Powell's Endorsement-Rejection of GOP

[Mink]

I was hoping Obama would pick Powell as a VP way back a few months ago as for the most part, I respected him even though he is a Republican. Now, his endorsement confirms my belief that Obama is the right choice at the right time. I hope other Republicans will admit it too, but he was the first "man" to speak up.

www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/20/powell.endorsement/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Colin Powell's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama was as much a rejection of the Republican Party and Sen. John McCain's campaign as an embrace of the Democratic presidential nominee, political analysts said Monday.

David Gergen, a CNN senior political analyst who has advised the last four presidents, said the Powell endorsement may give voice to "disillusioned" moderate Republicans disappointed by the negativity of the McCain campaign.

"They've been muttering about [it], but they were afraid to give voice to, and he came out and said it, in a way," Gergen said.

"It was extremely reassuring for this experienced military leader, a general, someone who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was secretary of state, to endorse Barack Obama and say, 'His world experience, his commitment and knowledge of national security are fine. You can vote for him without those kinds of reservations,' " Schneider said.

On Monday, Obama said Powell would advise him if he becomes president.

"He's already served in that function, even before he endorsed me," Obama told NBC. "Whether he wants to take a formal role, whether there's something that's a good fit for him, I think is something that he and I would have to discuss." Watch Obama say Powell will advise him »

Powell, a former secretary of state for President Bush as well as a former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said Sunday he decided, in part, to back Obama because he was troubled by the rightward direction the Republican party had taken in recent years.

I knew it! With Powell's help, and no doubt any reasonable politicians' as well, we stand a good chance to be a strong country once again.

[The New Guy]

i was wondering how long it would take you to post this.

wow, what balls powell has waiting until 2 weeks out to endorse barak! while i've always respected general powell, his endorsement has little effect on me.

as far as his endorsement having any real significant meaning.......john mccain has been endorsed by FOUR former sec'y's of state and more than TWO HUNDRED generals. obama gets endorsed by ONE in the last two weeks? big whoop.

[Mink]

Why didn't you post it then if you saw it first? You guys defended him when he made the way into Iraq for W.

He is big for Obama, in that, he is a respected Republican and no matter how much this is downplayed, it hurts.

[The Big Dog]

Shenanigans.

While the endorsement of Barack is somewhat newsworthy, it really is no surprise. General Powell is, and always has been, both a political animal keenly aware of which way the wind blows and an appeaser of the first order. He was who (largely) talked Bush 41 out of finishing Saddam in 1991. He had to be dragged kicking and screaming into supporting action in Iraq in 2003. If you can show me where I defended him back then I'll write a hundred dollar check to the Obama campaign.

In fact, to dredge some old material, it was Powell's deputy Rich Armitage who was the "leaker" in re: Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson. Powell knew Armitage was the leaker yet he and Armitage kept that information from the president for well over two years. That kind of (lack of) loyalty to a president is exactly what Barack can expect from General Powell.

To get it to it's most base level Powell, like any man who hangs out in the halls of power, wants desperately to remain relevant. By endorsing Barack, and isn't it pretty easy for one black man to endorse another, Powell has an opportunity to remain relevant in the larger scheme of things. He has to understand, obviously, that if a Republican gets back to the White House within his lifetime that he will be persona non grata and will have to content himself with being on the outside, but apparently that potentiality is okay with him. Besides, if he went and endorsed McCain he'd be branded by the left as a race traitor.

For his disloyalty, appeasing mindset on foreign policy and his obvious proclivity to twist in the prevailing wind, he is clearly not a respected Republican. He is just another politician. Unfortunately the majority of the American people don't follow things to this depth so they will, like the left on this board, be enthralled with Powell's endorsement.

[saunterelle]

To get it to it's most base level Powell, like any man who hangs out in the halls of power, wants desperately to remain relevant. By endorsing Barack, and isn't it pretty easy for one black man to endorse another, Powell has an opportunity to remain relevant in the larger scheme of things. He has to understand, obviously, that if a Republican gets back to the White House within his lifetime that he will be persona non grata and will have to content himself with being on the outside, but apparently that potentiality is okay with him. Besides, if he went and endorsed McCain he'd be branded by the left as a race traitor.

So misguided I don't know where to start, so I'll start with the racist remark. Does that mean Henry Kissinger endorses McCain because he's white?

For you to discredit Powell like that is absurd and it gives credence to the notion that Republicans eat their young. Powell was a good "Bushie" and where did that get him? Nowhere. He put aside his true feelings like a good soldier and supported the administration he worked for. Now, he goes against his party to express his wise opinion and you chastise him for it. You, of all people, who wrongly believed in the war in Iraq from the beginning, should be able to see that Powell carefully considers the situation before making a decision. He is not endorsing Obama for personal political gain (again, he is going against his own party), he is voting for Obama because it's the right thing to do for our country.

[The Big Dog]

Oct 21, 2008 11:32:01 GMT -5 saunterelle said:

So misguided I don't know where to start, so I'll start with the racist remark. Does that mean Henry Kissinger endorses McCain because he's white?

