What's Wrong With Having Principles?

Would someone please do America a big favor and show Colin Powell how to change his political party affiliation.

The former Secretary of State, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs and soon, I hope, former Republican will go on CNN "GPS" program Sunday and declare that the GOP must quit "shouting at the world" and listen to the "heart and soul" of minorities in order to win elections in this, the 21st Century.

The problem, he says, are those stubborn principles and dogmas that conservatives cling to, instead of searching for the true feelings of this country that can only be found, apparently, among African-American, Hispanic and Asian voters. He concluded by declaring that people should quit listening to the reigning king of talk radio, Rush Limbaugh.

"Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?"

I'm sure Powell must prefer the level-head, non-dogmatic (and non-principled) angels of our better nature like Keith Olbermann and Al Franken?

A few points must be made:

1) Many of us suspected Gen. Powell of soft-headedness when he helped Bush 41 pull the plug on winning the war with Iraq in 1991. This was reinforced this decade when, after having helped make the case for Iraq War II, the Invasion, he then reversed his personal course and attacked Bush 43.

2) The State Dept. under Colin Powell remained a contentious, near treasonous snakepit, differing little in nature from its Madeline Albright version. The kind conclusion was that he was not nearly the administrator we had thought him to be. The unkind conclusion was that Powell was as squishy as his predecessor.

3) Powell's obviously pre-calculated, cold-blooded political Pearl Harbor on John McCain with a couple of weeks left in the campaign was cowardly and crass. It served as confirmation of Powell's descent into liberal madness. Like other RINOs - Republicans in name only - he is but a fifth columnist.

4) It is inherently bigoted to insist that African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians cannot hold conservative views or live according to conservative principles.

5) There is no real need, at this time, to defend Rush Limbaugh. He's a big target, an easy target for a quisling like Gen. Powell. No one - not even politicians in Washington - are forced to listen to Rush. He has a volunteer audience because his is the pre-eminent voice of conservative principles and he enunciates the frustrations, hopes and aspirations of a vast number of Americans who feel betrayed by their politicians and the cultural elites. Rush is successful because he articulates a sound doctrine consistent with the foundational principles of this Republic. If in some bizarro moment Rush Limbaugh began to sound like Colin Powell, he would lose most of his audience and his influence.

The problem with the Republican Party, as a brand, is not that GOP officials hold conservative principles and adhere to constitutionalist dogma, the problem with Republicans is that they have not governed in a manner consistent with their conservative princples and constitutionalist dogma. There was insufficient brand recognition for many voters. It was the liberal Obama, pretending to be a centrist, versus the liberal-lite McCain, pretending to be a conservative, with the latter saddled to the tattered reputation of an outgoing administration that has done its best to strip conservatism from the GOP.

Principles are a fine thing. They are part and parcel of codes of morality and conduct that engender confidence and trust. It's a shame Gen. Powell has so little use for them. There is nothing wrong with having principles except when you proclaim them and do not live up to them. This is quite common on all sides of the political spectrum. Americans are understandably confused and more than a bit angry about their inability to trust their elected leaders to "say what they'll do and then do what they say." Having principle is such a rare commodity these days that people aren't quite sure what to make of it.

But we think the days are coming, alas, when people will rediscover the values of principles and, yes, even dogma. Future politicians beware!