On an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” former Vice President Dick Cheney stated that former Secretary of State Colin Powell is no longer a Republican. Cheney said, “My take on it was Colin had already left the party,” Cheney said. “I didn’t know he was still a Republican.”
Dick Cheney
Colin Powell, who was the Secretary of State under George Bush, has been at odds with conservatives recently. In 2008, he endorsed Barack Obama in the presidential election, angering many in the Republican party. In an interview on CNN after the election, he declared that the Republican party attempted to polarize the country. He also stated that Republicans had to try to reach out to more minorities, including African Americans, who are conservative, but have been alienated by the polarizing nature of many conservative figures. In a speech last week, as reported here, Powell declared that the Republican party was in “deep trouble” and needed to move closer to the center to survive.
See interview of Powell criticizing the Republican party below:
Colin Powell Criticizes Republicans
Powell stated in his speech to national security executives last week that the party needed to move away from figures like Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter because they were polarizing to moderates. Powell has been echoing sentiments expressed by popular moderates like Meghan McCain.
For his criticisms of the party, Dick Cheney stated today on Face the Nation that Powell is no longer a Republican.
As I reported here, the Republican party is attempting to reshape its image in the wake of the 2008 election. The Cheney-Powell feud further shows that the conservative party is in the middle of a deep ideological battle that may result in its split in the near future. In one corner, we have Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Dick Cheney, who are strong social conservatives who appeal to the Christian base for their views on issues like abortion, immigration and gay marriage.
On the other side are the so-called “RINO”’s like Colin Powell, John McCain, and Michael Bloomberg, who do not have the same views on social issues, but joined the party mainly because of their fiscal views (small government, low taxes).
Frankly, I suspect there will be a split in the party soon. The social conservatives simply will not rally again around someone like McCain. Sarah Palin will likely take over that wing of the party because she inspires the Christian base. Moderate, fiscal conservatives will not rally around Sarah Palin because they view her as a step backward. Like Powell states, moderates believe that social conservatives are increasingly outnumbered in this country and conservatives need to reshape their image to appeal to the center.
Will the Republican party survive?
May 10th, 2009 at 10:18 am
>>>Will the Republican party survive?
No. They created a monster in the far right, fed it until it’s too big to kill, and now they can only feed it and hope it does not eat them. But it will eat them…as all monsters are prone to do once they get hungry enough.
May 10th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Our world becomes a better place the day people like Dick Chenney leave it permanently.
What does the Republican Party stand for, aside from giving desperate disparaging earfuls to the American electorate through fear mongering and tragedian rhetoric?
Ronald Reagan said, “We should emphasize the things that unite us and make these the only ‘litmus test’ of what constitutes a Republican: our belief in restraining government spending, pro-growth policies, tax reduction, sound national defense, and maximum individual liberty. As to the other issues that draw on the deep springs of morality and emotion, let us decide that we can disagree among ourselves as Republicans and tolerate the disagreement.”
Can you imagine a Republican of today saying anything like that? No way!
May 10th, 2009 at 11:29 am
The problem is, that while Cheney, Limbaugh and a host of very visible and very loud ultra-conservatives catch the media attention, the true numbers of constituents is marginal, in the big picture. In their vigorous witch hunt to “purge” the GOP of moderates, they cut their own throat. If they are happy with being “right” and holding 25% popularity, so be it, if they want to cut their own throats instead of being reasonable enough to tolerate ANY diversity and compromise in their philosophical zeal, then they have only themselves to blame.
May 10th, 2009 at 11:34 am
That’s a good point, tdub. Let’s assume the social conservatives are 60-70% of the Republican party. That means they are (give or take) 25-30% of the national population. They have enough clout to control the party, but not nearly enough to take control nationally. Meanwhile moderate Republicans are even worse off. They are a minority in a minority party. Some like Specter have enough clout to join the Dems, but most won’t have many options.
May 10th, 2009 at 11:53 am
What is key in the final analysis is Powell has more social gravitas than Cheney. People will listen to Powell and think he is a decent man. People mostly ignore Cheney and they do not think so well of him for the way he carried himself when he was Vice President. I don’t think anybody ever thought he was a people person or a VEEP for all the people. He basically just ran the war cabinet, but as far as I can recall engaged in no pro-people social domestic or international causes of a lighter nature. Even Bush had his modest African Aid’s project or domestic No Child Left Behind, or mild attempts to legitamize religious charity work or even to champion small business owners. Were they just public relations ploys, or little personal salvation projects I don’t knowa but at least they were something other than simply managing the war beaurcracy…Powell of course was a war beurocrat too, but moved into statesmen issue with the State Dept and domestic issues regarding race and socioeconomics. He grew, he opened up. Cheney didn’t, and become secrative, combative, and instrumental in siezing even more power for the white house. I think while Americans want national security, they also want open government that takes positive people stands on social issues. They want an uncle gomez, not an uncle fester.
