The Powell card, redux
posted at 9:30 am on August 24, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Just a couple of weeks ago, Bill Kristol and Zbigniew Brzezinski shook up the presidential race for a day or so by predicting that retired Gen Colin Powell would appear in Denver and endorse Barack Obama. Powell angrily denied that he would attend either convention, and afterwards no one has heard a word about the former Secretary of State’s political intentions in this cycle. In an apparent response, sources within the John McCain campaign have leaked Powell’s name as one under consideration for McCain’s running mate:
Retired Gen. Colin Powell is among the potential running mates who have been considered by John McCain, campaign advisers told Politico.
Powell was among the possible vice presidential choices the Arizona Republican senator was thinking of when he said he would not rule out a supporter of abortion rights, a key adviser said.
On a completely credulous level, this makes a lot more sense than Joe Lieberman as a reason for flirting with the pro-choice option. Powell’s decision to leave the Bush administration has made him into a bigger hero than before with independents, centrists, and some Democrats. That’s why Kristol’s speculation stoked such worry among Republicans. He remains a formidable figure with great respect and national reputation, and his endorsement of Obama for President would go some way to eliminate worry over his inexperience in the center.
On the other hand, McCain’s selection of him as running mate would bolster his standing with both the center and the pro-military constituencies. The biggest drawback would be Powell’s pro-choice stance, but Powell has never had to cast a vote on a bill affecting abortion in his life. McCain would hope that a personal stance on the issue could get minimized with statements of supporting strict constructionists to the court.
This ignores, of course, the repeated protestations of Powell that he doesn’t want a life in electoral politics. Powell might have won the nomination for President in either party, if he really desired this as a career. At least he would have made a more compelling candidate than Wes Clark. Why settle for a job once described by its occupant as less significant than a warm bucket of spit? Why not run for Governor of New York instead?
The Powell trial balloon looks more like a way to counter the Kristol story than a serious selection for the VP slot by McCain. If McCain could get Powell to accept the position, it would definitely be a coup, but Powell’s made it clear he isn’t interested.
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sorry but after his stint at Foggy Bottom bringing Powell to leadership is like bringing an accordion to a deer hunt.
sven10077 on August 24, 2008 at 9:32 AM
i prefer condi rice
custer on August 24, 2008 at 9:32 AM
i prefer
condi riceclarence thomascuster on August 24, 2008 at 9:33 AM
I was glad of the Biden pick mainly because it took any chances of a Barry Powell home run out of the game.
Personally, I’d be ecstatic id McCain got Powell to take the spot. You could stick a fork in Barry right then and there.
Typhoon on August 24, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Amen, although even Condi seems to have been hit with the ‘curse of the moonbat’….fixing state would be a labor akin to cleaning the stalls by hercules….both were full of crap made by long-term asses.
sven10077 on August 24, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Oh, yeah. By all means. Let’s take the most reliably constructionist vote off the supreme court and let him run for a job he might not even win attending funerals and presiding over the senate.
That’ll show ‘em we’re smart.
Typhoon on August 24, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Ed, this but another significant drawback is the fact that the man is petty and leaks like a sieve to the media and the return of leaky Armitage.
Topsecretk9 on August 24, 2008 at 9:36 AM
I know you’re joking, but his current gig is a lifetime appointment.
On Powell: What’s the thinking? He makes McCain look young?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on August 24, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Sigh- No country for old conservatives.
jjshaka on August 24, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Ed, this but another significant drawback is the fact that the man is petty and leaks like a sieve to the media and the return of leaky Armitage.
Topsecretk9 on August 24, 2008 at 9:36 AM
I agree! He let (can’t think of his name) take the blame for the valerie plame leak and said nothing. Even let him go to jail. No patriot him!
Bambi on August 24, 2008 at 9:42 AM
It would be naked opportunism to pick Powell. Next year, Powell won’t be able to help McCain much in selling McCain’s whole range of presidential initiatives. Powell doesn’t have the political experience or seem to have any interest in developing it. Powell is the old relief pitcher that’s only good for one inning.
