Colin Powell Slams 'Idiot' Partisanship

[gator996]

FOX News has already begun to question Powell's "Republican" status because of this...

They sure do love "purity" tests over there on the far right , huh?
:laugh:


http://news.yahoo.com/colin-powell-slams-idiot-presentations-republicans-urges-gop-155831808--abc-news-politics.html

Colin Powell Slams 'Idiot' Partisanship
By Michael Falcone | ABC OTUS News


In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos during ABC's special inauguration day coverage this morning, former Secretary of State Colin Powell lashed out at people in the Republican Party who spent the last four years spreading "birther nonsense" and other "things that demonize the president," calling on GOP leaders to denounce such talk - publicly.

"Republicans have to stop buying into things that demonize the president. I mean, why aren't Republican leaders shouting out about all this birther nonsense and all these other things? They should speak out. This is the kind of intolerance that I've been talking about where these idiot presentations continue to be made and you don't see the senior leadership of the party say, 'No, that's wrong.' In fact, sometimes by not speaking out, they're encouraging it. And the base keeps buying the stuff.

"And it's killing the base of the party. I mean, 26 percent favorability rating for the party right now. It ought to be telling them something. So, instead of attacking me or whoever speaks like I do, look in the mirror and realize, 'How are we going to win the next election?"


But Powell, who served as National Security Adviser under President Ronald Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and as the nation's top diplomat under President George W. Bush, didn't stop there.

[gatorman_07732]

The irony is Power my never got as far as he did without republicans.
How soon you forget that he also made the case in front of the UN to go to war with Iraq. Now you want to jump on every little thing he says that favors Obama in any way.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

How is that ironic?

[gatorman_07732]

How is that ironic?

We pretty much spit on the party that made his career

[orangeblueorangeblue]

See, I don't think he's spitting on "the party."

[gatorman_07732]

See, I don't think he's spitting on "the party."

Perhaps I should say he has turned his back

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Or perhaps, as Powell believes and many would agree, it's the party that turned its back.

[g8orbill]

Powell has always been a liberal republican-what is new about that

[llm85]

Well, Colin, partisianship runs both ways.

[gatorman_07732]

Or perhaps, as Powell believes and many would agree, it's the party that turned its back.

THat would be the leftists version yes. He certainly climbed many rungs on that ladder by the help of republicans?

[gator996]

The irony is Power my never got as far as he did without republicans.
How soon you forget that he also made the case in front of the UN to go to war with Iraq. Now you want to jump on every little thing he says that favors Obama in any way.


I guess republicans made Powell and he didn't achieve anything on his own...

Maybe he overcame the intolerance...did that idea ever enter your mind?

[orangeblueorangeblue]

THat would be the leftists version yes. He certainly climbed many rungs on that ladder by the help of republicans?

Again, what he's saying is that the party turned its back on Republican/conservative ideals.

[gator996]

Powell has always been a liberal republican-what is new about that

Liberal? So what?

The question is whether or not he's speaking openly & honestly about the party and what the party's members think about his comments.

The knee jerk reaction has been to question his membership simply because he spoke unflatteringly about the party.

[wargunfan]

The partisan Powell doesn't like partisanship. Well, who knew??

[RayGator]

I don't have the high regard for Gen. Powell that I once did. The years he served under Pres. Reagan and Pres. Ford. Him saying he is a Republican is like me saying I'm a Democrat but yet I didn't vote for Pres. Obama in the last 2 elections or support the agenda of the Democrat party in the Congress or locally. And I would go on national TV and attack the Democrat Party instead of saying anything positive about them. Democrats would then look at me and say, "Yeah, right, your are a Democrat".

[orangeblueorangeblue]

You're right. He's probably just a small government conservative, for whom there's little room in the Republican Party.

[gatorman_07732]

I don't have the high regard for Gen. Powell that I once did. The years he served under Pres. Reagan and Pres. Ford. Him saying he is a Republican is like me saying I'm a Democrat but yet I didn't vote for Pres. Obama in the last 2 elections or support the agenda of the Democrat party in the Congress or locally. And I would go on national TV and attack the Democrat Party instead of saying anything positive about them. Democrats would then look at me and say, "Yeah, right, your are a Democrat".

You forgot Nixon

[rivergator]

I imagine the Republican Party has changed more than Colin Powell has.

[gatorman_07732]

I guess republicans made Powell and he didn't achieve anything on his own...

Maybe he overcame the intolerance...did that idea ever enter your mind?

I suspect you know nothing of loyalty. Along the way somebody has to be willing to give you a shot. In Powell's case, who would that be? It wasn't Dem's that got him to the highest level of service was it? After all, they where highly political position of which you get by who you know.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Loyalty to people, not a party.

[wgbgator]

Loyalty is the only decent explanation for his speech in front of the UN in the lead up to Iraq. I don't think that's what is lacking.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Blind loyalty is a dangerous thing.

[gator996]

I don't have the high regard for Gen. Powell that I once did. The years he served under Pres. Reagan and Pres. Ford. Him saying he is a Republican is like me saying I'm a Democrat but yet I didn't vote for Pres. Obama in the last 2 elections or support the agenda of the Democrat party in the Congress or locally. And I would go on national TV and attack the Democrat Party instead of saying anything positive about them. Democrats would then look at me and say, "Yeah, right, your are a Democrat".


Interesting you would say that...

Powell is an insider...once considered a leading presidential candidate for the party

Can you detail all of the negative things he's said about the party?

My impression is that it hasn't been very often.


You take a man like that, with his record of service to this country, and cast him aside for making critical comment about the party in an effort to try and have the party reform itself instead of sucumbing to the extremist element within....

Republicans don't believe in racial intolerance when claimed by anyone...even one of their own.

[gator996]

I suspect you know nothing of loyalty. Along the way somebody has to be willing to give you a shot. In Powell's case, who would that be? It wasn't Dem's that got him to the highest level of service was it? After all, they where highly political position of which you get by who you know.


So he's supposed to lie now?


He's calling out to the party to be aware of the problems occuring within the party right now...the threat of the extreme right "conservative" movement.

Its a warning.

And all the members of the party can think about is how to ex-communicate him from the party...

:no:

[DeanMeadGator]

By Michael Falcone | ABC OTUS News

In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos during ABC's special inauguration day coverage this morning, former Secretary of State Colin Powell lashed out at people in the Republican Party who spent the last four years spreading "birther nonsense" and other "things that demonize the president," calling on GOP leaders to denounce such talk - publicly.

"Republicans have to stop buying into things that demonize the president. I mean, why aren't Republican leaders shouting out about all this birther nonsense and all these other things? They should speak out. This is the kind of intolerance that I've been talking about where these idiot presentations continue to be made and you don't see the senior leadership of the party say, 'No, that's wrong.' In fact, sometimes by not speaking out, they're encouraging it. And the base keeps buying the stuff.

"And it's killing the base of the party. I mean, 26 percent favorability rating for the party right now. It ought to be telling them something. So, instead of attacking me or whoever speaks like I do, look in the mirror and realize, 'How are we going to win the next election?"


