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Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama for President

Original post made by Greg K, Downtown North, on Oct 19, 2008

Web Link

Comments (28)

Posted by Perspective
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 19, 2008 at 8:56 am

No big shock there. He is a Republican in name only. At the very least definition of a Repub, the most common denominator is a belief that less government is good. No way a Republican can endorse someone who wants 1.3 trillion dollars in grown government.

Unless we accept that the definition of Republican has changed. But, frankly, Obama doesn't agree with a single tenet of ANY definition of Republican, either in voting record, written word or policy proposals.

Anyway,..yawn.


Posted by Gene S
a resident of Ohlone School
on Oct 19, 2008 at 9:36 am

powell is a socialist why should anyone be surprised


Posted by Donald
a resident of Stanford
on Oct 19, 2008 at 10:11 am

Colin Powell speaks to Tom Brokaw about both candidates on "Meet the Press":
Web Link


Posted by Sally
a resident of Ohlone School
on Oct 19, 2008 at 11:02 am


Denver Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput labeled Barack Obama the "most committed" abortion-rights candidate from a major party in 35 years while accusing a Catholic Obama ally and other Democratic-friendly Catholic groups of doing a "disservice to the church."

Chaput, one of the nation's most politically outspoken Catholic prelates, delivered the remarks Friday night at a dinner of a Catholic women's group.

His comments were among the sharpest in a debate over abortion and Catholic political responsibility in a campaign in which Catholics represent a key swing vote.


Posted by Eddie the Electrician
a resident of Atherton
on Oct 19, 2008 at 11:11 am

We are in the midst of two wars and economic crises as far as the eye can see.

An American hero and military and foreign policy expert supports a candidate for President today and look at most of these responses.

Even my friends in Atherton are tired of this garbage. Get a life folks.


Posted by Peter
a resident of another community
on Oct 19, 2008 at 12:02 pm

From an article in Huffington Post:
McCain has had this to say about Powell -- these are quotes from McCain, folks, so don't go off on the HuffPo being a liberal rag -- "a man who I admire as much as any man in the world, person in the world; “one of the ‘most credible, most respected’ men in America; "When he took the helm at the State Department nearly four years ago, I was confident that Secretary Powell would lead with honor and distinction ... I have not been disappointed."

“When asked in 2001 if he would have chosen Powell for a Cabinet position had he succeeded in his first presidential run, McCain said ‘oh, yes.’ During two December 2000 appearances on NBC Nightly News, McCain described himself as ‘exuberant’ over Powell's selection as secretary of state, which he predicted would secure "a beneficial effect on the conduct of American foreign policy.’ “


Posted by Mary
a resident of Gunn High School
on Oct 19, 2008 at 12:31 pm



It is all about race and affirmative action


Posted by Sharon
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 19, 2008 at 1:22 pm



I think it’s useful to remember that the State Department is the biggest bungler in Iraq.
Things started going south when State took over from the military, and didn’t start improving again until the military took charge again. State never supported President Bush, and as the Wilson affair shows, actively opposed him.
Powell at least allowed that insubordination.
For that, he has to be judged a failure.


Posted by Greg K
a resident of Downtown North
on Oct 19, 2008 at 2:46 pm

More comments from Colin Powell:
Web Link


Posted by Perspective
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 19, 2008 at 4:49 pm

One can have tremendous respect for the work of someone, the dedication, the commitment...and still completely and utterly disagree with the person on matters of national security and economics.

That is where I stand with Colin Powell. I have always respected him..but completely and utterly disagreed with his handling of the State Dept and the lead up to the Iraq war, and his comments afterwards.

This isn't garbage, it is a cultural and economic war in this country. I don't know what is going to end it, but I suspect a Presidential Election, regardless of which way it goes, won't end it.

Or, maybe it will....maybe the American people will learn something in the next 4 years, pick 2 better candidates next time, and be more careful to vote on records and consequences of proposals.


Posted by Gene S
a resident of Ohlone School
on Oct 19, 2008 at 5:01 pm



Colin Powell, who was President Bush's first secretary of State, is endorsing Barack Obama.
Powell told NBC's "Meet the Press" that Obama is a "transformational figure" who is better suited to be president.

A "transformational" president with a Pelosi House and a filibuster-proof Senate.
Thanks, Colin!


How come when Colin Powell promoted Bush's "lies," he was not someone to be believed or trusted, but now that he's endorsed Obama, he is someone to be . . . believed and trusted?


Posted by Funny
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 19, 2008 at 5:14 pm

Well Gene, let's see - before he was peddling tainted intelligence that he was told was true and supporting the policy pre-determined by the Commander in Chief. We did trust him then; when the truth became known, he was disgusted and somewhat disgraced.

It's kind of like asking why we despised McNamara when he was running the Vietnam war and applauded him when he later admitted what a horrible mistake it had been. In both cases, before they were doing their jobs as part of an administration; later they were speaking their own minds.

So if you want to blow off Colin Powell, go ahead. I respect his view.


Posted by SkepticAl
a resident of Ventura
on Oct 19, 2008 at 7:28 pm

Mary, wouldn't it be convenient for you if it were all about race? Then there'd be no need to think about the issues.


Posted by peter
a resident of Ohlone School
on Oct 19, 2008 at 9:05 pm

It is all about race and affirmative action, the rest of the voter realize this truth.