RBMN on August 24, 2008 at 9:45 AM
No way! Not after the way he and his alter-ego Armitage let us twist in the wind behind the Wilson-Plame scam. No way.
petefrt on August 24, 2008 at 9:49 AM
He’s not going to pick Powell.
Now that Ubamba has picked Biden to appeal to the blue collar whites…Mccain has no choice but to pull out the big guns and nominate Mike Huckabee!
Mccain/Huckabee will win in a landslide victory!
SaintOlaf on August 24, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Powell’s had it with Washington life, and could not make his sentiment more clear than he has consistently since leaving it.
That doesn’t mean that Powell’s admirers aren’t going to long for his recapitulation with the proper authentic tonic cadence to settle the world’s and nation’s upheavals.
Even if Powell were to conjoin with McCain, it would be a disillusioning experience once elected. I doubt that the two would get along.
For the election rationale of complement rather than duplication, besides degree of pigment, they align as a match. Now if that’s the premise the RNC is seeking, then pursuing Powell makes sense.
But he won’t get on the band wagon. He won’t be suckered again by any party, no matter what. If he were to change his mind on that, he’d lose face in terms of honor and integrity and just be another politician.
maverick muse on August 24, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Huckster has too much baggage from Arkansas. And Huckabee’s past career as a Baptist minister could turn off independent and Jewish voters who worry about separation of church and state.
Wethal on August 24, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Nah, Thomas is great on the Supreme Court. I’d prefer Larry Elder…
eanax on August 24, 2008 at 9:59 AM
Armitage is already advising the campaign and Powell donated the max last year.
ninjapirate on August 24, 2008 at 10:00 AM
You mean pro-choice, right?
RobCon on August 24, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Nothing’s changed in terms of who McCain should decide between just because the likes of Biden have begun dumping their loads from on high.
If McCain is stuck on the idea of proving himself “the original maverick” he can offer Powell the VP and get the polite declination before offering it to:
1. Palin if its the women voters McCain needs;
2. Romney if its the ‘better a Mormon than a former Muslim gone black theocracy’ voters McCain needs.
Given McCain’s leniency with political winds of change on all fronts other than pro-life, he needs someone with as strong a backbone as possible to prevent further erosion of the American economy due to the fictitious global warming lunacy and its strangle hold on American vs. international industry.
NO CAP AND TRADE, NO GLOBAL WARMING LUNATICS!
That issue will be the straw that breaks our nation’s back.
maverick muse on August 24, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Why is the MSM burying the Rasmussen, Zogby and other polls that show Mike Huckabee is by far the best VP candidate that helps Mccain win the election?
In fact why are they burying the many, many polls that show Romney is by far the worst VP candidate…Romney hurts Mccain worse than any other VP nominee by far.
He doesn’t even win the support for VP from the majority of republicans in massachusetts.
SaintOlaf on August 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM
… Powell’s made it clear he isn’t interested.
Good, ’cause we’re not interested in him either. I loved him as a General during the Gulf War, but for VP? Nah, we need a young conservative. A female (preferably with executive experience like Palin) would bring in the PUMAs and Obambi is toast.
Tony737 on August 24, 2008 at 10:12 AM
The Huckster reached his zenith and is accelerating rapidly back towards earth, since people got to know him. It’s a good thing.
a capella on August 24, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Palin has been governor since 2006. (Obama has been in the senate since 2004. Before that Palin was a mayor).
She has to come up against Biden in a debate on all issues, including foreign policy, federal (not state) policy on taxes, regulation, social issues, etc.
McCain’s theme is “Experience,” but he has to be able to point to a VP who has considerable experience in his/her own right.
Obama is hoping that the combination of his and Biden’s would look like a net average of experience. Mccain can do that better with two more solidly experienced candidates.
