Colin Powell and Full Spectrum Liberalism

So now Colin Powell wants the GOP to be more pro-tax and pro-spending on top of his ealier social liberalism http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/05/06/colin-powell-bashes-rush-limbaugh-sarah-palin-gop

It would be tough to figure out what would distinguish this party from the Democrats or what it would offer social or economic conservatives to get them to stay or to get liberal Democrats to leave their home party.  The best that this Specterized party could hope for would be to become a rest home for apostate liberal Republicans like Specter, Jeffords, and Powell himself.  This party wouldn't win many elections, but at least all of those horrible conservatives would be gone.  And isn't that the most important thing?

If General Powell has some constructive policy suggestions about how the Republicans can distinguish themselves from the Democrats, I want to hear them - even if I disagree with them.  A thoughtful discussion should be welcome.  But  his latest statement combined shots at personalities (Palin and Limbaugh) with zero substance except for a vague me-tooism on domestic policy.

A Powell platform for the GOP might have a better shot at gaining adherents if there was a...Powell platform.  And Republicans might be more inclined to listen if he tried to pitch his message to Republicans and not to liberal journalists looking for one more excuse to kick the Republican party.