reply to post by Justin Oldham
Powell is a moderate. He was used by the Bush43 administration to carry water for a failed Iraq war policy. Since 2004, the Republican party has grown
even more orthodox than it had been in the previous ten years. All of this leads Colin Powell to make this endorsement.
Today's GOP leadership is myopic in its world view . . I am a moderate, and I'm not ashamed of it. I believe in limited government, and State's
rights. I can easily see what motivated Powell to make his choice.
Powell has proudly declared himself to be a product of Affirmative Action! Condo OTOH has “admitted” that only obliquely. In 33 years of honorable
service, Powell rose from 2LT to O10 - 4 stars - and the No. 1 job in the US Military Establishment, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Aside:
Making O4 - major - and O7 - brigadier general - are the two most important cut-off points in the military career of any0ne. Non-military types are
quietly ushered out at the O4 promotion. The not-so-smart and not-so-good at team playing are denied the O7 entry-level into the upper levels. End.
I agree with J/O’s self described analysis of himself as a moderate. Once upon a time, those were labeled “Eastern Establishment” Republicans.
Such as Nelson Rockefeller or John Chafee and his son, Lincoln. Or Maine’s Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins and of course, William Cohen. And let us not
overlook Edward Brooke III, the ONLY African American elected to the US Senate in the 20th century. All good Republicans. Bush43 never wanted a real
Secretary of State. Most Republicans actually hate the United Nations. They deny the one-world concept.
Eisenhower was the LAST Eastern Establishment Republican to be elected president. (Gerald Ford was appointed). Nixon began it all, Goldwater cemented
it - WEST control of the GOP not the presidency. Reagan was the FIRST manifestation of the Western Republicans gaining control of the GOP. The triumph
of Neo Cons later joined by the Evangelicals and Southern Democrats with racist views no longer welcome in the Democratic Party.
Note: East and West descriptives are not absolute. Earl Warren was from the WEST but behaved as if he was from the EAST. Wayne Morse of Oregon comes
to mind. Beginning as a Republican, he ended as a Democrat. Another WEST who acted EAST. I should mention Henry “Scoop” Jackson, a Washington
state Democrat who was Republican in every aspect but party designation. A war-mongering red baiting ant-communist! Very un-Democratic. But he was our
burden to carry. End.
reply to post by xpert11
Powell endorsement represents an important mile stone in the battle for swing voters, centrists and so on. Powell was burned badly by the Bush admin
and while he wants to remain loyal to the Republican party he wants to drift away from the last eight years of failed policy's. Powell comments
about Palin were interesting. I don't think race was a factor in Powell decision . . the moderate arm (excluding Justin how he votes is his business)
of the Republican party will do a protest vote for Obama.
Speaking for the Dems, we’ll take any votes from whatever source! The biggest problem facing Obama is COMPLACENCY. Lest his supporters get the idea
they can skip voting on the expectation he - Obama - is a shew-in.
It is 99.9% unlikely that any significant favorable news on the economic front will happen in the next 15 days. It is more likely that additional
unfavorable news will occur in the next 2 weeks. And, once people have made up their mind who to vote for, I do not see many of them changing choices
at the last minute. So, acknowledging Yogi Berra’s admonition: “It ain’t over till it’s over” I look forward on November 4 to a Democratic
SWEEP but not to a LANDSLIDE.
