[Rhodes22-list] POLITICAL- Is the Powell Endorsement Important for Us?

[Ben Cittadino]

The latest from CNN confirms both my reaction to the endorsement and some of
what Herb and Brad have said about Powells advisory capacity to Obama even
before the endorsement.  But isn't that reassuring.  Apparently Obama is
looking to Powell for advice, and Ayers?, not so much.
CNN-
"Colin Powell's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama was as much a rejection of
the Republican Party and Sen. John McCain's campaign as an embrace of the
Democratic presidential nominee, political analysts said Monday.
Colin Powell may have given voice to moderates unhappy with the GOP ticket,
an analyst says.
 Syndicated columnist David Sirota said Monday that the Powell endorsement
was a troubling sign for McCain as his campaign enters its final weeks.
"The repudiation of John McCain by such a high-profile Republican certainly
hurts John McCain," he said.
David Gergen, a CNN senior political analyst who has advised the last four
presidents, said the Powell endorsement may give voice to "disillusioned"
moderate Republicans disappointed by the negativity of the McCain campaign. 
"They've been muttering about [it], but they were afraid to give voice to,
and he came out and said it, in a way," Gergen said.
Powell's endorsement may also sway some voters who were hesitant to vote for
Obama because they felt he was not ready to be the nation's commander in
chief, said Bill Schneider, a CNN senior political analyst.  Watch panel
debate impact of Powell's endorsement »
"It was extremely reassuring for this experienced military leader, a
general, someone who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was
secretary of state, to endorse Barack Obama and say, 'His world experience,
his commitment and knowledge of national security are fine. You can vote for
him without those kinds of reservations,' " Schneider said
 And CNN contributor Alex Castellanos, a Republican strategist, said "Colin
Powell ... is a warm glass of milk and a cookie for those voters who have a
hard time going to sleep at night." 
On Monday, Obama said Powell would advise him if he becomes president.
"He's already served in that function, even before he endorsed me," Obama
told NBC. "Whether he wants to take a formal role, whether there's something
that's a good fit for him, I think is something that he and I would have to
discuss."  
Powell, a former secretary of state for President Bush as well as a former
chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said Sunday he decided, in part, to
back Obama because he was troubled by the rightward direction the Republican
party had taken in recent years.
Powell told NBC's Tom Brokaw that he was troubled by the McCain campaign's
attempts to associate Obama with former '60s radical William Ayers and some
within the Republican Party -- but not McCain -- were making the assertion
that Obama is "closet" Muslim.
"On the Republican side, over the last seven weeks, the approach of the
Republican Party and Mr. McCain has become narrower and narrower," said
Powell.  
In contrast, Obama's "inclusive" approach that crosses "ethnic lines, racial
lines, generational lines" is what the nation needs right now, he said. 
Powell said he made his choice to back Obama after watching both
presidential candidates' reactions to the financial crisis that has gripped
credit markets in recent weeks.
Calling the crisis a "final exam," Powell said he found McCain "a little
unsure as how to deal with the economic problems that we were having, and
almost every day, there was a different approach to the problem."
"That concerned me," Powell added. 
After Powell's announcement, McCain told FOX News he considered Powell and
himself "longtime friends" and that he respected him, but that the
endorsement of his rival did not come as a surprise.
"I'm also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former secretaries of
state: Secretaries [Henry] Kissinger, [James] Baker, [Lawrence] Eagleburger
and [Alexander] Haig," he said. "And I'm proud to have the endorsement of
well over 200 retired Army generals and admirals."
Tara Wall, the deputy editorial editor of the Washington Times, said that
moderate and conservative Republicans have been skirmishing throughout this
election year, and that the Powell endorsement had brought that fight into
the open. 
While it energized conservatives, McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
as a running mate may have alienated moderate Republicans like Powell, Wall
said.
Powell said he did not feel Palin was ready to be president and that
factored into his decision to endorse Obama.
"[McCain] took the calculated risk of putting Palin on the ticket to pacify
the conservatives, and it did re-energize the base. And for that reason,
you're going to have some of those moderates within the party feel a little
disenfranchised, and I think that was the case for Colin Powell," Wall said.
"So it is significant. I think it does send a message to Republicans." 

Best, Ben C.


hparsons wrote:
> 
> Ben,
> 
> While you may assign your choice to that of Colin Powell, I hope you 
> understand that many have views vastly different than yours, and even 
> Powell's, and thus are not willing to do the same.
