Nuff said.
UPDATE: OK a little more said. I think this is a pretty good point from Mark Halperin, via TPM:
On CNN just now, Mark Halperin pointed out that one reason this is a big blow to McCain is that the press will talk about the endorsement for the next few days, cutting into the time McCain has left.This took me back to McCain's selection of Palin as a way of stepping on Obama's convention bounce. But all bounces fade, so they were basically stepping on an illusion. Obama is stepping on McCain's lifeblood here--time. That isn't an illusion. He just robbed McCain of oxygen. They are slowly tighnening the grip. The cobra-clutch is in full-effect.
UPDATE #2: Video below. That Muslim answer was incredibly, incredibly, incredibly strong. Stronger than anything Obama's ever said. That was just beautiful. That part should be everywhere. It was really moving. So what if he is, indeed. More later, I need to grapple with that answer. It was heavy. I imagine a lot of Muslim cats (I'm thinking Keith Ellison) are like, "Finally."
UPDATE#2: Powell doing a news conference outside. He seemed really, really emotionally moved by Bachmann.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
In the parlance of Mr. Coates, I think Gen. Powell, just "son-ed" the republican party (struggling with the proper conjugation for "son-ing"). The dig at Rep. Bachmann, was priceless, and reminds me what the republican party "could" look like, if sensible conservatives were running things.
Nice timing. There's something to be said for winning newscycles. It's probably not a good campaign strategy to completely depend on it, but it's nice when you catch breaks like that.
I've got tears in my eyes. What a wonderful thing to wake up to on a beautiful, sunny, crisp New England morning.
I would love to think that the vile ravings of Elwyn Tinklenberg's opponent (which Powell specifically cited) were the tipping point.
Tinklenberg '08!!
The most striking thing about Powell's statement is his total takedown of the Republican Party. Colin Powell, like a significant number of people I think, is not a 21st century Republican. He is an Obama Democrat.
Big Poppa (Gen. Powell) just dropped a good ass kick on the GOP. I hope his comments gets played up to and including election day.
He's finally said what needed to be said.
I'm with you.
I thought the Muslim American soldier story was some of the strongest stuff that's been said this whole campaign cycle. It's that antithesis of the "us vs them" mentality that is predominating right now.
It needed to be said, and here's to Powell for saying it.
Yup! Powell's endorsement could have significant impact on undecided voters who don't think they know Obama well enough and on military families (current & retired). I also think he can pull with the few Latinos and African Americans in the GOP.
I agree his answer was moving and humane. Finally, a Republican who isn't breathing fire and hate.
I don't see McPalin recovering from this. Even if Palin goes on SNL again.
Here is the photo essay referenced by Powell:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/2008/09/29/slideshow_080929_platon
With crowds of 175,000 in Missouri yesterday, a haul shall we say of $150,000,000 for September, and Powell's endorsement( I suspect Team Obama is now making the t.v. ads with Powell's words), things are looking up.(My remarks posted elsewhere.)
Kudos to Powell, he made his case very well. His remarks will salvage some of his prior luster; he has never been high on my list but this will enhance his standing and provide for his inclusion in future debates on foreign affairs and policy. Regardless of my view Powell does in fact have the "creds" to be a full participant in these debates.
I hope that this is a wake-up call to the Republican Party that they need to move away from the devisive rhetoric of the past 8 years. I hope that this is the death rattle of Rovian politics.
If GOP party leaders had been able to talk Powell into running in the 90's (and his wife into letting him run) and the base then voted for him, he would have been the most dominant figure in American politics for a generation. The fact that the GOP never did just shows how wacked out they are. I can't think of a single endorsement that could have a bigger impact.
Reality Man writes: "If GOP party leaders had been able to talk Powell into running in the 90's (and his wife into letting him run) and the base then voted for him, he would have been the most dominant figure in American politics for a generation."
