Colin Powell on the GOP, Polarization and Sarah Palin – Plus Rush Limbaugh

Retired General, former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Colin Powell has some ideas about the future of the GOP and comments regarding the past Presidential election cycle in the video above.

The Republican party must stop “shouting at the world” and start listening to minority groups if it is to win elections in the 21st century, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday.

In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria for Sunday’s “GPS” program, President Bush’s former secretary of state said his party’s attempt “to use polarization for political advantage” backfired last month.

“I think the party has to take a hard look at itself,” Powell said in the interview, which was taped Wednesday. “There is nothing wrong with being conservative. There is nothing wrong with having socially conservative views — I don’t object to that. But if the party wants to have a future in this country, it has to face some realities. In another 20 years, the majority in this country will be the minority.”

Flap will agree with General Powell about the GOP reaching out to Hispanic, Asian and African American voters. It is a travesty for these voters to vote in large majorities for the Democrat Party candidates on the basis of race and racial politics. But, they do. Powell had nothing to say about this fact.

And, where was Powell over the last thirty years (since Reagan) in attempting to outreach for the GOP in the African-American communities?

Crickets…..the General was AWOL.

There is no doubt the GOP must be more than the old white man party. But, the party must be based on principles that appeal to all Americans – not entitlement politics which features walking around money distributed by local pols or the churches. Or promises of having wealth spread around to their ethnic group as a result of public policy.

Now, Sarah Palin.

Governor Palin was not a polarizing figure for John McCain or the GOP. Flap has complained that she was perhaps rushed to the national stage and needed some additional foreign policy experience but she is not the FAR-RIGHT polarizing figure that Powell portrays. Sarah Palin is a conservative and the elected Governor of Alaska. Also, Palin is very popular in the GOP. Powell is not.

Colin Powell is not a conservative and has been said to be a RINO (Republican In Name Only) by many pundits over the years. Why anyone would think Powell wishes to reform a party in which he does not share many tenets of its platform, is anyone’s guess?

Small town values are to America as is Apple Pie. General, the South Bronx, New York City, is not the norm in America and never will be. The Bronx is an urban cesspool. Most of America is NOT.

Flap was raised in a small town in Southern California and the values there are definitely different than New York City. So, please, Colin.

“I think the party has to stop shouting at the world and at the country,”Powell said. “I think that the party has to take a hard look at itself, and I’ve talked to a number of leaders in recent weeks and they understand that.” Powell, who says he still considers himself a Republican, said his party should also stop listening to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

“Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?” Powell asked. “Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?”

Good grief. Rush Limbaugh is a conservative entertainer who has never been elected to any office. Of course, Colin Powell has never won any elective office either. But, you know what they say about opinions and assholes…….

Secretary Powell was fired by President Bush after his first term of office. The disastrous foreign policy of the early Bush years was a result of Powell’s bungling and ineptitude. Making amends for his missteps is a primary Powell agenda. Or is it retribution to George W. Bush?

Now, after the election of Barack Obama it looks like Powell is trying to ingratiate himself with the media as a great pontificator of all things Republican. Why?

Speaking fees and Washington cocktail parties obviously. Powell had not been involved with Republican campaigns in support of its candidates in recent memory.

Exit question: Does anyone within the Republican Party really care what Colin Powell has to say?

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