It’s uncommon for newspapers to hype Sunday morning TV interviews in advance, especially if presidents aren’t involved. But Saturday’s Washington Post carries this page 3 story: "In TV Appearance, Powell Plans to Answer Right-Wing Critics." Reporters Michael D. Shear and Perry Bacon Jr. play up a GOP feud: "Under intense fire from the right, former secretary of state Colin L. Powell is preparing to answer his Republican critics this weekend in a television appearance that is likely to add fuel to his long-standing feud with top conservatives in his party."
Message to liberal Post readers: the conservatives are going to get thrashed tomorrow on CBS's Face the Nation, so don’t miss it.
Shear and Bacon didn't tell readers that this "feud" was fueled by the liberal media, by CBS Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer, who asked former vice president Dick Cheney whether Powell or Rush Limbaugh was a better voice for Republicans. They only explained "Rush Limbaugh and former vice president Richard B. Cheney have attacked Powell in recent days as a traitor to his party."
If a Democrat served his president as Secretary of State, and then in the next election, endorsed the Republican, would the Post find it odd he'd be seen as a "traitor to his party?"
Would CBS or Schieffer even think to ask a Democrat whether Keith Olbermann or Joe Lieberman was a better voice for Democrats, and then lovingly cover the sparks that flew?
Shear and Bacon quoted Limbaugh saying Powell should just "close the loop and become a Democrat," and then balanced that with conservative Rep. Mark Souder and Sen. John Thune trying to make a case that Powell should remain a Republican.
They also quoted Powell suggesting "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."
Left unsaid: how Powell, the opponent of "nastiness" in public life, defends his deputy Richard Armitage causing years of Washington nastiness by dishing the name of CIA agent-turned-millionaire book-and-movie deal beneficiary Valerie Plame and then failing to take any blame for it.
While Shear and Bacon noted Powell's remarks on the GOP future to "corporate security executives," they failed to note the speeches were for large fees, and failed to wonder if Powell’s claims in recent speeches to have the answers for Republicans are part of a gambit to increase his speaking fees.
The Post noted Cheney cracked that he didn't know Powell was still a Republican, but added the Powell still claimed party membership while granting an interview to radical-left MSNBC host Rachel Maddow in April.
Has anyone heard Powell chide Maddow for adding "nastiness" to public life?
[Image: Beau Bo D'or]
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Powell and Maddow
May 23, 2009 - 10:48 ET by Tim GrahamThe Post said Powell told Madcow the party should "reduce its emphasis on cutting spending." Here's that exchange from the MSNBC transcript:
To say that Powell was
May 23, 2009 - 10:55 ET by motherbeltTo say that Powell was attacked by those in his party is completely disingenuous.
Powell is still a Republican the same way the Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden and John Kerry insist that they are still Catholics.
I wish one person would ask him, when he says he is still a Republican....WHY?
No one ever asks him which Republican policies he actually agrees with.
It's infuriating. I think the Democrats should tell him to you-know-what or get off the pot....and officially become a Democrat.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Re still a Republican
May 23, 2009 - 11:28 ET by slickwillie2001In one of these interviews, Powell simply has to be asked —is there anyone that the Republicans might nominate in 2012 that you would vote for over Obama?
The answer is obvious, and it will point out how ridiculous the notion that Powell is a Republican is.
Counting on Powell's
May 23, 2009 - 12:31 ET by ThisnThatCounting on Powell's Republican vote is a sure-fire, proven way to elect a Democrat.
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The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
Cheney never called Powell
May 23, 2009 - 10:53 ET by eaglewingz08Cheney never called Powell a traitor, that is a slander on the former VP.
Dick Cheney only said that he wondered whether Powell still considered himself a republican now and that Rush better represented the party than Powell, which has always been true.
What are some of the things
May 23, 2009 - 12:55 ET by ThisnThatWhat are some of the things you can freeze, then, Powell? Need some help? Here are a few suggestions:
Actually, Powell, I could give you more than 9,000 other items just from pork bill projects added this year. Why is it you can't find a single dime to freeze, let alone cut? Your mental capabilities aren't very astute -- and you obviously don't have the stones to confront anybody in Congress about pork spending, do you?