The base would never have voted for him in the 90s against a piece of shit like Dumbya, who embodies their disgusting "values." He might have had a shot this year, when the base was demoralized, but I think he still would have had a tough time getting through the Repiglican primaries.
I'm enjoying watching the wingnut heads exploding over this. Thanks to Powell for getting a good start on making amends for being a part of the worst administration in American history. Hopefully he'll have a chance to help out further as some members of that administration get prosecuted.
One thing to look out for is how strongly the NeoCons are now going to go after Colin Powell. I can't even imagine the things that will be said about him from now to eternity on websites like Free Republic and Townhall. People who have supported his speech at the UN will now try to bury him with it. I am elated that he stepped out and endorsed Obama and did it a thoughtful presentation that can dispel any hint of bias. But I also worry about what this will do to him as the attacks get more and more personal.
Agreed about his comments re: Muslim/Christian. Since the Post and Times both let the cat out of the bag before MTP hit the air, the endorsement wasn't a surprise. But as I was listening to Powell make that very point, I thought "THIS is the part everyone needs to hear." Whether they will remains to be seen.
IMHO this was the best part of the endorsement, the press conference afterwards. He went off about
telegraphing of negativity
Bachmann
Muslim smears
Socialism
Bill Ayers
He pretty much destroyed every one of those arguments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh_c5bbvmqc
"The base would never have voted for him in the 90s against a piece of shit like Dumbya, who embodies their disgusting "values." He might have had a shot this year, when the base was demoralized, but I think he still would have had a tough time getting through the Repiglican primaries."
But he would have been able to cut into a significant portion of Gore's/Clinton's base. He's liberal on issues like abortion and affirmative action and not a neocon. He's respected on military affairs (or at least was pre-Iraq). At the very least, he would have made Clinton sweat a lot more than he did in 1996.
Loved the bit about how a Muslim-American kid should believe he could be president one day. Schmaltzy, but pretty hard to deny.
I agree with previous commenters that Powell still has much atoning left to do, but on this day at least, he couldn't have done better.
I think the endorsement is significant coming from Powell, but the reasoning behind the endorsement is very striking to me. If the GOP had more leaders like Powell in the party to snuff out some of the nonsense that is going on, it would do them a world of good.
I wasn't going to watch this, didn't think that Powell was worth my time anymore, but I followed TNC's recommendation and I'm glad that I did.
Unfortunately, I don't think that this is going to occupy a lot of news cycles. McCain will not see this as a rebuke that he must heed, but as another data point that must be neutralized. So come tomorrow, we'll be on to the next campaign stunt, and the words of wisdom will be forgotten. They will not be rebuked.
Early on, when McCain started to deploy his line of battle, I told my friends that McCain had made the decision early on that he was going all-in and that he was not going to lose a close election. And as he wished, McCain went all-in, and he isn't going to lose a close election.
sgtwhiteinfla wonders: "One thing to look out for is how strongly the NeoCons are now going to go after Colin Powell. I can't even imagine the things that will be said about him from now to eternity on websites like Free Republic and Townhall."
There's a great piece up on Kos about the Freeper reactions. It's as disgusting as you can imagine. Maybe worse.
Reality Man quotes and writes: ""The base would never have voted for him in the 90s against a piece of shit like Dumbya, who embodies their disgusting "values." He might have had a shot this year, when the base was demoralized, but I think he still would have had a tough time getting through the Repiglican primaries."
But he would have been able to cut into a significant portion of Gore's/Clinton's base. He's liberal on issues like abortion and affirmative action and not a neocon. He's respected on military affairs (or at least was pre-Iraq). At the very least, he would have made Clinton sweat a lot more than he did in 1996."
Sure, but he would have had to get through the GOP primaries first, and I'm not seeing it. 1996 MIGHT have been his only chance there, I suppose, given the corpse the GOP was stuck with.
But the base never voted for Alan Keyes, and they agree with him on EVERYTHING.
