My latest in PJ Media:
Establishment media “journalists” are never happier than when they have occasion to trash Donald Trump, and he obligingly gave them some new ammo on Tuesday when he released a statement that departed from the usual statements that politicians issue upon the deaths of public figures. Instead of praising Colin Powell, Trump told us what he really thought of him. This kind of thing is why people hate Trump so much, and simultaneously why people love Trump so much.
Trump wrote: “Wonderful to see Colin Powell, who made big mistakes on Iraq and famously, so-called weapons of mass destruction, be treated in death so beautifully by the Fake News Media. Hope that happens to me someday. He was a classic RINO, if even that, always being the first to attack other Republicans. He made plenty of mistakes, but anyway, may he rest in peace!”
The people you would expect to be enraged by this were quick to oblige. CNN’s Chris Cillizza, who, as Matt Margolis pointed out, used the occasion of Powell’s death to attack the Republican party, huffed: “Donald Trump proved, again, that he is utterly incapable of empathy, grace or even common decency…. What Trump’s statement should remind us is that this is a man uniquely self-obsessed — and without any ability to see beyond himself.”
The New York Daily News ran a story with the headline: “Classless Trump derides Colin Powell in death: ‘Anyway, may he rest in peace.’” The Independent’s headline was “Trump attacks Colin Powell and enviously complains about ‘beautiful’ media coverage of his death.”
Cillizza also noted that “the gulf between Trump’s statement and that of other former presidents on Powell’s passing is simply massive.” George W. Bush said: “Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of Colin Powell. He was a great public servant, starting with his time as a soldier during Vietnam.” Barack Obama’s statement said that “General Powell was an exemplary soldier and an exemplary patriot. He was at the center of some of the most consequential events of our lifetimes.” Bill Clinton chimed in with this: “He lived the promise of America, and spent a lifetime working to help our country, especially our young people, live up to its own ideals and noblest aspirations at home and around the world.”
Speaking ill of a dead man, especially one who has just died, is universally considered classless, and there is no doubt that Trump’s statement is singularly narcissistic and clumsily timed. At the same time, it is precisely his unwillingness to abide by conventional pieties, his impatience with hypocritical and empty verbiage (such as what the other presidents gave us on Powell’s death), and his persistence in telling truths that no one else dares to enunciate that makes Trump so beloved among many Americans.
Powell really was, after all, a classic RINO, as Trump said. He not only endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, which was sure to antagonize Trump, but the revered general also endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. His claims about Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction that got us into war in Iraq were never substantiated; the alleged chemical weapons were never located, and the fundamental pretext that Powell and company used to justify the war, that Saddam was working hand-in-glove with Osama bin Laden, was absurd from the beginning. The Iraq misadventure was as ill-conceived, or more so, than the one in Afghanistan; it just had the virtue of not ending quite as badly.
There is more. Read the rest here.
Kesselman says
Donald Trump is an abomination to the globalist elitists and pursuit of political correctness and its deflection consensus. Nightmarish scenario swabs all of the Western world where “journalists” and mainstream politicians dictate what to think and behave and few oppose loudly. Exceptions are, of course, Trump and contemporary like-minded in Europe such as Hungary’s Orbán and the current Polish PM. Hopefully, more to follow.
Doomer says
I 1 million percent disagree with,”there is no doubt that Trump’s statement is
singularly narcissistic
and clumsily timed.”
Colin Powell was a liar, charlatan and due to the war in Iraq by the US, about 1 MILLION Iraqi civilians were killed, according to Leftists.
According to Leftists, like Salon magazine,in 2018,”
”But our calculations, using the best information available, show a catastrophic estimate of 2.4 MILLION Iraqi deaths since the 2003 invasion.”
https://www.salon.com/2018/03/19/the-staggering-death-toll-in-iraq_partner/
The same article says,”Two such reports on Iraq came out in the prestigious The Lancet medical journal, first in 2004 and then in 2006.
The 2006 study estimated that about 600,000 Iraqis were killed
in the first 40 months of war and occupation in Iraq”” Hey, that was when Bush and Colin,yes,Colin, were in power.
Colin Powell didn’t care about them. To call a scammer and murderer what he is when he dies, is not clumsy and narcissistic. Colin was responsible for more deaths than Mengele, who is responsible for the death of 400,000 Jews.
gravenimage says
Actually, the claim that Americans slaughtered millions of Iraqis is false. This is usually just anti-American propaganda–certainly this is true from hard left Salon.
