Race to the White House: Should Colin Powell Endorse Obama?
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On Race to the White House with David Gregory, the punditocracy was all aflutter at Colin Powell's interview with ABC's Good Morning America in which he refrained from endorsing any candidate but made some positive statements about Barack Obama. So naturally, the media decides that the topic should be whether Powell will endorse Obama. Even though he's said he hasn't decided on any one candidate. The Weekly Standard's Matthew Continetti opines:
Continetti: It’s possible that Powell will endorse Obama, although I think it’s more likely that he’ll refuse to endorse any candidate. And one reason is that he obviously knows John McCain well and they’ve come together on the torture issue, if you recall. They’re both opponents of aggressive interrogation techniques. So I think it’s more likely that Powell just sits this one out and perhaps awaits for maybe a position in the next Democratic administration.
Gregory: Do you think he’d be willing to serve?
Continetti: I think so. I think if called under the right circumstances…certainly, from someone like Obama who of course represents a huge milestone historically, but also wants to show he can reach out to Republicans in some fashion, even if they’re disgruntled Republicans, like Gen. Powell.
So Powell and McCain have bonded over their mutual stance against torture? Funny, that. None of the talking heads seem particularly concerned that neither Powell nor McCain actually did anything to stop torture when they had the opportunity.
And while this notion that Powell is a "disgruntled" Republican may well be true (I know a lot of Republicans that are disgusted by what the neo-cons have done to their party), where does Continetti get this whole 'waiting for the next Democratic administration' trial balloon? Why should any man who held up cartoon pictures of mobile WMD labs in front of the UN ever have credibility in any administration?
Will Bunch thinks that Obama should reject and denounce Powell's endorsement, should it be offered.
Primero?
Who cares?
Why should I care about who Mr. International Arms Dealer endorses?
That's their "mutual stance" .. get it?
Yeah , McStupid is so against torture , he voted against the bill (the Feinstein Amendment) , which would have outlawed it..........Which makes perfect sense from a GOP perspective and especially Matthew Continetti .
Asking someone from The Weakly SubStandard to write something of value and worth is akin to asking Chimpy to speak proper English.........
Who cares? Isn't Powell a war criminal?
Sure Colin. Maybe you can illustrate why Obama would want your worthless endorsement with a crayola colored drawing. Fuck you, war criminal.
"I am against everything I stand for!" - Future Quote From McCain and Powell.
Are there still dummkopfs who really care what this liar has to say?
How about a legal opinion from Sandra Day O'Conjob?
you mean colin powell the war criminal? no.
Personally, I think it would be wise for Obama to reject Powell's endorsement if he should offer it. Powell's presentation at the UN to persuade them to support Bush's war in Iraq is what people remember. An endorsement by Powell could cut both ways but I think its more than likely that Obama's core supporters will not like it one bit.
Colin Powell endorsed the invasion of Iraq. His credibility is pretty well shot.
Colin Powell should be interviewing personal attorneys to begin preparations to defend himself against charges of Crimes Against Humanity for his complicity in bearing false witness to the United Nations with the intent to commit war and for his direct role in authorizing and stipulating precisely which methods of torture ought to be employed by uniformed military personnel against non-uniformed (alleged) enemies in an undeclared war.
The Colin-oscopy that really stuck it up our rear!
Colin Powell’s Role in the PRETEXT:
The "Ambassadors" who worked for Colin Powell at “State” were all in the service of the Intelligence Community. Powell knew PRECISELY what the deal was. He was NEVER in the dark. He was PART of the Intelligence Community.
He did what "Good Soldiers" do. He performed honorably (by their standards) to serve the goals of the Intelligence Community - the center of ALL power in the Government.
All of them knew what the deal was, as they are all privy to the REAL game plan, not the one you read about or see on TV.
They know in advance the strategy of the Federal Reserve, any major market-moving announcements, the CIA's REAL agenda in every country, Carlyle's role in world affairs, Defense Department PsyOps, BlackOps, all of it.
An attitude of superiority and arrogance pervades the halls of power, and the prevailing attitude is this (as related to me by one of THEM directly):
"Nothing is as it appears, literally nothing. There is no Osama Bin Laden. The war in Iraq is going according to plan. The plan called for a quagmire and a protracted occupation.
We just want you to go on about your lives, doing your jobs, raising your children, sending them off to college...just living your lives day to day, and we'll take care of the nasty stuff."
This is the prevailing attitude at the highest levels in Washington. Literally nothing that you see in the news can be relied upon as factual. The news for the most part is scripted and manufactured by the government to coincide with a script that serves the strategic goals of those claiming to represent you. They are so arrogant, many actually believe their activities are in your best interest.
When you see the following:
"Former Rand Analyst"
used to describe someone, think "arrogant spook with a heart of stone."
When you see the name:
"Bin Laden" think CIA Invention.
These "Analysts" are everywhere within corporate America, working for companies, and for the government too. You see them on TV news nearly every day, as half of the talking heads interviewed on world affairs and terrorism are all on the same team, singing from the same script...the Government Script.
Nothing is as it appears...Nothing.
The following is from an article by Ron Suskind:
The aide said that guys like me were ''in what we call the reality-based community,'' which he defined as people who ''believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.'' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ''That's not the way the world really works anymore,'' he continued.
''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.''
Sound like Karl Rove to you? THE ARROGANCE IS OVERWHELMING
Who would want Powell's endorsement? This man left his manhood and honor on the carpet at Bush's feet like a skid mark left by a dog pulling itself across the floor to wipe its ass.
nony @ 15:
It takes more than arrogance to change reality, thankfully. It sure can fuck things up though.
You know the term "talking heads" becomes more and more apt...notice it's NOT "talking brains"...I'm retired, have opinions, read al ot, think occasionally and have a BIG MOUTH...sign me up for those BIG BUCKS that the fools who appear readily on MSM are getting...I need to beef up my portfolio for the kids/grandkids so they aren't in soup lines when I'm gone!!!
