Powell, Obama - something big in the works?

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Willie Brown

[indcons]

Here's a prediction: Colin Powell is going to endorse Barack Obama.

I'm not pulling this out of thin air. I'm basing my forecast on a series of phone calls that I received this week. I can't say who called me, but I can tell you one of the questions I was asked:

"What do you think the reaction would be if former Secretary of State Colin Powell - a Republican - introduced Democrat Obama at his big acceptance speech at Mile High Stadium after being made the nominee?"

My reply: "It would seal the deal. It would be the presidency."

I don't think Powell will go to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, but based on the recent conversations, I have to believe that something big is in the works.

[indcons]

Was Bill Kristol right after all?

[trumandogz]

The Dems would Boo Powell.

Have the GOP would Boo Powell.

[Panzerlied]

My BS meter is approaching OVERLOAD!

[Bobkk47]

Why would a Powell endorsement insure an Obama victory. Powell is not THAT influential. I wouldn’t change my vote base on anything he said.

[GOP_Lady]

I would say not right.

[Rudder]

I can’t tell you who told me, but Wet Willie Brown is full of sh*t up to his brown eyes.

[Roklok]

I have yet to understand why everyone thinks so highly of Colin Powell.

He was an average Secretary of State and General Swartzkoff was the one who did all the good work in Desert Storm, not General Powell.

[autumnraine]

I would think Colin Powell was a moron who is a Republican until a black candidate comes along. Which means he is a racist, because a racist is someone who votes for a person based solely on race.

But luckily I don’t think Colin Powell is that shallow or a moron or a racist.

[HHFi]

My reply: "It would seal the deal. It would be the presidency."

My reply: I'd shake my head in sadness that Colin Powell had let race trump what it in the best interests of his country, and then I'd vote for McCain.

[mojito]

Knock me over with a feather.

[stevem]

Was Bill Kristol right after all?

Powell has worked so dilligently for eight years to destroy his credibility as a national leader. Does anyone believe it would make any difference whether or not he endorsed Obama?

[Rudder]

Have the GOP would Boo Powell.

Okay...who do I call for that?

[FredZarguna]

The Dems would Boo Powell.

Would Boog Powell Boo Powell?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Willie Brown! ROTFL! I wonder who he got to write this garbage for him.

[Doogle]

Does anyone believe it would make any difference whether or not he endorsed Obama?

..well, when you consider their military heroes so far have been Kerry and Clark...I'd be grasping at straws too

[rbg81]

Anyone who is weak minded enough to base their vote solely on who Colin Powell endorses is not going to vote Republican anyway. Willie Brown is naive enough to imagine that our base thinks/acts just like his does. Sorry Wille, but your wrong.

[bpjam]

Willie Brown has never lied to us before. So this MUST be the Gospel.

Of course, most of America will presume that Powell endorsed Obama because he is black and not because he has something or knows something about foreign policy.

[Free State Four]

Powell is a Republican????? Who knew?

[FredZarguna]

We prefer to ask if Bill Kristol was correct: Like David Brooks, he's seldom Right.

Ahem.

So what? People who know Powell's politics won't care or even be surprised. People who don't know Powell's politics but know his race won't care or be surprised, either. What would shock me is if Powell were to endorse a Republican.

[Roccus]

Someone’s gotta tell Willie to stay away from the computer when he’s stoned.

[HerrBlucher]

Didn’t the Powell reps already debunk this rumor? Sounds like the bambi shills grasping at anything they can find to boost their extremely weak candidate. Powell won’t endorse bambi and even if he did it wouldn’t mean squat to any fence sitters. Willie Brown is certifiable.

[mupcat]

Think Powell already denied that....at least the part where Kristol said he’d speak at the convention.

[Always Right]

Why would a Powell endorsement insure an Obama victory. Powell is not THAT influential.

No, but he would give some in the middle a warm-fuzzy.

[reasonisfaith]

Powell never really did anything to earn the degree of respect given him by the drivebys and the pundits. In fact, I believe he is a lot like Obama—an empty suit.

[NRA1776]

Oh no! There go the black votes for McCain. (All 17 of them)

[flyfree]

Typical Willie Brown nonsense.

[kabar]

Sounds like more disinformation meant to influence voters. Just the rumor that Powell might endorse Obama helps him. Of course, Powell did make a donation of $2300 to the McCain campaign. So I guess it depends who is circulating this story and for what reason. If the Reps are doing it just to pull the rug out from under Obama when Powell endorses McCain, then it will hurt Obama.

