Holy shit.
I saw his vid on Meet the Press, and dont get me wrong, it was a biggun...but this just raises the discourse to a whole new level.

Hes cut right to the bone.

The issues are what matter, how the country is going to be run over the next 4-8 years, how they are going to be seriously looked at and handled is priority number one, not some petty character assassination in a vein attempt to avoid dealing with the mess that his own party created.

I have a ton of respect for Colin Powell, the minute he resigned his office you just knew its because he thought that the party had lost its way, and he was pressured into going into Iraq.

Ive read his auto-bio, and one thing that stood out to me when he resigned, was a section that read that he would never even consider going into battle, be it a small skirmish, or an entire invasion force, without plans to get the troops out.

You could see it all over his face, he did not want to be a part of Iraq, but was dragged along for the ride by the politicians.

Wow, this is even better than the Meet the Press endorsement!

Best. October. Surprise. Evar.

awesome! straight to the point, cutting through all poop and shit and pointing straight at real problems.

That was very well said and it couldn't have been said at a better time.

For the past eight years, at least, the cons have always equated their political opponents with anti-Americanism.

"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."

But, but, but....this makes Colin Powell an un-American SOCIALIST! What happened to this proud *military man who honorably served his country on the fields of battle, in the shit, during the Vietnam War? He became a COWARD! Why couldn't he have remained loyal to the dream of a rabidly conservative America that wild-eyed Michele Bachman envisions, like chicken hawks Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, William Kristol, Frederick Kagan, etc. do?

I bet he's secretly an *Islamic radical like Obama too.

Adding video to channels (Islam, Military) - requested by kronosposeidon.

Wow, THIS IS AWESOME!

WOW!

Love it... and everything he just said... YES! Yes on the negativity, yes on the bullshit 'who's pro American, who isn't?' crap, that's just the communist roundup all over again.

And Love what he said about taxes also.

Brilliant.

I typed into google "colin powell is a communist" - I cannot believe some people.
I saw this video and thought, that's interesting, Colin makes his points clear. And I joked that if he endorses Obama, Idiot Republicans will call 'Race Card' or 'He is a Communist now'

Why do people say "I did my research..." and then use the word Communism to mean Socalism?! You fail! You fail big! Its not that simple!

http://www.perspectives.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=189520&forum_id=91&jump_to=3924551

Quoted from link:
Blackrook wrote:
Liberals, as per usual, are putting words in my mouth.

I never questioned the patriotism of Colin Powell, in fact I said I admired him for his long years of service to this nation.

But if Colin Powell endorses Obama, then I do have good reason to question Colin Powell's patriotism because Obama is a Communist and a patriot would not endorse a Communist to be our Commander-in-Chief.

You attack me when I call Obama a Communist, but you have done as much research on him as I have.

If Obama gets elected he will prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he is a Communist.

Right now the media is covering up the fact that Obama is a Communist, but the smokescreen can't last forever.

You're full of shit, Zonbie.

I can't believe how pissy-pants the cons have become over this.

Talk about reactionary aggrandizement.

^Rougy, if you follow that link in Zonbie's comments, you'll realize he's quoting verbatim an ultra-con shitbird from a political website.

A little misunderstanding, or at least that's what I think. I'm not Zonbie's spokesman. I don't speak for dirty walking corpses.

Powell speaks so well - it nails the situation.

It reminds me of this poll earlier in the year that said he was the favored pick for VP for BOTH candidates.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/30/powell_is_favorite_in_online_vp_poll/

Given his public favor and rating, it will be interesting to see what influence his support will provide.

>> ^rougy:
You're full of shit, Zonbie.
I can't believe how pissy-pants the cons have become over this.
Talk about reactionary aggrandizement.


What the fuck Rougy - take the time to read my comment properly before you call me out...

>> ^Zonbie:

What the fuck Rougy - take the time to read my comment properly before you call me out...

My mistake. Forgive me.

I'm relieved - I didn't think you were that way, and when I read your post I was kind of taken aback.

I missed the "Quoted from link" part.

I totally agree, then.

The "Obama is a communist" shit is just over the top. It's fear-mongering, plain and simple.

>> ^rougy:
>>^Zonbie:
What the fuck Rougy - take the time to read my comment properly before you call me out...
My mistake. Forgive me.
I'm relieved - I didn't think you were that way, and when I read your post I was kind of taken aback.
I missed the "Quoted from link" part.
I totally agree, then.
The "Obama is a communist" shit is just over the top. It's fear-mongering, plain and simple.


More than that - calling someone who isn't a communist a communist is a lie, plain and simple. Btw, when is maccain going to release a TV ad about his policies and not another attack ad.