Wethal on August 24, 2008 at 10:24 AM
With the new ad about Hillary’s diss, it seems McCain has to follow his own advice & nominate the GOP runner-up, Mitt.
jgapinoy on August 24, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Has Politico ever been right about anything?
logis on August 24, 2008 at 10:26 AM
And deal with the borders (yes, both North and South) now!
eanax on August 24, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Well, Giuliani tried it, and anti-abortion activists wouldn’t have it – even when he went out of his way to telegraph his likely Supreme Court picks. Speaking of Giuliani…
It seems like “Governor of New York” is the new preferred position for pro-choice Republican politicians.
Big S on August 24, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Politico? Probably just trying to yank Powell’s chain in the hopes that he’d decide to go to Denver after all. Powell’s wife is the one who put the kibosh on his seeking electoral office. To his credit, he listened to her.
Powell was a much better Sec State than Condi Rice, btw.
funky chicken on August 24, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Powell endorsed Obama. Why on Earth would McCain choose him? To select ANYONE that has endorsed the hollow inexperienced Obama would be absurd. To endorse Obama is to endorse your own political cluelessness.
cannonball on August 24, 2008 at 10:33 AM
And I thought the Powells live in Mclean, VA?
funky chicken on August 24, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Take a long look at the polls. Americans biggest concern is the state of the economy—-OUR POCKET BOOKS—-and McCain’s pick has to be some one who the public would trust to put stability back into the average household.
Mitt Romney is a no-brainer. He will take Colorado out of the Dems dream of a blue state as well as other mid-west states while providing hope for the “working mans” economic woes. Framing Obama and the Delaware guy as “big on raising taxes” will be enough to put a McCain/Romney ticket over the top.
Rovin on August 24, 2008 at 10:34 AM
As we’ve seen from Obama’s rise, political positions mean very little. It’s all about “like” and trust.
Say what you want, but people LIKE Huckabee. He rose to prominance with ZERO money – ZERO. By contrast, Romney spent a fortune, and didn’t really move the needle.
The liability factor supercedes all other measures in this day and age.
marklmail on August 24, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Powell didn’t endorse Obama. He said he isn’t going to publicly endorse anybody. Both campaigns need to leave him alone. It’s possible that the McCain campaign didn’t leak this info at all, but it came from mischief makers inside the Obama camp.
funky chicken on August 24, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Armitage was supposedly a very talented negotiator on the world stage. He enjoyed his job, and had little or no interest in day-to-day politics, beyond what affected the US State Department. I don’t think he really cared if Republicans or Democrats were in White House. The State Department seems to do its own thing in any case. That’s why Novak insisted that the person who told him about Plame had no ulterior political motives. Reporters just liked Armitage because he was chatty, a gossip.
RBMN on August 24, 2008 at 10:36 AM
If Rudy isn’t given a cabinet position in McCain’s cabinet (Attorney General!) he will run for governor and has a great chance of winning.
What does Powell bring to that office? I’m not seeing it. I’m not a fan of Powell’s so maybe that is skewing my objectivity, although I recognize that it would be devastating if he endorsed Obama.
Buy Danish on August 24, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Not to mention that Huck’s pro-criminal activism would alienate law-and-order conservatives.
The latest ad shows that McCain is now actively courting the Hillary vote. Palin would be a good choice to pull lots of those angry Hillary voters.
As for this Powell stuff, again, he’s nothing more than a politician. He expropriated Schwartzkopf’s victory, and used it for his own political gain. I wouldn’t vote for Powell for dog catcher.
rightwingprof on August 24, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Huckabee? He will come across to a lot of people like one of those fast-talking TV preachers who asks the faithful to send in “faith offerings” while living high on the hog himself.
In fact, Huckabee set up a “bridal registry” for people to give him furniture and other domestics after he was leaving the governorship.
Wethal on August 24, 2008 at 10:40 AM
I’d take Bolton over either Rice or Powell.