But Powell, who served as National Security Adviser under President Ronald Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and as the nation's top diplomat under President George W. Bush, didn't stop there.[/QUOTE]

Could it any more clear that both sides are acting like idiots? They are too immature and short-sighted to accomplish anything. It reminds me of 7th graders and their inability to see beyond their own perception of reality.

Fight and accomplish nothing. Do not worry about anything other than blindly toeing the party line. Do not make decisions that require independent analysis and thought. Do what someone else tells you to do.

If you don't like Fox, use your time and energy constantly complaining about it. Watch it and make your own decision or assume that all is bad. Waste more time and energy.

[gatorman_07732]

Blind loyalty is a dangerous thing.

Who said anything about blind loyalty, but rather loyalty itself is a good thing. I suppose you don't value loyal employees.

[wargunfan]

Powell is a black man supporting a black president. I think that explains Powell's motivations better than anything else. At his core Powell identifies more with race than with party. I have not seen Powell defend any of his former presidents with such passion and Obama is not related to Powell by party nor employment nor political philosophy. Powell is related to Obama by one primary and overreaching factor. Race.
I think the attacks on Obama became more than another black man could tolerate and he was driven to defend him. I can understand Powell's motivation to defend one of his own. What I cannot understand is his unthinking defense of a big spending liberal. It seems that with Powell race trumps all other considerations.

[wgbgator]

Maybe loyalty is why he still identifies as a Republican, even if he is critical of elements of it.

[wygator]

Powell is bringing up isolated incidents to suggest that the Republican party is racist, when he himself won primaries as a Republican presidential candidate.

You don't judge a whole party, Democrat or Republican, by the handful of jerks that populate either.

Powell was appointed to high office by two different Republican presidents. There's the racism for you.

I have a hard time accepting that the Republican Powell voted for the very liberal Obama just based on political policy alone. Does anyone believe that there was NO calculation of race in Powell's decision to vote for Obama?

[gatorman_07732]

Powell is a black man supporting a black president. I think that explains Powell's motivations better than anything else. At his core Powell identifies more with race than with party. I have not seen Powell defend any of his former presidents with such passion and Obama is not related to Powell by party nor employment nor political philosophy. Powell is related to Obama by one primary and overreaching factor. Race.

Sadly I think you're right

[gatorman_07732]

Powell is bringing up isolated incidents to suggest that the Republican party is racist, when he himself won primaries as a Republican presidential candidate.

You don't judge a whole party, Democrat or Republican, by the handful of jerks that populate either.

Powell was appointed to high office by two different Republican presidents. There's the racism for you.

I have a hard time accepting that the Republican Powell voted for the very liberal Obama just based on political policy alone. Does anyone believe that there was NO calculation of race in Powell's decision to vote for Obama?

More than two republican presidents

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Who said anything about blind loyalty, but rather loyalty itself is a good thing. I suppose you don't value loyal employees.

Like I said, loyalty to people, not institutions. The moral compass of an institution is a volatile thing.

[gatorman_07732]

Like I said, loyalty to people, not institutions. The moral compass of an institution is a volatile thing.

And who makes up a party, penguins?

[orangeblueorangeblue]

And who makes up a party, penguins?

Which people - who helped Powell to the top - is he turning his back on, exactly?

[gatorman_07732]

Which people - who helped Powell to the top - is he turning his back on, exactly?

The very people that helped more than anyone in terms of his career and suddenly side with the most liberal president to come around in a long time. He got one thing from a democratic president, and that was sent to war.

[DaveFla]

Loyalty to people, not a party.

Indeed. And in Powell's case, black people...

There is simply no way that any republican could have chosen Obama. There had to be something else.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

The very people that helped more than anyone in terms of his career and suddenly side with the most liberal president to come around in a long time. He got one thing from a democratic president, and that was sent to war.

Which people, exactly?

[DaveFla]

Blind loyalty is a dangerous thing.

Wow. Your'e two for two today, OBOB. Powell's blind loyalty to his race is more powerful than his loyalty to the Republican Party. How else could one explain any republican, no matter how moderate, voting for such a left-leaning candidate like Obama?

[orangeblueorangeblue]

You know that is, simultaneously, what I am in fact saying.

[Matthanuf06]

I agree that both sides shouldn't resort to personal attacks. Lets not amend history and forget that both parties use personal attacks for political gain.

However none of that changes the fact Obama is an extreme proponent of redistribution and massive government. If one is opposed to bankrupting (or destroying the dollar) that does not make some biased partisan

[gatorman_07732]

Which people, exactly?

George H.W. Bush and George W Bush for two

[DaveFla]

You know that is, simultaneously, what I am in fact saying.

I DO know this, and am duly impressed.

[fredsanford]

In the late 60's, the Dems would have never run Timothy O'Leary or Bernadette Dorn for national or state office.

Now, the pubs are running those individuals as their mainstream representatives, i.e. Allan West, Rick Santorum and Michelle Bachmann.

That's how far out on a limb the modern GOP is.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

George H.W. Bush and George W Bush for two

And he has crossed them ... how?

[gator996]

Powell is a black man supporting a black president. I think that explains Powell's motivations better than anything else. At his core Powell identifies more with race than with party. I have not seen Powell defend any of his former presidents with such passion and Obama is not related to Powell by party nor employment nor political philosophy. Powell is related to Obama by one primary and overreaching factor. Race.
I think the attacks on Obama became more than another black man could tolerate and he was driven to defend him. I can understand Powell's motivation to defend one of his own. What I cannot understand is his unthinking defense of a big spending liberal. It seems that with Powell race trumps all other considerations.


Talk about playing a race card :devil:

Do you think its more than just a little belittling to a person to hear what you said about his motivation in talking about the political party he belongs to?

And conservatives wonder why black americans aren't flocking to them? :joecool:

[g8orbill]

Liberal? So what?

The question is whether or not he's speaking openly & honestly about the party and what the party's members think about his comments.

The knee jerk reaction has been to question his membership simply because he spoke unflatteringly about the party.

not sure what you want me to say 996- he is a liberal who says he is a pub-I am sure there are plenty others like him in the party-I am registered as an indy and am more libertarian than republican- I oppose anyone who supports your prez

[gator996]

Powell is bringing up isolated incidents to suggest that the Republican party is racist, when he himself won primaries as a Republican presidential candidate.

You don't judge a whole party, Democrat or Republican, by the handful of jerks that populate either.

Powell was appointed to high office by two different Republican presidents. There's the racism for you.

I have a hard time accepting that the Republican Powell voted for the very liberal Obama just based on political policy alone. Does anyone believe that there was NO calculation of race in Powell's decision to vote for Obama?



How do you know Powell is only basing this on isolated incidents?
Do you follow him around and experience everything that he does every day?

Powell is a pretty smart guy...I don't think he needs you to tell him how to judge anything.