Powell discraced himself when he knowingly lied this country into a ruinous war for Bush Co.
Why does the media or the American public have to listen to anything this corrupt man has to say?
He has zero chance, make that less than zero chance of being Obama's Veep choice.
Now what would make more sense is if the McCain could get him for Veep. It would be a big counter to Obama's "blackness factor" (cons could feel all warm and fuzzy about having a nigra on the ticket). I would like to believe however that Powell would never make that jump since he's been effed over by BushCo at least twice - once when he was asked to join the Chimp administration thereby neutering any presidential possibilities for 8 years (and remembery, he was a *real* spoiler in the Rep party for a while, threatening to eliminate Duhbya) and second, when he accepted the snowjob at the UN assignment. Prolly many other times we *don't* know about as well.
Is he that "good" of a soldier? Again, I'd like to believe not.
"Race to the White House: Should Colin Powell Endorse Obama?
By: Nicole Belle @ 6:38 AM - PDT"
Should SOMEBODY - ANYBODY ask Colin Powell what he said in those White House torture method approval meetings?
Powell has to be the worst of the bunch in my opinion. He chose "loyalty" and "being a good soldier" over his official responsibilities and oath to the Constitution and the American people when he got on board with the Iraq invasion and went to the U.N.
Fuck him and his worthless lying endorsement.
no. colin powell should be arrested, tried and hung for his complicity in crimes against humanity.
Powell has no cred.
McLame has no cred.
They're both sellouts.
Obama should keep his distance from Colinoscopy.
SO HOW DID DICK CHENEY’S HALLIBURTON COME TO BARE THE LIABILITY FOR ASBESTOS RELATED CLAIMS IN THE UNITED STATES? CHENEY, HALLIBURTON, THE BUSH FAMILY, AND ASBESTOS:
Dick Cheney, Halliburton, Inc., and, reportedly, the Bush family are surprisingly well acquainted with asbestos-related concerns.
On December 18, 2002, CBS News reported that Halliburton "has agreed to pay about $4 billion in cash and stock to settle hundreds of thousands of asbestos claims against it." Reportedly, Halliburton inherited its asbestos liability from Harbison-Walker, a unit of Halliburton's subsidiary Dresser Industries, and from Halliburton's Kellog Brown & Root subsidiary.
On December 13, 2001, the World Socialist Web Site reported that "During the 2000 election campaign critics noted that in the last several years Cheney and Halliburton had contributed $157,500 to congressional candidates who had co-sponsored legislation to cut off victims' rights to a fair recovery when injured or killed as a result of asbestos exposure."
And on August 11, 2002, The Olympian (from Olympia, WA), carried a Washington Post article noting that:
"Dresser had close ties to a family Cheney knew well: the Bushes. Cheney's boss while he served as Secretary of Defense, President George H.W. Bush, was once being groomed to run Dresser, a company that Bush's father and grandfather had reshaped decades earlier.
When Dresser went public in the 1920s, it turned to W.A. Harriman & Co., whose president was George Herbert Walker, grandfather and namesake to former president Bush. Prescott Bush, the former president's father, helped organize Dresser and select its new president, H. Neil Mallon. Prescott Bush eventually sat on the board and by 1941, still held 1,900 shares of Dresser stock. Mallon was so close to former president Bush that he described him in his autobiography as "surrogate uncle and father-confessor." One of his sons, Neil Mallon Bush, is named after him. After World War II, Mallon employed George H.W. Bush and Dresser executives expected him to take over the company, according to journalist Darwin Payne, who wrote a history of Dresser. Instead, the former president left to prospect for oil.
While Cheney saw sound business reasons for acquiring Dresser, there was a problem in its past -- the use of asbestos in Harbison-Walker division products."
That story about Halliburton acquiring the asbestos liabilities of Dresser Industries raises an interesting point...Cheney KNEW that Dresser had the most massive liability issue on planet earth (he had to have known) yet decided to pay good money to bring Dresser's problems under Halliburton's tent.
This raises the question...who were the largest shareholders of Dresser - in need of a lifeboat to save their own personal bacon? Anyone named Bush? Anyone named Carlyle?
The deal went like this: Cheney agrees for Halliburton to take on the Dresser asbestos liability. It is determined that Bush and Cheney will be (s)elected, and that the PNAC plan will be implemented - using 9/11 as the essential pretext. Ken Lay plays his role using his Enron smoke and mirrors tactics to create a faux energy crisis in California, causing the public to demand an energy-savvy administration be elected. With the asbestos liability and other matters hanging in the balance, the election of 2000 simply had to be rigged in order for the plan to go in to effect.
Following the appointment of Bush and Cheney, the secret energy planning meeting established which oil companies would reap the rewards of the pending invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.
The timing and the pretext were predetermined, and 9/11 was greenlighted for 9/11/2001. Cheney outsourced the implementation to Mossad, and ran the show from his bunker on D Day under the cover of preplanned drills simulating the exact attack that was proscribed, with NORAD as coconspirator. At least 50 administration officials and countless foreign agents were in on it.
Once the entire charade was concluded, the Administration generally, and Cheney specifically, had every reason in the world to blame Iraq.
The Afghanistan mission could not provide Halliburton with enough revenue to offset the massive asbestos liability claim. Iraq and Iran are essential wars in order to provide cover for the infusion of the billion of TAX DOLLARS necessary to both profit Halliburton for its actual work AND cover the massive asbestos liability claims.
Now you know why Halliburton was awarded the contracts without the need to bid for them. This was all prearranged.
NOTE: Private enterprise pushed its legal/financial obligations onto tax payers using war as the excuse.
The asbestos liability claims of Dresser Industries were ultimately paid by you and me, and our troops in the field, all to ensure that the investors in Dresser didn't take the multibillion dollar loss.
