The Tragedy of Colin Powell; How the Bush presidency destroyed him

Slate ^ | 2.19.04 | Fred Kaplan

[mhking]

What becomes a legend most? Not this

Is Colin Powell melting down?

It's hard to come up with another explanation for his jaw-dropping behavior last week before the House International Relations Committee. There he sat, recounting for the umpety-umpth time why, back in February 2003, he believed the pessimistic estimates about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. "I went and lived at the CIA for about four days," he began, "to make sure that nothing was—" Suddenly, he stopped and glared at a Democratic committee staffer who was smirking and shaking his head. "Are you shaking your head for something, young man back there?" Powell grumbled. "Are you part of the proceedings?"

Rep. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, objected, "Mr. Chairman, I've never heard a witness reprimand a staff person in the middle of a question."

Powell muttered back, "I seldom come to a meeting where I am talking to a congressman and I have people aligned behind you, giving editorial comment by head shakes."

Oh, my.

[mhking]

The writer is a scum-sucking leftist, bent on doing anything to put anyone from the Administration in a bad light.

Just damn.

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[KantianBurke]

Powell getting upset by rudeness is analogous to him having a breakdown? If I had been in his position I would have told them to sit down and shut up.

[Semper Paratus]

I liked it when Powell called out the smirking aid behind one of the 'rat committee members at a hearing.

[Sofa King]

Sounds like Powell was the one acting dignified here.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I guess men of accomplishment should just roll over for the snots who "know better."

[.cnI redruM]

There are times when a gentleman should become angry. COngressMaggot Brown and his unmannered lackeys brought about just such a moment. Powell was measured in his response. He called a rude, disrespectful jerk a rude, disrespectful jerk. If that's a meltdown, what Howard Dean did in Iowa must have been 3-Mile Island or Chernobyl.

[kylaka]

Powell does not suffer fools gladly. Those duped by faulty intellengnce accuse Powell of the same only because he and Bush were in a position to act on it. I wish though, that the administration would focus on the real culpret, Saddam, and 12 years of ignoring UN resolutions that could have brought the matter to a peaceful resolution.

[Diogenesis]

One of his finest moments - he remembered HIS country.

[TADSLOS]

Glad to see Powell showing some cojones for a change. Loved his reproach of the Congressman concerning President's Bush's military service. "Don't go there". Damned good advice, coming from Powell, and shut the little punk down.

[AgThorn]

What a hatchet job .. this article isn't worth lining your bird cage with. Leftist writer that didn't have anything write about today apparently, so he decided to do a hatchet job on Powell.

[writer33]

Liberals showing their true colors. A hearty thanks goes out to Howard Dean for firing up the vitrealic behavior. Also, a special post card to Al Gore for the, "He betrayed this country" speech.

[raptor29]

One of the many reasons the left hates the Bush administration is that people like Rumsfeld, Powell, and Cheney will repeatedly call these leftist losers for what they are, and they do it boldly. The left is used to Republicans caving in and cowering whenever attacked. Rumsfeld, especially, just crushes these weasels whenever he gets a chance, and it is a beautiful thing to see. Good to see Powell stepping up, as well.

[bioprof]

"One of his finest moments - he remembered HIS country"

Got that right! It's about time - I'd like to see a lot more of this happening- go Powell!!!

[brownsfan]

I thought Mr. Powell carried himself as a MAN carries himself. He was not there to be ridiculed nor disrespected. His message: Treat me with respect and you'll get the same. If more of our leaders were like this, maybe we'd get less of the silliness we have now.

[jjm2111]

[Democratshavenobrains]

If it was a Democrat rebuking some Republican aide, the media would be awarding him for his plain-speaking.

[bioprof]

And thank you, Mr. Secretary, for being a "man's man" in a world of scared little girly men looking for the world to "like" us - I'd rather have respect, thank you very much - ( and also have them know, without any doubt whatsoever, that we mean what we say - unlike the Clinton years ).

[HairOfTheDog]

"Are you shaking your head for something, young man back there?"

ROTFL! - I wish I had seen that!