Colin Powell Officially Endorses Obama (political)

[Belegon]

It was rumored, now it is official. The one man within the Bush Administration with the courage to stand up to "The Decider" AND the sense of duty to continue to do his job has decided to go with the Democrat.

He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said on NBC's Meet the Press.

"I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities -- and you have to take that into account -- as well as his substance -- he has both style and substance," Powell said. "He has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president."

What do the litizens of the AH think will be the impact of this announcement?

 

[freshface]

It was rumored, now it is official. The one man within the Bush Administration with the courage to stand up to "The Decider" AND the sense of duty to continue to do his job has decided to go with the Democrat.

What do the litizens of the AH think will be the impact of this announcement?

People who already support Obama will see this as confirmation that they made the right choice. People who support McCain will see this as evidence that race trumps competence. It would undercut McCain's claim that Obama isn't experienced enough, but has he used that argument since he picked Palin?

 

[Belegon]

People who already support Obama will see this as confirmation that they made the right choice. People who support McCain will see this as evidence that race trumps competence. It would undercut McCain's claim that Obama isn't experienced enough, but has he used that argument since he picked Palin?

I think that is a good summation of how the partisan reactions will go... however, what about the still sizable portion that is identifying themselves as uncommitted?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Well, if I hadn't already decided to go with Obama it would have decided me. Since I already mailed in my ballot, though, it's meaningless.

 

[freshface]

I think that is a good summation of how the partisan reactions will go... however, what about the still sizable portion that is identifying themselves as uncommitted?

They're a mystery to me. I don't see how you can be uncommitted after two years of campaigning. For those leaning toward Obama, this might give them the confidence that he has enough experience.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

It will give Obama some extra credibility. And reduce Powell's, in certain circles.

 

[sweetness6280]

Yes, he has used the experience card since picking Palin. In fact, Palin and McCain have both used it.

As for the endorsement, it will not change the minds of those solidly in either camp. I suspect it will sway those independents for whom the experience and foreign policy issues were uppermost. Powell also cited the responses of both men during the economic crisis as being a factor in his decision to endorse Obama. Powell is respected by a large number of independents, so the potential impact could be enough to tip a larger majority of the independent vote to Obama. If this happens, it gives Obama a greater advantage.

There are still far too many variables to believe it's over.

 

[epiphany65]

Powell is still perceived, or blamed, as one of the people who got The US into Iraq based on faulty intelligence, so this baggage might hurt Obama somewhat. But those who would use it have dirty hands too, and not just from slinging mud.

 

[freshface]

Powell is still perceived, or blamed, as one of the people who got The US into Iraq based on faulty intelligence, so this baggage might hurt Obama somewhat. But those who would use it have dirty hands too, and not just from slinging mud.

I think the people who still blame Powell for Iraq are most likely to be strong Obama supporters, so I'd be surprised if this swayed them. People in the center are more likely to believe that Bush used him to do his dirty work at the UN. I agree that this will sway the independents, especially the ones worried about foreign policy. It's also likely to affect military voters, who still respect Powell.

 

[Liar]

Just heard a random pundit saying it would mean a lot for Obama in Virginia and North Carolina. Something about lots of military communities there that thinks highly of Powell.

For what it's worth.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Just heard a random pundit saying it would mean a lot for Obama in Virginia and North Carolina. Something about lots of military communities there that thinks highly of Powell.

For what it's worth.

Lots of military all over the country think highly of Powell and resent deeply the way he was treated in the first Dubya admin., especially by that thundering, stupid asshole Rumsfeld.

 

[rgraham666]

I feel sorry for Powell. Like the Generals of the Wehrmacht of The Third Reich he had to choose between duty and honor when serving George The Lesser.

 

[shereads]

It would undercut McCain's claim that Obama isn't experienced enough, but has he used that argument since he picked Palin?

Frequently. He (McCain) seems blind to the irony.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

If Powell hadn't decided that it was better to be a good husband than to be president, he'd have been in the White House instead of Clinton.

 

[shereads]

Early voting

Is it available where you live?

Is it a good idea?

