Colin Powell described neo-conservatives in the Bush administration as 'fucking crazies'

September 14, 2004 7:46 AM

Colin Powell in Four-letter Neo-con 'crazies' Row Perhaps Colin should have said they were cheney crazies.
posted by rough ashlar (30 comments total)

More free book publicity! Oh boy!

Then again, it does help explain why Powell looks like a kid in detention most of the time. He's just putting in his hours until he can finally break away from the nutters at the controls.
posted by fenriq at 8:00 AM on September 14, 2004

Isn't "crazies" the usual pejorative label for the neo-cons since back in the day? Which might make Powell's statement seem a little less, well, crazy?
posted by Onanist at 8:10 AM on September 14, 2004

Poor Colin. he destroyed all the credibility he had pimping this crap intel at the UN. The admin spent it like it was a few trilliion in deficit spending.
posted by delmoi at 8:15 AM on September 14, 2004

McCain, Powell... basically the GOP killed the political future of the two people who could be a challenge to Bush.

While this served Dubya well so far it also means that the GOP has absolutely no one past Dubya. Cheney's due to drop dead any moment. Giuliani isn't presidential material, and neither is Pataki. Schwarzenegger is barred from running for the White House. It's going to be funny in 2008 no matter what happens this year.
posted by clevershark at 8:22 AM on September 14, 2004

Did so!

Did not!

Did so!

Did not!
posted by troutfishing at 8:50 AM on September 14, 2004

Here's the GOP plan for 2008 -

Cheney dies of a heart attack in late 2006. Or maybe he just has a close call, and resigns.

Bush appoints (or anoints) someone to the job. That person instantly becomes front-runner in 2008. The only problem I see with this plan, is that he can't pick Jeb. Well, he could, but I don't see it happening. After all, they're trying to maintain the illusion of democracy, at least.
posted by Jart at 8:53 AM on September 14, 2004

Thread title is proof that anyone can have a moment or two of clarity.
posted by Peter H at 9:01 AM on September 14, 2004

Poor Colin. he destroyed all the credibility he had pimping this crap intel at the UN.

What's even worse is that he doesn't seem to get this. He thinks he can get it back with the "well, nobody bothered to tell me it was bullshit" angle.

Sad. I once thought he could be the standard-bearer for a more candid and honest government. What a chump I was, too.
posted by soyjoy at 9:02 AM on September 14, 2004

Although this story may be accurate, what I really want to know is whether Powell, before his Feb. 2003 U.N. testimony, did in fact throw his notes up into the air and say “I’m not reading this. This is bullshit.” as reported by U.S. News & World Report.

Damn that old soldier all to Hell if he knew and didn't try to stop them.
posted by planetkyoto at 9:04 AM on September 14, 2004

I'm pretty sure, if re-elected Cheney will resignsometime in the next four years. Contrary to Democratic fears, the Bush camp couldn't lose Cheney until the election as it would show weakness. Or Cheney will be an arrogant bastard and will try running in 2008
posted by drezdn at 9:04 AM on September 14, 2004

Giuliani isn't presidential material, and neither is Pataki.

I don't know about Pataki. Never underestimate the value of physical presence -- most people outside of NY don't realize how goddamn tall that mofo is. I'm tall; I've stood next to him, and he made me feel like a midget. JFC, they put Guili on a box when teh two of them have to appear together.

And he speaks pretty well and can think on his feet. The legacy of downstate politics, where if you couldn't do both, you didn't last. Yep. He could definitely do well in a Presidential race.

If he could get the backing, that is. In the current Republican party, he never would -- too "liberal".

Not that I like him, mind. I've voted against him every time, and I'd most likely do it again. But if the Republicans suddenly got smart and figured out they were screwing their own future, he could pose a serious challenge.
posted by lodurr at 9:09 AM on September 14, 2004

George Pataki: Don't you want someone tall in charge?
posted by jon_kill at 9:15 AM on September 14, 2004

Damn that old soldier all to Hell if he knew and didn't try to stop them.

Agreed. My pity for him only extends but so far--right up the point where he kept his mouth shut & decided not to resign from the position he surely knew would land him balls-deep in a gathering disaster, not to mention the encouragement it would leverage for others too intimidated to speak out against the Cheney-Rumsfeld-Wolfowitz contingent.
posted by dhoyt at 9:16 AM on September 14, 2004

My reading of the article indicates that the quote was completely made up. It happened during a private phone conversation, and both parties deny it ever happened. And the author makes no attempt to defend his veracity. Quite the contrary - he seems to be embracing the BS label for it's publicity factor.

Great. More rumor and bullshit over-shadowing real issues. Thanks.
posted by y6y6y6 at 9:31 AM on September 14, 2004

the GOP has absolutely no one past Dubya.

