so Powell endorsed Obama

I watched Meet the Press this morning and saw Powell's interview. I wasnt surprised, but I do think it seals the deal.

cakana

I wasnt surprised

I watched clips of the show and the interview he gave (outside the building I think)...he speaks pretty plainly, you can tell the lack of involvement in politics from that haha! I did think he'd run himself at some point but I guess it really just doesn't interest him as he said...*shrug*

rwbeagles

I did think he'd run himself at some point but I guess it really just doesn't interest him as he said...*shrug*

I thought so too and hoped as much, but it just goes to show how sane he is that he said "um, no thanks".

hehe the hooligan in me likes to think it's because he's got some fun stuff in the closet he wants to keep there LMBO...don't we all tho!

I expected Powell to endorse Obama.

After lying to the UN for the Bush administration, I feel like Powell would not have supported any Republican in this election.

I guess, for me, an endorsement doesn't mean much.  I tend to look at the candidate's record, as opposed to who else supports them.

BEVOLASVEGAS

I guess, for me, an endorsement doesn't mean much.  I tend to look at the candidate's record, as opposed to who else supports them.

I think that sentiment is fairly widespread, actually - it generally seems to be consistent with the polling.

I agree, but it is interesting. I guess I like to hear the reasons behind the endorsement more than anything else - for example, if I were a professor at a university and the president of the university endorses a particular candidate because of his/her views on research spending, that might sway my vote (since the endorser is in a good position to fully understand the impact of the candidates' policies on the matters that are most important to me). Some random prominent political figure? Not so much, but it is still interesting.

rwbeagles

  hehe the hooligan in me likes to think it's because he's got some fun stuff in the closet he wants to keep there LMBO...don't we all tho! 

Now don't go quoting me on this or anything, but I don't think they were his skeletons.  I think they were his wife's.  I think she has a history of mental illness and didn't want to put her through the type a scrutiny a campaign would do.  Like I said, I am not 100%, but I do remember reading something about it a long time ago since it was a suprise that he wasn't interested in running.  If that is the case, who could blame him. 

I think Powell, like a lot of people, was taken in by Bush's lies.  Unlike those of us who saw The Shrub for what he was from the get go, Powell just didn't want to believe his president would lie so blatantly.  He did pretty much distance himself after he found out and I think he'd be a real asset to any administration.

Joyce

BEVOLASVEGAS

I expected Powell to endorse Obama.

After lying to the UN for the Bush administration, I feel like Powell would not have supported any Republican in this election.

I guess, for me, an endorsement doesn't mean much.  I tend to look at the candidate's record, as opposed to who else supports them.

I agree.  Powell has to feel that he was, at worst, duped, and, at best, that his superiors were woefully inadequate in their assessment of the situation.  It's no accident that he resigned rather than continue his association with this bumbling administration.  Perhaps he just thinks the English language, which he seems to speak well, has been hacked enough.  In eight years, Bush could not learn to say "nuclear" correctly, and now I heard that Palin says it just the way Bush did:-0 

I just hope that Obama can stabilize the economy before we really do end up having to call George Bush the Herbert Hoover of the 21st Century. 

Here is the clip from Meet the Press: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_NMZv6Vfh8

I fully believe in Powell's words and his sentiments.

He's a politician. Smiling, double-talking, and folding on principle when he deems it politically necessary.

No particular executive experience.

No particularly new or creative policy ideas.

FISA vote - while I understand the need to compromise in politics, I think there are some things you never back down on. Civil liberties is one area where you don't, especially with such an over-stated threat like the WoT. Given that, I understand Obama's explanation for his vote.

I don't like his healthcare plan. It addresses paying for healthcare instead of the cost of healthcare.

But distinctly better than the alternatives, and his policies seem to be comparatively intelligent, well-thought-out journeys down conventional paths.