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If the Republican Party does intend to incorporate the ideologies promoted last week by former Secretary of State Colin Powell it should first change its mascot from an elephant to a horse, specifically of the Trojan variety. Despite the seemingly impressive credentials that Powell proudly touted in defense of his "Republican" authenticity, his singular purpose has been to find the most advantageous strategic position from which to undermine the conservative agenda. And that place is within the Republican Party.

Powell, after all, was a four-star general, and as such is an expert in effective strategizing. But military prowess does not automatically equate to universally sound judgment or worthiness of character, as history's long string of good generals who became horrible rulers clearly proves. Colin Powell did well in the military, where the ultimate right/wrong decisions were made above his level, and his purpose was simply to competently implement such orders. Since that time however, association with him has consistently proven to be a liability to those on the right who were foolish enough to seek any benefit from him.

Lately, he has been on a tirade, excoriating any members of the Republican Party who have the audacity to hope that the party might actually stand for something. From Powell's perspective, "victory" for the party means abandoning anything that might cause discomfort to "moderates" (read: closet liberals) like himself. Or, in what he no doubt believes is a cunning effort to advance his own cause, he suggests that the party should include both high and low standards, knowing full well that if it attempts to do so, only the low standards (which are his) will prevail.

The particular targets of Powell's political attacks have been former Vice-President Dick Cheney and radio colossus Rush Limbaugh. Powell castigates them for their adherence to a "narrow" conservative party philosophy that, by definition, excludes Democrats. And he is not alone among prominent public figures that claim loyalty to the Republicans while sharing such sentiments. He has lately been joined by former Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Obviously, Powell has a strategy or more accurately, is a key element of somebody's strategy. And with Ridge's participation, the pieces are beginning to fit.

Barack Obama's immersion in America's leftist subculture included a major influence from Saul Alinsky, an avowed leftist who was famous for his book "Rules for Radicals." In it Alinksy explained how to subvert and eventually overthrow a culture through coercion, intimidation, and subterfuge. A cornerstone of this methodology was to "isolate" opposition leaders from their base of support. Once this was accomplished, a new order could be more easily implemented, espousing any manner of ideology at first, but ultimately leading down the desired course of the subversives.

For this ploy to work, Alinsky understood that such marginalization of an individual or individuals would require the cooperation of "useful idiots" among the targeted organization, who would be motivated either by treachery or cowardice. The liberal Democrats have found and abundance of both qualities in Powell and Ridge respectively.

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