State of the Union: Powell 'concerned' about Obama's agenda, page 1
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Topic started on 3-7-2009 @ 12:20 PM by ProtoplasmicTraveler

State of the Union: Powell 'concerned' about Obama's agenda


politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com
WASHINGTON (CNN) – In a wide-ranging interview set to air Sunday on CNN's State of the Union, one of President Barack Obama's most prominent Republican supporters says he is 'concerned' about the new president's ambitious agenda and the high price tags accompanying many of Obama's initiatives.

"I'm a little concerned," former Secretary of State Colin Powell says. "I'm concerned at the number of programs that are being presented, the bills associated with these programs and the additional government that will be needed to execute them."

(visit the link for the full news article)


reply posted on 3-7-2009 @ 12:56 PM by ProtoplasmicTraveler
reply to post by ExPostFacto


I agree, I think a lot of people who have been on the 'inside' and thought they had a pretty good idea of how the 'power structure' really works and what it's real 'agenda' was are fairly shocked right now to see what the agenda really is shaping up to be.

One thing is for sure Colin Powell is no Dick Cheyney and no one is going to be able to accuse him of 'sour grapes' because he did endorse Obama and no one is going to be able to simply dismiss him as a racist since he is in fact black.

He has a pretty lengthy piece that is about to air on tellevision through his platform as an elder and respected statesman, it should be very interesting to see what all he has to say in it.

Thanks for posting.


reply posted on 3-7-2009 @ 01:20 PM by ProtoplasmicTraveler
reply to post by Lilitu




Powell's support of Obama had nothing to do with "Black Politics" (how racist! ). It had everything to to with the fact that all the GOP had to offer was a geriatric fool and a delusional tongue-talking twit, nevermind the political malfeasance and incompetence of the GOP as a whole.


Artist like Jimi Hendrix would tell you (if he was still alive but did when he was) his decision to part from the Experience to play with black musicians was all about Black politics and pressure he recieved from prominent blacks in black politics.

He will also tell you (if he was still alive but did when he was) that parting with his White rythem section Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding to adopt a Black rythem section to make the Black Poltical Community happy drove him to musical frustration, depression and suicide which is why he eventually parted ways with his Black rythem section and begged Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding to start playing with him again.

Pointing out that their is racism in the world is not racist. Racist is things like Jet Magazine, the United Negro College Fund, the Congressional Black Caucus which are all designed for one segment of the population exclusively based on race.

There is such a thing as 'politically correct' which is a poor substitute for things like the 'truth' and 'common sense' and in large part is why the country has been in a downward slide for decades because people can't openly discuss the facts of racism except when it comes to how certain people are presumed to be 'victimized' by it.

I don't know Colin Powell and chances are neither do you so all you and I can do is speculate as to why he 'really' chose to contribute to McCain's campaign financially but endorse Obama's in the 11th and last hour.

Where as I clearly stated I am speculating that there was likely intense behind the scenes pressure by prominent blacks, and one black man who endorsed McCain at a political town hall event receive within days 20,000 very racist emails from other blacks unhappy that he had endorsed McCain so lets not pretend for the sake of Political Correctness that such things do not occur because obviously they do.

You on the other hand are stating that it couldn't have happened with absolutely no first hand knowledge by stating the 'official' political cover story, while ignoring that Powell is quite alarmed with Obama's agenda.

It's not racist to talk about the issues regarding race at least it isn't when you are an Al Sharpton or a Jesse Jackson or a Congressional Black Caucus or a Miss Black America or a Jet Magazine...

So please tell me how my comments are racist when clearly there is such a thing as black politics whether it offends your sensibilities or agenda or not.

Thanks!


reply posted on 3-7-2009 @ 01:43 PM by DASFEX
Originally posted by Lilitu


Powell's support of Obama had nothing to do with "Black Politics" (how racist! ). It had everything to to with the fact that all the GOP had to offer was a geriatric fool and a delusional tongue-talking twit, nevermind the political malfeasance and incompetence of the GOP as a whole.


Well then let a black person say "Yes it did!"