"Unfortunately, I don't think that this is going to occupy a lot of news cycles. McCain will not see this as a rebuke that he must heed, but as another data point that must be neutralized. So come tomorrow, we'll be on to the next campaign stunt, and the words of wisdom will be forgotten. They will not be rebuked."
Except he's rather sucked at that so far. Powell went after McCain on both economic issues and Sarah Palin, things that are making people worried about McCain and the GOP. When a respected guy noted for having a level head comes pretty close to calling you nuts right before the election, it's hard to rebound. After all, the best McCain has been able to come up with was some random guy from the 60s and a rather obscure organization that has an odd yet in-offensive name.
"Sure, but he would have had to get through the GOP primaries first, and I'm not seeing it. 1996 MIGHT have been his only chance there, I suppose, given the corpse the GOP was stuck with.
But the base never voted for Alan Keyes, and they agree with him on EVERYTHING.
Posted by seeingMoeLarryAndJesus | October 19, 2008 11:44 AM"
Definitely true, which is just more proof that the GOP has become the full-fledged crazy people party.
Watching this I can't help but feel deep disappointment that Gen. Powell sqandered himself in the Bush administration. He speaks to me, and I regret that we will mostly likely not get to see him run for president.
it'll be interesting to see the GOP reaction. have they become so depraved as to try to insinuate that Powell's endorsement is race-based and that he and Obama are part of a shadowy cabal of anti-American leftist haters hellbent on destroying our way of life in league with Rev Wright, Bill Ayers and Osama bin Laden?
grab the popcorn folks, this could get interesting.
As I was watching the Powell segent this morning, clearly his extended story about the mother at her Muslim son's grave was the most emotionally moving. And what a great conclusion he put on it, "not whether he is a Muslim or not, but why should it matter?"
But the most intellectually powerful, and the one that I hope gets the biggest, boldest headlines? "I am also concerned about the Supreme Court, and I would not welcome more conservative appointments." (Quoting from memory, but I think that's the gist.)
No more Scalitomases! From a scion of the sane wing of the Republican party! Take that, Dittoheads!
Silly me! Check out this Drudge headline:
"POWELL FOR OBAMA: IT'S NOT ABOUT RACE"
thus insinuating that it is, in fact, about race.
Just read the comments section of this free republic blog. I wonder why Bill O never singles THEM out as a mean spirited blog. Hmmmmm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2109510/posts
This was beautiful. Thank you General Powell, especially for your defense and respect that you showed for Muslim Americans.
Dude, cobras aren't constrictors.
...sorry. You knew someone was going to say it.
It is not true that the base didn't vote for Keyes.
Alan Keyes got 27% of the vote vs Obama in the senate race.
This is the approximate proportion of crazy people who vote in Illinois, and I would imagine, the country.
@ Ben--me too! Who knew Colin Powell could make me cry? And that Muslim sentiment--I'm not even Muslim and it was AMAZING to hear somebody like that actually SAY something so compassionate and inclusive. AMAZING.
Reality Man: Colin Powell didn't go on TV today merely to endorse Barack Obama. Even granting that Powell's endorsement is worth more than the average endorsement, it's pretty damn late in the cycle to expect to have much impact on the horse race. There's too many other things going on. If a choir of angels descended from heaven and poured oil on Obama's head, they'd talk about it until Michelle Bachmann says her next damn fool thing, which would be a day or two tops.
Colin Powell went on TV today to try to turn around his party. His talk wasn't so much about Obama as it was about the Republicans and what they were doing. His message was that the Republicans are going too far and they need to stop. It was a rebuke. And unfortunately, I don't think that the Republicans will take that rebuke for what it is. They're all in and they're not going to back down until they're backed out.
