Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

Bark louder, little dog.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Second rate reporter says what?

You cannot shame the shameless.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Take your GOP plan out of the witness protection program.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

You are here: Home / Colin Powell Calls Out GOP Racism; Imminent Wingnut Hysteria Expected

Colin Powell Calls Out GOP Racism; Imminent Wingnut Hysteria Expected

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Colin Powell appeared on Meet the Press this morning and, as politely as he could, informed the GOP that they have a racism problem.

He pointed to several examples that most thinking people would agree indicates that the GOP has a racism problem and that segments of the party are intolerant of minorities. (Hi, Birtherism.)

Unfortunately, Colin Powell endorsed Obama twice, is black, and called out racism, which means, necessarily, that Colin Powell is incontrovertibly racist.

(Or at least, that’s what you can expecting to read and hear over the next week during Wingnut ‘Splosion 2013.)

Invest in popcorn futures. This one’s gonna be fun.

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Reader Interactions

89Comments

  1. 1.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    and colin powell did it with his usual impeccable timing, that is to say years late

  3. 3.

    jayboat

    Yeah, but at least he’s out there and talking now. I watched it and thought he did a good job of keeping ol dave on topic.

    I’ll take it. Powell does still have rather broad appeal, amirite? More gopers need to step up and call out the bs, but I ain’t holding my breath.

  4. 4.

    cmorenc

    OTOH, the GOOPer response to Powell’s MTP pronouncements may be more smugly muted than you’re expecting…to the extent anyone responds, it may likely be along the lines of…”we have Tim Scott, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Nikki Haley, all true conservatives…we don’t need RINO like Colin Powell purportedly speaking on our behalf.”

  5. 5.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    This is why the birthers totally piss me off (especially the Taitz bitch) and why I have spent the last four or so years debunking their arses along with my fellow debunkers at The Fogbow. It is inherently racist to ask the first black POTUS for “his papers please” and anyone who doesn’t think that the entire birther movement isn’t based on racism is fucking delusional. Taitz’s latest code word is that POTUS is “squatting” in the Whitehouse without the proper “papers” if there is any other way to interpret that other than it being a deep and abiding hatred of a man due to his color I would be happy to hear it.

  6. 6.

    General Stuck

    Colin Powell Calls Out GOP Racism

    Well, golly gee whiz, about time. Powell should write a book. Call it Cracker Barrel America and blow fucking Bobo out of the wingnut water.

  7. 7.

    Hill Dweller

    Also, too, the Twitter machine is telling me Booker did a good job smacking down the trumped up “women problem” in the Obama admin.

  8. 8.

    Laertes

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Nobody’s going to give a shit about what you have to say about racism when you open by referring to a woman whose politics you don’t like as a “bitch.”

  12. 12.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Taitz’s latest code word is that POTUS is “squatting” in the Whitehouse without the proper “papers” if there is any other way to interpret that other than it being a deep and abiding hatred of a man due to his color I would be happy to hear it.

    Nope. No can do! It’s pretty obvious what this moron who should be disbarred is upset about. The guy is NEAR!

  16. 16.

    Anoniminous

    Does anybody care what Colin Powell says?

    He was a useful fool tool for the Bush administration who dropped him as soon as he wandered off their talking points.

  17. 17.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Litlebritdifrnt: But Taitz is such an obvious loon it gives Republicans an out. Donald Trump embraced Birtherism because it was the only way for him to get attention once he had to stop pretending to be about to announce his candidacy, and only then did Willard asked him to robo-call what I imagine were a very carefully selected list of white people.

    And Tom Brokaw, who was a local anchor in Atlanta in the late 60, and thinks we’d have budget deals if only Obama had invited Mitch McConnell to the ‘living quarters’ for cribbage and lemonade and snickerdoodles, declared there was no dog whistling, much less hog calling, in the Willard campaign. Also, too, welfare ad, no apologies, foreign, John Sununu, learn to be American.

  18. 18.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @efgoldman: @Raven:

    Yes indeed, and as such I am well qualified to proclaim a fellow member of my gender a bitch. In fact when Taitz began to harass the family of a still born infant to further her vicious agenda I was tempted to call her something worse, but my British properness took over and I kept my mouth shut.

    (I am sure Laertes will now choose to tell me to keep my British nose out of US affairs :))

  20. 20.

