Colin Powell Might Endorse Obama.

[Teacher Mark 53]

By MIKE ALLEN | 10/17/08 10:07 AM EDT

Retired Gen. Colin Powell, once considered a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), now may endorse his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), according to Republican sources. But an air of mystery surrounds Powell's planned live appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," and no one is sure what he will say.

Powell’s unassailable national security credentials could sway voters who are vacillating about whether Obama is ready to be commander in chief, and his endorsement of the Illinois senator would make a national security emphasis by McCain in the election's closing days extremely difficult.

Powell, 71, a professional soldier for 35 years, has advised the last three Republican presidents.

The general’s camp is being coy about what he might or might not say on Sunday. But some McCain advisers suspect, without being sure, that Powell will endorse Obama.

“It’s going to make a lot of news, and certainly be personally embarrassing for McCain," a McCain official said. "It comes at a time when we need momentum, and it would create momentum against us.”

Powell, a four-star Army general, was national security adviser to President Ronald Reagan; chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1991 Persian Gulf war, when George H.W. Bush was president; and President George W. Bush’s first secretary of State,

Powell has consulted with both Obama and McCain, and the general’s camp has indicated in the past that he would not endorse.

On “Meet the Press” in June 2007, Powell said: “I’ve met with Sen. Obama twice. I’ve been around this town a long time, and I know everybody who is running for office, and I make myself available to talk about foreign policy matters and military matters with whoever wishes to chat with me."

Asked by moderator Tim Russert if he would come back into government, Powell said: “I would not rule it out. I’m not at all interested in political life, if you mean elected political life. That is unchanged. But I always keep my, my eyes open and my ears open to requests for service.”

Asked about an endorsement, he said: “It’s too early.”

NBC’s ‘Andrea Mitchell broke the news of Powell’s surprise “Meet the Press” appearance on the “Today” show Friday.

“In what promises to be a dramatic moment Sunday, Colin Powell — a lion of the Republican establishment, whom McCain and Obama both have courted for months — will finally speak out on a variety of issues, appearing exclusively on ‘Meet the Press,’” Mitchell said. “Of course, years ago, he was talked about as the possible first … African-American nominee of a major party.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14665.html

[Sister Fracas 5]

Gonna set the DVR for that one.

[Peikko 1,575]

Why do we give so much credence to the views of one person? I mean, it's interesting to find out what he thinks, but it's not like any one person's endorsement should lead to wide scale panic from either side, should it?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Wow, I didn't know he was 71.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Why do we give so much credence to the views of one person? I mean, it's interesting to find out what he thinks, but it's not like any one person's endorsement should lead to wide scale panic from either side, should it?

It would be a major endorsement considering he was a Republican Secretary of State and a lifelong Republican.

I met him in 1986 when he was Commander of the U.S. Army Fifth Corp. He asked me how I liked the Army. I told him I didn't like it a whole lot and he replied "It's for some of us and not for some of us". I had to dig a foxhole that was 6" X 6" with a small shovel because I answered honestly. He didn't make me do it my Section Chief ordered me to. I think he would have shot me if he could have!

Edited October 17, 2008 by Joe Six-Pack

[Sister Fracas 5]

Why do we give so much credence to the views of one person? I mean, it's interesting to find out what he thinks, but it's not like any one person's endorsement should lead to wide scale panic from either side, should it?

He's just so generally, across the board, widely respected. He knows his stuff and it's my opinion he really doesn't have a politcal agenda. There are a lot of endorsements I could care less about because there is so much of the "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" that goes on. Colin Powell doesn't play that game, IMO.

[HAL 9000 96]

Why do we give so much credence to the views of one person? I mean, it's interesting to find out what he thinks, but it's not like any one person's endorsement should lead to wide scale panic from either side, should it?

It would be a major endorsement considering he was a Republican Secretary of State and a lifelong Republican.

I met him in 1986 when he was Commander of the U.S. Army Fifth Corp. He asked me how I liked the Army. I told him I didn't like it a whole lot and he replied "It's for some of us and not for some of us". I had to dig a foxhole that was 6" X 6" with a small shovel because I answered honestly. He didn't make me do it my Section Chief ordered me to. I think he would have shot me if he could have!

Interesting story... thanks for sharing.

I respect him a lot. He had enough guts to stand up to Bush when he knew the lies he himself had to spread on behalf of the Iraq effort and it cost him that Secretary of State position.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Why do we give so much credence to the views of one person? I mean, it's interesting to find out what he thinks, but it's not like any one person's endorsement should lead to wide scale panic from either side, should it?

He's just so generally, across the board, widely respected. He knows his stuff and it's my opinion he really doesn't have a politcal agenda. There are a lot of endorsements I could care less about because there is so much of the "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" that goes on. Colin Powell doesn't play that game, IMO.

Agreed. He is very widely respected and he's not caught up in politics. He said he'd listen to an offer to serve, but he is not interested in being involved with elected politics. I really wish he would have run for President.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Interesting story... thanks for sharing.

I respect him a lot. He had enough guts to stand up to Bush when he knew the lies he himself had to spread on behalf of the Iraq effort and it cost him that Secretary of State position.

I really wonder if he knew he was spreading a lie when he addressed the UN about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction. I thinkhe was the fall guy for the Bush information. He was given shoddy intelligence information when he made his speech. He stayed a true soldier and resigned his postiion for Bush's second term and never bad mouthed his commander in chief. He has displayed outstanding leadership qualities throught his career.

[HAL 9000 96]

Interesting story... thanks for sharing.

I respect him a lot. He had enough guts to stand up to Bush when he knew the lies he himself had to spread on behalf of the Iraq effort and it cost him that Secretary of State position.

I really wonder if he knew he was spreading a lie when he addressed the UN about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction. I thinkhe was the fall guy for the Bush information. He was given shoddy intelligence information when he made his speech. He stayed a true soldier and resigned his postiion for Bush's second term and never bad mouthed his commander in chief. He has displayed outstanding leadership qualities throught his career.

Well, shoddy intelligence vs a lie made to fit a position. Either way, he did what he thought was right at the end.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Well, shoddy intelligence vs a lie made to fit a position. Either way, he did what he thought was right at the end.

I think he did do the right thing by resigning. He showed his honesty and credibility without sour grapes. His reputation wasn't hurt.

[HAL 9000 96]

Well, shoddy intelligence vs a lie made to fit a position. Either way, he did what he thought was right at the end.

I think he did do the right thing by resigning. He showed his honesty and credibility without sour grapes. His reputation wasn't hurt.

Which makes him extremely respectable.

[Peikko 1,575]

So, if it turns out that in fact he endorses McCain, you guys will all fall in line with him?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Powell did seem credible - up to the point where he went to the UN and tried to sell satellite pictures of crappy old vans as mobile chemical weapons laboratories.

[HAL 9000 96]

So, if it turns out that in fact he endorses McCain, you guys will all fall in line with him?

Naaa... McCain has got to have some rational supporters. Strike that... a few more than some.