yup! let’s see Mr Secretary man up and make some campaign appearances

Powell’s endorsement is only important, imo, in that it might prove to be something for the “undecideds” and “independents” (hereinafter referred to as “The Uninformed”) to hang their tiny hats on and vote Democratic.

That, of course, assumes that The Uninformed ever learn of the endorsement.

ugh.

If John McCain wanted his endorsement and didn’t get it, that’s good enough for me.

The best part of his MTP performance took place outside the building talking to reporters. He cited “that congresswoman from Minnesota” and her lunacy.

I hope Elwyn makes an ad out of that video. Go Elwyn!

It’ll help keep McCain from building momentum in the final days. And it’ll further diminish the impact of the “Obama is a terrorist” attack from McCain. The racists, though, will simply say it’s African-Americans sticking together.

There are none so blind as those who will not see -

Welcome to the real world Mr Powell.

I am with Jane on her observation. This means very little at this point in time. Powell sold out or was sold out on his support of the Iraq war. I am not sure he is doing anyone any favors here.

It’ll help keep McCain from building momentum in the final days.

Did I hear that there will be a special edition of Hardballs tonight?

Say hello to several days of controlling the news cycles….

I disagree that it means very little. With only two weeks to go, Powell’s endorsement will dominate the news cycle for three days.

watching Gramps speak.

He’s still doing the “Joe the Magical Motherfucking Plumber” schtick.

I wonder whether he’ll say “hey – Powell said some nice things about me too….”

Powell’s remarks after MTP were actually much more pointed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh_c5bbvmqc

powell can bite me. i forced myself to watch him this morning, and and found a lot to dislike about some of the things he said.

but still… i was very, very glad to hear his “right answer” to the questions regarding obama’s religion. has anyone at his level among the Very Serious People said anything similar? it the first time i’ve seen.

and shame on the obama campaign, which has for months given the “wrong answer” – calling it a smear to say obama is muslim, instead of doing what powell did today.

good for powell.

Pus Limpballs is gonna let fly with the “N” word before this election is over.

From Politico.

-G

I think that the most important aspect of his statement wasn’t the Obama endorsement…it was that he scolded the McCain campaign for its divisive, racist, and McCarthyistic tactics. He went even further…basically denouncing the current Republican Party for being a stool of the extremist Right Wing.

That verbalizes (and perhaps allows) the old-school economic Republicans to flee, or more hopefully, to reflect on whether they need to re-examine many of their essential premises about whether “greed is good”, and that controlling the political system through lobbyists and campaign contributions is actually “good”.

Of course, it could mean that they’ll simply jump the broom and increase plying their influence in the other party.

McCain is a repulsive human being. A shameless whore, a race baiter and someone so beneath contempt it is stunning.

The Democrats had best be ready to shun this vile hatemonger once this whole thing is over.

-G

posted lamely downstairs and better fit here anyway, if o.k. w/ you (((Jane)))

In Ohio:

Endorsing Obama/Biden:

Akron Beacon Journal
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Canton Repository

Endorsing McCain/Palin: Columbus Dispatch

Still on the fence(?): Cincinnati Enquirer

Powell needs Obama more than Obama needs Powell, it’s true. Yet I suspect that Powell also sees an Obama win as the ultimate slap to the movement conservatives who deep-sixed Powell’s own political career when Powell, a political naif at the time, said that he considered himself a “Rockefeller Republican” at the very time when the archconservatives like DeLay and his clique had finally succeeded in destroying forever the power of the Rockefeller Republicans.

And besides Palin was exonerated in Alaska

My hope is that he’ll finally reveal everything that was done to “manufacture” the war. I’m doubtful though, given his recent testimony for Ted Stevens.

My 91 year old dad, a Navy man for a brief but formative period, will be helped by Powell’s words. No question. His critique will help. His endorsement will help – with certain people, like my elderly dad – and other closet racists.

The problem with addressing that attack is that there’s not any graceful way to do it. Saying “I’m not a Muslim, not that I have any problem with that” doesn’t work.

Hear! Hear!

thanks for the link.

they’re [republicans] doing what they always do.

…which is pitting Americans against Americans.

still, if it makes a few more people comfortable voting for Obama, better now than never.

its not going to change the racists’ minds – they’ll write it off as a Black guy supporting a Black guy just because he’s Black.

it’s very easy. just say it’s incorrect. no need to call it a smear.

saying someone is muslim is not a smear.

