Following up on last December's acrimonious interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Powell told corporate security executives Monday, "The Republican Party is in deep trouble" adding "I think what Rush [Limbaugh] 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."
As CongressDaily reported Tuesday, that's not all that's bothering Powell:
"The Republican Party is in deep trouble," Powell told corporate security executives at a conference in Washington sponsored by Fortify Software Inc. The party must realize that the country has changed, he said. "Americans do want to pay taxes for services," he said. "Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less."
Which Americans want to pay more taxes, General? You mean the top 50 percent of wage earners that currently pays 97 percent of all federal income taxes collected wants to pay more? Or how about the bottom 50 percent? Are THEY asking to pay more? But I digress:
He blasted radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, saying he does not believe that Limbaugh or conservative icon Ann Coulter serve the party well. He said the party lacks a "positive" spokesperson. "I think 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," Powell said.
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.
General Powell in one breath claimed Limbaugh "inserts into our public life a kind of nastiness that we would be better to do without," but seems to conveniently ignore the undeserving vitriol and animus directed at Palin by the presidential ticket he supported last year as well as by the overwhelming majority of media members.
The polarization was created by Palin's advisers? How about the media's role in this polarization, General?
Wasn't it actually the vicious attacks by liberal press members that made the Governor a polarizing figure? Wasn't that actually their intent from the day she was announced as McCain's running mate?
Honestly, when you read opinions like this from such an obviously intelligent gentleman, you have to wonder what world he's currently living in.