If you have a hard time thinking Powell can't make decision based solely on policy then I guess you highly questioned his capability to lead anyone...let alone our troops...or be Sec of State...


Maybe the "hard time" you're having says more about you than Powell... :sick:

[wargunfan]

Talk about playing a race card :devil:

Do you think its more than just a little belittling to a person to hear what you said about his motivation in talking about the political party he belongs to?

And conservatives wonder why black americans aren't flocking to them? :joecool:

Why else would a small government conservative rally to the defense of a big government liberal. It isn't party. It isn't employment (he doesn't work for Obama). It isn't political philosophy. Come on and tell us what motivates Powell. Think real hard. You can do it.

[rivergator]

Wow. Your'e two for two today, OBOB. Powell's blind loyalty to his race is more powerful than his loyalty to the Republican Party. How else could one explain any republican, no matter how moderate, voting for such a left-leaning candidate like Obama?

does a person owe loyalty to a party to the extent that he shouldn't criticize it when he thinks it's going the wrong direction?

[gatorman_07732]

And he has crossed them ... how?

Not sure I used the word crossed, but I doubt they were jubilant

[gator996]

Why else would a small government conservative rally to the defense of a big government liberal. It isn't party. It isn't employment (he doesn't work for Obama). It isn't political philosophy. Come on and tell us what motivates Powell. Think real hard. You can do it.



Maybe he...

...like most voting Americans, realize that Obama isn't the evil demon "conservatives" make him out to be...

...believes that Obama's economic policy is the correct one...

...maybe he believes Obama is creating greater opportunity for Americans...

...maybe he believes that Obama is right in getting out of Afghanistan & Iraq...


But then again, you don't really have to guess at all because you can go watch his interviews.

During the last 2 elections he fully explained why he supported Obama.



Sometimes doing a bit of research before just going straight to the "race" explanation is helpful.



But "conservatives" never do that... :lie:

That's a liberal "thing", right? :joecool:

[wygator]

How do you know Powell is only basing this on isolated incidents?
Do you follow him around and experience everything that he does every day?

Powell is a pretty smart guy...I don't think he needs you to tell him how to judge anything.


If you have a hard time thinking Powell can't make decision based solely on policy then I guess you highly questioned his capability to lead anyone...let alone our troops...or be Sec of State...


Maybe the "hard time" you're having says more about you than Powell... :sick:

I've always had great respect for Powell as a leader. I would have had no problem voting for him back when he was a candidate.

My "isolated incidents" statement is based on his interview with David Gregory in which he gave two examples, one of which was borderline, as examples of racism.

It goes back to the whole idea that white conservatives offering policy criticism of Obama are automatically labeled racists when Obama's fiscal actions are arguably the most extreme of any sitting president. Your response to my post could be considered support for that notion.

I agree that Powell is smart and I never questioned his leadership abilities. I believe there were and are WMD's in Iraq, for what it's worth. But the "hard time" I'm having believing that race was no part of Powell's decision to vote for Obama is hardly an unreasonable conclusion under the circumstances.

My opinion is that Powell is making a political calculation in these statements that has a political goal down the road. Let's watch it unfold and see what happens.

[tegator80]

I've always had great respect for Powell as a leader. I would have had no problem voting for him back when he was a candidate.

My "isolated incidents" statement is based on his interview with David Gregory in which he gave two examples, one of which was borderline, as examples of racism.

It goes back to the whole idea that white conservatives offering policy criticism of Obama are automatically labeled racists when Obama's fiscal actions are arguably the most extreme of any sitting president. Your response to my post could be considered support for that notion.

I agree that Powell is smart and I never questioned his leadership abilities. I believe there were and are WMD's in Iraq, for what it's worth. But the "hard time" I'm having believing that race was no part of Powell's decision to vote for Obama is hardly an unreasonable conclusion under the circumstances.

My opinion is that Powell is making a political calculation in these statements that has a political goal down the road. Let's watch it unfold and see what happens.

My thoughts exactly. He aligned with the Pubs, even though he is firmly in the middle. Something happened, either to his place in the party or some other shenanigans that he is aware of and is not happy. I just wish these politicians would change their allegiances and get on with their lives. I doubt that his "message" is going to have much impact in the next election.

What I don't understand is that if he is as intelligent as he appears to be then why would he think that having the Federal Government make a big power move against the checks and balances in our constitution (Obamacare) that that is okay in order to "teach them a lesson?" Be a man and say that the capitalist system has failed and it is time to try socialism.

[gator996]

My "isolated incidents" statement is based on his interview with David Gregory in which he gave two examples, one of which was borderline, as examples of racism.

It goes back to the whole idea that white conservatives offering policy criticism of Obama are automatically labeled racists when Obama's fiscal actions are arguably the most extreme of any sitting president. Your response to my post could be considered support for that notion.

I agree that Powell is smart and I never questioned his leadership abilities. I believe there were and are WMD's in Iraq, for what it's worth. But the "hard time" I'm having believing that race was no part of Powell's decision to vote for Obama is hardly an unreasonable conclusion under the circumstances.

My opinion is that Powell is making a political calculation in these statements that has a political goal down the road. Let's watch it unfold and see what happens

How many incidents did Powell have to ramble off to make you feel better that it was a well reasoned conclusion that he was drawing?

What if he hadd done 5...or 6...or 8???

Then the criticism would have been that he was bitter, or obsessed over race.
Catch-22 there, huh?

He only had so much time with Gregory but I'm sure if allowed he could have given you quite a few more examples.

Correct me if I'm wrong but who was it that questioned Powell's motivation and decision based skills and come to the conclusion that its must be based on race???

Was that me?


"Powell's decision to vote for Obama is hardly an unreasonable conclusion under the circumstances. "

What circumstances?


My opinion is that Powell is grownup...he cares about this country ...


He's not Sarah Pallin, Herman Cain, Donald Trump, or Mitt Romney...
I find it hard to understand why you think he has some political motivation here.

He's had a taste of politics...and he got screwed over.

He's about the last guy who's thinking about running for public office.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Not sure I used the word crossed, but I doubt they were jubilant

Well that's an entirely different matter altogether. If the party takes a direction that Powell doesn't agree with and that party happens to have included people that once helped him out, I don't see how he's beholden to noncriticism. That wouldn't make much sense.

[gator996]

My thoughts exactly. He aligned with the Pubs, even though he is firmly in the middle. Something happened, either to his place in the party or some other shenanigans that he is aware of and is not happy. I just wish these politicians would change their allegiances and get on with their lives. I doubt that his "message" is going to have much impact in the next election.

What I don't understand is that if he is as intelligent as he appears to be then why would he think that having the Federal Government make a big power move against the checks and balances in our constitution (Obamacare) that that is okay in order to "teach them a lesson?" Be a man and say that the capitalist system has failed and it is time to try socialism.



He has to change parties because he has critical comments to make?


What chance does that party have if they can't listen to honest criticism from their own members/leaders?

[wargunfan]

Maybe he...

...like most voting Americans, realize that Obama isn't the evil demon "conservatives" make him out to be...

