Thursday, August 14, 2008

Colin Powell and Barack Obama, Brett Favre and the Jets

Does Bill Kristol know what he's talking about? That is the question.

From FOX News:

Sources say former Secretary of State Colin Powell will endorse Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol told FOX News exclusively on Wednesday.

“He may well give a speech at the Democratic convention explaining his endorsement of Obama,” Kristol, a FOX News contributor, said, citing inside sources.

“This is not an absolute done deal, but these people are very confident that Powell will endorse Obama,” Kristol said, adding that he thinks Powell, a Republican, still has “a high respect” for John McCain, Obama’s Republican rival.

I wonder if Kristol is being taken for a sap by "these people."

Powell's reaction to the story was a little weird.

Gen. Colin Powell told ABC News on Wednesday that he will not be going to the Democratic National Convention, disputing a suggestion made earlier in the day on the Fox News Channel by Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol.

"I do not have time to waste on Bill Kristol's musings," Powell told ABC News. "I am not going to the convention. I have made this clear."

After telling ABC News by phone that he would not be going to the Democratic National Convention, Powell ended the conversation without entertaining any follow-up questions as to whether he would be crossing party lines to endorse Obama.

Powell seems pretty ticked off at Kristol.

He could set the record straight without being so snippy.

I wonder if a source put out the bait for Kristol and he swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.

While Obama frolics off in Hawaii, enjoying a Tuesday night fundraiser that brought in $1.3 million from 500 of his friends and high school buddies, this Powell story keeps Obama in the news for something other than his vacation itinerary.

The rather meaningless story could serve another purpose as well. A Powell endorsement would add a bit of balance to counter the details of Obama's up close and personal relationships with George Clooney and other Hollywood goofs.

I would assume that if the alleged Powell endorsement was just a bit of diversion from Obama's camp, planned to keep Obama in the forefront while he takes a break, then Powell would have been warned. Who knows?

Whatever, Powell may enjoy leaving the press and pundits to ponder the significance of his possible endorsement of Obama.

Although he denies that he'll be at the convention, he didn't deny that he will support Obama.

Oooh, how mysterious!

Bottom line: If Powell endorses Obama, then that means he is supporting the most liberal person in the U.S. Senate to become president.

If he endorses McCain, then that means he is supporting a conservative with a willingness to work with the Left.

Anyway, who really cares about Powell?

I don't see his endorsement as being that big of a deal in terms of swaying public opinion in either direction.

If he did back Obama, I think it would show that he harbors a good deal of resentment toward the Republican Party. It's possible that Powell has become a flaming lib, but that would be quite a dramatic transformation.

Powell endorsing Obama would be an emotional and rather vindictive move, like Brett Favre leaving the Packers for the Jets.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Colin Powell at the convention would be a big risk for Obama.

Many people lost all respect for him when he went to the U.N. and made such a dramatic, yet flimsy case for the war in Iraq. He made the case even after he reportedly protested at what the White House wanted him to say.

Powell lost many battles with Rumsfeld throughout the start of the war and our country has paid a huge price for Rumsfeld's arrogance and errors.

I think a lot of Republicans and independents still have a basic respect for Powell, but I wonder if having Powell at the convention (which sounds like it won't happen anyway) would attract more swing voters than it would disgust many Democrats?

Mary said...

Obama needs to understand that he can talk the talk when it comes to hoping to bridge partisan politics, but he's the candidate of a party that has no desire for that change.

There's a lot of bad blood and deeply embedded grudges.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, having a Presodent who intentionally misleads the country into a war of choice while loading the government with massive amounts of debt will do that.

Mary said...

I don't see how that would cause dissension within the ranks of the Democrat Party.

To the contrary, I would think the view you cite would galvanize the party.