State of the Union speech in 2005:
"To make our economy stronger and more competitive, America must reward, not punish, the efforts and dreams of entrepreneurs. Small business is the path of advancement, especially for women and minorities, so we must free small businesses from needless regulation and protect honest job-creators from junk lawsuits. (Applause.) Justice is distorted, and our economy is held back by irresponsible class-actions and frivolous asbestos claims -- and I urge Congress to pass legal reforms this year."
GEORGE W. BUSH
Joe O. @ 11:
I gotta agree with you on this. As much respect and stature that was once Powell's, it has disappeared over the years of his not speaking out against the Bush administration and expressing his remorse for allowing himself to be corrupted. He could have done that with impugnity once he was out of the administration -- he had nothing more to lose from them. They stripped him of all that was admirable and honorable, and while I pity him, there's no need to forgive him unless he openly expresses remorse and condemns his corrupters.
Anyone who has ever attached their caboose to George Bush's train has seen their credibility shot. Powell is no exception. An endorsement from Powell could be more like a kiss of death.
Who cares? But look at it this way, the GOP will never forgive him, in their eyes he will be a traitor to their cause. You know, destroy the middle class and try to dominate the world. They will tar and feather him, Hmm. ., maybe not a bad idea.
Way back when, when I heard that Powell was going to the UN to convince them of Saddam's WMD, that was the one time I allowed myself to doubt my own feelings. My feelings at the time were that the whole WMD thing was bullshit. But I thought if someone like Colin Powell is convinced, I want to see and hear what he has to say. I saw his primitive drawings, heard the garbled phone recording and saw his dramatic presentation with the vial of scary stuff. I just shook my head because I had such admiration for the man but at that presentation he looked pathetic. He was playing a part in order to start a war. My admiration for him and my respect for him went away that day.
If he's smart, he won't endorse anyone. Good soldier or not, who can ever trust him again?
If he endorses Obama I don't think it would make any difference one way or the other.
Maybe these are sort of "gotcha" endorsements: endorsements you'd be too polite to say no to, but would not want to wish on your worst enemy.
Wait 'til Bush and Cheney endorse Obama and/or Clinton.
Unlike you Patricia, I never had a doubt WMD's. I, like millions of other Americans, were duped. That is why I feel so damn guilty. I usually pride myself on being smart, but I was truly stupid. That is why I am so pissed off.
pissed off patricia @ 28:
His credibility was shot for me when the Republican party convinced him not to run for President in exchange for a cabinet post. It was only later i heard he got to be a General for helping to cover up the Mi Lai Massacre.
I'm sorry but I should give a rat's ass who Powell endorses why? Like PoP, I allowed myself to think "If Powell says it, then it must be true"..sadly he was just another one of the fuckwits in the federal govt.
P.D. @ 30:
You shouldn't ; it isn't as if everyone knows the finite life-span of a WMD.
How many people even heard of the term "WMD" until Chimpy and Co constantly stressed it ?
Mr. Powell:
The Iraq war is a quagmire by design - and you know it for a fact.
They did all the planning to identify what would be required for "success," and then they did JUST THE OPPOSITE as soon as Baghdad had been captured.
The looting was the starting point - and Bremmer was sent in to ensure that mayhem and disfunctionality were the outcome.
YOU KNOW THE ENTIRE TRUTH.
If you don't want a seat in the dock at the Hague, it's time to become a Whistleblower and stop these Zionists from launching their armageddon strategy against Iran and Syria.
You are directly responsible if you do nothing. This half-truth shit has got to stop. It's too late to save your soul, as it was your testimony before the United Nations that convinced the American People to stand behind the effort to invade (not me - but most).
Without your testimony, this war never would have happened.
You have a chance to save the world from certain nuclear war, the end result of which is known to you in vivid detail.
We know Israel is blackmailing you and all of your co-conspirators, but what do you have to lose at this point? Save the world. Tell the truth. Reveal Israel's role and STOP THIS MADNESS.
WTF?
nony @ 13:
Going by what was written about the moronic AbuG torturers who put their 'fun' pictures up on websites and passed them around on CDRs,
they had no officers around when the nasty stuff was going on, only NCOs and other who were civilian TLA types doing the bossing.
The army officers knew outright what was going down was illegal so made themselves absent to avoid prosecution and future court martial.
Mr. Powell has disgraced himself a long time ago with his failure to resign at the time the Bush administration was trotting out their lies about WMD, etc. I can't believe he has any prestige or clout worth speaking of, anymore. He has emerged as a weak and cowardly person.
http://www.disinfo.com/archive/pages/dossier/id803/pg1/
Well, that's a similar position, right? Neither is willing to actually stand up to Bushco.
Also, don't forget that Powell was in charge of the internal investigation of My Lai and tried to whitewash it. Here's a quote from his report: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent."
Then later, while serving as secretary of State, Powell said on CNN, "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored."
You know, Powell has always been a little squishy in the area of morality.
Powell is a disgrace to the uniform he wore, and the country he served. Obama needs him like a hole in the head.
nony @ 34:
WTF indeed. Here we have yet another "It's all Israel's fault we're in Iraq". F-that argument. We're there for the oil and for Busholini's need for revenge.
Tell me, how is Israel "blackmailing" this country????????
pissed off patricia @ 28:
I wish that I could say the same, but I fell for it. I didn't know about his history. I didn't know that he authored the cover-up of My Lai. I didn't know that when push came to shove, he would back his superiors instead of doing the right thing. So I bought the UN presentation and didn't lose respect until much later.
My bad.
Who cares? Powell is a Republican and he sat in with "The Principals" in their discussions of torturing detainees. If I were Obama, I wouldn't want his endorsement.
Dr. Acula @ 40:
I have to agree with you, Dr. Acula.