[spacejunkie01]

I heard Mort Kondracke called Powell and specifically asked him if it were true and Powell called it hogwash.

[Doogle]

*LOL*

[camerakid400]

POWELL, COLIN L. THE HON.
MCLEAN , VA 22101
SELF-EMPLOYED/SPEAKER John McCain (R)
President
JOHN MCCAIN 2008 INC. - $2,300
primary 08/08/07
Powell, Colin
Mc Lean , VA 22101
retired/Retired REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FEDERAL PAC - $1,000
primary 01/20/07

[camerakid400]

http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Colin_Powell.php

[4integrity]

‘..Would Boog Powell Boo Powell?...’

LOL !!

[Force of Truth]

What is this? The galvanizing of the black vote again? This is like beating a dead horse. It may also backfire. I know that there are a lot of white southern/midwestern Hillary supporters who do not like Obama as it is because he's black.

[potlatch]

I would swear I read days ago that Powell said he was not going to the convention! It was right after the word came out that he would probably endorse Obama.

[politicalwit]

I'm basing my forecast on a series of phone calls that I received this week.

Why on earth would you take a prank call? Powell has already stated that there would be no appearance at the Dem Convention and that Hussein was not qualified to be president.

[EDINVA]

At this point, Obama has made too many serious gaffes and shown too much ignorance on important matters for Powell’s endorsement unless it was strictly racial. A month ago it might have made sense in another context, i.e., hope/change/blah blah.

[Paige]

There is no way Americans will vote for an Obama/Powell ticket.

[Roccus]

The fact of the matter is that McNut is scoring some big points over the Russia/Georgia conflict. He has a long record of not trusting Russia OR putin. This not only points out Obama’s inexperience, but also his inability to deal with the true nature of our world. Rats will do/say anything to drive this reality from sight.

[ModelBreaker]

The Dems would Boo Powell.

Not if he endorsed the anointed one.

[Wil H]

Obama couldn’t pick Powell.

All Obama has going for him is that he is black.

Obama couldn’t measure up to Powell, Powell would just accentuate Obama’s lack of substance.

[capydick]

My reply: "It would seal the deal. It would be the presidency."

No Willie - it wouldnt. We dont elect our President's based upon endorsements, even from a great American like Colin Powell. We elect them based upon qualifications and their policies for America. Your guy is seriously flawed and I have to think Colin Powell see's this and wont be seen near Barrack Hussein Obama.

[Mr. Lucky]

But the disinformation strategy had the desired effect. Look at all the posts from FReepers insulting General Powell based solely upon this article.

Geez, getting outwitted by Willie Brown. How humbling should that be.

[ought-six]

“He was an average Secretary of State and General Swartzkoff was the one who did all the good work in Desert Storm, not General Powell.”

Powell vigorously opposed Desert Storm. However, like a good soldier, once the CIC committed the US to it he (Powell) played his role as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

[tanknetter]

But the disinformation strategy had the desired effect. Look at all the posts from FReepers insulting General Powell based solely upon this article.

I think you're half right there. I don't think the "insulting General Powell" part really matters. What matters is that we, and others, are now talking about this (regardless of what the tone or direction of the discussion is).

As another poster stated up in this thread, I don't think that Powell is a moron or a racist either. This strikes me as yet another attempt at a viral campaign to create buzz and draw attention away from something else. Might just be the fact that the campaign is being overshadowed by media coverage of the Olympics, but more likely (imho) it's to help distract from the fact that the Obama campaign has gotten itself pwn3d, and Denver is going to be ClintonFest 2008.

[Roccus]

Look at all the posts from FReepers insulting General Powell based solely upon this article.

I'm thinkin' it's a bit more than "...solely upon this article." For some reason the names Armitage, Plame and Libby come to my mind........but Hey, what do I know.

[libertylover]

I wouldn’t change my vote base on anything he said.

I wouldn't either, but it would sure downgrade my opinion of Powell.

[tommix2]

“He was an average Secretary of State

I remember Powell saying "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" That was disgusting.

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

Powell has been a big disappoint in almost everything he's been involved in. I don't understand how he got as popular as he did. I wouldn't be surprised if he endorsed Obama because he always been an idiot.

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

Disappointment*

[pennboricua]

or tingly legs.