With Powell, The Point's Already Made

According to an article on Yahoo News, Colin Powell has decided to fight Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh regarding the Republican Party. Powell believes that Republicans should change their principles to gain voters. "Americans do want to pay taxes for services," Powell said at a recent conference. "Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less." He also stated that he thinks Rush Limbaugh "diminishes" the Republican Party.

Colin Powell has invoked Limbaugh's name repeatedly in recent months, aping what Democrat strategists have tried to do: paint Limbaugh as the de facto head of the Republican Party. Although one could at one point have argued that Powell is simply expressing his beliefs as a Republican, it stretches credibility when you see how willingly he accommodates and uses a particular Democrat talking point. Add that to the fact that Powell publicly endorsed Obama during the presidential campaign, and you can see why Dick Cheney expressed surprise that Powell considers himself a Republican. Everyone should be surprised.

Colin Powell long ago used up any political credibility or good will he may have garnered from his military service up to and including Desert Storm. The straightforward military man has given way to the political opportunist. It is only hypocrisy and deviousness that prevent him from coming clean and declaring himself a Democrat. His actions have already belied his words.

Cheney on Colin Powell: "I didn't know he was still a Republican"

In an appearance on Sunday morning's Face the Nation, Dick Cheney commented on the advice that Colin Powell had for the Republican Party, namely to become more like Democrats. Powell had said, "Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less." He also said Republicans should repudiate Conservative philosophies espoused by people such as Rush Limbaugh.

Cheney's response on FtN: "If I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh. My take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican."

In the 2008 Presidential campaign, "Republican" Colin Powell endorsed the Democrat candidate Barack Obama.

The Truth About Rush

I'm a big fan of Rush Limbaugh's, and I'm ecstatic that the Obama administration has seen fit to target him as an enemy. (Hmmm...weren't enemies lists a bad thing just a short while ago?) Rush has the opportunity to fight back via his radio show, and the backbone and skill to do so effectively.

In a recent column by Matt Towery, the wisdom, or lack of it, in attacking Rush is confirmed by polling data. (Read Towery's column for that information.) My point here is Towery's description of his one brief personal encounter with Rush:

"It was enlightening. He was the complete opposite of his persona. He was soft-spoken, extraordinarily polite and clearly not taking himself too seriously. My friends who know him well tell me he is still that way today."

Towery later gives one of the best descriptions of Rush Limbaugh the radio personality that I've ever seen articulated:

"...anyone who listens to his show knows that Limbaugh plays the role of pompous ringmaster, but in jest. After five minutes it is clear that he is not a hatemonger."

A huge percentage of the people who criticize Rush Limbaugh have never listened to his show, much less listened long enough to get the subtleties of his humor. Their remarks and accusations are not only wrong, but very wrong. The mistake the Obama bunch has made is forgetting the twenty million Americans who listen to Rush, and who enjoy his show. Rush is a skilled communicator, and his Conservative message gets through very effectively. The Democrat attacks are adding to the number of people who will realize the power and the wisdom of Conservatism. More power to them.

$2,100,100

Earlier I wrote about a letter that 41 Democrat Senators, led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and including presidential hopefuls, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Chris Dodd, sent to Mark Mays, head of ClearChannel Communications, demanding that Rush Limbaugh be punished for what they mischaracterized as calling troops who opposed the war "phony soldiers."

The transcript of Rush's comments, as well as a recording of the conversation (which was with a caller) is readily available. Only an intentional misreading could produce the idea that Rush meant anything close to that of which the Democrats accused him.

The Democrats used Senate floor time to chastise Rush, at the same time making the accusations part of the Congressional record. They used government resources -- time, staff, etc. -- to produce the letter. Forty-one Democrats thought it politically expedient to sign on.

In Your Face

Now Rush has turned the tables on the Democrats. Mark Mays turned the letter over to Rush, who put the letter up for auction on e-Bay. The proceeds from the sale of the letter will be matched by Rush, and the total amount donated to the Marine Corps/Law Enforcement Foundation (MCLEF). Rush challenged the Democrats to also match funds for the charity, but received no response.

The auction went on for a week, generating conversation and excitement about Rush Limbaugh and what he was doing. At the end of the auction, the winning bid was an incredible $2.1 million. With Rush's match, the charity will receive over $4.2 million.

More incredible than the selling price of the letter is the chutzpah of Harry Reid. After using the power of his office to try to destroy Rush Limbaugh, he turned around and tried to take credit for the money that was raised for MCLEF (by Rush Limbaugh.) I don't know if all politicians have no shame, but at least one -- Harry Reid -- doesn't even know the meaning of the word.

The Liberal Response

Meanwhile, Liberals are going bonkers over the situation. With the MoveOn.org attack on General Petraeus also backfiring on them, this makes two public humiliations in a row for Liberals. Expect burning buildings and mass protests (since they can't win by debating the issues.)

Liberals Will Choke to Death on This

I heard Rush talking about this on his radio show, and thought it was one of his jokes. To my pleasant surprise, it's a real story. This shows how easily something like the Nobel Prize can be manipulated. So Al Gore's nomination is nothing special. Pay special attention to Levin's comments about Rush. Liberals and those who don't listen to Rush regularly will be outraged at such statements. To long-time fans, though, they're just plain truth.

"Nationally syndicated conservative radio talk host Rush Limbaugh has been nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize by Landmark Legal Foundation-the leading conservative public interest law firm in the country.

According to Landmark President Mark R. Levin, the firm decided to nominate Limbaugh, who also serves as a member of Landmark's Board of Advisors, for his "nearly two decades of tireless efforts to promote liberty, equality and opportunity for all humankind, regardless of race, creed, economic stratum or national origin. These are the only real cornerstones of just and lasting peace throughout the world."

In his letter to the Nobel Committee, Levin writes, "Rush Limbaugh is the foremost advocate for freedom and democracy in the world today. Everyday he gives voice to the values of democratic governance, individual opportunity and the just, equal application of the rule of law - and it is fitting that the Nobel Committee recognize the power of these ideals to build a truly peaceful world for future generations."