Colin Powell will NOT endorse anyone on Sunday's MTP.

[FrenchieCat]

He is simply not brave enough to do what is in his heart. He never has been and never will be.

The lack of his courage is a pattern throughout his life. Whether in reference to the "My Lai" Massacre "clean up" report; holding the vial at the UN while knowing better; the fact that he didn't run for President because of various personal fears; to have not spilled the beans on the sorryness that is seen as the Bush Presidency even to this day; or to vouch for Sen. Stevens in Alaska, knowing that the Senator is less than ethical.

The Republicans have consistently played Powell via his good soldier persona, and this time will not be the exception. The Republicans are leaking a loud clarion call that Powell will endorse Obama. This is being done to keep Powell from doing exactly that. Powell knows that the GOP will discount any endorsement simply by stating that Powell is endorsing Barack because Powell and Barack are both Black. The evidence is also found in the fact that the Republicans leaked a possible powell endorsement before the Democratic Convention earlier this year as well; leaking that Powell would endorse Obama...and speak at the convention. Instead, Powell did as I expected him to do....nothing.

Powell, lacking the fortitude to not give a shit what Republicans are saying, will instead, endorse both candidates in the sense of saying that both would be adequate leaders...and will lavish compliments on both of them.

So please stop discussing Colin Powell and who he will endorse; he doesn't have it in him to do the right thing for this country; only the right thing for himself based on what others might think or say about him. Please know that is why he became a Republican in the first place.....

Country First is really not Powell's motto anymore than it is McCain's.

Too bad, as this is an historical election, and Powell, as usual, will not make a positive difference now anymore than he has in the past.

[poverlay]

1. Methinks you're likely to be right. Powell has been nothing but disappointing when it comes to

courage regarding the "Country First".

[AlCzervik]

2. i agree and i think that makes McCain look worse.

[FloridaGrl]

3. I think you might be right

I know if he does I will not be McCain, not with the tone his campaign has taken.

[Essene]

4. absolutely 100% disagree. folks need to look at his record re: the war and bush admin again

http://political-zazen.blogspot.com/2008/10/colin-powell-how-to-regain-your.html

[central scrutinizer]

18. but nobody will look - the myth is more powerful than the facts

Although I feel he is a rank opportunist, liar, and toady, many people see him as a reasonable, honorable man.

[Essene]

40. let's look at the full truth... HE IS BETTER THAN SOME DEMOCRATS ON BUSH AND IRAQ

HIS RECORD ON THIS STUFF IS BETTER THAN A LOT OF DEMOCRATS'.

he did NOT support invasion of iraq and openly says it was wrong
he fought the neocons on the intel claims
he quit the bush admin and spoke out about the cover up
he demanded a congressional investigation
he opposed gitmo
he opposed torture
he criticized bush handling of iraq
he criticized bush handling of katrina
he is pro-choice and pro-affirmative action
he supports obama on diplomacy
he criticized mccain on handling of russia/georgia conflict
he defends obama's judgment and says his experience is fine

I find it kinda pathetic that DU folks want to keep trashing this man because they don't fully appreciate this african-american MODERATE who is arguably one of the biggest and more vital critics of the bush admin.

Heaven forbid folks step back... look at the whole truth... and just say "awesome" about a moderate black republican supporting obama. One who the nation and world still has great respect for...

http://political-zazen.blogspot.com/2008/10/colin-powell-how-to-regain-your.html

[Blasphemer]

5. Brava! Yes, that is Powell in a nutshell....... nt

[enough]

6. You have said it so well that I am going to break my vow of not getting involved in

Powell-endorsement threads.

Right on the money. Thanks

[immoderate]

7. He's over 70. If he doesn't endorse, he's out of the game.

--IMM

[Forkboy]

8. A coward to the end.

"Better to die on your feet than live on your knees" Mr Powell. Too bad you never got that.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

28. All these years he thought it was the other way around. n/t

[BklynChick]

9. I agree with a lot of what you've said, but why the hell is he going to be on MTP then when there's

an election in 18 days? He has nothing relevant (except an endorsement) to add to the public discourse, and MTP is a coveted spot, especially 2 weeks out.