Oh, and if you disagree with Obama being a communist - according to some, that makes you a terrorist loving anti-american tree hugging pussy. Or something.

Appartantly, disagreeing is now Anti-American.

WTF would Captain America do?!

Anybody know if there's anything stopping Obama from hiring Powell for SecState again?

"Appartantly, disagreeing is now Anti-American."

It's McCarthyism Part II.

Our country is measurably worse off, in a big way, than it was in 2001.

The cons, the party of "Personal Responsibility" just can't handle that.

They've been in charge exclusively for about four of those eight years.

Their politics have failed our nation, yet they insist on blaming it all on somebody else.

This man is far too good for the Republican party. I'd love to see him run for president as an independent.

>> ^Payback:
Anybody know if there's anything stopping Obama from hiring Powell for SecState again?


Nothing that I know of.

Powell's an obviously intelligent and capable man, but he is also a careerist, and he picked the wrong horse with the Bush team. But I can forgive and forget if he takes a proactive stance against their policies and tries to set things right.

What I want to see is an FBI investigation launched against the neocons (Bush, Cheney, Feith, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, etc.) regarding 9/11 and the lies that lead to the invasion of Iraq.

>> ^kronosposeidon:
But, but, but....this makes Colin Powell an un-American SOCIALIST! What happened to this proud military man who honorably served his country on the fields of battle, in the shit, during the Vietnam War? He became a COWARD! Why couldn't he have remained loyal to the dream of a rabidly conservative America that wild-eyed Michele Bachman envisions, like chicken hawks Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, William Kristol, Frederick Kagan, etc. do?
I bet he's secretly an Islamic radical like Obama too.


He's a scary angry black man too.

I used to have the deepest respect for Powell until he played the role in the Bush administration that he did. If he hadn't been in his cabinet and was now in McCain's position I would be voting for him, but I've lost faith in him. Either he blatantly lied or (worse?) he made claims that he did not verify. Oh well, doesn't matter now. He's not in a position of authority.

Obama appointing him would be a mistake. He'd be a reminder of the past (not change) and still represents the GOP for most people.

If Failin' Powell doesn't see the federal government is already a tyrannical leviathan, then there's no hope for him.

Ultimately you peeps voting for Socialist Barry (not a "characterization" it's right there in his voting record) are still going to be screwed. Whenever government takes one dollar to help your 'cause' it keeps 80 cents for its own bureaucracy, a bureaucracy which depends on expanding the very 'cause' it's supposed to address.

The Constitution limits government power and says nothing about establishing a socialist state or government to provide for citizens' every need (and want). So if that's what you're voting for, have the huevos to admit what you're endorsing is a radical reinterpretation of the Founding Fathers' intent.

>> ^Zonbie:
>> ^rougy:
You're full of shit, Zonbie.
I can't believe how pissy-pants the cons have become over this.
Talk about reactionary aggrandizement.

What the fuck Rougy - take the time to read my comment properly before you call me out...


Typical. You're either with rougy or against him. Hell hath no fury...

>> ^Aemaeth:
I used to have the deepest respect for Powell until he played the role in the Bush administration that he did. If he hadn't been in his cabinet and was now in McCain's position I would be voting for him, but I've lost faith in him. Either he blatantly lied or (worse?) he made claims that he did not verify. Oh well, doesn't matter now. He's not in a position of authority.
Obama appointing him would be a mistake. He'd be a reminder of the past (not change) and still represents the GOP for most people.


Powell wasnt in the building when the decision was made by the President, the joint chiefs, and rummy to go to war. They specifically excluded him from that meeting because they knew he would of said no from day one without some serious planning (which the cons did not want, they wanted a rush to iraq).

Colin Powell resigned his commission when he found a replacement, what bush and co. did to that man is unfortunate, but its not his fault, and it certainly wasnt his decision to go to war against Iraq.


>> ^quantumushroom:
If Failin' Powell doesn't see the federal government is already a tyrannical leviathan, then there's no hope for him.
Ultimately you peeps voting for Socialist Barry (not a "characterization" it's right there in his voting record) are still going to be screwed. Whenever government takes one dollar to help your 'cause' it keeps 80 cents for its own bureaucracy, a bureaucracy which depends on expanding the very 'cause' it's supposed to address.
The Constitution limits government power and says nothing about establishing a socialist state or government to provide for citizens' every need (and want). So if that's what you're voting for, have the huevos to admit what you're endorsing is a radical reinterpretation of the Founding Fathers' intent.


Obama has plans to slash federal spending to the bone, and decrease government size and complexity. Im not seeing how you can equate that to a creation of a socialist state.