@ Michael Jackson
Here's the picture of the Muslim soilder's mother at his grave. Just a warning, but get a tissue you may cry again.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2799458160082084340PJiPzB
Here is video of his comments on Bachman and the general tone of the Republicans this cycle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh_c5bbvmqc
Powell's endorsement is a total evisceration of the McCain campaign. It goes well beyond foreign policy. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and if Powell makes anymore appearances. Most pundits would gladly give him an exclusive 15 minutes in order to get Powell on said pundit's show.
Well, these comments were moving, but Colin Powell had a chance to do the right thing and resign rather than deliver a presentation at the UN that we now know to be almost entirely false. He didn't do it. So his words today get him off of my s--t list, but no more than that.
The funny thing is that conservative blogs are now embracing the "Bush Lied" aspect of the runup to war, if only to discredit Powell. Read the comments at the Corner or Free Republic; they're trying to have their cake and eat it too, by saying that Powell "lied" at the UN but taking care to indicate that they still believe there are WMD with the quotation marks around the L-word. These idiots don't even know what they believe any more.
I shouldn't make conclusions about what most pundits would do, but many do seem to fawn over him. I should say that it wouldn't surprise me to see Powell getting unchallenged exclusive segments all his own. . .
The Republican party needs more adults like Powell. I wonder if there are any more out there. There may be hope for the Republican party yet.
As a Muslim American, tears filled up in my eyes hearing Powell's endorsement.
"The correct answer is that he's not Muslim... but the REALLY RIGHT answer is 'So what if he is?'"
A moving and graceful glimpse into the man [Powell] that had been obscured (in my eyes) after the UN testimony debacle that led to the Iraq invasion.
His endorsement shines a mirror onto his party and should bring them (or at least the better ones among them) great shame.
Whoa. I was kind of ho hum about this endorsement, but this wasn't just an endorsement. It was a systematic take down of the insanity that McCain has allowed his campaign to become.
Big kudos to Tom Brokaw for shutting the hell up and letting Powell talk.
Sharky,
You can question my patriotism, my haircut, my intelligence, even my sincerity. But stay away from my nerd credentials, sir. The Cobra Clutch refers to an old school wrestling move.
Power to truth. Devastating.
Man, that was beautiful. I fucking love America.
"...he and Obama are part of a shadowy cabal of anti-American leftist haters hellbent on destroying our way of life in league with Rev Wright, Bill Ayers and Osama bin Laden?"
Posted by dragnet
-------------------------------------------
Who needs a reaction from the right when we have one like that? This reaction to Rev. Wright who, unlike Ayers and Bin Laden has never bombed anything... Well, it's close to Bachmann territory.
For some reason, Dragnet included Rev. Wright and put him in the same league as Ayers and Bin Laden. WHY???
mickslam responds: "It is not true that the base didn't vote for Keyes.
Alan Keyes got 27% of the vote vs Obama in the senate race.
This is the approximate proportion of crazy people who vote in Illinois, and I would imagine, the country."
I was referring to his runs in the presidential primaries, but good point. And I noticed earlier today that Dumbya's latest approval rating is at 26.9%. This may be the actual level of hardcore wingnuttery across the land, though I'm sure it's higher in Oklahoma and Texas. And lower in Massachusetts, which is just another reason I'm glad I live here.
This is exactly why they did the "preemptive strike" on Powell last week showing him dancing at Africa Rising, insinuating that 'He's black. He's obviously going to endorse the black guy.' Listen. Hear that. That's the sound of John McWhorter changing his thesis.
it's about time colin powell stood up and did something that may make a difference.
well, as clarence thomas might say, whoop de damn do.
he has gained and then squandered more political capital than anyone out there, except for possibly bill clinton. (and in both their cases, i think they did so for reasons having to do with the career advancement of family members: hillary, in bill's case, and michael, the son, in colin's case)
so colin has finally stood up, for once, and his actions may make a difference.
while it is welcome, it comes perilously close to being anti-climatic. i mean, obama now has a fairly solid - relatively speaking - lead, so the risk is not too great. a typical colin powell move.
