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Powell '12: Can the former secretary of state lead the GOP to victory?
Forbes.com ^ | July 13, 2009 | Reihan Salam

Posted on 07/14/2009 3:33:55 PM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia

Could Colin Powell run against Barack Obama as a Republican and win? The idea is more than a little fanciful. Alma Powell, Colin Powell's wife, has long opposed her husband's political forays. And of course a presidential campaign would be an ordeal for a man Powell's age, his robust health notwithstanding. It doesn't help that there is no clamor for a Powell presidential campaign.

Back in 1996, he was seen as an Eisenhower-like figure who could unite Republicans and independents to defeat Bill Clinton. Since then, Powell has alienated Republicans with his sharp criticisms of social conservatives and his support for affirmative action, among other things. Then, of course, there was his 2008 endorsement of Obama. After the election, Dick Cheney wondered aloud if Powell still considered himself a Republican at all. In a party that feels down and out, such displays of disloyalty are not exactly welcome. But to win in 2012, Republicans have no choice but to win over millions of voters who, like Powell, backed Obama in 2008.

To that end, Powell could be exactly the presidential candidate Republicans need. Consider Powell's interview with John King on CNN's State of the Union last weekend. For whatever reason--perhaps to preserve his reputation as an independent, above-the-fray voice--the former secretary of state raised serious questions about President Obama's leadership. Powell is convinced that the president is expanding government too much and too quickly, a view he shares with the Republican base. Rather than couch his objections in ideological terms, Powell used the sober language of fiscal responsibility. He didn't advocate limited government for its own sake, and he acknowledged that American voters consider the many issues the White House is tackling to be very important.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012gopprimary; barfalert; colinpowell; colonpowell; conservatism; liberals; powell; powell2012; powellromney; rino; rinoparty; rinopurge; rinos; rnc; romney; romneypowell
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To: rabscuttle385

No friggin’ way!


41 posted on 07/14/2009 3:48:28 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

uh, no, I am not voting for anyone that backed Obama.

GOP, don’t even entertain the notion.


42 posted on 07/14/2009 3:49:23 PM PDT by dforest (Anyone dumb enough to have voted for him deserves what they get.. No Pity!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Lots of no's and one Hell no..........to paraphrase a much better candidate........
43 posted on 07/14/2009 3:49:56 PM PDT by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: Arizona Carolyn

Both have the same agenda. No choice here.


44 posted on 07/14/2009 3:50:00 PM PDT by rightwingjew
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
The idea is more than a little fanciful.


The idea is more like sheer absurd suicidal gotta-write-something-to-wrap-ads-around I-get-paid-by-quality-not-quantity fanciful.
45 posted on 07/14/2009 3:50:13 PM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance (Public Employees: Honor Your Oaths! Defend the Constitution from Enemies--Foreign and Domestic!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Yeah right. Run against the man he endorsed? What are the odds of that!

I’d also say that he’d have no chance of winning the primary — but then we did end up with McCain last time.


46 posted on 07/14/2009 3:50:57 PM PDT by rom (Obama '12 slogan: Let's keep on hopin'!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
It doesn't help that there is no clamor for a Powell presidential campaign.


47 posted on 07/14/2009 3:51:35 PM PDT by Jim Noble
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

And the difference in a Powell administration would be ???


48 posted on 07/14/2009 3:51:49 PM PDT by ModelBreaker
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Powell '12: Can the former secretary of state lead the GOP to victory?

You have got to be kidding!

49 posted on 07/14/2009 3:51:52 PM PDT by Shelayne (Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty that was, and is, and IS TO COME!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

He will NEVER get my vote, even he is running unopposed!


50 posted on 07/14/2009 3:52:45 PM PDT by TommyDale (Independent - I already left the GOP because they were too liberal)
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To: ak267

To the author of this crap piece (Reihan Salam)

Besides looking like the villian from the THUNDERBIRD’s puppet show.....seriously....are you on crack or do they pay you to be this dumb????


51 posted on 07/14/2009 3:53:56 PM PDT by ak267
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

No, because he’s a Democrat.


52 posted on 07/14/2009 3:53:56 PM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

If you really want to kill of the GOP that would be the way to go.


53 posted on 07/14/2009 3:53:58 PM PDT by x
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

If Colin Powell wanted to run, he would have done it by now. No disrespect to his war service, but when it comes to running for president, he’s Mario Cuomo with a tan. Okay, with a darker tan.


54 posted on 07/14/2009 3:54:14 PM PDT by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Perfect! Do it Republicans! Just do it!

Burn your own barn down.


55 posted on 07/14/2009 3:54:40 PM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben - Marine PFC- 1/16/09 - Parris Island - LC -6/4/09 - 29 Palms - Camp Pendleton 6/18)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Stupid question alert!


56 posted on 07/14/2009 3:55:20 PM PDT by BillT (The Gov has bankrupted my children & are not working on my grandchildren)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Excuse me for just a moment.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Thank you. I feel better now.

57 posted on 07/14/2009 3:55:22 PM PDT by Constitution Day (Eschew exclamatory abuse.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

No way in hell.


58 posted on 07/14/2009 3:55:32 PM PDT by Howie66 (The one redeeming thing about liberals: their tendency to kill their own.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Without even reading, for fear of nausea being induced, not just no but H#11 NO.

If he tries, there just might be the biggest upset in history and a long time overdue, third party winner.


59 posted on 07/14/2009 3:56:21 PM PDT by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
let's see to win the GOP is going to dig out the black guy with a heart problem;who voted for the current disgrace in the WH and run him as the RINOGOP candidate. Glad W threw me out of the party two years ago.
60 posted on 07/14/2009 3:57:38 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Nemo me impune lacessit)
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