Yup. I agree with all of this Jane.

Still, if it makes a few more people comfortable voting for Obama, better now than never.

That struck me too, Jane, even though Powell’s morphed into a smarmy sad thing whose opinions are probably forged, finger-in-the-wind style.

I was glad to see the Ohio Sunday newspapers all seem to have picked up the Powell story, at least in their web editions.

something for the “undecideds” and “independents” (hereinafter referred to as “The Uninformed”)

ROFLMFAO

Clown car.

For those of us here in the trenches, Powell’s endorsement is too little, too late a from someone who sold out long ago. But there’s still a significant portion of the country who value what he says. He still has a following amongst the clueless, the ignorant and the stubbornly stupid. That’s a big chunk of the Republican base right there.

Yeah, his endorsement along with a couple of bucks might get you a double tall in any liberal coffee shop but it will get you some cred in Kansas.

At this point in the campaign, we could use it all.

Powell reminds me of the “fair weather” Red Sox fans!

Everyone wants to support a winner!!!

Digg is now open Pups!!

Colin Powell “John from One soldier to another “You are Unfit to lead this Nation” That is exactly What Colin Powell is saying!!

Powell’s with us on everything but the war.

I think that the most important aspect of his statement wasn’t the Obama endorsement…it was that he scolded the McCain campaign for its divisive, racist, and McCarthyistic tactics.

i agree with this. and i hope it means that someday the not so racists republicans will take back their party from the crazies.

but even more than that, powell said what the whole country , and not only republicans, needed to hear.

The important thing about Powell’s endorsement is that he will have tremendous creds with the huge active and retired military in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida, as well as a large number of older moderate to right women. He is the biggest proof to date of Barack’s position of bipartisan uniter of the country. His endorsement is by a man who is clearly still a republican. He totally lays to waste the question of “is he ready?”. The most important thing to me is the one person who more than any other gave America permission to accept the possibility of an African-American president. Let’s celebrate this and save the recriminations for later.

Well said.

What was McCains rank when he retired from the Navy?

Not so much about the extra votes Powell might generate — although I grant there may be some Americans more comfortable with Obama now that Powell has blessed his campaign.

No, what pleases me is the teeth-grinding anger I know this must have generated in the McCain campaign, and the seething rage it likely produced in Gramps himself.

I mentioned months ago that Obama should ask so what if I were a Muslim. Some people mentioned that it would be a problem for him because of the status of women in the religion. Don’t know if Muslim women in America adhere to the constraints as they do in the mid-east.

“I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me,” Powell said. “Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower.”

No it’s not, they’re doing what they always do.

Which brings me back to the same dead horse I flog at least once a week around here.

As a black person, I cannot understand how other blacks support the Republican party.

Take our man Powell. Most of his glory years were had under a Democratic administration, then he gets set up by his own party in going before the UN re: Iraq, but even after his endorsement of Obama today, when asked , he said he’s still a Republican.

Amazing.

What do they have to do? Put Obama’s face on a box of waffles?

Make up a dollar bill with Obama in the middle of fried chicken, watermelon, kool aid, and ribs?

Oh wait, they’ve already done both.

Added bonus point. Out of the 535 seats in the House and Senate, there isn’t a black Republican in one of them.

Not one.

So what the hell is the reason for supporting them?

Captain.

Wasn’t it Captain?

Defies logic,don’t it??

Powell effectively said that Iraq will not be an issue for the next pres because the dates have been set.

I’m surprised he got that far.

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The McCain-Palin campaign today announced the endorsement of Mexican-American actress Katie Barberi.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..35954.html
and, from another article
“U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Independent Democrat from Connecticut who supports John McCain, will appear with state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Telenovela actress Katie Barberi and flutist Nestor Torres today at 3:30 p.m. at Pompano Citi Center, 1955 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach. Barberi plans to address the crowd at 2 p.m.”

Thanks!
So Powell outranks McCain,all I wanted to know!

NICE Jane, Powell also is offended by the Minnesota “Congressman” Michele Bachmann.

Petition to censure (very American) Bachmann here, 41,000 and growing.
http://www.censurebachmann.com/

Always lively 4 year old blog chronicling Bachamann’s antics Dump Bachmann.
http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/

Ok, PLEASE, post/repost.