by the way, i disagree with those who argue that he could not have won the republican nomination and even the presidency earlier, because of the rejection of his candidacy by the base.
i tend to think that the electorate is much more malleable. leaders are called leaders because they can sometimes move the general populace in certain directions. as proof of that, all one need do is look at what has happened with the mccain/palin campaign in recent weeks, when their followers have obviously followed their lead and began responding to the defamatory rhetoric in the predictably extreme fashion. certainly the feelings are probably sitting there waiting to be ignited, but another leader could have moved those same people and their passions in a more positive direction.
powell could have been that kind of leader, i believe.
leaders do matter. and instead of taking and using the power he's accumulated over the years, colin powell has typically turtled up and played it safe.
one of the ultimate ironies is the fact that his signature career moment will probably be his UN speech. in that instance, he threw his typical caution overboard and bought in, completely and totally, to his enduring shame.
Colin Powell standing up for Muslim Americans was really moving. I came over here because I thought TNC would surely pick it up.
I wonder whether this will prompt more republican public figures to stand up and stand against the divisive character of their party. I'm a Democrat and I miss sane Republicans.
For some reason, Dragnet included Rev. Wright and put him in the same league as Ayers and Bin Laden. WHY???
Because Dragnet is a stupid, ignorant mofo. He doesn't know Wright's history. How Wright served in the Armed Forces. How Wright was on LBJ's medical team, while LBJ was President.
By far the most powerful endorsement Obama's received yet.
For some reason, Dragnet included Rev. Wright and put him in the same league as Ayers and Bin Laden. WHY???
Because Dragnet is a stupid, ignorant mofo. He doesn't know Wright's history. How Wright served in the Armed Forces. How Wright was on LBJ's medical team, while LBJ was President.
Posted by Joe Klein's conscience
Agreed. This video sums it up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GejUlWnp3Hk
Colin Powell was awesome. And you could feel in his voice the emotion. I will never forget his defense of America, the real America, I should say
Finally! I have been really disappointed that no one has addressed this implied anti Muslim sentiment; as if it is mutually exclusive to be a good American, family man and be a Muslim at the same time. I was really worried about and still am about how my two young boys will fare in this environment. Finally someone had the intellectual acumen to address this underlying insult targeted at ALL the Muslims, regardless of their views. That has been really disappointing. General Powell's comments a a breath of fresh air. I am also sure it will not get the play it deserves.
@Shehzad
It will get they play it deserves, I think. Also, what Obama and many other people have lacked in this is courage not intellectual acumen.
Given Powell's background, it's amazing that he comes right out and says (around 2:00 in the longer video) that Palin is not ready to be President. That's really something for him to say. The Secretary of State is 4th in line to be President. So, for 4 years, from 2001 to 2005, Powell would have become President immediately (and stayed President until the next scheduled election, in November 2004) if all of the following people had been unable to work: the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate. This guy was at the highest levels of government for many years, and he comes right out and says that Palin is not ready.
Colin Powell used to be considered "the most likeable person in America"... these videos might have a big effect!
Who is this Colin Powell and where has he been?
Wow. I'm stunned. I replayed the segment about Muslim-Americans and the soldier who gave his life for his country three times. I had to go back to it and hear the words again.
Colin Powell is a true class-act. I guess I'd never taken the full measure of the man, but I'm kinda blown away. If HE was the GOP, I'd actually have to think twice what party I belonged to.
Fox news weighs in:
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/15/colin-powell-fuels-speculation-possible-endorsement/
The "Hip-Hop-Dancing Colin Powell"?!? Breaking News: Colin Powell is black!! Oh Fox. They've really outdone themselves here.
Hmm - I don't think Dragnet is being ignorant, here. He or she was asking if the GOP was going to try to pull Ayers/Bin Ladin/Wright/Powell all together. So unless you want to claim that you're absolutely positive that the GOP understands all the things you're saying about why Wright isn't a terrorist, etc., and I guess more importantly cares about those reasons, then I don't see what the issue is with what Dragnet said.
