I don't think he feels a strong sense of loyalty to Bush or his administration, and frankly with good reason from his perspective. To say Powell was thrown under the bus doesn't really express the depth of which he was first betrayed by his enemies within.

If you are in the mood to make excuses for his actions on some of the items I have objected to, you could say he was a little gun-shy to set himself for yet more attacks from the Right. But that is part of my point. If he wants to lead out of the wilderness, then he has to face Hamlet's choice:

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?

I am unclear what you mean by blasting Powell, in this case, for being loyal to his president during Bush's term

If you are referring to his support of Obama, again, I thought I was clear. I have zero issue whatsoever with that position. The position itself is commendable. I do not require people, in my mind, to march in lockstep belief to the Party Principles (caps intentional).

My objection is totally on the manner it was done, waiting until the last second, long after the fight was over, to stake a position. I prefer my leaders, especially those that proclaim they are the ones to clean the Augean Stables, to show a little more intestinal fortitude.

If you meant something else, please fill me in. I am not getting it.

unnervingly moderate

I LOVE THAT!

Another one I need to trademark – “AustinRoth. Unnervingly Moderate.”

The black moderate-liberal Republican blogger hopes that Mr. Powell moves from talking about the need for the Republican Party to listen to moderates to building a moderate infrastructure within the party: “I am glad that you are staying in the GOP a….

I have done zero “demonizing” of his positions; I have only criticized his actions. If actual actions are not fair game to criticize, what is?

I think you are getting soft in your old age if these comments count as blasting, or rabid right-oriented.

Finally, I have no issue with him trying to help reform the party. my comments were pretty clear that what I was saying is that he will never achieve a leadership position, from the moderates, not because of his words, but because of his actions. He had a chance to lead, and walked away.

Sure, Colin Powell should strive to reform the party from within, while the rabid right blasts him nonstop, just as you see in comments here. The GOP is in a lose/lose position, and the more they demonize moderates, the more I like it. Go guys.

A perfect description of Colin Powell.

If you have convictions and principles, come out and state what they are. To sit back and snipe at the party and then claim you are a supporter, just emphasizes what a worthless sack of omni-directional moderate you are.

How could someone so totally devoid of courage and leadership rise to a rank of General?

But it will not be Colin Powell.

Leadership means that – leading when it is tough, not obvious. When he really could have shown a new path, a new direction, and caharcter of convition in this needed new vision of what it means to be a Republican he choose to not run, sat on the sidelines, and millions for giving speeches (not that I begrudge him making money).

While I have no issue with him endorsing Obama as a concept, the manner that he did so, waiting until it was obvious Obama would win, was so feckless, gutless and self-serving that he lost all credibility, IMHO. Had he come out early, even soon after the primaries, and made the same endorsement, I would have much more respect for him now.

And that is not revisionist on my part. I have a solid history of posts stating that exact position on this board.

We do need new, fresh leadership in the Republican party, but it has to be stronger, and less cautious and calculating, than Colin Powell has shown himself to be throughout his career.

“I have no dog in this fight,” but those seem quite fair questions of and comments on Colin Powell by a moderate Republican.

The sad truth is that–even if Mr. Powell would do everything you ask of him–a certain faction will continue to vilify him and try to exclude him,
supposedly on Conservative “principles.”

If Colin Powell had any credibility talking about conservative then people like Limbaugh would not feel so comfortable criticizing Colin Powell. However, when Colin Powell supports the big government, nanny state, social engineering of the Democratic Party, then Colin Powell should be honest enough to admit that he is really a Democrat and only associated with Republicans for personal opportunity and advancement.