Send_Me on August 24, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Hillary’s supporters include many Baby Boomer women who may be reminded by Palin of the younger, second wife for whom their husbands left them. They want a woman of their generation, who fought her way up through the glass ceiling.
Wethal on August 24, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Who is behind the push for Romney VP?
The dems.
They know that is their only chance of winning.
SaintOlaf on August 24, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Powell would offset the need for a pro-life candidate. He’s the only one who could. I just don’t know that he’d take the job.
drjohn on August 24, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Yeah, it did seem that a fair amount of osmosis was going on. I’ve never trusted him, although I’ve always admired his Viet Nam service.
a capella on August 24, 2008 at 10:52 AM
And he still did better than Romney – given his budget of ZERO.
marklmail on August 24, 2008 at 10:53 AM
rightwingprof on August 24, 2008 at 10:38 AM
McCain already has 80% of the disinfranchised Hillary voters. Little will change in ninety days. I like Sarah Palin too, but she won’t add that much more to the numbers. The DNC will hammer the McCain/Bush mantra right up until election day claiming the “four more years of economic woes”, even though the two years of Dems control of congress has provided zero relief. And, you can bet the farm that the videos will pop up where McCain said “the economy’s not his strong suit”. This is the critical remedy that needs to be addressed. Romney can take the “ammo” right out of the Dems barrels.
Rovin on August 24, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Unlike Biden who was publicly BEGGING for the VEEP spot, right?
shooter on August 24, 2008 at 10:55 AM
The Huckster would doom McCain’s campaign. There just aren’t enough Mormon haters out there to make up for all the negatives he brings.
a capella on August 24, 2008 at 10:56 AM
I’m not too fond of Pawlenty or Romney. I like Palin, but apparently too many other people don’t. It obviously won’t be Powell. I wouldn’t be upset with a Leiberman pick.
What about Richardson?
JohnJ on August 24, 2008 at 10:57 AM
With all due respect, would you mind extrapolating on how the Dems are banking on this?
Rovin on August 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Ah yes, but children, always remember, perception is reality.
Soundbites and microwave meals because Americans have no patience and want the quick and shallow.
Powell looks good. Americans like him.
If it truly were policy, real world economics and substance, explain to me why if the election were held today BHO/JB would get over 40% of the vote?
Amendment X on August 24, 2008 at 11:08 AM
If he’s going for a pro-choicer, why not Christine Whitman? Admittedly, I don’t know a lot about her, but she seems to have a lot of the same qualities Ed likes about Powell: appeal to independents, centrists, and Democrats. She will also bring out the PUMAs in force without the “pretty girl” problems Palin apparently has. She also has lots of executive experience as Governor of New Jersey and as head of the EPA. Outside of being pro-choice, what are the arguments against her?
Kafir on August 24, 2008 at 11:09 AM
It seems to me that the main problem with a Powell selection is that it helps not a bit (well, very little) countering the main strategy that Obama-Biden will take until November: to wit, good old-fashioned economic populism, middle-class style.
Yeah, Bob Shrum is back.
Gonna’ see a lot of “McCain has seven houses and is out-of-touch” style attacks.
I doubt you’ll be hearing any more of this “we are the world” stuff from Obama. It’s “Middle America Come Home” from now on.
SteveMG on August 24, 2008 at 11:10 AM
RU joking?
If I hear one more person suggest that the Veep on the flipping Republican ticket be a Democrat, I’ll, I’ll…
Contrary to St. Olaf’s “logic”, I think the Dems fear Romney as a clock cleaner in the debates. Indeed, I think the “how many houses do you own” was also a pre-preemptive strike against Mitt, with the Dems hoping to weaken any desire on Mac’s part to choose him as his running mate.
Buy Danish on August 24, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Buy Danish on August 24, 2008 at 11:13 AM
I agree, I don’t see Sen. Biden telling Gov. Romney that he has a higher I.Q. How do you even bring that into an argument?