In the flyover states this guy is the guy Web Link


Posted by You Betcha!
a resident of Downtown North
on Oct 19, 2008 at 10:43 pm

Peter:
"In the flyover states this guy is the guy"

And that's exactly why we fly over those states!


Posted by SkepticAl
a resident of Ventura
on Oct 20, 2008 at 12:43 am

Seriously??? He may be "the guy" out there, but he has no brains. (And no license).

- Based on his criticisms of taxes, he would only favor a flat tax. McCain isn't advocating a flat tax. I don't think any Republican president in my lifetime has (I don't know about Eisenhower or Hoover or anyone further back). But Obama is the socialist... whatever.

- Obama's economic plans would be better for (not) Joe, but he tries to tear Obama down on economic policy. Hmmmm...


Posted by The Real Sharon
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 20, 2008 at 6:40 am

How did we know that Sharon and the rest of the McCain/Palin zealots would attack Powell and his character after he endorsed Obama?


Posted by E Pluribus Unum
a resident of Professorville
on Oct 20, 2008 at 7:27 am


Obama has made this election about race and identity politics, the end of E Pluribus Unum for 4 years, welcome back to the Carter years.


Posted by Walter_E_Wallis
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 20, 2008 at 7:45 am

Why did some of us cheer Powell's departure? Because affirmative action and regard for his earlier performance leading troops in combat got him a pass on his incompetence. Powell had access to the same intelligence that Bush received. He was well aware of the Old Guard disdain for political control over their functions, but did little to convince that old guard that their client was the United States.
Diplomacy that does not appreciate its base is just fatuous.


Posted by Phil
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 20, 2008 at 7:59 am



Powell's statements sound more like rationalizing than reasoning - all to cover the fact that the real reason he is voting for Obama is because ''it would be electrifying'' to have a black man as president.

It is all about race.

Now that Obama has spent all his time railing about George W. Bush, he wants to hire the people in the Bush admin who may have been most responsible for its weak points.
But that's OK if they are black and if Obama can get some cover for his utter lack of military experience and understanding.

How interesting that the man who bears a great deal of the responsibility of the US pull back in the first Iraq war before finishing off (dare I use that name?)Hussein's military forces can now help Obama with another premature evacuation.


Posted by Gotta hurt
a resident of Barron Park
on Oct 20, 2008 at 8:17 am

Funny, if he had supported McCain I doubt we'd have seen these diatribes about his poor judgment and success via affirmative action. Guys, I hope after the election you can put down your ideological baggage and support the new President in the difficult job ahead.


Posted by Samuel
a resident of Stanford
on Oct 20, 2008 at 8:25 am





Joe the Plumber has helped give the McCain campaign its closing economic message.
Now Joe the Senator has pitched in by helping frame the national security message.
And the McCain campaign needs to get the national security issue back front and center--at least close to the front and near the center--in the final two weeks.

Here's the ad, simply quoting Joe Biden, speaking at a fundraiser in Seattle Sunday:

"Mark my words...It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama...Remember I said it standing here if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy....And he's gonna need help....Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."


Posted by tj
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 20, 2008 at 8:34 am



Shocker: Powell Will Be Obama Adviser

From AP.Web Link And Colin, babe, about that whole case for invading Iraq thing — no prob ... all is forgiven!


Posted by Gene S
a resident of Ohlone School
on Oct 20, 2008 at 8:42 am



It is about both race and money

Colin Powell is a “Strategic Limited Partner” at Kleiner Perkins Caulfield and Byers, one of the best performing venture capital firms in history, having sponsored Google, and Apple, among others. Kleiner has made huge pushes into ‘clean technology’ of late — over the past 3-4 years.
They have even raised an all clean-tech fund. Al Gore is also a special partner.”
An Obama victory would put Kleiner in a strong commercial position.


Posted by Funny
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 20, 2008 at 9:07 am

Gene, seen any conspiracy theories you like lately?


Posted by Paul
a resident of Downtown North
on Oct 20, 2008 at 4:49 pm

Once upon a time Powell was a Repub hero. Overnight he became Repub slime bait.



Posted by tj
a resident of Palo Alto Hills
on Oct 20, 2008 at 5:07 pm

Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, has put him at odds with his own son, former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell.
Michael Powell, who served as a policy adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, is a surrogate for John McCain and represents the GOP nominee on the campaign trail. He endorsed McCain early in the Republican primary in January,...


Posted by Eddie the Electrician
a resident of Atherton
on Oct 20, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Anyone with a brain knows the campaign is about sex, not race.

First of all while Obama has all the money, we all know which campaign has the "well endowed" candidate who was chosen, most agree, becasue she was well "well endowed". Talk about dirty campaigning. We were well on the way to victory when McCain chose to inject sex into the campaign. Look for what happened in the polls before everyone found out she had some tiny minor faults like being clueless.

Second, if the issue of race has been infused into the campaign, it is the most vicious nasty anti-Irish attack in more than a hundred years. First the subject of attacks in these posts are two guys named Colin pronounced KOH-lin as in Ireland and a dude named O'Bama. This is despicable and will soon be followed by a call for an FBI investigation as to whether Obama hired an Irish nanny who overstayed her visa--aka an illegal alien. I can see the Irish vendetta coming clearly.

Finally if race has been injected into these final weeks, it is clearly the fault of McCain who has indeed started a "race" to the bottom of lousy campaigning. See the new CNN poll where 60% of voters think McCain is unfairly attacking the Irish guy running for the Dems.


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