Colin Powell says it well, a re-evaluation of the taxation system is not socialism, its responsible governing. Lest you apply those same metrics to bush when he got in power and changed the way the tax system worked, then Obama is not a socialist.

Face it QM, the republicans have bought the nation on the brink of collapse, both economically and militarily by committing the nations forces to an ilegal, unjust, vague war, and de-regulating the economy and allowing greed to be the controlling factor in the market.

When the history pages are written, the past 8 years will doubtfully look kind on Bush and his administration, for their failed economic policy, their failed foreign policy, their failure to address katrina, their failure to be diplomatic with rogue-leaning nations, their failure to maintain basic infrastructure, their failure to keep some modicum of peace in the middle east, their failure to govern responsibly and impartially for EVERY american (and not just the rich republicans), their failure to address global warming, their failure on promoting good science.....on literally every level, the cons have failed to deliver progressing the nation, and the world over the past 8 years.

Entanglement with churches, guns, gay rights, the annihilation of basic civil liberties...the list gos on.

I dont understand how you can consistantly sit there and keep pushing the line that anyone not republican, is a terrorist / communist / socialist / generic-bad-guy, given the history of the past 8 years...just astounding how partisan you are.

And lets not even get me started on the topic of republican socialism with the bailout...seriously man, get a grip.

>> ^Raverman:
Powell speaks so well - it nails the situation.
It reminds me of this poll earlier in the year that said he was the favored pick for VP for BOTH candidates.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/
30/powell_is_favorite_in_online_vp_poll/
Given his public favor and rating, it will be interesting to see what influence his support will provide.


Polls say that a very small minority of people would even "somewhat consider" Powell's endorsement in their decision. Nate Silver (of http://www.fivethirtyeight.com and http://www.baseballprospectus.com) argued recently that the more important an election is, the less likely you are to let endorsements sway you since there are so many other ways to obtain information about the candidates. He puts forth an example: If your city held an election for Chief Dog Catcher, and your local paper endorsed one of the candidates, the endorsement would probably seal the election, because you have no other information to utilize.

>> ^kronosposeidon:
But, but, but....this makes Colin Powell an un-American SOCIALIST! What happened to this proud military man who honorably served his country on the fields of battle, in the shit, during the Vietnam War? He became a COWARD! Why couldn't he have remained loyal to the dream of a rabidly conservative America that wild-eyed Michele Bachman envisions, like chicken hawks Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, William Kristol, Frederick Kagan, etc. do?
I bet he's secretly an Islamic radical like Obama too.


If any of those assholes you mentioned were Americans they would response with a HELL YEAH too. You will see how American they are shortly.

I will be voting for Nader, I cannot and will not vote for the two party system. It does not represent me.

Powell did good.

However I like Obama, I do not like the fact that there are really only two choices for president, I would like to see Ron Paul have a chance to run.

Do not tell me I wasted my vote, as far as I am concerned all votes are wasted see Carlin on voting.

To the Americans out there, I am a US Citizen first and formost before I am an American.

Christ, listening to him, he should have been the VP choice for Obama... would have cleaned up.

Fuck this...I'm voting for Colin Powell in '08

Here is my question:

How many of you democrats would have seriously considered voting republican if Powell had run?

Seriously, I would have. The problem is how many republicans would have?

Obama has plans to slash federal spending to the bone, and decrease government size and complexity. Im not seeing how you can equate that to a creation of a socialist state.

If what you say is true, Obama would be upfront about it. He's not, because he's either lying or delusional. In no way will this guy shrink government down...not saying McCain will either, but McCain won't expand it the way Barry will.

Colin Powell says it well, a re-evaluation of the taxation system is not socialism, its responsible governing. Lest you apply those same metrics to bush when he got in power and changed the way the tax system worked, then Obama is not a socialist.

Powell is a well-fed traitor to those to helped raise him up (all Republicans). The man was a mediocre general and knows nothing about economics, except he demands his speaking fees up front. He's a minor disappointment with a minor impact on the election.

Face it QM, the republicans have bought the nation on the brink of collapse, both economically and militarily by committing the nations forces to an ilegal, unjust, vague war, and de-regulating the economy and allowing greed to be the controlling factor in the market.

We WON the war in Iraq, which has a stable government. While it's true that Republicans became fat and lazy the past 8 years (spending like liberals on the back of 9-11) it was not "deregulation" that caused market collapses but shifting government force to other things, like Democrats forcing Fan/Fred to give loans to unqualified applicants. You can't blame the free market, because people are wisely frugal when it's their money being spent, but when Big Government backs up any losses, then people become like drunk gamblers in Vegas...with other peoples' money.