Norm Coleman
Mitt Romney
Christopher Cox

you heard it here first
posted by Kwantsar at 9:37 AM on September 14, 2004

Does anyone doubt "Jeb" running in 2008? Might as well continue the dynasty.
posted by batboy at 10:09 AM on September 14, 2004

On Powell,

He sold his soul back at My Lai, so , no, he didn't recently sell out. And on his statement, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Kwantsar forgot about Rick "man on dog" Santorum!

Will Jeb run? Good question. I say yes, if he isn't appointed first.
posted by nofundy at 10:32 AM on September 14, 2004

You know, if Bush wins the election in November, the only temporary consolation I'll look forward to is the collective head explosions in 2008 when Cheney casually starts running for president as if it was the most bizzare thing in the world.

So many Republicans seem to be confident that Cheney won't run almost as much as they "know" Hillary Clinton will. Is assuming the end of Cheney a legitimate strategy or just denial from the types who can endure the frienliness of Bush but don't want to admit they're promoting keeping that other psycho in power?
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 10:32 AM on September 14, 2004

You know they'll foist Jeb on us. Then in a few more years it'll be the goddamned twins.
posted by ao4047 at 11:08 AM on September 14, 2004

Cheney might run in 2008 but I think he'll get Bob Doled in the polls and realize pretty quickly that a candidate really does have to have some semblance of charisma.

And XQUZYPHYR, if Bush wins in November then it might be time to split California off from the rest of the nation.
posted by fenriq at 11:09 AM on September 14, 2004

Does it bother anyone else that the reporter/editor of this piece, in an effort not to offend our sensibilities, counts "fucking" as having four letters?
posted by DBAPaul at 11:14 AM on September 14, 2004

Norm Coleman? Chump. He's:

a) a former Democrat, switching in the late 90s out of blatant opportunism (the Minnesota Democratic party is famously ossified, and he wouldn't have had the chance to get nominated for much for a while; by the way, the link there is pretty choice, Coleman had the temerity to bash Kerry for 'flip-flopping,' if you can believe that)
b) a loser; he lost to Jesse Ventura in 98 and would have lost to Wellstone in 2002 if the latter hadn't had the misfortune of dying;
c) an asshole, famously declaring that his senatorship was a "99% improvement" over Wellstone's, when Paul was only about six months dead at the time
d) most known here for puckering up to W's ass on a regular basis, although he ran proclaiming that he could be independent of the president and
e) a beneficiary of the Rove machine, which is well known to have convinced Minnesota's real Republican threat (now-governor Tim Pawlenty, whose name you may hear again) away from running for the senator's seat in favor of the gubernatorial election.

sorry for the derail.
posted by norm at 12:02 PM on September 14, 2004

You forgot to add that Norm Coleman's voice sounds exactly like that of Diamond Joe Quimby.
posted by COBRA! at 12:10 PM on September 14, 2004

Does it bother anyone else that the reporter/editor of this piece, in an effort not to offend our sensibilities, counts "fucking" as having four letters?

Fuckin' A.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:20 PM on September 14, 2004

The only problem I see with this plan, is that he can't pick Jeb. Well, he could, but I don't see it happening. After all, they're trying to maintain the illusion of democracy, at least.

this is the precisely the erroneous thought line that has allowed him to succeed so far.

"he'll can't do X"
"well, he could, but it would be too brazen even for him."
"HE DID WHAT??!?!?!"
posted by quonsar at 1:58 PM on September 14, 2004

well spoken, quonsar - except for that "he'll" part.
posted by soyjoy at 2:00 PM on September 14, 2004

Actually, I pegged Coleman for the 2008 candidate shortly after he beat Mondale here on MF. He has a 98% percent Bush voting record and IMHO has been being groomed for the job since he was asked to not run for governor, but for the US Senate.

also sorry for the derail, but I expect him to be one of the last 2 candidates in the primaries, despite norm's accurate info.

As for the FP, what fenriq said.
posted by infowar at 2:07 PM on September 14, 2004

After all, they're trying to maintain the illusion of democracy, at least.

That part made me laugh.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:57 PM on September 14, 2004

quonsar - boldness stretches the balls out just as far as imagination allows.
posted by troutfishing at 9:32 PM on September 14, 2004

Meanwhile, in Canada:

Prime Minister Paul Martin was red-faced yesterday after one of his elderly aunts caught him swearing on national TV during a debate about health care. ... When the PM and premiers reconvened, Martin made a public apology to his aunt, Claire Guay, and to Doer.

Illustrating, once again, the difference between Canadians and US Americans. I love this country!
posted by five fresh fish at 9:32 AM on September 15, 2004