I'm voting tomorrow, not merely to avoid potentially long lines on election day but in case I get hit by a truck or have a family emergency or for some other reason can't make it to the polls on on V-Day.

Still, ever since early voting became commonplace, I've wondered what would happen if a candidate became ill or had to drop out of the race for some reason. Would votes already cast on his behalf then go to his running mate? Is there a Constitutional provision for replacing a candidate on ballots already cast?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

We do on the Left Coast and I already have. I like it. Once I drop that suckah in the mailbox I can ignore politics completely!

 

[shereads]

I feel sorry for Powell. Like the Generals of the Wehrmacht of The Third Reich he had to choose between duty and honor when serving George The Lesser.

It's not possible to know whether his choice was one of duty or political expediency (his son had a politically appointed job with the FCC, after all, so there would likely have been more than one wrecked career if Powell had refused to make Bush's case before the UN.)

The one certainty about Powell's decision back then is that one road led to what he already believed would be a disastrous world-changing war. If he had chosen the other road - gone public with his concerns about the intelligence, maybe resigned in protest and called a press conference to advise Americans against supporting the war and Congress against giving Bush war powers - he might have saved innumerable lives and helped assure that we would focus our resources on securing Afghanistan and our own borders.

How often is someone with Colin Powell's credibility offered a chance to save the world? It's hard to imagine what duty would be more compelling than that one.

This endorsement of the candidate who opposed Bush's war may be Powell's moral redemption; his quiet mea culpa.

I wonder: is his son still working for the Republicans? Good luck, kiddo.

 

[shereads]

We do on the Left Coast and I already have. I like it. Once I drop that suckah in the mailbox I can ignore politics completely!

And yet you're here.

 

[impressive]

"Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with a seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion that he is a Muslim and might have an association with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

"I feel particularly strong about this because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay, was of a mother at Arlington Cemetery and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone, and it gave his awards - Purple Heart, Bronze Star - showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death, he was 20 years old. And then at the very top of the head stone, it didn't have a Christian cross. It didn't have a Star of David. It has a crescent and star of the Islamic faith.

"And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. And he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was fourteen years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he could serve his country and he gave his life."

~ Colin Powell, 19 October 2008

 

[voluptuary_manque]

And yet you're here.

I can't ignore my former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Work I did was briefed to them.

 

[shereads]

"Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with a seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion that he is a Muslim and might have an association with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

"I feel particularly strong about this because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay, was of a mother at Arlington Cemetery and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone, and it gave his awards - Purple Heart, Bronze Star - showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death, he was 20 years old. And then at the very top of the head stone, it didn't have a Christian cross. It didn't have a Star of David. It has a crescent and star of the Islamic faith.

"And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. And he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was fourteen years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he could serve his country and he gave his life."

~ Colin Powell, 19 October 2008

Uh-oh. Is Colin Powell an Arab?

 

[jomar]

Is it available where you live?

Is it a good idea?

I'm voting tomorrow, not merely to avoid potentially long lines on election day but in case I get hit by a truck or have a family emergency or for some other reason can't make it to the polls on on V-Day.

Last Friday was the first day for early voting in my area and the lines were one to three hours long. I was looking up mail-in voting after da bear mentioned it, but I'll probably just go in mid-morning sometime next week or so and vote.

Still, ever since early voting became commonplace, I've wondered what would happen if a candidate became ill or had to drop out of the race for some reason. Would votes already cast on his behalf then go to his running mate? Is there a Constitutional provision for replacing a candidate on ballots already cast?

Voters get a do-over?

 

[Lee Chambers]

I was leaning towards Obama but was still uncertain. Not anymore.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I was leaning towards Obama but was still uncertain. Not anymore.

Which way do you lean now?

 

[epiphany65]

Still, ever since early voting became commonplace, I've wondered what would happen if a candidate became ill or had to drop out of the race for some reason. Would votes already cast on his behalf then go to his running mate? Is there a Constitutional provision for replacing a candidate on ballots already cast?

Each party has provisions for this circumstance in their constitution, but they differ. Here is the long answer:

http://www.slate.com/id/2201173/