Breaking news! Hitler rises from the dead, denounces racism and endorses Obama.

And Democrats cheer!

I knew I should have stolen a barf bag on my last flight.

Blue Texan has prepared a new post for our perusal: George Will: Colin Powell Endorsed Obama Because He’s Black

Bingo!! It is not about us. It’s about those Independents, few sane Republicans and Versailles.

Who? Is McPalin serious? Pitney is probably the only one talking about it, and as more of a joke than anything because he knows no one will even notice.

Really? Don’t you remember his position on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”? Did he apologize for that today?

Need to remember the Memphis congressional primary where the white candidate was overwhelmingly elected by an overwhelmingly minority community – this blows the argument of their voting for Obama because he is black completely out of the water.

The military promotes any service member being held captive on the date that person is eligible for the next higher rating/rank. McSFB was promoted to Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) and Commander (CDR) while being held as a POW. He was later promoted to Captain (CAPT). He was passed over for promotion to Rear Admiral (RADM), effectively ending his career.

Thank You SD. But it sure seems like General Powell is saying that to Jet Jockey Captain McCain! I respect Powell’s judgment much more than some Jet Jockey’s judgment! especially as he crashed four Naval Jets and in one caused the deaths of civilians. No wonder he doesn’t like the Spanish. they still hold a grudge against John for killing those civilians because he wanted to show off and go under the power lines! Unfortunately there was also a cable car running under it with live people in it!!

What do you expect from such a twerp as George Will??? He is a card carrying member of the Reich Wing!!

The Cincinnati Enquirer will NEVER endorse Obama.

don’t worry. i’m not holding my breath.

You mean someone actually looked at his “accomplishments” instead of his lineage?

(hereinafter referred to as “The Uninformed”)

Love the lawyerly verbage AND name. *g*

Being the son of the man who would go on to become Commander in Chief, US Pacific (CINCPAC) helps smooth over a lot of shit. It’s no wonder he had such a hard time with sitting down with the President of Spain. Prolly afraid the guy would want a little justice.

I wonder whether he’ll say “hey – Powell said some nice things about me too….”

Even if *he* doesn’t, his mouthpieces were saying exactly that on all the Sunday shows……assume they already had their talking points well in hand.

i don’t like that argument because it seems to be based on some false ideas about islam and the ME. the status of women has been a problem in christianity just as it has in islam. also, not all women in the ME subscribe the constraints of more conservative or fundamentalist versions of islam.

there’s no way i’d want to live in saudi arabia, for example. but that’s because it’s one fucked up country – and not because it’s a muslim country or that it’s in the ME.

Queen Ranai (sp) of Jordan on GPS. She is extremely intelligent

The Navy’s not known for promoting very many dingbats to flag rank. And those that do get promoted to RADM don’t last very long.

i can think powell should be tried at the hague AND recognize that he did something good today.

the two are not mutually exclusive.

Dugg.

Thanks for the link.

Thanks Jane.

Excellent thread.

I agree with that sentiment FHMIKE!! She is very intelligent and is a voice of reason for the Muslim world. The world needs more women like her!

My pleasure as usual Boo(:>))

Better late than never for Colin Powell to hop on board the Obama bandwagon. We welcome him and any other Republicans who know the end of the Bush regime and its supporters like McCain is quickly becoming a reality.

WHen we cheer for “one good thing” after all his years from Mai Lai to the last seventeen years in Iraq… knowing he is a bigot (his position on don’t ask don’t tell). When we cheer him, we lose far more from a progressive agenda standpoint, imo. He shouldn’t even be on national television at all (as a free celebrity)… except from war crimes trials or an interview from behind bars.

If we cheer for him now, we are encouraging Obama’s administration to forgive and forget a whole lot of war criminals just like Powell.

I left ya one downstairs about coding.

that’s a good point.

is there a way i can cheer for what he did today without it being a cheer for him? or is that just not possible?

Fareed Zacharia is endorsing Obama – calling Mcshames economics “magic”
fantastic articulation. McShame the past Obama the future.

Fareed Zakiria just endorsed Barak Obama!!!!

Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous!

Why not?

The previous Queen was a looker as well.

Is it really worth it? Is one obvious self serving segment on national television worth praising to the point we give up a lot of hard fought ground on everything from demanding main stream media present people as they really are, no needless war, open admission for all into military, justice for war criminals and so on?