No, it does not. And it is not a view that I would subscribe to. I am saying how I believe it would be spun by Obama surrogates if it went the other way. Remember how they played the race card on Bill Clinton for far less? It so incensed Mr. Clinton he actually called them on it, although it was far too late to do any good.

For you to discredit Powell like that is absurd and it gives credence to the notion that Republicans eat their young. Powell was a good "Bushie" and where did that get him? Nowhere. He put aside his true feelings like a good soldier and supported the administration he worked for.

And for you to insist as you do that General Powell's shorts are starched on this is ignorant of the history. Yes, he followed orders and then worked behind the scenes through Armitage to undermine the administration at nearly every turn.

[sizae=2]Now, he goes against his party to express his wise opinion and you chastise him for it. You, of all people, who wrongly believed in the war in Iraq from the beginning, should be able to see that Powell carefully considers the situation before making a decision.

[/size][/quote]

First off you can kindly stop ascribing my beliefs for me. "Wrongly believed in the war" my ass. That is an ignorant and hateful remark and you can stick it where the sun doesn't shine.

As to General Powell's careful consideration, I would agree. I believe he has carefully considered from which direction the wind is blowing and he's chosen to go with it.

He is not endorsing Obama for personal political gain (again, he is going against his own party), he is voting for Obama because it's the right thing to do for our country.

He is absolutely endorsing Obama for political gain. There is little other reason for a man in his position, given his record, to do so. And while I am sure the next argument will be to toss Joe Lieberman out, I believe that his motivations have far more to do with the future survival of the state of Israel than perhaps with any other single thing. Win or lose, Lieberman still has to caucus with the Democrats in the Senate... Powell doesn't have to do jack he doesn't want to which lays his play all the more bare.

[jgaffney]

Armstrong Williams has this to add:

The ink is barely dry on this mornings paper and the Obama camp is already hinting that Gen. Colin Powell could play a pivotal role in an Obama administration.

The cynic would say that was exactly what was intended with yesterdays endorsement. Gen. Powell saw the writing on the wall, and figured he better get while the gettin' was still good.
I disagree. Colin Powell is an admired friend; one whom I know rises above the political winds and the spoils of victory. If what the cynics say were true, we'd be addressing him as President Powell in the wake of the successful Gulf War.

But as much as I admire and respect him, Powell made the wrong choice yesterday. Unless hes changed his party affiliation, Gen. Powell is still a Republican, and Sen. Obama is as liberal as they come. Just ask yourself this: If there were a white liberal Democrat running for president against McCain, would Gen. Powell's decision been any different? Would his announcement on "Meet the Press" been any less prominent? The point is it's easy to get caught up in the potential significance of this election, and I think that's what happened with Gen. Powell.

I cant say I didnt have similar feelings myself. Sure, when Obama first came on the scene, I felt that sense of history being made. I still do. But there's so much more that makes a man (or woman) right for the highest office in the land, and frankly, it's those doubts that should have caused Gen. Powell to give further pause to his decision.

As electrifying as President Obama would be, how quickly would that luster wear off should the winter months bring a greater Afghanistan threat? Or the Russians wade deeper into the former Soviet republics? You have to imagine the worlds tyrants will test Obama from day one.

The Illinois state Senate is not the Oval Office. And Gen. Powell would have done well to remember that you don't put your greenest soldiers on the front lines in the heat of battle.

[maxsawdust]

Oct 21, 2008 11:32:01 GMT -5 saunterelle said:

He is not endorsing Obama for personal political gain (again, he is going against his own party), he is voting for Obama because it's the right thing to do for our country.

You are truly just plain DUMB if you for ONE SECOND believe it is FOR ANYTHING BUT "Personal Political Gain" that's PURE ridiculousness to think otherwise.

[The New Guy]

Oct 20, 2008 23:55:53 GMT -5 Mink said:

Why didn't you post it then if you saw it first?

apparently, you are having trouble with your eyes. did you not read my entire post?

i didn't post on the issue because for me....... it wasn't a big deal. i'll say it again..... big whoop!

any other questions?

[surefire]

This is a relatively big win for Obama, IMO.

Obama is so far ahead anyway though, that in the end it probably won't matter.

If it was closer before the endorsement, I think it would have made a big impact.

Anytime a respected member of a party endorses the other party, it turns heads.

[Mink]

Oct 21, 2008 21:09:58 GMT -5 The New Guy said:

Oct 20, 2008 23:55:53 GMT -5 Mink said:

Why didn't you post it then if you saw it first?

apparently, you are having trouble with your eyes. did you not read my entire post?

i didn't post on the issue because for me....... it wasn't a big deal. i'll say it again..... big whoop!

any other questions?

Ha-haaaa!! Oh yes it is a big deal and it hurts!!! I saw exactly what you posted TNG and if it wasn't a big deal, you wouldn't have been waiting for me to post it and admit it

Mccain needs his other endorsements and he'll never admit he would have loved to have Powell. Powell is good for Obama and the country. Although he is a Republican, he was never a neocon.

[saunterelle]

Powell delivered one of the most eloquent, unscripted, intellectually honest endorsements I've ever heard:



He has shored up the military vote for Obama and given him a huge lead in the polls.