    Schlemizel

    Powell has been irrelevant to the GOP for years. For years he was the one dark face that somehow showed the GOP was no racist. His reward was a cabinet position. He was not one of them.

    They were OK with him as long as he did his job but they would never have had him over for dinner and certainly wouldn’t introduce him to their daughters.

  22. 22.

    Laertes

    It’s really simple. “Bitch” is one of those epithets that gets much of its’ throwing weight from contempt for the subject’s identity.

    You want to use it? Go ahead. It belongs to you, not to me. But if you expect anyone to give a shit about your opinions about racism, that’s not a word you’re going to want to open with. People might get the idea that you haven’t got any deep insights into power and privilege.

  24. 24.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Laertes: You are not “anyone”, much less “everyone”. If you want to speak for yourself, do so, but don’t claim to be the arbiter of acceptable speech if you want anyone (see what I did there?) to give a shit about your opinions.

    IOW: Get the fuck over yourself, self-appointed thread cop. It’s really simple.

  26. 26.

    Chris

    @Schlemizel:

    Powell has been irrelevant to the GOP for years.

    This.

    Like Barry Goldwater standing up against the religious right in the 1980s, he can say whatever he wants because he’s a relic of the past rather than anyone who matters.

  29. 29.

    aarrgghh

    they may have lost the white house and the senate but as long as the gop holds the house they won’t even begin to seriously contemplate serious change. once they lose that they’ll have the civil war they’ve been itching for — amongst themselves.

  30. 30.

    Jamey

    @Litlebritdifrnt: First time I’ve encountered a British person use “pissed” to describe angry, rather than drunk.

    I demand to see your long-form birf certificate ;)

  32. 32.

    WaterGirl

    Okay, I have to laugh again. There were no more comments on this thread, so I went to pick up where I left off in another open balloon juice tab. First comment I read:

    rikyrah Says:

    I hate to be mean about this, but these stupid ass fucks in these rural areas are gonna have to learn it the hard way.

    It’s a perfectly fine comment, but I had to laugh at reading this right after someone being upset about “bitch”.

  33. 33.

    MattF

    Colin Powell was, in fact, the very model of a modern major general– but that was, oh, twenty years ago. I don’t think he now has any reputation to speak of, outside the MTP studio. To me, his comments only suggest that he’s never listened to Rush Limbaugh– or if he ever has, he somehow managed not to make the obvious observation.

  34. 34.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @Laertes:

    I agree, she should have said that Taintz is a “racist, dumb fucking bitch”.

    Then I would take what she said seriously. :)

  35. 35.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @efgoldman:

    Permanent resident, not citizen (I want to have a back up plan)

    @PurpleGirl:

    She was trying to prove that the Birth Certificate number for Obama was somehow a fraud and asked her flying monkeys to harass a family who had a still born child at the same time Obama was born to release the birth certificate, she also went to visit the family to harass them while she was there attempting to serve the DOH with a subpoena.

    @Jamey:

    Oh “pissed off” is used a lot and means angry. “Pissed” of course in the UK means drunk whereas here it means angry.

  36. 36.

    RossInDetroit, Rational Subjectivist

    So does Powell really care about helping the GOP reform or is he just fed up and fcking with them?

    I’m guessing #2.

  38. 38.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @RossInDetroit, Rational Subjectivist:

    I think you’re right. I think Powell has pretty much come to the conclusion that the GOP is a lost cause…the Dixicrats have thoroughly subverted the “Party of Lincoln” and now it’s the “Party of Jefferson Davis.”

  39. 39.

    Violet

    Hoda and Kathie Lee call David Gregory the biggest diva when asked to choose between Matt, Al and Willie. Doesn’t surprise me. Link.

    Edit: Relevant bit starts around 1:26 into the video.

  41. 41.

    Culture of Truth

    The Village loves Colin Powell. But by now he’s only saying what everyone knows. Heck, Haley Barbour all but agreed with him.

    However, he also dissented on torture and David Gregory had a little hissy fit, so the village doesn’t follow him on everything.

  44. 44.

    Culture of Truth

    No, he’s a Democrat now. He disagrees with the GOP on racism, women’s issues, gay rights, torture, Iran, health care and taxes.

  45. 45.

    scav

    @Raven: Ok, now this is getting good. anxiously waits for Littlebritdifrnt.