May 10th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I believe the ‘republican’ party is truly
suffering some inner turmoil from an ideological
point of view. There are republicans who are more
centralist(but conservative) by nature and seem
to understand that this country is changing
in demographics, and are ok with that. But they
still want less taxation, less government, are
religious(mostly), and who believe in right to
life ideas. Then there are those republicans
whose views are more to the right of center
…I mean really to right of
center, whose beliefs relate to those of the
center-right republicans but are more extreme:
they have a self-centered moral authority which
they see as placing them higher on the moral
authority scale than the rest of us unfortunate
humans(heathens). Also there is a belief there
are certain core values,which are closely aligned with the original old world
(or European) view of how one should conduct
oneself. And since this European model also
carried with it, acknowlegements as to the race
of most Europeans, there is an implied sense
that this moral authority puts white people
higher on the ‘civil’ scale that ‘darker’
people. But the main difference is in the
fervor, or extreme dedication to this model
to the extent of actually trying to enforce this
ideology on others (the Knights’ Templar
mindset,if you will).
This kind of fanaticsm is getting too close
to a Nationalist point of view. Any more
extreme and there will be tendancies which will
be getting way too close to fascism; and
Republicans of moderate standing will not stand
for that. Therefore I think this dichotomy
should work itself out and the party will split
into two groups: the progressive conservative
group, and the ultra-conservative group.
May 10th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Colin’s OK so long as he is a shill and stands up in front of the UN and lies. But if he develops a soul, then he is no longer one of them. They can keep him, so far as I care.
May 10th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I miss you, Dick Cheney!!! You are unequivocally the voice of reason and always have been. When you were at the “reigns” I truly felt safe as an American. You are the classiest vice president I have ever know in my lifetime. When you open your mouth, I know that you will not be inserting your foot into it, like the present vp. I hope, with all my being, that you never stop voicing your sound, insightful, opinion. I find it refreshing to hear your commentary!!!!
Thanks for your service, you have helped keep us safe since 911 and I for one could not be more grateful!!!!!!!
May 10th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
The Republican party has become so theologically entrenched that it risks becoming the White Christian Party.
If it can’t hold it’s nose and move to the center it will be a marginalized right wing party with little support.
Rush Limbagh has a loyal following but there are not enough of them to win elections.
You can be pure or you can win elections…but you can’t be both.
So for now it appears that the right wing conservatives have won.
Moderate conservatives (or RINO’s as they are disparagingly called) should move to the Democratic party where having different views is not such a big issue
May 10th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
actually i think the headline the other day was more correct
“obama bets everything on red”
it is coming up on six months, and if you OBJECTIVELY look at the economy, you would have to say things are worse off today than under bush. of course SUBJECTIVELY the dems do not think so, but that is because the economy has not touched most of them yet.
we are getting close to 10% unemployment and are at $2.00+ gas. detroit is more like 20%+ unemployment.
we are heading towards stagflation
at some point the press will not be able to hide it anymore, and obama’s ratings will go through the floor.
at $4.00 gas and 10%+ unemployment obama will probably lose in 2012 even with a billion in campaign funds.
May 10th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
lisab:
Yes. It’s true. Unemployment is worse now than when Bush was at the helm. A lot of things are worse…and will probably get even worse.
But that is due to the massive problems that he inherited from the Bush administration. Not to conditions he created himself
Fortunately for Bush he was able to turn the over the wheel to someone else AFTER the bus had smashed through the guardrail and was careening off the cliff.
May 10th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Dick Cheney is the man who rubber stamped the torture project that sent a young girl, Lyndie England, to jail for carrying out his directives. There is another young man still serving time to date. Many military careers ended due to Abu Gharaihb torture sessions ordered by Dick Cheney. During that time, Cheney was mute in his den.
He has now come out of his lair swinging after destroying so many lives.
May 10th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
The only headline Cheney should be making these days is for showing up in court in Spain. Cheney = BAD Republican, Anti-Patriot. Powell = GOOD Republican. Great-Patriot.
May 11th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Heh heh…it’s always good for a laugh to watch the shrill hysterics on the left when Cheney is mentioned.
It’s also just as hilarious when the left decides to offer advice to the right on what the problems are.
I’m sure the left is quite sincere in their desire to help the evil repubs win elections.
Riiiiiiight…………..
May 11th, 2009 at 5:17 am
Bush and his cronies have no doubt hurt the Republican party. However, after Obama spends his trillans and we are still hurting, people will be ready for republican principles. The premise of the USA is government by the people — not government and waste by power seeking buracrats who think they can solve everyones problems. JUST SAY NO TO BIG GOVERNMENT!
May 11th, 2009 at 5:17 am
Man, I can only hope that the Republican party splits. This country desperately needs a viable third party.
Powell is right, social conservatism is withering away in front of our eyes. National opinion polls on things like gay marriage, marijuana legalization, and religious importance make this clear. What I think is notable is that these polls are also showing strong support for state’s rights, protection of 2nd amendment rights, low taxes, and other traditionally “conservative” ideals.
Libertarianism is on the rise, and it’s a wonderful thing.
May 11th, 2009 at 5:26 am
Compare Powell’s military record to Cheney’s.
Oh… right…
How about comparing Powell’s military record to Rush Limbaugh’s.