The notion that this country ever does anything that is not in its self interest is laughable. We prop up Israel to keep a foothold in the Middle East. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are merely an expansion on that theme.
Why would anyone want Powell's endorsement?
The guy failed to protect the troops with whom he once served by letting the Bush administration run all over him. And till this day he hasn't come out as a whistleblower.
Screw Powell.....
P.D. @ 30:
You can be proud of your sentiment. That is a good first step.
I believe that when it comes to the question of war, we should all practice due diligence. that means looking for independent confirmation of "Facts" as reported by the media.
On the WMD count, the UN had all of the pertinent documents on their web site, indexed and easy to find. So when I first started hearing the claims, I went to the source and read the reports.
As the war rhetoric was heating up, it turned into a mob frenzy. At times I felt pulled to join the mob, and feel the heat of fervor in the march to war. But i couldn't, do that, when I knew that the emotion was based on false information. I tried to get everyone I knew to read the UN documents, but no one would.
And even when they seemed to believe me that the rationale for war was fabricated, they pointed out that Saddam was a brutal dictator and talked about his rape and torture rooms. Remember the human meat grinder that turned out to be a fiction?
So know Saddam is gone and Bush is the brutal dictator that runs rape and torture rooms. Yeah we really made Jesus proud with that one.
Question everything! And after you question it, verify! Almost everyone either believes or questions data that disagrees with their emotions. We need as a nation to start researching on our own, rather than rely on 'Bubble-Headed Beach Blondes that can talk about a car crash, with a tear in their eye.', to educate us.
And that is a problem. Our adult continuing education is provided by bimbos and empty suits.
We can't rely on anyone to educate us. We must educate ourselves.
Xoites @ 43 -- thanks. And a belated congrats on your upcoming nuptials!
When Powell was testifying, they showed satellite Photos of some facilities but no photos, just drawings of the mobile labs. I knew then, there is something wrong here.
I don't get it? Your statement about Powell and McPain being together and against torture? That is completely false. They are both pro torture, both have agreed it is just fine, and both are war criminals.
Please clarify why you would print something as misleading as this?
Thanks Doc! :)
Powell=war criminal
xoites defends Constitution @ 43:
Nations do things against their own self interest all of the time.
To go with a strong example, did the Philippines always act in their own self interest when Ferdinand Marcos was ruling the country?
Sometimes, nations sacrifice their well being, in order to enrich it's wealthy owners. Like the US is doing now.
nony @ 34:
What a bunch of utter bullshit. This is nobodys fault but bush & company. This was all about the chimp one upping his dad and oil. When it comes down to it bush could give a shit about Israel.
Any discussion that would reveal the entire truth would not be allowed here. I think you know that to be true.
Have you seen the Fox expose about Comverse and their ability to tap literally ever phone in the US even when Clinton was in the White House? Have you noticed high level officials caught in love trysts? The stories of Israeli software and systems and tactics are massively documented throughout the media.
You've never even heard of Ariel Joseph Weinmann, have you? Last year he was arrested for passing US nuclear submarine missile targeting data to Israel, but you know nothing about it, do you?
What could a country to if it controlled America's launch codes and targeting?
If you actually wanted to know the truth, it's all over the web for your consumption.
Ask David Rockefeller, he knows.
c. atrox @ 50:
If he was a corporation his motto could be:
Powell: Committing war crimes since 1968.
(See 37 above)
If the Obama campaign determines that accepting Powell's endorsement will get them a slice of some kind of Powell-backing group, they'll accept his endorsement, Powell's past sins notwithstanding.
Dr. Acula Says:
Busholini? So, it's not the Israelis? It's the Italians?
xoites defends Constitution @ 43:
One thing that puzzles me is how a tiny unstable country like Israel (pop 20 mil) manages to develop and build up on its own, 200 to 400 nuclear weapons.
That is something out of a bad comic book and defies logic, and non proliferation efforts by superpowers, UN security council and NATO et al.
Joe O. @ 11:
So very, very true. When Powell presented the false report before the UN, using
an "artist rendition of mobile trucks carrying aluminum tubing", he lost ALL creditbility
with most of us. He made his bed and can sleep in it alone. Kind of reminds me of the
disrespect and angry I still have to this day concerning Alan Specter and Orin Hatch
when they supported Clarence Thomas for S/C appointment and made inaccurate and
dishonest and disparging remarks w/respect to Anita Hill. Some things we never forget,
and Powell's lies, which ultimately led many of us to believe that Saddam had WMD, is
one of those instances. Shame on Powell.
Isn't Powell a Dem disguised in Rep? And he won't take sides or endorse anyone because he wants to run for President in the future?
Weaseldog, I began to see the light shortly after we invaded Iraq. Our local news was reporting that people were buying plasic to put on their windows to prevent themselves from being gassed, and I thoght WTF. The administation was doing what leaders since the dawn or man were doing. Using fear to control the populace. This country was in panic mode since 911, and Bush and his minions used it brillantly.
nony @ 53:
You really are a bigot and a racist. You would have made a good SS guard at one of Hitlers gas chambers.
ferrofluid @ 57:
Google "dov zakheim" and start reading. Trillions went missing when he was the US Defense Department's comptroller under Rumsfeld just prior to 9/11. Also look into his relationship to Sysplan.
It's the ultimate "fuck you" to bushco for sending him on a hike on the artillery range. I see an endorsement and either a prominent role on the transition team or a seat on the NSC.
If this is not a war crime i don't know what is.
[deleted--knock it off. Don't attack other posters and don't hijack this thread. Keep your posts on topic.]
ferrofluid @ 57:
That's easy. They get 50% of all of America's foriegn aid and they have to spend 100% of it on American weapons. They also spy on America more efficiently than any other nation on the planet.