Sadly, it was never possible to civilize Iraq–or Afghanistan. This is where those like Powell went wrong.
Infidel says
Aside from what he did in Afghanistan and Iraq, Colin Powell was among the first in a line of leaders who made sure that islam was never touched by any criticism. If one is to be ‘respectful of the dead’, one can hail him as the first Black joint-chief-of-staff and National Security Advisor, but stop there, and say nothing about what he did subsequently – good or bad
John says
My observation in 2003 was that Colin Powell was a house plant in the corner of the Bush War Cabinet Room. Then they used him (and made a fool out of him) by having him give the UN speech on Sadaam’s weapons of mass destruction.
janwoG says
Liars and election thieves hate when a person says the truth. Long-life to President Trump
Rarely says
It is usually poor form to speak ill of the dead especially so soon after the death. Polite condolences to the grieving family are always in order and can be advanced without unnecessarily criticizing the deceased. Best to leave the criticism to the historians or, in any event, to a later date.
Infidel says
I’m sure that had the tables been turned and Trump been the one who died, the entire Left would have followed the highest standards of traditional decorum. Right? RIGHT?
Rarely says
Perhaps but that would be their problem.
Dale Ann says
“Decorum” nor “history” are anywhere in the Democrat playbook. Their M.O. is “blood sport”, “revisionism” and “build back better” that which should have never been destroyed to begin with.
There is nothing holy about biting one’s tongue or giving free passes to those who seek to steal, kill and destroy– it’s actually unholy to play patty cake with demonically-inspired people.
gravenimage says
I do agree that this is poor form so soon after the poor man died.
But yes–if President Trump had died I can only imagine the unhinged glee on the left.
Peter35 says
Now wait a bit; Saddam’s WMD’s were real, and were ferried over the border into Syria in 2002–2003 as relief after the collapse of the Zeyzoun dam in Syria.
The MSM tended to ignore that info, as it didn’t agree with their narrative at that time.
gravenimage says
This does seem likely, Peter.
Wellington says
Trump correct again but since truth is the new hate speech once again Trump is denigrated for doing nothing more than speaking the truth.
Infidel says
And had President Trump been the one who passed away, the entire Left would be cheering, celebrating it almost like the deaths of Osama and al Baghdadi
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
100% correct, however Pres. Trump should have waited at least until the body was cold.
gravenimage says
I do agree, James.
But President Turmp has never been known for his tact, for good or ill.
Fitna says
If Trump had died instead the Left media would prancing around and cheering, they’re lying hypocrites and Powell is their man, which is why they admire him.
Sadly the Saudis have been dragging practically every US president around by the nose, Bush was the dumbest and most easily manipulated. Given the 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis, it’s pretty obvious that was the country that deserved to be bombed the most.
But the same people behind the attack managed to get Iraq blamed for it. The WMD excuse was lame and not necessary, they could’ve just said Saddam helped organize the 9/11 and that would’ve been enough. Ofc the Saudis should’ve paid the price but they got away with it.
We need to stop treating Muslims countries like they’re our buddies. Most of them hate us and are plotting our overthrow. Letting Muslims into our countries was also a huge mistake that may take generations to resolve, if ever.
Infidel says
I agree w/ this read. While I do have a wait-and-watch approach on MbS due to what he has been reforming, there is little doubt that every one of his predecessors – from King Fahd to King Abdullah – has been two-faced wrt the West
somehistory says
Those who hate the real Truth…of whatever subject…are always on hand to jump on anyone who tells the Truth or even lets a little bit leak out.
Most people don’t measure up to the hero status that other people claim for them…everyone is human and everyone falls short of the best that could be done, at least, sometimes.
Better than fawning over one who has died….and therefore has no knowledge of the things said or left unsaid…it’s best just to wish the family some peace.
Both sides could have done that, but if that is all Mr. Trump had said, he would still have been up or criticism. After all, every time they do something that doesn’t work out, they blame him.
OLD GUY says
Sometimes telling the truth hurts. Thank you President Donald Trump for representing the WORKING class Americans view.
Carol SK says
If Pres. Trump had lauded Colin Powell to no end, the (ever so predictable) Left would have found *something* to label crass/uncouth/inappropriate/horrible/hateful/evil/??? ???? ??????????.
RecoveringLiberalDemocratfromChgo says
Shades of Saul Alinsky