> 
> I respect Powell's courage and leadership abilities; that does not mean 
> I agree with him on every issue regarding politics or society. Were it 
> so, I would be in quite a quandry, as there are other military leaders 
> that I also respect that have vastly differing views than he.
> 
> He may be impressed with Obama's "style and substance", but I am not. 
> I'm not impressed with his style, and am disappointed in his LACK of 
> substance. He announced his candidacy years ago in the home of Ayers, 
> and has had many associations with him since, and now denies any 
> relationship with him. He sat and listened to Dr Wright for 20 years, 
> and quoted him liberally in his book, stated that he could no more 
> disavow him than he could his grandmother while stating that he did know 
> know of the Dr's views, then did indeed disavow him as the public looked 
> closer at his the association. I could go on, but you've heard the list, 
> it has not changed. The little political slip with "Joe the Plumber" 
> about "sharing the wealth" is a further example of my issues with the man.
> 
> So I disagree with Powell.
> 
> I too was "troubled" by the false accusations about Obama being a 
> Muslim, and I too asked myself "so what?" By the same token, I'm 
> troubled by the false accusations against Palin about her religious 
> beliefs, including the idiotic statements made by asses on this forum 
> that should know better about her being a "religious kook". However, 
> statements from morons from others supporting either side is not a 
> reason to vote for (or against) a candidate.
> 
> So, I disagree with Powell on that issue. As a matter of fact, I find 
> his reasoning on it faulty.
> 
> I agree that the Republican's campaigning has become "narrower", and I 
> wish they could have done better. However, to talk about that and ignore 
> the campaigning done by Obama, including the slanderous remarks made by 
> groups closely affiliated with his campaign, seems to belie his stance, 
> and make it look like he's looking for an "excuse". Truth be told, Barak 
> Obama falsely accused the McCain campaign of "100% negative 
> advertising". How can Powell trust a man that will openly lie, or use 
> false information that is so easily vetted, whichever the case may be?
> 
> So, I disagree with Powell that McCain's campaigning style is reason to 
> vote for Obama. It looks to me more like an excuse.
> 
> While I may respect Powell's opinion about Palin, I disagree with it. 
> Obama has talked about "change", and then picked a candidate that 
> represents everything "business as usual" in Washington politics. Obama 
> chose as his running mate, a man that had repeatedly stated that Obama 
> was not qualified to serve as President of the United States. A man that 
> has since, made multiple gaffes indicating he views an Obama 
> administration as HIS administration.
> 
> McCain, on the other hand, chose someone who has views that largely 
> mirror his. Who is willing to go against her party when she sees the 
> need, just as McCain has done in the past. McCain knows that he is left 
> of the most Republicans, so he wisely chose someone to his right. In 
> spite of the "pooh poohing" of Palin's experience, she has EXECUTIVE 
> branch experience which none of the other three candidates have, and 
> she's the governer of a state with a constituency that roughly matches 
> that of Senator Biden's.
> 
> I think he made a wise choice.
> 
> So, again, I disagree with Powell.
> 
> As to your own observations.
> 
> Yes, the talk of whether or not Joe the Plumber is really a plumber is 
> off the subject. However, the Obama campaign's TREATMENT of the man for 
> daring to ask a question, and especially Obama's response says volumes 
> about the man and his campaign, AND his plans for the future. I do not 
> want any more "sharing the wealth", which means taking the money from 
> one at the end of a gun, and giving it to another.
> 
> Yes, we are at war with two countries, one of which Obama has publicly 
> endorsed surrender; and even now that the tide has turned, will not 
> state his commitment to victory.
> 
> Your view of Republicans saying that Joe the Plumber should not have to 
> "pay his share" is either ignorantly simplistic, or an outright lie, 
> either way it's a misrepresentation. We believe that EVERYONE should pay 
> there share, and no more. We do not believe that Joe the Plumber, either 
> now or if and when he achieves his goals, should have to pay the share 
> of those that have no goals or aspirations, or haven't yet found the 
> means to meet them.
> 
> I disagree with your view about what should be, and I know that your 
> view of the Republican stance is wrong.
> 
> There are those of us that believe that the killing of an innocent 
> human, born or unborn, for the convenience of the people that created 
> that human is as important as whether or not we allow murder. We 
> established over 140 years ago that one human owning another is wrong, 
> and we're still working out problems associated with that practice 
> today. Allowing one human to decide to kill another is another form of 
> "ownership", and the practice today is as abhorrent to some as the 
> slavery issue, possibly moreso.