There go ahead and call me a racist, you hypocrite because your own hatred and GOP bigotry is showing so much it is shameful. Does it not occur to you that if race were not an issue, there would not be a "Black Caucus" That is what they do ya know? They suport black causes and issues regarding blacks so forgive anyone assuming any politician having anything to do with that who is black would be anything about those same racial issues for supporting them ESPECIALLY when THEY ARE BLACK!

While you bring up the political malfeasance and incompetence of the GOP I would think your angst for same would have you even more angry that the current administration intends to break all those records in his first year in office but more than that is why even bring it up?

You think that excuses what is going on now?

Colin Powel when asked why he would endorse Obama looking at his very limited resume with the many questions regarding his past, deliberately sealed and without any open honest and transparent disclosure, the only thing Powel could say is that he would electrfy the world stage as the first Black President!

You wanna call people a racist? Why not start with the guy who voted for the most un-known un-qualified, un-tested, in-experienced, man ever to run for office at the most critical time in our nations history.

That said, the only reason powel could have supported such a man is because he is black. Or do you have a problem with someone exercising their right to vote for the man for what ever reason he wants even if it is for that reason. You know their are people who didn't vote for Obama because he was black? Well their are just as many who voted for him because he was and Powel was one of them.

Does that make him a racist?

Nope not according to you

Do I care that he voted for him for that reason?

Nope, he can vote for anyone he wants for any reason he wants just like you discriminated against McCain for his age and his party affiliation in that less than kind description and Ill tell you, it makes it pretty hard to take you serious about your alleging someone is racist when you have all the signs of having such issues yourself.


reply posted on 3-7-2009 @ 01:52 PM by ProtoplasmicTraveler
Originally posted by mikerussellus
Powell, McCain, they are the reason I left the republican party and became an independent.
Conservative values, TRUE conservative values have long gone from the GOP.
The political left, right, makes no difference anymore.

Powell, McCain, Obama, pick your poison.

The whole lot of them makes me sick.

-sorry, bitter, need a drink-


I know that feeling mikerussellus, I don't vote or play partisan politics either, they truly are just two sides of an indentical coin.

My involvement in the thread and reason for posting the thread in fact has nothing to do with partisan politics beyond the fact that a very respected Republican such as Powell endorsed Obama as representing 'change' and somethign better, and is now alarmed that it wasn't the 'change' he was evidently hoping for and it doesn't appear to him to be working out for the 'better'.

The reason I posted the thread was to demonstrate that all stripes of people who 'thought' they saw something 'attractive' in Obama are frustrated because what they do see materializing is neither a good 'change' nor 'attractive' to them. This thread is not an endorsement of the two party system of the Republican party or the Democrat Party who for most people who are in fact 'denying' ignorance by now have come to recognize are in not fact real adversaries but merely 'partners' in crimes committed against the Constitution and the citizens of the country.

Thanks for posting.


reply posted on 3-7-2009 @ 02:01 PM by mikerussellus
reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler


The point I'm trying to make (did it poorly, I really do need a drink) is that, in the minds of GOP, Powell is as lack-luster as they come.
How can you stand firm in your beliefs and yet support someone as diametrically opposed as Obama?
Yeah, it was probably part race, but the rest? Can you really believe that someone can abandon their whole political tenent for race?

If so, then Powell is a bigger racist than any KKK SOB around.

And for someone to "see the light" so late in the day?

Hell, have him read a few posts on ATS for an hour and we could supply him with enough information to choke a goat!

Just goes to show how shallow everyone is in DC.

Of course, that's just my humble opinion. . .


reply posted on 3-7-2009 @ 02:36 PM by ProtoplasmicTraveler
Originally posted by mikerussellus
reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler


The point I'm trying to make (did it poorly, I really do need a drink) is that, in the minds of GOP, Powell is as lack-luster as they come.
How can you stand firm in your beliefs and yet support someone as diametrically opposed as Obama?
Yeah, it was probably part race, but the rest? Can you really believe that someone can abandon their whole political tenent for race?

If so, then Powell is a bigger racist than any KKK SOB around.

And for someone to "see the light" so late in the day?

Hell, have him read a few posts on ATS for an hour and we could supply him with enough information to choke a goat!

Just goes to show how shallow everyone is in DC.

Of course, that's just my humble opinion. . .







First I would like to add is Colin Powell understands racism to a certain extent but like a lot of people of color or diversity sometimes confuses racism with poor service...