Albatross @ 55:
You can't be serious. Most "Powell backers" are probably backers of McSurge is working.
ferrofluid @ 57:
Israel gets plenty of economic aid from the US. They're also a very high tech country of some 8 million or so (not even close to 20MM). They're also highly educated. I'm not surprised they've got nukes. What surprises me is that other countries still don't have the technology or capability more than 60 years after we developed nukes.
nony @ 53:
Consider the source nitwit. ANY "expose" from fox is bullshit. If there is any validity to anything coming from the GOP channel, it will eventually make its way to the real world. But I won't hold my breath.
ferrofluid @ 57:
When the most powerful and wealthiest nation on the planet sends you 60% of all their foreign aid annually , it isn't that difficult to figure out...............
Powell, it has been reported, was in the National Security Principals Committee meetings, which reviewed and authorized an active program of torture.
Obama should stay as far away from that as possible.
ferrofluid @ 57:
Why would that puzzle you? We sell weapons to anyone and everyone, all you need is money, and we sell. Where do you think Irag got all their weapons? Us and Russia will sell death to the highest bidder.
Would the endorsement of a war criminal help?
If O'Bama allows this war criminal to use him to save himself by association, he is a worse man than even I think he is.
Powell needs to quietly live out his days until he dies of natural causes and goes straight to hell.
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4583256
That's PROOF he's a war criminal of the worst kind, masquerading as the voice of reason.
If he endorses Obama, I will have to suck it up and not hold that AGAINST Obama.
Left&Left @ 67:
That's right. And if those backers will vote Obama following Powell's endorsement, they'll take the endorsement.
There is still a mythology about Powell that he is some kind of reasonable, independent, fair-minded soldier. For Obama to try to pee on that story would do him no good, and just get him labeled an anti-patriot.
I think the subcontext here is that Powell "must" endorse Obama because...well...he's black too, right? In my opinion, no one- except perhaps for a core demographic of African-American great-grandmothers- is going to vote for Barack Obama "because he's black", they're going to vote for him becasue they like what they hear when he speaks. Powell's integrity is so compromised by the UN debacle that he should just stay out of public life altogether. Eecchh!
Alice Hussein @ 71:
I agree sort of. This is a test. If O'Bama doesnt reject the endorsement of a war criminal, it will speak volumes about O'Bama himself.
I'm betting that the covetous politician in O'Bama wins and he accepts the endorsement.
xoites defends Constitution @ 66:
Probably true as to effective "spying", however, with the likes of Joe LIEberman in
"our" Congress, they have an insider who feeds them(probably daily) confidential info.
Doggiebobo @ 58:
Did you see Anita Hill? What a dog! Everything said about her is true! FBI and CIA verified it!!!
FBI and CIA also verified that Saddam had WMD hidden inside his pants!
From so-called war hero to war criminal...obama needs to denounce this monster. this is no time to reach across the aisle to bring us together, but rather to shove these players off into the wilderness to wander, looking for their lost consciences.
best question to ask of the candidates: will they appoint a special prosecutor to pursue this administration's criminals, or will they have a sort of let bygones be bygones attitude? how about hustling them off to the hague...they'll clearly be treated better and given their days in court, unlike the illegally rendered inmates of gitmo.
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/LawPolitics/story?id=4583256&page=1
anon @ 73:
You are right. He should stay with your guy McCrazy, the two are made for each other.
Powell is damaged goods. I would hope that he is unavailable to serve in any future administration, due to a prior obligation of serving a long prison sentence for his participation in and enabling of the war crimes and crimes against humanity of the Bush regime.
MCMetal @ 33:
I remember reading on the net the words of an ex-CIA agent. I believe his last name was Bear. He did know the shelf life of WMD and he said if Saddam had any chemical weapons left they would be useless due to their age.
anon: >If O’Bama allows this war criminal to use him to save himself by association, he is a worse man than even I think he is.<
DING!
Colin Powell could single handedly bring down this administration with what he knows. He's still unwilling to put the Constitution above being a good soldier and call shit on them. All of them try to buff their halo's with revisionist history. And they are all liars.
diamondmc @ 81:
Excuse me? I smell a bigot - a person that acts in ignorance.
My guy? How did your little brain come to that conclusion? Because I dont think much of your guy I must be with your guys opponent?
I think the republicans are swine for what they have done to this country - but honestly I dont see people like you with your them or us preconceived knee jerk bigotries as any better. I really dont think much of Ralph but god help me you are living proof that he was right about the political parties in this sick country.
I would prefer that Powell, unlike Farrakhan, just keep his mouth shut when it comes to endorsing Obama. I know "it's a free country", but just speaking pragmatically, I think they ought to realize that they would do Obama no good. If he does endorse Obama, I would suspect Obama will make the same sort of reply as he did with Farrakhan. Obama, unlike Hillary Clinton, is not someone who throws people under the bus, but there are probably few of us who recognize this let alone admire it in him. BTW, is anyone else tired of Obama always being called upon to apologize for remarks made by a supporter? There is too much of this going on, like he should spend all of his campaign time apologizing for others. The latest with McCain calling upon Obama to apologize for Jay Rockefeller's remarks is ridiculous. Rockefeller made the remarks, and he has been in the Senate a longer time and known John McCain a longer time than the junior Senator from Illinois.
itchibahn @ 79:
Where is your "snark"? Some might misinterpret your comments...
Albatross @ 75:
Anyone who still "backs" this totally discredited, boot licking, crimes against humanity negro after all the shit that has been exposed about his ass, trust me, probably thinks WMD's are still in Iraq and is a Bush/McCain supporter to the end.
pissed off patricia @ 83:
My brother is a chemical engineer ; I went right to him with that question.
Everyone doesn't have that luxury , however (obviously) ; I just resisted the initial idea of invading a sovereign nation (as big a bastard as Saddam was) , because of Iraq's history of not really getting along with Iran.
Plus , the knowledge that we had bascially put Saddam into his position of power made even less sense in taking him out in the manner that we did..........
