Senate seats are good to collect–even if the guy sitting it is kind of a jerk. If the party gets to 51 seats it controls committees and the flow of legislation. I’m not a fan of Specter but I’d rather the GOP focused on defending open seats and trying to knock off a couple of vulnerable Dems in 2010.

dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 10:00 PM

Great post! Some here post from the hert, you are posting from your head; unless we are in the majority we won’t be able to remove much of this lame legislation that will already be on the books.

Rush simutaniously stuck it to the ‘moderates’ in the GOP as well as to the liberal media. When he ‘resigned’ [LMAO!] he pretty much told the media that they could now do some reporting ATTACK! on GOP Powell [is there any such animal?], and gave the republican party beltway insiders exactly what they wanted. A RINO! moderate leader.

Enjoying the change yet people?

Bride, know one really cares, so why should you?

Back on topic. Here we have a President who is constrained by absolutely no visible laws or ethics, who is doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants and the Congress and Senate are happy to hand him everything he asks for in spades with extra bonuses for good measure. He has Limbaugh wasting time with this kind of BS and the MSM saying whatever the hell he wants them to say. People. We are completely and totally screwed here. The lunatics are running the asylum right into ths ground and while this is all very entertaining has anyone figured out how to put this genie back into the box?

This is insane.

Senate seats are good to collect–even if the guy sitting it is kind of a jerk. If the party gets to 51 seats it controls committees and the flow of legislation. I’m not a fan of Specter but I’d rather the GOP focused on defending open seats and trying to knock off a couple of vulnerable Dems in 2010.

dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 10:00 PM

Well, I won’t quibble with that. If Ridge were to run in PA, he’d be far preferable to Specter. I’m not an ideological purist, though I do have standards.

The point is, though, are more Arlen Specters a net gain?

ddrintn on May 20, 2009 at 9:47 PM

Senate seats are good to collect–even if the guy sitting it is kind of a jerk. If the party gets to 51 seats it controls committees and the flow of legislation. I’m not a fan of Specter but I’d rather the GOP focused on defending open seats and trying to knock off a couple of vulnerable Dems in 2010.

He was likely pissed off at Bush & Cheney–mostly Cheney–and saw Obama as a transformative figure for African Americans. If I were black and lived during Jim Crow I’d probably find it difficult to not vote for Obama, especially if I thought he was centrist enough. In fact plenty of white people did just that.

dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 9:41 PM

Which is pretty much what Limbaugh said, and got roasted for it. But the “Obama as centrist” garbage was self-delusion.

Yeah, there are elections that can be won by the GOP in the North East. Those will tend to be moderates. I agree that the name calling and finger pointing should be put aside.

dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 9:43 PM

The point is, though, are more Arlen Specters a net gain?

The GOP can have a moderate wing as long as it shuts the f*ck up about those on the right “destroying the party”. It seems the moderates have their own desire for purges.

ddrintn on May 20, 2009 at 9:40 PM

Yeah, there are elections that can be won by the GOP in the North East. Those will tend to be moderates. I agree that the name calling and finger pointing should be put aside.

The point is, according to Powell, not following HIS reasoning (which leads to adulation for Obama) is intolerant. That’s why he bolted. In which case, good riddance.

ddrintn on May 20, 2009 at 9:33 PM

He was likely pissed off at Bush & Cheney–mostly Cheney–and saw Obama as a transformative figure for African Americans. If I were black and lived during Jim Crow I’d probably find it difficult to not vote for Obama, especially if I thought he was centrist enough. In fact plenty of white people did just that.

Cheney’s comment. A lot of comments here are along the lines of “kick him out”.

The GOP can have a moderate wing of the party or the Dems can own the middle. Right now it is more of the latter.

dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 9:36 PM

Cheney’s comment was that Powell by supporting Obama had already left the party on his own. Sounds reasonable to me.

The GOP can have a moderate wing as long as it shuts the f*ck up about those on the right “destroying the party”. It seems the moderates have their own desire for purges.

How has he not been tolerated? I don’t think his membership card was revoked.

ddrintn on May 20, 2009 at 9:32 PM

Cheney’s comment. A lot of comments here are along the lines of “kick him out”.

The GOP can have a moderate wing of the party or the Dems can own the middle. Right now it is more of the latter.

There is a difference between tolerating Powell and having him drive the agenda.

dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 9:29 PM

How has he not been tolerated? I don’t think his membership card was revoked.

Someone in politics who has an ego? Say it aint so, Rush! Good thing Mr. Limbaugh isnt afflicted with ego problems.

Nothing wrong with ego when it’s backed up with a consistent, principled stand. Something Gern. Powell hasn’t really shown.

And for that matter, who are the Reagan-wing Republicans who are winning elections these days?

orange on May 20, 2009 at 6:34 PM

Not sure, but I can point out tons of squishies who’ve been squished.

orange on May 20, 2009 at 6:34 PM

Being able to pick up votes, moderate or otherwise, as the Dems overrerach means drawing a distinction with those overreaching Dems. Following Powell’s advice would result in Democrat Parties I and II. And Party I would have the desided advantage.

ddrintn on May 20, 2009 at 8:40 PM

There is a difference between tolerating Powell and having him drive the agenda.

The GOP won the 2004 election largely due to Colin Powell.

orange on May 20, 2009 at 6:34 PM

HUH?

He wasn’t the only Republican to vote for Obama. Being able to pick up those moderate votes as the Dems overstep is crucial. Powell’s support of Obama may have been racially influence but it wasn’t racist.

dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 7:58 PM

Being able to pick up votes, moderate or otherwise, as the Dems overrerach means drawing a distinction with those overreaching Dems. Following Powell’s advice would result in Democrat Parties I and II. And Party I would have the desided advantage.

If I recall my history correctly, it is called the Whig Party.

Vashta.Nerada on May 20, 2009 at 4:08 PM

Little more recent than that; my dad told me they were called “Rockefeller” Republicans. Notable luminaries of that failed “brand” of Republicanism include Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and, the brand’s name sake, Nelson Rockefeller.

The guys Dutch wrested control of the party from in 1980.

As has been pointed out, Powell supported, worked for and voted for the big-eared freak even though McCain fit the template he called for. How does that make him anything other than a racist and worthless POS?

SKYFOX on May 20, 2009 at 7:11 PM

He wasn’t the only Republican to vote for Obama. Being able to pick up those moderate votes as the Dems overstep is crucial. Powell’s support of Obama may have been racially influence but it wasn’t racist.

dedalus

As has been pointed out, Powell supported, worked for and voted for the big-eared freak even though McCain fit the template he called for. How does that make him anything other than a racist and worthless POS?