Are we that easily fooled? Are we that hungry for a win, that we become and embrace what we fought against all these years?

Powell is a repulsive suck up and nothing more than a has been house negro for the republican guards. Condi plays the same role. Used and users. No ethics and no sense of history.

Just like a creep to suck up to Obi when it looks like the pukes are going down in flames.

I say put him on trial for war crimes in 09.

FWIW, I think Colin is “carrying water” for James Baker 3, elder Bush, … . Because of his appearance on Press the Meat today, in the eyes of Republicans, Powell has leverage to criticize Obama, that other Republicans do not. Whether Powell chooses to use that leverage going forward will be interesting.

Powell ought to be carrying buckets of fresh water to thirsty colic ridden Iraqi citizens for the rest of his days.

I agree, along with Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the Joint Chiefs.

i don’t care about powell’s endorsement – but i do care about his comments on muslims and islam. i thought that was very well done, something the country needed to hear and something i hadn’t seen done by any of the VSP before – including the obama campaign which explicitly has treated accusations that obama is muslim as a smear instead of inaccurate.

i’d be saying the same thing if there was no endorsement attached. and if there was only the endorsement, i would see nothing to cheer. i’m not cheering powell the person, i was cheering what he did today. i guess i see that as something quite different, but maybe i shouldn’t?

i think even people who’ve done bad all their lives are capable of doing something good if they choose to.

well, i think so. but if ES thinks differently, that’s something i’m going to take seriously.

thinking further on this…..

it seems somewhat similar to the grief i get for being critical of obama. since he’s really a good guy why bother pointing out what he does wrong and booing it?

isn’t that just the other side of the coin with power? since he’s really not a good guy why bother point out what he does good and cheering it?

i want to judge the actions on their own merit and not based on what i think of the person doing them.

but maybe i’m missing something?

i’d be saying the same thing if there was no endorsement attached. and if there was only the endorsement, i would see nothing to cheer. i’m not cheering powell the person, i was cheering what he did today. i guess i see that as something quite different, but maybe i shouldn’t?

i think even people who’ve done bad all their lives are capable of doing something good if they choose to.

It would have been much better if he had said those things without endorsing Obama, imo. It would have been much better if presented as the war criminal he is.. not as a hero. It would have been much better if he said them when it really mattered over the last few decades.

The Republicans get their cake here.. because Obama will embrace the neo nuts (looking for cover) instead of denouncing them. No bigot out there will be turned around because of a black mans self serving pearl clutching… but the establishment will get a lot of cover from future investigations by coddling Obama on days like today, if we let them.. And we just let them.

i also wish there hadn’t been any endorsement attached.

maybe wishful thinking, but i’m hoping that the bigots in my family (i love them still) will be turned at least a little by this. will report back if i can find out.

definitely agree with you that we should not let powell or any of the other war criminals off the hook for their crimes. although i think obama would embrace the neo nuts no matter what – that doesn’t mean we have to make it easy for him.

will think on what you’ve said ES. good points. thanks.

Captain (O6) Army equivalent is Colonel

If we cheer for him now, we are encouraging Obama’s administration to forgive and forget a whole lot of war criminals just like Powell.

I may be a bit out of step here at this blog, but there seems to be among many a total lack of faith in forgiveness and redemption. Of course, that may be because faith seems at times in short supply among some of my left wing compatriots. Jane’s ‘damn Colin Powell through faint praise’ writing in this thread starter is emblematic of this. Love ya, Jane, but I detect some bitterness and even projection in what you write here.

Barack Obama is a practicing Christian of the main stream and moderate type, and so is Joe Biden, so it would seem wise, should they win the election, to at least attempt to see the world, however fleetingly, through the eyes of folks who aspire to the image of Christ forgiving his torturers from the cross on which they nailed Him. It might help the atheists and agnostics among us see the Obama perspective when he reaches out and attempts govern this unruly nation.

Can’t some attempt to mime this, however weak in comparison, be applied to people who change their minds – presumably after thoughtful analysis and a change of heart -such as Gen. Powell? After all, Powell would be a fine Secretary of Defense, having commanded soldiers under fire, and could begin to wash away the damage inflicted on military morale by Bush II and Rumsfeld.

Get used to increased inclusiveness in an Obama Administration, and increased emphasis on forms of non-religious redemption: it’s part of the faith the man lives.

Happy Sunday! And peace!

