Powell's endorsement

[Ken]

After listening to Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama I have to admit that Obama is my second choice--to Powell. Powell's eloquent reflection on seeing the star and crescent of Islam on a marker on Arlington National Cemetery spoke to the conduct of our politics even more eloquently than even Obama.
Overall, I was amazed that although I have little in common with Powell (I have no military service, I'm white, I'm from Texas, etc) his reasons for supporting Obama were closer to my own than anyone else I've heard from this year.
I don't know how many minds were changed by Powell's words. However, he has made me feel much better about my vote.

[KarenJoyceKleinman]

I wish they could re-show that video of Colin Powell's endorsement OVER AND OVER again while Obama is out in Hawaii with his sick grandmother. I heard more attacks on the radio station that Rush Limbaugh is on out here in California, and they are re-iterating a point that Barack has "rubbed elbows" with terrorists. And they brought up Rev. Wright again. You'd think people would get sick of that. They obviously are not. I'm so thankful that Colin Powell did come out and speak up. Right next to this blog box is a headline from nationalsurveyresponse.com saying "IS COLIN POWELL A TRAITOR". So that's what the Pubs are going to go after next. If Powell is for Obama, then it follows he's a traitor?

[Darrin Bell]

I admired Powell for a time, starting with his address to the Republican convention in 1996 where he had the guts to lecture the crowd about their opposition to affirmative action. And if he had run that year against Bill Clinton, I would have voted for him. He's one of the only Republicans I've ever seen who was able to make a case for his ideals without demonizing liberals. Reminded me of Eisenhower. If the party were filled with Powells and Eisenhowers, it would be respectable. But Powell seriously tarnished his image when he went before the UN and showed them fuzzy satellite pictures of trailers and an empty vial of air and portrayed it as "evidence."

I've always faulted Powell for prizing loyalty over all else. I've always suspected he knew better in 2002 and 2003, but he set his doubts aside and carried out his orders because that's what he thinks loyalty and duty are all about. I totally disagree with that notion. I believe the only loyalty that matters is to humanity and to the truth, not to your superiors (which is why I'd never have been a good fit for the army). And Powell's assessment of what makes a good commander in chief would go a lot further with me if he had ever said Bush wasn't one. But if he's willing to be disloyal to his longtime friend and his party to endorse Obama, and if he found himself compelled to denounced Republican distraction and demonization tactics, that was significant. It tells me the sane wing of the Republican Party also believes it's time for this crap to end. And I think it may make the difference for some disgusted Republicans and many fed up independents. A CNN poll yesterday indicated the Powell endorsement makes almost 20% of undecided voters "more likely" to vote for Obama.

[PeaceZGood]

I saw those pictures that Powell presented as "evidence" also, and was equally shocked. However, I think that is the one time he allowed himself to be PRESSURED by Bush. Either that, or he was blackmailed or threatened by Bush. I have heard that Bush threatened people who said they would impeach him, and many people were scared of him. I don't think that he is really the dumbest president, but he is probably the scariest and wily beyond comprehension. It takes a smart man to make himself sound that dumb, and smart man who can manipulate so many people. He's smart in the same way Hitler was. That doesn't mean good, by the way. SMART can mean something positive, but in this case, it means like a barracuda with sharp teeth; and, when they get a mouth grip on you, you can't pull them off. They bleed you until you die. I think Bush perpetrated pressure on Colin Powell to INTERPRET what we saw in a way Bush wanted.

[Ken]

I exercised some dramatic license and over-stated my fondness for Powell because his endorsement was eloquent and thoughtful. I will concede that Powell’s loyalty may have been misguided.

However (I’m trying to avoid agreeing with Darrin all the time), from reading Woodward’s series of books I have a sense that he found himself stuck in a tough spot. Yeah, lying to the UN/Americans/the world was bad but the intelligence floating around the administration had been hijacked by the Neo-cons and Powell may have believed the information he had at the time. As Secretary of State he didn’t have control over the intelligence community and he might have been mislead himself.
I don’t believe that Powell’s loyalty was political or personal. I think it was military and professional. Resigning from a cabinet position over a policy disagreement in the middle of a crisis would be extreme. The war seemed to be going ahead with or without his support and he might have felt that parting ways with the rest of the administration would only insure catastrophe. He was the last sane voice in the foreign policy process and it was important to have at least one grownup in the room.

[Darrin Bell]

All right, if you're not going to agree with me, then I'm just going to have to agree with you.

[KarenJoyceKleinman]

She is saying she accepts this series of conversation. Smart girl!