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2008-10-18 Home Front: Politix

Powell may endorse Obama in TV interview

General Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State, is preparing for a live TV interview tomorrow amid intense speculation that he is ready to endorse Barack Obamas campaign.

Aides from John McCains camp are bracing themselves for another damaging blow, with one being quoted yesterday as suggesting that such an announcement from General Powell would be personally embarrassing for the Republican nominee with whom the General has been friends for 25 years and would create momentum against us.

General Powell, who once considered an attempt to become Americas first black president, has strong credentials on national security policy one of Mr Obamas weaker policy areas. Since quitting as Secretary of State in 2005 he has distanced himself from President Bush.

Last month he said that electing a black president would send an electrifying message to the world, before adding that he would base his decision on which candidate blends a right measure of experience and judgment.

In London this week, where he attended the Africa Rising festival, General Powell took the stage at the Royal Albert Hall to declare: I stand before you tonight as an African-American... It took a lot of people struggling to bring me to this point in history.

Mr McCains campaign continues to be dominated by Joe Wurzelbacher, the Ohio plumber who confronted Mr Obama at the weekend to ask the Democrat why he planned to raise taxes for small businesses. The Obama campaign has countered by pointing out that the plumbers current income level would make him eligible for tax cuts, rather than a proposed increase that applies only to those earning more than $250,000 (£130,000) a year.

At a rally in Miami, Mr McCain said: Americans ought to be able to ask Senator Obama tough questions without being smeared and targeted with political attacks.

The Republican also earned laughs at a charity dinner in New York, which he attended with Mr Obama on Thursday night, by announcing that he was replacing his entire campaign team with a man named Joe the Plumber. He then suggested that Mr Wurzelbachers income would soon be eligible for a tax hike having signed a very lucrative contract with a wealthy couple to handle all the work on all seven of their houses a reference to the McCain familys bulging property portfolio.

Posted by tipper 2008-10-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11141 views ] Top

#1 Some perspective.

Posted by Besoeker 2008-10-18 04:45|| 2008-10-18 04:45|| Front Page Top

#2 Where I come from this is referred to as double speak:

Rev. Wright is also somebody who has made enormous contributions in his community and has turned a lot of lives around, Powell said, And so, I have to put that in context with these very offensive comments that he made, which I reject out of hand.

Posted by Besoeker 2008-10-18 05:35|| 2008-10-18 05:35|| Front Page Top

#3 He thinks Obambi'll give him a job?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-10-18 07:19|| 2008-10-18 07:19|| Front Page Top

#4 'Benedict Arnold made many contributions to the War of Independence and was critical in turning the decisive battle of Saratoga around. And so, I have to put that in context with this very offensive act that he made, which I reject out of hand.'

That would sell well in America circa 1792 wouldn't it Colin.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-10-18 08:41|| 2008-10-18 08:41|| Front Page Top

#5 Powell has been twitchy ever since the Bush Administration threw his precious little doctrine under the bus. Getting "fooled" by the French at the start of the war, keeping quiet during the Plame game, Powell has been in bitchy payback mode ever since.

Posted by Minister of funny walks 2008-10-18 09:17|| 2008-10-18 09:17|| Front Page Top

#6 Yup. Been waiting for this for weeks.

Powell doesn't need a job BTW. He made his money after retiring from the Army in good part by being appointed to the board of tech companies like American Online (AOL), where he joined at the same time as another African American Clinton official, namely Frank Raines. That's Raines as in the guy who ran Fannie Mae into the ground and is a senior Obama financial advisor

Powell is now with the huge Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Who among other firms, launched Google and Amazon.

There's a web of strong links between the wealthy left and Colin Powell, which has helped his son break into the big ranks easily as well.

Posted by lotp 2008-10-18 09:39|| 2008-10-18 09:39|| Front Page Top

#7 Zelig.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-10-18 09:58|| 2008-10-18 09:58|| Front Page Top

#8 Last night Mike Reagan said Powell (who he deems as a friend) was a favorite of his dad & right to be pissed at the Bush admin and this is some sort of payback -- I don't get part of that as this hurts McCain vice Bush. I am often critical of W so I don't know the full details of Powell feeling he was used by the admin or what not. I also find it odd that Powell would endorse an empty suited shiftless dandy over one the few true war vets in the congress. I've always had kind of mixed opinions on Powell. I think the guy is always trying to do what he thinks is right - though I often disagree w/him - kind of like mccain. I'm often very cynical so heck, I'll say it: maybe there is a skin color component to this.

Posted by Flitch the Imposter aka Broadhead6 2008-10-18 10:02|| 2008-10-18 10:02|| Front Page Top

#9 Broadhead:

The disconnect as I have understood it originated with Cheney and Rumsfeld. Powell, the head diplomat of a failed diplomatic effort, became the wartime odd man out. He didn't enjoy his Rumsfeld association or his wicket maiden role. He's a shoe in for SECDEF or UN AMBO under an Obama administration.

Posted by Besoeker 2008-10-18 10:33|| 2008-10-18 10:33|| Front Page Top

#10 Noone's going to actually notice or remember that in 2003 we took away the authority for running the occupation from the DoD and gave it to the STate Department, run by Colin Powell, and they proceeded to do as much as possible to lose over the next three years.

Posted by Tranquil Mechanical Yeti 2008-10-18 12:18|| 2008-10-18 12:18|| Front Page Top

#11 Inconvenient truth, TMY, and therefore consigned to the memory hole.

Posted by lotp 2008-10-18 12:21|| 2008-10-18 12:21|| Front Page Top

#12 Thanks for the info Besoeker.

Honestly, why does Colin Powell have to endose anyone? Even if he was going to support Mccain - Ultimately, (besides the parrot press corp and ignorant schleps) who gives a crap. Just like any of the other fringe organizations like NOW or every other idiotic celeb out there...it's like the height of arrogance or delusional self importance to think that your endorsement means anything to anyone w/half a brain.

A couple BTWs - If you're still undecided at this point your clearly too ignorant to vote.

If you've decided that obama is the right guy then you either too stupid or too delusional to vote.

Posted by Flitch the Imposter aka Broadhead6 2008-10-18 15:19|| 2008-10-18 15:19|| Front Page Top

#13 Powell doesn't need a job BTW

Powell doesn't need money, lotp---he does want to be a "person of consequence" (you don't get where he got without really wanting it).

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-10-18 16:29|| 2008-10-18 16:29|| Front Page Top

#14 Oh, I know .... just used that to riff on his connections.

Posted by lotp 2008-10-18 18:43|| 2008-10-18 18:43|| Front Page Top

#15 :-)

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-10-18 22:40|| 2008-10-18 22:40|| Front Page Top

14:09 Grom the Affective
14:04 Super Hose
14:02 Super Hose
13:37 Procopius2k
13:35 Grom the Affective
13:34 Procopius2k
13:27 Grom the Affective
13:21 NN2N1
13:18 Grom the Affective
12:50 Remoteman
12:45 Secret Master
12:24 Matt
12:07 Abu Uluque
12:03 Grom the Affective
11:59 Grom the Affective
11:35 Super Hose
11:33 Super Hose
11:29 Besoeker
11:28 Besoeker
11:28 Super Hose
11:27 Besoeker
11:23 Besoeker
11:22 Grom the Affective
11:20 Super Hose