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The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
Powell turned his back on the repubs and endorsed a Marxist
May 23, 2009 - 11:17 ET by R D HelmIf he hasn't already left the republican party, then they should throw him out.
-Dave
He is barely a former Republican.
May 23, 2009 - 11:32 ET by sevenAt most at one time he had a boss that was repubklican but that doesn't make you a conservative or a republican.
Has anyone heard Powell
May 23, 2009 - 11:34 ET by motherbeltHas anyone heard Powell chide Maddow for adding "nastiness" to public life?
Of course not; Maddow just "speaks truth to power!"
Not only Maddow, Tim, but has Powell ever listened to Keith Olbermann?????
Good grief!
Gen. Powell (Ret.) is definitely not an equal-opportunity chastiser!!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
He made his choice...
May 23, 2009 - 11:43 ET by jdripperColin Powell chose race over party, ideology over country...
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
→ Powell
May 23, 2009 - 12:01 ET by Cool ArrowNational Security Advisor or higher since 1987, and he acts like he was used when he made the pitch for war at the UN. Got hornswoggled, did ya' Mr. Powell?
You havin' that high falutin' security clearance for more than 20 years, it's kinda' interesting you'd let that "Bush lied, people died" nonsense continue without a comment.
Exactly, how did you get into the offices of esteem you inhabited?
Because Colin, I'm not seeing a lot of intellectual or moral gravity to your existence.
BTW, IS there such a thing as a "left wing critic"????
May 23, 2009 - 12:19 ET by krendlerCan't remember ever seeing the MSM, print or broadcast, use that term in the context of a Republican being criticized. It's always simply "critics" or "...not only Democrats but a growing number of Republicans are criticizing xyz" (where they never backup the claim with names of those that are part of said "growing number").
Cheney and Rush are
May 23, 2009 - 13:19 ET by bigtimerCheney and Rush are right.
I've despised Powell for years now.
He is not friend of the republican party, and never been a conservative to say the least....he is always in it for himself, first and foremost, and he gets even with those he thinks have dissed him when he gets caught behind the scenes stabbing people in the back.
Go away Powell, join your real side of the aisle and knock off your pretense that you are a republican...you may fool some of the people some of the time....but not the people that have brains that work.
You are as phony as they come....always have been....that's why the msm just loves your arse...ask McC, he's just like you.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Co-Lenin Powell
May 23, 2009 - 13:22 ET by 10ksnookerWhat's the difference between Co-Lenin Powell and a weasel? With a weasel you know going in he doesn't have any character, with Co-Lenin it takes a while to figure that out..
I lost all respect for Co-Lenin Powell when he denouced his own speech to the UN on Iraq, and sided with the leftists as if he knew nothing. As Secretary of State, just like the Nancy Pelosi affair, he knew everything, or should have, and had access to every bit of information. And yes the Democrats knew everything too, or at least could find out.
Isn't it curious that the only person to actually say Saddam Husein had nukes was Sen Jay Rockefeller in a Senate floor speech before the war. Coincidentally, Rockefeller was the ranking minority member on the Senate Intelligence committee.
So Co-Lenin expects his argument will do what? Convince other weasels to join him? I think not, they will likely laugh in his face. Co-Lenin doesn't deserve the respect he once had as a decorated Officer in the US Military. His word is not to be trusted.
How do you think the DNC parrot media will treat him --- LOL.
About that race voting ... proved the point.
A No There Man
May 23, 2009 - 13:59 ET by Chris NormanPowell, like most moderates, wants to define himself as what he is not. The "nots" are usually conservative positions. Rather standing for anything, Powell and other moderates are more like void spaces - only reacting negatively to others' ideas and positions - there's no "there" there. As such, they really serve no purpose in advancing anything new. Nothing fresh or innovative can occur under their power, because, by their very nature, they water down ideas with ideas from the liberal side that are toatally at odds with conservative ideas. If Powell or other moderates hold any conservative positions, they must be embarrassed to admit it. Yet, with all of this, we conservatives are supposed to embrace them as being necessary and good for our side.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
I welcome Colin Powell
May 23, 2009 - 14:21 ET by fitzfongI welcome Colin Powell appearing on television as often as possible. This is a guy who's gotten so much mileage out of staying out of the media and having his minions tell us how great he is. Now he's out in the open, proving for all to see what I suspected all along...that he's little more than a run-of-the-mill bureaucrat with limited intelligence who has been repackaged to appear thoughtful, reasonable and authoritative. He's an imbecile who's skated on his ill-gotten reputation, but his ego is so vast that he actually thinks he can double down on this act without getting exposed as a dullard and a fraud. Keep yapping, Empty Uniform...Scott McClellan is waiting to have company in the DNC scrap heap of used scumbags.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
fitz... That was
May 23, 2009 - 14:29 ET by bigtimerfitz...