...believes that Obama's economic policy is the correct one...

...maybe he believes Obama is creating greater opportunity for Americans...

...maybe he believes that Obama is right in getting out of Afghanistan & Iraq...


But then again, you don't really have to guess at all because you can go watch his interviews.

During the last 2 elections he fully explained why he supported Obama.



Sometimes doing a bit of research before just going straight to the "race" explanation is helpful.



But "conservatives" never do that... :lie:

That's a liberal "thing", right? :joecool:

Thing is, Powell shouldn't (if he really is a conservative) believe Obama's policies are helpful to the country. Shouldn't believe any of the things you trotted out. That is, IF he is a conservative. But Powell isn't a conservative. So he is being disloyal in a number of ways. As far as the race thing is concerned you are in a tiny minority if you think Powell isn't defending Obama primarily because he is a brother. Get a clue.

[wgbgator]

Remember when Alan Spector changed parties and people respected his criticism more? Oh, wait, that never happens when you change parties.

[gator996]

Thing is, Powell shouldn't (if he really is a conservative) believe Obama's policies are helpful to the country. Shouldn't believe any of the things you trotted out. That is, IF he is a conservative. But Powell isn't a conservative. So he is being disloyal in a number of ways. As far as the race thing is concerned you are in a tiny minority if you think Powell isn't defending Obama primarily because he is a brother. Get a clue.


Newsflash, much of what you disagree with Obama on are conservative think tank creations...individual mandate, less military intervention, cap & trade, etc.



Is there a cleaner definition of playing the "race card" (God I hate that term)...

Since you disagree with Powell's position you're calling him a racist. :sick:

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[ChartsandGrafs]

LOL, whatever credibility Colin Powell had was lost when he went before the United Nations peddling neocon lies about phoney WMDs in Iraq.

[wargunfan]

Newsflash, much of what you disagree with Obama on are conservative think tank creations...individual mandate, less military intervention, cap & trade, etc.



Is there a cleaner definition of playing the "race card" (God I hate that term)...

Since you disagree with Powell's position you're calling him a racist. :sick:

You should be ashamed of yourself.

You are delusional if you think Powell isn't trying to stand up for a brother.
God, I hate when people invoke the name of God and don't believe in Him. :sick:

[gatorman_07732]

Well that's an entirely different matter altogether. If the party takes a direction that Powell doesn't agree with and that party happens to have included people that once helped him out, I don't see how he's beholden to noncriticism. That wouldn't make much sense.

The party hasn't changed any direction, it's just that he got everything he needs from those guys being he's retired, So now he backed a big gov liberal for what exactly?

[gator996]

You are delusional if you think Powell isn't trying to stand up for a brother.
God, I hate when people invoke the name of God and don't believe in Him. :sick:


Does Powell stand up for Herman Cain & Allen West too?
Nope.

So I guess his positions aren't primarily based on color as you suggest.



I don't believe in God?
What are you talkng about?

[gatorman_07732]

Does Powell stand up for Herman Cain & Allen West too?
Nope.

So I guess his positions aren't primarily based on color as you suggest.



I don't believe in God?
What are you talkng about?

He just has no use for them because they can't do anything for him.

[mdgator05]

The party hasn't changed any direction, it's just that he got everything he needs from those guys being he's retired, So now he backed a big gov liberal for what exactly?

So the tea party people aren't any different than, for example, George H.W. Bush?

[gatorman_07732]

So the tea party people aren't any different than, for example, George H.W. Bush?

There are Tea Party people but they don't make up the majority of the Republican party. Has he said something specifically about the Tea Party?

[mdgator05]

There are Tea Party people but they don't make up the majority of the Republican party. Has he said something specifically about the Tea Party?

He has said quite a bit about the tea party. And you should recognize the growing influence of that group on the right, as any form of compromise is now being viewed only as weakness and not how business gets done.

For a selection of things he has said about the Tea Party:

"The Tea Party point of view of 'no compromise whatsoever' is not a point of view that will eventually produce a presidential candidate who will win," he said on ABC's "This Week With Christiane Amanpour."

Powell said taking the no-compromise position isn't helping get things done in Washington, and called on members of Congress to "come back to the center to compromise" in order to see progress.

"Compromise is how this country was founded," he said, offering as an example the issue of slavery. "Can you imagine more difficult compromises today?" he asked. "We have a Congress now that can't even pass an appropriations bill."

http://thehill.com/video/in-the-news/195523-colin-powell-tea-party-candidate-cant-win-in-2012

[Republicans] have got to take a hard look at some of the positions they've been taking. We can't be anti-immigration, for example. Because immigrants are fueling this country. Without immigrants we would be like Europe or Japan with an aging population and no young people coming in to take care of it. We have to educate our immigrants ... [And the tea party movement] doesn't become a real force until it's — until it starts to talk to the issues. You can't just have slogans. You can't just have catchy phrases. You have to have an agenda.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2010/09/colin_powell_tea_party_is_all.html

And the Tea Party's classy reply:

Special note for Powell's family:

Please, for the love of God, get his Alzheimer's treated already.

(Can't link as the title of the article contains a curse word but it is found on the website for Tea Party Nation in an article by John Wiseman)

[gator996]

He just has no use for them because they can't do anything for him.

So then Powell's position with them isn't based on race is it?
Its based on being an opportunist...


But with Obama it is based on race.
And a little opportunism...

And you know this how?????


Welcome to the odd strange world of the "conservative" in 2013...

Guys like Christie are suspect republicans but no one suspects they like Obama because of race...

Colin Powell though could never have legitimate concerns/criticisms of the party...
His public stance has to be all about race & opportunism...

...cause he's black and you know the POTUS is too....


:ninja:

[gatorman_07732]

I don't buy that fact this caused him to vote for Obama. During Obama's first election they were not a factor in congress.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

The party hasn't changed any direction

A lot of people would beg to differ. There's a reason the Tea Party came into existence.

[gatorman_07732]

So then Powell's position with them isn't not based race is it?
Its based on being an opportunist...


But with Obama it is based on race.
And a little opportunism...

And you know this how?????


Welcome to the odd strange world of the "conservative" in 2013...

Guys like Christie are suspect republicans but no one suspects they like Obama because of race...

Colin Powell though could never have legitimate concerns/criticisms of the party...
His public stance has to be all about race & opportunism...

...cause he's black and you know the POTUS is too....


:ninja:

Something else has happened with Powell and circumstances that I believe could be complicated. Looking back to the whole Valarie Plame case. Powell remained silent and his aide Dick Armitage was the guilty person. He knew the score and didn't say anything while millions of tax payer dollars were spent on a witch hunt, because apparently he had a score to settle. He himself made the case in front of the UN for the Iraq war only to back track well after he left office. I can see that he became bitter. Can't say he has handled things well. I think perhaps him supporting Obama over McCain would have been a kick in the gut and he knew it.

[gatorman_07732]

A lot of people would beg to differ. There's a reason the Tea Party came into existence.