> 
> There are those of us that realize that statements such as "Health care 
> is not available to 40 million" is hyperbole, and either again 
> represents ignorance is misdirection. It's been reported that as many as 
> 1/3 of those that don't have health insurance, do not have it because 
> they choose not to. The vast majority of those remaining have other 
> options that they choose to take.
> 
> I for one, and I can't speak for all others, do not want the government 
> running a health care program. I've not seen the government improve many 
> programs, and have no reason to believe they will this one.
> 
> Finally I disagree with your statement that "most American's don't give 
> a rat's ass about Mr Ayers". I think more of them do than you think. I 
> believe that they haven't heard the story yet, and the fact that Obama 
> doesn't want the story told tells volumes.
> 
> As to the thrust of your post, I would pick Powell to make just about 
> any military decision, but I believe I'm going to reserve my decision 
> for the best candidate for the country to myself.
> 
> 
> Ben Cittadino wrote:
>> Colleagues;
>>
>> As those of you who follow the political posts on this list undoubtedly
>> know, Gen. Colin Powell (ret.)endorsed the candidacy of Sen. Obama
>> yesterday
>> on the NBC Sunday news show "Meet the Press".
>> Is this an important development worthy of sober reflection and
>> reconsideration by those who have heretofor supported Sen. McCain, or is
>> it
>> simply a matter of expected racial politics, or something else?
>>
>> My view is that this endorsement represents a very important development. 
>> Here's why:
>>
>> Colin Powell is an indisputably loyal American.  He served as Chairman of
>> the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking uniformed military
>> position
>> in our Country during the first Gulf War. He was President Reagan's
>> National
>> Security Advisor, on of the most sensitive intelligence posts in our
>> Country. He was Secretary of State under President GW Bush, the first
>> Jamaican/American to serve in a Presidential Cabinet. His personal
>> courage
>> is beyond question having been personally decorated for bravery during
>> service in Vietnam.  In 2007 he donated the maximum amount allowed by law
>> to
>> the McCain campaign. 
>>
>> While there are those among us who discount endorsements, and say that
>> they
>> make up their own minds, I am not so sure of my own opinions on these
>> subjects that I am unwilling to consider the opinions of others,
>> especially
>> when the others are in a position to make better judgements than mine,
>> and
>> where the others are people who I have good reason to respect.
>>
>> And so, what about Powell? He said about Sen. Obama on "Meet the Press":
>>
>>  "his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his
>> campaign,
>> because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and
>> his
>> rhetorical abilities", in addition to his "style and substance." Powell
>> additionally called Obama a "transformational figure."[45][46] He was
>> also
>> "troubled" by the "false intimations that Obama was Muslim." Powell
>> stated
>> that "[Obama] is a Christian - He's always been a Christian...," and
>> continued, "But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there
>> something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no,
>> that's
>> not America." Powell later stated, "I look at these kind of approaches to
>> the campaign, and they trouble me [...] Over the last seven weeks, the
>> approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower."
>>
>> This observation of the Republican Party's narrower approach is
>> completely
>> consistant with the remarks I have previously posted by the NYTImes
>> columnist David Brooks. Powell also opined that the choice of Sarah Palin
>> as
>> a running mate showed poor judgement by Sen McCain. 
>>
>> I frankly, see all the talk of "Joe the Plumber" and whether he is
>> actually
>> a plumber as a bit off the subject.
>> We are at war in two countries.  The economy is in terrible shape by any
>> measure.  Health care insurance is not available to what, 40 million?,
>> Americans. We have no energy policy other than developing more fossil
>> fuels.
>> Lots more people in the world hate us, than used to hate us. To borrow
>> the
>> joke, my 401k is now a 201k.  The Republicans will not tell me who is
>> going
>> to pay for the wars, bailouts, the health care, etc, except that
>> apparently
>> they don't think "Joe the Plumber" should have to kick in his share. 
>>
>> And so we argue about whether gays and lesbians should be able to marry,
>> whether women in crisis prgnancys should be able to abort them, whether
>> it
>> is OK to be a muslim-American, whether science or creation-science should
>> inform our students, and Rome continues to burn.
>>
>> So getting back to Colin Powell, if Obama is OK with him he's OK with me.
>> Apparently, Powell (like most Americans) doesn't give a rat's ass about
>> Mr.
>> Ayres.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Ben C.  "s/v Susan Kay"  Highlands, NJ
>>   
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