he became a Lightning Rod for those who hated Bush and the war effort
by Bob Shepherd
Colin Powell was an early supporter of Republican nominee George W. Bush for President in the year 2000. Then giving the keynote address in Philadelphia, he did his part to ignite a surge in support for Republicans in the general election campaign. The phenomenon of Powell is intriguing, as his popularity extended far beyond partisan boundaries. On the other hand, the defense of the administration's WMD claim fell to him, and ultimately did him in. As point man on behalf of an administration pitch that turned out to be inaccurate, he made himself the target for public wrath on the matter. He became the lightning rod for outrage that otherwise would have hit the President himself.
let's close the gap of hope
Colin Powell served as the conscience of conservatism
~ ~ Bush Republicanism ~ ~
Stature, Integrity, Broad Appeal
Colin Powell ~ His Sense of Leadership
-Why America Needs His Style of Republicanism-
originally written by RobtShepherd before the election of George Bush
Republicans poised to become the majority party
Polls show a distinct possibility, given the right circumstances, that we may soon witness an emergent Republican majority in the coming decade if not longer.
A confluence of factors is responsible for this, number one being the fatigue of the Democrats, and secondarily the vitality of Bush Republicanism.
Closing the gap of hope
Just how would "Bush Republicanism" or "Lincoln Republicanism" be defined? Well, most of all it is a philosophy of victory, a philosophy that seeks to serve America, and to earn the support of the people. Colin Powell was firmly within the Ronald Reagan tradition that repeatedly espoused a "Broad Tent" Republicanism appealing to millions of Independents as well as Democrats. It is said that ethnic whites and "Labor" -- both traditionally aligned with Democrats -- enthusiastically embraced the mild convivial conservatism of Ronald Reagan. Like Powell, George Bush sought to make ideals like compassion compatible with traditional Republicanism.
However, Reagan was not intentionally creating a "white only" or "male only" bastion. Those who knew him said he hated racism, and truly desired an inclusive, color-blind America. He signed the Martin Luther King bill into law. He was always cordial, despite their frequent political opposition, to the civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson. He ultimately came to approve sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa. And little by little, some minorities began to respond to the message.
After Reagan, the first President Bush also sought to bolster on the Broad Tent principles of his predecessor. Bush called for a "kinder and gentler America," and he very clearly hoped such an America would be led by Republicans, which, he clearly believed, was itself becoming "kinder and gentler" in both tenor and tone.
But maybe third time is a charm. We have now another President Bush who seems to be achieving success where his two predecessors merely laid the groundwork. Almost without trying, George W. Bush seems to be finding a willing reception to ideas, which past Republicans had to struggle to gain a hearing. And perhaps ironically, the symbol and point man for this success of Bush Republicanism is a military man, an African American, who served in the administrations of both of these past Republican trailblazers, and now is Secretary of State.
Colin Powell is a man former President Ford once called the best public speaker in America.
He has been the recipient of numerous U.S. military decorations, including the Defense
Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. His civilian awards include
the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and an honorary knighthood
(Knight Commander of the Bath) from the Queen of England.
Ben McNamara says of him, "He achieved the highest military rank
possible, led the nation to a lopsided victory in a successful war, and captured the
hearts and minds of a disenchanted nation yearning for trustworthy leaders. His
appeal crosses social, economic and racial divides. His beliefs transcend
demographics. ... He is a public icon, [but, beyond all that,] ... Powell is a man to be trusted. "
I believe Colin Powell epitomizes the best of Reagan Republicanism in his own appeal, which transcends (to some degree) a hard or rigid partisanship and ideology. Like Bush himself, Powell retains an image of decency and openness, of basic honesty and approachability. Powell has been called the Conscience of the Republican Party for the boldness of stands he has taken in the past, occasionally proving himself ahead of his time in those positions.