[FrenchieCat]

12. Because he had previously stated that he would endorse after the debates......

and because it is about what HE said, he has to do something. That is his persona in a nutshell, that at the end of the day, he cares more about what people think about his honor, and he cares about what his honor to himself should actually be. Colin Powell has always been there to break ground, but not to break CW. He will be a "good" soldier to the end, not go against the grain.

[Mz Pip]

14. that's my take on it

Why do MTP? Wouldn't MTP be interested only in having candidates and their surrogates on this late in the game? Why go on MTP just to say he isn't endorsing anyone? He could do that in a letter to the editor.

[FrenchieCat]

17. He in effect will "endorse" them both......

And he is only going on because he stated earlier that he would endorse after all of the debates were done.

Certainly, I would be surprised if he endorsed Barack.....and I'm daring Powell to do that. I just don't think he has it in him.

[Virginia Dare]

29. We'll see it all depends on who's got his back..

I don't think he does anything without Poppy's okay. Twill be interesting....:popcorn:

[quantass]

10. You've convinced me....i think you are 100% right

[EC]

11. Agreed

was just thinking the same thing...

[tpi10d]

13. time will tell

Playing the devil's advocate here.

Obama has three out of four chances + to win the presidency at this time.

Obama's foreign policy (like it or not) is likely to be middle of the road-conservative in the Lugar Hagel mold. This would not be a stretch for Powell.

Powell is cautious (or worse) and overly willing to go along with the crowd (Iraq war). See my points above-he knows which way the wind is blowing and it isn't McCain (waiting to endorse gave him a long time to get a feel for the wind). Powell catches a winning train. The endorsement may move a few independent voters.

But then again you may be right-he could take the ultimate safe way out.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Initially I didn't know which way he would go.....

and then it dawned on me, that he would just not really go at all....and instead stay in neutral.

Major Obama Endorsement: Colin Powell To Announce At Dem Convention!
http://dekerivers.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/major-obama-endorsement-colin-powell-to-announce-at-dem-convention/

Colin Powell Endorsing Obama?
Aug 14, 2008
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/colin_powell_endorsing_obama/

[Beetwasher]

16. Good Post, But I Think You're Wrong

You may be right, but my feeling is he's going to endorse Obama and Obama knows it. The buzz is coming from somewhere, and Obama camp's language regarding this, IMO, hints strongly that it's going to happen.

See my thread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7493929&mesg_id=7493929

[FrenchieCat]

19. I hope that you are right and I am wrong,

for Colin Powell's sake if no one else.

However, I believe that the "Buzz" is coming from the same place it was coming from before; Republican operatives trying to keep Powell from doing just that; endorse Barack Obama.

If he were of strong will he would do it anyways, I'm just not convinced that he is of that stature.

[mhatrw]

20. You're right. Colon Bowell will probably take another dump on the USA.

[TheCoxwain]

21. He is damned if he endorses either candidate ... so he will take the path of least resistance

Democrats will accuse him of being a wuss and not standing up to his true beliefs

Republicans will accuse him of putting race above loyalty and call him very disgusting things ( Proof is in the pudding : go to Freeperville )


Poor Colin ...Tough Decision. ( Picture Kevin Kline in French Kiss saying .."Poor Charlie .. Tough Decision")



Well , not really ... He will slip into the safe cocoon of not endorsing anyone)

[FrenchieCat]

22. So you agree with me.

[TheCoxwain]

32. actually if you think about it he is in equally deep shit if he doesnt endorse

Dems will continue to accuse him of being a wuss

Pukes will say he did not endorse McCain because of divided loyalties ...


So he will take heat from both sides ...as opposed to really intense heat from one side ..


So .. after examining all options .. He will, as you said, endorse both of them

[nichomachus]

23. I don't care about CP and I never watch MTP -- so I'm good -- pass the beer nuts

[rufus dog]

24. I think Tom Brokaw is going to force him to endorse

Hold him to his word and be patriotic and endorse Obama!

Seriously, the team of Brokaw/Powell - I will fall off my chair if he endorses Obama.