Cindy Munford on August 24, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Contrary to St. Olaf’s “logic”, I think the Dems fear Romney as a clock cleaner in the debates. Indeed, I think the “how many houses do you own” was also a pre-preemptive strike against Mitt, with the Dems hoping to weaken any desire on Mac’s part to choose him as his running mate.
Buy Danish on August 24, 2008 at 11:13 AM
All good points BD. The radical left voting block simply hate anyone who is a successful capitalist. They play the class warfare like a well tuned fiddle. These are the Move-On-Soros “where’s my bong hit and my government check” crowd. But I’m not sure what percentage of the electorate they entale. I would hope the saner working class has more sense…..
Rovin on August 24, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Also, Mitt Romney can tell you how many houses he owns, how much they cost and what they are worth.
A lot of people do not know he is the ultimate tight wad.
He pops popcorn to take to the movies before he goes.
I saw a home video of him playing in the snow with his children and his daughter in law asked him why he was not wearing the new gloves they had given him the Christmas before. Mitt looked down at his snow gloves covered in duct tape and said (paraphrasing), “I do not need them yet, these are just fine”
If Americans lived by the same set of moral and fiscal values Mitt Romney has lived his whole life we would considerably better off.
EJDolbow on August 24, 2008 at 11:37 AM
he’s a choicer I could deal with
eski502 on August 24, 2008 at 11:40 AM
The mustache man would be good.
Tom Selleck could have some cabinet position, along with John Voight, and Gary Senise
gzelmiami on August 24, 2008 at 11:43 AM
“Powell’s decision to leave the Bush administration has made him into a bigger hero than before with independents, centrists, and some Democrats.” I thought he was let go.
davod on August 24, 2008 at 11:45 AM
She wrote a book called “It’s My Party, Too” timed to come out just before the 2006 elections. Basically, it was a RINO telling the GOP conservatives where to get off.
McCain needs to hold the pro-life conservative base, and appeal to independent and Hillary supporters. He needs to appeal to the middle class in general, too. His theme is “Experience” and he has to keep to that.
The pool from which he can choose doesn’t have a clear winner. Every one has a down side. It’s who least hurts the campaign, and gives the Dems the least ammo.
Wethal on August 24, 2008 at 11:47 AM
damn, that’s a bit too tight, but I guess it’s something our country needs.
gzelmiami on August 24, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Colin Powell is a black Wesley Clark. That’s why the media loved him so much.
BigD on August 24, 2008 at 11:55 AM
O Lordy
That would be Obama vs Obama
At least give me a choice this election
entagor on August 24, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Stop bashing Mitt and the Huck. I was fighting in Korea, surrounded by bowl haircuts, when those two were sitting in their mother’s basement, looking at themselves naked,and that’s okay with me.
Lloyd Bonafide on August 24, 2008 at 12:01 PM
The Huckanuts are finished- the situation calls for Romney to eviserate Smug/Plugs class warfare bile.
Huckabee played that very card in the primaries and failed because like BO , he believed the economic pie if finite.
The road to socialism rest on this economic belief and Romney know it’s insane.
jjshaka on August 24, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Hee hee. No, and Mitt’s humility is in stark contrast to the insufferably arrogant gas bag.
I’d love to see that home movie.
Buy Danish on August 24, 2008 at 12:08 PM
why do people keep insisting whitman or palin will draw in disaffected hillary voters? its not just any woman they want to vote for, its a specific one, hillary! mccain’s best hope is to keep hammering obama for dissing hillary, keep reminding those voters who screwed hillary and to get their votes out of spite, thats the only reason they would vote for him, obama is the one who champions most of their issues. if mccain tries to appeal to them on issues he loses more and more of a base that is getting more disgusted w/ him. a conservative veep nominee will bring some of them back and wont cost any votes from the PUMA’s voting out of spite.
chasdal on August 24, 2008 at 12:12 PM
I’m pretty sure you are trying to communicate something. Could you try again? Perhaps it’s an aging or pharmaceutical problem?
a capella on August 24, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Powell? Dear God, no.