True story when he first was named to the Head of the Joint Cheif of Staff of the Military and was departing Washington out of DCA he was almost bumped from his commercial flight and treated rather abruptly by the ticket agent at the Boarding area until he actually informed her (he wasn't in Uniform at that moment) by showing his Military ID including his rank that he was not just a Commanding General in the United States Army but the highest ranking Military Officer in the nation in charge of all the Armed Forces. Needless to say the startled ticket agent made sure he got on the flight. He wrote that he felt it was due to racism.

True story, Commanding General Ullyses S. Grant when summoned to Washington to be place in charge of the Army of the Potomac went to check in at the Willard Hotel which of course was a mad house and booked solid with people coming and going because of the War going on at the time and was rudely treated and scoffed at when he requested a room at the front desk. To which he then informed the clerk who he was and that he was now the Commanding General of the Army of the Potomac and the Highest ranking military officer in the Union. He too was out of uniform at the time, and he too found that the establishment in question that was treating him poorly and giving him poor service suddenly was delighted to treat him exceptionally and give him excellent service.

Was Powell's treatment at the airport that day racism or simply bad customer service, in reality the only person who could answer that honestly would be the ticket agent who treated him poorly.

Grant's experience which was very similiar can not be imagined to be racism either real or racist because he was White.

I imagine Powell could tell the people on ATS quite a few things and confirm quite a few things people on ATS speculate and talk about.

He was very high up in the Power Structure as both a Joint Cheif of Staff and a Secretary of State and a good portion of his disgruntlement with the Republican Party seems to be over the fact that he was duped into lying to other nations as a Secretary or State by being given knowingly false information by people who knew it was false but presented it to him as truthful.

As a man of some notable integrity and charachter he did very much resent this and I don't blame him.

Clearly both political parties have long abandoned their actual platforms but simply pretend to have those platforms for the sake of the divide and conquer political pony show that enslaved and duped Americans choose sides on.

What we have seen from early in the campaign right up through today though that the race card is a powerful card that as the nation struggles forward under Obama is going to be played often.

To pretend it doesn't exist is silly, to speak about it and to it in a respectful way is not racism though for political reasons and emotional reasons many people will claim that it is.

In the Florida primary Obama recieved 97% of the Black vote against Hilary Clinton. While turnout was light for the Florida primary because Florida had moved up the date for it against the wishes of the Democratic Party and were warned that because of that the results would not be counted towards the nomination...no politician of any color has ever recieved 97% of the black vote in a Florida primary for any office in Florida or on a national level.

Pretending Race did not motivate some people to vote for and some people to vote against Obama is going to be tireless and tedius and stand largely in the way of qualatative discussions and assesments regarding his Presidency especially if it continues on this downward spiral and especially if they continually rely on the "George Bush" card and the "Race" card to stifle criticism and inquiry.

I suspect many Americans will tire of it quickly and I have had hundreds of conversations with hundreds of black friends and business associates regarding Obama and regarding how race is at play and in person as guests in my home, enjoying long standing relationships with most and most knowing my true charachter not one has taken offense, accused me of racism though many have agreed where Obama's race could be an advantage to both stifling criticism of the Administration and enabling it's agenda, and many of the blacks I have had these conversations with in non-anonymous, non-emotion charged settings themselves share the same concerns.

It is entirely possible to have credible and qualative conversations regarding Obama and even the racial issues involved between people of different races when they do choose to speak to the issues with respect and honesty and concern.

At the rate that inflation is startign to climb and at the rate that the Constitution is continually being ignored and violated these kinds of conversations are going to end up taking place more frequently.

We can only hope that all Americans will choose to be Americans first and foremost and consider what is best for America and keep the emotional playing of the Race Card off the table.

Obama like every other President has a job to do and will be judged on how he performs doing it, not on how his predecesors presented him with unique challenges that each of their predecessors did as well, and not on the color of his skin.

Anyone who feels otherwise in fact might be suffering from racist perceptions and it will be up to all of us to help those people who do over come them.

The two party system of government sucks it is nothing more than divide and conquer and the more things that can be added and used as ellements to divide the people are only going to continue in our conquest, loss of way of life, and total loss of soveriengty.
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