Is Powell about to get off the fence? (Powell to Endorse McCain on Meet the Press)

boston.com ^ | OCT 18, 2008 | news.google.com

[Maelstorm]

Powell, who served as President Bush's secretary of state, is to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press," prompting some to suggest that he might use that platform to make the announcement.

[beckysueb]

Colin Powell seems to be the type who doesn’t intimidate easily.

[beckysueb]

I think Colin powells past is impeccable. He is a very commanding presence. I think he intimidates the media. Besides he is black. I still think he will endorse Obama.

[Rosemont]

I doubt Powell will endorse McCain. Powell cares too much of what the MSM thinks of him. I hope I am wrong.

[beckysueb]

I’d say you are right. He will punt. He always straddles both sides of the fence.

[beckysueb]

I think his country. Even though he disagreed with Bush, he carried out Bushs’ wishes until he resigned. I may be wrong but I think his country is the most important to him.

[beckysueb]

If General Powell cannot see this, and endorses Barrack Hussein Obama over John Sidney McCain, then in my thinking he has dishonoured the uniform he wore and the country he served. In my thinking he will be a traitor, meriting what that entails. He will forever lose any respect I held for him as a senior officer in the Army.

Dittos.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Yep, we could have gotten rid of Saddam once and for all in 1991 and had an Army more than big enough to garrison the country, thereby saving us from the last 8 years.

[Cricket24]

If he’s going to endorse McCain, why in the world did he wait so long? He could have been out campaigning for him! Personally I don’t care one way or the other what he does. I think he was “disloyal” to President Bush.

[beckysueb]

I honestly think if it wasn't "A Black Thing" it would matter a lot, but honestly I think most Americans will see it, sadly, for what it is, my people over yours right or wrong.

And yet we get called racists all the time.

[billva]

Not interested

He was a very bad general

He was a crap Sec of State

Who cares what he thinks?

A lot of people think a lot more of Colin Powell than you do and there are a lot of people who may care what he thinks.

We may not like that but it is true.

[gotribe]

Why would Colin Powell endorse someone for president that has NO experience or accomplishment at all to be president?

Because he's black?

[srmorton]

I do not think Colin Powell views race as the determing factor in all of his decisions. I remember his saying at one point that he did not agree with the gays in the military issue as being equivalent to the inclusion of blacks in the military. He said that he viewed race as a "benign characteristic" (his exact words) and not something that would cause the same kind of effect on morale as having militant gays in the military.

I do think that he is an American first. He spent most of his life in the military. He knows that Obama would be a disaster as CIC and that McCain would do a much better job at this critical time in our history. While he may not go so far as to endorse McCain, I just can not see him endorsing Obama, even though Obama would be the first black POTUS. IMO, Powell is smart enough to know that electing someone who is so obviously unprepared to be POTUS could actually be bad for African-Americans. I have also heard that is why John McCain has been so loathe to use the Rev. Wright issue. He is hoping for the endorsement of his good friend Colin Powell. While Powell may "punt" instead, I would not expect him to actually endorse Obama.

[mkjessup]

Powell is not a race based politician. He is an honorable though sometimes wrong man. We have elected many of these I’m sure.

Yeah, our current illustrious Commander-in-Chief comes to mind.

Yeah, I know, the alternatives were far worse.

[beckysueb]

He said he will look at who has the best economic policies, who inspires the most confidence in the country and around the world, and who will keep America safe.

I think Powell would give the first two to Bambi but the third to McCain. It all depends on which is the most important to him.

Personally, I don't understand this so called consesus that the economy is the most important. If our country is overtaken by terrorists we won't have an economy to worry about. I also don't understand why people think democrats are better with the economy. Its just the opposite. I think what happens is the democrats ruin the economy and then Republicans get elected and put policies in place to fix things but it takes time for effects to kick in so the electorate elect democrats about the time the Republican policies start showing results. Then the democrats take credit for it. Its a vicious cycle. Republicans get the blame for the democrats failed policies and democrats get the credit for the Republicans sucessful policies.

[beckysueb]

Of course there is this. It may not be politically correct but I am going to say it anyway. Under an Obama presidency, lets face it, blacks aren’t going to suffer. White people are. He hates white people, especially white Christains and Republicans. Thats who his targets will be. He is going to take care of the black people.

[beckysueb]

Even John Kerry wouldn’t have been as bad as Obama is going to be.

[valkyry1]

IMO I cant see Powell endorsing Obama over McMcain, hope he does not show me wrong on that.

[Raycpa]

Thanks

who inspires the most confidence in the country and around the world,

This is the tip off- its going to be O'Bama.

[Netizen]

Didn’t Powell bail on President Bush? I wouldn’t be surprised if Powell got off the fence and sat on Obama’s lap.

[Netizen]

I don’t recall Powell endorsing candidates in the past.