It doesn’t make any sense: McCain’s the war hero, he doesn’t need any creds on that score.
Powell on foreign policy? I don’t think his approach is much different than either Obama or Biden; he’s just better at phraseology. And besides, if you cross Powell, his cohorts will pull out the long knives, such as Armitage starting the whole Plame “scandal” because Powell thought Bush embarassed him with the WMD info.
And he certainly doesn’t know much about the economy — which is McCain’s biggest weakness.
Nichevo on August 24, 2008 at 12:30 PM
It seems to me, that the Republicans are trying to push the conservatives out of the party. I wonder how well that is going to work?
Johan Klaus on August 24, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Parts of Colin Powell’s record include:
Seems to have slightly helped whitewash the My Lai massacre (bad)
Assisted Caspar Weinberger during 1983 invasion of Grenada and 1986 airstrike on Libya (good)
Held post of NSA 1987-1989, the years in which we won the Cold War. (very good)
While chairman of the Joint Chiefs, opposed Desert Shield, was overruled, then helped preside over the failure to follow Saddam back to Baghdad in 1991. (very bad)
Helped preside over victory over Saddam in Kuwait in 1991 (good).
One of his chief accomplishments, the Powell Doctrine, advocating the use of overwhelming force, is now obsolete in the era of terrorism and guerilla warfare. (bad)
Was duped, indirectly, by Saddam into believing Saddam had massive stockpiles of WMD, and gave false testimony to the UN in the lead-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom, which helped doom the chances for a wide-ranging international coalition. (bad)
Quit Secretary of State job when he was asked to lie by George W. Bush. (very, very good)
Any long career will have negatives. Powell’s career has some negatives and lots of positives. Powell is a good and decent man of high character, high intelligence, and great patriotism. He would make a good Vice-President, or President for that matter.
indythinker on August 24, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Agreed. I don’t see any excitement on the left about Romney, especially when matched against Biden.
Huckabee, OTOH, would raise a chorus of hallelujah! The VP debate could be booked on the Comedy Channel, and I’m sure neither Biden nor Huck would disappoint.
Nichevo on August 24, 2008 at 12:59 PM
it goes in cycles, and you need balance… what the Democrats have done is they have kicked out ALL the moderates out of their party..(we need to pick them up)
Ronald Reagan “I didn’t leave the Democrat party the Democrat Party left me.”
Hillary Supporters, people like Lieberman, Zell Miller and others, “I didn’t leave the Democrat party the Democrat party left me.”
Chakra Hammer on August 24, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Powell handled his military job well…his State Dept. job, not so much. The desire for him (or the constant Palin mantra for that matter) is identity politics. I thought Republicans didn’t traffic in that nonsense.
HawaiiLwyr on August 24, 2008 at 1:03 PM
By all means, expound. With sources/links.
Nichevo on August 24, 2008 at 1:12 PM
If you don’t think so, then you sound like this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkT6gmcnAlo
Chakra Hammer on August 24, 2008 at 1:28 PM
I got the impression both he and dubya were duped by George(slam dunk) Tenat.
a capella on August 24, 2008 at 1:45 PM
What’s the opposite of a moonbat?
The Race Card on August 24, 2008 at 1:50 PM
If I hear Powell’s name one more time with respect to any GOP positions I think I’ll puke.
Is there anyone on Earth that McCain won’t float as a possible running mate?
I’m still praying that McCain gets tossed out during the convention. The better his chances look, the more of a jerk/moron he becomes.
progressoverpeace on August 24, 2008 at 2:23 PM
progressoverpeace:
Why would McCain get thrown out at the convention? There is nothing unusual about mentioning several people for possible running mates. I doubt that McCain will announce the winner the way Obama did, as if the whole thing were some game show.