Nobody For President @ 84:
And to support your thinking ... Powell wrote the report on the Mi Lai masacre - which limited the damage to the Captain in charge. And lets not forget, that Powell - a general - just doesnt remember:
1) agreeing to violate the geneva convention - bullshit.
2) supported a policy that was not only a war crime but resulted in enlisted soldiers going to prison and Karpinski being busted in rank and hustled out of the service. And he said nothing - even as soldiers rot in prison.
Weaseldog @ 8:
LMAO!!!!!
From the wizard of oz,watching the wicked witchs troops marching outside the castle,---OhoooooooOH----OR--EO----OHooooooooOH----OR----EO
anon @ 90:
Powell's not going to come out against Bushco because he's as guilty as the rest of the cabal.
diamondmc @ 72:
The official line is no WMDs to small unstable countries, even when Iraq was 'on message' in the eighties the western govs had to do some fancy footwork to supply them with WMDs on the quiet.
Dr. Acula @ 93:
Powell needs to be perp walked.
Yeah, thanks for the big FU to the Bush administration, Colin, but uh .. no thanks, you spineless sycophant.
Powell lost every ounce of respect I had for the man when he sat in front of the UN with a vial of baby powder and told the world how Iraq was an immediate threat that had to be dealt with.
His endorsement means less than nothing to me.
this is a right wing attempt to damage Obama. They have pulled out all the stops because they want to run McAin't againt hillary. this endorsement is the same as ann coulter endorsing hillary. As usual, they get a black man to do it. They must be counting on the myth of powell's integrity
Left&Left @ 88:
The actual practice of politics is to divide and conquer, and there are a lot of folks who backed Powell, and who also think he was duped into his embarassment in front of the U.N. I'm not one of them. But those folks are not happy with where the Bush Administration has taken this military action since Powell backed it. If by accepting a Powell endorsement Obama can split those folks off from the wingnuts and get their votes, Obama will do it.
And for those folks furious with Powell for his role in lying the U.S. into a war, you might want to work on getting past your anger. If Kissinger was never prosecuted for his involvement in Viet Nam, I doubt Powell has anything to worry about. So if you're angrily waiting for Justice, you'll be waiting a long time.
BINGO!
Albatross @ 99:
You are probably right.
But noise still needs to be made. Otherwise, they will simply pre-write history in official documents and it will be worse in the future under even worse leadership. We need many more official documents that tell more of the story. Investigations on the record for example - even without convictions. Even though most walked from Iran Contra, it is a matter of record and that record is available as history. (Assuming Bush hasnt secretly destroyed most of it).
Albatross @ 99:
Get past my anger? That is sooooo cavalier. I guess you don't know or care about anyone who has died or lost a limb or brain matter from this immoral occupation. Out of sight, out of mind. Cool.
If Powell does intend to endorse Obama, which I doubt, I hope Obama will have the good sense not to embrace it.
anon @ 101:
I'm a total broken record on this topic, but maybe that's what it takes. The reason all these crimes can happen and go unpunished is because the wealthy control our government, not the people. The only way to promote justice that includes the wealthy and the powerful is to reduce the influence of money in all three branches of government, and the only way we'll do that is through campaign finance reform.
The only way we'll get campaign finance reform passed is through a long-term grassroots effort to replace corrupt and complacent Congresspeople with populists and liberals who commit to supporting CFR, as well as an Executive who supports CFR.
This would be a liberal effort of comparable effort and scope to the recent thirty-year war to promote fascism in our government. It will be harder since it is an altruistic effort - to promote fascism you need merely gather the rich and encourage them to get richer. To promote justice and democracy, you need to manage the expectations of diverse groups with diverse agendas toward a goal which will make us all freer, but which will not necessarily make anyone any money.
sure, if we want the war criminal vote.
Dr. Acula @ 40:
israels a major leach on the american taxpayers ass, give them nothing thier useless and are no friend to america!!!!!!!!
Albatross @ 104:
... the choir is listening.
By the way, having studied the issue of 'money' and government, the problem is that the constitution has a fatal flaw that allows for its own subversion. A solution would require the constitution be amended.
But that is another story for another time.
Left&Left @ 102:
Unless you're more than one person, I was speaking generally, although certainly you may be part of that group.
I am very sorry to hear that you have been impacted by this dreadful war. Certainly if you can come up with a way to bring Powell to justice (to say nothing of Cheney and Bush) I will support you 100%.
What will NOT promote justice is to cut off noses to spite faces. If Powell's endorsement, for example, were to get Obama elected, then we'll be much closer to securing justice for your injured relations than we will be if McCain is elected. If we adopt a self-righteous posture that demands ideological purity at the risk of winning the election, then we deserve to lose and justice will be that much farther away.
Again I accept that you are furious about this war, and in that we are in full agreement. What I don't endorse are measures that lead to McCain winning, and end all hope of justice or peace.
Should Powell endorse Obama? Will Condi get the VP slot?
This inane blather continues to drive me nuts.While this evil fucking war continues unabated,at the same time its like it never happened and none of the principle actors are being held the least bit responsible.The press still fawns over these "fine" people.
What the hell is going on?
Albatross @ 108:
Aren't you guys putting the cart before the horse? Powell hasn't endorsed anyone yet. So there's no point getting upset over what hasn't happened yet, in terms of an endorsement.
Powell's role in the war is another matter. The bastard knew and said in Feb. 2001 that Hussein had no WMD.
Albatross @ 108:
And if Powell's endorsement did nothing, or worse harmed Obama's chances, then what?
Powell. War criminal. Repeated war criminal. 'Nuff said. Hope he endorses McCain.
It would be interesting if Powell did work Obama's campaign.
Rove would get out the knives and Powell could well have his public image destroyed by the very people that sacrificed his credibility for.
It would fit the Republican mentality to indict him after he publically endorsed Obama, only to drop it after the damage is done.
