• Home
  • Blogs
  • Political Hotsheet
Political Hotsheet
May 20, 2009 1:28 PM

After Criticism From Cheney And Limbaugh, Powell Returns Fire

Posted by Igor Kossov
(NBC)

Infighting within the Republican Party continued yesterday when former Secretary of State Colin Powell fired back at former Vice President Dick Cheney and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh for criticizing him, the Boston Globe reports.

"Rush Limbaugh says, 'Get out of the Republican Party.' Dick Cheney says, 'He's already out.' I may be out of their version of the Republican Party, but there's another version of the Republican Party waiting to emerge once again," Powell told the a crowd of 1,500 business leaders in Boston yesterday.

Both Cheney and Limbaugh have attacked Powell for endorsing President Obama and saying that "Americans want more government in their lives, not less."

"What Colin Powell needs to do is close the loop and become a Democrat, instead of claiming to be a Republican interested in reforming the Republican Party," Limbaugh said on his show. Cheney seconded the comment, saying "I think my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn’t know he was still a Republican."

Republicans have struggled to keep from appearing marginalized in the wake of the 2008 elections that gave the Democrats control over the presidency and Congress. A recent Gallup poll shows that fewer Americans than ever identify as Republican and that support for the GOP has dropped from everyone except frequent churchgoers, self-identified conservatives and seniors.

Powell said that the way for his party to recover is for it to become more moderate and appeal to a broader base.
Tags:
limbaugh ,
cheney ,
powell ,
gop ,
republicans
Topics:
Republicans
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx

More from Political Hotsheet and Politics on CBSNews.com

Add a Comment See all 24 Comments
by Nikos_Retsos May 21, 2009 11:58 AM EDT
Sure, there is another version of the republican party that counts on Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney to recover
its fortunes lost on November 4, 2008. But if Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh were the ideal leaders the Americans were proud to look upon, John MaCain would have been elected president on November 4, 2008. Now, with the republican party in complete disarray, the right wing media guided by Luah Limbaugh has appointed Dick Cheney as its electoral disaster recovery captain. And given the disasters he had created for his boss that gave George Bush upon leaving office a negative 68% public approval rating, and a "good riddance" label (CNN, January 18, 2009), republicans looking for a new direction for the party may be in need for some better introspection.

Let's not forget who Dick Cheney really is. Here are some samples of his career highlights as a torture proponent - in addition to having said that waterboarding "is a no brainer." ABC news reported on May 3, 2004, that "torture, rape, sodomizing, and 24 deaths of Iraqi detainees during U.S. harsh interrogation. Another report by ABC on April 30, 2004, revealed not only torture of detainees, but
that they "were forced to masturbate publicly." On May 7, 2004, Donald Rumsfeld admitted before Congress
that "some treatment of the Iraqi detainees [by the U.S. military] was blatantly sadistic." On December 21, 2004, BBC reported that classified information revealed to the American Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act confirmed "U.S. torture of Guantanamo detainees who were chained to the floor for long periods, and had to defecate and urinate on themselves, and that during interrogations the interrogators stuck lit cigarettes on prisoners ears." The above are just a small sample from Dick Cheney's tenure as Vice President that have established him as the premier advocate of torture as "a saving American lives" mechanism. And if the republicans want to worship him for his kind of patriotism, and follow him as their shepherd of the republican party, it is their right.

However, I believe that the November 4, 2008 election clearly established that the soul of most Americans is not comfortable resting on brutality by our government - even when is dressed in our flag and patriotism. After all, our forebears taught us that "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" (Samuel Johnson), and that "Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious" (Oscar Wilde). Obviously, the patriotism of most Americans is not related to the vicious patriotism of Dick Cheney.

Is Dick Cheney a goldmine for the fortunes of the new version of the republican party, or a minefield under the dark shade of his patriotism? The law abiding Americans would certainly like to believe that the republicans see Dick Cheney as a goldmine, and keep mining their "denial" until their thinking is tested again in the next elections. Nikos Retsos, retired professor
Reply to this comment
by scyouth May 21, 2009 8:11 AM EDT
The republican Party has devolve into an aggressively paranoid extremist group that embraces an anti-government ideology with a extreme messianic view of Christianity. Add racism, bigotry and a pro-torture platform to the mix and it's over. They're toast.
Posted by thebob-bob

Colin Powell is a racist. He supported Obama because Obama is 1/2 black. How do I know this ? Powell admitted it. Powell is not wanted in the rebublican Party.
Posted by one_2258