That ain't it. Certainly not the reason for Powell

[rivergator]

When you have a major political party spouting things like birtherism, death panels, etc., it bound to offend and disillusion some reasonable folks who had felt that they were a part of that party.

[gatorman_07732]

When you have a major political party spouting things like birtherism, death panels, etc., it bound to offend and disillusion some reasonable folks who had felt that they were a part of that party.

Oh please the left does enough spouting of their own, you know thats not the reason

[orangeblueorangeblue]

That ain't it. Certainly not the reason for Powell

Whether it's "the" reason or not is irrelevant. It demonstrates that the party has strayed far from its purported ideals.

[gatorman_07732]

Whether it's "the" reason or not is irrelevant. It demonstrates that the party has strayed far from its purported ideals.

When I look at many of the nuts in the democratic party, I can't give your post any credence.

[mdgator05]

Oh please the left does enough spouting of their own, you know thats not the reason

The conspiratorial stance of many on the right these days is far beyond what you see in the mainstream left. Look at this board. Most liberals (and the people that get criticized for not walking in lockstep with the right like Phil or OBOB, who would not consider themselves liberal) spent the election talking about poll numbers and looking at them objectively. The right invented a conspiracy. And it wasn't a couple of crackpots, it was the majority of the conservatives on this board and in the media.

The same thing has occurred with the BLS numbers.

The creation of a narrative of victimization has led to a movement less and less connected with reality and more concerned with being told what they want to be true rather than what is true. That is what leads people to vilify all those that disagree on even one issue with the main party as a RINO.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

When I look at many of the nuts in the democratic party, I can't give your post any credence.

What does this mean (or have to do with the topic at hand)?

[gatorman_07732]

The conspiratorial stance of many on the right these days is far beyond what you see in the mainstream left. Look at this board. Most liberals (and the people that get criticized for not walking in lockstep with the right like Phil or OBOB, who would not consider themselves liberal) spent the election talking about poll numbers and looking at them objectively. The right invented a conspiracy. And it wasn't a couple of crackpots, it was the majority of the conservatives on this board and in the media.

The same thing has occurred with the BLS numbers.

The creation of a narrative of victimization has led to a movement less and less connected with reality and more concerned with being told what they want to be true rather than what is true. That is what leads people to vilify all those that disagree on even one issue with the main party as a RINO.

Don't be outing your peeps :grin:

[tegator80]

He has to change parties because he has critical comments to make?


What chance does that party have if they can't listen to honest criticism from their own members/leaders?

So, if you don't like your party's direction and you claim to be a Republican, you come out and say you are voting for a standing president who has made grand overtures for changing how we do business that is fundamentally different than what your party espouses? How about just shutting up and not take a stand at all. And try to reach across the aisle and get a middling-focused party started from the disillusioned people on both sides.

I am not a born and bred Pub. They are screwed up, just like the Dems. I see our country going down the tubes and no one seems to care.

[gatorman_07732]

What does this mean (or have to do with the topic at hand)?

Open up your eyes, they have some of the most dysfunctional people in congress known to man. Hell, they just walk out when things don't go their way.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Open up your eyes, they have some of the most dysfunctional people in congress known to man. Hell, they just walk out when things don't go their way.

Oh, well sure. But I'm not sure what that has to do with the Republican party also being royally screwed up.

[gatorman_07732]

Oh, well sure. But I'm not sure what that has to do with the Republican party also being royally screwed up.

So leaving one screwed up party for another screwed up party, perfect

[gator996]

That's your opinion...

Shut up?


The republican party has long existed far more moderate than the johnny come latelys that now are fighting for its control...


I side with Will, Frum, Powell, Christie, etc. that have decades of philosophical history in that party...

Maybe its the extreme are the ones that should leave...John Birchers, Tea Partiers, etc can go make their own party and stop destroying the actual GOP

[orangeblueorangeblue]

So leaving one screwed up party for another screwed up party, perfect

Did he join the Democratic Party? I missed that.

[rivergator]

So, basically, you've got a lifelong Republican concerned that the party is headed in the wrong direction on some issues. And your response:
1. Now we aren't! It's him! It's just because he's black!
2. Besides, the Democrats ...

[gator996]

So, basically, you've got a lifelong Republican concerned that the party is headed in the wrong direction on some issues. And your response:
1. Now we aren't! It's him! It's just because he's black!
2. Besides, the Democrats ...


That about sums it up.... :laugh:

[gatorman_07732]

So, basically, you've got a lifelong Republican concerned that the party is headed in the wrong direction on some issues. And your response:
1. Now we aren't! It's him! It's just because he's black!
2. Besides, the Democrats ...

Maybe he was never a Republican but rather a :joecool:beneficiary of the Republican party

[rivergator]

Maybe he was never a Republican but rather a :joecool:beneficiary of the Republican party

because real republicans would never dare criticize a single thing about the party, right?


And he a beneficiary because he didn't really earn anything on his own, it was the nice guys in the Republican Party handing him jobs just because ... why exactly? (and is this the part where you claim you weren't talking about race?)

[DeanMeadGator]

Oh, well sure. But I'm not sure what that has to do with the Republican party also being royally screwed up.

As a President who actually did something other than spend our children and grandchildren into financial ruin once said, "There you go again."

[DeanMeadGator]

because real republicans would never dare criticize a single thing about the party, right?


And he a beneficiary because he didn't really earn anything on his own, it was the nice guys in the Republican Party handing him jobs just because ... why exactly? (and is this the part where you claim you weren't talking about race?)

The "beneficiaries" of our greed, inability and unwillingness to stop spending money [$16 trillion and rising by the hour] will be our children and grandchildren. The truth is that neither party has the guts to stop spending. All the members want to do is continue a pis__ contest that accomplishes nothing, requires no intelligence and requires no action.

What is being accomplished is the bankrupting of future generations. We sit idly by and flap our mouths while their future is being ruined.

[rivergator]

As a President who actually did something other than spend our children and grandchildren into financial ruin once said, "There you go again."

you might want to read up on Reagan's spending ...

[gatorman_07732]

you might want to read up on Reagan's spending ...

It certainly pales in comparison to what we see know

[wargunfan]

That's your opinion...

Shut up?


The republican party has long existed far more moderate than the johnny come latelys that now are fighting for its control...


I side with Will, Frum, Powell, Christie, etc. that have decades of philosophical history in that party...

Maybe its the extreme are the ones that should leave...John Birchers, Tea Partiers, etc can go make their own party and stop destroying the actual GOP

Ah, the good old days of the get along go along Republican Party.

[Swampmaster]

since powell has gone left, he may run for president against biden and hillary in 2016.

[JohnC1908]

If he's that unhappy with the Republican Party it should not have taken him until the 11th hour to endorse Obama. Powell just goes the direction the wind is blowing. This has been his M.O. for at least a decade, possibly his entire career.

[AndyGator]

As a President who actually did something other than spend our children and grandchildren into financial ruin once said, "There you go again."