Powell is the kind of Christian human being who has assured we are a nation who wages needless war and torture.

I want a nation of laws, not men, not religion. Especially not when those men and their religion lie us into war.

Forgive him personally, spiritually.. that’s wonderful… if he ever admits what he’s done and asks for forgiveness sincerely. But that should not trump justice, war crimes charges, etc.

At best, Powell is a miserable failure at his job(s).. he certainly should not be respected for his service in any way, nor should his views be respected, except perhaps by friends around the living room who all sigh together an say ”we tried.” Maybe you should read Ian’s excellent post from yesterday, because this is all about protecting the inner circles, imo. It’s what they do at all cost.

Why is it Obama denounced Christians like Rev. Wright who are ardently against needless war and racism at every moment, yet today many are cheering Obama’s coddling of Powell, a man who couldn’t begin to admit to all the needless oceans of blood left in his miserable wake or years of fighting against equality in the military for all?

Today wasn’t a religious showing, that’s a different show altogether.. it was pure politics. It wasn’t about redemption except in the most blatant attempt at covering his arse in the near future… along with many many of his fellow war criminals who are perhaps just a little bit worried at the moment. Big media wanted this almost as much as the neo cons they have been helping for years now. The very last thing they want is future scrutiny.

You can’t have peace if you continuously allow these neo cons (in any party or religion) to continue on with credibility, hero status and no accountability. If the last forty years of our history doesn’t demonstrate that to you fully…. I wonder, what will it take?

Screw Colin and his toady-like butt-kissing.

I am an Obama supporter & volunteer. I do not care what Colin Powell says or does. Colin Powell is simply another G.H.W. Bush crony who put his allegiance to his patron Bush ‘41 ABOVE and BEYOND his duty to country. He lied his country into an illegal invasion, and then tried to be “reasonable” about how to go forward in the debacle. For THIS he is admired? Give me a break.

Powell helped cover-up the My Lai massacre for his Army bosses.
He lent an air of ‘gravitas’ to an inept Texas Governor, the son of his career patron, and helped America into this historic disaster.

Colin Powell’s loyalty is beyond reproach.
Unfortunately America is not the foremost in Mr. Powell’s loyalty,

Do I find Mr. Powell’s endorsement possibly beneficial? It MAY be, it MAY NOT be. But my allegiance is to the truth and to honesty, not to person or party or ideology. This is not something I can say about Mr. Powell.

Apparently the Shadow DOES know!

In my terribly humble opinion…

In general Obama should give inspirational speeches with just a little contrast to McCain and responding to attacks (the way he has been) and in press conferences or up close with individuals he should help people know what he would do on specific policies by giving details (as he did with Joe the Plumber).

However, to reach into red state territory he needs to connect with those people on their own terms. Many respond to authority figures and endorsements can mean a lot to them. Many know Bush hasn’t done well, but they don’t need to be browbeaten over it. Some people might be nervous about voting for Obama and need to know their peers and others they respect support him. They need support for their choice to vote for Obama probably more than policy information.

Sure is out on a limb but keep in mind he is stabbing his own party. I am no fan of Powell, however his endorsement comments/speech on Meet the Press was a work of art.

I was as impressed with it as I was shocked by Congress slime MN-06 (Bachus sp?).

Also this race is NOT over (given voter fraud and the potential for crazy negative attacks to have enough impact in certain states. They have also laid the groundwork for “doubt” to help try to steal the election. One thing is for sure, Obama is going to handily win the popular vote. If he loses we may see a 53-48 vote split and a loss (potentially a difference of 5 million or more). That being said I think Obama cakewalks in the end but the polls are already tightening in some categories day to day (daily polls). Powell helps. If Obama keeps his weekly poll numbers up into late this week then its cakewalk time.

I am saddened that many of you condemn Powell so completely. I don’t think the man is free of blame, but I also think his failures were borne of human weakness rather than of pure evil. I guess it comes down whether to you believe in moral absolutes.

And of course this act of contrition was for himself. I imagine he will sleep much better at night now.

http://www.slate.com/id/2095756/

I saw a waffle mix called “Get Out the Vote” waffle mix.
The display had McCain on half of the boxes This was not an Aunt Jemima-type charicature, but a pretty decent portrait of each candidate, and the slogan was “Don’t Waffle, Vote!”

I can’t find a reference online so I can show you; every search turns up the objectionable one.