Posted on 07/14/2009 3:33:55 PM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
Could Colin Powell run against Barack Obama as a Republican and win? The idea is more than a little fanciful. Alma Powell, Colin Powell's wife, has long opposed her husband's political forays. And of course a presidential campaign would be an ordeal for a man Powell's age, his robust health notwithstanding. It doesn't help that there is no clamor for a Powell presidential campaign.
Back in 1996, he was seen as an Eisenhower-like figure who could unite Republicans and independents to defeat Bill Clinton. Since then, Powell has alienated Republicans with his sharp criticisms of social conservatives and his support for affirmative action, among other things. Then, of course, there was his 2008 endorsement of Obama. After the election, Dick Cheney wondered aloud if Powell still considered himself a Republican at all. In a party that feels down and out, such displays of disloyalty are not exactly welcome. But to win in 2012, Republicans have no choice but to win over millions of voters who, like Powell, backed Obama in 2008.
To that end, Powell could be exactly the presidential candidate Republicans need. Consider Powell's interview with John King on CNN's State of the Union last weekend. For whatever reason--perhaps to preserve his reputation as an independent, above-the-fray voice--the former secretary of state raised serious questions about President Obama's leadership. Powell is convinced that the president is expanding government too much and too quickly, a view he shares with the Republican base. Rather than couch his objections in ideological terms, Powell used the sober language of fiscal responsibility. He didn't advocate limited government for its own sake, and he acknowledged that American voters consider the many issues the White House is tackling to be very important.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
No friggin’ way!
uh, no, I am not voting for anyone that backed Obama.
GOP, don’t even entertain the notion.
Both have the same agenda. No choice here.
Yeah right. Run against the man he endorsed? What are the odds of that!
I’d also say that he’d have no chance of winning the primary — but then we did end up with McCain last time.
And the difference in a Powell administration would be ???
You have got to be kidding!
He will NEVER get my vote, even he is running unopposed!
To the author of this crap piece (Reihan Salam)
Besides looking like the villian from the THUNDERBIRD’s puppet show.....seriously....are you on crack or do they pay you to be this dumb????
No, because he’s a Democrat.
If you really want to kill of the GOP that would be the way to go.
If Colin Powell wanted to run, he would have done it by now. No disrespect to his war service, but when it comes to running for president, he’s Mario Cuomo with a tan. Okay, with a darker tan.
Perfect! Do it Republicans! Just do it!
Burn your own barn down.
Stupid question alert!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Thank you. I feel better now.
No way in hell.
Without even reading, for fear of nausea being induced, not just no but H#11 NO.
If he tries, there just might be the biggest upset in history and a long time overdue, third party winner.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.