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Got Mulligan? Second thoughts on the 44th President of the United States

Two key differences between a tragedy and a comedy are how the story ends and what the audience knows beforehand.

General Powell, the stage is yours!

Source is http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...-agenda/print/.

Quote:

Powell airs doubts on Obama agenda

Jon Ward (Contact)

Colin Powell, one of President Obama's most prominent Republican supporters, expressed concern Friday that the president's ambitious blitz of costly initiatives may be enlarging the size of government and the federal debt too much.

"I'm concerned at the number of programs that are being presented, the bills associated with these programs and the additional government that will be needed to execute them," Mr. Powell said in an excerpt of an interview with CNN's John King, released by the network Friday morning.

Mr. Powell, a retired U.S. army general who rose to political prominence after a long and accomplished military career, said that health care reform and many of Mr. Obama's other initiatives are "important" to Americans.

But, he said, "one of the cautions that has to be given to the president -- and I've talked to some of his people about this -- is that you can't have so many things on the table that you can't absorb it all."

"And we can't pay for it all," said Mr. Powell, who was the first African-American to serve as secretary of state, under former President George W. Bush. He was also national security adviser to President Reagan, and was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1993.

Mr. Powell was considered a possible Republican presidential candidate as early as 1996, and in 2007 he donated the maximum amount allowed to Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who won the GOP primary. But less than a month before last fall's general election, Mr. Powell endorsed Mr. Obama over Mr. McCain.

Mr. Powell's comments represent the growing concern that began with hard-line fiscal conservatives but is now spreading to moderates about the rate of government spending and debt under President Obama, and the long-term impact on the country's fiscal sustainability and national security.

The national debt stands currently at $11.5 trillion and the deficit for the current fiscal year is projected to be close to $2 trillion.

Mr. Powell expressed alarm at "budgets that are running into the multi-trillions of dollars" and "a huge, huge national debt that, if we don't pay for in our lifetime, our kids and grandkids and great-grandchildren will have to pay for it."

"So, I think the president, as he moves forward with his initiatives, has to start really taking a very, very hard look at what the cost of all this is. And, how much additional bureaucracy [will] be needed to make all of this happen?" Mr. Powell said.

Mr. Powell said he has been in touch with Mr. Obama regularly, including recently.

"I don't insert myself. But, we stay in touch," he said.

Mr. King prompted Mr. Powell's comments by showing him video archive footage of Mr. Powell's comments at the 1996 Republican Convention in San Diego, where Mr. Powell talked about his opposition to big government.

"The federal government has become too large and too intrusive in our lives," Mr. Powell said then. "We can no longer afford solutions to our problems that result in more entitlements, higher taxes to pay for them, more bureaucracy to run them, and fewer results to show for it."

Mr. Powell said that now that he still believes what he said then, but that he would put it in different terms now.

"I don't like slogans anymore like 'limited government.' That's not the right answer. The right answer is, give me a government that works," he said. "Keep it as small as possible. Keep the tax burden on the American people as small as possible, but at the same time, have government that is solving the problems of the people."

The full interview will air on CNN's "State of the Union with John King" on Sunday, July 5.

Good post,I was concerned when Gen. Powell did give that last minute endorsement to BHO...... :confused: I have/had a respect for the man..... :rolleyes: I think it's great that he has come out and cautioned us that he's concerned about all these programs POTUS is trying to push thru........:eek:

Big Teddy :munchin

Colin Powell is what he is: R.I.N.O.

Quote:

Originally Posted by swpa19 (Post 272341)

Colin Powell is what he is: R.I.N.O.

R.I.N.O.? Don't think so.

We ran the guy he wanted to be the Republican pick and then he endorsed and voted for the other guy.

Makes him something - but it ain't a R.I.N.O.

More like a Democrat sailing under his true colors.

Quote:

"The federal government has become too large and too intrusive in our lives," Mr. Powell said then. "We can no longer afford solutions to our problems that result in more entitlements, higher taxes to pay for them, more bureaucracy to run them, and fewer results to show for it."

Are you kidding me, he says he still believes this? :confused: Was there EVER a doubt that the one was going to massively increase the size, scope, scale and cost of government? It's not like anything the one is doing is a great shock, he said he was going to do all this, and given his background and "experience" it's no surprise the way he’s doing things, or the fact that things aren't working out the way many of the one's followers had hoped.

While I respect Gen Powel's service, his judgment with regard to politics has become more than a little suspect IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Defender968 (Post 272367)

Defender968--

Well said. The fantasy that this president's programs would somehow pay for themselves is as sustainable as the belief that Iraqi oil production would quickly come on line and pay for the reconstruction of that country.

My take is that General Powell is more interested in policy than in politics. He wants to be a "wise man." (Although one could debate that sextet's wisdom but that's another topic for another can of doubleshot.) I also think he simply does not understand how seriously people take politics and that politics do matter. They matter for different reasons to different people at different times.

(This interpretation is offered in respectful disagreement to those that suggest that race was the primary reason for the defection. That General Powell did not anticipate that his motivation would be discussed in terms of race is another example of his terrible ear for politics. YMMV.)

MOO, he should never have endorsed the Democrat's candidate. At worst, he should have let his silence speak for him.* Then, he could have positioning himself as a resource, as a calming voice, in the dire times we now face.

This approach would have sustained and increased his credibility over time. "Old Man Powell has been consistently walking the talk he's consistently talked--maybe in addition to his valuable expertise, taking a look at his way of doing things wouldn't be so bad." Or, at worst, "Can we try something Powell's way so the guy will stop bitching and whining all the time?" Sometimes, the squeaky wheel gets oiled.

Instead of trying to change the dynamic from within the big tent, he tried to pull it down as he ambled over to the big circus. While he may return to the right side of the aisle, it is hard to see how he's going to rehabilitate himself within the party.

I'm a little bitter. A career of public service ruined by ill-considered decisions is an epitaph applicable to too many Republicans these days.

Ah, bitterness abated. I've just seen a member of my demographic who is actually shorter than I.
_____________________________
* It remains to be seen just how much effort Powell put into horse trading within the party since he left the Bush administration. Yet, even if things got terrifically ugly (as in personal), there were better roads for him to travel--a diplomatically written memoir followed by a speaking tour; an endowed chair at a college or university; and the board of directors at think tank (or all of the above) were but a few options.

I think he is trying to do some damage control now, so that in 2010 he can come back under the Republican's tent. He just happens to have the wind blowing him more towards the right while he is on his fence right now.

It will be interesting to watch this develop :munchin