Oh… right…
Apples and oranges. Powell has had his ups and downs and was used by the Cheney administration to mislead the UN and the American people but he has the ability to be reflective and change his position and see the light – not like the extremists in the far right, project for a new American century, military industrial complex, blood thirsty crowd.
May 11th, 2009 at 8:25 am
[...] – Rightpundits Ignatius Reilly a 33-year-old attorney and contributor wrote a piece covering the resent spat [...]
May 11th, 2009 at 10:17 am
A split might be liberating for both camps in the long run. The libertarians didn’t really like being in the same camp as social conservatives, and the social conservatives never really liked folks like McCain, etc. A split would let them just go off and follow their own agendas.
Problem is, in the short run, both camps will get absolutely slaughtered on a national level. They don’t have the numbers to win any election without each other (except for perhaps social conservatives in the Bible-belt). Things may change, but for now a split would mean huge Democratic majorities.
May 11th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Yeah that’s true Ignatius, and certainly must be an important consideration for the people trying to shape this thing as it moves forward. Of course, I wouldn’t exactly be surprised to see huge democratic majorities in the near term if the GOP stays on its current path and doesn’t split, so I’m not sure that it makes all that much of a difference.
I would love to see a legitimate libertarian-type political party, so I am all for potential splits like this. Of course, I have no vested interest in near-term GOP performance; those who are loyal to the party itself are facing some tough decision right now.
May 11th, 2009 at 11:34 am
“who are strong social conservatives who appeal to the Christian base for their views on issues like abortion, immigration and gay marriage.”
Gay marriage aside, I thought most Republicans were pretty much on the same page with the other two. I know there are a few pro-choice Repubs, but I think most of the RINO crew is pro-life, correct? As for immigration, didn’t even McCain say “secure the border first, I get it”? What’s the conflict?
Also, Cheney… didn’t he just say it’s time for the older set, himself included, to get of the stage? Well??? Then again, he only seems to damage the GOP the longer he stays on, so take your time
May 11th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Lisa, your anti-intellectualism is stunning. If you “OBJECTIVELY” look at the situation now, things are far better now than before Obama came to power. I’m not necessarily crediting him for all or any of that, it’s just the way it is.
First of all, the stock market was in free fall. Now, not only has it stopped falling, it is up since Obama came into office.
Second, employment numbers had already begun free falling before Obama came into office. They finally just got “less bad”. If you know anything about economics and recessions, then you know jobs are the last thing to turn around. We’re probably a good six months away before we start seeing a net gain in jobs. But again, at least the trend has started getting “less bad” unlike the free fall from when Obama came into office.
$2.00+ gas… you are moaning about $2.00 gas??? Were you paying attention last summer when it was over $4.00?? You didn’t think oil was going to stay at $40/barrel did you?? This is probably the most insincere of your arguments. To completely forget when gas was twice as expensive, and blame the new guy for it being a little more expensive. SHEESH!
“at some point the press will not be able to hide it anymore, and obama’s ratings will go through the floor.”
Well Lisa, America doesn’t agree with you. Big rise in “State of the Nation” ( http://www.gallup.com/poll/111763/Gallup-Daily-State-Nation.aspx) and “Economic Outlook” ( http://www.gallup.com/poll/110824/Gallup-Daily-US-Economic-Outlook.aspx ) since Obama took office. Neither perception nor the facts are on your side.
But again, I’m not necessarily crediting Obama with these things. It’s just plain obvious that this recession was going to end at some point. Conservatives that are banking on otherwise are just foolish.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Rob L, John McCain was pro-choice up until recently (when he realized he’d lose the conservative base if he didn’t switch). Some other notable pro-choice Republicans: Tom Ridge, Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, Arnold Schwarzenneger, and Meg Whitman.
McCain’s immigration policy also switched when he realized that the conservative base would leave him during the election. He was not one of the close-the-border conservatives until recently. Most of the above were the same way. In fact, Giulliani (and many Repubs from large urban centers) favored amnesty for illegals and a much more open immigration policy than Bush ended up advocating.
There is a big conflict. If the RINO-split happens, you will see just how deep the conflict was.
McCain did not believe in the social conservative agenda until he got nominated for President. That was why the social conservatives didn’t like him. They thought he was an opportunist who didn’t really support the conservative cause.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Just one more thing: I don’t think there’s any philosophical reason for someone who believes in low-taxes and small government to also believe abortion should be illegal. The only reason these two ideas are linked is the existence of the Republican party, which built a coalition around those two ideas. If that party should every break-up, I think we’ll see a lot of people question why they believe in what they believe in. And we’ll see a lot of politicians express some “non-party” ideas.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I don’t think there’s any philosophical reason for someone who believes in low-taxes and small government to also believe abortion should be illegal.
I think this is a wonderfully true statement. Also, for “abortion”, we could substitute drug use, gay marriage, legal (and accessible) immigration, and a host of other things the old guard GOP has such a problem with.
Everyone who calls himself (or herself) “conservative” needs to stick to the constitutionalist, small-government approach, or should abandon that descriptor (in my opinion, anyway). Control of private, consensual social behavior approaches fascism in the same way that excessive taxation and state spending approaches socialism.