Has anyone noticed that it was Wilkerson that worked for Powell for all those years and it was Wilkerson that has had the courage and the integrity to step out in the public and speak the truth. It has been Wilkerson that put his reputation on the line and took ridicule for speaking when his boss was silent. Powell was his dear friend as well as boss, and it cost him that friendship. Perhaps, it has been Wilkerson all along that is the one with integrity and courage. Powell has been on the forefront when it came to scooping up opportunities and cash rich speaking engagements, but when it really counted he "went along," even when he knew he was being played. Now, we learn he was there when tortured was decided and approved. I gave him the benefit of the doubt about a lot of poor choices until this last one, but now he just another one of the War criminals. Very sad indeed.
Weaseldog @ 111:
Then the response needs to be carefully calculated. If the endorsement harmed Obama, then rejecting it would make sense. I personally don't think that would be the case - I don't think that Powell's endorsement would alienate significant numbers from the Left, but I certainly might be wrong.
If his endorsement neither harms nor helps, then Obama may simply want to politely accept it, without tremendous fuss. The reason of course is that the right-wing media would like nothing better than to shriek headlines of "Obama shuns Powell," which would turn Powell's neutral endorsement to a harm.
In fact it's not impossible that Obama could be set up to reject Powell specifically so that Obama's "hatred of America" could then become an issue. Certainly the issue of Reverend Wright's comments is getting pretty threadbare.
This is some kind of joke right?? Colin Powell??? Working in a democratic administration... Any democratic administration.... huh... Personally, I think maybe he'd be better off spending his time looking for a good lawyer... I think he might be needing one down the road a bit..... I agree with other posters here regarding Powell... His credibility??? Non-existant, shot, poof, gone, burned up defending the indefensible... He hitched his wagon to Bush and that neocon pipedream, and he's paying for it now... Bills come due General Colin Powell.
I don't want to see him in any position in government anymore. He sold out any honor he had and I have no use for him now.... Neither does this nation. And fuck all that revisionist 'disgruntled republican' shit.... Not buyin....Go home Powell, yer dun.... call a lawyer, put him on retainer. That'd be your smartest move now...... Probably already got that done though.... I imagine.... I'd like to wish you luck going forward into the future, I'd like to... but I can't. You had a lot going for you once upon a time soldier.. I'll give you that. Dame shame you fucked all away sucking up to GDub Bush. That wasn't a smart move. That was dumb General, really fucking dumb.............JD
ConcernedCanuck @ 112:
Thank you. A worthless criminal endorsement. Hey Albatross, maybe after Colin maybe Rumsfeld, Gonzales, and Rove will offer Obama their support too.
the rich folks are now buying a cup of coffey where the beans have been picked from the scat of civic cats in case you dont know what scat is its shit, i allways did say the rich had a taste for shit!
Colin Powell, it’s time to speak now or forever hold your peace.
You decried the way that “the sons of the powerful and well placed…managed to wangle slots into Reserve and Guard Units"[1] and then you went on to serve one of these sons as his Secretary of State.
You criticized the LBJ administrations prosecution of the Vietnam War with “Back home, the administration was trying to conduct the war with as little inconvenience to the country as possible…. Taxes to finance the war had not been raised. Better-off kids beat the draft with college deferments."[2] And now you sit silently while the Bush administration does the same.
You said of the downing of the KAL 007 flight: “Don’t be stampeded by first reports, Don’t let your judgments run ahead of your facts. And, even with supposed facts in hand, question them if they do not add up. Something deeper and wiser than bits of data inform our instincts. I also learned that it is best to get the facts out as soon as possible, even when new facts contradict the old. Untidy truth is better than smooth lies…."[3] But you told the world that we knew of WMD’s in Iraq. Perhaps you were misinformed by the intelligence briefings but you also wrote: “The lesson about experts had been reaffirmed. Don’t be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their backyard. Just as important, never neglect details, even to the point of being a pest."[4]
“If I never have to parachute again, that will be fine with me, yet there was never any doubt in my mind that I would do what had to be done."[5] Well Mr. Powell, it’s time to do what has to be done. You have a chance to make a difference today, this week, “Stuff happens. And a leader’s just got to start all over again."[6] So start over. If you have truth to speak, speak it now, before another day of Bush Administration's deception so it can make a difference. You’ve had plenty to say, after the fact, about Vietnam and other world events, but saving the truth for My American Journey Part II isn’t good enough. You owe the soldiers, those you helped place in harms way, the untidy truth. Today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Colin Powell, My American Journey, Ballantine Books, 1995, p 144
[2] Ibid, p 128
[3] Ibid, p 274
[4] Ibid, p 106
[5] Ibid, p 42
[6] Ibid, p 51
tyree @ 118:
oh and its a hundread bucks a cup!
Albatross @ 115:
It's a conundrum all right.
Albatross @ 104:
tyree @ 118:
why would civic cats eat coffee beans ! are they food of some prey animal for the civics?
I wouldn't believe ONE word out of Powell's mouth.
He has blood on his hands, and should be prosecuted as a war criminal.
Instead, he goes around the country on speaking engagements earning millions of dollars. In the meantime, people are still be killed everyday in Iraq, and thousands are coming home with horrible injuries, that they will live with everyday of their lives. Does Colin Powell even care?
NO, he is too busy making the Big Bucks. Greedy Greedy American.
I have NOT an ounce of respect for this man.
Inside the beltway types like Continetti see Powell, like McCain, as a straight-shooting maverick whom everybody loves, and whose endorsement Obama wiould be lucky to get, and only the DFHs don't like Powell, and who cares what they think?
ferrofluid @ 123:
Civets
link hehhehe
ferrofluid @ 123:
ask the news crew at cnn i dont make the news i just report it! i suppose they eat them and like corn in humans not all of them are digested! in andersonville the pows picked thru the manure piles for undigested corn, yummy
tyree @ 127:
I bet you could get a similar different soft coffee bean by soaking them in pineapple juice, that stuff is loaded up with enzymes.
anon @ 77:
His name is Obama.