Quod Erat Demonstrandum.
Reply to this comment
by earlysaid May 20, 2009 11:39 PM EDT
Colin Powell has conducted himself with honor and integrity. That has been lost by the attack dog republicans who rabidly go after their own fellow republicans who have good ideas and common sense on America's issues. Powell was one of the few who had any sense in the Bush administration. He and Paul O'Neil were booted out because they wanted to do a good job. That was not something wanted in the Bush administration. They only wanted like minded yes people.
Reply to this comment
by sjc_1 May 20, 2009 11:02 PM EDT
Powell is a member of the Republican Party that I used to know and even respect. Ever since Reagan and Gingrich got hold of it, I hardly recognize it any more.
Reply to this comment
by novamba May 20, 2009 9:57 PM EDT
This just cracks me up. A draft dodger and a bloated, big-mouthed, drug addict, want Colin Powel, who has spent a lifetime honorably serving his country, to get out of "their" party. Priceless.
Posted by kansas1946

Now this is an epic comment. I could not be any more in agreement.
Brankt1, I agree with you on principle but for different reasons that are more closely tied to economic policy than the "so-called gay movement" you mention.
Reply to this comment
by novamba May 20, 2009 9:51 PM EDT
When John McCain was villified by the big guns in GOP media, The GOP lost its last hope for a republican president. Limbaugh does such a good job about being an idiot, that his words get lost, and somehow, after everyone drank the kool aid, the words Bush and McCain became synonimous. How is it that Limbaugh could dislike McCain so much, and the nation not see that was a good thing? McCain and Bush are not now, nor have they been friends for years. Colin Powell is the only man in the GOP that the dems will listen to, and yet, the powers that be keep trashing him. The GOP is running out of steam, and are alienating themselves by pushing principles that most americans no longer subscribe to.
Reply to this comment
by mrzerato May 20, 2009 9:06 PM EDT
Colin Powell is a racist. He supported Obama because Obama is 1/2 black. How do I know this ? Powell admitted it. Powell is not wanted in the rebublican Party.
Posted by one_2258

LMAO Out of the mouth of rush to the pages of the CBS web site via the mr2258. Another one of Rush's ditto heads. I guess he got tired of calling for armed insurrection.
Reply to this comment
by DefendLiberty May 20, 2009 6:54 PM EDT
If the GOP keeps eating their own, there will only be about 10 of them left. Fortunately, Rush can eat a WHOLE LOT of them himself. Would not add that much to his massive girth. Hasn't so far. The GOP will be left with Rush, Hannity, Billo, Cheney, and about 6 Southern Senators. Good riddance. Fake News will have to start doing fictional dramas and comedy. Oh, wait...
Reply to this comment
by ubrew12 May 20, 2009 6:32 PM EDT
whosaid1:
have a constructive counter-argument to what I said?

I didn't just claim that the right often falls to fascism (especially in hard times), I listed the large number of countries for whom this has happened, who lived to regret it.

And your response is?
Reply to this comment
by whosaid1 May 20, 2009 6:05 PM EDT
Will they, as so often happens to the right, fall to Fascism? To see how this plays out, refer to the histories of Italy, Spain, Germany, and just about every country in South America. Eventually, these countries returned to the center-left, but not before, in every case, unleashing decades of murder, torture, mass-killings, civil war, and ethnic violence. Not to mention murdering their countries economies. That's what Fascists do. They, like Limbaugh and Cheney, would rather see their countries burn to the ground than compromise one iota from their 'superman' mythology that is, frankly, unachievable for ordinary people. And they always end up, like Hitler, crying crocodile tears for the country that 'let them down' as it and they are destroyed by the sheer rage they unleashed.
Posted by ubrew12

Is it because you are "on" something very powerful...that you?ve developed such an imagination....or, have you always been this way ?
Reply to this comment
by kansas1946 May 20, 2009 6:03 PM EDT
The republican Party has devolve into an aggressively paranoid extremist group that embraces an anti-government ideology with a extreme messianic view of Christianity. Add racism, bigotry and a pro-torture platform to the mix and it's over. They're toast.
Posted by thebob-bob at 1:29 PM : May 20, 2009
*******************************

Gosh, that sounds EXACTLY like the Nazi party at its roots. I guess it is nice that the KKK has a party that they will feel comfortable joining. Keeps them off the streets. :o)
Reply to this comment
by steeepe May 20, 2009 6:01 PM EDT
Powell is ten times the man that Cheney is and 100 times smarter than that blow-hard, Limbaugh. Limbaugh shouts stupid lies and the gullible or mindless believe him.
Reply to this comment
by bradkt1 May 20, 2009 6:01 PM EDT
Colin Powell is a member of the Republican Party that I would want to be a part of?the party that has no use for the religious right?the so-called social conservatives. They have been the ruin of the Republican Party. There are many Democrats like me who have no where to go and do not like the Democratic Party's alliance with the so-called gay rights movement (the ones who disrespect religious institutions and want to legalize gay marriage), the radical feminists, the trial lawyers, the abrogation of any sense of fiscal responsibility, environmental extremism or the disrespect shown to members of the armed forces?in other words, the San Francisco loons of the Democratic Party that are represented by Nancy Pelosi. You would be surprised at how many Democrats have privately told me how they are sick and tired of the noisy and radical far left, but are too intimidated to speak out. Several of them have left the Democratic Party and have registered as independents. I am considering doing the same.

