I was well aware of Colin Powell's footsieing with Bill Clinton (one seems to gravitate towards physical metaphors with this bunch). Whatever the ins and outs of that, it is supremely likely that Colin decided not to be one more PGA grunt in the Dems, but the Tiger Woods of the Reps since it was what we in ecology refer to as "an empty niche". He gets to wear the blazer in the dining room, as opposed to being merely another waiter.

I have yet to run across any principles that are particularly Republican -- except the famous or infamous Powell war doctrine which Republicans despise -- that have been articulated by Colin Powell. It is of course hard to find any doctrines that are particularly Republican these days except far right wing notions -- Democrats seem to be where the remnants of Rockefeller Republicans went. Certainly it would be hard to find any Democrats these days, as far as I can tell.

yours, Peter T.