So I guess my answer to For some reason, Dragnet included Rev. Wright and put him in the same league as Ayers and Bin Laden. WHY???
is, because he or she was saying what he or she thought the GOP was going to do. And lumping anyone who might seem slightly "scary" together in an attempt to influence people who don't know the full story, or who just hear soundbites on TV, sounds exactly like the current GOP strategy, to me.
People may think I was hard on Black Republicans in an earlier post. I obviously don't think so. I think any Black Republican who can stand by and watch this blatantly racist campaign gets the party they deserve.
They may genuinely think Republican public policy is better. Fine. I disagree. The structural feature of black unemployment is a result of anticompetitive laws and practices and the Republican strategy post-civil rights to dismantle any solution to the problem. In fact they'd love to have everyone believe that there is no problem.
They don't have to believe that that's what Republicans are doing. They can believe they have some influence on members of their party. But how can they stand for a party that obviously does not respect them. I just don't get it.
=======
On the Muslim comment, it was dead on. Powell is great at making succinct points. But, for every Colin Powell in that party there's 3 Ann Coulter's. Who says, "hey the guys that attacked us we're named Mohammed, had brown skin, and spoke Arabic. Is it a shock to anyone profiling is built into this party? What get's me is how they use Jesus to justify it. I saw a woman on this morning saying Obama's mother was an atheist and his father was a muslim and therefore she can't vote for him.
We have forgotten that, though the Civil War is over, the divisions still exist. On one side, are people both black and white who want a more perfect union. On the other, are people who want a separate nation-state where the Bible replaces the constitution and they are free to discriminate, outlaw abortion, profile brown people, etc.
this sunday was a great example of why i have always had a strong admiration for the general.
i differ on a quite a few of views, but he is very level-headed and isn't consumed with blind loyalty.
At his core, Colin Powell is still a Bronx n!gga just like me(him Hunts Point, me Soundview) and we the realest cats in the game.
Unlike many on the left I never gave up on him. I knew he'd come around eventually. I almost cried watching him this morning, I knew he'd do the right thing.
Nice,
This seals the deal. Gen. Powell articulates everything that I believe about this campaign. Collin Powell is a man of integrity and disipline. I always thought that he would be President someday. His endorsement signals the end of the McCain Campaign.
Hello President Obama.
KT,
Spare me the bs. Dragnet described Wright, along with Ayers and Bin Laden, as "part of a shadowy cabal of anti-American leftist haters hellbent on destroying our way of life." Dragnet, not some wingnut, decided to put those words on this board. Your defense for him sounds like the concern troll nonsense the Clinton campaign tried to pull. And it's still not working.
From Dragnet's post, one thing we can tell is that he (Dragnet) didn't feel like it was appropriate to include Obama and Powell in that group, the "shadowy cabal of anti-American leftist haters hellbent on destroying our way of life."
Nothing in it even came close to questioning why Rev. Wright was included in a group of individuals who had committed acts of violence, acts of "terrorism" that Rev. Wright has not.
Powell doctrine in action: intervene only as a last resort and with overwhelming force.
Powell's reputation has been under a cloud for a while, not least because of his implication in the Bush Doctrine.
Nevertheless, his indictment of Republican political strategy was succinct, thorough, and damning.
This is a healthy step towards making up for mistakenly taking us to war. Let's see how the next few weeks go, but I'm ready to make amends if he keeps talking that much sense.
Yes, this was a serious step in repudiating the politics of division in the McCain campaign and the Republican party. Agree that Powell has a ways to go in redeeming his reputation.
Powell could redeem himself over time in two ways:
* by playing a leading role in restoring US reputation if he gets a job in the Obama administration
* by helping to belatedly restore the voice of center-right moderates who stayed in the closet during the excesses while the Bush Administration trashed the constitution and US reputation
sgwhiteinfla:
Thanks for that. While Wright used an awfully poor choice of words, after reading more about him, I have no doubt he loves this country. He's just pissed, like a lot of people, that it hasn't lived up to its ideals, especially these past eight years.
