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Republicans Need Colin Powell's "No-Holds-Barred" Debate

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I'll tell you who's really out of touch--it's Trash Limbaugh and his daily blabbering puke.

zipped of IN 11:24AM May 29, 2009

Peel off the people who didn't believe in McCain's grasp of economics. Peel off the ones who were shocked at the prospect of Palin being put in charge of anything bigger than Wasilla, AK. Peel off the people who are tired of the bully bluster of Limbaugh. Peel off the people who saw Mitt Romney as more like a "corporate restructuring job eliminator" than a "job creator". Peel off the people who don't like Cheney trying to pretend he's still in office. Peel off the church people who hope to live individually as Jesus advised, rather than throng into the incorporated megachurches to HOPE for end times disasters.
Then you'll have a properly sized Republican Party.

Muser of NM 2:02PM May 27, 2009

Powell has allways been a Dem. claiming to be a Rep. Listen to him close he gives no ideas for the Rep party. He is not asked by the liberal news who he thinks is a good Rep or who he would support or conservitive ideas he supports and he would not bring these up alone. So he would not think about being interviewed by a hard conservitive. Hell you can't get much more moderate than McCain a fellow military warrior ashue in for Powellm to vote for. He supported for Obama. Powell wanted to clime higher after Chairman of JC so he called himself a Rep and was sac of state having his own ajenda and was dismissed after 1 term. No he wants to be known as the guy who reformed the Rep party. No conservitive would follow him - NONE. Pres Reagen policies did more good for America than any other president in the 20th centery and we prospered for 25 years who in their right mind wants to give up freedom and prosperity for loss of liberty and government control which in 4 mmonths Powells pick has put America further than the 43 previous presidents together put America.

O Stroud of IL 4:18AM May 27, 2009

I respect Colin Powell and I understand his mis-understanding of Democracy. The Military is by nature non-democratic! You do not vote before you storm a bunker as it was ordered by some General miles away. The military would not function under such a system.
The "no holds barred" debate circles around whether Republicans will go back to the roots that made them the "correct" party to rule this land. Big Government, HUGE DEBT and government intervention in every aspect of our lives IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
Obama's promised "change" has only brought us the same "ole school" Democratic Religion of Spend and Tax. This time it has been spending on an EXPONENTIAL SCALE that the US will be hard pressed to ever recover from.
Obama's meddling in our economy has only made things worse and will make things MUCH WORSE after the HUGE US DEBT takes hold.
He keeps insisting that this is all Bush's fault but he has OUTSPENT Bush on a annual scale 4 to 1 on useless BS.
How long has he been in office? Seems longer.

Chris Petty of GA 11:32PM May 26, 2009

Mr. Roff
So, in "campaign school" you "were taught that winning was about addition and multiplication, and not about subtraction and division"?
Yeah, right.
Division has always been your modus operandi. On anyone's list of the six most divisive American political characters of the last thirty years, Newt Gingrich's name would appear on each and every list. And who was the political director of Mr. Gingrich's GOPAC? Peter Roff.
What was the single most divisive political act of the last thirty years? The impeachment of President Bill Clinton. According to the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research, who took it upon himself to make sure that censure of the President was taken off of the table so that we would take this most divisive path? Peter Roff.
How convenient that you've forgotten your past now that your own tactics of divisiveness (as carried out most recently by the Bush Administration) have helped nearly destroy the Republican Party.
I can not figure out how you guys can look in the mirror in the morning long enough to shave.

jimatmadison of WI 10:17PM May 26, 2009

I can't imagine why General Powell has chosen to remain in the Republican Party when it has disrespected him and belittled his advice for years. Here is a man who is a powerhouse of wisdom, experience and integrity, one of the few leaders in the country whom all people of good will (and good judgement) revere. To call him a milktoast is pretty indicative of the insanity of the extreme right wing of the GOP.
I wish he would join the Democratic Party and be our Conservative Elder Statesman. In any case, even if he ran as an Independent, I'll bet he could beat the pants off any candidate the Reactionary Republicans could offer. When General Powell has something to say, most of us know it is worth listening to, even if we are are staunch Democrats. If there were more of his kind around, I would be glad to vote Republican.

Phoenician Lady of AZ 6:14PM May 26, 2009

Let me first say that I am a moderate Democarat and Powell is actually one of the few Republicans that I agree with. The Democratic party has been successfull these last 2 elections because they understand that in order to stay relevant, you have to be willing to evolve. This does not mean that you have to give up your core prinicipals. However, at the same time, the Republicans need to realize that America is changing. We are becoming a more diverse country every day, and not only in regards to race. There is more diversity in religion, lifestyle and in thought. While the population of America is becoming increasingly diverse and open, the Republican party is becomming more rigid and close-minded. This is a losing equation for them. Powell was right, that the Republican party needs to have an open and honest conversation, and not alienate all those who don't fit perfectly into their box of far right ideology. If they don't do this, we will end up remembering them in the same way that we remember the Whig party (extinct).

Pat of CA 6:12PM May 26, 2009

All this hooha about Republicans. By 2020 we will speak of those traitors in the same breath as "dodos" and "dinosaurs."

HARDY CAMPBELL of TX 4:01PM May 26, 2009

"What the party really needs is to listen to what the American People want not what self-important blow hards like Powell THINK we want." Really? And just what is it that the American People want? Is Obama really what the American people want?
Apparently so….for now, at least. If the Republican Party can't see the writing on the wall, that being it’s in danger of being marginalized, then it deserves to be minimized and shoved into the corner like an old broom. I'm sure there's been some research done on what Republicans need to do to be more relevant, but I don't see enough discussion among party members about where the road is going to take this party. Clearly the road the party is on now wasn't right for the election and isn't right now.
Everyone has an opinion about why McCain's message failed. In the end, the obvious answer is: America didn't want what Republicans were selling. So what needs to change?
So, how about the Republican Party dispense with the bashing, pull their collective heads out of their fourth point of contact and talk to each other to find out where the Party members actually sit on the relevant issues. I'd love to see who's actually closer to the pulse of the party because I believe the GOP is scared that Colin Powell is actually right. And what’s scarier? They don’t have any answers…….

KD of VA 1:20PM May 26, 2009

Colin Powell is perhaps one of the biggest milk toast politicians in the country. I have great respect for his service to the country but that is where it stops.
If I had his address I would send him a change of party paperwork. Watching him on the News this weekend just emphasized just how out of touch he has become. Or perhaps it has alweays been that way and now it is just showing.
As far as the recent Presidential campaign you could not have gotten a much better hand made candidate for Powell than John McCain. He is as moderate as they come in the party and yet he was not able to win this election. Much of that has to to do with the completely and utterly worthless media. However,I digress.
Mr. Powell you are not a Republican, nor have you ever been in the true sense of the word. It is indeed misguided people such as yourself that have created the problems within the party. The sooner we get you out the better off the Party will be. While your at it take Olympia Snow with you.
What the party really needs is to listen to what the American People want not what self-important blow hards like Powell THINK we want. It is indeed very apparent like all politicians Mr. Powell is out of touch and clueless

G Johnson of CA 12:44PM May 26, 2009