Cheney’s Model Republican: More Limbaugh, Less Powell

New York Times ^ | May 10, 2009 | Janie Lorber

[reaganaut1]

Former Vice President Dick Cheney said on Sunday that he preferred Rush Limbaugh’s brand of conservatism to former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell’s, saying Mr. Powell had abandoned the Republican Party when he endorsed Barack Obama for president last year.

“Well, if I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I’d go with Rush Limbaugh, I think,” Mr. Cheney said in an interview on “Face the Nation” on CBS. “I think my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn’t know he was still a Republican.”

Mr. Cheney said he “assumed” Mr. Powell’s support of Mr. Obama over Senator John McCain was “an indication of his loyalty and his interest.” The endorsement, in a carefully timed and deliberate statement after Mr. McCain chose Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate in a move to fire up the party’s conservative base, helped solidify Mr. Obama’s campaign.

Mr. Powell, a retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, identified himself as a Republican only after retiring from the military. Last week, Mr. Powell said the Republican Party was in “deep trouble” and needed to find a way back to the middle of the political spectrum and away from polarizing leaders like Mr. Limbaugh and Ms. Palin.

His view, if not a new one, came after Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania switched to the Democratic Party and as Republicans debated where the heart of the party lay. In response, Mr. Limbaugh suggested that the moderate Mr. Powell should leave the party.

“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,” Mr. Limbaugh said on his talk show.

[Piquaboy]

Unlike a lot of Republicans in government Cheney is not afraid to tell it like it is.

[Williams]

Duh. Not only did Powell endorse Obama in what essentially was a racial move, Powell also accused the McCain campaign of all kinds of racism, which was absurd.

Colin Powell can go to hell, or at least to the democrats. CLose enough.

[yldstrk]

Mr. Cheney is absolutely correct

[uptoolate]

Powell hates women.

[Paladin2]

Has anybody reviewed Powell’s political $$ contributions of late?

[Jeff Head]

Sadly, despite his service record, Powell has morphed into a political turncoat general who has turned to bite the hands that fed him politically.

IMHO, he never was a Republican.

[Joann37]

The more I see Cheney, the more I wish he would have had presidential aspirations. He would have been a great leader.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I LOVE Dick Cheney. He’s right—as usual. Long live Rush Limbaugh—one of the greatest Americans of our time.

[Bigh4u2]

If I recall correctly, it was Powell who ‘convinced’ George H.W. Bush not to march to Baghdad and take out Saddam Hussein in 1991.

[zerosix]

When liberal Republicans were pushing Powell to run at the top of the ticket, the General couldn't even decide to which party he actually belonged!!!

Powell and his ilk claiming that the party needs to move to the left to "keep people like himself" is such a joke. We did - we "chose" George H.W. Bush, he lost; we "chose" Bob Dole, he lost; we "chose" John McCain and we are suffering the repercussions right now.

It's not a move to the LEFT that the Republican Party needs but a move to the RIGHT to inject some genuine interest, loyalty and credibility for the American public.

[Niteranger68]

Uber-Ditto!!!!

[Piquaboy]

You are right on about that.

[VanillaBlizzard]

As the talk-Heads would put it....we don't need 2 Democratic parties.

If I were a lefty....I would vote for the FAR left too!

[Momto2]

I “accidentally” had on Good Morning American for a few minutes this morning.... Diane Sawyer was just “shocked” at Cheney’s comments.. she “couldn’t remember a former vice-president being so critical of a current president”....Oh My Gosh - Two words Diane - “Al Gore”.... I am so proud of V. P. Cheney for speaking out and telling the TRUTH - We are less safe because of OB...

[Let's Roll]

I LUV Cheney.

[opus86]

While his remarks have been striking, they are not unusually outspoken by comparison, for example, to former Vice President Al Gore’s condemnations of the Bush administration when it held office.

Wow. A rare moment in which the NYT actually has some balance in a story. In fact it was Democrats that started this distasteful practice by criticizing Bush 43, and I have no problem with Cheney firing back.

[BARLF]

I would have to check for accuracy, but I think Cheney was SecDef at that time. Powell was a POS then.