In late 2001 there were rumblings about a supposed "rightward shift" by Powell. But the core of this "shift" was Powell's appearance of a more hard-line stance vis-a-vis rogue regimes and terrorism generally. I believe this "shift" to the right is more appearance than substance. Powell is the same man he has always been. He has always had a conservative side (consider certain gay issues, for instance, or his overall support for our Vietnam policies). The perceived "rightward shift" must be seen against the backdrop of 9-11. If anything, the entire administration, and in fact the world community, has become more focussed on protecting against terrorism.
compassionate
conservatism
America: the dream goes on
Is there a Powell credo? What follows is my own personal extrapolation of themes I (and others) have discerned in Powell's speeches, his writings. I am sure I may over-read some themes, and underread some others. Forgive me Mr. Powell. Nevertheless, what I see as a Powell credo is nothing if not fully and comfortably within the paramaters of Bush Republicanism. Never the rebel, it is possible to say that now and then, Mr. Powell is even ahead of his Boss, the President.
Moral Conservatism. Our bedrock must be the ideals of faith and family. Nothing is more eloquent that Powell's occasional references to his own life story, the challenges he and his sister overcame growing up in the inner city of The Bronx, and how strongly committed he has become to the values of Faith and Family, the bedrock of our moral heritage.
Inclusive Social Values. Ours is a nation blessed by the influence of a man named Lincoln. And again in our history we have been privileged that a man named Martin Luther King walked among us, warning, reminding. Their message must not fall to the gound unheeded. In public policy no less than private life, let us be a little meeker to our brother that is weaker. Sometimes society must leave the ninety and nine and reach out to the marginalized, bring them back to the fold. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying.
An economics of Opportunity and Growth. Expand the middle class. Tocqueville lavished praise on the yankees for being all middle class, without a high class to speak of, without poverty to speak of. The heart of prosperity has always been the middle class, Republicanism, like Whigs before it, aimed to take care to bump up the purchasing power of the middle class. An overplanned society stifles business, while an excessive income gap characterizes an economic regime forcing people out of the middle class. Let's close the gap of hope. Democratic capitalism [Jack Kemp, Richard Nixon]
Realism in Foreign Policy. Occasionally seen as a foreign policy hardliner, a more apt description of the Powell perspective might be cold war realism. America is no longer stifled by the burden of a Cold War, but the world looks to us as the sole remaining superpower. While we dare not rely on unilateral swagger or the arrogance of power, we must nevertheless keep ourselves free to act swiftly, morally, and with effectiveness and impact. A dangerous world requires no less.
Inspire Youth through Discipline and Purpose. America's promise is our youth. Colion Powell, like his Boss George Bush, is particularly aware of the importance of the preparation, the instruction and support that our youth receive, from childhood on. Education neither begins in the schools, nor does it end when the last bell rings. The future is and must be a concern of every citizen, of teachers and pastors, or activists and volunteers. We need now, more than ever, a thousand points of light to motivate and help our young people, and truly shine hope into the lives of those who will one day take our places in the new America.
Strength based on restraint and moral duty. Like the man to whom he has been compared, Powell understands, as Eisenhower did, the importance of military power when it is exercised with wisdom, preparedness, and restraint. Though sometimes branded as a bully, or global policeman, there is indeed a real responsibility for good. Surely whatever Fate entrusted America with the might we possess has also enjoined upon us the obligation to use that might morally, for good and not evil.
A government that listens and learns. Embrace our Past with healing, and our future with justice. Nothing is more maddening or fraught with risk as the challenge of how to deal with the oppressions and even crimes of the past. There may be no statute of limitations on racial injustice, but may we not seek ways to wipe the slate clean, and bring reconciliation and healing, as we make sure that past injustice never, ever happens again.
General Powell, a native New Yorker, grew up in the Bronx just blocks from the lower Manhattan site of the financial district (World Trade Towers locale). He is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama. The Powell family includes son Michael and daughters Linda and Annemarie. General Powell retired from the
U.S. Army on September 30, 1993. He served as Secretary of State during the first term of President George Bush, defending intelligence regarding WMD which later turned out to be false. See the pertinent essay, When you set a good example, it puts others on the spot (the insider crowd versus Powell), below.
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God bless America again
You must know the trouble that She's in
Wash her pretty face
Dry her eyes and then
God bless America again.