Seriously, the irony. Quoting the leader of deficit spending. Our first spending monger!

[Itssaul]

Sounds like he's worried about the party self destructing. Nothing else to it.

[oragator1]

While pride and defensiveness of an achievement he probably never expected to see in his lifetime likely plays into his remarks, people are missing the larger point. He is saying that the attacks are not only wrong, but they harm the party, and provided numbers to prove it, just in case the last election didn't do the trick. The party is seen as being hijacked by the extreme element, and he was saying that the party leaders not stepping up to quell it provides the tacit approval needed to perpetuate it. It is self destructive and a call on his part to party leadership to fix what is wrong. He hasn't endorsed many of Obama's "liberal" policies as far as I know, he has mainly been calling out the counterproductive rancor that is hurting conservatives.
I have been making the exact same point for years here, and I am a lily white guy. He is right, it's a shame people won't listen and reflexively find a reason to discredit him. Don't know how many lost elections it's going to take before it's understood, but he is trying to save his party from long term irrelevance and wake the country up to the over the top, borderline comical hyper partisanship from both sides that is creating undue suffering for everyone.

[DaveFla]

As a President who actually did something other than spend our children and grandchildren into financial ruin once said, "There you go again."

Seriously, the irony. Quoting the leader of deficit spending. Our first spending monger!

"Leader of deficit spending"? You may want to think that one all the way through.

[GatrHeel]

While pride and defensiveness of an achievement he probably never expected to see in his lifetime likely plays into his remarks, people are missing the larger point. He is saying that the attacks are not only wrong, but they harm the party, and provided numbers to prove it, just in case the last election didn't do the trick. The party is seen as being hijacked by the extreme element, and he was saying that the party leaders not stepping up to quell it provides the tacit approval needed to perpetuate it. It is self destructive and a call on his part to party leadership to fix what is wrong. He hasn't endorsed many of Obama's "liberal" policies as far as I know, he has mainly been calling out the counterproductive rancor that is hurting conservatives.
I have been making the exact same point for years here, and I am a lily white guy. He is right, it's a shame people won't listen and reflexively find a reason to discredit him. Don't know how many lost elections it's going to take before it's understood, but he is trying to save his party from long term irrelevance and wake the country up to the over the top, borderline comical hyper partisanship from both sides that is creating undue suffering for everyone.

+1

[Gatorrick22]

FOX News has already begun to question Powell's "Republican" status because of this...

They sure do love "purity" tests over there on the far right , huh?
:laugh:


http://news.yahoo.com/colin-powell-slams-idiot-presentations-republicans-urges-gop-155831808--abc-news-politics.html

Colin Powell Slams 'Idiot' Partisanship
By Michael Falcone | ABC OTUS News


In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos during ABC's special inauguration day coverage this morning, former Secretary of State Colin Powell lashed out at people in the Republican Party who spent the last four years spreading "birther nonsense" and other "things that demonize the president," calling on GOP leaders to denounce such talk - publicly.

"Republicans have to stop buying into things that demonize the president. I mean, why aren't Republican leaders shouting out about all this birther nonsense and all these other things? They should speak out. This is the kind of intolerance that I've been talking about where these idiot presentations continue to be made and you don't see the senior leadership of the party say, 'No, that's wrong.' In fact, sometimes by not speaking out, they're encouraging it. And the base keeps buying the stuff.

"And it's killing the base of the party. I mean, 26 percent favorability rating for the party right now. It ought to be telling them something. So, instead of attacking me or whoever speaks like I do, look in the mirror and realize, 'How are we going to win the next election?"


But Powell, who served as National Security Adviser under President Ronald Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and as the nation's top diplomat under President George W. Bush, didn't stop there.


I agree - the Republicans suck! Time for the Tea Party to take the mantle of conservatism into the future.

[G8trGr8t]

I agree the Republicans suck! Time for the Tea Party to take the mantle of conservatism into the future.

Tea party needs to be defined and the fringes need to be disassociated

[tegator80]

While pride and defensiveness of an achievement he probably never expected to see in his lifetime likely plays into his remarks, people are missing the larger point. He is saying that the attacks are not only wrong, but they harm the party, and provided numbers to prove it, just in case the last election didn't do the trick. The party is seen as being hijacked by the extreme element, and he was saying that the party leaders not stepping up to quell it provides the tacit approval needed to perpetuate it. It is self destructive and a call on his part to party leadership to fix what is wrong. He hasn't endorsed many of Obama's "liberal" policies as far as I know, he has mainly been calling out the counterproductive rancor that is hurting conservatives.
I have been making the exact same point for years here, and I am a lily white guy. He is right, it's a shame people won't listen and reflexively find a reason to discredit him. Don't know how many lost elections it's going to take before it's understood, but he is trying to save his party from long term irrelevance and wake the country up to the over the top, borderline comical hyper partisanship from both sides that is creating undue suffering for everyone.

I have got news for you: BOTH parties have been hijacked. The issue isn't that he is unhappy with the Republican Party and that he has enough of a profile to voice his dismay on national television. Unless he knows that Romney's administration was planning to invade Iran or Syria without provocation and he decided that the impacts on the world stage was going to be more damaging than social engineering within our borders, his proclamation was NOT the vehicle for real change. It is unfathomable to see how a career US military man can think that bringing a socialist agenda to the US is the way to go and when Obama's mannerisms is going to give the Arabs a sense of us allowing them to declare war on Israel. A LOT of people are going to die as a result of bad Arab policy and anyone can see that one from a mile away.

As I already posted, if he is dismayed then do the honorable thing and resign from the party. And if you know that others on the Democratic side are equally dismayed then use your considerable influence to get a third party established and leave the extremists on both sides to sound ridiculous. But instead he chose to publicly say that a second term of Obama was the best choice over a "throw the bums out" pledge. To me it shows political cowardice and not insight.

But my guess is that we are on the path we are on and all of this is mostly for future political structuring of a single party system and it is mostly just a bunch of theater.

[gator996]

I have got news for you: BOTH parties have been hijacked. The issue isn't that he is unhappy with the Republican Party and that he has enough of a profile to voice his dismay on national television. Unless he knows that Romney's administration was planning to invade Iran or Syria without provocation and he decided that the impacts on the world stage was going to be more damaging than social engineering within our borders, his proclamation was NOT the vehicle for real change. It is unfathomable to see how a career US military man can think that bringing a socialist agenda to the US is the way to go and when Obama's mannerisms is going to give the Arabs a sense of us allowing them to declare war on Israel. A LOT of people are going to die as a result of bad Arab policy and anyone can see that one from a mile away.

As I already posted, if he is dismayed then do the honorable thing and resign from the party. And if you know that others on the Democratic side are equally dismayed then use your considerable influence to get a third party established and leave the extremists on both sides to sound ridiculous. But instead he chose to publicly say that a second term of Obama was the best choice over a "throw the bums out" pledge. To me it shows political cowardice and not insight.