Here is a fantasy all-star situation. Just imagine Colin Powell and Barack Obama running against each other for President... And imagine what one of their presidential candidates debate would be like!
If only the U.S.A. were so lucky...well, it may be a fantasy, but it sure is something to aspire to.
Just watched it all again. So. Fucking. Badass.
If Colin Powell, who's been a General of the US Army (experience & knowledge), who worked for Bush, who is a Republican, is supporting Obama... there must be something wrong with John McCain's plans for this country. Ignorant people are saying, "Oh, that's because they're both black." However, those with some intelligence will think different. This man served Bush for 4 years, he knows the real truth behind this war in Iraq and stuff like that. Why would he turn his back on John McCain? There must be a pretty big reason, guys.
This was the most accurate description of what Powell did today on MTP. I found it in the comments of one of the blogs I read.
It was the most eloquent non-cursing cursing out I have ever witnessed.
Amen.
i havent even read the rest of these posts.
in the words of r. kelly, "i'm like 'so what, i'm drunk'"
yeah. the address of the muslim attack was perfect, beautiful, and absolutely american. i'm still angry with powell over his support of the george w. bush regime, but his willingness to put himself out over that certainly brightens my view of the man.
Powell's endorsement of Obama does not verify Obama's judgement, but rather brings Powell's judgement into question. Powell says that Obama is ready to lead ... WHY? ... Regardless of Powell's last minute endorsement, Obama is still the most liberal senator in congress ... who accomplished nothing in his meager 3 years in office, except voting present 160 times, and campaigning for President, as well as associating with anti-American racists and domestic terrorists ... and, taking America down the road to socialism. Obama betrayed a friendship of 20 years, for personal ambition. Powell betrayed his friendship with McCain. McCain did not betray his fellow prisoners, even during 5 years of torture. These facts speak volumes about who these men really are, and whether or not we can trust them.
Here come the trolls.
Anyone who attacks the Character of Colin Powell needs to have his head examined. Colin Powell is in my humble opinion a Modern Day Eisenhower. To question his integrity is going beyond the beyonds.
In the words of Walter Scott:
"Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
"This is my own, my native land!"
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd
From wandering on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung"
If I were a bit more vulgar I think I would say go jump off a bridge, but I'm not so "Have a Nice Day."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl2EndLZv7w&eurl=http://culture11.com/blogs/theconfabulum/?from=blog
On Muslim McCain supporters.
Anyway Powell is a centrist to liberal Republican. I think many centrist to liberal Republicans are understandably mad at Bush and unnerved by Palin. Despite the link I think the hostile element of McCain supporters is quite real and understandably disturbing.
There is a "liberal Republican" case for Obama and the liberal Republicans supporting him are being more or less fair. Conservative support for him I find more than a bit bizarre and not representative of the electorate.
(Granted this is coming from the homophobe bigot who happened to have a big-time crush on one of his male professors)
So, it turns out that appealing to the craziest, nastiest, most racist slice of your base has a cost. It seemed very clear that Powell would not have made this kind of public statement without the absolute nastiness (and maybe the scary choice of VP) of the McCain campaign.
This is part of a larger trend, with a lot of decent Republicans and Republican-leaning voters losing any interest in voting for McCain, and a fair number of high profile Republicans defecting, even when it costs them. I wonder how many more Republicans will just quietly stay home, or vote third party, or even vote for Obama.
Listening to Powell speak was almost painful, an image of what the Republican party could have been. You know, decent, rational people who disagree with Democrats on important issues. Instead, the modern voice of conservatism is someone like Bill Kristol--smarmy, willing to lie or spin or smear as needed, loyal to nothing larger than the party.