When the history pages are written, the past 8 years will doubtfully look kind on Bush and his administration, for their failed economic policy, their failed foreign policy, their failure to address katrina, their failure to be diplomatic with rogue-leaning nations, their failure to maintain basic infrastructure, their failure to keep some modicum of peace in the middle east, their failure to govern responsibly and impartially for EVERY american (and not just the rich republicans), their failure to address global warming, their failure on promoting good science.....on literally every level, the cons have failed to deliver progressing the nation, and the world over the past 8 years.

I have no doubt marxist professors at liberal-run universities (along with the MSM) will write all of the above, but they've never been right about anything, that's why they and their "theories" hide in universities instead of cutting their teeth in the real world. Slouching towards socialism isn't "progressive" to the rest of us. I know you can't believe me, you'll have to wait another 50 years when global warming has done nothing new.

Entanglement with churches, guns, gay rights, the annihilation of basic civil liberties...the list gos on.

A mantra that has little to back it up. I see no decrease in civil liberties for any American. Gays have more phony "rights" than ever. Liberals hate religion but guess what?--it's here to stay. Gun ownership was just confirmed as an individual right.

I dont understand how you can consistantly sit there and keep pushing the line that anyone not republican, is a terrorist / communist / socialist / generic-bad-guy, given the history of the past 8 years...just astounding how partisan you are.

The reality of the situation is this: you cannot have one-half of the population trying to go at it their own way, making mistakes and poor choices that are an inherent part of freedom and hopefully learning from them, and then have another half expecting the government to take care of them like they were children, and getting the monies to do so off the first group. Whether you know it or not, America is in the midst of a civil war of values. Republicans range in opinion from Ron Paul to Pat Buchanan, so "partisan" doesn't describe things so accurately.

And lets not even get me started on the topic of republican socialism with the bailout...seriously man, get a grip.

Of course it's wrong, but it's an aberration, and unfortunately, is mostly clean-up of Democrat-created messes. There will be blood in the Republican Party, but first, Marx must be defeated.

where to begin... i am tempted to be drawn into qm's debate here, but i fear i can't contribute anything convincing (certainly to him) other than more fuel to flame with.

i did, however, want to stress that the housing and credit crisis currently goes so far beyond fannie and freddie and partisan politics that it really should not ever be invoked to argue against dems/republicans. to do so just shows an incomplete understanding, and it's inappropriate to try to pin this on party negligence or willful government harm. it's mostly hinged on nonfeasance (sec/greenspan), unfettered greed, as well as the mortage borrowers borrowing more than they could from lenders lending more than they should.

anyways, my real comment was that powell makes a decent point about taxes: they have to be collected. you have to hire a janitor to clean the toilets or they'd never be done... i'm sure everyone can talk about cleaning toilets better than "uncle sam's janitorial service", but that's not the point. it just so happens that of the 20$/hr paid to "uncle sam's janitorial service", about 5$ goes to cleaning the toilets. the other 15$ goes to brass knuckles for the janitors or whatever. it's a silly analogy. there's bureaucratic waste, but it's not 80% inefficient as qm suggests -- i don't know where that figure comes from. the inefficiency is secondary to the poor allocation of funds; namely, the lack of reinvestment in infrastructure, the superfluous military spending, and now trillions for banks in combined capital injections and loan guarantees.

i honestly just hope obama (since mccain is not specific about his plans for significant change aside from just vocalizing that sentiment), should he be elected, delivers on enough of his campaign talking points. i mean... what then? what if good shit happens? we really need, as a nation, to figure out how to pull out of this nose dive in order to even contemplate competing with china and india in the world scene.

and seriously, if you don't believe in global warming, you sure as hell should believe in our loss of superpower status enough to want to reclaim it.

>> ^quantumushroom:
We WON the war in Iraq, which has a stable government.
you'll have to wait another 50 years when global warming has done nothing new.
Gays have more phony "rights" than ever.

another half expecting the government to take care of them like they were children, and getting the monies to do so off the first group.



Here, here! QM sees the true reality, he's not in some fantasy or delusion like the rest of you. He's clearly got the world sussed!

Iraq is a success, global warming is a scam, gays are poofs, and everyone left of centre wants to go on welfare courtesy of those right of centre.

And if you say otherwise... you're just a sheep!

SHEEP!

>> ^charliem:

It's difficult to say exactly how much of a role he played, but we do know he testified before congress to support the administrations claims of WMD's and such. If you read my comment again you'll notice that.

hmm, i thought that quantum mushroom was just joking around, but he is serious, isnt he?

Way to go, Colin!

You may think his message is amazing, but OMG what I find amazing is that we have spotted another gentleman in Washington who is capable of formulating thoughts and speaking coherantly.

*1stTube

Adding video to channels (1sttube) - requested by Grimm.