[stevedeshazer]

25. A Powell endorsement would be meaningless. He has NO credibility.

If he said the sky was blue, I'd look out the window fully expecting it to be red.

[Virginia Dare]

30. He has no credibility here, that's for sure..

but he's got lots of it elsewhere.

[ecstatic]

26. Kind of harsh--No endorsement IS an endorsement

Powell cannot endorse Obama. Republicans and Independents will just view the endorsement through racial lenses. There is no way around it. So the next best thing is no endorsement at all, for either candidate.

As far as his missteps from the past, I kind of forgive him.

[Virginia Dare]

27. Unless the sane wing of the GOP has sent him to do their bidding..

the ones who want to make sure Sarah Palin does not end up in the White House.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

31. I dunno.

Why would he make such a huge spectacle about going on MTP literally days before a major election, particularly one in which the first African-American is running (and very well looks like he will win)? Would he really go to all of the trouble of going on MTP only to offer some pefunctory compliments to McCain and Obama and refuse to endorse either one of them.

IMHO he's going to endorse one or the other and my money is on him endorsing Obama. Whatever he thought of McCain before, he probably doesn't (shouldn't) have a lot of respect for him left, particularly after the last debate and, more importantly, the racism and hysteria about Obama that he and Palin have helped whipped up at their "campaign events". I actually used to kind of respect McCain myself and expected a different kind of campaign from him but have been pretty disappointed at how it's devolved as far as it has (starting with his Palin pick and how they managed her). Maybe if McCain hadn't started scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of his race-baiting tactics Powell might've given a perfunctory nod to both of them without endorsing either but now it sounds like he wants to endorse somebody and I doubt that it will be McCain.

Let's just face, the force is simply NOT with McCain this year and it wouldn't make a lot of sense for Powell to endorse him when hardly anybody else is.

[nam78_two]

33. That is fine-personally I don't have much respect for his opinion anyway.nt

[npincus]

34. so why do you think he's going on MTP, at THIS time right before the election?

All political news now is seen through the prism of how or what it means to the election of either candidate. Why would he be on MTP now unless he had an agenda related to Nov 4?

[npincus]

35. ...and another thing...

Dr*dge AND FUX web sites have posted this pic of Powell:



Would the "Kings of RW media" be publishing this kind of pic of Powell if they DIDN'T know something was up? Would they be posting that pic were Powell ready to endorse McCain? Clearly, tying Powell to African American rappers is a sending a message to whitey bigots about our black candidate.

[Laelth]

36. I can't argue with your logic. Sadly, you are probably right. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Motown_Johnny]

37. Bookmarked, no comment at this time...

[senseandsensibility]

38. While I agree with everything you say and the reasons

you give as well, I do not think he will abstain from endorsing anyone. He will endorse McSame.

[HamdenRice]

39. I disagree. He's more ambitious and unprincipled than he is cowardly

and at this point it takes no courage whatsoever to endorse Obama. I don't think he believes he has a realistic shot at "public service" at his age, but he does want to be a "wise old man" to the Obama administration. Perhaps there are some "special envoy" gigs in his future, which will keep his name in the public consciousness so he can sell more books.

My guess is that not only will he endorse Obama, but he will make noises about switching his party allegiance to the Democrats.

[snake in the grass]

41. Will that be red or white wine...

...with your plate of crow?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x219010

[annabanana]

42. Ooo la la mon petite chat...!. . . n/t

[Sukie]

43. Oops! nt

[Occam Bandage]

45. DU is full of incorrect predictions. You could spend all day every day kicking predictions

that didn't work out. For example, Google search "attack Iran" in that upper-right-hand box.

[NoodleyAppendage]

Pessimism didn't serve your predictive abilities this time...whoops. n/t

J

[enigmatic]

44. Nice call, Criswell

[onenote]

46. Cogent analysis. Not.

[rug]

47. Should I bring an umbrella to work Tuesday?

[tpi10d]

48. This is the kind of thing that happens to winners (Obama).

Powell may be acting as an opportunist here, he may be acting out of genuine principle. I liked what he said this morning-some of it was very moving.

But sometimes you do get a wind at your back and things will fall into place.

Heck there could be more in the next two weeks.