Colin Powell blasts GOP, Limbaugh

About time someone said it.

he Republican party must stop "shouting at the world" and start listening to minority groups if it is to win elections in the 21st century, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday.

In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria for Sunday's "GPS" program, President Bush's former secretary of state said his party's attempt "to use polarization for political advantage" backfired last month....

"I think the party has to stop shouting at the world and at the country,"Powell said. "I think that the party has to take a hard look at itself, and I've talked to a number of leaders in recent weeks and they understand that." Powell, who says he still considers himself a Republican, said his party should also stop listening to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

"Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?" Powell asked. "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?"

The Republican party is unique in its embrace of anger, hatred, and divisiveness. There are no equivalent heroes on the left to compare to a Rush Limbaugh, an Ann Coulter, or the overall tone of conservative talk radio and FOX News. People on the right try to talk about Michael Moore. Really? What has Michael Moore said or donate lately - hell, in the past 3 years - that's been even in the same ballpark as the kind of bile spewed from best-selling conservative author Ann Coulter and top-rated conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh? Then there's FOX News. CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and NBC don't hold a candle to FOX in the angry yellow journalism department.