Why didn’t he do it a year ago when it was plain as a cum-stained dress that McCain was lying out of every orifice in order to make his last shot at the Presidency? Why didn’t he come out when they nominated–of all possible candidates–Sarah Palin as a clear grasping attempt to court or at least nullify the Hillary contingent? Jeezus Cristatos, Robert McNamara–who has a standing personal policy of not criticizing the actions of sitting Presidents or SecDefs–stood up and said the Bush Administration was fucking a poodle when it came to Iraq, Afghanistan, and world relations as a whole.
Colin Powell went from being a man of great personal integrity to one who just sat on the sidelines and let one bad play after another occur without even color commentary. Perhaps he “has his reasons” but that doesn’t mean he has earned the Fallen On Sword Award Of The Year.
IMO, this seals the election. Too many people still like and respect the man (despite his shilling for the war and silence on many issues), and they will see this as a clincher to go ahead and vote for Obama.
I can only assume that the trend you are disturbed by is that Democrats get 90% of the black vote. Obama does not appear to be breaking new ground in this regard.
McCain is not stupid, he was not going to get any support from diehard Hillary supporters, all but a handful of whom are democrats first. He was trying to look open minded by picking a woman and keep the minds of the undecideds open to him and sway many of them. He was also trying to please his base, which likes Palin more than it likes him. The base is pleased with Palin.
Community organizer, lawyer, constitutional law professor, state legislator for several years, United States Senator. Palin: mayor of town of about 10,000, Governor of the Great State of Alaska for a short time, hockey mom hottie. Palin is a very big fish in a politically small pond, Obama is a big fish in a big pond. Palin got condemned for ethics by her own party for trying to get her brother-in-law fired. Obama has no ethics charges pending, nor criticism from within his own party. Experience here is not close for people who are not “in the tank” for Palin.
If Powell is racist for endorsing Obama instead of McCain, is Leiberman racist for endorsing McCain instead of Obama?
I may be wrong, but I don’t remember anyone of prominence intimating that Leiberman had racial reasons for crossing party lines and backing McCain. There’s no reason why Powell–whose moderateness is no secret–shouldn’t be treated the same way. Are you listening, Pat Buchanan?
To me, Powell’s public endorsement has significance because he made it in the first place. At this point he could have just as easily remained silent and let the election continue on its current pro-Obama trajectory. But he chose not to do so, even though surely he knew that by speaking out he’d be inviting charges of racism, opportunism, and party disloyalty. Obama doesn’t need an endorsement from him at this point, so I don’t buy spoke’s theory of career ambition. Powell could have probably gotten a job from BO with or without an endorsement.
I think this was his way of getting back at the GOP. He’s mad and will continue to be mad about what Iraq did to his reputation, and this endorsement is payback for that. He wanted to make sure that there was enough evidence that an Obama victory is on the horizon before stepping out and pushing McCain and the rest of the party under the bus. His criticism of the GOP means that he thinks Obama is going to win, and therefore he feels safe enough from Republican retaliation to trash talk them.
I think he’s trying to repair his image and legacy. Even though the move is 100% self-serving, I can’t fault him for it. Everything he said in his speech was right and true and it should have been said a long time ago.
Maybe because Powell thinks Barack Obama is better suited to be commander-in-chief than either Hillary or Edwards? Which is kinda exactly the point Powell made today.
One of the things I’ve seen in Career Military People is the idea that one should never, not under any circumstances, criticize one’s superiors or disobey their instructions. Unfortunately, even when it means they’re flat out wrong or when you are ordered to do something that you know is wrong. Now I can only assume that this is based on the idea that blame will flow to the one who issued the orders, but time and again I see good people bitten by that assumption when it is spectacularly untrue anywhere outside the military. (And it could be argued that it isn’t always true IN the military.)
Bosses are more than happy to order you to do something wrong, then allow you to take the blame for them when it all catches up with them. Because when they’re doing it, it’s all about doing whatever they think they need to do; and when they’re caught, it’s about saving their own asses first.
I saw it with a former supervisor. We got to know the look on his face rather well, calling him on it when we knew that he was not happy with instructions from our Director, when we both knew that the party line was pure bullshit, but he wasn’t about to say anything to the contrary.
And I think that’s what happened to Colin Powell. He was a Man of Integrity that they knew they could order to lie for them, and he would do it, because he was loyal and that was the way it is done. I also think that’s why he left, because he got tired of being used, of having his own reputation and integrity destroyed for the benefit of others. But then, this is all just my guess and not anything I know for certain.
Racism? Unfortunately, as I see on my job every day, the cry of racism is all too commonly used as a weapon of distraction by those who cannot argue with the facts of the situation or defend their own behavior on it’s merits.
In the press conference after MTP, Powell did an even better job of explaining why he’s disgusted with the tenor of the Republican party and its ‘ideas’ these days. He discusses McCain et al’s harping on ‘socialism’, Michelle Bachmann’s call for 21st century McCarthyism, and other aspects of the party’s narrowminded rightward shift that he decries.
Why does he remain a Republican? God knows. Maybe hope springs eternal that he’ll be able to fix the party from within. In any event, between his endorsement and the above linked statement, he speaks more eloquently and honestly on certain subjects (particularly the “so what if he were a Muslim?” and tax issues) than most Democrat politicians do, even though they undoubtedly agree with him. Though, to be fair to the Democrats, Powell feels free to say this stuff because he hasn’t yet been burned by having been called a tax-and-spend pinko terrorist-pal.
The MSM is dancing around it, but everyone I’ve talked to about Powell’s endorsement is saying Powell did it because Obama is black. It’s hard not to make that leap of logic when no other member of the Bush administration is supporting Obama.
Not that I blame him for it, but his endorsement won’t change any votes.
Amazing. Now we get racism along with sexism in to the race. Good job Powell. You are an asshole who kissed bush’s ass for far too long. Now you want to whine because your wife nixed your presidential bid.
First off, saying he only endorsed Obama because he’s black is in itself a little racist.
I, being a rational human being who actually thinks about stuff once in a awhile find Obama to be the only choice possible. Why is it impossible that Powell, a very intelligent human being, and a very moderate republican could come up to the same decision?
Are black people too simple to think about issues? The country is full of sane, intelligent moderate republicans who are sick of McCain’s lying bullshit and want the country put back on the tracks. Just because you don’t like it, don’t pretend you know that race is the deciding factor.
Rather than start a new thread (I thought about it), I’m curious – what endorsement would be a slam dunk for either candidate? Like with Powell, it seems like an endorsement from across the aisle has more impact. What if, say, Bill Clinton endorsed McCain, or New Gingrich endorsed Obama? Would it matter, or just create news waves? Is there anyone that would make you reconsider your choice?