But my guess is that we are on the path we are on and all of this is mostly for future political structuring of a single party system and it is mostly just a bunch of theater.


Plenty of people have died at the hands of Neo-con policy...to claim death as the performance measure Bush has set quite a high bar...

Obama wasn't a better choice than simply tossing incumbents because they were incumbents?

This is rational voting logic?

What if you have a incumbent congressman who is actually good....
...you think the party should vote him out in favor of a candidate who is a new "loyal"...

...even if they're an idiot?

[oragator1]

I have got news for you: BOTH parties have been hijacked. The issue isn't that he is unhappy with the Republican Party and that he has enough of a profile to voice his dismay on national television. Unless he knows that Romney's administration was planning to invade Iran or Syria without provocation and he decided that the impacts on the world stage was going to be more damaging than social engineering within our borders, his proclamation was NOT the vehicle for real change. It is unfathomable to see how a career US military man can think that bringing a socialist agenda to the US is the way to go and when Obama's mannerisms is going to give the Arabs a sense of us allowing them to declare war on Israel. A LOT of people are going to die as a result of bad Arab policy and anyone can see that one from a mile away.

As I already posted, if he is dismayed then do the honorable thing and resign from the party. And if you know that others on the Democratic side are equally dismayed then use your considerable influence to get a third party established and leave the extremists on both sides to sound ridiculous. But instead he chose to publicly say that a second term of Obama was the best choice over a "throw the bums out" pledge. To me it shows political cowardice and not insight.

But my guess is that we are on the path we are on and all of this is mostly for future political structuring of a single party system and it is mostly just a bunch of theater.

I agree that both parties allow their extremist elements to have far too much control. But to say someone shouldn't be allowed to criticize their own party for it's failings seems extreme no?
To put it another way, how far off the cliff does the party have to be when the dems, who aren't even remotely mainstream either, look like the sane, rational and superior option to the majority of the country? That shouldn't be called out, he should just leave and let the inmates run the asylum? How would that be the responsible thing to do?
What he is doing will help the party if they choose to listen, "cleansing" him from the party for not toeing the line will only prolong the party's marginalization. He is trying to use his large megaphone to get the party back on track, whether people choose to see it or not.

[tegator80]

I agree that both parties allow their extremist elements to have far too much control. But to say someone shouldn't be allowed to criticize their own party for it's failings seems extreme no?

To put it another way, how far off the cliff does the party have to be when the dems, who aren't even remotely mainstream either, look like the sane, rational and superior option to the majority of the country? That shouldn't be called out, he should just leave and let the inmates run the asylum? How would that be the responsible thing to do?

What he is doing will help the party if they choose to listen, "cleansing" him from the party for not toeing the line will only prolong the party's marginalization. He is trying to use his large megaphone to get the party back on track, whether people choose to see it or not.

It was the timing and demeanor of the critique that is unacceptable, with the caveat that there was something insidious being planned and he picked the lesser of two evils. I don't want lockstep people in any mainstream (majority?) political party or church affiliation. Dissidence is a healthy thing; it makes you think about your choices and whether you are off message or right on the money. And if the Neo-con hysteria is the new demon then we need to understand what it is, where it is entrenched and then marginalize it. The exact same thing can be said about the left. But I would add that the left doesn't get the same treatment as the right in the media. The hysteria isn't there for their loonies. Where is the repudiation over Pelosi's claim that "we have to pass the bill to understand what's in it" as the acting #3 most powerful person in the US?

But what Powell did (as I see it) is pick the hard left's side by saying that my side needs to be administered better. How about saying nothing and either cleaning it up behind the scenes or deciding that the Neo-cons have the Republican brand all wrapped up and then get the hell out of there and start up a centrist party? His position is NOT one of leadership, it smacks of getting even. And it is us citizens who are the injured party on all of this nonsense.

[Gatorrick22]

Tea party needs to be defined and the fringes need to be disassociated

I agree.

[tegator80]

Plenty of people have died at the hands of Neo-con policy...to claim death as the performance measure Bush has set quite a high bar...

Obama wasn't a better choice than simply tossing incumbents because they were incumbents?

This is rational voting logic?

What if you have a incumbent congressman who is actually good....
...you think the party should vote him out in favor of a candidate who is a new "loyal"...

...even if they're an idiot?

You know, the most damaging line of the US way of thinking is "congress is corrupt, but my guy is upstanding and we would be worse without him fighting my fight." My "guy" in all of this silliness is Eric Cantor and I have been voting against him for several election cycles. Why?, because he is a part of the incompetence of the system that has evolved in Washington. And if the American public can't realize that we need to clean it up - and we are the only ones to do the job - then we will get exactly what we have: a bunch of entrenched politicians who get to live privileged lives while the country crumbles around us. This is OUR mess.

But as I stated in my post that you quoted, I am afraid that this is just theater and our lot has already been cast. A single party system is most likely on the horizon.

[jimgata]

Powell has succumbed to the pressure from the left and now becoming just another Obma mouthpiece.
He was once a hero of mine and would have supported him for pres. No more.

[fredsanford]

Powell has succumbed to the pressure from the left and now becoming just another Obma mouthpiece.
He was once a hero of mine and would have supported him for pres. No more.

He left the fact free conserva-bubble--of course you don't like him.

[The_Graygator]

I used to have tremendous respect for Colin Powell, but it breaks my heart that skin color and being "popular" in Washington means more to him than his country.

He stabbed fellow veteran and war hero, John McCain, in the back before the 2008 election, and now he stabs the very party that gave him his position and status in Washington in the back too, by making utterly ridiculous, race-baiting remarks and baseless accusations at the Republicans.

Just as long as he's a subservient lapdog and stays in Obama's good graces is all that matters to him now.

What a disgrace to our country and to our military too, IMO.

[fredsanford]

I used to have tremendous respect for Colin Powell, but it breaks my heart that skin color and being "popular" in Washington means more to him than his country.

He stabbed fellow veteran and war hero, John McCain, in the back before the 2008 election, and now he stabs the very party that gave him his position and status in Washington in the back too, by making utterly ridiculous, race-baiting remarks and baseless accusations at the Republicans.

Just as long as he's a subservient lapdog and stays in Obama's good graces is all that matters to him now.

What a disgrace to our country and to our military too, IMO.

The only disgusting remarks are yours.

The GOP has moved so far to the right Reagan couldn't recognize it. Powell doesn't either.

[gatordee]

So he's supposed to lie now?


He's calling out to the party to be aware of the problems occuring within the party right now...the threat of the extreme right "conservative" movement.

Its a warning.

And all the members of the party can think about is how to ex-communicate him from the party...

:no:
This

[gator996]

You know, the most damaging line of the US way of thinking is "congress is corrupt, but my guy is upstanding and we would be worse without him fighting my fight." My "guy" in all of this silliness is Eric Cantor and I have been voting against him for several election cycles. Why?, because he is a part of the incompetence of the system that has evolved in Washington. And if the American public can't realize that we need to clean it up - and we are the only ones to do the job - then we will get exactly what we have: a bunch of entrenched politicians who get to live privileged lives while the country crumbles around us. This is OUR mess.