    ETA. what about that’s a pisser? Pissing when used for rain is generally obvious, but are there subtlties?

  47. 47.

    Mike E

    @Anoniminous:

    Does anybody care what Colin Powell says?

    Seriously. He’s a piece of shit holding a vial. Vile. The supposed “grown up” in that administration.

    He couldn’t do enough good to make up for what he said at the UN. That asshole.

  48. 48.

    RossInDetroit, Rational Subjectivist

    @efgoldman:

    I think he’s trying to polish his history as a Very Serious and Important Person in the 21st century, instead of a dupe and a stooge for one of the worst Presidents and worst decisions in history.

    Seems possible. Though if he thinks he can shake off the stank of “ZOMG!! WMDS!” he’s more ambitious and optimistic than I gave him credit for.

  50. 50.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @scav:

    Pissed = very very very drunk (falling down so)

    Pissed off = angry, really really really angry

    Piss off = second only to Fuck Off in the level of go away I really have no use for you

    Pissy mood = I am really not in a good mood and anything you say to me would probably just piss me off anyway.

    Piss Poor = a very low grade effort at doing anything as in “proper planning and preparation prevents piss poor performance”

    I LOVE the English language

  53. 53.

    West of the Rockies (formerly Frank W.)

    Oh, how quickly Colin went from being the symbol of GOP honor, integrity, and courage to being another damn RINO. It is to laugh…. The further winnowing of the party continues as they plod ever-onward to becoming a rump party (actually, a party of asses).

  58. 58.

    aimai

    Surely “Colin Powell Comments on X” has to be the last word in shark jumping–kind of like a proverbial form of “too little/too late.”

    aimai

  60. 60.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Raven: Then go to Point Judith or Galilee. No party boats I’m aware of out of Providence, and the upper Bay isn’t very scenic.

  62. 62.

    Chris

    @Culture of Truth:

    The Village loves Colin Powell.

    I can see why. Anyone ever read his biography? The end of it has a section where he’s talking about his politics and his problems with the two political parties.

    It’s a masterpiece of false equivalence – he admits that the class and racial undertones of Republicans bother him, but adds “I am also disturbed by patronizing liberals who claim to know what is best for society but devote little thought to who will pay the bills.” Actually, Colin, we’ve devoted PLENTY of thought to who will pay the bills – namely, reinstating the progressive taxation we had until the 1980s. The problem isn’t that we don’t know what to do, it’s that the 1%ers and their paid lackeys have made that impossible even when a majority of the public agrees with us.

    And a masterpiece of the “I’m above it all, even though I have no solutions” crap the Villagers are so fond of. He talks about the deficit vs the welfare state, how we’re going to have to either cut the welfare state or raise taxes, and laments the fact that politicians don’t talk straight to the people about that – but he never actually stakes out a position, which seems more than a little odd given that each of these things would have major consequences, but not for the same people. It’s the usual “uh, yeah, there’s a problem, and, uh, someone should really do something about it!”

    The man would make a decent empty centrist talking head.

  65. 65.

    ruemara

    @Raven: What he said, Laertes.

    Well, I know I’m supposed to admire Powell, seeing as we attended the same Uni and he is of Jamaican stock, but, whatever. At least he’s not going down as an old fool. Pity he discovered his stones a few years late.

  66. 66.

    Raven

    @ruemara:

    Colin Powell, then a 31-year-old Army major, was charged with investigating the letter, which did not specifically reference Mỹ Lai (Glen had limited knowledge of the events there). In his report, Powell wrote, “In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal Division[34] soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent.” Powell’s handling of the assignment was later characterized by some observers as “whitewashing” the atrocities of Mỹ Lai.

  68. 68.

    handsmile

    I don’t Twitter, so this opinion may simply be making my seat cushions deaf, but I think cmorenc above (#4) has the shrewd call on this.

    At this point, Colin Powell is little more than a Village eminence grise, a Tom Brokaw or Alan Greenspan with medals. With what political party does he now have standing? With whom does he have political clout? Beyond his professed party affiliation, what GOP leader now allies himself with Powell? Beyond his endorsements of President Obama, what other Democratic policy initiative does he promote or does he play a prominent public role? While DINOs flourish in and out of politics, RINOs seem to inhabit a lonely world without influence or import (other than in Village salons).

    I’d be interested if any of the military veterans who post here would address Powell’s reputation within the veterans or active-duty communities.