I saw a post about Powell at Just One Minute by Tom Maguire and he said that McCain and Powell going up against Obama and Biden would be like bringing a bag of rocks to a pillow fight.
I have liked Powell every since I heard him tell some antiAmerican idiots that the United States has lost a lot a fine young people fighting for other people’s liberty and the only thing we have asked in return was a plot of land to bury them. Or words to that effect.
But I doubt he will get this nod, I am not even sure he wants it.
Terrye on August 24, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Thomas-Rice, Rice-Thomas…either would be a great ticket.
ynot4tony2 on August 24, 2008 at 3:38 PM
It’s 1000:1, but just a wish of mine.
It’s been more than several, and I have not been a fan of many of them. I particularly dislike Powell. I have disagreed with every decision of Powell’s that I’m aware of. I have no respect for him as a thinker and don’t want him in any position of power that requires action.
Powell seems like a really nice guy, but I can’t stand his reasoning.
Please, Terrye. B Hussein does not present a standard anyone else should hold themselves down to.
Yes, it would be the varsity against the JV, but I wouldn’t like that varsity team, to put it mildly.
There’s no question that Powell loves America, but he has this tendency to veer left/get squishy on critical decisions.
I don’t think McCain would try it. I hope not. I’ve learned not to put anything past McCain.
progressoverpeace on August 24, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Powell settled for a lucrative deal in venture capitalism around 2005. I don’t think he’ll change his mind. He’s served his country and I think he’ll make money and head charitable enterprises, going forward.
Entelechy on August 24, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Plus, Powell would not want to campaign against Obama.
Entelechy on August 24, 2008 at 4:02 PM
The VP is the exception to the rule. You pick someone who will bring in a constituency that you don’t have a firm grasp on. This is one of the reasons I thought Cheney was a crappy choice – he brought nothing to the table that wasn’t already there, except maybe being a DC insider.
Kafir on August 24, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Not fair, not correct. People who worked for Powell like him.
funky chicken on August 24, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Several people have mentioned Christine Whitman, how about looking at another Whitman – Meg Whitman. No one can say this woman doesn’t understand the economy. She is not beltway business as usual, which Biden is. She can think on her feet and would be Biden’s nightmare in a debate.
talking_mouse on August 24, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Too bad the RINO’s are taking over the republican party and republican media…
That’s why they’re burying the polls the Rasmussen and Zogby polls that show Huckabee is the candidate that helps Mccain win the most votes this election..and the many, many polls that show Mitt Romney will destroy any chance for Mccain to win.
It looks like we’re going to have to suffer 4 years of Ubama in order to cleanse this party of the RINO’s influence.
SaintOlaf on August 24, 2008 at 7:29 PM
“Held post of NSA 1987-1989, the years in which we won the Cold War. (very good)” Depends upon what he was saying. Remember the consensus opinion was to stick with the status quo.
“Quit Secretary of State job when he was asked to lie by George W. Bush. (very, very good)” I call bullshit on this statement.
davod on August 24, 2008 at 8:06 PM
I would say that the Cold War was mainly won in Reagan’s first term. Perestroika was already eating the USSR from the inside by 1987, and that was something that wouldn’t be stopped – as Gorby showed in his pathetic attempts to revive the Soviet carcass at the end.
progressoverpeace on August 24, 2008 at 8:28 PM
I would prefer Clarence Thomas… but better yet J. C. Watts.
vulcannomad on August 24, 2008 at 10:39 PM
John Bolton for Sec. of State or sen him back as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in a McCain Administration…
eanax on August 24, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Powell’s idea of a cool car is a Volvo. nuff said
larrikin on August 25, 2008 at 8:10 AM
Offering an African-American just to capture the African-American is pandering. But if they feel compelled to do so putting J. C Watts forward as the American, as he calls himself, would solidify the center and is more articulate than Obama.
MSGTAS on August 25, 2008 at 9:53 AM
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