But as I stated in my post that you quoted, I am afraid that this is just theater and our lot has already been cast. A single party system is most likely on the horizon.


I hear you....


So, how easy is it to criticize those who call the partisan tendency out?

I have greater belief in that "Obama Fear" drives the extreme right and its nothing but political/economic fear...


...the sooner the economy recovers to 6%. or better employment, much of the "fire" directed at Obama lessens...

The longer the weak recovery continues the worse it gets for the opposition...
...Obama is even winning the economic argument...


And the country is not better for either side outright winning...its better when there's a compromise of the 2....


Making a viable 3rd political party is tough business...maybe impossible when "all-in" is the strategy of the day...


Powell is nothing to fight...he shoud be applauded...and the left should applaud someone from the left who's willing to do the same...

...waiting for that to happen...
:rolleyes:


Do I seem as partisan now?


What's sad is to see the reaction to Powell....




Powell is questioning the extremists...

We all should...


Obama is hated...but objectively, its hard to paint him extremist...

Half his "ideas" have republican roots.

:yes:

[g8orbill]

996- I have zero faith your prez can lead us to any economic recovery- hopefully I am wrong

[gatorman_07732]

996- I have zero faith your prez can lead us to any economic recovery- hopefully I am wrong

Maybe this president has no interest in leading us into an economic recovery.

[gator996]

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2013/01/18/obamas-inauguration-present-the-economic-recovery-is-finally-here

Obama's Inauguration Present: The Economic Recovery Is Finally Here

By Rick Newman
January 18, 2013

Call it the passive-aggressive economy.

When Congress pumped billions of dollars of stimulus spending into the economy, it sputtered and wheezed like a patient having a heart attack. Now that Congress is raising taxes and cutting back on stimulus measures, the economy seems more resilient than expected. For President Barack Obama, it could mean a much more durable economy over the next four years than he enjoyed in his first term.

Toward the end of 2012, economists warned repeatedly that the fiscal-cliff standoff would harm economic growth and perhaps even cause a recession. The last-second solution avoided the worse possible outcome, but it still included tax hikes that will take money out of consumers' pockets, without addressing the looming crisis over the national debt.

Yet instead of tanking, the economy held up much better than expected given the dangerous game of chickenCongress and the president engaged in. Employers created 155,000 new jobs in December, maintaining the same pace of job creation established throughout 2012. Instead of plunging, the stock market drifted upward toward a five-year high, preventing many investors from taking advantage of a panicky selloff to buy stocks cheap, while hoping for a snapback once Congress got the message and did its job.

Economic growth is still weak, perhaps just 1.5 percent or so. But that's not bad considering that measures to address the federal deficit are now cutting into growth. Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates that the fiscal-cliff deal negotiated at the start of the year will cut GDP growth by about 1.5 percentage points this year, with further spending cuts likely to cut it by another half-point. "This implies that absent the fiscal drag, we would be forecasting 3.5% growth," BofA said in a recent report. "This is actually quite positive."

[GatrHeel]

I used to have tremendous respect for Colin Powell, but it breaks my heart that skin color and being "popular" in Washington means more to him than his country.

He stabbed fellow veteran and war hero, John McCain, in the back before the 2008 election, and now he stabs the very party that gave him his position and status in Washington in the back too, by making utterly ridiculous, race-baiting remarks and baseless accusations at the Republicans.

Just as long as he's a subservient lapdog and stays in Obama's good graces is all that matters to him now.

What a disgrace to our country and to our military too, IMO.

This statement is ridiculous. You're way off the reservation here.

[g8orbill]

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2013/01/18/obamas-inauguration-present-the-economic-recovery-is-finally-here

Obama's Inauguration Present: The Economic Recovery Is Finally Here

By Rick Newman
January 18, 2013

Call it the passive-aggressive economy.

When Congress pumped billions of dollars of stimulus spending into the economy, it sputtered and wheezed like a patient having a heart attack. Now that Congress is raising taxes and cutting back on stimulus measures, the economy seems more resilient than expected. For President Barack Obama, it could mean a much more durable economy over the next four years than he enjoyed in his first term.

Toward the end of 2012, economists warned repeatedly that the fiscal-cliff standoff would harm economic growth and perhaps even cause a recession. The last-second solution avoided the worse possible outcome, but it still included tax hikes that will take money out of consumers' pockets, without addressing the looming crisis over the national debt.

Yet instead of tanking, the economy held up much better than expected given the dangerous game of chickenCongress and the president engaged in. Employers created 155,000 new jobs in December, maintaining the same pace of job creation established throughout 2012. Instead of plunging, the stock market drifted upward toward a five-year high, preventing many investors from taking advantage of a panicky selloff to buy stocks cheap, while hoping for a snapback once Congress got the message and did its job.

Economic growth is still weak, perhaps just 1.5 percent or so. But that's not bad considering that measures to address the federal deficit are now cutting into growth. Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates that the fiscal-cliff deal negotiated at the start of the year will cut GDP growth by about 1.5 percentage points this year, with further spending cuts likely to cut it by another half-point. "This implies that absent the fiscal drag, we would be forecasting 3.5% growth," BofA said in a recent report. "This is actually quite positive."

pure bull pablum-if this time next year we have gotten past the 105-2% your prez says signals a recovery then I will believe we are back-until then just pure bullchit by the lapdog media who is still fawning over your prez

[Ceal8ter]

FOX News has already begun to question Powell's "Republican" status because of this...

They sure do love "purity" tests over there on the far right , huh?
:laugh:

http://news.yahoo.com/colin-powell-slams-idiot-presentations-republicans-urges-gop-155831808--abc-news-politics.html

Colin Powell Slams 'Idiot' Partisanship
By Michael Falcone | ABC OTUS News

In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos during ABC's special inauguration day coverage this morning, former Secretary of State Colin Powell lashed out at people in the Republican Party who spent the last four years spreading "birther nonsense" and other "things that demonize the president," calling on GOP leaders to denounce such talk - publicly.

"Republicans have to stop buying into things that demonize the president. I mean, why aren't Republican leaders shouting out about all this birther nonsense and all these other things? They should speak out. This is the kind of intolerance that I've been talking about where these idiot presentations continue to be made and you don't see the senior leadership of the party say, 'No, that's wrong.' In fact, sometimes by not speaking out, they're encouraging it. And the base keeps buying the stuff.

"And it's killing the base of the party. I mean, 26 percent favorability rating for the party right now. It ought to be telling them something. So, instead of attacking me or whoever speaks like I do, look in the mirror and realize, 'How are we going to win the next election?"

But Powell, who served as National Security Adviser under President Ronald Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and as the nation's top diplomat under President George W. Bush, didn't stop there.

Read Powell's quote in the second paragraph, then read this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2817999/posts

That's hypocrisy at its finest.

[Swampmaster]

If colin runs for president in 2016, will he run as a republican or democrat?