That was rich...couldn't agree more either.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Ditto, bt...
May 23, 2009 - 15:37 ET by ThalpyDito, bt. Many of us know what we want and need a conservative with courage and allegiance to our founding principles. Powell need not apply. Further, we don't want or need any "help" from the MSM--they represent our sworn enemies. Make no mistake, they are our bitter enemies and should be treated as such.
Is there nothing Colin Powell won't do to stay in the public eye
May 23, 2009 - 17:08 ET by jefflebowskiThe leftards want to make Powell and McCain's chubby tool daughter spokesmorons for the Republican party. Powell represents my thoughts as much as Al Sharpton. It's rather embarrassing to watch Powell trying to stay relevant. I'd rather he'd just go away.
Angry White Dude
www.angrywhitedude.c...
BT --Kinda sad for me--
May 23, 2009 - 17:18 ET by misterbillPowell-- everything I heard him say in the past few weeks makes him sound like the greatest sellout since Judas. (And that includes Spect(acle)er.)
And at one time I had thought he would make a good conservative candidate for President. I feel dirty.
Misterbill~
May 23, 2009 - 17:26 ET by Georgia GirlMy husband (who served in Desert Storm) really respected Powell in regard to military command. But you are not the only one who has been mightily disappointed in his lack of conservative...values? I don't even know how to phrase it.
Hey misterb...you have
May 23, 2009 - 17:36 ET by bigtimerHey misterb...you have absolutely no reason to feel dirty....the one that should feel that way is the subject we are referring to.
Simple as that. ;-)
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Is Powell a god?
May 23, 2009 - 21:24 ET by The Smokin FrogHow can it be said that Powell will "answer' critics? Didn't he start this nonsense by telling people to stop listening to Rush? He determined that Republicans should not listen to him. He's all-knowing. And we should all think like him. Isn't that being a liberal?
Powell was never Conservative. I never understood why he joined the Republican party. And exactly when don't the liberal talk shows "thrash" Conservatives? Why would that make news? I don't even think the liberals would be excited about that. It's normal.
Everyone wants to love Powell, but he is out there thrashing those he disagrees with and that's okay. If Rush or Cheney answer in kind, that's not okay. I guess that works out find for a liberal mind.
What are we supposed to think? Is Powell a god? He can't be questioned? Is it a race thing? What is it? No one can question Obama or Powell, they must be protected and they must succeed at all costs. Is this protection of stupidity and hatred really helping race relations? It certainly is not in line with our founders. Can you just imagine Powell, Obama, or any other liberal for that matter, speaking with Thomas Jefferson with their whiny gibberish? I'll bet it would make a good movie.
The Smokin' Frog
Secretary of State
May 24, 2009 - 09:09 ET by EddieWalkerI was unsure on Colin Powel after Desert Storm. He spent allot of time on TV, got some great reviews, but didn't really do anything. He seemed like a spokesman more then a leader, but then I thought he did a good job in front of the camera, which was important too. Then when he was asked to run for public office and he wrote his book, I started to have my doubts. He didn't have a position on anything. He was just about as whishy washy as they come. You could never get anything specific out of him, just comments on what everyone else should do. Then when he became Secretary of State, he really dispointed me. His meeting and kissing up to Yasir Arafat was more then a disgrace, it was shameful. For that alone, he should have been fired. His presentation for going to war is his reason for his disagreement with the Bush administration and his reason for leaving his position as Secretary of State, but again, it was a weak presentation that was poorly done. He wasn't very convincing at it, and to say that he was tricked into presenting it was just plane cowardice and pandering to the Left. He's now made a career out of being a cry baby without offering any subastance to a single debate. He couldn't even come up with a reason to vote for Obama, nor can he site a single reason for supporting him other then skin color.