Even with all its faults, however, I will still support the Democratic Party "as is" before I would ever align myself with those far right-wing nuts and religious zealots who have hijacked the GOP and who are represented by Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, Alan Keyes, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and FoxNews.
Reply to this comment
by kansas1946 May 20, 2009 6:00 PM EDT
This just cracks me up. A draft dodger and a bloated, big-mouthed, drug addict, want Colin Powel, who has spent a lifetime honorably serving his country, to get out of "their" party. Priceless.
Reply to this comment
by ubrew12 May 20, 2009 5:31 PM EDT
Its tough to be a responsible Republican these days (or, frankly, ever since Reagan), but Powell is as close as it comes.

Cheney tortured people for political expediency to bolster his case for invading Iraq. Limbaugh is a loud and unapologetic fascist. Either of these men would set a fire under America to get what they wanted: they would rather see America burn than compromise their vision of an America for the wealthy and corporations only. Not that, after Bush, there is much to burn.

The fate of America may well rest on the fate of her Republicans. Will they, as so often happens to the right, fall to Fascism? To see how this plays out, refer to the histories of Italy, Spain, Germany, and just about every country in South America. Eventually, these countries returned to the center-left, but not before, in every case, unleashing decades of murder, torture, mass-killings, civil war, and ethnic violence. Not to mention murdering their countries economies. That's what Fascists do. They, like Limbaugh and Cheney, would rather see their countries burn to the ground than compromise one iota from their 'superman' mythology that is, frankly, unachievable for ordinary people. And they always end up, like Hitler, crying crocodile tears for the country that 'let them down' as it and they are destroyed by the sheer rage they unleashed.
Reply to this comment
by onemanvolt May 20, 2009 5:15 PM EDT
These neocon Repubs are not much different from the religious whackos we are fighting in the Middle East. Both groups want to force their religious nonsense on the rest of us. Here in America, they seek to alter the constitution and stack the Supreme Court with theocrats. Mike Huckabee is one of the greatest proponents of changing the constitution to reflect Christian dogma. NOT IN MY LIFETIME THEY DON'T!
Reply to this comment
by whosaid1 May 20, 2009 5:05 PM EDT
The republican Party has devolve into an aggressively paranoid extremist group that embraces an anti-government ideology with a extreme messianic view of Christianity. Add racism, bigotry and a pro-torture platform to the mix and it's over. They're toast.
Posted by thebob-bob

Well there you have it !! It must be true because you "think" it...You are certainly not a student of political "history"....if you think EITHER party is "toast" (meaning they are FINISHED ?).
The Republican party will "recover".....as will the Democratic party, after that,...... in the "normal" cycle. It's been that way for years and will continue to be that way....
Reply to this comment
by thebob-bob May 20, 2009 4:29 PM EDT
The republican Party has devolve into an aggressively paranoid extremist group that embraces an anti-government ideology with a extreme messianic view of Christianity. Add racism, bigotry and a pro-torture platform to the mix and it's over. They're toast.
Reply to this comment
by tmmie123 May 20, 2009 4:23 PM EDT
PLEASE, GOP, keep up the good work....
Tuesday May 19, 2009 - A new Gallup Poll shows that Republicans have lost support across every major demographic group with one exception: regular churchgoers. Since the beginning of the Bush administration in 2001, the GOP has lost self-identified Republicans across the board. Only regular churchgoers, followed closely by self-identified conservatives and older Americans, have remained with the party in large numbers. In 2001, Americans were nearly evenly split in party identification, with 45 percent identifying as or leaning Democratic, and 44 percent identifying as or leaning Republican. Those figures are now 53 percent Democratic and 39 percent Republican. GOP losses have been particularly acute among college graduates, 18- to 29-year-olds, self-identified moderates and those who seldom or never attend church, according to Gallup.
Reply to this comment
by whosaid1 May 20, 2009 3:51 PM EDT
The General was quite vocal in his endorsement of the candidate for the "other" party...one assumes that he voted for him. Why then should any reasonable person think he is a Republican??
Reply to this comment
See all 24 Comments

About Political Hotsheet

Stay up to the minute on the latest news and developments from Washington, from the White House to Congress and everything in-between with the best political reporters from CBS News and CBSNews.com.

E-Mail Political Hotsheet
Follow On Twitter

Add to your favorite news reader
google
yahoo
msn
  • MOST POPULAR
Discussed
  1. Health Care Bill Clears 1st Senate Hurdle

    (272 recent comments)

HOTSHEET ON TWITTER