Cheney on Powell: I didn't know he was still a Republican

From CBS's Face the Nation - Sunday:

Bob Schieffer: Rush Limbaugh said the other day the party probably would be better off if Colin Powell... became a Democrat, and Colin Powell said the Republicans would be better off if they didn't have Rush Limbaugh speaking for them. Where do you come down?

Dick Cheney: Well, if I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh... My take on it was Colin had already left the party, I didn't know he was still a Republican......

Cheney's take is quite understandable. Considering that Mr. Powell now believes in higher taxes and more government, when he vehemently opposed these things in his autobiography [and at a speech to the Republican National Convention in '96], it would indeed seem as if Powell has changed parties - or at least he's trying to portray himself in a different light, being the typical pol that he is....