    Finally, no mater how many studio bobbleheads eagerly seek to burnish his gravitas, Colin Powell’s historical legacy will be indelibly stained and thus somewhat discredited by his credulous service on behalf of the Bush/Cheney regime until 2004.

  69. 69.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Raven: Narragansett is the name of the town. Point Judith is the name of the harbor in the southern part of that town, where most of the commercial fishermen and charter operators are based.

    If you’re in that area, try to find time to have dinner at the Matunuck Oyster House. If the weather’s nice, sitting on their outside deck over the water watching the sun go down is truly one of life’s great pleasures

    ETA: sorry, Oyster Bar, not House

  73. 73.

    Mike in NC

    @Raven: If you’re flying into Providence, T. F. Green Airport is roughly half an hour’s drive south of the city. About 45 minutes to Newport, where I lived for three years. Both have a lot of amazing restaurants, though it’s been about 20 years since I lived there, so I can’t make any recent recommendations.

  76. 76.

    Ted & Hellen

    @salvage:

    Colin Powell is a lying scumbag, who cares what he says about anything?

    THIS.

    This is the shit head who sat in front of the world at the U.N. and lied thru his teeth about WMD in Iraq. Fuck him and anything he thinks, says, or does.

  78. 78.

    Johannes

    I’ve disliked Colin Powell since, as Chair of the Joint Chiefs, he sabotaged Clinton’s efforts to allow gays to serve in the military, and then justified his hewing to W’s line as the loyalty a good soldier owes the C-in-C. Yeah, whatever, dude.
    ETA: The dislike goes back to the former and only intensified with the latter.

  83. 83.

    sylvan

    Also in Colin Powell’s defense, people tend to forget that the continuity of America’s armed forces largely depends on weeding out anything that resembles long-term thoughtfulness.

  85. 85.

    Gin & Tonic

    @efgoldman: Been here 25 years, and I find myself doing that more often than I’d like. But Almac’s has only been out of business for 17 years, so I guess that’s still fair game.

  86. 86.

    Brachiator

    @Schlemizel:

    Powell has been irrelevant to the GOP for years.

    But that’s exactly the problem, isn’t it?

    The GOP, despite its obstructionism and the manic energy of the Tea Party, is becoming irrelevant to America. And while this may be a welcome outcome, you always have to be wary of what a wounded beast might do.

    For years he was the one dark face that somehow showed the GOP was no racist. His reward was a cabinet position. He was not one of them.

    Let’s see. Wasn’t he chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Secretary of State? It’s not like the GOP gave him a bowl of porridge and stuck him in the corner. And it’s funny. Their disrespect and making sure that he was not one of them only helped to undermine our relationship with our foreign allies, most of whom clearly did not view Powell as an irrelevant nobody.

    But that’s been the GOP way. They burn the very bridges that they are standing on. And they don’t care whether they bring down the entire country while they play their spiteful little games.

  87. 87.

    Jerry

    >Litlebritdifrnt: You seem to be conveniently omitting a pertinent point: the Constitution REQUIRES that a presidential candidate actually be born in the United States. And since there was some question about it, it was bound to come up AND not go away when it appears they’re avoiding answering it!!! You trying to tell us that the Dems would NOT have raised a HUGE COMPLAINT if Obama had been a Republican? Get real Dude!

    As for Powell, he’s a Dem. “plant” in the Rep. party. He voted for his old pal Obama BECAUSE he’s black NOT because his ideas were going to save America. Colon had a great career in the Army, yet he’ll now stand idlly by and let B.O. destroy the military with HUGE budget cuts. My Hero? NOT!!!

  88. 88.

    Jerry

    @Brachiator: Yeah right! Like Obama hasn’t been “playing little games” ever since he took office. He had the super majority in congress for two years; the Republicans couldn’t stop anything he tried, so if he didn’t get it done, it was because his own party disagreed with him. You SHOULD recall that NONE of Obama’s budget proposals got a SINGLE VOTE, . . . from EITHER PARTY. Obama is a LOSER who doesn’t have a clue as to how to improve our economy. And those of us disagreeing with old B.O. are not necessarily racist, as Powell claims. If I have a different opinion than you, that does not mean I “hate” you or wish you ill in any way. Usually, I pity you for your ignorance. But you’re certainly not alone.

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