Hat tip to...ME! Circa 2004:
In the end, Colin Powell's public career will survive this debacle...General Powell will be able to do the good soldier thing. Black folks will remember he spoke in favor of the idea of affirmative action programs. They'll remember he was The Good Soldier that had to get pulled in line periodically; he followed marching orders precisely but tended to wander out of line when left on his own. Clarke's defense against charges of disloyalty to Bush will be used in Powell's defense against charges of disloyalty to Black folks (charges that are already being made in some circles):
- It's not a lie, it's politics
- When you work for the president and he orders you to emphasize the positive, you do it
And in the end Black folks will accept him back into the fold, because we always do. We're suckers like that. That is the crucial point because I have NO doubt Colin Powell is a Republican and he will always be seen by the party as a possible means to access the Black vote, fools that they are.
Run with McCain and all that falls to hell.
Algorithm determines 'ideal' VP candidates for Obama, McCain
Grant Gross
June 30, 2008 (IDG News Service) It turns out that the ideal vice presidential candidate for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is the same person as the ideal vice presidential candidate for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the presumptive Democratic nominee, according to a sophisticated online survey by Affinnova Inc.
For both candidates, the best running mate is Colin Powell, a former U.S. Army general and former secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush, according to the survey, which was powered by an Affinnova algorithm it calls "evolutionary optimization."
"We never imagined that the same candidate would show up for both parties," said Steve Lamoureaux, Affinnova's chief innovation officer.
Powell hasn't publicly expressed an interest in running for vice president. McCain and Obama have both begun their searches for running mates.
Powell's links to the current Iraq war didn't seem to bother survey respondents, said Kevin Karty, vice president of analytics at Affinnova. In early 2003, Powell argued for the war before the United Nations Security Council, but since leaving the Bush administration, he has criticized its handling of the war.
"There might be an indication that people are willing to give him a pass [on Iraq]," Karty said. "He seems to be an extremely credible figure ... and he's trustworthy."
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Black collective.....P6, you are too funny
You think we'll forgive Powell? Yeah, I think you're right. I know you won't, but I'll admit it: I'm more than halfway there. Intellectually, I know I shouldn't be. I know it, and I've heard all the arguments about why I shouldn't .
I will not forgive Powell
I will not forgive Powell for his support of the war. He knew Bush and Co. were lying. To excuse him on the grounds that he was being a loyal soldier ignores the fact that at the time Powell was no longer in the military. He was Secretary of State and his ultimate duty was not to the president but to the nation. No forgiveness here without a complete apology. Let's have some real truth and reconciliation.
As for Powell's membership
As for Powell's membership in the black collective, I have nothing to say. His black identity card is as valid as mine.
He can't be thrown out but
He can't be thrown out but he CAN surrender it. But, since I SERIOUSLY doubt McCain is considering him for VP, and I SERIOUSLY doubt he'd consider it if asked, we can let the concept remain a snarky title.
"He can't be thrown out but
"He can't be thrown out but he CAN surrender it."
Can we suspend it for a period of time and reauthorize it pending good behavior?
Nope. We can't do a damn
Nope. We can't do a damn thing with it. His to hold or release.
Y'know, if Powell endorses
Y'know, if Powell endorses Obama, folks who used to tell us that Powell walked on water and that we were much too concerned about race will discount his endorsement on the basis that he and Obama are black. It is so much fun living here.
I too, like living here, in
I too, like living here, in this place that we find ourselves with Powell and Obama. Powell's endorsement of Obama would confound the whole lot of folks.
Oddly enough, it was Powell's blackness that made him so special to the Republicans, and it was just that special quality and cache of trust that Powell had gained through an outstanding career as a true American Patriot that Bush used to get us in this war. Powell allowed it to happen, and for my vote, only an endorsement of Obama coupled with an apology to the nation can serve to absolve him of his grand error.
I like the man, and was as proud of him as I hope to be of President Obama, but Powell does need to re-earn my trust. Perhaps Powell is seeking absolution, and perhaps we need to allow him this opportunity to be cleared for re-entry into the good graces of the community.
Irony
As I've mentioned before, it's funny to see Limbaugh's listeners end up being the "niggers" of the Republican party. They have no choice but to get on board. . All of these "black conservative" males that used to call black liberals plantation slaves are now questioning their own allegiance to the "Grand Old Party"
The conservative mindset is totally contradictory in that once they have gotten theirs via the government, they want to fold up the ladder so that others cannot climb up. If you look at highway funds, and how they basically funded the development of the 'burbs. Military, religious institutions, etc. have all been the beneficiaries of generous government dole. They just know who to exclude: You!