about George Wallace on their politics, but they care a lot about big bugs on their food.
A predictable response. Thanks for your concern.
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