Why do you write O'Bama?
What subterfuge do you have afoot?
Here are the top 16 recipients of U.S. foreign aid for 2005:
1. Israel 2.58 Billion
2. Egypt 1.84 Billion
3. Afganistan 0.98 Billion
4. Pakistan 0.70 Billion
5. Colombia 0.57 Billion
6. Sudan 0.50 Billion
7. Jordan 0.48 Billion
8. Uganda 0.25 Billion
9. Kenya 0.24 Billion
10. Ethiopia 0.19 Billion
11. South Africa 0.19 Billion
12. Peru 0.19 Billion
13. Indonesia 0.18 Billion
14. Bolivia 0.18 Billion
15. Nigeria 0.18 Billion
16. Zambia 0.18 Billion
Dr. Acula @ 130:
Wonder what these figures look like presently, instead of 2005?
I want Obama to win. Getting Powell's endorsement will help him win. Rejecting Powell's endorsement (because Powell is a war criminal or for any other reason) will help him lose. Nuff said.
Albatross @ 99:
In all fairness to those who have friends and family serving, and on their behalf as I am one of them, you can take your attitude and S-I-U-Y-A!
anneyhussein @ 25:
I agree. What a loss.
Weaseldog @ 121:
I tend to agree. Obama should not shun Powell. First, he still has credibility with hawks. Also, what could Shan Hannity, who hates Obama say? If he trashes Powell, he trashes the neo-cons. He also had positive statements about the Wright issue. This neutralizes the Hannity smear campaign. Just be cool.
greg @ 135:
If you think that having Powell on board is going to neutralize the vitriol that the right wing machine is going to throw at him in the presidential race... I have a nice bridge to sell you.
Obama could have Jesus as his running mate and it still wouldn't stop these assholes. Powell is their house negro, as soon as he says something uncomfortable to them... he will be throw under the bus in 2 seconds flat.
You seem to be under the impression that the current batch of neo-cons are decent human beings, silly...
We are only discussing this issue because some people still Powell as an influential "brotha" who can crossover and get some conservative votes. I don't believe we need to play these republican race games to win. Powell is a fucking war criminal and we don't need him to do a "Lieberman" to help us.
The Dude @ 136:
You give them too much credit and others too little. You can Keep your bridge. You tend to think that the Dems are such weak wimps against the evil forces of the neo-cons and have given up already without a fight. Use every angle possible. With your attitude, why bother?
Powell in2000 claimed his worth $21 million. Poor boy from Jamica and on a Generals salary,this guy is 100% Repug.Obama would be a fool--even a thought of being 100 miles apart. Recall Powel's Son,Chair on FCC,once Rupert Murdoc got Direct-- guy quit- a payoff?
I hope to hell he does endorse Obama, and will, if he truly cares about this country or the world he once traveled so successfully. He's paid his penance for his errors and will continue to do so, which suits the Obama teams 'lay it all on the line' attitude.
Because we need every worthy body to stop the massive last minute efforts to stop what the hard -liners will continue to destroy on their paths to infamy. Including their efforts to continue the practice of dropping thousands of cluster bomblets on innocent civilians, throughout the world.
Coming up in May, in Dublin, is a crucial word event involving over 100 countries to renew the expiring "Cluster Munition Treaty" .
Right now the U.S. is working secretly to stop it from being renewed:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_...
Reports of the US refusing to block needy aid to Africa unless Africa co-operates are only part of the dirty trick being used.
Let's see how Hillary and Obama respond with this one, or if the media mentions it at all:
After the Lebanon/Israeli war where Israel dropped over 300, 000 cluster bomblets over all of Lebanon , the world rose up in anger. Senator Diane Feinstein responded by putting forth legislation to only place a moratorium on their in -only in civilian areas. Feinstein had the majority of Senate Democrats at her side, including Obama .
The bill failed.
hazmaq @ 139:
powell has paid no penance. he's a P-O-S.
Colin Powell should be sharing an equal opportunity prison cell with Dick Cheney.
Left&Left @ 137:
How about, he is a "War Hero" and former Secretary of State who happens to be a "brotha". Get my drift? It can be used it to one's favor. Yeah, he fucked up with the Weapons of Mass Destruction mess. But you got to remember, he is a military man with a military mind. Meaning, being loyal. Yes he was loyal to Bush and lied for him. Military men never quit. He signed on for four years and after that got the fuck out. I know how you feel but look at the big picture. We got to win by any means necessary.
greg @ 142:
That "War Hero" and him being a military man is bullshit. In fact I think Powell is total failure as a "military man" for what he did to his men by unnecessarily(and immorally) putting them in that hell hole. And stop blaming Bush's stupid ass. Powell could have resigned instead of taking that humiliating "Three Card Monty" shit to the UN. Before any of his titles should be War Criminal...period.
Wait. I am confused. Where do they get the idea that McCain is against aggressive interrogation techniques/torture? Which side of the waffle?
Left&Left @ 143:
I agree with you. You want justice. I long for the day when they hang all their asses. You want everybody responsible for this mess to go to jail, and boy so do I (BUT ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN). Reading you message discloses a lot of anger and revenge. I am trying not to change your mind but to look into the possibilities and check your emotions at the door.
greg @ 145:
And by the way, who mention race? You did. Just can't let it go. (influential "brotha" )
diamondmc @ 72:
yes its a great system we send israel billions of our tax dollars israel turns around and buys thier weapons from us with thoes tax dollars! say does that mean israels weapons wealthy from us taxpayers?
Powell sold his soul. It's going to cost more than having the good sense to endorse Obama to get it back.
Powkat @ 149:
He does not have to endorse Obama. Just make positive statements.
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