Limbaugh appoints Colin Powell head of GOP
Normally Colin Powell doesn't get involved in political scuffles.
That's not to say that political discourse is a bad thing. It can be wildly entertaining. But that's not his M.O.
The general dipped his toe into the pond last night. He didn't go off and pull a Jeanine Garofalo or anything. His criticism was mild. It's hard to even call it criticism.
The Boston Globe reports Powell was speaking to a well-heeled crowd last night (including Patriots quarterback Tom Brady) when he mentioned the talk show host.
"Rush Limbaugh says, 'Get out of the Republican Party.' Dick Cheney says, 'He's already out.' I may be out of their version of the Republican Party, but there's another version of the Republican Party waiting to emerge once again," Powell told the crowd.
Limbaugh responds
What happens next is entirely predictable. Not foolproof, but predictable. Limbaugh fights back. Although he did not engage in a war of words with comedian Wanda Sykes when she called him out during the White House Correspondents Dinner.
But had no problem in lighting Powell up.
"Colin Powell represents the stale, the old, the worn-out GOP that never won anything," he said on his radio program. "The party of Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, Bill Scranton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and those types of people. Has anybody heard Colin Powell say a single word against Obama's radicalism -- or Pelosi or Reid, for that matter? Maybe he has but his fawning media sure hasn't reported if he has said it."
Then Limbaugh acted as Powell's spokesperson outlining what he believes the former Secretary of State supports:
- Massive debt
- Slashing the military's budget
- Federal funding of abortion
- Activist judicial nominees
- Nationalizing private industries
Duran, Duran
Later in the program, Limbaugh quoted Roberto Duran (no mas, no mas) when he announced he was resigning as the "titular head of the Republican party." Then he appointed someone else to replace him. Any guesses?
"There frankly is someone far more qualified and capable and more in tune with the Republican Party than I," he said. "And that would be General Colin Powell. So now I pass the baton to Colin Powell as the titular head of the Republican Party."
Dictionary please
Certainly there are many other blogs that wouldn't have to look up the word "titular" -- but that's not us.
Titular: Existing or being such in title only; nominal; having the title but none of the associated duties, powers, etc.: the titular head of the company.
No word on whether Powell will accept the honor.
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Some speculate that if Powell does not accept the position, Duran Duran is next in line. Follow us on Twitter and we'll fill you in.
